cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid testing for vaginal yeast detection: a prospective study

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of rapid vaginal yeast detection assay compared with yeast cultures for the diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Study Design This was a prospective study that involved 104 subjects, 34 asymptomatic women and 70 symptomatic women with vaginitis. Vaginal swabs were obtained from all subjects for wet mount, yeast culture, and the rapid yeast detection test. Overall, the prevalence rate was 39.4%, based on positive yeast cultures. The rapid yeast test performed by the physician was positive in 30 of 41 subjects with positive cultures and 13 of 63 subjects with negative cultures. Results The rapid yeast test had 73.1% sensitivity and 82.0% negative predictive value compared with the wet mount, which had 43.9% sensitivity and 70.9% negative predictive value. In symptomatic patients, the test had 77.4% sensitivity and 81% negative predictive value compared with wet mount, which had 51.6% sensitivity. Patient-performed test results were identical to the tests that were performed by the physicians. The cost of the rapid yeast test kit is estimated to be Conclusion Rapid yeast detection assay is accurate and affordable compared with the gold standard yeast culture in the diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Relative to the wet mount, it is more sensitive, cheaper, and accurate for the rapid diagnosis of vaginal yeast infection.
On assessing model fit for distribution‐free longitudinal models under missing data

The generalized estimating equation (GEE), a distribution-free, or semi-parametric, approach for modeling longitudinal data, is used in a wide range of behavioral, psychotherapy, pharmaceutical drug safety, and healthcarerelated research studies. Most popular methods for assessing model fit are based on the likelihood function for parametric models, rendering them inappropriate for distribution-free GEE. One rare exception is a score statistic initially proposed by Tsiatis for logistic regression (1980) and later extended by Barnhart and Willamson to GEE (1998). Because GEE only provides valid inference under the missing completely at random assumption and missing values arising in most longitudinal studies do not follow such a restricted mechanism, this GEEbased score test has very limited applications in practice. We propose extensions of this goodness-of-fit test to address missing data under the missing at random assumption, a more realistic model that applies to most studies in practice. We examine the performance of the proposed tests using simulated data and demonstrate the utilities of such tests with data from a real study on geriatric depression and associated medical comorbidities. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemical evidence for identical subunits in l-asparaginase from Escherichia coli B☆

Abstract Application of four independent methods for cystine indicate that there are eight half-cystines per mole of Escherichia coli B asparaginase, consistent with a four subunit model with one intrachain disulfide link per subunit. Treatment with dinitrofluorobenzene showed only leucine as NH 2 -terminal amino acid; values of 3.17–3.9 moles of DNP-Leu per mole of asparaginase were obtained. Hydrazinolysis released tyrosine as the principal amino acid, 3.3 residues per mole of protein being obtained. Studies with the carboxyl modification technique of Hoare and Koshland ( Hoare, D. G., and Koshland, D. E. (1967) J. Biol. Chem. 242, 2447 ) showed that 61% of the side chain carboxyl groups are present as amide. Studies with carboxypeptidase A demonstrated the carboxyl terminal sequence to be -(Ile, Glu, Asn)-Phe-Ile-Gln-Tyr. The results obtained by preparing two-dimensional peptide maps of the tryptic digest of reduced, S -aminoethylated enzyme are also in agreement with a four subunit model in which the subunits are identical or nearly so.
Myocardial technetium 99m sestamibi kinetics after reperfusion in a canine model

Abstract Clinical sestamibi imaging protocols after reperfusion therapy are based on the premise that redistribution does not occur. However, animal studies that use punch biopsies or imaging have variably reported either some or no redistribution. This study was designed to (1) utilize implantable radiation detectors to determine whether sestamibi is redistributed after reperfusion, (2) accurately determine the time course, extent, and kinetics of the redistribution, and (3) determine whether sestamibi kinetics can be used to document reperfusion and salvage after a single dose of sestamibi. Twenty-five dogs were injected with 5.0 mCi of technetium 99m sestamibi and microspheres during circumflex occlusion, and reperfusion occurred within 5 minutes in group 1 (15-minute occlusion) and group 2 (1-hour occlusion). Group 3 was not reperfused. Sestamibi activities in the normal and occluded zones were monitored with radiation detectors for 2 hours, and serial gamma camera imaging and arterial blood sampling was begun. No dogs in group 1 and all dogs in groups 2 and 3 had infarcts as shown by triphenyltetrazolium chloride stain. The final occluded/normal zone technetium 99m activity ratio was significantly higher than the flow ratio at the time of sestamibi injection only in the group 1 dogs (0.51 ± 0.05 vs 0.38 ± 0.06, p = p = 0.03). Gamma camera images demonstrated large posterior wall perfusion defects initially, which persisted 2 hours later with no visual evidence of redistribution in any of the reperfused dogs in groups 1 and 2. Thus in an experimental animal model under ideal conditions, sestamibi is redistributed into reperfused viable myocardium; however, the amount of this redistribution is small and could not be perceived by visual image analysis. Sestamibi is not redistributed into reperfused nonviable myocardium or into nonreperfused myocardium. Therefore sestamibi kinetics after a single dose of tracer in an experimental animal model can be used to document reperfusion of viable myocardium but cannot differentiate reperfusion of the infarcted territory from nonreperfused infarcted myocardium.
NON-MENDELIAN ETIOLOGIC FACTORS IN NEUROPSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS: PLEIOTROPY, EPIGENETICS, AND CONVERGENCE

The target article by Charney on behavior genetics/genomics discusses how numerous molecular factors can inform heritability estimations and genetic association studies. These factors find application in the search for genes for behavioral phenotypes, including neuropsychiatric disorders. We elaborate upon how single causal factors can generate multiple phenotypes, and discuss how multiple causal factors may converge on common neurodevelopmental mechanisms.
Differences in D2 dopamine receptor availability and reaction to novelty in socially housed male monkeys during abstinence from cocaine

Rationale Studies in socially housed monkeys have demonstrated an influence of position in the social dominance hierarchy on brain dopamine D2 receptors and the reinforcing effects of cocaine that dissipates after long-term cocaine self-administration.
APPLICATION OF A SURPLUS PRODUCTION MODEL TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON EXPLOITED POPULATIONS OF DAPHNIA PULEX IN THE LABORATORY

Abstract The surplus production model is a simple and easily applied model for the assessment of environmental impacts on exploited fish populations. However, its application requires several assumptions about the relationships between the degree of impact and the population response that are difficult to test using field data. To examine these assumptions, the model is applied to exploited laboratory populations of Daphnia pulex exposed to chronic radiation stress. The model describes the observed relationship between equilibrium population size and the level of radiation exposure. It also describes the relationship between yield and population size.
Function and regulation of Arabidopsis thaliana COR (cold-regulated) genes

Like many plants, Arabidopsis thaliana increases in freezing tolerance in response to low non-freezing temperatures, a phenomenon known as cold acclimation. Associated with cold acclimation are a number of biochemical changes including the expression of COR (cold-regulated) genes. Here we summarize recent progress we have made in understanding the function and regulation of these genes. One significant finding regarding COR gene function is that constitutive expression of COR15a in transgenic Arabidopsis plants enhances the freezing tolerance of both chloroplasts and protoplasts. These results provide the first direct evidence for a COR gene having a role in freezing tolerance. The precise mechanism of COR15a action is not yet know, but current results indicate the gene has a role in stabilizing membranes against freeze-induced damage. In regards to COR gene regulation, we have isolated a cDNA for CBF1, the first identified transcriptional activator that binds to the CRT (C-repeat)/DRE (drought responsive element), a cold- and drought-responsive DNA regulatory element present in the promoters of COR genes. Our working hypothesis is that CBF1 binds to the CRT/DRE sequence and participates in the regulation of COR genes in response to low temperature and drought.
Statistical Multiplexing of Homogeneous Fractional Brownian Streams

In this paper, the statistical multiplexing of independent fractional Brownian traffic streams with the same Hurst value 0.5<H<1 is studied. The buffer overflow probabilities based on steady-state and transient queue length tail distributions are used respectively as the common performance criterion. Under general conditions, the minimal buffer allocation to the merged traffic is identified in either case so that strictly positive bandwidth savings are realized. Impact of the common H value on multiplexing gains is investigated. The analytical results are applicable in data network engineering problems, where ATM is deployed as the transport network carrying long-range dependent data traffic.
Effect of Simultaneous Feeding of Aflatoxin and Rubratoxin to Chickens

Abstract A 2 × 2 factorial experiment in broiler chicks utilizing dietary aflatoxin (2.5 p.p.m.) and rubratoxin (500 p.p.m.) failed to reveal any interaction on growth rate, relative organ weights, hemoglobin, serum cholesterol, and serum total lipid despite a previous report of an interaction of these toxins in rats.
Comparison of Three Theories of Electromagnetic Diffraction at an Aperture.* Part I: Coherence Matrices

Three theories of electromagnetic diffraction at an aperture in a screen, associated with the names of Kottler, Luneburg, Severin, and Vasseur, are reviewed and on the basis of these theories the coherence matrices relating to the far field are derived. These matrices will be used in Part II of this investigation to analyze systematically the structure of the far field as predicted by these theories.
Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 and long-acting analogues on cardiovascular and metabolic function.

Although the insulinotropic role of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in type 2 diabetes mellitus has been substantiated, its role in cardioprotection remains largely unknown. To ascertain the role of the cardiovascular actions of GLP-1 in health and disease states necessitates a review of the current evidence as well as ongoing investigation. Of cardiovascular significance, both positive inotropic and chronotropic effects, unmodifiable by gB-adrenergic blockers, have been reportedly attributed to GLP-1 actions on the myocardium. However, the potent role of GLP-1 and its analogues in eliciting tachycardic and pressor effects should be of some concern. Aside from its reported insulinotropic activity, GLP-1 impacts the myocardium directly. Highly specific GLP-1 receptors have been identified in the heart and within the central nervous system, particularly in the nucleus tractus solitarius, a neuromodulatory centre of cardiovascular control. The occurrence of GLP-1 receptors in cardiac tissue and autonomic regions of cardiovascular control has stimulated investigation, particularly as these sites may be suitable targets for the pharmacological action of GLP-1 and long-acting analogues. Discordance on the haemodynamic consequences of GLP-1 pharmacotherapy in experimental animals and human patients has been reported in the literature. However, longterm pharmacological doses of GLP-1 have shown prolonged and beneficial actions on cardiovascular homeostasis in the adjuvant treatment of metabolic disease.
Experimental imaging performance evaluation for alternate configurations of undersea pulsed laser serial imagers

This paper examines imaging performance bounds for undersea electro-optic identification (EOID) sensors that use pulsed laser line scanners to form serial images, typically utilizing one laser pulse for each formed image element. The experimental results presented include the use of two distinct imaging geometries; firstly where the laser source and single element optical detector are nearly co-aligned (near monostatic) and secondly where the laser source is deployed on a separate platform positioned closer to the target (bistatic) to minimize source-to-target beam spread, volumetric scatter and attenuation, with the detector being positioned much further from the target. The former system uses synchronous scanning in order to significantly limit the required instantaneous angular acceptance function of the detector and has the desired intention of acquiring only ballistic photons that have directly interacted with the target element and the undesirable property of acquiring snake photon contributions that indirectly arrive into the detector aperture via multiple forward scattering over the two-way propagation path. The latter system utilizes a staring detector with a much wider angular acceptance function, the objective being to deliver maximum photon density to each target element and acquire diffuse, snake and ballistic photon contributions in order to maximize the signal. The objective of this work was to experimentally investigate pulse-to-pulse detection statistics for both imaging geometries in carefully controlled particle suspensions, with and without artificially generated random uncharacterized scattering inhomogeneities to assess potential image performance in realistic conditions where large biological and mineral particles, aggregates, thin biological scattering layers and turbulence will exist. More specifically, the study investigates received pulse energy variance in clear filtered water, as well as various well-characterized particle suspensions with and without an artificial thin random scattering layer. Efforts were made to keep device noise constant in order to assess the impact of the environment on extrapolated image quality.
Solvent Isotope Effects on Interfacial Protein Electron Transfer in Crystals and Electrode Films

D2O-grown crystals of yeast zinc porphyrin substituted cytochrome c peroxidase (ZnCcP) in complex with yeast iso-1-cytochrome c (yCc) diffract to higher resolution (1.7 A) and pack differently than H2O-grown crystals (2.4−3.0 A). Two ZnCcP's bind the same yCc (porphyrin-to-porphyrin separations of 19 and 29 A), with one ZnCcP interacting through the same interface found in the H2O crystals. The triplet excited-state of at least one of the two unique ZnCcP's is quenched by electron transfer (ET) to Fe(III)yCc (ke = 220 s-1). Measurement of thermal recombination ET between Fe(II)yCc and ZnCcP+ in the D2O-treated crystals has both slow and fast components that differ by 2 orders of magnitude (keb1 = 2200 s-1, keb2 = 30 s-1). Back ET in H2O-grown crystals is too fast for observation, but soaking H2O-grown crystals in D2O for hours generates slower back ET, with kinetics similar to those of the D2O-grown crystals (keb1 = 7000 s-1, keb2 = 100 s-1). Protein-film voltammetry of yCc adsorbed to mixed alkanethiol m...
A-transducers and the monotonicity of IL schemes

Abstract A Lindenmayer IL scheme is monotonic if no string in the alphabet of the scheme directly derives a strictly shorter string. An IL system is monotonic if no string in the language of the system directly derives a strictly shorter string. Monotonic schemes are a generalization of propogating schemes and many results and algorithms in the literature of Lindenmayer theory that are stated for propogating schemes and systems also hold for monotonic schemes and systems. Thus when a scheme or system can be recognized to be monotonic, many conclusions and algorithms are available for its study. In this article it is shown that monotonicity of IL schemes is decidable and that monotonicity of those IL systems that generate regular languages is decidable. These results are obtained by converting IL schemes into a-transducers and then deciding monotonicity for the resulting a-transducers.
Ontogenetic changes in foraging behaviour and habitat use by the Oregon garter snake, Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus

Abstract Abstract. Foraging behaviour, stream habitat use and food habits of a population of the aquatic, Oregon garter snake were studied in the field during the spring and summer of 1987 and 1988. Continuous records of behaviour and habitat use were obtained for each snake. Adults foraged more actively and in a wider variety of stream habitats than juveniles or neonates. Adults also fed on a wider variety of prey types and sizes, especially concentrating on large, Pacific giant salamander, Dicamptodon tenebrosis , larvae and neotenes, in the mid-stream substrates. Juvenile and neonate snakes fed on relatively smaller prey that inhabited shallow stream margins. Consumption of relatively large prey by adults and smaller prey by juveniles indicated a shift in foraging 'strategy' from frequent feeding on small prey to infrequent feeding on large prey. These ontogenetic changes in foraging behaviour, habitat use and food habits of Oregon garter snakes are probably the result of a combination of proximate ecological, morphological and physiological constraints. Ultimately, these behavioural shifts may have a phylogenetic origin that reflects the strong advantage of single large meals versus many small meals for many modern snake lineages.
A second cell-binding domain on fibronectin (RGDS-independent) for neurite extension of human neuroblastoma cells

Human neuroblastoma cells (Platt and La-N1) have previously been shown to adhere and extend neurites on tissue-culture substrata coated with a 120K chymotryptic cell-binding fragment (CBF) of plasma fibronectin (pFN), a fragment which lacks heparan sulfate- and collagen-binding activities, and to adhere to--but not extend neurites on--substrata coated with the heparan sulfate (HS)-binding protein, platelet factor-4 (PF4) (Tobey et al., Exp Cell Res 158 (1985) 395 [3]). The mechanisms of these processes on CBF, on the intact pFN molecule, or on heparin-binding fragments of pFN have been tested using a heptapeptide (peptide A) containing the Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) sequence which recognizes a specific 'receptor' on the surface of a variety of cells or a control peptide with a single amino acid substitution. Adherence and neurite extension were completely inhibited on the 120K CBF by peptide A but not by control peptide; these results indicate that the RGDS-dependent 'receptor' is solely responsible for adhesive responses to the 120K CBF-containing region of the pFN molecule. When peptide A was added to cells on CBF which had already formed neurites to test reversibility, retraction of all neurite processes was induced by 1 h and cells eventually detached. In contrast, on intact pFN, peptide A had very limited effects on either initial adherence or neurite extension, revealing a second 'cell-binding' domain on the fibronectin molecule outside of the 120K region competent for neurite differentiation; addition of peptide A at later times to pFN-adherent, neurite-containing cells could induce only a small subset of neurites to retract, thus supporting evidence for the presence of this second domain. A second 'cell-binding' domain was further confirmed by quantitation of neurite outgrowth on these substrata and by analyses of cells on substrata coated with mixtures of CBF/PF4. When substrata coated with chymotrypsin-liberated HBF were tested in a similar fashion, adherence was rapid but neurite outgrowth required much longer times and was completely sensitive to RGDS peptides; supplementation of cells with the complex ganglioside GT1b could not induce RGDS-resistant neurites on heparin-binding fragments (HBF). These latter results indicate that neurite extension on HBF is a consequence of a low concentration of RGDS-dependent activity in HBF (but not to HS-binding activity as characterized by Tobey et al. [3]) and that the second 'cell-binding' domain is sensitive to chymotrypsin digestion of pFN during the liberation of HBF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A classroom-observation study of reading instruction in kindergarten instruction in kindergarten☆

Abstract This study of 42 kindergarten classes was designed to answer three questions: (a) What is done and for what amount of time to prepare kindergartners for reading and to teach reading itself? (b) What accounts for what is or is not done? (c) How do differences in children's abilities affect what is done? To help answer the last two questions, interviews were held with teachers and their principals. Teachers used 21.6% of the 233 classroom observation hours for reading and reading-related activities. Phonics instruction was most apparent because (a) what was taught came directly from workbooks supplemented with ditto-sheet exercises; and (b) subject matter in the workbooks was reflected on report cards and in first grade teachers' expectations for entering first graders. Whereas differences in kindergartners' abilities had little effects on content of instruction, interest in identifying differences was the reason cited for using Gesell-like developmental tests. Poor scores resulted in a year's delay in entering kindergarten or placement in a “special” developmental kingergarten. Neither teachers nor principals referred to the possibility that reliance on one method and whole-class instruction may have combined to make some kindergartners appear “unready.” Instead, interest was expressed in having transitional first grades to help kindergarten “failures.”
FOLFIRINOX for locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer: single institution retrospective review of efficacy and toxicity.

Although FOLFIRINOX significantly increases survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC) compared to gemcitabine (Conroy et al. N Engl J Med 364:1817–1825, 2011), toxicities have tempered enthusiasm for its use in full doses. To assess the impact of dose attenuations on toxicity and efficacy, we reviewed our institution’s experience with FOLFIRINOX in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) and MPC. We performed a retrospective review of dose, toxicity, and efficacy of FOLFIRINOX in all patients with LAPC and MPC treated between June 2010 and July 2011 at Yale. Toxicities in all patients and response rate (RR) and survival in previously untreated MPC were compared to data reported by Conroy. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival were estimated by Kaplan–Meier method. Thirty-five patients were treated (16 LAPC; 19 MPC). Twenty-nine patients received dose attenuations with the first cycle. Median relative doses of irinotecan and bolus fluorouracil were less than those reported by Conroy (64 vs. 81 % and 66 vs. 82 %, respectively). RR was 50 % in LAPC and 47 % in MPC, and the latter did not differ significantly from the RR reported by Conroy (p = 0.19). OS at 6 and 12 months in MPC was comparable to OS reported by Conroy. Grade 3/4 toxicities were less than reported by Conroy, including fatigue (p = 0.009) and neutropenia (p < 0.0001). Nine patients experienced transient dysarthria during irinotecan administration. Our findings validate the efficacy and tolerability of FOLFIRINOX in LAPC and MPC and suggest that dose attenuations of irinotecan and bolus fluorouracil improve tolerability without compromising efficacy.
Integrated health care: A remembrance of Yujiro Ikemi

Abstract With the designation of psychosomatic medicine as the seventh certified specialty in U.S. psychiatry, there has been heightened interest in holistic approaches to health care. This is not a new interest, but one that has existed for thousands of years. Before Descartes introduced his philosophic ideas on the separation of mind and body, ancient physicians had generally accepted a unified approach to health and illness. Reintegrating systems of psyche and soma have occupied researchers and clinicians ever since. Integrated approaches were no stranger to Professor Yujiro Ikemi, a renowned pioneer and innovator in psychosomatic medicine. As a trained internist, he brought together important ideas and data from psychiatry, psychology, psychoanalysis and educational theory in his efforts to blend occidental and oriental medical theory and practice. As a tribute to Professor Ikemi, this presentation will discuss the history of attempts to establish integrative approaches to medicine and Professor Ikemi's unique contribution to those efforts.
Fabrication and characterization of anisotropic dielectrics for low-loss microwave applications

New magneto-photonic assembly designs for high-gain antennas require dielectrics with a significant anisotropy and low loss at GHz frequencies. This paper describes an approach to fabricate such dielectrics from ceramic laminates. These laminates consist of two ceramics with largely different permittivities and low dielectric losses. Alternating layers of commercially available α-Al2O3 and Nd-doped BaTiO3 were laminated using organic adhesives. Equivalent permittivity tensors and loss tangents were characterized using a resonant cavity-based approach, which was coupled with a finite-element method full-wave solver. Measured permittivity values were in good agreement with mean field predictions; a minimum loss tangent 1.1 × 10−3 was obtained when using one-component epoxy (Loctite®-3982) adhesive. Application of two-component epoxy (M-bond 610) adhesive results in a slightly higher loss but better mechanical properties and machinability. These laminates were used to demonstrate high gain in a prototype antenna with 6 misaligned anisotropic dielectric layers.
A precise technique for manufacturing correction coil

An automated method of manufacturing correction coils has been developed which provides a precise embodiment of the coil design. Numerically controlled machine have been developed to accurately position coil windings on the beam tube. Two types of machines have been built. One machine bonds the wire to a substrate which is wrapped around the beam tube after it is completed while the second machine bonds the wire directly to the beam tube. Both machines use the Multiwire® technique of bonding the wire to the substrate utilizing an ultrasonic stylus. These machines are being used to manufacture coils for both the SSC and RHIC.
Automated Filtering of Common-Mode Artifacts in Multichannel Physiological Recordings

The removal of spatially correlated noise is an important step in processing multichannel recordings. Here, a technique termed the adaptive common average reference (ACAR) is presented as an effective and simple method for removing this noise. The ACAR is based on a combination of the well-known common average reference (CAR) and an adaptive noise canceling (ANC) filter. In a convergent process, the CAR provides a reference to an ANC filter, which in turn provides feedback to enhance the CAR. This method was effective on both simulated and real data, outperforming the standard CAR when the amplitude or polarity of the noise changes across channels. In many cases, the ACAR even outperformed independent component analysis. On 16 channels of simulated data, the ACAR was able to attenuate up to approximately 290 dB of noise and could improve signal quality if the original SNR was as high as 5 dB. With an original SNR of 0 dB, the ACAR improved signal quality with only two data channels and performance improved as the number of channels increased. It also performed well under many different conditions for the structure of the noise and signals. Analysis of contaminated electrocorticographic recordings further showed the effectiveness of the ACAR.
5‐Azapurines and the structures of sym‐triazole intermediates

Several isomers are possible when an isocyanate or an isothiocyanate is allowed to react with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole. It was found that variations in reagents or reaction conditions could be used to produce isomeric derivatives. The effect of substituents on the chemical shifts of adjacent ring protons is described for a number of new triazole derivatives. These data can be used to assign structures to new sym-triazole reaction products. Appropriate triazoles were used as intermediates in the synthesis of s-triazolo[1,5-a]-s-triazine (5-azapurine) derivatives. Spectral properties, methods of synthesis, and modes of degradation are described for several new members of this ring system.
The chromatin structure of specific genes: I. Evidence for higher order domains of defined DNA sequence

Abstract When the chromatin of Drosophila is examined by digestion with DNAase I or micrococcal nuclease, no general structural organization above the level of the nucleosome is revealed by the cleavage pattern. In contrast, the DNAase I cleavage pattern of specific regions of the Drosophila chromosome shows discrete bands with sizes ranging from a few kilobase pairs (kb) to more than 20 kb. Visualization of such higher order bands was achieved by the use of the Southern blotting technique. The DNAase I-cleaved fragments were transferred onto a nitrocellulose sheet after size fractionation by gel electrophoresis. Hybridization was then carried out with radioactively labeled cloned fragments of DNA from D. melanogaster. For the five different chromosomal regions examined, each gives a unique pattern of higher order bands on the autoradiogram; the patterns are different for different regions. Restriction enzyme cleavage of the fragments generated indicates that the preferential DNAase I cleavage sites in chromatin are position-specific. The chromosomal regions bounded by preferential DNAase I cleavage sites are referred to as supranucleosomal or higher order domains for purposes of discussion and analysis. The micrococcal nuclease cleavage pattern of chromatin at specific loci was also examined. In the one case studied in detail, this nuclease also cleaves at position-specific sites.
Receptor clustering and transmembrane signaling in T cells

T cells are activated via engagement of their cell-surface receptors with molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) displayed on another cell surface. This process, which is a key step in the recognition of foreign antigens by the immune system, involves oligomerization of receptor components. Recent characterization of the T-cell response to soluble arrays of MHC-peptide complexes has provided insights into the triggering mechanism for T-cell activation.
Sensory, Snob, and Sex Appeals in Wine Advertising

This article presents and discusses the results of a study designed to test the effectiveness of three ad appeals in triggering hedonic and behavioural responses to novel and familiar wines. The sensory appeal consisted of an objective description of each wine's aromatic qualities; the snob appeal included additional vague personality trait descriptors; sex appeal consisted of a short description and a suggestive background picture. Compared to men, women anticipated more pleasure from a wine described in objective sensory terms and were willing to spend more money for that wine. Men liked the ad with sex appeal more than other ads. anticipated more pleasure from the wine advertised with sex appeal, and were willing to pay the most amount of money for that wine. Compared to men, women recalled more of the ads' central claims. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for wine advertising.
A logical approach to program analysis

This paper describesMicroScope, a framework for developing analysis tools for Lisp programs. MicroScope uses a knowledge-intensive approach for program representation and analysis. The analysis tools share a common object oriented program database, and a common Prolog inference engine. The use of Prolog and a declarative representation for programs permits sharing of information, and provides high bandwidth communication between diverse analysis tools. It also supports program specification and debugging activities in the same framework. Extensions to Prolog to support analysis are described, and two tools, theCritic and theExpector, are presented.
Fabrication of LiV2O5 thin-film electrodes for rechargeable lithium batteries

Abstract LiV 2 O 5 thin-film electrodes have been prepared for the first time by using the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique. A novel lithium precursor, lithium hexafluoroisopropoxide ((CF 3 ) 2 CHOLi), has been synthesized to take advantage of its low sublimation temperature (∼50°C). Vanadium oxytrichloride (VOCl 3 ) is used as the vanadium precursor. These two precursors are introduced into the plasma chamber by using argon as the carrier gas. Hydrogen and oxygen gases are also introduced into the chamber to facilitate the reactions. The gas compositions in the chamber and other deposition conditions have been optimized to obtain LiV 2 O 5 films. The structure and electrochemical properties of the films depend strongly on the substrate temperature and deposition power. The optimized substrate temperature and radiofrequency (RF) power are 250°C and 50 W, respectively. The charge capacity of the film is approximately 300 mA/h/cm 3 , with two plateaus at 3.5–3.6 V on the discharge profile. The films can be cycled reversibly in the range of 0 x x V 2 O 5 ) for 2000 cycles with a capacity loss of 0.0076% per cycle and are good candidates for use as the cathode in thin-film lithium ion batteries.
Collisional activation mass spectra of [C6H8]+ ions†

Collisional activation spectra and isotopic labeling indicate that for [C6H8]+ ions at least six stable isomers can be formed from a variety of precursors.
Multimedia explorer: Content based multimedia exploration

In this paper, we present an innovative way for effective interaction of users with the multimedia contents. We propose a novel framework which enables creation of content information through structural, semantic and media feature based descriptors compliant to MPEG-7 standard. The architecture offers content based search and personalized presentation using SMIL. The content based search exploits the MPEG-7 compliant content description to support spatio-temporal query constructs.
Reduction of aquatic toxicity of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) by biodegradation

Abstract Partial biodegradation of LAS is shown to significantly reduce the specific toxicity (i.e. per unit weight) of the remaining LAS to Daphnia magna (water fleas) and Pimephales promelas (fathead minnows). This results from the fact that the longer homologs and more terminal isomers, which are the more toxic, are also the more rapidly degraded under bacterial action. The acute aquatic LC 50 of LAS may range from ∼0.5 to ∼50 mg/l depending mainly upon the chain length of the particular homolog. A high molecular weight commercial type LAS with LC 50 around 2 mg/l before biodegradation may show Daphnia LC 50 's of 30–40 mg/l. for the LAS remaining after 80–85% degradation. A further contribution to this toxicity reduction may occur if the methylene blue analytical method is used to determine the amount of LAS remaining, since some of the biodegradation intermediates show methylene blue activity but no significant toxicity. For example, sulfophenylundecanoate, a model of early intermediates, shows Daphnia and fathead lc 50 's ∼200 and ∼75 mg/l., respectively. Sulfophenylbutyrate, modeling somewhat later intermediates, gives lc 50 values around 5000–10,000 mg/l. Dialkyl tetralin/indane sulfonates (the major non-linear components in commercial LAS) exhibit 1/2–1/10 the toxicity of the corresponding LAS homologs. These results re-emphasize that analysis simply for methylene blue active substances (MBAS) gives no basis for predicting the aquatic toxicity of an environmental sample. And furthermore, that meaningful water quality criteria and standards cannot be established in terms of MBAS content while based on toxicity studies on intact, undegraded LAS.
White cannibals: Fantasies of racial violence in the Andes

This paper challenges the commonly‐held view that race is relatively unimportant in the Andes, as elsewhere in Latin America. The terrifying white man known as the nakaq, a ubiquitous figure in Andean folklore, points to the constant presence of racial fear and hatred within rural indigenous societies, as well as in urban zones. Analysis of the nakaq as an indigenous representation of racial violence does not displace class and nation, gender and sexuality as foci of inquiry, but rather reveals the articulation of all of these within race itself. Further, the frequent identification of anthropologists as nakaqs speaks to specific anthropological practices that reinforce the destructive relationship between Indian and white, despite ethnography's potential as an anti‐racist discourse.
Phase discrimination in gas-particle flows using thermal anemometry

A technique to measure gas-phase turbulence modification by micron-sized particles with thermal anemometry is presented. Bridge output is first digitized and then spikes produced by particle impingement on the hot-wire probe detected using a slope threshold method and replaced by holding the last digital value before each spike. This procedure has negligible effect on flow statistics if spike duration is short compared to the time between spikes
Odd versus even: comparative statics in multicommunity models

Abstract This paper examines the comparative statics properties of multicommunity models in which perfect sorting is not obtained because the number of types of individuals is greater than the number of communities. In general, equilibrium is inefficient and policy interventions can be Pareto improving. The paper shows that the welfare effects of a given policy depend critically on whether the number of communities is odd or even. The same policy intervention that is Pareto improving for an even number of communities can make all worse off if the number of communities is odd.
New method of correlating product wafer yield to alignment performance and an optimized accounting method for product wafer alignment

This paper proposes a new method that uses normal production mask set in combination with stepper alignment control feature to generate a wide range of alignment offsets with a possible die to die misalignment increment of 10 nm. Experimental results with the new method are reported in this paper. Once the true overlay error budget is known, an adequate sampling and a precise accounting method are required to report the alignment performance. It is found that current accounting method could report an overlay error that is 100% larger than the worst misalignment sampled. A new method to partition the overlay data into subgroups was proposed to take advantage of the nature of the stepper alignment and product overlay error sources. It truly reflects the misalignment from wafer to wafer and takes into account the worst case, which is what the chip designers really care about.
Oracle branching programs and logspace versus P

Abstract We define the notion of an oracle branching program in order to investigate space-bounded computation. Within this new framework we examine the P-complete problem GEN which consists of determining membership in a subalgebra of a general (not necessarily associative) binary algebra (input as a multiplication table). Our work begins with the statement of a conceptually simple conjecture highlighting the combinatorics which underlie the relationship between Logspace and P. We show that natural subclasses of P can be expressed as natural subproblems for GEN. Finally, we prove optimal lower bounds on the size of branching programs for GEN with certain natural oracles.
Distribution of a novel infectious agent in healthy and diseased bicolor damselfish in Florida and the Caribbean

The disease damselfish neurofibromatosis (DNF) affects bicolor damselfish (Stegastes partitus) on reefs in Florida. This disease consists of peripheral nerve sheath and pigment cell tumors that are eventually fatal. The development of DNF is correlated with the appearance of unusual, extrachromosomal DNAs in affected fish that appear to be the genome of an undescribed, virus-like agent. Probes derived from these sequences were used to determine the distribution of this agent in diseased and healthy fish from several reefs in South Florida and from selected locations elsewhere in the range of this species. These analyses demonstrated that naturally diseased fish exhibited high levels of these DNAs in tumors and, to a lesser extent, in unaffected tissues. Fish with experimentally induced DNF exhibited similar levels of this DNA. Healthy adult fish had either no detectable levels of this DNA or very low levels, depending on the sensitivity of the detection technique used. Healthy adults from high disease prevalence reefs were more likely to test positive for this DNA than those from low disease reefs. Juvenile damselfish never contained detectable levels of this agent. Very low levels of this DNA were also detected in healthy fish from the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Dose-response experiments using tumor-derived cell lines indicated that tumor development was directly related to exposure dosages and that very low concentrations of this material did not yield tumor development. Taken together, these data indicate that high levels of this agent were correlated with the appearance of this disease and the very low levels often observed in healthy fish were not a predictor of tumor development.
A Review of “Banana: The Fate of the Fruit that Changed The World; Banana Cultures: Agriculture, Consumption and Environmental Change in Honduras and The United States; Banana Wars: Power, Production and History in The Americas”

BANANA: THE FATE OF THE FRUIT THAT CHANGED THE WORLD, by Dan Koeppel. Hudson Street Press, 2008. 304 pp. BANANA CULTURES: AGRICULTURE, CONSUMPTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN HONDURAS AND THE UNITE...
A Regulatory Science Perspective on Warfarin Therapy: A Pharmacogenetic Opportunity

Warfarin is a challenging drug to accurately dose, both initially and for maintenance, because of its narrow therapeutic range, wide interpatient variability, and long list of factors that can influence dosing. Two million people in the United States are initiated on warfarin therapy annually, and this number is steadily increasing because of the increase in number of eligible patients. Recently, warfarin was reported to be the fourth leading cause of adverse events. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognizes that the adverse event rate of warfarin can be improved through better initial dosing, because many of the serious adverse events of warfarin occur soon after starting treatment. A substantial number of studies demonstrate that common variants of two genes, VKORC1 and CYP2C9, along with other nongenetic factors, correlate significantly with warfarin dosing. The genotypes of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 alone account for nearly 3 times more of the variability ( approximately 30%) in warfarin dosing than do age, weight, gender, and other clinical factors combined ( approximately 12%). Therefore, the purpose of this report is to review the current recommendations for warfarin therapy that involve genetic testing.
Polymer brush in contact with a mixture of solvents

A polymer brush in contact with a binary mixture of low-molecular weight solvents is stusied in the strongly-stretched regime. The height of the polymer brush is found to always scale linearly with polymer chemical length. Depending on the solubility of the monomers in the two solvents, a cariety of behaviors are possible as the bulk composition of the mixed solvent is varied. In the case of a micture of a good and bad solvent, we find that, at intermediate concentrations, a collapse of the brush may occur: the collapsed state is distinguished by a step in monomer density at the brush tip. In a mixture of two good solvents, there may be nonmonotonic dependence of the brush thickness on solvent composition
Broadening Our Collaboration with Design

Computer graphics researchers have been collaborating successfully with engineers, architects, and artists for decades, focusing on better tools for model and image creation. Graphics researchers have already developed a wide range of procedural (automatic) modeling techniques, but with few exceptions, these focus on modeling natural objects, such as plants, terrains, and water. The next generation of tools must automate modeling of the most common and complex elements of digital content: manmade artifacts such as cities, buildings, vehicles, and furniture. Creating these tools require a new and close collaboration with architects as well as urban and industrial designers
A survey of the form of the mental status examination administered by emergency physicians

The mental status examination (MSE) is an integral and universal tool of medicine. We studied the form and content of the MSE performed by emergency physicians. An 11-item questionnaire was developed to determine the indications, amount of time necessary to evaluate mental status, the content of MSEs utilized, and the ideal characteristics of a short, standardized MSE. A study group of a random sample of 120 of 1,174 American Board of Emergency Medicine-certified emergency physicians and a validation group were surveyed by questionnaire, which was returned by 80% and 62%, respectively. Emergency physicians agreed that there are numerous specific indications to evaluate mental status including head injury (99%), behavioral abnormality (98%), drug ingestion (96%), and psychiatric complaint (95%); however, few would test it in abdominal pain (21%) or extremity injury (17%). Seventy-two percent take less than five minutes to evaluate mental status in the emergency department. Most emergency physicians uniformly test the same set of items selected from the formal MSE, including level of consciousness (95%); orientation to time (87%), place (86%), and person (84%); spontaneous speech (80%); and behavioral observation (72%) to evaluate mental status. Almost all of the physicians (82%) perceived a need for, and would use, a short standardized MSE that would take less than five minutes to perform. Results from the validation group confirmed the accuracy of the survey technique used. Our study demonstrated a perceived need for a short, standardized MSE in emergency medicine.
Autoimmunity and Klinefelter's syndrome: When men have two X chromosomes

Similar to other autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) predominately affects women. Recent reports demonstrate excess Klinefelter's among men with SLE and a possible under-representation of Turner's syndrome among women with SLE as well as a case report of a 46,XX boy with SLE. These data suggest that risk of SLE is related to a gene dose effect for the X chromosome. Such an effect could be mediated by abnormal inactivation of genes on the X chromosome as has been demonstrated for CD40L, or by genetic polymorphism as has been demonstrated for Xq28. On the other hand, a gene dose effect could also be mediated by a gene without an SLE-associated polymorphism in that a gene that avoids X inactivation will have a higher level of expression in persons with two X chromosomes.