cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aesthetic Contouring of the Buttocks

Gluteal fat grafting currently ranks 12th among aesthetic surgical procedures with over 20,000 cases performed by board certified plastic surgeons in the USA last year. It is currently the fastest growing surgical procedure in plastic surgery with a 25% increase in the number of cases reported last year. Although gluteal fat grafting is sometimes necessary to achieve the ideal buttock contour, it is the fat extraction from surrounding anatomical areas that offers the greatest contribution to the final aesthetic result. Contouring of the posterior trunk, upper lateral thighs, and infra-gluteal rolls has a profound effect on the shape of the buttocks. In recent years, an increase in the mortality rate for the procedure was the result of intramuscular grafting combined with injury to the gluteal vessels resulting in fat emboli. Currently this procedure is associated with the highest mortality rate in all aesthetic surgery! For safety reasons, gluteal enhancement by means of fat grafting has recently become an operation of the subcutaneous tissues. As plastic surgeons move away from intramuscular grafting, the volumes grafted will need to be adjusted accordingly. Tissue compliance and overall gluteal surface area will play a significant role in determining the fat graft volume limits for a particular patient, in order to not exceed the recipient site capacity. There will be graft volume limitations based on what the recipient site can accommodate. The new mantra for this procedure should be “extract more and graft less.”
Conservationists’ moral obligations toward wildlife: Values and identity promote conservation conflict

Abstract Recent debate among scholars reveals potential rifts in the conservation community concerning the moral bases of conservation, and the nature of humanity’s obligations to nature. We reasoned that conflict within the conservation community could stem both from divergent values and identification with relevant interest groups. We used secondary data from three recent studies that quantify wildlife value orientations, belief in the intrinsic value of wildlife, and perceived moral obligations to wildlife among US residents and self-identified conservationists. Results indicate the vast majority (>75%) of conservationists both endorse the idea that wildlife possess intrinsic value, and that humans have an obligation to treat wild animals with concern for their welfare – ideas that are consistent with, though not unique to, compassionate conservation. Further, we found that both mutualism value orientations and identification with other interest groups relevant to conservation (e.g., animal rights, hunting) were moderately correlated with beliefs about an individuals’ obligations toward wildlife—providing evidence that both values and identity are sources of social conflict within the conservation community. Identity could provide a mechanism linking individual-level, cognitive processes with group-level processes (e.g. immergence) that promote both within-group conformity and between-group conflict, but more research is needed to unravel causality.
Integrated Process Design and Operational Optimization via Multiparametric Programming

Abstract This book presents a comprehensive optimization-based theory and framework that exploits the synergistic interactions and tradeoffs between process design and operational decisions that sp...
Duganella callida sp. nov., a novel addition to the Duganella genus, isolated from the soil of a cultivated maize field.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, strain Duganella callida DN04T, was isolated from the soil of a maize field in North Carolina, USA. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, the most similar Duganella species are D. sacchari Sac-22T, D. ginsengisoli DCY83T, and D. radicis Sac-41T with a 97.8, 97.6, or 96.9 % sequence similarity, respectively. We compared the biochemical phenotype of DN04T to D. sacchari Sac-22T and D. zoogloeoides 115T and other reference strains from different genera within the Oxalobacteraceae and while the biochemical profile of DN04T is most similar to D. sacchari Sac-22T and other Duganella and Massilia strains, there are also distinct differences. DN04T can for example utilize turanose, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, inosine, and l-pyroglutamic acid. The four fatty acids found in the highest percentages were C15 : 0 iso (24.6 %), C15 : 1 isoG (19.4 %), C17 : 0 iso3-OH (16.8 %), and summed feature 3 (C16:1 ⍵7c and/or C16:1 ⍵6c) (12.5 %). We also applied whole genome sequencing to determine if DN04T is a novel species. The most similar AAI (average amino acid identity) score was 70.8 % (Massilia plicata NZ CP038026T), and the most similar ANI (average nucleotide identity) score was 84.8 % (D. radicis KCTC 22382T), which indicates that DN04T is a novel species. The genome-to-genome-distance calculation (GGDC) revealed a DDH of 28.3 % to D. radicis KCTC 22382T, which is much lower than the new species threshold. Based on the morphological, phenotypic, and genomic differences, we propose Duganella callida sp. nov. as a novel species within the Duganella genus (type strain DN04T=NRRL B-65552T=LMG 31736T).
Commitment in L3 relationships: Sacred vows or polyamory?:

Westergaard (2021) presents an updated account of the Linguistic Proximity Model and the micro-cue approach to the parser as an acquisition device. The property-by-property view of transfer inheren...
Effects of Early Crush on Aging Wild Type and Connexin 32 Knockout Mice: Evidence for a Neuroprotective State in CMT1X Mouse Nerve

Aims The long-term sequelae of nerve injury as well as age-related neurodegeneration have been documented in numerous studies, however the role of Cx32 in these processes is not well understood. There is a need for better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie long-term suboptimal nerve function and for approaches to prevent or improve it. Methods In this communication we describe our studies using whole animal electrophysiology to examine the long-term sequela of sciatic nerve crush in both WT and Cx32KO mice, a model of X-linked Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) disease, a subtype of inherited peripheral neuropathies. Results We present results from electrical nerve recordings done 14-27 days and 18-20 months after a unilateral sciatic nerve crush performed on 35 to 37-day old mice. Contrary to expectations, we find that whereas crush injury leads to a degradation of WT nerve function relative to uninjured nerves at 18-20 months, previously crushed Cx32KO nerves perform at the same level as their uninjured counterparts. Thus, 18-20 months after injury, WT nerves perform below the level of normal (uninjured) WT nerves in both motor and sensory nerve function. In contrast, measures of nerve function in Cx32KO mice are degraded for sensory axons but exhibit no additional dysfunction in motor axons. Interpretation Early nerve injury has no negative electrophysiologic effect on the Cx32 KO motor nerves. Based on our prior demonstration that the transcriptomic profile of uninjured Cx32KO and injured WT sciatic nerves are very similar, the lack of an additional effect of crush on Cx32KO motor nerve parameters suggests that Cx32 knockout may implement a form of neuroprotection that limits the effects of subsequent injury.
Biosynthesis of Quinoline by a Stick Insect.

The Peruvian stick insect Oreophoetes peruana is the only known animal source for unsubstituted quinoline in nature. When disturbed, these insects discharge a defensive secretion containing quinoli...
The Lasting Impact of Housing Discrimination on Industrial Development, Environmental Injustice, and Land Use

Communities of color, specifically Black Americans, face environmental harms at a far greater rate than white communities. While recent efforts to address this disparity have increased as the Environmental Justice Movement becomes more mainstream, the issue is too deeply ingrained in America’s discriminatory housing and land use practices to be addressed separately from housing and land use discrimination. When the federal Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) spent the decade following the Great Depression creating and using color-coded maps of mortgage lending security, it further segregated communities of color and denied them access to federal lending and property ownership. To effect lasting change in environmental justice communities, legal advocates must recognize the intertwined nature of housing discrimination and environmental justice and address the issues accordingly. This paper aims to explore the lasting impact of these HOLC map designations on minority communities in Chicago, IL. Specifically, it aims to identify how these map designations have shaped industrial development siting and local land use decisions. By looking at one of America’s most segregated cities, this paper will analyze its history of housing discrimination and land use decision-making practices and suggest incorporating sustainable development and land use considerations into environmental legal advocacy.
Perspective: Beyond the neural circuits.

To treat addiction, people need help to develop psychosocial skills in addition to taking medication, says Kenneth E. Leonard.
The neural crest: what can it tell us about cell migration and determination?

Of all vertebrate structures, the nervous system has perhaps the greatest cellular diversification and complexity of organization. The study of developmental neurobiology, therefore, sharply probes the central issue of embryogenesis; i.e., how does a complex system arise form a single cell? During development, ectodermal tissue becomes determined along neuronal lines via contact or "primary induction" from the roof of the archenteron (Mangold, 1933; Spemann, 1938). A major problem is how the morphologically indistinguishable stem cells of the neuroectoderm become progressively determined along divergent developmental lines such that they give rise to a myriad of cell types in the mature nervous system. Another question posed by this system is how the cells migrate to their final locations and become organized in precise spatial arrays. Once the pattern is composed, what mechanisms govern the establishment of the proper connections between neurons and other neurons, as well as between neurons and their target organs?
Counter-Immunoelectrophoresis: Rapid Method for Detecting Group-Specific Antigen and Antibodies Associated with Oncogenic Ribonucleic Acid Viruses

Counter-immunoelectrophoresis was used for the quantitation of group-specific antigen and antibodies of C-type ribonucleic acid leukemia and sarcoma viruses.
Biomedical artificial intelligence

This talk will survey the intriguing connections between artificial intelligence and its biomedical application domain. Biology has recently become a data-rich, information hungry science because of recent massive data generation technologies, but we cannot fully analyse this data due to the wealth and complexity of the information available. The result is a great need for intelligent systems in biology. We will visit examples such as machine learning for pharmaceutical drug discovery, optimal heuristic search for protein structure prediction, rule-based systems for drug-resistant HIV treatment, constraint- based design of large self-assembling synthetic genes, and a multiple- representation approach to curing some forms of cancer. The talk will conclude with suggestions for how AI practitioners can begin the explore this rich and fascinating domain.
The Argument from Divine Hiddenness

Do we rightly expect a perfectly loving God to bring it about that, right now, we reasonably believe that He exists? It seems so. For love at its best desires the well-being of the beloved, not from a distance, but up close, explicitly participating in her life in a personal fashion, allowing her to draw from that relationship what she may need to flourish. But why suppose that we would be significantly better off were God to engage in an explicit, personal relationship with us? Well, first, there would be broadly moral benefits. We would be able to draw on the resources of that relationship to overcome seemingly ever present flaws in our character. And we would be more likely to emulate the self-giving love with which we were loved. So loved, we would be more likely to flourish as human beings. Second, there would be experiential benefits. We would be, for example, more likely to experience peace and joy stemming from the strong conviction that we were properly related to our Maker, security in suffering knowing that, ultimately, all shall be well, and there would be the sheer pleasure of God's loving presence.
New pipelined architecture for DSP

DSPs have been applied to digital filtering, modems, transmultiplexers, speech processing, high-fidelity audio, and graphics. The new DSP is in the family of the scalar fixed point digital signal processor. The type of instructions are similar to the RISC instructions. The best aspects of the DSP are explained,including possible modifications in order to maximize the performance of the DSP. This paper compares the features found in the new architectures, pointing to areas of possible improvement in the new DSPs introduced by different research laboratories in the world. The architectural innovations and concepts as related to the pipeline structure and its benefits are described.
The Doctrine of Prior Appropriation and Its Impact on Water Development

THE STRATEGIC ROLE of water in the development of the semi-arid and arid regions is nowhere more manifest than in the legal doctrines governing its development and use. This paper is an attempt to study critically the legal framework encompassing water-resource development in the western United States. First, the doctrine of prior appropriation, the basic water law employed by the 17 states west of the Mississippi, is described in historical perspective. This is followed by a discussion of the principal features of the prior appropriation doctrine and a brief analysis of some of their implications for the economy and the society. This serves as an appropriate background to the next section which attempts to illustrate the general theory discussed above with specific examples from a number of western states. The analysis deals with surface water laws and ground water laws separately and presents supportive evidence to the conclusion that the doctrine of prior appropriation has through the years evolved into a fairly dynamic body of laws whose operational efficiency has increased considerably in the context of the fast-expanding water needs of the western United States.
Quantitative Studies of Reactive Events in the Site of Injury Following Transection of the Spinal Cord in the Rat

Transection of the mammalian spinal cord results in a complete and permanent loss of voluntary motor function below the level of the lesion accompanied by an equally profound sensory loss. In many phylogenetically lower animals, massive axonal regeneration occurs and often results in some degree of functional restitution, despite the presence of scar formation within the site of injury (Bernstein and Bernstein 1967), but in mammalian forms regeneration of CNS axons is considered to be minimal and abortive (Ramon v Cajal 1928). A variety of treatment methods have been employed in an attempt to promote the regeneration of axons across the transection site (Puchala and Windle 1977). These have included the implanting of grafts of fetal brain tissue, degenerated sciatic nerve or muscle into the lesion site in order to improve the environment for optimal axonal growth (Sugar and Gerard 1940), administration of adrenocorticotrophic hormones (McMasters 1962), millipore cylinders (Campbell and Windle 1960), or Piromen, a pyrogenic bacterial polysaccharide thought to enhance regeneration by preventing the formation of a dense fibrous scar following injury (Clemente and Windle 1954, Littrell 1955). Application of Piro-men seemed to increase the number of regenerating fibers as shown by morphological and electrophysiological techniques, but the animals failed to demonstrate an improvement in their sensorimotor function.
Experiences of underrepresented doctoral students in counselor education

Purpose – This study aimed to qualitatively examine the perceived cultural competence of counselor education doctoral programs through narratives of 19 racially or ethnically underrepresented students using Critical Race Theory as a theoretical framework. Design/methodology/approach – The authors used a qualitative study of 19 racially or ethnically underrepresented students. Findings – Six major themes were identified: playing the game; individual characteristics and attributes; intersectionality; support; voice; and talk the talk, walk the walk. Research limitations/implications – The limitations of the study included the identity of the primary researcher being a White female in a PhD program during the collection of data. While this was disclosed to the participants, it meant that they made decisions about what or how much to share about their experiences regarding race or doctoral study. The findings are only transferable to the reader’s experiences and interpretation and not generalizable to all cou...
QUANTITATIVE STUDIES ON THE PRECIPITIN REACTION : THE DETERMINATION OF SMALL AMOUNTS OF A SPECIFIC POLYSACCHARIDE.

A method, based on the precipitin reaction, is given for the micro determination of the specific polysaccharide of Type III pneumococcus. As little as 0.01 mg. of S III can be determined. The method should be applicable to any specific polysaccharide upon standardization of an homologous antibody solution or antiserum in the region of excess antibody.
Pyramidalized Alkenes: Theory and Experiment

Structural X-ray data on highly strained anti-Bredt olefins (see, for instance, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990 1128627) prompted us to perform model ab initio calculations with the 6-31G* basis set for ethylene and its simple derivatives. A variety of modes of distortion for ethylene were examined: deformations in plane, pyramidalization, and twist. Olefinic atoms are found to be spontaneously pyramidalized either (1) under the influence of certain substituents that break the original symmetry of a molecule, or (2) when a distortion is introduced in a molecule that simulates the cyclization. Furthermore, pyramidalization is enhanced when a bond angle deformation takes place. The stereochemistry of C=C and Si=Si is briefly compared and discussed.
A Potential Mechanism of Pathogenesis for Early Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus in the Premature Newborn

Ventricular dilation is common following intraventricular hemorrhage. Neuropathologic studies have demonstrated that chronic posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus most commonly is a result of an obliterative arachnoiditis in the posterior fossa or is due to obstruction of flow of CSF within the ventricular system. Recent use of ultrasound scanning has demonstrated the occurrence of ventricular dilation within days of intraventricular hemorrhage (prior to the expected time of development of arachnoiditis). In the case described, serial real-time ultrasound scans demonstrated small mobile particles within dilated ventricles seven days following intraventricular hemorrhage. There was no obstruction of CSF flow within the ventricular system. Thus, in this case, ventricular dilation may have been secondary to plugging of arachnoid villi by the small particulate matter and, as a consequence, decrease in CSF reabsorption.
Lemon Signaling in Cross-Listing

Despite significant premium associated with cross-listing on U.S. exchanges many firms remain in their local markets or list on exchanges with weaker legal commitments. This paper develops a signaling model that helps in explaining controlling shareholders unique reluctance to bond. If constraints on private benefits vary across firms, by cross-listing and bonding controlling shareholders signal that they can extract only a limited amount of private benefits, a signal that adversely affects their control premium. As a result controlling shareholders propensity to cross-list is lower than it would have been if only bonding were at play; the control premium and the value of the control block of controlling shareholders that do not cross-list increases upon cross-listing by peers. In contrast to controlling shareholders this signal encourages managers to cross-list. This result explains why inclination to cross-list is inversely related to control block size. The model helps in explaining other evidence - why the price reaction to cross-listing is strong though bonding is limited; cross-listing premia disappear over time; controlling-shareholders that cross-list have lower control premia; and cross-listing adversely affects non-cross-listed firms.The model suggests that firms with controlling shareholders have a unique dislike for regulation. Thus the implications of their behavior for the desirability of US regulation are limited. The result that controlling shareholders’ incentives sharply differ from managers’ could have implications to other decisions that corporations make such as distributing dividends, and raising capital.
Book Review: Meta Analysis: A Review and A New View:

From its inception in the social science literature, metaanalysis has become a popular methodology. One might even call it a minor industry. Some view it as the wave of the future, others consider it a disaster. But as with most extreme points of view, the truth probably lies somewhere in between. What is somewhat perplexing is why this topic has generated so much controversy. Surely comparable deficiencies exist in many other statistical procedures. Perhaps the name appears to be somewhat pretentious, all-encompassing, guaranteeing new insights. The name macro-analysis (in contrast to micro-analysis) might have been less provocative. One of the most commonly stated criticisms of metaanalysis is that it may assume away differences among studies and be insensitive to the pitfalls of combining studies. It is also noted that one cannot obtain good results from a collection of poor studies. These reasonable caveats might well be applied to all science. In spite of criticisms of particular methods of cumulation, the fact remains that science is cumulative. Even the "hardest" of sciences, such as physics, have produced numerous published determinations of physical constants such as those concerned with gravitational force, dating from experiments by Cavendish in 1798 to present-day research. Synthesis of past results is central to almost any research, and indeed, it is unthinkable to embark on any current research without regard for, and integration of, the past. One might argue that altogether too many papers quote previous work without much verification of the conclusions. As with almost any
Pragmatics in the Measurement of Family Functioning: An Interpretive Framework for Methodology

The issue of the cross-method comparison of concepts that describe family functioning is addressed by means of an empirical investigation of two methods of family assessment. The examination focuses on a consideration of the functional, or pragmatic, aspects of subjects' responses through a comparison of a self-report and an observational method whose associated concepts appear to be similar. Little predicted association based on conceptual similarity is noted. An interpretive framework is developed suggesting that the outcomes of empirical method comparisons may be usefully considered in terms of the pragmatic aspects of subjects' responses or the way in which subjects may be using their responses, based on their inferences regarding the interpersonal context associated with each method.
Nuclear spreading of an anti-analog state in 209Bi

Abstract The nuclear spreading width of the 2g 9 2 antianalog state in 209 Bi is calculated within the particle-vibration intermediate structure scheme. The width is several MeV only in three distinct energy regions. The distribution of the 2g 9 2 strength is also studied.
Intensity discrimination of tone bursts and the form of the Weber function

Intensity discrimination functions were determined for tone bursts at four test frequencies: 250, 1,000, 4,000, and 7,000 Hz. Slopes of best-fitting lines (αI in dB SL vs I in dB SL) indicate a “near-miss” to Weber’s law at all four frequencies. The use of information provided by harmonics of the stimulus is discussed; it is concluded that-at least for high-frequency tones-such cues are not the basis for the improved acuity found at higher sensation levels.
Emission Mössbauer studies of some organocobalamins.

Abstract Subtle changes in Mossbauer parameters are observed while going from methyl- to ethyl- to adenosylcobalamin, and also when the ‘base’ is detached from the cobalt. The observation of these changes demonstrates that the Co-C bond, among others, remains intact after the Auger event, accompanying the electron-capture decay of the cobalt-57. The differences between ethylcobalamin and the other two organocobalamins in the magnitude of the quadrupole splittings have been interpreted on the basis of the σ-donating tendency of the organic moiety and the CoC bond length. The latter is presumably determined by the steric hindrance offered to the group in approaching the cobalt atom. The ethyl- and adenosylcobalamins in their ‘base-off’ form exhibit a larger quadrupole splitting than the corresponding ‘base-on’ form. In the ‘base-off’ form, the cobalt atom is perhaps raised above the mean plane of the four equatorial nitrogen atoms of the corrin ring, which may result in the diminution of the delocalization of the 3 d π electron density. The higher population of d π orbitals and the enhanced metallic character of the d z 2, resulting from shrink-age of the CoC bond length, enhances the magnitude of the quadrupole splitting.
Multivariate measures of niche overlap using discriminant analysis

Abstract Two measures of multivariate niche overlap defined on p resource variables are presented. By measuring the niche overlap on the discriminant variable the multivariate problem is reduced to a univariate problem while preserving the relevant multivariate information. The niche overlap is then calculated by two different techniques. The first technique uses the MacArthur-Levins (Amer. Natur. 101, 377–385, 1967) measure for probabilities of joint occurrence, while the second computes the density overlap of two use curves. An illustration of the multivariate approach to actual field data is demonstrated.
An efficient radiative cooling approximation for use in hydrodynamic simulations

To make relevant predictions about observable emission, hydrodynamical simulation codes must employ schemes that account for radiative losses, but the large dimensionality of accurate radiative transfer schemes is often prohibitive. Stamatellos and collaborators introduced a scheme for smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations based on the notion of polytropic pseudo-clouds that uses only local quantities to estimate cooling rates. The computational approach is extremely efficient and works well in cases close to spherical symmetry, such as in star formation problems. Unfortunately, the method, which takes the local gravitational potential as an input, can be inaccurate when applied to non-spherical configurations, limiting its usefulness when studying disks or stellar collisions, among other situations of interest. Here, we introduce the “pressure scale height method,” which incorporates the fluid pressure scale height into the determination of column densities and cooling rates, and show that it produces more accurate results across a wide range of physical scenarios while retaining the computational efficiency of the original method. The testedmodels include spherical polytropes as well as disks with specified density and temperature profiles. We focus on applying our techniques within an SPH code, although our method can be implemented within any particle-based Lagrangian or grid-based Eulerian hydrodynamic scheme. Our new method may be applied in a broad range of situations, including within the realm of stellar interactions, collisions, and mergers.
The effects of eyestalk ablation and B-ecdysone on RNA synthesis in the androgenic glands of the protandric shrimp, Pandalus platyceros Brandt.

Abstract Increased RNA synthesis has been noted in the androgenic glands of the protandric shrimp, Pandalus platyceros Brandt, after two experimental treatments: administration of exogenous B-ecdysone and uridine-5- 3 H, and bilateral destalking and adminstration of uridine-5- 3 H. This observation is based on silver grain counts of autoradiographs of sections of androgenic glands. It was further shown that both treatments showed a statistically similar increase in RNA synthesis. Since destalking leads to maintenance and even hypertrophy of the androgenic glands, and in turn, retention of male characteristics, it suggests that the effects of destalking on the androgenic glands may be mediated through an increased synthesis of B-ecdysone which stimulates the androgenic glands to synthesize RNA and perhaps, in turn, the synthesis of androgenic hormone. The androgenic gland of Pandalus platyceros consists of cells that are in various stages of secretory activity. The greater incorporation of uridine-5- 3 H into one particular cell type, the C cell type, in the experimentally treated animals suggests that certain cell types may be more receptive to stimulation by B-ecdysone and destalking.
ABC: A program to convert PSYCHLIT CD-ROM abstracts into APA-style bibliographies

The storage of information on compact disks (termed CD-ROM) has made possible the transcription of refer­ ence indexes directly to a computer. In psychology, one of the most widely used of these indexes is "Psychologi­ cal Abstracts," published by the American Psychologi­ cal Association. The abstracts referenced since 1973 are currently available on CD-ROM under the name PSYCH­ LIT, a convenient and highly flexible database. The data­ base can be searched by author, title, key word, language, journal, publication date, or any word found in the ab­ stract. Additional searches can be readily made by using logical constructs. The results of these searches can then be viewed on a personal computer, printed, or copied to disk. One serious limitation to the PSYCHLIT system is that the citations are not presented in APA format (see Figure 1 for a sample output from PSYCHLIT). To rem­ edy this incompatibility, we have written a conversion pro­ gram, ABC (Abstract to Bibliography Conversion), which reads a PSYCHLIT file and outputs an APA-format bib­ liography. This bibliography is stored as an ASCII text file and can be read by most word processors. This saves manuscript preparation time by eliminating the need to enter references available through PSYCHLIT manually.
Protein Structure-Based Combinatorial Chemistry: Discovery of Non-Peptide Binding Elements to Src SH3 Domain

Small molecule ligands can be used to cause a conditional loss or gain of function of their protein receptors and, therefore, can be viewed as equivalents of conditional alleles.1-3 In order to extend their use, methods to identify such ligands de novo are required. We have previously reported the use of biased combinatorial libraries to discover peptide ligands to proteins,4 and the coupled use of combinatorial chemistry and structural biology to understand the nature of protein-ligand interactions.5-7 More recently, we have been exploring whether the knowledge of protein structure can facilitate the design of monomers and linking elements leading to vast numbers of potential ligands targeted to a particular protein. We now report a first illustration of this strategy resulting in the discovery of novel and specific ligands containing non-peptide structural elements. Structural investigations of SH3-peptide complexes have revealed that SH3 domains bind peptide ligands in either of two orientations (classes I and II; these differ in the directionality of the backbone amides5,6) involving the three pockets depicted in Figure 1.4-7 We designed a library of ligands predisposed to adopt the class I orientation by attaching a common lowaffinity (Kd > 1 mM) biasing sequence PLPPLP (P ) Pro, L ) Leu) to a solid support. This sequence was expected to fill the two pockets (labeled 1 and 2) that bind Leu-Pro dipeptides. Furthermore, structural analyses show that the N-terminal proline should be positioned to orient elements attached to its pyrrolidine nitrogen into the third pocket (labeled 3), which is lined by the nSrc and RT loops common to all SH3 domains and is the primary determinant of ligand specificity.8 We synthesized an encoded9 combinatorial library derived from 32 monomers incorporated during three consecutive cycles of split-and-pool synthesis10,11 following the synthesis of the common PLPPLP sequence (synthesized in the C to N direction) and terminating with one of 32 capping reagents (Figure 2). We purposefully incorporated an encoded blank (“skip-codon”)12 during monomer and cap incorporation in order to increase library diversity significantly by creating sublibraries with deletions at any one or more of the three monomer and one cap sites.
Crystallization of oligonucleotides and their complexes with antitumor drugs

Single-crystal analysis of DNA and RNA oligonucleotides and their complexes with drugs has provided a great deal of information concerning the structure and function of these molecules. Its success depends critically on the probability of obtaining suitable crystals, which so far appears to be not very high. In this paper we present a detailed view of the crystallization process and several representative examples of the crystallization of oligonucleotides. Special emphases are placed on two aspects, the materials and the techniques. The preparation, purity, and selection of sequences of oligonucleotides are discussed. Some important factors, such as metal ions, organic ions, pH, precipitants, and various additives, are evaluated. Two specific examples of crystallizing Z-DNA and the complexes between DNA and the antitumor drug nogalamycin are presented. Special techniques such as feeding, seeding, and crystal recycling are also described.
EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HIGH-BRIGHTNESS ELECTRON PHOTOINJECTOR

Abstract Operational experience of the emittance compensated photoinjector at the Brookhaven Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) is presented in this paper. The photoinjector has demonstrated the stability and reliability required for UV and X-ray FEL applications. The RF gun has been routinely running at more than 100 MV/m peak acceleration field; the laser system of the photoinjector has achieved 2% peak to peak energy stability, 0,5% point stability and better than 2 ps timing jitter. The highest measured quantum efficiency of the Cu cathode is 0.05%. The electron beam bunch length was measured to be 10 ps using a linac RF phase scan. The normalized rms emittance for 0.5 nC charge was measured, to be from 1 to 2 mm rad, which agrees with PARMELA simulations.
Clinical trial issues in weight-loss therapy.

Background Overweight and obesity rates continue to increase nationally, generating significant interest in weight-loss therapies to address both the burden of obesity-associated chronic disease and individual concerns about appearance. Effective obesity therapies also have the potential for off-label use and unintended consequences. Methods The behavioral, pharmacologic, and surgical therapies for obesity are reviewed. Clinical trial issues common to chronic disease states and issues specific to obesity trials are examined. Finally, study designs for obesity therapy, including populations, control arms, sample size, and duration of therapy, are discussed.
“Was It Good for You?”: Reply to Commentaries

In many ways, psychoanalysis revolutionized attitudes about sexuality. Yet by undertheorizing female erotic passion and downplaying the role of the clitoris, psychoanalysis perpetuated a long historical tradition of denying essential aspects of women's sexual experience. Psychoanalysis has at times contributed to women perceiving their own bodily erotic excitement as frightening, dangerous, and out of control. In this reply to the commentaries, the authors continue to explore the ways in which women and women's experience, especially their embodied sexual experience, are so often rendered invisible.
Sustaining Growth Accelerations and Pro-Poor Growth in Africa

Are improvements in growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) since the mid-1990s sustainable? What types of growth strategies contribute the most to reducing poverty? This paper examines these questions in four stages. First, it explores the factors contributing to the post-1995 improvement in growth. Second, to shed some light on factors associated with substantial jumps in growth rates that are sustained in the medium term, an analysis of the correlates of growth accelerations is presented. Third, the paper examines the consistency of the SSA data with some important predictions from the literature directly linking such areas as fiscal policy, financial development, or institutions and growth. Fourth, it reviews recent evidence regarding lessons on the type of growth process that is most effective at raising the incomes of the poor.
Necator americanus: the Na-ASP-2 protein secreted by the infective larvae induces neutrophil recruitment in vivo and in vitro.

The L3-secreted Ancylostoma Secreted Protein-2 from the human hookworm Necator americanus (Na-ASP-2) has been selected as a candidate vaccine antigen in anticipation of clinical trials. Its crystal structure revealed that Na-ASP-2 has structural and charge similarities to CC-chemokines, suggesting that it might act as a chemokine mimic when released by the infective larvae during tissue migration. Using the air pouch model of acute inflammation, we found that Na-ASP-2 induced a significant leukocyte influx to the skin pouch, mostly comprised of neutrophils (60%) and monocytes (30%) that was transient and resolved in 24 h. Other hookworm larval proteins did not cause any inflammatory leukocytes to migrate into air pouches. In vitro chemotaxis assays confirmed our results and demonstrated that leukocyte migration was a direct effect of Na-ASP-2 exposure and not caused by other molecules released by host cells in the inflammatory microenvironment or by the expression vector.
A 3-D coupled ice sheet – sea level model applied to Antarctica through the last 40 ky

Abstract We present results from a three-dimensional ice sheet-shelf model of Antarctica, coupled to a gravitationally self-consistent global sea-level model that incorporates (Maxwell) viscoelastic deformation of the solid Earth. The coupled model captures complex post-glacial changes in sea level associated with the gravitational, deformational and rotational effects of the evolving surface mass (ice plus ocean) load over the global ocean, including at the grounding lines of marine-based ice. The simulations are initiated at 40 ka and we focus on ice distributions and sea levels from the Last Glacial Maximum to present. Our results extend and confirm the key conclusions of earlier work using a simplified, 1-D ice-sheet model, by demonstrating that the sea-level coupling has a significant stabilizing influence on marine ice-sheet grounding lines. The feedback of sea-level changes into the ice-sheet model acts to slow down the retreat and advance of the grounding line relative to simulations in which the full coupling is not incorporated. Differences in ice thickness between these simulations can reach ∼1 km close to the grounding line. Finally, we perform preliminary comparisons of our results to relative sea level (RSL) histories and GPS-derived present-day uplift rates at sites near the margins of Antarctica. We find that the coupling improves fits to uplift rates in several regions, and that the RSL predictions of the coupled model yield a fit to the observations that is comparable to recent, uncoupled simulations in which the underlying Earth model was varied to obtain a best-fit to the RSL histories.
A Voronoi-Based Heuristic Algorithm for Locating Distribution Centers in Disasters

This paper provides insights to locate a finite number of distribution centers to provide a quick response time for disaster relief incorporating social costs within the modeling framework. We explore theoretical aspects of the problem formulation and propose a model that maximizes coverage of affected regions while minimizing human suffering through the use of a social cost function. Our results show that the social cost function is minimized within the area enclosed by the Voronoi region for a chosen facility. We also propose a heuristic algorithm to solve the problem of locating these facilities in a reasonable amount of time. Since the quality of the solution and the running time depends largely on the initial starting points for the heuristic, we provide recommendations to choose the initial starting points. The proposed approach has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency of distributing critical supplies in disasters by optimizing the response time.
A THEORY OF THE URBAN LAND MARKET

This chapter presents a non-mathematical overview, without trying to give it full precision, of the long and rather complex mathematical analysis, which constitutes a formal theory of the urban land market. It is a static model in which change is introduced by comparative statics. And it is an economic model: it speaks of economic men, and it goes without saying that real men and social groups have needs, emotions, and desires, which are not considered. The chapter considers the urban businessman, who, we shall assume, makes his decisions so as to maximize profits. A bid rent curve for the businessman, then, will be one along which profits are everywhere the same: the decisionmaker will be indifferent as to his location along such a curve. The household differs from the farmer and the urban firm in that satisfaction rather than profits is the relevant criterion of optional location.
GaAs/AlxOy photonic bandgap material fabrication and characterization

A relatively simple technique for fabrication of GaAs-based quasi-3D photonic crystals has been investigated. Selective impurity-induced layer disordering and wet oxidation techniques are utilized. The feasibility of this technique is successfully demonstrated and a photonic bandgap material with its bandgap around 1.18 micrometers has been fabricated. The electro-optic coefficients have been measured for the first time in such a medium. The process is reproducible an lends itself to integration with other optoelectronic and electronic devices on the same substrate, which might be required for pumping, electrical injection or other functions.
Twisted intramolecular charge transfer dynamics in polar solvents

Abstract The excited state electron transfer and time-dependent fluorescence (TDF) for twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) molecules in polar solvents are studied theoretically. This class of reaction involves critical solvent stabilization of the charge-separated state with a large dipole moment compared with the less polar, locally excited state; it is also accompanied by a significant solute geometry distortion compared with vacuum, i.e. from a planar to a twisted configuration. A theoretical framework for TICY dynamics is reported and illustrated throughout for a model dimethylaminobenzonitrile (DMABN) solute in acetonitrile solvent. By employing a two-valence-bond-state description for the salute in a dielectric continuum solvent for illustration, a two-dimensional free energy surface is obtained in terms of the torsional angle θ and a solvent coordinate s that gauges the non-equilibium solvent orientational polarization. The TICT rate constant and TDF are analyzed via the minimum free energy solution phase reaction path. It is found that the variations of the activation free energy with the solvent polarity and the overall free energetics of the reaction correlate well with Hammond postulate behavior and experimentally observed trends for activated TICT reactions.
Identification and characterization of two bile acid coenzyme A transferases from Clostridium scindens, a bile acid 7α-dehydroxylating intestinal bacterium

The human bile acid pool composition is composed of both primary bile acids (cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid) and secondary bile acids (deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid). Secondary bile acids are formed by the 7α-dehydroxylation of primary bile acids carried out by intestinal anaerobic bacteria. We have previously described a multistep biochemical pathway in Clostridium scindens that is responsible for bile acid 7α-dehydroxylation. We have identified a large (12 kb) bile acid inducible (bai) operon in this bacterium that encodes eight genes involved in bile acid 7α-dehydroxylation. However, the function of the baiF gene product in this operon has not been elucidated. In the current study, we cloned and expressed the baiF gene in E. coli and discovered it has bile acid CoA transferase activity. In addition, we discovered a second bai operon encoding three genes. The baiK gene in this operon was expressed in E. coli and found to encode a second bile acid CoA transferase. Both bile acid CoA transferases were determined to be members of the type III family by amino acid sequence comparisons. Both bile acid CoA transferases had broad substrate specificity, except the baiK gene product, which failed to use lithocholyl-CoA as a CoA donor. Primary bile acids are ligated to CoA via an ATP-dependent mechanism during the initial steps of 7α-dehydroxylation. The bile acid CoA transferases conserve the thioester bond energy, saving the cell ATP molecules during bile acid 7α-dehydroxylation. ATP-dependent CoA ligation is likely quickly supplanted by ATP-independent CoA transfer.
Construction of a Complete Set of Independent Observables in the General Theory of Relativity

The construction of a complete set of quantities in general relativity, whose functional form is invariant under coordinate transformations, is indicated. The set obtained is highly redundant. The Cauchy problem for obtaining an independent complete set of such quantities ("observables") is therefore discussed. It is also pointed out that the observables obtained may alternatively be viewed as the metric tensor in a special "gauge" (i.e., with a special coordinate condition). This latter viewpoint may facilitate the quantization of general relativity.
Tech Trends We Are Watching in 2015: Health Information Technology Developments

As a new year begins, we look ahead to several important topics that we will closely follow over the next 12 months. The list is certainly not exhaustive, but we believe these topics should be on all hospital pharmacy staff members' radar screens.
A test of stress theory: relief workers in refugee camps

The purpose of this paper is to apply a stress model drawn from the literature to the relief and social service workers who have been active in refugee camps for a prolonged period of time. Working in difficult environments, social service workers deliver essential services to refugee populations around the world. A model of four work-stress determinants--tasks, management, appreciation and collaboration--was tested on 274 social workers in five regions of the Middle East (Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, as well as the occupied Palestinian territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank). Statistical fit indices were adequate but two relationships were statistically insignificant. The collaboration variable was dropped to create a modified model with tasks indirectly and management and appreciation directly affecting work-related stress. The five direct relationships and two indirect relationships of this modified model are consistent with stress theory, and all relationships--direct and indirect--are statistically significant.