cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Qualitative Study of Primary Care Providers' Experiences with the Veterans Choice Program.

The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act (hereafter, Choice Program) seeks to improve access to care by enabling eligible Veterans to receive care from community providers. Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care providers (PCPs) play a key role in making referrals to community specialists, but their frontline experiences with referrals are not well understood. To understand VA PCPs’ experiences referring patients to community specialists while VA works to expand and refine the implementation of the Choice Program. Qualitative study using interview methods. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with VA primary care providers (N = 72 out of 599 contacted) recruited nationally. Open-ended interview questions elicited PCP perceptions and experiences with referrals to community specialists via the Choice Program. Keywords were identified using automated coding features in ATLAS.ti and evaluated using conventional content analysis to inductively describe the qualitative data. VA PCPs emphasized problems with care coordination and continuity between the VA and community specialists (e.g., “It is extremely difficult for us to obtain and continue continuity of care because there’s not much communication with the community specialist”). They described difficulties with tracking the initial referral, coordinating care after receiving community specialty care, accessing community medical records, and aligning community specialists’ prescriptions with the VA formulary. The VA Choice Program provides access to community specialists for VA patients; however, VA primary care providers face challenges tracking referrals to community specialists and in coordinating care. Strategies to improve care coordination between the VA and community providers should focus on providing PCPs with information to follow Veterans throughout the Choice referral process and follow-up.
Biotechnological Applications of Protein Splicing

Protein splicing domains, also called inteins, have become a powerful biotechnological tool for applications involving molecular biology and protein engineering. Early applications of inteins focused on self-cleaving affinity tags, generation of recombinant polypeptide α-thioesters for the production of semisynthetic proteins and backbone cyclized polypeptides. The discovery of naturallyoccurring split-inteins has allowed the development of novel approaches for the selective modification of proteins both in vitro and in vivo. This review gives a general introduction to protein splicing with a focus on their role in expanding the applications of intein-based technologies in protein engineering and chemical biology.
Explaining Decision-Making Algorithms through UI: Strategies to Help Non-Expert Stakeholders

Increasingly, algorithms are used to make important decisions across society. However, these algorithms are usually poorly understood, which can reduce transparency and evoke negative emotions. In this research, we seek to learn design principles for explanation interfaces that communicate how decision-making algorithms work, in order to help organizations explain their decisions to stakeholders, or to support users' "right to explanation". We conducted an online experiment where 199 participants used different explanation interfaces to understand an algorithm for making university admissions decisions. We measured users' objective and self-reported understanding of the algorithm. Our results show that both interactive explanations and "white-box" explanations (i.e. that show the inner workings of an algorithm) can improve users' comprehension. Although the interactive approach is more effective at improving comprehension, it comes with a trade-off of taking more time. Surprisingly, we also find that users' trust in algorithmic decisions is not affected by the explanation interface or their level of comprehension of the algorithm.
A DUALIDADE EM VALENTIA: RECURSO ESTILÍSTICO COM PROPÓSITO CRÍTICO

Deborah Goldemberg, no romance Valentia, trata de dualidades que dao um novo significado a Revolta da Cabanagem que tomou lugar no estado brasileiro hoje conhecido como Para. O genero do romance historico tem forte significado visto que tem como um de seus objetivos oferecer uma nova visao acerca de algum discurso historico formado e fomentado por discursos oficiais que acabam por diminuir os impactos sociais de tais acontecimentos. Ao recontar essa historia, Goldemberg mostra que ha diversos pontos de vista que auxiliam na melhor e mais completa compreensao da Revolta. O tempo narrativo e duplo, assim como tambem e dupla a personalidade do personagem principal, Samauma. A duplicidade da narrativa e do personagem dialogam com a defesa de um discurso que questiona o discurso historico oficial, consequentemente trazendo mais peculiaridades e vozes a uma historia pouco contada, principalmente vozes daqueles que perderam essa batalha e hoje em dia continuam sofrendo as consequencias. Discute-se o genero do romance historico, a duplicidade da narrativa e dos personagens com o intuito de se mostrar que Valentia, ao fazer uso de tecnicas discursivas, fomenta um dialogo entre discurso oficial e realidade no qual os perdedores tem a sua voz.
Abstract 296: Trastuzumab sensitizes HER2+ breast cancer to increase efficacy of chemotherapyin vitroandin vivo

Purpose: Optimization of drug synergy has potential to improve efficacy of combination treatments. Breast cancer that overexpresses the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) has a higher chance of metastasis and recurrence compared to HER2- patients. Standard-of-care treatment typically includes chemotherapy (i.e., paclitaxel, doxorubicin) followed by or in combination with targeted antibody treatments (i.e., trastuzumab, pertuzumab). The purpose of this study is to investigate, the timing, order, and dosage of standard-of-care combination therapies and how they affect the overall efficacy of treatment in HER2+ breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. Experimental Procedure: BT474, HER2+ breast cancer cells were longitudinally evaluated with time resolved microscopy to measure changes in cell confluence (Incucyte). Cells were treated with combinations of trastuzumab (10-50 ug/ml) and paclitaxel (10-150 nmol/L) with alternating sequencing and timing (24, 48 hrs) of the therapies (N=8 replicates per combination). Cellular confluence was measured over 4 days and normalized percent changes were calculated. BT474 tumor-bearing mice (N=42) were treated singularly or in combination with alternating sequencing of trastuzumab (10 mg/kg) and doxorubicin (1.5 mg/kg). Tumors were evaluated for changes in tumor size and survival. An unpaired t-test was used for statistical comparisons for in vitro and in vivo studies. Assessment of cellular and tumor microenvironment influences on drug synergy are ongoing. Results: Experimental outcomes indicate that alternating order and dose play a crucial role in the anticancer efficacy and synergistic drug effects. Trastuzumab (25 ug/ml) dosing prior to paclitaxel (50 nmol) significantly decreased cell confluence compared to the same total therapeutic dose where paclitaxel was introduced first in vitro (p Discussion and Conclusions: Sequencing of targeted and chemotherapies altered treatment response both in vivo and in vitro, resulting in differences in overall cancer cell death. In vitro longitudinal imaging can provide numerous combinations of treatments can be tested to ultimately find optimal treatments to test in vivo. Recent evidence also shows that targeted anti-HER2 therapy can alter vascularity, oxygenation, and immune cell infiltration in HER2+ breast cancer tumors; therefore, further investigations in the temporal effects of the tumor microenvironment are warranted. Improved temporal windows of anticancer effects for standard-of-care combination therapies could improve breast cancer treatment regimens and potentially minimize toxic side effects. Funding was provided by CPRIT RR160005 and ACS-RSG-18-006-01-CCE. Citation Format: Alay Shah, Angela Jarrett, Anum Syed, Thomas Yankeelov, Anna Sorace. Trastuzumab sensitizes HER2+ breast cancer to increase efficacy of chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 296.
Wrapped Nonrecognition: Code Sec. 1031 Exchanges Within Qualified Opportunity Funds

This article is about section 1031 exchanges wrapped in qualified opportunity funds (QOFs). QOFs are new, so they are in the process of buying property, but eventually some QOFs will think about selling their property. To qualify for the full benefit of the QOF regime, a QOF must hold property for at least 10 years. Prior to the end of that 10-year period, some QOF investors may get antsy and want to sell the QOF’s property. If they sell the property for gain, they will lose some or all of the QOF benefits. This article considers whether a QOF can sell property and use the proceeds to acquire like-kind replacement property and defer gain on that transaction under section 1031. If so, a QOF could sell its original property, defer gain on that sale, and remain eligible for the QOF exclusion. The article illustrates that although in concept wrapped nonrecognition is possible, it is not without its challenges. A major hurdle for QOFs will be acquiring replacement property that satisfies the QOF regime’s new-property requirement and section 1031’s like-kind property requirement. The QOF regime favors property constructed by the QOF, while exchanger-constructed property does not satisfy the like-kind property requirement under section 1031. Thus, wrapped nonrecognition requires the QOF to acquire newly-constructed property or vacant property or to do an improvements exchange. The article discusses how a QOF will have to thread a needle to complete an improvements exchange that satisfies both the section 1031 and QOF rules.
Vitamin D Supplementation during Pregnancy and the Prevention of Childhood Asthma.

Asthma is a major cause of illness and health care costs: in 2016, almost 200,000 Americans were admitted to the hospital for an asthma attack, and 40% of them were children (https://www.cdc.gov/as...
Optimizing complex interaction dynamics in critical infrastructure with a stochastic kinetic model

Emerging data that track the dynamics of large populations bring new potential for understanding human decision-making in a complex world and supporting better decision-making through the integration of continued partial observations about dynamics. However, existing models have difficulty with capturing the complex, diverse, evolving, and partially unknown dynamics in social networks, and with inferring system state from isolated observations about a tiny fraction of the individuals in the system. To solve real-world problems with a huge number of agents and system states and complicated agent interactions, we propose a stochastic kinetic model that captures complex decision-making and system dynamics using atomic events that are individually simple but together exhibit complex behaviors. As an example, we show how this model offers significantly better results for city-scale multi-objective driver route planning in significantly less time than models based on deep neural networks or co-evolution.
Developing an Optimization Tool for Selecting Gravel Roads Maintenance Strategies using a Genetic Algorithm

As part of the efforts by Wyoming Technology Transfer Center (WYT2/LTAP) to develop a gravel roads management system (GRMS) in Wyoming, this research study developed a user-friendly tool, using Jav...
A brief hot‐water treatment alleviates chilling injury symptoms in fresh tomatoes

Background Reducing the negative effects of chilling injury (CI) in tomatoes after harvest is essential to ensure good quality and to minimize losses. CI is a postharvest disorder associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the fruit. Therefore, antioxidant accumulation can counteract ROS, alleviating CI symptoms. In this sense, it has been confirmed that a brief hot-water (HW) immersion promotes the synthesis of antioxidants. Results HW treatment at 52 °C for 5 min significantly reduced chilling-associated decay, from 66.7% to 17.2% in breaker turning (BT) and from 55.8% to 9.8% in mature green (MG) 'BHN-602' tomatoes stored at 5 °C for 2 weeks and from 26.7% to 6.7% in BT tomatoes stored at 5 °C for 1 week. Also, HW treatment significantly increased lycopene content by 17% in BT tomatoes stored at 5 °C for 2 weeks, as well as ascorbic acid by 11%, lipophilic phenolics by 18% and total phenolics by 6.5% in BT tomatoes stored at 12.5 °C for 1 week. Despite the increase of antioxidants, HW treatment did not enhance the sensory aromatic profile, color and antioxidant capacity. Interestingly, HW treatment reduced ripening time by 3 days in MG tomatoes stored at 5 °C for 2 weeks or at 12.5 °C for 1 week. Conclusion HW treatment applied to MG or BT 'BHN-602' tomatoes can alleviate the development of some CI symptoms, particularly decay, possibly by increasing antioxidants that scavenge ROS. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
A Managed Policy on Capital Inflows

Cross-border capital flows create dilemmas and trade-offs for monetary policy due to their many benefits, like financing economic growth and consumption of households, and their potential adverse macroeconomic effects, which can be caused by real appreciation of a recipient country’s currency and a large stock of debt that can cause difficulty in servicing. We examine conditions under which a country will restrict capital inflows to mitigate their adverse macroeconomic effects. Our game-theoretic modelling captures a dynamic interaction between policy and investment. Using the subgame perfect Nash equilibrium concept, we show that the government restricts capital inflows if the local economic conditions are strong enough to discourage a surge in capital inflows but relaxes the restriction if the economic conditions in the investors’ home are strong enough to attract capital inflows. The restriction has large impact on short-term capital inflows and is effective in channelling capital inflows into long-term investments.
Movement Based Experiential Learning and Competency Development in Dance/Movement Therapy Graduate Education: Early Practitioner Perspectives

Experiential classes that use dance/movement as the primary means of learning are universal in dance/movement therapy (DMT) graduate education programs in the United States. Yet, there have been no studies to determine what competencies develop in movement based experiential classes in DMT education. This is a report of a qualitative study that used thematic analysis to identify competencies that DMT students develop from movement based experiential learning (MBEL). Competencies identified in this study were compared to the education standards set by the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA). As expected, MBEL was most instrumental in developing competencies for clinical practice and professional development. MBEL was less effective in developing competencies for multiculturalism and theoretical knowledge. The study identified a set of new competencies related to emotional intelligence that is not in the ADTA’s standards and is unique to student experiences in MBEL. This study focused on the student perspective, which can help address some of the weaknesses of current education practices. The article ends with the benefits and limitations of a competence based education for DMT.
Associations Between Nicotine Knowledge and Smoking Cessation Behaviors among U.S. Adults Who Smoke.

INTRODUCTION Misperceptions about nicotine's contribution to smoking-related health harms could complicate efforts to reduce the public health burden of smoking. Study goals were to describe nicotine knowledge among adults who smoke and investigate whether misperceiving nicotine as a source of health harm was associated with beneficial health behaviors, or lower uptake of using less harmful sources of nicotine to support smoking cessation attempts. METHOD This study used longitudinal data from 9,140 adults who participated in four waves of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study and were current smokers during the first wave. Logistic regressions estimated odds ratios for correct responses across six aspects of nicotine knowledge assessed in Wave 4. Longitudinal models estimated associations between misperceptions and cigarette consumption, and odds of making a quit attempt; self-reported cessation; e-cigarette use; and use of NRT or e-cigarettes to support quit attempts. RESULTS Participants who were non-White, older, and had lower educational attainment or income tended to be least knowledgeable about nicotine. Misperceiving nicotine as harmful to health was associated with increased odds of quit attempts (AOR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.23), lower odds of cessation success (AOR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.73, 0.98) and e-cigarette use (AOR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.72, 0.86), and lower odds of using NRT (AOR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71, 0.99) or e-cigarettes to support quit attempts (AOR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.71). CONCLUSION Harm reduction efforts may be impeded by misperceptions about nicotine. Further work should evaluate the effects of correcting such misperceptions through public education. IMPLICATIONS This study provides longitudinal evidence that among adult smokers, misperceiving nicotine as a primary cause of smoking-related diseases may be associated with reduced cessation success and lower likelihood of using less harmful nicotine products. These misperceptions may therefore impede efforts to encourage smokers ready to quit to use evidence-based cessation support such as nicotine replacement during quit attempts and limit the success of policies designed to shift smokers to less harmful sources of nicotine. Further work should evaluate the longitudinal effects of correcting nicotine misperceptions through public education targeted toward adults who smoke.
Dimeric FeFe-hydrogenase mimics bearing carboxylic acids: Synthesis and electrochemical investigation

Abstract Hydrogen is expected to be important for future sustainable energy applications. Recent interest in adsorbing water splitting catalysts on a semiconductor surface for electrocatalytic hydrogen production warrants careful study of electrocatalysts with functional groups capable of binding to a surface. The monomeric complex Fe2(μ-S2(CH2)3)(CO)5PPh2C6H4CO2H (S2(CH2)3 = 1,3-propanedithiolate, pdt) and the dimeric complexes [{Fe2(μ-pdt)(CO)5}2(μ,κ1,κ1-Ph2PCH2N(Ar)CH2PPh2)] (Ar = p-CO2H-Ph, 3,5-CO2HPh, p-CH2CO2HPh, m-CO2H-Ph) bearing carboxylic acid functional groups have been prepared. The first electrochemical study of these dimeric FeFe complexes indicate that the complexes degrade upon reduction to form the species [Fe2(μ-pdt)(CO)4(κ2-Ph2PCH2N(Ar)CH2PPh2)]. A route is proposed for the formation of [Fe2(μ-pdt)(CO)4(κ2-Ph2PCH2N(Ar)CH2PPh2)] from [{Fe2(μ-pdt)(CO)5}2(μ,κ1,κ1-Ph2PCH2N(Ar)CH2PPh2)] and a crystal structure of an intermediate in the proposed electrochemical degradation pathway is presented. The electrochemical study presented herein provides valuable insight into degradation pathways of FeFe hydrogenase mimics bearing carboxylic acids amenable to surface immobilization.
Synergistic Induction of Apoptosis in Primary CD4+ T Cells by Macrophage-Tropic HIV-1 and TGF-β1

Depletion of CD4(+) T lymphocytes is a central immunological characteristic of HIV-1 infection. Although the mechanism of such CD4(+) cell loss following macrophage-tropic (R5) HIV-1 infection remains unclear, interactions between viral and host cell factors are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 disease. Based on the observation that TGF-beta1 enhanced expression of HIV chemokine coreceptors, the role of this host factor in virus effects was investigated using PBLs cultured in a nonmitogen-added system in the absence or presence of TGF-beta1. Most CD4 cells in such cultures had the phenotype CD25(-)CD69(-)DR(-)Ki67(-) and were CD45RO(bright)CD45RA(dim). Cultured cells had increased expression of CCR5 and CXCR4 and supported both HIV-1 entry and completion of viral reverse transcription. Virus production by cells cultured in the presence of IL-2 was inhibited by TGF-beta1, and this inhibition was accompanied by a loss of T cells from the culture and an increase in CD4(+) T cell apoptosis. Whereas R5X4 and X4 HIV-1 infection was sufficient to induce T cell apoptosis, R5 HIV-1 failed to induce apoptosis of PBLs in the absence of TGF-beta1 despite the fact that R5 HIV-1 depletes CD4(+) T cells in vivo. Increased apoptosis with HIV and TGF-beta1 was associated with reduced levels of Bcl-2 and increased expression of apoptosis-inducing factor, caspase-3, and cleavage of BID, c-IAP-1, and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis. These results show that TGF-beta1 promotes depletion of CD4(+) T cells after R5 HIV-1 infection by inducing apoptosis and suggest that TGF-beta1 might contribute to the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection in vivo.
The New Investor Cliffhanger

In a recent UCLA Law Review article, The New Investor, 60 UCLA Law Review 678 (2013), available on SSRN at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2227498, Professor Lin argues that: Technological advances have made finance faster, larger, more global, more interconnected, and less human. Modern finance is becoming an industry in which the main players are no longer entirely human. Instead, the key players are now cyborgs: part machine, part human. Modern finance is transforming into what this Article calls cyborg finance.In this short essay for the UCLA Law Review’s online supplement, I reply to Professor Lin’s article. The article provides a comprehensive survey of how technology is changing the capital markets and thus, inevitably, providing new challenges for securities regulation. Lin writes well and clearly, even about highly technical legal and technological issues. The article is exhaustively researched, reflecting a command of literatures from a number of disciplines.But while Professor Lin has flagged a substantial number of significant problems caused by the wide-ranging impact of technology on capital markets and securities regulation, he has not yet solved any of them. I conclude by encouraging Proessor Lin to use this article as the jumping off point for a series of articles that will offer legislators, regulators, and judges, solutions to the problems posed by technological change in this area.
Neonatal Mercury Vapor Exposure in an Infant Incubator

A healthy newborn infant acquired a substantial body burden of mercury by inhaling mercury vapor originating from a broken mercury expansion switch in the heating unit of an infant incubator. Highly toxic mercury vapor is produced in quantity by heating otherwise harmless metallic mercury. Switches and thermometers that contain mercury should be removed from infant incubators.
Collapse of skyrmions in two-dimensional ferromagnets and antiferromagnets

Collapse of a skyrmion due to the discreteness of a crystal lattice in isotropic two-dimensional ferromagnets and antiferromagnets has been studied analytically and by numerical solution of equations of motion for up to $2000\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2000$ classical spins on a square lattice coupled via Heisenberg exchange interaction. Excellent agreement between analytical and numerical results has been achieved. The lifetime of the skyrmion scales with its initial size ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{0}$ as ${({\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{0}/a)}^{5}$ in ferromagnets and as ${({\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{0}/a)}^{2.15}$ in antiferromagnets with $a$ being the lattice parameter. This makes antiferromagnetic skyrmions significantly shorter lived than ferromagnetic skyrmions.
Factors Associated with Frailty in Chronically Ill Older Adults

An ex post facto analysis of a secondary dataset examined relationships between physical frailty, depression, and the self-perceived domains of health status and quality-of-life in older adults. The randomized sample included 992 community-dwelling, chronically ill, and functionally impaired adults age 65 and older who received care from a Southern California Kaiser Permanente medical center between 1998 and 2002. Physical frailty represents a level of physiologic vulnerability and functional loss that results in dependence on others for basic, daily living needs (Fried et al., 2001). The purpose of the study was to identify possible intervention junctures related to self-efficacy of older adults in order to help optimize their functionality. Multivariate correlation analyses showed statistically significant positive correlations between frailty level and depression (r = .18; p = < .05), number of medical conditions (r = .09; p = < .05), and self-rated quality-of-life (r = .24; p = < .05). Frailty level s...
Operative Behandlung von Skoliosen

Hintergrund Die Indikation zur operativen Behandlung von thorakalen, lumbalen, kombinierten und thorakolumbalen idiopathischen und neuropathischen Skoliosen besteht bei einer Krummung in der Brustwirbelsaule von > 50° nach Cobb und in der Lendenwirbelsaule von > 45° nach Cobb. Der Erfolg einer Operation steht und fallt bereits mit der Indikationsstellung. Hierzu ist es notwendig, eine standardisierte Bildgebung vorzunehmen. Eine enge Zusammenarbeit mit den Kollegen der Anasthesie und der Padiatrie ist bei komplexen Skoliosen obligat.
A New Binomial Recurrence Arising in a Graphical Compression Algorithm

In a recently proposed graphical compression algorithm by Choi and Szpankowski (2009), the following tree arose in the course of the analysis. The root contains n balls that are consequently distributed between two subtrees according to a simple rule: In each step, all balls independently move down to the left subtree (say with probability $p$) or the right subtree (with probability 1-$p$). A new node is created as long as there is at least one ball in that node. Furthermore, a nonnegative integer $d$ is given, and at level $d$ or greater one ball is removed from the leftmost node before the balls move down to the next level. These steps are repeated until all balls are removed (i.e., after $n+d$ steps). Observe that when $d=∞$ the above tree can be modeled as a $\textit{trie}$ that stores $n$ independent sequences generated by a memoryless source with parameter $p$. Therefore, we coin the name $(n,d)$-tries for the tree just described, and to which we often refer simply as $d$-tries. Parameters of such a tree (e.g., path length, depth, size) are described by an interesting two-dimensional recurrence (in terms of $n$ and $d$) that – to the best of our knowledge – was not analyzed before. We study it, and show how much parameters of such a $(n,d)$-trie differ from the corresponding parameters of regular tries. We use methods of analytic algorithmics, from Mellin transforms to analytic poissonization.
Stable Anisotropic Materials

The Finite Element Method (FEM) is commonly used to simulate isotropic deformable objects in computer graphics. Several applications (wood, plants, muscles) require modeling the directional dependence of the material elastic properties in three orthogonal directions. We investigate linear orthotropic materials, a special class of linear anisotropic materials where the shear stresses are decoupled from normal stresses, as well as general linear (non-orthotropic) anisotropic materials. Orthotropic materials generalize transversely isotropic materials, by exhibiting different stiffness in three orthogonal directions. Orthotropic materials are, however, parameterized by nine values that are difficult to tune in practice, as poorly adjusted settings easily lead to simulation instabilities. We present a user-friendly approach to setting these parameters that is guaranteed to be stable. Our approach is intuitive as it extends the familiar intuition known from isotropic materials. Similarly to linear orthotropic materials, we also derive a stability condition for a subset of general linear anisotropic materials, and give intuitive approaches to tuning them. In order to simulate large deformations, we augment linear corotational FEM simulations with our orthotropic and general anisotropic materials.
South Pacific Oral Traditions

South Pacific Oral Traditions. Ruth Finnegan and Margaret Orbell. eds. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1995.259 pp.
Maximal independent sets in bipartite graphs

A maximal independent set of a graph G is an independent set that is not contained properly in any other independent set of G. In this paper, we determine the maximum number of maximal independent sets among all bipartite graphs of order n and the extremal graphs as well as the corresponding results for connected bipartite graphs. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
QTL analysis of early-season cold tolerance in sorghum

Cool temperatures during the early-growing season are a major limitation to growing sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in temperate areas. Several landraces from China have been found to exhibit higher emergence and greater seedling vigor under cool conditions than most breeding lines currently available, but tend to lack desirable agronomic characteristics. The introgression of desirable genes from Chinese landraces into elite lines could be expedited by marker-assisted selection. Using a population of 153 RI lines, developed from a cross between Chinese landrace 'Shan Qui Red,' (SQR, cold-tolerant) and SRN39 (cold-sensitive), QTL associated with early-season performance under both cold and optimal conditions were identified by single marker analysis, simple interval mapping (SIM), and composite interval mapping (CIM). Germination was observed under controlled conditions, and other traits were measured in field plantings. Two QTL for germination were identified: one on linkage group SBI-03a, derived from SRN39, was significant under cold and optimal temperatures. The other, on group SBI-07b, showed greater significance under cold temperatures and was contributed by SQR. A region of group SBI-01a, derived from SQR, showed strong associations with seedling emergence and seedling vigor scores under early and late field plantings. A QTL for both early and late emergence was identified by CIM on SBI-02 which favored the SRN39 allele. SIM identified a QTL for early vigor on SBI-04 favoring the SQR genotype. Further studies are needed to validate the effects of these QTL, but they represent the first step in development of a marker-assisted breeding effort to improve early-season performance in sorghum.
Targeted Mutagenesis with a Homology Model Identifies Critical Residues for Arachidonic Acid Inhibition of Kv4 Channels

Polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid (AA) demonstrate inhibitory modulation of Kv4 potassium channels. Molecular docking approaches using a new Kv4.2 homology model predicted a membrane-embedded binding pocket for AA comprised of the S4-S5 linker on one subunit and several nearby hydrophobic residues within the internal side of S5 and S6 from an adjacent subunit. We tested the hypothesis that modulatory effects of AA on Kv4.2/KChIP channels require access to this site. Targeted mutation of a lysine residue and a nonpolar residue within the S4-S5 linker as well as a nonpolar residue in S3 significantly impaired the effects of AA on K+ currents in Xenopus oocytes. These residues may be important in stabilizing or regulating access to the negatively charged carboxylate moiety on the fatty acid. The structural specificity of this interaction was supported by the lack of disruption of AA effects observed with charge neutralizing mutations at residues located near but not within the predicted binding pocket. Furthermore, we found that the crystal structure of the Kv1.2/2.1 channel chimera lacks an AA docking site with the structural features present in the proposed hydrophobic pocket of Kv4.2 and the chimera was likewise unaffected by AA. We simulated the mutagenic substitutions of critical residues identified in our Kv4.2 model to provide a structural interpretation of the disruption of the AA binding pocket. We conclude that AA inhibits Kv4 channel currents and facilitates inactivation by interacting with a hydrophobic binding pocket in which a lysine residue within the S4-S5 linker is important for AA interaction.
Flight Test Results for an Experimental GPS C/A-code Receiver in a General Aviation Aircraft*

This paper describes the design and flight test results of an experimental Global Positioning System receiver installed in a general aviation aircraft. These tests were part of a GPS test and evaluation project conducted for the Federal Aviation Administration by M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratory. The purpose of the project was to design a GPS C/A-code receiver that: 1) meets the current FAA requirements for two-dimensional area navigation (RNAV) systems, 2) employs techniques which could potentially lead to low-cost commercial avionics, and 3) is operationally compatible with existing ATC procedures and aircrew practices. Novel features of the design are: 1) the use of a dual-channel C/A-code receiver, and 2) the tracking of all visible satellites in view rather than a minimum set of four satellites. The system employs two DEC LSI-11/23 computers, one to perform position fixing and receiver control, and the other to perform navigation and data recording tasks. Pilot displays include a conventional course deviation indicator (CDI), omni-bearing selector (OBS), and intelligent control and display unit (CDU). The GPS receiver was flight tested at a large urban airport, at several small general aviation airports, and over mountainous terrain. The horizontal system accuracy during typical aircraft flight profiles was measured to be 333 feet (95% confidence). This level of accuracy meets the FAA's current accuracy requirements for two-dimensional area navigation systems and is consistent with future navigational accuracy requirements.
Acute Renal Failure Due to Postinfectious Glomerulonephritis During Pregnancy

Acute renal failure is a rare but potentially devastating complication of pregnancy. Among its many potential causes is acute postinfectious glomerulonephritis. We describe a case of acute renal failure during pregnancy, provide the histologic features of the renal biopsy, and discuss the differential diagnosis. Postinfectious glomerulonephritis can present rapidly after clinical infection and cause acute renal failure in pregnancy.
Synthesis and inhibitory activity of bromoquinone derivatives

Abstract 2,5 Dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-1,4-benzoquinone has been reported inhibitory to b6-f and b-c1 complexes [Malkin, R. (1977) Biochim. Biophys. Acta., 501 , 552-554]. In this paper, four classes of the analogues are synthesized. They were 5-bromo-3-methyl, 3-bromo-2-methoxy-5-methyl, 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl, and 3,5-dibromo-2-methyl derivatives with the side chain -(CH2)nH of n=5,7,9,11 and 13 at position 6. Dibromo compounds are usually more inhibitory in the mitochondrial ubiquinol cytochrome c reductase; the maximal inhibition was usually with 9 methylene in a functional group.
Star shaped neurons in the substantia gelationsa of the adult cat spinal cord

The neurons of the substantia gelatinosa (SG) were examined in Golgi preparations taken from the lumbosacral spinal cord of the adult cat. In addition to several types of characteristic SG neurons, a small number of star shaped neurons were observed in the inner zone of the SG. The star shaped neurons have a polygonal shaped cell body with numerous, short primary and secondary dendrites which extend radially from the soma in a star shaped fashion. Both the cell body and dendrites of the star shaped neuron have an irregular craggy contour. The star shaped cell has not been previously reported in adult animals. There is, however, a strong structural similarity between the star shaped neuron and immature, undifferentiated SG neurons described in newborn animals. The possible significance of the star shaped neuron is discussed.
Identification of a novel cis-acting negative regulatory element affecting expression of the CYP1A1 gene in rat epidermal cells.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as 3-methylcholanthrene are toxic to rat epidermal cells in low passages (3 to 6), but cultures of high passage (≥15) are resistant. Since such compounds can be metabolically activated by cytochrome P4501A1, we have examined the regulation of this gene in low and high passage cells. Consistent with this difference, little or no 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-inducible P4501A1 mRNA or enzyme activity was observed in high passage as compared to low passage cultures. Similarly, transfection of a luciferase reporter construct containing -1317 to +256 base pairs of the 5′-flanking region of the murine CYP1A1 gene was TCDD-inducible in low but not high passage cells. Ligand binding and transfection experiments demonstrated the presence of functional Ah receptor complexes in both high and low passage cells. Deletion analysis identified a 26-base pair negative regulatory DNA (NeRD) element contained within the upstream regulatory region of the CYP1A1 gene responsible for this effect. Nuclear extracts from both low and high passage cells contain a protein which specifically binds to NeRD-containing DNA. Thus, the loss of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon sensitivity in high passage rat epidermal cells appears to be due to decreased expression of CYP1A1, and this effect may be mediated by an altered NeRD binding factor(s) present in these cells.
The evolution of natural gaseous inhomogeneities

Abstract Using a three-dimensional hydrodynamical model, we have determined the characteristics of density differentiated structures in perturbed expanding subsonic flow.
How intelligence mediates liberalism and prosociality

Abstract Individuals of most or least intelligence consistently orient further left politically than those of middle intelligence, producing a U-shaped curve. Evidence advanced to support alternative intelligence-moderation and political typing hypotheses is explained mainly in terms of that U-shaped curve. The lower intelligence extreme orients toward the left because it is populated disproportionately by leftist beneficiaries (e.g., economic and racial minorities). The leftist vote by leftist beneficiaries strictly on issues on which they are leftist beneficiaries is attributed to personal experience, rather than self-interest. While self-interest alone is a weak influence, personal experience with a segment is a liberalizing factor on issues involving that segment because it increases the likelihood of one's attributing the stations of individuals in that segment to external causes and of one's being empathetic and trusting toward that segment's individuals. Intelligence confers leftist tendencies primarily for the same reasons, which explains the leftism of the higher intelligence extreme. Unlike the lower intelligence extreme, the higher intelligence extreme is broadly leftist, self-identifies as liberal, and is strongly prosocial overall. An explanatory costly signaling hypothesis is superfluous.
Gelatinous colonies of the diatom Thalassiosira in Gulf Stream Warm Core Rings including T. fragilis, sp. nov.

Gelatinous colonies of the genus Thalassiosira were observed in nutrient-poor water in warm core rings derived from the Gulf Stream off the Atlantic coast of the United States. Living colonies were observed at sea, and detailed microscopic treatment later revealed a new species, T. fragilis, along with others known to form gelatinous colonies, mainly in coastal upwelling areas. Since many of the species under discussion show a number of characteristics considered to be evolutionarily primitive, it seems plausible that gelatinous colony formation is primitive in the family Thalassiosiraceae. If this is so, initially the threads from the strutted processes could have functioned primarily to reinforce gelatinous colonies and to provide form resistance to sinking for individual cells, not to unite cells in chains by the central thread, as is often illustrated today.
Risk of alfalfa transgene dissemination and scale-dependent effects.

Pollen can function as a vehicle to disseminate introduced, genetically engineered genes throughout a plant population or into a related species. The measurement of the risk of inadvertent dispersal of transgenes must include the assessment of accidental dispersion of pollen. Factors to be considered include the rate of pollen spread, the maximal dispersion distance of pollen, and the spatial dynamics of pollen movement within seed production fields; none of which are known for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), an insect-pollinated crop species. Using a rare, naturally occurring molecular marker, alfalfa pollen movement was tracked from seed and hay production fields. Results indicated that leafcutter bees (Megachile spp.) used in commercial seed production show a directional, non-random bias when pollinating within fields, primarily resulting in the movement of pollen directly towards and away from the bee domicile. Within-field pollen movement was detected only over distances of 4 m or less. Dispersal of pollen from alfalfa hay and seed production fields occurs at distances up to 1000 m. By examining widely dispersed, individual escaped alfalfa plants and their progeny using RAPD markers, gene movement among escaped alfalfa plants has been confirmed for distances up to 230 m. The outcrossing frequency for large fields was nearly 10-times greater than that of research-sized plots. A minimum isolation distance of 1557 m may be required to prevent gene flow in alfalfa. Data suggest that complete containment of transgenes within alfalfa seed or hay production fields would be highly unlikely using current production practices.
Quality of Life in Patients with Thalassemia Intermedia Compared to Thalassemia Major

The impact of thalassemia major and thalassemia intermedia and their associated complications on quality of life (QOL) is largely unknown. Determining the degree of health impairment as perceived by the patient is essential information needed to recommend suitable therapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate QOL in transfusion-independent patients with thalassemia (non-Tx) compared with that in transfused patients (Tx) and to identify the factors that affect QOL in thalassemia. A convenient sample of 48 thalassemia patients (29 Tx and 19 non-Tx) with mean age of 14.6 years (SD = 7.5 years) were selected during a comprehensive visit to complete a Dartmouth Primary Care Cooperative Information Chart System (COOP) questionnaire. Patients rated QOL from excellent (1) to poor (5) on five dimensions of health status. Scores of 4 or 5 represent major limitations. These results were augmented by a brief medical history and chart review. Forty-one percent of Tx patients and 47% of non-Tx patients reported severe impairments in 1-6 and 1-2 domains, respectively. The most commonly reported affected domains were feelings such as anxiety, depression, and concern of overall health status or indications of recent deterioration in health. In contrast with previous beliefs, transfusion-independent thalassemia patients also suffer serious impairment in QOL. Presented data suggest that all patients with thalassemia undergo QOL assessment so that interventions focused on affected domains can be implemented.
15-lipoxygenase in glomerular inflammation

Glomerulonephritis is a significant factor fueling the rapid increase in the population of patients with end-stage renal disease. Novel therapeutic strategies targeting specific mechanisms of glomerular destruction are the most reasonable approaches to arrest ongoing injury. In this review, we summarize some of our results obtained in our effort to characterize the role of 15-lipoxygenase activation as one of the mechansisms operative during the early, prefibrotic stage of glomerular immune injury. We also summarize the effects of cytokines released during these processes, as well as the activation by aspirin of the synthesis of 15-R-HETE (see text). Finally, we will propose a clinical approach to this group of disorders, based on emerging concepts of the pathophysiology of glomerulonephritis from our work and that of several other investigators.
Device and process integration for a 0.55-um channel length CMOS device

The device and process integration for a 5 V 0.55 micron effective channel length double layer poly, triple layer metal CMOS device is presented. The n-well doping has been optimized to minimize punchthrough currents on PMOS devices. Surface and bulk leakage current components have been analyzed for p-channel Leff and n-well doping variation to evaluate the process latitude. A comparison is made with the n-channel transistor leakage due to drain induced barrier lowering. Yield dependence on threshold voltage is discussed by reviewing the results of a threshold voltage matrix. Weff is recovered with LOCOS isolation using a pre-sacrificial oxide etch and the etch time effect on field threshold voltage is presented. The backend development has stressed process simplicity for low cost manufacturing. Scaling in z has enabled via aspect ratios to stay fixed after the shrink. The effect on sidewall coverage by the via angular geometry is discussed. The metallization process has been improved to aid in better sidewall coverage by the sputtered Al alloy. The consequences of interconnect delay are discussed.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Rapid PCR amplification of chimeric products and its direct application ti in vivo testing of recombinant DNA construction strategises

This article describes a simple and rapid method for efficient production of chimeric products by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This protocol is amenable to site-directed mutagenesis strategies and can be done without the time-consuming gel purification step. The PCR products generated can also be directly used for direct gene transfer into plant cells without further subcloning to test construction strategies.
Attraction and altruism: With a little help from my friends.

Abstract The present experiment was designed to determine whether the reinforcement value of an altruistic response is a function of attraction toward the victim and/or the affective state of the subject. Subjects (N = 95) received positive or negative evaluations from a victim or from a bystander and subsequently performed an altruistic response which terminated shock delivery to a victim on a series of 14 trials. Analyses of variance indicated that the acquisition of an altruistic response was greatest when attraction toward the victim was most positive (p
Motivated Impressions of a Powerholder: Accuracy Under Task Dependency and Misperception Under Evaluation Dependency

Two experiments assessed the impression-formation strategies used by asymmetrically dependent (powerless) people to form impressions of powerholders. The experiments contrast two types of asymmetrical dependency: task dependency (short-term, goal-oriented outcome contingency) and evaluation dependency (expecting evaluations of one’s performance or abilities). Experiment 1 hypothesized and found that asymmetrical task dependency increases accuracy-driven impression-formation processes: Task-dependent people attend to information that disconfirms initial expectancies about a powerholder and, if asymmetrical, do not discount trait information. Experiment 2 found that evaluation dependency increases motivated misperception to view the powerholder positively. Evaluation-dependent people attend to and then discount negative information, which is reflected in their ratings of a powerholder.