cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Medical Students During a Pandemic: A Duty or a Choice

During a pandemic, it is unclear whether medical student participation in clinical responsibilities should be mandatory or voluntary. While many students have shown an interest in participating in the response to disasters, including pandemics, the number is not one hundred percent. This eagerness to serve should be lauded and appreciated, but it must not be misconstrued with a duty to act when one does not reasonably exist. It has long been held that physicians, as professionals, hold a duty to act because of their responsibility to society. Ethicists argue that, even when risks to the physician are present, their unique ability to heal supersedes these risks to themselves. From this, it can be assumed that the duty to heal for a student should be determined by their individual abilities as well as the ways in which they would be able to assist during the pandemic. A thoughtful ethical analysis leads to two possible positions regarding the duty of a medical student. In the first position, students are seen as either not having the same abilities as physicians or as existing on a spectrum between lay-people and physicians. In either case, students could not have the same duties as physicians if they did not have the same abilities, though one could argue that they should practice up to their current abilities just as physicians are required to. According to the second view, which is based on philosopher Judith Jarvis Thomson’s analysis of obligation, it is mandatory that everyone do what they can to avoid moral indecency (Figure 1). In this case, students have a duty to act up to their current abilities, and to do otherwise would be indecent when the state of the world requires their assistance (Figure 2). To prevent students who want to volunteer simply due to their role as a trainee should be seen as unethical. Rather, in order to avoid moral indecency, we should carefully weigh the benefit each specific student can bring given their level of training to the amount of supervision required for their activities.
A Regulatory Wake-Up Call: Lessons From BP’s Deepwater Horizon Disaster

When BP’s Macondo well blew out on April 21, 2010, it set the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig on fire, killed eleven workers, and created the nation’s single worst environmental disaster. It also ripped away the veneer of safety that had cloaked offshore drilling, exposing the massive risks involved in drilling for offshore oil in very deep water—risks government regulators and the public had been persuaded to forget. Yet, even as dead sea turtles,
HPV-Associated Anal Cancer Knowledge, Attitudes, and Health Communication Behaviors Among Non-clinical Providers at HIV/AIDS Service Organizations in Southern United States Region.

Co-infection with HIV/HPV and bio-behavioral risk factors (e.g., immunodeficiency, un-protected sex) increase likelihood for developing anal and other HPV-associated cancers among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). We explored knowledge, attitudes, and health communication regarding HPV-associated anal cancers among HIV/AIDS service organization (ASO) employees/volunteers delivering non-clinical services to PLWHA. Participants (n=59) were recruited from six ASOs located in the South United States Census region and completed a 118-item self-administered survey. For current analyses, outcome measures were knowledge, attitudes, and health communication regarding anal cancer. Descriptive statistics assessed outcome measures which were subsequently dichotomized into binary variables (i.e., high/favorable or low/unfavorable). Fisher’s exact test examined associations between outcome measures and ASO employees/volunteers’ sex/sexual orientation (i.e., heterosexual female, heterosexual male, LGBTI female, LGBTI male). Mean age for ASO employees/volunteers was 45.5 years (±13.5 SD). Participants were heterosexual females (45.7%), LGBTI males (27.3%), heterosexual males (13.5%), and LGBTI females (13.5%). Almost half (44.8%) had not heard about anal Pap screening and 39.0% did not think HPV can cause anal cancer. Overall, 73.9% had low knowledge scores. Participants (47.4%) were unsure or believed HPV vaccinations were non-protective against anal cancer while 94.9% had favorable health communication behaviors. Knowledge regarding anal cancer being linked to HPV (p=0.006) and health information seeking on anal cancer (p=0.000) were statistically significantly different by sex/sexual orientation. Fostering increased knowledge, favorable attitudes, and improved health communication behaviors among ASO employees/volunteers could facilitate dissemination and promotion of anal cancer prevention strategies (anal Pap screenings, HPV vaccinations) among PLWHA.
Exploration of Energy-Efficient Architecture for Graph-Based Point-Cloud Deep Learning

Deep learning on point clouds has attracted increasing attention in the fields of 3D computer vision and robotics. In particular, graph-based point-cloud deep neural networks (DNNs) have demonstrated promising performance in 3D object classification and scene segmentation tasks. However, the scattered and irregular graph-structured data in a graph-based point-cloud DNN cannot be computed efficiently by existing SIMD architectures and accelerators. Following a review of the challenges of point-cloud DNN and the key edge convolution operation, we provide several directions in optimizing the processing architecture, including computation model, data reuse, and data locality, for achieving an effective acceleration and an improved energy efficiency.
The Effect of Nominal Antigen and Ia Molecule Concentrations on the Magnitude of the Proliferative Response of T Cell Clones

Activation of antigen-specific regulatory T lymphocytes requires concomitant recognition of both the nominal (foreign) antigen and self Ia molecules. The response of T cells specific for the globular protein antigen pigeon cytochrome c in H-2 congenic B10.A (H-2a) and B10.S (9R)(H-2t4) mice has previously been shown to occur in the context of the homologous I-A/E β k :I-E α k and I-A/E β s :I-E α k Ia molecules, for which the beta (β) chains are encoded within the I-A subregion and the alpha (α) chains are encoded within the I-E subregion of the H-2 gene complex (1). Furthermore, the magnitude of the in vitro proliferative response of pigeon cytochrome c-specific long term T cell lines was shown to be a function of both the nominal antigen concentration and the amount of Ia molecules expressed on the antigen presenting cell (APC) (2). An interesting aspect of the dose-response curves obtained with these lines was an observed decrease in responsiveness at high antigen concentrations. Pigeon cytochrome c-specific T cell clones were derived from the long term lines and the antigen dose response curves of these clones were also consistently characterized by a peak proliferation followed by a decrease in the magnitude of the proliferative response at higher antigen concentrations (3). An example of this phenomenon is shown by the data in Figure 1, which represent the antigen dose responses of B10.A T cell clone A3.G4 in the presence of B10.A and B10.S(9R) APCs.
Association between insurance and socioeconomic status and risk of advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma in adolescents and young adults.

BACKGROUND: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is one of the most common types of cancer among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in the United States. Unfortunately, a greater percentage of AYAs are presenting with an advanced stage of disease at the time of diagnosis compared with their younger counterparts. METHODS: The objective of the current study was to examine the association between possible barriers and characteristics (including gender, race, birthplace, marital status, socioeconomic status [SES], and insurance status) that may increase the risk of advanced stage HL at the time of diagnosis in a large cohort of AYA patients with HL from the California Cancer Registry (7343 incident cases of HL diagnosed from 1988-2006, between ages 15 years-40 years). RESULTS: AYAs with advanced stage HL were more likely to be male, of Hispanic or black race/ethnicity, foreign born, single, of lower SES, and uninsured or to have only public health insurance (P < .05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that there was a significant increase in the odds of having advanced HL in males (odds ratio [OR], 1.57; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.42-1.74 [P < .0001]), those with the lowest SES (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.23-1.75 [P = .0003]), those without health insurance (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.34-2.31 [P < .0001]), and those with public health insurance (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.23-1.71 [P < .0001]). CONCLUSIONS: A strong association was found between male gender, lower SES, and lack of health insurance and advanced stage HL at the time of diagnosis in AYAs (See editorial on pages 000–000, this issue.) Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Thiamine-induced formation of the monopyrrole moiety of prodigiosin.

Thiamine stimulates the production of a red pigment, which is chromatographically and spectrophotometrically identical to prodigiosin, by growing cultures of Serratia marcescens mutant 9-3-3. This mutant is blocked in the formation of 2-methyl-3-amylpyrrole (MAP), the monopyrrole moiety of prodigiosin, but accumulates 4-methoxy-2,2,′-bipyrrole-5-carboxaldehyde (MBC) and can couple this compound with MAP to form prodigiosin. Addition of thiamine caused production of MAP, and as little as 0.02 mg of thiamine per ml in a peptone-glycerol medium stimulated production of measurable amounts of prodigiosin. Phosphate salts and another type of peptone decreased the thiamine-induced formation of prodigiosin; yeast extract and glycerol enhanced the formation of this substance. Thiamine also enhanced production of prodigiosin by wild-type strain Nima of S. marcescens. The thiamine antagonists, oxythiamine and pyrithiamine, inhibited thiamine-induced production of MAP and of prodigiosin by the mutant strain 9-3-3, formation of prodigiosin by the wild-type strain Nima, and production of MAP by another mutant, strain WF. The pyrimidine moiety of thiamine was only 10% as effective as the vitamin; the thiazole moiety, only 4%; and the two moieties together, 25%. Various other vitamins tested did not stimulate formation of prodigiosin by strain 9-3-3. Thiamine did not stimulate production of prodigiosin by a single-step mutant that showed the same phenotypic block in prodigiosin biosynthesis as strain 9-3-3. This is not surprising since strain 9-3-3 originated as a result of two mutational events. One event may involve thiamine directly, and the other may involve the biosynthesis of MAP. Thiamine is probably involved in the regulation of the biosynthesis of MAP, because the vitamin or inhibitory antagonists must be added during the early phases of growth in order to be effective.
A Microscopic Model for Catalyst Surfaces. II. Supported Catalysts.

Abstract A new “pebbly surface” model of supported metal catalysts is presented which can explain observed multiplicity and oscillatory behaviour of catalyst particles. This model combines the dynamic behavior of the individual metal crystallites on the surface of the support with diffusion and heat transfer processes in the porous particle. The bifurcation of oscillations is analyzed in terms of relaxation oscillations as well as by Hopf's theorem and it is shown how the bifurcation phenomena depend on the system parameters. The parameter study may be used to suggest operating conditions and catalyst design parameters such that sintering effects may be reduced. Qualitative comparisons with data for carbon monoxide oxidation at various temperatures show very good agreement; however, this present simple form of the pebbly surface model seems unable to predict the long period oscillations observed in hydrogen oxidation.
Audit Independence and Objectivity: Evidence from the Chinese National Audit Office

Independence and objectivity are essential credibility elements for the audit reports. A lack of literature on the independence of the Chinese National Audit Office (CNAO) prompted this paper to fill the void. Based on the audit reports submitted to the Chinese Congress, the CNAO has exhibited its rigorousness in the audit approaches, and its independence and objectivity. Despite the varying length of the reports, these reports comply with the auditing standards on audit reports stipulated by the CNAO. The findings benefit both the government and private audits, within and outside China. Future research could include longitudinal studies on the reports, and the economic and financial implications of these reports to the Congress and auditees. Cross border comparisons, in particular among the emerging economies, will add benefits to the policy makers and audit profession.
A combined approach to data mining of textual and structured data to identify cancer-related targets

Background: We present an effective, rapid, systematic data mining approach for identifying genes or proteins related to a particular interest. A selected combination of programs exploring PubMed abstracts, universal gene/protein databases (UniProt, InterPro, NCBI Entrez), and stateof-the-art pathway knowledge bases (LSGraph and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis) was assembled to distinguish enzymes with hydrolytic activities that are expressed in the extracellular space of cancer cells. Proteins were identified with respect to six types of cancer occurring in the prostate, breast, lung, colon, ovary, and pancreas. Results: The data mining method identified previously undetected targets. Our combined strategy applied to each cancer type identified a minimum of 375 proteins expressed within the extracellular space and/or attached to the plasma membrane. The method led to the recognition of human cancer-related hydrolases (on average, ~35 per cancer type), among which were prostatic acid phosphatase, prostate-specific antigen, and sulfatase 1. Conclusion: The combined data mining of several databases overcame many of the limitations of querying a single database and enabled the facile identification of gene products. In the case of cancer-related targets, it produced a list of putative extracellular, hydrolytic enzymes that merit additional study as candidates for cancer radioimaging and radiotherapy. The proposed data mining strategy is of a general nature and can be applied to other biological databases for understanding biological functions and diseases.
Aspect-Oriented Programming of Sparse Matrix Code

The expressiveness conferred by high-level and object-oriented languages is often impaired by concerns that cross-cut a program's basic functionality. Execution time, data representation, and numerical stability are three such concerns that are of great interest to numerical analysts. Using aspect-oriented programming we have created AML, a system for sparse matrix computation that deals with these concerns separately and explicitly while preserving the expressiveness of the original functional language. The resulting code maintains the efficiency of highly tuned low-level code, yet is ten times shorter.
The Strength of Very Slender Beams

Response to lateral loads and twisting couples is affected by presence of bending moments in plane of major stiffness; resulting nonlinear theory discussed; inclusion of nonlinear terms in strain displacement relations corresponds generally to stiffening of structure as compared with familiar linear theory; theory presented is corroborated experimentally with fair degree of accuracy.
High-Throughput Screening of Surface Marker Expression on Undifferentiated and Differentiated Human Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells

Adipose tissue contains an abundant source of multipotent mesenchymal cells termed “adipose-derived stromal cells” (ASCs) that hold potential for regenerative medicine. However, the heterogeneity inherent to ASCs harvested using standard methodologies remains largely undefined, particularly in regards to differences across donors. Identifying the subpopulations of ASCs predisposed toward differentiation along distinct lineages holds value for improving graft survival, predictability, and efficiency. Human ASCs (hASCs) from three different donors were independently isolated by density-based centrifugation from adipose tissue and maintained in culture or differentiated along either adipogenic or osteogenic lineages using differentiation media. Undifferentiated and differentiated hASCs were then analyzed for the presence of 242 human surface markers by flow cytometry analysis. By comprehensively characterizing the surface marker profile of undifferentiated hASCs using flow cytometry, we gained novel insights...
Enhanced techniques for improved ADS-B messages reception

ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast) is a key enabler for current and especially future ATM (Air Traffic Management) surveillance applications. The ADS-B communication link, 1090 MHz channel, suffers from congested environment, which may negatively impact the performance of corresponding surveillance applications. This paper presents several mitigation techniques, evaluated in SESAR Project 9.21 “ADS-B - 1090 Higher Performance Study”, that can be used to improve the surveillance performance even in the presence of interference.
Occupational Therapy Workforce in the United States: Forecasting Nationwide Shortages

Abstract Background As the baby boomer generation retires in growing numbers, the demand for occupational therapists specializing in geriatrics will be particularly strong. Currently, there is evidence that a workforce shortage exists in the field of occupational therapy (OT), and few studies have been published in this area to systematically examine the status of the OT workforce. Objective To examine current and future OT job surplus/shortage trends within the United States. Design Forecast models and grading methodology were developed to evaluate individual state OT job shortages from 2008 to 2030. Setting Not applicable. Participants Not applicable. Main Outcome Measurements OT shortages, OT shortage ratios, and a report card were generated and compared among the 50 states in the United States. Results On the basis of current trends, demand for OT services will outpace the supply of occupational therapists within the United States. Shortages are expected to increase for all 50 states through 2030. The number of states with a grade D or below will increase from 3 in 2010, to 18 in 2020, to 37 in 2030, respectively. By 2030, the 3 states with the greatest shortage ratios will be Arizona, Hawaii, and Utah. The 3 states with the largest OT shortages (the number of OT jobs) will be California, Florida, and Texas. States in the northeast are projected to have the smallest shortages whereas states in the south and west are projected to have the largest shortages. Conclusion This study serves to provide health care professionals, policy makers, and stakeholders with a means of assessing current and future OT needs. Discussion of the issues surrounding OT shortages and ongoing assessment of supply and demand must ensue to mitigate the projected shortages.
Identifying subpopulations of thymic epithelial cells by flow cytometry using a new specific thymic epithelial marker, Ly110.

Abstract We generated monoclonal antibodies reacting to a mouse thymic epithelial cell specific membrane protein, Thymic Stromal Co-transporter (TSCOT)/Ly110. These antibodies showed specificity to the peptide sequences derived from TSCOT/Ly110 determined by specific peptide inhibition in flow cytometric analyses with cells expressing the protein on the surface. TSCOT/Ly110 expressing subpopulation can be identified among the CDR1 + or 6C3 + cortical epithelial cells. Furthermore, CDR1 positive cortical thymic epithelial cells can be separated into further distinguishable populations; CDR1 + 6C3 + Ly110 + , CDR1 + 6C3 − / low Ly110 + , CDR1 + Ly110 − . Some of TSCOT/Ly110 expressing cells negative for both CDR1 and 6C3 markers were found at the earlier stages of development, while most of the cells are positive for both at 1-week-old stage. After then, downregulation in 6C3 and/or CDR1 expression was noticed until 16 weeks of age. These results suggest that TSCOT/Ly110 is a new marker for the subpopulation of CDR1 + or 6C3 + epithelial cells in the neonatal and adult thymus and is useful for the studies on the epithelial cell differentiation process.
Degradation of reducing sugars and related compounds by alkaline hydrogen peroxide in the presence and absence of iron and magnesium salts

Abstract Traces of either ferrous or ferric salts greatly increase the rate of the stepwise degradation of reducing sugars by alkaline hydrogen peroxide, as measured by formation of formic acid; addition of larger proportions of iron salts causes relatively smaller effects. The results showed that, unless unusually strict precautions are taken to exclude traces of iron, the free-radical cleavage of the hydroperoxide adducts of reducing sugars is far more rapid than the ionic cleavage. The catalytic effect of iron salts is counteracted by addition of magnesium salts. With d -glucose, inhibition of the catalytic effect of iron by magnesium depends on both the magnesium-iron ratio and the concentration at a given ratio. Measurements with various molar proportions of the salts indicated that a magnesium-iron complex, containing six atoms of magnesium to one of iron, is formed. Presumably, removal of iron by formation of this complex inhibits the free-radical degradation of hydroperoxide adducts. In marked contrast to the results obtained with reducing sugars, the degradation of potassium glyoxylate and of glyoxal by alkaline hydrogen peroxide is extremely rapid, and not catalyzed by iron or inhibited by magnesium. The results are in accord with an ionic, rather than a free-radical, cleavage of the hydroperoxide adducts of these compounds. The rapidity of the ionic reaction may be attributed to the ready availability of an electron pair from the adjoining carbon atom.
Aging and Memory for Numerical Information: The Role of Specificity and Expertise in Associative Memory

In order to examine the nature of associative memory deficits in old age, the present study examined how younger and older adults link numerical and object information to other items. The hypothesis was that there would be large age differences for numerical information caused by the arbitrariness and specificity of this type of information, but that this could be reduced by expertise. Participants studied sentences that contained numeric quantity, object, and location information (e.g., 26 cherries in the bowl); they were later cued with the location and had to recall the object and quantity. In general, there were significant age differences for quantity recall but negligible age differences for recall of related objects but not unrelated objects. However, a group of older retired accountants and bookkeepers showed exceptional memory for quantity information. The findings suggest that the associative deficit in old age is based on the linking of specific arbitrary information.
The isolation and characterization of plasma membrane from cultured cells. V. The chemical composition of plasma membranes isolated from chicken tumors initiated with virus-transformed cells.

Abstract Sarcomas were initiated in chicken muscle and wing web by Bratislava 77 and morph r Fujinami virus. Plasma membrane was isolated from the virus-induced tumor cells by differential centrifugation and flotation equilibrium centrifugation. The levels of neutral sugar and sialic acid in these isolated plasma membranes were very similar to the levels found in cultured chick embryo fibroblasts transformed in vitro with the same oncogenic viruses and differed markedly from the levels found in uninfected and leukosis virus-infected fibroblasts. The phospholipid content of the isolated cell membranes from tumors was less than the quantity of lipid found in the plasma membrane of cultured cells and differed with the site of the tumor. Breast muscle tumors contained less plasma membrane phospholipid than did wing tumors. The similarities in the neutral sugar and the sialic acid content of these two different sources of plasma membrane indicate that oncogenic transformation in cell culture reproduces in situ neoplastic change to a large extent, for at least this one parameter of cell surface change.
Performance of the COD statistical packet multiplexor using optical loss compensation

Optically transparent time-division multiplexors and switches can be used to create terabit packet-switched networks. Cascaded optical delay (COD) multiplexors are modular, buffered 2:1 statistical packet multiplexors build from 'smart' crossbars and fiber delay lines. We have implemented the fundamental unit of COD multiplexors, a memoryless 2:1 packet multiplexor. It accepts fixed-length packets. It is designed to handle slotted and unslotted traffic, so it does not require network synchronization. This multiplexor has been built using off-the-shelf components. We demonstrate its switching characteristics for 340 ns packets, as well as present its measured packet loss rate. It can be used to make larger, buffered multiplexors with improved packet loss rates. We present the statistical insertion los distribution associated with buffered COD multiplexors. Furthermore, we outline a method of optical loss compensation which eliminates the insertion loss distribution.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of carbohydrate on glycolytic and peroxisomal enxymes in tetrahymena

Abstract The levels of the peroxisomal enzymes lactate oxidase and isocitrate lyase in Tetrahymena are greatly influenced by changes in culture conditions. The specific activity of both enzymes is high in cells from oxygen-deficient cultures and low in cells from well-aerated cultures. Addition of low or high levels of glucose to oxygen-deficient cultures further increases the specific activity of lactate oxidase, while both enzymes increase when very high levels of glucose are added to well-aerated cultures. The specific activities of pyruvate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and succinate dehydrogenase change in a more or less coordinate manner with those of the two peroxisomal enzymes, indicating that these enzymes may be metabolically related. Levels of NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase were not influenced by these changes in growth conditions. Supplementation of cultures with the glycolytic end products lactate or pyruvate leads to elevated levels of both peroxisomal enzymes, especially isocitrate lyase, but has little or no effect on the two glycolytic enzymes. Although under certain environmental conditions the peroxisome can participate in the process of glyconeogenesis, it is suggested that this organelle may function primarily as a center for the metabolism of lactate that would be expected to accumulate under conditions of near anaerobosis or when well-aerted cultures are incubated with extremely high levels of glucose.
Interpretation of kernels. II. same-signed 1st- and 2nd-degree (main-diagonal) kernels of the human pupillary system

Abstract The human pupillary system exhibits a dynamic asymmetry between responses to on and off stimuli. From pupil random-light-stimulus experimental data and by frequency-domain analysis, we obtained the 1st- and 2nd-degree kernels of the human pupillary system. The pupil kernel model produces responses to on and off pulse and step stimuli that are similar to pupil experimental responses. Extrapolation from a power-series representation of the pupil kernels, using only slope and curvature values to replace the major effects of the 1st- and 2nd-degree kernels respectively, indicates that both 1st and 2nd-degree main-diagonal kernels should have the same (negative) sign in order to give the kernel model dynamic asymmetry of response. Indeed, the experimentally derived pupil 1st- and 2nd-degree kernels were found to have the same sign. This result provides insight into the relationship between signs of derived kernels and the response nonlinearities of a physiological system.
Heave-Pitch Motions of a Platform Flying in Extreme Ground Effect

AbstractHigh-payload platforms flying in extreme-ground-effect represent a promising concept for high-speed amphibious transportation. Their dynamics is governed, to a large extent, by unsteady airflow under the platform. A quasi-one-dimensional model for the underplatform channel-flow is applied to predict heave and pitch motions of a vehicle in the presence of external disturbances, such as nonuniformities on the underlying ground-surface. It is found that a complete nonlinear theory should be used instead of a linear model to accurately predict motions when ground nonuniformities are relatively short. A flat platform with a flap moving in extreme-ground-effect is intrinsically unstable. An aft-wing out of ground-effect can be added to the system to achieve stability. Movable control surfaces, such as a platform flap, can be also modeled by the nonlinear theory. It is demonstrated that an oscillating flap can reduce heave and pitch amplitudes in flight over a wavy ground-surface.
Gender differences in self-presentation: A comparison of the roles of flatteringness and intimacy in self-disclosure to friends

This study examines the role of self-flattery in the disclosure of young adults to their best and less close, same- and cross-sex friends. One hundred eighty-five college students participated by filling out an anonymous questionnaire that asked about their disclosure of 55 topics to each of four friends. In addition, each subject indicated (1) how self-flattering they perceived such disclosure to be and (2) how intimate they believed each topic to be. The results indicate that both the degree of flatteringness of a topic and its intimacy strongly affect tendency to disclose, with intimacy being the larger of the two influences. These effects of these factors were not uniform with respect to subject’s gender, friend’s gender, and friend’s closeness, but instead interacted with them.
PROTEIN CONCENTRATE FROM AIR CLASSIFICATION OF HIGH-PROTEIN SOFT WHEAT FLOURS

Air classification of high-protein soft wheat flours may have consid­ erable commercial potential. Flours from two varieties of high-pro­ tein soft wheat and a normal soft wheat were air classified. The protein contents of the original flours were 16.4, 12.1 and 8.2%, respectively, and the protein contents of the combined high-protein fractions after air classification were 27.2, 21.5 and 17.4%. These fractions accounted for 39, 46 and 32% of the flour weight and for 65, 82 and 69% of the total protein. Protein shift was 51, 72 and 73% for the respective flours. I
Antitumor effects of an imidazoquinoline in renal cell carcinoma.

Objectives To evaluate the effects of imidazoquinolines in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods In vitro experiments were carried out using mouse (RENCA) and human (CAKI-1, CAKI-2, and A-498) RCC cell lines. Toll-like receptor-7 (TLR7) expression was assessed by Western blot. We determined the ability of imidazoquinolines to induce apoptosis and inhibit cell viability in vitro. For in vivo experiments, RENCA cells were injected into the tail vein of syngeneic mice. One week after injection, mice were given oral imidazoquinoline or placebo for 14 days. Mice were then sacrificed, and lungs were inspected for tumor nodules. Immunohistochemical staining was used to assess apoptosis in vivo. Results Toll-like receptor-7 was expressed in all cell lines tested, with RENCA cells showing the highest level of expression. Imidazoquinolines inhibited in vitro cell viability of RENCA, CAKI-2, and A-498 cell lines in a time-dependent manner. Viability of CAKI-1 was not inhibited significantly. Apoptosis induction was pronounced in RENCA cells treated with imidazoquinoline. Compared with placebo, oral imidazoquinoline significantly reduced the number of pulmonary metastasis and increased cell death in vivo. Conclusions Imidazoquinolines inhibit cell viability and cause deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation leading to apoptosis in RCC cell lines, potentially working through the TLR7 expressed by RCC cell lines. Preliminary data from a mouse model of metastatic RCC also suggest antitumor effects and induction of apoptosis in vivo.
Significant increases in potato Starch-Synthase and Starch-Branching-Enzyme activities by dilution with buffer containing dithiothreitol and polyvinyl alcohol 50 K.

Abstract We have recently found that the dilution of purified potato Starch-Synthases (SS) and Starch-Branching-Enzymes (SBEs), by a glycine buffer (pH 8.5), containing 1.0 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) and 0.04% (w/v) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) 50 K, produced a striking and significant increase in activity (mIU/mL and total mIU) when diluted 1→2 to 1→10. As an example, one SS fraction diluted 1→10 went from 259 to 1470 mIU/mL, giving a total of 14,700 mIU. Dilutions of 1→15 usually resulted in a complete loss of activity. Removal of both DTT and PVA also gave the complete loss of activity. Individual removal of just DTT and the removal of just PVA also produced lowered activities on dilution. The addition of the DTT and the PVA back to the diluted fractions did produce an increase in the activity, but never to the extent that occurred when the samples were diluted simultaneously with both DTT and PVA together in the diluting buffer. Dilution of SBE with buffer containing both DTT and PVA, gave moderate increases, with the exception of one fraction that diluted 1→20 gave a significant increase from 18 to 382 mIU/mL and a total of 7640 mIU. It is concluded that there are inactive starch synthesizing enzymes in the purified fractions that are significantly activated by DTT and PVA, giving much greater amounts of enzyme activities.
Ensemble Patterns of Hippocampal CA3-CA1 Neurons during Sharp Wave–Associated Population Events

Abstract Transfer of neuronal patterns from the CA3 to CA1 region was studied by simultaneous recording of neuronal ensembles in the behaving rat. A nonlinear interaction among pyramidal neurons was observed during sharp wave (SPW)–related population bursts, with stronger synchrony associated with more widespread spatial coherence. SPW bursts emerged in the CA3a-b subregions and spread to CA3c before invading the CA1 area. Synchronous discharge of >10% of the CA3 within a 100 ms window was required to exert a detectable influence on CA1 pyramidal cells. Activity of some CA3 pyramidal neurons differentially predicted the ripple-related discharge of circumscribed groups of CA1 pyramidal cells. We suggest that, in SPW behavioral state, the coherent discharge of a small group of CA3 cells is the primary cause of spiking activity in CA1 pyramidal neurons.
Paper 6: Submerged Motor Drives for Glandless Pumps:

In view of the environmental operating conditions, special techniques have to be used to permit the manufacture of the submerged type of motor as an industrial proposition. The first choice to be made is that of stator winding conductor insulation, which must be impervious to water, flexible to wind, and have good thermal stability. A thorough survey of the limited materials available for such an application determined that high density polythene, extruded on to a flexible stranded cable, would best meet these requirements. Polythene has a relatively low flow temperature, which may be increased, and the mechanical stability of the cable improved, if it is subjected to irradiation dosage. The cable and the necessary seal termination are subjected to accelerated life testing at operating conditions in static pressure vessels before commitment to production. The concept of the mechanical design calls for the use of small rotating diameters consistent with sound engineering practices. Where possible, rotating...
Sex therapy with gay male couples using affirmative therapy

This manuscript explores the benefits of applying the Gay Affirmative Therapy approach to sex therapy with gay male couples. The tenets of this empathic, empowering and strength-based integrative approach are presented and tied to sex therapy and more specifically to dynamics within gay male dyads. A case presentation integrates both the individual and systemic constructs of Affirmative Therapy while modeling assessment and treatment of sexual dysfunction within a gay male couple.
Parameter identification of distributed parameter systems

Abstract The problem of parameter identification for distributed parameter systems is placed in an abstract system-theoretic context, and necessary and sufficient conditions developed for parameter identifiability. Applications are given for parabolic partial differential equations.
Photoluminescence Studies on Self-Organized InAlAs/AlGaAs Quantum Dots under Pressure

The pressure dependence of the low temperature photoluminescence (PL) in self-organized In0:5Al0:5As/Al0:25Ga0:75As quantum dots (QD) has been investigated up to 8 GPa. Interesting features of the QD PL observed in our study are: (i) a decrease in the linewidth up to 1.8 GPa, (ii) no significant shift in the PL energy between 0.8 and 2.2 GPa, (iii) anticrossing behavior in the region of 2.2 to 2.6 GPa, and (iv) complete quenching of PL beyond 2.6 GPa. The observed pressure behavior is explained on the basis of the crossing between G and X conduction bands.
An efficient token-based mutual exclusion algorithm in a distributed system

Abstract An algorithm is proposed for distributed mutual exclusion in a network with no shared memory whose nodes only communicate by messages. Use of arbitrator sets (based on the theory of finite projective planes) and a control token results in an efficient distributed mutual exclusion algorithm that requires only O(√N) messages to achieve synchronization in a network of N nodes in the worst case and a constant number of messages in the best case. Our algorithm performs better than any existing mutual exclusion algorithm in a distributed system.
Conformation of ethylene/propylene copolymers (random or block) as seen by 13C NMR, IR and thermal methods

Abstract Selected random and block ethylene/propylene (E/P) copolymers have been investigated thoroughly using 13 C NMR, IR, DSC and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The ethylene content in the range 1–6% in random E/P copolymers can be quantified with good agreement by NMR relative intensity of PEP triad, by IR band intensity of the isolated ethylene units, and by DSC melting peak depression. The toughened polypropylenes containing E/P blocks show the expected “run” sequence of five or more methylene groups of intense PEE and EEE triads sequence in NMR and in IR bands. The glassy-rubbery transitions of the two-phase-structure block E/P copolymers are clearly demonstrated by DMA damping signals.
Fashion Information Seeking by Younger and Older Consumers

The study examined the frequency use of media by younger (college students) and older consumers (65 and over) for both sexes. The Total Design Method (TDM) of Dillman (1978) was used to conduct the...
Occurence of serotonin and catecholamines in brain and peripheral organs of various vertebrate classes

Abstract A number of studies suggest that norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5HT) in mammalian brain modulate the activities of the functionally opposing systems, postulated by W. Hess (1). This concept has proved useful in merging physiological, anatomical and chemical data into a working hypothesis (2). We have now undertaken studies on the distribution, storage and release of the amines to determine whether these processes in the nerve endings of lower vertebrates are basically similar to those of mammals. Reports have appeared on the distribution of 5HT nervous system of various vertebrates (3,4,5), and others on the distribution of the catecholamines (6,7,8,9). As far as we know, however, a phylogenetic comparison of the two brain amines has not been reported.
Embedding finite lattices into the ideals of computably enumerable Turing degrees

We show that the lattice L 20 is not embeddable into the lattice of ideals of computably enumerable Turing degrees (ℐ), We define a structure called a pseudolattice that generalizes the notion of a lattice, and show that there is a Π 2 necessary and sufficient condition for embedding a finite pseudolattice into ℐ.
On normal theory based inference for multilevel models with distributional violations

Data in social and behavioral sciences are often hierarchically organized though seldom normal, yet normal theory based inference procedures are routinely used for analyzing multilevel models. Based on this observation, simple adjustments to normal theory based results are proposed to minimize the consequences of violating normality assumptions. For characterizing the distribution of parameter estimates, sandwich-type covariance matrices are derived. Standard errors based on these covariance matrices remain consistent under distributional violations. Implications of various covariance estimators are also discussed. For evaluating the quality of a multilevel model, a rescaled statistic is given for both the hierarchical linear model and the hierarchical structural equation model. The rescaled statistic, improving the likelihood ratio statistic by estimating one extra parameter, approaches the same mean as its reference distribution. A simulation study with a 2-level factor model implies that the rescaled statistic is preferable.
Small Mammal Population Dynamics in Strip-Cropped vs. Monoculture Agroecosystems

ABSTRACT Effects of cropping practices and phenological changes in crop vegetation on small mammal abundance were examined. Twelve 0.4-ha experimental plots planted in either soybean-sorghum strip-crops (N = 8) or soybean monocultures (N = 4) were live-trapped from 5 April-13 December 1993. Mean abundance of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) differed significantly between monoculture and strip-cropped treatments during mid-November and mid-December. Extensive movements by deer mice between plots suggest that this species increased its scale of movement in agroecosystems compared to other habitat types. Invasion of house mice (Mus musculus) during early August was influenced by the interaction of phenological changes in vegetation and strip-cropping. Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) were more abundant in grain-crop agroecosystems than previously reported.
Significance of pathologic response to preoperative therapy in pancreatic cancer: the future ain't what it used to be.

chemoradiation before pancreatic resection between 1987 and 2009 underwent histopathologic assessment of treatment response. Pathologic response was assessed in blinded fashion, and reported as percent fibrosis. Subsets were developed, and patients grouped into those with 0‐49% fibrosis, 50‐94% fibrosis, and[95% fibrosis. Major pathologic response ([95%) was identified in 21 of the 107 patients (19%), and eight patients (7%) had cPR. Median survival within the group of patients who experienced major response was 66 months, dramatically longer than in those who did not experience a response (minor response: median survival 17 months). Nodal status, margin status, and additional preoperative chemotherapy were additional factors found to be associated with survival. Multivariate analysis, however, found major pathologic response to be the only factor predictive of survival. This study is important for several reasons. First, these data help to define a small subgroup of patients with pancreatic cancer who have exceptional outcomes for this disease. Within the group of patients who had major response and underwent resection there were no deaths within 18 months of diagnosis and median survival of 66 months. Tissue from these patients should serve as a valuable resource for identifying molecular differences between those with cPR and those with no response. These differences may allow further insight into the mechanisms of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and allow identification of potential therapeutic targets. Furthermore, these data support pathologic response as a factor that should be considered for stratification in any post-resection trial of systemic therapy, and a factor that should be evaluated in decision-making for post-resection systemic therapy. The strengths of this study however raise several important questions, the limitations of these data are several, and the conclusions should be viewed in context. First, the overall effectiveness of preoperative chemoradiation in this disease process has been remarkably low. In this study
The alarm-defence system of the ant Acanthomyops claviger

Abstract All of the principal and some of the minor volatile products of Acanthomyops claviger were identified chemically, their glandular source determined, and their functions analysed. Undecane was shown to be an efficient spreading agent for formic acid. All of the more abundant substances in the C 10 –C 13 range, including undecane, were shown to be alarm pheromones, with behavioral threshold concentrations varying in order of magnitude from 10 10 to 10 12 and yielding potential signal distances in the centimetre range. Among the substances tested behaviorally, olfactory efficiency varies with molecular weight rather than structure. The C 10 –C 13 substances are optimal for alarm signalling because, apparently on the basis of molecular weight alone, they combine moderate olfactory efficiency with sufficiently high vapour pressure to broadcast in the centimetre range when present in microgram quantities or less.
Spillage and flux density on a receiver aperture lip

In a dish-type point-focusing solar thermal collector, the spillage and the flux density on the receiver aperture lip are related in a very simple way, if the aperture is circular and centered on the optical axis. Specifically, the flux density on the lip is equal to the spillage times the peak flux density in the plane of the lip.
How precisely can one determine mu/md?

Abstract We point out that in order to precisely determine the quark mass ratio mu/md one needs to theoretically calculate a QCD matrix element which receives a potentially large contribution from instantons. Within the semiclassical approximation, this instanton contribution can be large enough to have mu = 0 without any diffuculty. We also discuss how instantons affect the chiral coupling constant L7 whose value was recently estimated by Leutwyler to determine mu/md.