cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differentially Private Synthetic Data: Applied Evaluations and Enhancements

Machine learning practitioners frequently seek to leverage the most informative available data, without violating the data owner's privacy, when building predictive models. Differentially private data synthesis protects personal details from exposure, and allows for the training of differentially private machine learning models on privately generated datasets. But how can we effectively assess the efficacy of differentially private synthetic data? In this paper, we survey four differentially private generative adversarial networks for data synthesis. We evaluate each of them at scale on five standard tabular datasets, and in two applied industry scenarios. We benchmark with novel metrics from recent literature and other standard machine learning tools. Our results suggest some synthesizers are more applicable for different privacy budgets, and we further demonstrate complicating domain-based tradeoffs in selecting an approach. We offer experimental learning on applied machine learning scenarios with private internal data to researchers and practitioners alike. In addition, we propose QUAIL, a two model hybrid approach to generating synthetic data. We examine QUAIL's tradeoffs, and note circumstances in which it outperforms baseline differentially private supervised learning models under the same budget constraint.
Measures to Increase Use of Multiple Arterial Grafts for Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background Use of multiple arterial grafts (MAGs) provides superior patency and long-term survival benefit compared with venous grafts during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, MAGs are used infrequently for CABG. We hypothesized that specific measures introduced at our institution would lead to an increase in the use of MAGs. Study Design Use of MAGs before and after introduction of bundled measures was compared. Measures included increased education in arterial graft harvesting, inclusion as a quality metric, and hiring of surgeon champions. Patients younger than 70 years who underwent first time, isolated CABG using at least 1 arterial graft were included. Number and type of grafts used were compared between time periods using chi-square test. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications. Complications were compared between time periods, as well as between MAG and non-MAG recipients before and after propensity score matching using Fisher exact test and univariate logistic regression. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine patient characteristics associated with MAG use. Results There were 2,169 patients included from 2012 to 2019. MAG use increased significantly after introduction of measures (21.1% to 41.9%; p Conclusions A programmatic emphasis on the use of MAGs for CABG is an effective method to increase its use.
EFFECT OF COOLING RATE ON MICROSTRUCTURE AND TENSILE PROPERTIES IN Ti_3Al ALLOY

The microstructure and tensile properties in Ti_3Al alloy rod by forging in the(B2+α_2) region after heating at 1020 and 1150℃ for 30 min and cooling to room temperature at the cooling rates of 10,1.5 and 0.3℃/s were investigated.The results showed that Ti_3Al alloy structure was mainly composed of B2 phase and α_2 phase at the cooling rate of 10℃/s after heating at 1020℃. With the decrease of cooling rate,the acicular α_2/O phase homogeneously precipitated in the matrix on slow cooling.The volume fraction of equiaxed α_2/O phase increased and the acicular α_2/O phase was coarsed under the cooling rate of 0.3℃/s.For room temperature tensile tests,the data indicated that the strength initially increased and then decreased and the ductility firstly decreased and then increased with reducing cooling rate.During the 600℃ tensile tests,the strength decreased monotonically and ductility rose as reducing cooling rate.When solid solution temperature was 1150℃,Ti_3Al alloy was mainly composed of B2 phase and the size of grain was 440μm by fast cooling.Basketweave structure was obtained in the grain at the cooling rate of 1.5℃/s.The α_2/O phase colony precipitated in the B2 phase with further reducing the cooling rate.With the decrease of cooling rate,the strength decreased gradually and ductility initially increased and then decreased at the room temperature,the 600℃ tensile strength firstly went up and then down and ductility increased.Through microstructure analysis,strength in Ti_3Al alloy is controlled by boundary and the size of α_2/O phase,and ductility is decided by the number of B2 phase and α_2/O phase and the shape of α_2/O phase.The good comprehensive properties were obtained at the cooling rate of 1.5℃/s.
Structural Basis for a Dual Function ATP Grasp Ligase That Installs Single and Bicyclic ω-Ester Macrocycles in a New Multicore RiPP Natural Product.

Among the ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) natural products, "graspetides" (formerly known as microviridins) contain macrocyclic esters and amides that are formed by ATP-grasp ligase tailoring enzymes using the side chains of Asp/Glu as acceptors and Thr/Ser/Lys as donors. Graspetides exhibit diverse patterns of macrocylization and connectivities exemplified by microviridins, that have a caged tricyclic core, and thuringin and plesiocin that feature a "hairpin topology" with cross-strand ω-ester bonds. Here, we characterize chryseoviridin, a new type of multicore RiPP encoded by Chryseobacterium gregarium DS19109 (Phylum Bacteroidetes) and solve a 2.44 A resolution crystal structure of a quaternary complex consisting of the ATP-grasp ligase CdnC bound to ADP, a conserved leader peptide and a peptide substrate. HRMS/MS analyses show that chryseoviridin contains four consecutive five- or six-residue macrocycles ending with a microviridin-like core. The crystal structure captures respective subunits of the CdnC homodimer in the apo or substrate-bound state revealing a large conformational change in the B-domain upon substrate binding. A docked model of ATP places the γ-phosphate group within 2.8 A of the Asp acceptor residue. The orientation of the bound substrate is consistent with a model in which macrocyclization occurs in the N- to C-terminal direction for core peptides containing multiple Thr/Ser-to-Asp macrocycles. Using systematically varied sequences, we validate this model and identify two- or three-amino acid templating elements that flank the macrolactone and are required for enzyme activity in vitro. This work reveals the structural basis for ω-ester bond formation in RiPP biosynthesis.
Spatially resolved metabolomic characterization of muscle invasive bladder cancer by mass spectrometry imaging

Muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is an advanced stage of bladder cancer which poses a severe threat to life. Cancer development is usually accompanied by remarkable alterations in cell metabolism, and hence deep insights into MIBC at the metabolomic level can facilitate the understanding of the biochemical mechanisms involved in the cancer development and progression. In this proof-of-concept study, the optimal cutting temperature (OCT)-embedded MIBC samples were first washed with pure water to remove the polymer compounds which could cause severe signal suppression during mass spectrometry. Further, the tissue sections were analyzed by infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (IR-MALDESI MSI), providing an overview on the spatially resolved metabolomic profiles. The MSI data enabled the discrimination between not only the cancerous and normal tissues, but also the subregions within a tissue section associated with different disease states. Using t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE), the hyperdimensional MSI data was mapped into a two-dimensional space to visualize the spectral similarity, providing evidence that metabolomic alterations might have occurred outside the histopathological tumor border. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was further employed to classify sample pathology in a pixel-wise manner, yielding excellent prediction sensitivity and specificity up to 96% based on the statistically characteristic spectral features. The results demonstrate great promise of IR-MALDESI MSI to identify molecular changes derived from cancer and unveil tumor heterogeneity, which can potentially promote the discovery of clinically relevant biomarkers and allow for applications in precision medicine.
Osmotic heat engine (OHE)

Abstract This chapter focuses on pressure-retarded osmosis and osmotic heat engine. Effects of design and operating parameters on specific energy generation, power density, and process efficiency are discussed. Solute selection and possible couplings are reviewed. Outlook of this renewable technology is briefly commented.
How Can Creativity Occur in Multi-Agent Systems?

Complex systems show how surprising and beautiful phenomena can emerge from structures or agents following simple rules. With the recent success of deep reinforcement learning (RL), a natural path forward would be to use the capabilities of multiple deep RL agents to produce emergent behavior of greater benefit and sophistication. In general, this has proved to be an unreliable strategy without significant computation due to the difficulties inherent in multi-agent RL training. In this paper, we propose some criteria for creativity in multi-agent RL. We hope this proposal will give artists applying multi-agent RL a starting point, and provide a catalyst for further investigation guided by philosophical discussion.
Integration and Performance: An Examination of the Marketing/Logistics Interface

Research suggests that organizations with specialized departments perform better when they devote resources to welldefined fimctional interfuces (Galbraith 1973; Lawrence and Lorsch 1967). For example, coordination between marketing and other departments is often required to deliver high quality services to customers (Cespedes 1994, 1996; Day 1994).
The Cervical Spine

Plain radiographs of the cervical spine are the initial imaging modality, where the frontal, lateral, and AP views may be supplemented by additional views (like the “openmouthed” and extension/flexion views) (Fig. 52.1). Screening in spine trauma may begin with plain radiographs as traumatic injuries must be rule out prior to moving the patient for other views and further treatment. Bony evaluation is now more commonly performed with CT which has much higher resolution and can provide multiplanar reformations. MRI is the modality of choice when spinal cord injury or ligamentous or soft tissue injury is suspected. A systematic and thorough review as outlined in the following steps is mandatory.
OoOJava: an out-of-order approach to parallel programming

Developing parallel software using current tools can be challenging. Developers must reason carefully about the use of locks to avoid both race conditions and deadlocks. We present a compiler-assisted approach to parallel programming inspired by out-of-order hardware. In our approach, the developer annotates code blocks as reorder-able to decouple these blocks from the parent thread of execution. OoOJava uses static analysis to extract all data dependences from both variables and data structures to generate an executable that is guaranteed to preserve the behavior of the original sequential code. We have implemented OoOJava and achieved significant speedups for a ray tracer and a K-Means cluster benchmark. The straightforward development model, compiler feedback, and speedups are promising indicators that a simple deterministic parallel programming model with strong guarantees can become mainstream.
Mutations and Mutagenesis

The first problem facing early bacterial geneticists was to prove that bacteria did have inherited traits. The earliest presumption was that bacteria and other microorganisms were too small to have any phenotypic traits that could be studied. That concept was disabused by the work of George Beadle and Edward Tatum, who demonstrated that biochemical reactions could be used as phenotypic traits and then developed the famous “one gene—one enzyme” hypothesis. There was, however, one remaining area of uncertainty regarding bacterial genetics. Many workers thought that the hypothesis of Lamarck regarding inheritance of acquired traits was true for bacteria even though it had already been disproved for animals and plants. The first task of the fledgling science of bacterial genetics was to prove that the same processes of mutation that had already been shown to occur in eukaryotes also occurred in prokaryotes. Recently, this controversy has arisen again in a new and particularly interesting form.
Understanding Environmental Pollution

This undergraduate textbook examines environmental pollution ranging from our homes to the global environment. Completely updated and with over 50% new and rewritten material, this new edition assesses the international scope of pollution, including water, climate change, acidification, energy, solid and hazardous waste, persistent chemicals, and pesticides. The pollutants of current major concern are examined, including plastics and electronic waste. Both the impacts and the sources of pollution are addressed, as well as governmental, corporate, and personal responsibility for pollution. Pollution prevention is emphasized throughout, but students will come to see that prevention is not enough. The text moves on to examine a circular economy with closed-loop systems, where by-products are reused, wastes become raw materials, water is recycled, and energy is recovered from waste energy. Understanding Environmental Pollution engages students with the idea that humanity holds the tools to confronting the daunting pollution issues by considering a circular economy.
Dianionic and trianionic macrocycles in cobalt N-confused porphyrin complexes

We report the syntheses of cobalt N-confused porphyrins; this work completes the series of the late first-row transition metals that have been incorporated into the core of N-confused porphyrin, and in these compounds the macrocycles can act as either a −2 or −3 anion.
The Once and Future Budapest – By Robert Nemes

Buda and Pest, two largely German‐speaking towns divided by the Danube River, became not only the vortex of Hungarian economic life and the population center of Hungary but also one unified Magyar‐...
Acute peritoneal dialysis following ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Abstract Background : Acute renal failure is common after repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Early dialysis has recently been advocated to reduce the mortality associated with multiorgan failure, but hemodialysis (HD) is not well-tolerated in critically ill patients because of hemodynamic instability and risk of bleeding from anticoagulation therapy. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has the advantage in that it causes minimal cardiopulmonary instability and does not require anticoagulation. The presence of a freshly-closed abdominal wound and an aortic graft, however, have previously been considered to be contraindications to PD. Methods : Peritoneal dialysis catheters were placed in 69 of the 105 patients who underwent grafting for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm between 1982 and 1993. Criteria for placement included shock, perioperative oliguria, and preoperative renal insufficiency. All charts were reviewed retrospectively to evaluate the safety and efficacy of placing PD catheters and initiating early dialysis in patients at risk for developing acute renal failure. Results : Acute tubular necrosis developed in 31 patients, 19 of whom required dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis alone provided effective dialysis in 8 patients, and it was combined with hemofiltration and/or HD in 9 additional patients for an overall efficacy of 58%. The peritoneal catheter also facilitated the early diagnosis of peritonitis due to colon ischemia in 5 patients, and was helpful in diagnosing intra-abdominal hemorrhage in 4 others. Bacterial peritonitis occurred in 3 (17%) patients undergoing PD with no cause noted for the infection other than use of the PD catheter. A single aortic graft infection was diagnosed 4.2 years postoperatively with an enteric organism in a patient with recurrent diverticulitis. Two patients with peritoneal catheters developed abdominal wound dehiscence, but neither had undergone PD (P >0.2). In a multivariate analysis, placement of a PD catheter did not affect survival. Conclusions : Placement of a PD catheter at the time of resection of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients at risk for development of acute renal failure is without significant complications and can facilitate early and effective dialysis. The peritoneal dialysis catheter may also be useful in making an early diagnosis of intraperitoneal bleeding and infection.
New evidence on the information content of dividend announcements

Abstract This study presents new evidence on the relationship between dividend announcements and stock price responses, and provides a more comprehensive empirical analysis than that previously found in the literature. We simultaneously test several competing theories regarding the information content of dividends using two types of announcements: dividend initiations and specially designated dividends. The results of our analyses provide strong support for the single signal, cash-flow signalling hypothesis and only weak support for the John and Lang (1991) multiple signal, cash-flow signalling model. Supporting evidence is also presented for the predictions of the free-cash flow hypothesis.
Light-mediated Zn uptake in photosynthetic biofilm

Our experiments conducted under controlled laboratory conditions demonstrate diel uptake and release of zinc (Zn) in lab-cultured biofilm exposed to Zn concentrations that are present in some mining-impacted streams (1–2 mg Zn/l). Specifically, at constant pH, temperature, and aqueous Zn concentrations in the exposure water, biofilm accumulated Zn during the light periods of the photocycle and released Zn during the dark periods of the photocycle. The range of Zn uptake measured in biofilm during one light period in these laboratory experiments (0.6–8.3 mg Zn/g dw biofilm) encompassed the estimated Zn uptake (1.5–3.7 mg Zn/g dw biofilm) necessary to attribute aqueous diel Zn cycling in a mining-impacted stream in Montana (High Ore Creek) to uptake in biofilm. This is relevant to in situ studies of diel Zn cycling because we controlled three important parameters that naturally fluctuate daily in the field, thus demonstrating the potential for biofilm to remove large percentages of Zn from some mining-impacted streams. Researchers, modelers, regulators, and reclamation teams working in metals-contaminated streams should be aware of diel metal cycling, because the highest Zn concentrations (and therefore, perhaps the most toxic conditions) in the water column might occur at night, and the greatest exposure of grazers of phototrophs to dietborne Zn might occur during daylight hours.
Investigation of the kink and hysteresis from 13 K to 30 K in N-channel CMOS transistors with a floating well

Abstract Quasi-static output characteristics of CMOS n -channel MOSFETs in a p -well were investigated in the range 13 K ⩽ T ⩽ 30 K. The “kink” and hysteresis previously reported at 4.2 K were observed over this temperature range for measurements made with the well electrically connected to the source. With the well floating, the kink and hysteresis were observed on only the first trace in each run for 13 K ⩽ T ⩽ 20 K. At 25 and 30 K, a reduced kink and hysteresis are observed. These results are explained in terms of the relaxation time associated with the potential across the well-source junction. This junction becomes forward biased as impact ionization near the drain generates holes which are collected at the source. It was found that the relaxation time increases with decreasing temperature due to decreased junction leakage currents and increased well resistivity. Floating the well also greatly increases the relaxation time by eliminating the external path for carriers from source to well. While the presence of the kink precludes the use of these devices for analog circuits, operation with the well floating with a pre-bias of the well-source junction would appear to make such applications feasible.
Spatial mapping of droplet velocity and size for direct and indirect nebulization in plasma spectrometry

Two novel laser-based imaging techniques centered on particle image velocimetry and optical patternation are used to map and contrast the size and velocity distributions for indirect and direct pneumatic nebulizations in plasma spectrometry. The flow field of droplets is illuminated by two pulses from a thin laser sheet with a known time difference. The scattering of the laser light from droplets is captured by a charge-coupled device (CCD), providing two instantaneous images of the particles. Pointwise cross-correlation of the corresponding images yields a two-dimensional velocity map of the aerosol velocity field. For droplet size distribution studies, the solution is doped with a fluorescent dye and both laser-induced florescence (LIF) and Mie scattering images are captured simultaneously by two CCDs with the same field of view. The ratio of the LIF/Mie images provides relative droplet size information, which is then scaled by a point calibration method via a phase Doppler particle analyzer. Two major ...
Passive solar heating of buildings using a transwall structure

Abstract Passive solar heating systems can utilize a number of design approaches, but the most prominent ones are those employing “direct gain” or a “Trombe thermal storage wall”. In this work we propose a new passive system employing a “transwall”, which is a partially transparent thermal storage wall placed adjacent to a window admitting solar energy. Part of the solar energy is absorbed within the transwall, and the remaining part is transmitted to the interior of the room. The transwall is architecturally more attractive than the completely absorbing Trombe wall, since it admits light to the room and allows the occupants to see out through the window without glare and overheating problems of direct gain systems. Calculations using thermal network models and based on reasonable assumptions for relative comparisons have been used to compare thermal performance of transwall, Trombe wall, and direct gain systems. The analysis shows that the transwall system can be expected to have thermal performance very close to or exceeding the other systems, depending on how effectively convective heat transfer is quenched in the thermal storage medium. The important question of visual clarity for the transwall system has been evaluated for a prototype by photographing a scene with and without optical transmission through the structure. Optical distortion is minimal in the transwall transmission photograph.
Effect of common airway manoeuvres on upper airway dimensions and clinical signs in anaesthetized, spontaneously breathing children.

Chin lift, jaw thrust and these manoeuvres combined with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can be used to improve the patency of the upper airway during general anaesthesia. We used video endoscopy and measurement of stridor to compare the efficacy of these manoeuvres in 24 children (3–10 yr) with adenotonsillar hyperplasia. A bronchofibrescope was passed via the nose while the children were breathing spontaneously, to identify (i) the shortest transverse distance between the tonsils during inspiration and during expiration and (ii) the distance from the tip of the epiglottis to the posterior pharyngeal wall. Chin lift or jaw thrust lifted the epiglottis and, when combined with CPAP (10 cm H2O), there was a significant lateral displacement of the tonsils. Both chin lift plus CPAP and jaw thrust plus CPAP reduced stridor significantly compared with the unsupported condition. In conclusion, in spontaneously breathing children with large tonsils, chin lift plus CPAP is recommended, whereas jaw thrust plus CPAP is no better and may cause post-operative discomfort.
Old‐Young Differences in Consumer Expenditure Patterns

It has been claimed that transfer payments to retired people reduce aggregate private saving. In their attempts to understand this issue, some writers have called for additional research to clarify the spending behavior of the older and younger households. The present paper uses regression analysis to examine the old-young differences in expenditure patterns as revealed by the 1972–73 BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. With data limitations noted, the findings suggest that, for consumer units headed by older (65+) and younger (<65) persons, the marginal and average propensities to spend relative to after-tax income were virtually the same when estimated at the mean values of their respective characteristics, such as after-tax income and family size. The statistical model utilized also suggests that, if given the older units' mean values for these characteristics, the younger group would have exhibited higher propensities to spend than the older.
Problems and Countermeasures on Urban Infrastructure Construction of Shenyang

nfrastructure construction is crucial for urban development. Urban infrastructure construction varies with different development stages, city size, and city characteristics. This thesis first introduces three types of infrastructure construction, including their advantages and disadvantages. And then, four main problems are posed based on the current situation of infrastructure construction in Shenyang. After careful analysis and comparison and a reference to the advanced experience at home and abroad, countermeasures are worked out from both temporal and spatial perspectives, to provide a referential basis for the sustainable development of infrastructure construction in Shenyang.
Adult primary pure teratoma of the testis. The Indiana experience

Background. Pure testicular teratoma in adults is a relatively rare malignant tumor with the ability to invade and metastasize. Pure teratoma generally is believed to be less aggressive and less likely to progress, to present in lower stages, and to have better survival rates then other forms of germ cell tumor. Consequently, clinical stage A patients with pure testicular teratoma commonly have been considered to be managed best by surveillance. Methods. A computerized database search identified 41 patients presenting to Indian University with pure teratoma in the orchiectomy specimen. These patients were further subdivided into four groups based on clinical stage, as follows : Group I, 18 patients with clinical Stage A disease ; Group II, 4 patients with clinical Stages A-B1 disease based on questionable computed tomography findings ; Group III, 3 patients with clinical Stage B1 disease; Group IV, 16 patients with advanced stage (B3-C) disease. The experience with these patients was reviewed. Results. The overall risk of lymph node metastasis in retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) and the risk of relapse after RPLND for patients with low stage pure testicular teratoma (groups I-III) were 40 and 16%, respectively. In patients with clinical Stage A teratoma, the risk of retroperitoneal metastasis in RPLND was 16.7% and the relapse rate was 11.1%. In addition, nearly 37% of referred patients with pure teratoma presented with advanced disease. Conclusions. These data provide additional confirmation of the metastatic potential of pure testicular teratoma. The proper management of the adult clinical stage A patient with primary pure teratoma of the testis should not necessarily differ from the management of any other histologic type of nonseminomatous testicular tumor. Accordingly, histologic diagnosis of pure teratoma should not mandate surveillance. Instead, patients must be given adequate information regarding management options, as are all other patients presenting with clinical Stage A nonseminoma. Cancer 1995 ; 75 :2244-50.
The prevalence and incidence of end-stage renal disease in Native American adults on the Navajo reservation

Whereas members of the Navajo Nation are at high risk for diabetes mellitus, there are no recent published estimates of the burden of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), an important sequela of diabetes, on the Navajo Nation, a 16 million acre area in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah with more than 200000 tribal members. We used data from the US Renal Data System to estimate the prevalence and incidence of ESRD among Native American adults (≥18 years) living on the Navajo Nation. For comparison, we estimated the prevalence and incidence of ESRD among all adults in the US, all Native American adults in the US, and Native American adults living in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado excluding those living on the Navajo Nation. The age-adjusted prevalence of ESRD in the Native American adults on the Navajo Nation was 0.63%, which was higher than in the US adults (0.19%, P P P P P P
A Frequency Domain Approach to Nonlinear and Structure Identification for Long Memory Systems: Application to Lung Mechanics

From the input–output point of view, many nonlinear biological systems display long memory characteristics which can become a critical issue using nonparametric time-domain kernel identification due to inevitable truncation of memory length. To avoid these limitations, we present an alternative approach in the frequency domain with application to lung mechanics. Generally, if the system is excited with a periodic wave form, the response will approach a steady state which dominates the long memory transients. Thus, we hypothesized that the kernels at discrete frequencies will not be significantly affected by memory truncation. To test this, we extended the frequency kernel analysis of Victor and Shapley (Biophys. J. 29:459–484, 1980) to a nonwhite input spectrum and developed a new structure test in the frequency domain to differentiate between Wiener and Hammerstein models. These techniques were applied to measured pressure–flow data of isolated lung lobes. The results showed that (1) the important nonlinearities in the pressure–flow relation are of second order, (2) the frequency kernels of the lobes were similar for flat and ventilatory-like input spectra, and (3) the structure test strongly suggested that the pressure–flow relationship during tidal-like excursions is consistent with a Wiener structure. © 1999 Biomedical Engineering Society.
Sharing Public Health Information with Non-Public Health Partners

The objective of this project is to provide a technical mechanism for information to be easily and securely shared between public health ESSENCE users and non-public health partners; specifically, emergency management, law enforcement, and the first responder community. Officials from across the National Capital Region (NCR) in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia worked with the ESSENCE team to determine the best way for information to be securely posted, tagged, and searched in an easily navigable site.
The normative discourse of anti-doping policy

Despite the progress made towards integrating global anti-doping efforts, the use of performance-enhancing substances in sport remains a legitimate, if misunderstood, concern. While public attitudes have become increasingly tolerant towards methods of performance enhancement in everyday matters, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and its related organizations continue to take a strong prohibitive stance against performance enhancement in sport. This study employs methods of critical discursive analysis in an investigation of the World Anti-Doping Code. While research in this area has become somewhat prolific, systematic analyses of this type are few. The text of the World Anti-Doping Code was analysed for the evidence of discursive themes, which were then combined and interpreted to produce more comprehensive discourses. The findings of this study suggest two major discourses to which the text in question contributes: a discourse of authority, and a normative discourse of sport. These discourses produce ...
Possible thermochemical disequilibrium in the atmosphere of the exoplanet GJ 436b

Here, the atmosphere of the extrasolar planet GJ 436b is studied during its 'secondary eclipse'. The findings reveal the presence of some H2O and traces of CO2. The best-fit compositional models contain a high CO abundance and a substantial methane deficiency relative to thermochemical equilibrium models for the predicted hydrogen-dominated atmosphere. Disequilibrium processes such as vertical mixing and polymerization of methane may be required to explain this small methane-to-CO ratio.
FTY720 prevents GVHD: the host perspective

In this issue of Blood , Taylor and colleagues report that FTY720 hinders the initiation of GVHD by reducing the number of host DCs in the spleen, rather than by trapping T cells in secondary lymphoid tissues. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a biologically active lysophospholipid that controls
Study of the electrochromic film-solid electrolyte film interface (WO3/Ta2O5) by impedance measurements

Abstract We have performed impedance measurements on WO3/Ta2O5 thin film multilayer structures as a function of frequency and bias voltage. The impedance behavior was found to be dominated by the water related ion motions at the interface. The impedance was found to decrease rapidly with bias voltage under both polarities. The data were explained by the polarization of bound water molecules at the interface in the applied field.
Structure of the lipid-linked oligosaccharides that accumulate in class E Thy-1-negative mutant lymphomas

Abstract Studies reported in the preceding paper (Trowbridge and Hyman, 1979) have demonstrated that Thy-1 − mutant lymphoma cells of the class E complementation group lack the normal high molecular weight lipid-linked oligosaccharide, but instead accumulate two smaller species termed I and II. This paper reports studies which elucidate the structures of lipid-linked oligosaccharides I and II. By subjecting oligosaccharides radiolabeled with 3 H-mannose, 3 H-glucose or 3 H-glucosamine to methylation, acetolysis, periodate oxidation and exoglycosidase digestion, the structures were shown to be: where R=GlcNac B1,4(3) GlcNAc. A comparison of I and II with lipid-linked oligosaccharides from normal Chinese hamster ovary cells indicates that both I and II are normal biosynthetic intermediates. On the basis of these data we suggest that the defect in the class E mutant cells is the lack of an α1,3 mannosyltransferase involved in the conversion of the Man 5 GlcNAc 2 lipid-linked oligosaccharide to the Man 6 GlcNAc 2 intermediate. It is also impossible that the same enzyme is involved in conversion of the Glc 3 Man 5 GlcNAc 2 lipid-linked oligosaccharide to Glc 3 Man 6 GlcNAc 2 . The latter reaction, however, has not yet been demonstrated in normal cells.
The role of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid in the initiation of immunoglobulin peptide chains.

Abstract Incorporation studies with intact mouse myeloma cells have been carried out to establish whether the N-terminal residue of nascent immunoglobulin heavy chains has a free NH 2 -group or is pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA). The myeloma cells incorporate actively glutamine, whereas they do not incorporate PCA. The lack of incorporation of PCA is probably due to impermeability of the cell membrane. The presence of PCA in the terminal position of growing peptide chains in membrane-bound polyribosomes of myeloma cells incubated with [ 14 C] glutamine has been assayed by two different methods. Digestion with pronase, followed by chromatography of the digest on Dowex-50, failed to provide unequivocal results. Direct reaction of the polyribosome-bound peptide chains with fluorodinitrobenzene, followed by hydrolysis and separation of the dinitrophenyl-amino acids, showed that some chains have an NH 2 -terminal glutamic acid or glutamine. These results are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that PCA can serve as the initiator amino acid in the biosynthesis of immunoglobulin peptide chains.
Proton spectra in high-energy nuclear collisions

Abstract Inclusive proton spectra arising from high-energy nuclear collisions are calculated in a simple NΔπ cascade model. Good agreement is obtained with the data generated by 800 MeV/n Ne projectiles.
Academic and business partnerships to enhance digital government research

Kimberly Nelson is Executive Director for eGovernment at Microsoft Corporation where she is helping develop Microsoft's e-government strategy. She will talk about how Microsoft is working with partners to establish long-term strategies for more efficient and cost-effective online services and government solutions.Ms. Nelson will discuss some of the trends that are impacting government policy makers today -- increasingly mobile work forces, heightened demands for collaboration among government agencies, and the changing demographics of the people we serve and those who serve them, and the rise of "Government by Networks."She will talk about policies and tools that the workforce of the future will need -- to meet changes that are expected within organizations for both internal and external service delivery and effective decision making. Included in this discussion is the evolution from traditional eGovernment services to a true Digital Society.Finally, Ms Nelson will discuss the interdisciplinary nature of the today's workforce -- governments, businesses and academia working together to solve government's toughest problems with an emphasis on academic and business partnerships to enhance digital government research.
Striatal atrophy and dendritic alterations in a knock-in mouse model of Huntington's disease.

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive atrophy of the striatum, cerebral cortex, and white matter tracks. Major pathological hallmarks of HD include neuronal loss, primarily in the striatum, and dendritic anomalies in surviving striatal neurons. Although many mouse models of HD have been generated, their success at reproducing all pathological features of the disease is not fully known. Previously, we demonstrated extensive striatal neuronal loss and striatal atrophy at 20–26 months of age in a knock-in (KI) mouse model of HD. To further investigate this model, which carries a human exon 1 with ~119 CAG repeats inserted into the mouse gene (initially 140 repeats), we have examined whether these mice exhibit the atrophy and neuronal anomalies characteristic of HD. Stereological analyses revealed no changes in the striatal volume of male and female homozygote mice at 4 months, however striatal atrophy was already present at 12 months in both sexes. Analysis of cortical and corpus callosum volume in male homozygotes revealed a loss in corpus callosum volume by 20–26 months. At this later age, the surviving striatal neurons displayed extensive loss of spines in distal branch orders that affected both immature and mature spines. Mirroring late stage HD striatal neuronal morphology, the striatal neurons at this late age also showed reduced dendritic complexity, as revealed by Sholl analysis. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity was also decreased in the striatum of 20–26 month old KI mice, suggesting an alteration in striatal inputs. These data further indicate that CAG140 homozygote KI mice exhibit HD-like pathological features and are a useful model to test the effects of early and/or sustained administration of novel neuroprotective treatments.
Expression of Functional Estrogen Receptor β in Locus Coeruleus-Derived Cath.a Cells

Estrogen may have an important role in the brain beyond the development and regulation of reproductive function. Gender differences in the incidence of depression suggest that regulation of mood represents one such action. The locus coeruleus, a brain stem noradrenergic nucleus implicated in mood regulation, concentrates [3H]estradiol, but expression of the two estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes (ERα and ERβ) varies across species. Further, the role of each subtype in estrogen action on noradrenergic neurons is unknown. We examined the expression of ERs in the Cath.a (central-adrenergic-tyrosine-hydroxylase-expressing) cell line derived from mouse brain stem and found that they express ERβ protein but not ERα protein. Transient transfection assays using an estrogen-responsive reporter gene indicate that ERβ is functional. The pure estrogen antagonist ICI 182,780 completely abolished estrogen’s effects. Selective ER modulator results suggest that ER in Cath.a cells behaves in a manner consistent with ERβ phar...
Effect of clinical and subclinical mastitis on lipid composition of teat canal keratin.

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to investigate lipid composition of teat canal keratin when different conditions of bacterial colonization and quarter inflammation were present. In Experiment 1, 11 multiparous cows with subclinical mastitis (bacteria present but no visible inflammation) in at least one quarter were selected for study. Quarters that were sampled and found negative for bacterial growth were classified as control. In Experiment 2, 10 multiparous cows with clinical mastitis in one or more quarters were selected. Milk samples from inflamed quarters were cultured to identify mastitis pathogens; these quarters were classified as clinical; all other quarters were classified as control. Teat canal keratin was collected from all quarters just before an a.m. milking, samples were weighed, and lipid determinations were conducted by TLC. Keratin from subclinical quarters compared with keratin from control quarters did not differ in either neutral lipid or fatty acid composition. Total lipid was significantly higher in keratin from teats of clinical quarters than in keratin from control quarters (27.8 vs. 21.5μg/mg). Neutral lipid composition of keratin was similar between teats from clinical quarters and teats from control quarters. In Experiment 2, quarter foremilk samples were also obtained to determine lipid composition. The FFA in milk from clinical quarters contained fewer short-chain fatty acids, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids were significantly higher in milk from clinical quarters.
Statins, bone, and neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a dominantly inherited multi-system disorder. Major features include pigmentary abnormalities, benign tumors of the nerve sheath (neurofibromas), malignant tumors, learning disabilities, and skeletal dysplasia. The NF1 gene functions as a tumor suppressor, but haploinsuffiency probably accounts for some aspects of the non-tumor phenotype. The protein product, neurofibromin, is a Ras GTPase-activating protein, and various Ras pathway inhibitors are being tested in preclinical models and clinical trials for effectiveness in treating NF1 complications. This month in BMC Medicine, a paper by Kolanczyk et al describes a preclinical mouse model for tibial dysplasia and provides evidence that the drug lovastatin – in use to treat cardiovascular disease – may be beneficial, opening the door to clinical trials in humans.
Immunology Taught by Humans

After a half-century of mouse-dominated research, human immunology is making a comeback. Informed by mouse studies and powered by new techniques, human immune research is both advancing disease treatment and providing new insights into basic biology.
Religion as a Meaning System: Implications for the New Millennium

Every human action, ranging from benevolence to inhumane violence has been justified in the name of religion, which has been a pervasive feature of human life throughout history. This article describes religion as a meaning system that is unique in centering on what is perceived as sacred, and in its special ability to address the quest for meaning. The article recommends the meaning system approach for the study of religion, suggesting that this approach can illuminate the resiliency of religion, and its complicated relations with individual and societal well-being. It describes the outline of the volume, and concludes with recommendations for research, education, and policies in the arena of religion that can facilitate well-being in the new millennium.
Synthesis and magnetic properties of bis[2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propionato]copper(II)

Abstract This paper reports the synthesis and magnetic properties of the copper(II) complex of the antiinflammatory drug ibuprofen which is 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid. Cryomagnetic and EPR measurements on bis[2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propionato]copper(II) indicate the compound to be dimeric with a structure such as that for copper acetate. A least-squares fitting procedure yielded the magnetic parameters g = 2.17 and 2J = − 339 cm −1 .
Theoretical aspects and practical implications of the heuristic drift SOL model

Abstract The heuristic drift (HD) model for the tokamak power scrape-off layer width provides remarkable agreement in both absolute magnitude and scalings with the measured width of the exponential component of the heat flux at divertors targets, in low gas-puff H-Mode tokamaks. This motivates further exploration of its theoretical aspects and practical implications. The HD model requires a small non-ambipolar electron particle diffusivity ∼10−2 m2/s. It also implies large parallel heat flux in ITER and suggests that more radical approaches will be needed to handle the ∼20 GW/m2 parallel heat flux expected in Demo. Remarkably, the HD model is also in good agreement with recent near-SOL heat flux profiles measured in a number of limiter L-Mode experiments, implying ubiquity of the underlying mechanism. Finally, the HD model suggests that the H-Mode and more generally Greenwald density limit may be caused by MHD instability in the SOL, rather than originating in the core plasma or pedestal. If the SOL width in stellarators is set by magnetic topology rather than by drifts, this would be consistent with the absence of the Greenwald density limit in stellarators.
Dynamics of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in actin-rich structures.

Abstract Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P 2 ) is known to regulate a wide range of molecular targets and cellular processes, from ion channels to actin polymerization [1–6]. Recent studies have used the phospholipase C-δ1 (PLC-δ1) pleckstrin-homology (PH) domain fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a detector for PI(4,5)P 2 in vivo [7–10]. Although these studies demonstrated that PI(4,5)P 2 is concentrated in the plasma membrane, its association with actin-containing structures was not reported. In the present study, fluorescence imaging of living NIH-3T3 fibroblasts expressing the PLC-δ1 PH domain linked to enhanced green fluorescent protein (PH–EGFP) reveals intense, non-uniform fluorescence in distinct structures at the cell periphery. Corresponding fluorescence and phase-contrast imaging over time shows that these fluorescent structures correlate with dynamic, phase-dense features identified as ruffles and with microvillus-like protrusions from the cell's dorsal surface. Imaging of fixed and permeabilized cells shows co-localization of PH–EGFP with F-actin in ruffles, but not with vinculin in focal adhesions. The selective concentration of the PH–EGFP fusion protein in highly dynamic regions of the plasma membrane that are rich in F-actin supports the hypothesis that localized synthesis and lateral segregation of PI(4,5)P 2 spatially restricts actin polymerization and thereby affects cell spreading and retraction.
Strain rate sensitive behavior of wollastonite-reinforced ethylene-propylene copolymer composites

Abstract A comparative study of the effect of strain rate on plastic deformation behavior of neat ethylene–propylene copolymer (EP) and wollastonite-reinforced ethylene–propylene copolymer composite (EP-W) is made in terms of strain rate sensitivity index. EP and EP-W exhibit low- and high-strain rate sensitive regimes characterized by distinct deformation features. EP is characterized by wedging that leads to predominantly fibrillated mode of fracture in association with ductile ploughing, while EP-W is characterized by wedge and ridge micromechanism of deformation. The final fracture in EP-W occurs by a combination of fibrillated and brittle mode of deformation.