cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A global proficiency testing programme for Xpert® MTB/RIF using dried tube specimens, 2013-2015.

Background Proficiency testing (PT) is an important quality assurance measure toward ensuring accurate and reliable diagnostic test results from clinical and public health laboratories. Despite the rapid expansion of the Xpert® MTB/RIF assay for the detection of tuberculosis in resource-limited settings (RLS), low-cost PT materials for Xpert MTB/RIF external quality assessment (EQA) are not widely available. Objective We sought to determine whether a dried tube specimen (DTS)-based PT programme would be a feasible option to support Xpert MTB/RIF EQA in RLS. Methods Between 2013 and 2015, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed and conducted a voluntary EQA programme using DTS-based PT material. Eight rounds of PT, each comprising five DTS samples, were provided to enrolled testing sites. After each round, participant results were compared to expected results, scored as satisfactory or unsatisfactory, and sites were provided with performance reports. Results Programme enrolment increased from 102 testing sites in seven countries to 441 testing sites in 14 countries over the course of three years. In each PT round, approximately 90% of participating sites demonstrated satisfactory performance. In seven of the 14 enrolled countries, the proportion of sites with a satisfactory score increased between the first round of participation and the most recent round of participation. Conclusion This programme demonstrated that it is possible to implement an Xpert MTB/RIF PT programme for RLS using DTS, that substantial demand for Xpert MTB/RIF PT material exists in RLS, and that country performance can improve in a DTS-based PT programme.
Current challenges and potential directions towards precision microscale additive manufacturing – Part I: Direct ink writing/jetting processes

Abstract This paper is the first in a series of articles which comprehensively discuss the state-of-the-art in microscale additive manufacturing processes and present solutions to challenges impeding their scalability. In this paper, a class of additive manufacturing techniques known as Direct Ink Write/Jet Processes are explored which have been used by researchers for fabrication of microscale parts with varying geometric freedom. The paper identified the key challenges to high throughput 3D microfabrication using these processes, by analyzing the material constraints, geometric constraints, feature-size resolution limits and throughput limits. While some of these challenges can be overcome by novel precision engineering approaches, there are several others which need an acute understanding of material systems, process parameters and critical components. This paper identifies these challenges and suggests potential approaches to eliminate them with the goal of fabricating true-3D parts at high throughputs.
Magnetically driven short-range order can explain anomalous measurements in CrCoNi.

The presence, nature, and impact of chemical short-range order in the multi-principal element alloy CrCoNi are all topics of current interest and debate. First-principles calculations reveal that its origins are fundamentally magnetic, involving repulsion between like-spin Co–Cr and Cr–Cr pairs that is complemented by the formation of a magnetically aligned sublattice of second-nearest-neighbor Cr atoms. Ordering models following these principles are found to predict otherwise anomalous experimental measurements concerning both magnetization and atomic volumes across a range of compositions. In addition to demonstrating the impact of magnetic interactions and resulting chemical rearrangement, the possible explanation of experiments would imply that short-range order of this type is far more prevalent than previously realized.
Age, Sex, and Inhibitory Control: Identifying a Specific Impairment in Memorial, But Not Perceptual, Inhibition in Older Women.

Objectives Declines in the ability to inhibit information, and the consequences to memory of unsuccessful inhibition, have been frequently reported to increase with age. However, few studies have investigated whether sex moderates such effects. Here, we sought to examine whether inhibitory ability may vary as a function of age and sex, and the interaction between these two factors. Methods Two hundred and two older (mean age = 69.40 years) and younger (mean age =30.59 years) participants who had equivalent educational attainment and self-reported health completed two tasks that varied only in the time point at which inhibition should occur: either prior to, or after, encoding. Results While we did not find evidence for age or sex differences in inhibitory processes when information needed to be inhibited prior to encoding, when encoded information being actively held in working memory needed to be suppressed, we found that older women were particularly impaired relative to both younger women and men of either age group. Discussion These results provide further support for the presence of memorial inhibitory deficits in older age, but add nuance by implicating biological sex as an important mediator in this relationship, with it more difficult for older women to inhibit what was once relevant in memory.
Inherited and Somatic Genetics of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are rare tumors, categorized as functional and nonfunctional tumors based on whether they can retain the ability to release hormones such as insulin, gastrin, or glucagon and they follow the classic model of tumor progression. Eighty-five percent of PNETs are nonfunctional; they are associated with a worse prognosis compared to functional PNETs, likely secondary to diagnosis at later stages. The five-year survival rate for metastatic nonfunctional PNETs is only 30–40 %. This poor prognosis for patients with metastatic or regional disease underscores the urgent need for more effective therapies. Although most PNETs are sporadic, some are associated with cancer predisposition syndromes including Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), von Hippel–Lindau disease (vHL), and more rarely with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). Somatic mutations in PNETs are commonly seen in MEN1 (44 %) and a study using massively parallel sequencing also identified common somatic mutations in a chromatin remodeling complex involving two genes, ATRX and DAXX (18 % and 25 %, respectively), and in the mTOR pathway in two genes, TSC2 (8.8 %) and PTEN (7.3 %). Although a complete understanding of the tumor biology and somatic genetics is lacking, the identification of these new somatic mutations may serve as potential prognostic markers or even targets for therapeutic intervention.
Associations of Educational Attainment, Occupation and Community Poverty with Hip Osteoarthritis

Objective To examine cross-sectional baseline data from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project for the association between individual and community socioeconomic status (SES) measures with hip osteoarthritis (OA) outcomes. Methods We analyzed data on 3,087 individuals (68% white and 32% African American). Educational attainment and occupation were used as individual measures of SES. Census block group household poverty rate was used as a measure of community SES. Hip OA outcomes included radiographic OA and symptomatic OA in one or both hip joints. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association of each hip OA outcome with each SES variable separately, and then with all SES measures simultaneously. Associations between hip OA outcomes and SES variables were evaluated for effect modification by race and sex. Results Living in a community of high household poverty rate showed independent associations with hip radiographic OA in one or both hips (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.18–1.92) and bilateral (both hips) radiographic OA (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.32–2.66). Similar independent associations were found between low educational attainment among those with symptomatic OA in one or both hips (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.09–1.91) or bilateral symptomatic OA (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.08–3.39), after adjusting for all SES measures simultaneously. No significant associations were observed between occupation and hip OA outcomes, nor did race or sex modify the associations. Conclusion Our data provide evidence that hip OA outcomes are associated with both education and community SES measures, associations that remained after adjustment for covariates and all SES measures.
Simulation evaluation of transition and hover flying qualities of the E-7A STOVL aircraft

The generalized simulation model developed for the E-7A STOVL fighter-type aircraft configuration has attempted to define the limits of acceptibility for a vertical-to-horizontal-to-vertical flight transition envelope. An effort was also made to determine the control power required during hover and transition, and to evaluate whether the integration of flight and propulsion controls thus far effected achieves good flying qualities throughout the low-speed flight envelope. The results thus obtained furnish a general view of the acceptable transition corridor, expressed in terms of the minimum-climb capability.
Three orders of magnitude improved efficiency with high‐performance spectral crystal plasticity on GPU platforms

SUMMARY We study efficient numerical implementations of crystal plasticity in the spectral representation, with emphasis on high-performance computational aspects of the simulation. For illustrative purposes, we apply this approach to a Taylor homogenization model of fcc poly-crystalline materials and show that the spectral representation of crystal plasticity is ideal for parallel implementations aimed at next-generation large-scale microstructure-sensitive simulations of material deformation. We find that multi-thread parallelizations of the algorithm provide two orders of magnitude acceleration of the calculation, whereas graphics processing unit-based computing solutions allow for three orders of magnitude speedup factors over the conventional model. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Purification of Large Amounts of Murine Ribonucleic Acid Tumor Viruses Produced in Roller Bottle Cultures

Murine ribonucleic acid tumor viruses and C-type virus particles are produced in relatively large quantities in roller bottle cultures. The viruses present in large volumes of culture fluids can be purified by a simple two-step procedure involving polyethylene glycol precipitation and equilibrium centrifugation in sucrose density gradients.
Mice get their annual check-up

A report on the 2004 meeting on Mouse Molecular Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor, USA, 1-5 September 2004.
Law firm strategies for human capital: Past, present, future

Over the last several decades, virtually all large U.S. law firms have adopted a human capital strategy that emphasizes academic performance and the prestige of the law school attended. Although this focus is rooted more in tradition than in hard empirical evidence that it produces a competitive advantage, the question has long been irrelevant for most law firms because of the perennial rise in profits. If the model is not broken, the adage runs, why fix it? Drawing upon extensive historical and contemporaneous evidence, this essay argues that the limitations of the traditional credentials-based model have been masked by a steady multidecade surge in the demand for corporate legal services. Further, various data and trendlines suggest that the growth in demand for corporate legal services is beginning to flatten out. In the coming years, many large corporate law firms will be in the unfamiliar position of competing over market share. Unlike the relative calm and prosperity of the prior era, their survival will likely depend upon a human capital strategy that asks and answers several basic empirical questions regarding the selection and development of lawyers.
Metareasoning for adaptation of classification knowledge

AI research on metareasoning for agent self-adaptation has generally focused on modifying the agent's reasoning processes (e.g., [2]). In this paper, we describe our ongoing work on the equally important problem of using metareasoning for modifying the agent's domain knowledge. Since classification is a ubiquitous task in AI, we consider the problem of using meta-knowledge for repairing classification knowledge when the classifier supplies an incorrect class label. More specifically, we consider the subclass of classification problems that can be decomposed into a hierarchical set of smaller classification problems; alternatively, problems in which features describing the world are progressively aggregated and abstracted into higher-level abstractions until a class label is produced at the root node. This subclass of classification problems is recognized as capturing a common pattern of classification [1] [3]. We will call this classification task compositional classification, and the hierarchy of abstractions an abstraction network (AN).
Pasteurizing China's Grasslands and Sealing in Terroir

Technical innovations such as ultra–high temperature processing and aseptic packaging increase liquid milk's portability and its safety, making milk available to more consumers worldwide than in the past. Although intended to seal out threats to human health, these procedures also seal in other qualities. Drawing on ethnographic research with four of China's national dairy corporations and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region's certification office for China's trademarked “Green Food” products, I explore the conversion of place-based qualities constructed as an inherent part of the land into products that can be packaged and moved across the nation. I demonstrate how qualities akin to that of the French term terroir are bundled together and thus enable their circulation with the physical product. 摘要 超高温处理和无菌包装等技术的进步， 大大提升了液态奶的便携性和安全性， 使得牛奶能够在更广泛的地区提供给更多的消费者。虽然这些处理的最初目的是为了避免人类健康遭受威胁， 但实际上它也把一些其他品质一并封装留存。在运用民族志研究的方法对中国的民族乳业公司和内蒙古自治区的绿色食品认证机构进行描述后，本文探析了液态奶是如何从具有“原产地品质”的一种地方特产， 转变成为袋装并跨区域流通的一种全民消费品。本文还阐述了液态乳的各种小产区特色品质， 即法语中的 “terroir”， 是如何成功汇集在一起并在后续储运中得到保证的。［关键词：土特产； 技科学； 中国； 乳业； 流转］
Cell Division and Prophage Induction in Escherichia coli: Effects of Pantoyl Lactone and Various Furan Derivatives

Strain T-44 is a thermosensitive mutant of Escherichia coli in which both cell division and prophage repression are altered at elevated temperatures. The effects of various ribosides, pantoyl lactone, and the furfural derivatives nitrofurazone and 5-methyl furfural suggest that some low-molecular-weight compound is important in the control of cell division and prophage repression in this strain. This low-molecular-weight compound may have a five-membered oxygen-containing ring as part of its structure.
Changes in Hepatic DNA Binding Proteins as a Function of Age in Rats

The process of aging is accompanied by many changes in gene expression, occurring in virtually all organs of the affected individual. Here we report on the relative changes in DNA binding activity of a panel of 15 different transcription factors in the liver of adult (15-month-old) and old (25-month-old) Sprague-Dawley rats. When expressed as a function of nuclear protein concentration, a great majority of the transcription factors analyzed do not show significant differences in DNA binding activities as a function of age, except activator protein 1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor-kappa B, both of which show increased activities in the older animals, and hepatocyte nuclear factor-3, which undergoes a switch from predominantly alpha and beta subspecies in the adults, to predominantly gamma subspecies in the old animals. Further examination of some of the members of the AP-1 complex using Western blot analysis indicates that the increase in binding activity of this particular complex might be due to an increase in the relative mass of Jun B, presumably resulting in a switch from predominantly c-Fos/Jun D in the young to c-Fos/Jun B complexes in the old animals. Nuclear extracts prepared from the liver of old animals yield less proteins per mass of DNA than similar extracts prepared from younger animals. Accordingly, if the data are analyzed as a function of genomic DNA, our results indicate that aging results in a consistent, but generally not statistically significant decrease in most transcription factor DNA binding activities, with AP-1, nuclear factor-kappa B, and transcription factor II D being the exception to this decline.
Efficient syntheses of isotopically labeled PD0198961, a novel synthetic coagulation factor Xa inhibitor

PD0198961 was investigated as a potent and selective inhibitor of coagulation factor Xa for the treatment of thrombotic disorders. Radioactive and stable isotope-labeled PD0198961 were synthesized for absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination studies of the compound in animals and for use as mass spectral internal standards in support of bioanalytical assays, respectively. [14C]PD0198961 was prepared from [14C]CuCN in four radiosynthetic steps in an overall yield of 48% with a radiochemical purity of >99%. The cyanation reaction of an aromatic bromide with inorganic [14C]cyanide as a key radiolabeling step was investigated. The deuterium-labeling was accomplished in a different reaction sequence from the 14C labeling. This convergent process introduced stable isotope labeling via cis-2,6-dimethyl[2H5]piperidine, which was synthesized by catalytic hydrogenation of 2,6-dimethylpyridine with deuterium gas. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polycrystalline diamond MEMS resonator technology for sensor applications

Due to material limitations of poly-Si resonators, polycrystalline diamond (poly-C) has been explored as a new MEMS resonator material. The poly-C resonators are designed, fabricated and tested using electrostatic (Michigan State University) and piezoelectric (Sandia National Laboratories) actuation methods, and the results are compared. For comparable resonator structures, although the resonance frequencies are similar, the measured Q values in the ranges of 1000–2000 and 10,000–15,000 are obtained for electrostatic and piezoelectric actuation methods, respectively. The difference in Q for the two methods is related to different pressures used during the measurement and not to the method of measurement. For the poly-C cantilever beam resonators, the highest value of their quality factor (Q) is reported for the first time (15,263). D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Three dimensional optics for three dimensional imaging : physics, fabrication and computation

In three-dimensional (3D) optical elements, light interacts with the element throughout its entire volume (as opposed to a discrete set of surfaces, which is done in traditional optics.) This allows for more degrees of freedom in shaping the optical response, in particular creating shift-variant responses. We have used this property in a number of ways to acquire 3D object information from both reflective and fluorescent objects under a variety of illumination conditions, including laser-line-scan, rainbow and uniform white light. The key benefits of using 3D optics are summarized as excellent resolution over long working distances, reduced or completely eliminated scanning, and simultaneous spectral imaging. Our research addresses the physics of 3D optical elements, their fabrication, and computational methods for maximal information extraction. In this paper, we first overview the properties of 3D optical elements and then we describe a fabrication and assembly method. Our approach, termed Nanostructured Origami, is appropriate for manufacturing micro-scale optical components which also include sub-wavelength optical elements and non-optical components, e.g. energy storage.
Virus resistance and sensitivity in cultured human synovial cells as a possible genetic marker.

Abstract Cells from a permanent culture established from normal human synovial tissue demonstrate an ability to take up polio virus and permit it to reproduce without any apparent cytopathic effect. A group of these cells were permitted to reproduce in the presence of polio I virus for several passages until the offspring became completely resistant to polio I virus infection. When these cells were irradiated with ultraviolet light, measurable virus uptake and reproduction re-occurred after several passages.
An orthogonal set composed from the functions e nx , n ≥ 0, x ≤ 0

This paper presents an orthogonal set composed of the functions e^n^x with x = = 0. In addition to the recurrence relation for this orthogonal set, two relationships are derived which give the set of differential equations for which the orthogonal set is a solution.
Essential roles of a zebrafish prdm1/blimp1 homolog in embryo patterning and organogenesis

During vertebrate development the dorsal gastrula or Spemann-Mangold organizer orchestrates axis formation largely by limiting the ventralizing and posteriorizing activity of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). In mouse and Xenopus laevis , genes encoding the zinc finger transcriptional repressor Prdm1/Blimp1 (PR domain containing 1, with ZNF domain; previously named B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1) were recently shown to be expressed in the visceral endoderm and anterior endomesoderm, respectively, and the prechordal plate of gastrula stage embryos. Later in development Prdm1/Blimp1 is expressed in many other tissues, including pharyngeal arches, limb buds, otic vesicles, photoreceptor cell layer, slow muscle and cloaca. Based on misexpression and dominant-negative studies, Prdm1/Blimp1 was proposed to promote anterior endomesoderm and head development in Xenopus laevis . Here we report the isolation and functional characterization of zebrafish prdm1 exhibiting a dynamic and evolutionarily conserved expression pattern. Misexpression of prdm1 inhibits the formation of dorsoanterior structures and reduces expression of chordin , which encodes a BMP antagonist. Conversely, interference with Prdm1 translation using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides, increases chordin expression, while reducing expression of Bmp genes, and consequently dorsalizing the embryo. At the end of the gastrula period, prdm1 morphant embryos have enlarged animal-vegetal and anteroposterior embryonic axes. This altered embryo morphology is associated with augmented extension movements of dorsal tissues and normal posterior migration of ventral tissues. Additionally, Prdm1 activity is essential for proper development of slow muscle, the photoreceptor cell layer, branchial arches and pectoral fins. Our studies reveal essential roles for prdm1 in limiting the function of the gastrula organizer and regulating cell fate specification and morphogenetic processes in precise correspondence with its intricate expression pattern.
INHIBITION OF Staphylococcus BY ILACTIC ACID BACTERIA IN COUNTRY‐STYLE HAMS

Lactic acid bacteria were tested for inhibition of staphylococci prevalent in country-style ham. Tests were conducted in broth and agar media and in a model meat system. Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus cerevisiae were selected as antagonists against a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from country-style ham. Culture introduction into muscle tissue was more effective by syringe injection than surface or puncture application. The model meat system was applied by using 27 hams in a 3 × 3 × 3 cubed factorial design experiment. The three factors were as follows: Sucrose at 20, 40, 60% of curing mixtures; salt equalization time at 0, 1, or 2 wk; and inoculation with either L. plantarum at 2.2 × 108, P. cerevisiae at 1.6 × 108, or S. epidermidis at 3.4 × 105 cells/g of ham. Seventeen hams had at least some putrefactive spoilage due to Clostridium sporogenes or Proteus vulgaris. Spoilage was greatest at 0 time in equalization and for lowest sucrose levels. Ham pH was successfully monitored during processing by placing a pH probe in desired muscle areas, but this appeared to contribute to spoilage. L. plantarum inhibited S. epidermidis when the 60% sucrose treatment was used and acid production appeared necessary for staphylococcal inhibition to occur.
TIM polymorphisms--genetics and function.

The transmembrane immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM) family was identified more than a decade ago. Although the founding member of the family was first described in a rat model of ischemia–reperfusion injury, much of the recent interest in the TIM family members has focused on their potential roles in immunity. There are now a large number of genetic studies that have investigated the possible association of various TIM1 and TIM3 polymorphisms with different diseases. Here, we review this body of literature, and highlight some of the most interesting studies.
ASYMPTOTIC INFERENCE FOR THE PARAMETERS OF A DISCRETE-TIME SQUARE-ROOT PROCESS

This paper is concerned with asymptotic properties of the maximum likelihood estimators for the discrete-time square-root process. This process and its generalizations are employed in financial literature as models for movements of asset prices. the considered process is nonergodic and therefore standard maximum likelihood theory does not apply. the nonstandard asymptotic theory is developed. Strong consistency of the estimators is established, joint asymptotic distribution of the properly normalized estimators is obtained and confidence intervals for the parameters are constructed. the results of the small simulation study are reported.
The Patterns of Adaptive Learning Survey: A Comparison across Grade Levels:

The Patterns of Adaptive Learning Survey (PALS) was developed to assess a trichotomous achievement goal structure, which included the following subscales: Task Goal Orientation, Performance-Approach Goal Orientation, and Performance-Avoid Goal Orientation. The use of the PALS in making inferences about these goal orientations was originally validated with a middle school sample of students. In this study, the authors computed Cronbach’s alphas and employed confirmatory factor analytic procedures to provide statistical evidence of the reliability and validity of inferences based on scores from the PALS at the fourth-grade and college levels.
ASF1 and the SWI/SNF complex interact functionally during nucleosome displacement, while FACT is required for nucleosome reassembly at yeast heat shock gene promoters during sustained stress

Histone chaperones are an integral part of the transcription regulatory machinery. We investigated the involvement of histone chaperones and their functional interactions with ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes in the regulation of yeast heat shock genes. Strong functional interaction between the histone chaperone ASF1 and the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex SWI/SNF is exhibited in synergistic diminishment of nucleosome displacement during heat shock in the ΔASF1/ΔSNF2 strain in comparison to individual ASF1 or SNF2 inactivation. A similar but less pronounced effect was observed for ISW1/ASF1 inactivation but not for ASF1/STH1 (RSC complex) combinatorial inactivation. The depletion of Spt16, which is a major subunit of the FACT histone chaperone complex, leads to a severe growth defect phenotype associated with unusual thermotolerance. The acquired thermotolerance in the Spt16-depleted strain is associated with a defect in the reassembly of nucleosomes at the promoters of heat shock genes during sustained heat stress, leading to increased recruitment of the transcriptional activator HSF and RNA polymerase II. The defect in nucleosome assembly associated with Spt16 depletion also leads to an increased tolerance to stress due to an increased concentration of NaCl.
Ethnicity and insurance status affect health disparities in patients with gallstone disease.

Background Complex gallstone disease is associated with greater risk of morbidity, associated with operative complications and longer hospital stays. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether ethnicity or insurance status is associated with differences in presentation and outcomes in gallstone disease. Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for all patients who underwent cholecystectomy between August 1, 2007 and May 31, 2010 at the only teaching hospital in the region. Analysis of Variance, Chi square (χ 2 ) and logistical regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of ethnicity and insurance status on the complexity of gallstone disease and surgical outcomes. Results A total of 562 patients had a cholecystectomy during the study period, of whom 255 (45.4%) were Latino. Latino patients were significantly younger than any other ethnic group ( P P = 0.03). Latino patients were significantly more likely to require ERCP (38.6% versus 28.8% for non-Latino, P = 0.01). Latino patients had a significantly higher white blood cell count ( P = 0.017). There were no significant differences in liver function tests, bilirubin levels, albumin levels, hospital lengths of stay, operation types, pathology types, or complication rates between ethnic groups. Uninsured patients were significantly younger ( P = 0.003) and were more likely to require an ERCP (39.5% versus 26.8% for privately insured and 31.9% for publicly insured, P = 0.04). Patients with no insurance were significantly more likely to have a higher white blood cell count ( P = 0.039) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level ( P = 0.04). Patients with public insurance and no insurance had a significantly longer median length of hospital stay (4.0 d versus 3.0 d for privately insured, P = 0.045). There were no significant differences in operation types, complication rates, or pathologic diagnosis based on insurance status. Conclusions In our population, ethnicity and insurance status do play a role in the presentation and care of patients with gallstone disease. Latino and uninsured patients present with a higher complexity of disease and require interventions more frequently.
Homo- and heterometallic luminescent 2-D stilbene metal–organic frameworks

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) can provide a matrix for the assembly of organic chromophores into well-defined geometries, allowing for tuning of the material properties and study of structure–property relationships. Here, we report on the effect of the coordinated metal ion on the luminescence properties of eight isostructural MOFs having the formula M12M2L3(DMF)2 (M1 = M2 = Zn (1), Cd (2), Mn (3), Co (4); M1 = Zn, M2 = Cd (5), Mn (6), Co (7); M1 = Co, M2 = Mn (8); L = trans-4,4′-stilbene dicarboxylate), synthesized by reaction of the appropriate metal nitrate or mixtures of metal nitrates with LH2 in DMF. The crystal structures of 2, 3 and 5–8 were determined by X-ray diffraction to be composed of trinuclear metal clusters linked by stilbene dicarboxylate linkers in a paddlewheel geometry, extending to form a 2-D layered structure. In the mixed-metal cases, the larger metal ion was found to occupy the octahedral site in the cluster while the smaller ion occupies the tetrahedral positions, suggesting a selective, ligand-directed assembly process for the mixed-metal species. Variable temperature magnetic measurements for paramagnetic MOFs 3 and 6–8 were consistent with the site occupancies determined crystallographically, and indicated weak intra-cluster antiferromagnetic coupling for 3 and 8. Comparison between the crystal structures of 2, 3 and 5–8 and those reported for 1 and 4 in the literature reveal close resemblances between linker environments, with important intermolecular stilbene–stilbene geometries that are comparable in all cases. Interestingly, pale-colored 1–3 and 5–7 display very similar emission profiles upon excitation at λex = 350 nm, whereas dark-colored 4 and 8 do not exhibit detectable emission spectra. The bright, well-resolved luminescence of 1, 2 and 5 is ascribed to rigidification of the linker upon coordination to the d10 metal ions, whereas the weaker emission observed for 3, 6 and 7 is presumably a result of quenching due to close proximity of the linker to one or more paramagnetic ions. Time-resolved measurements for 1, 2, 5 and 6 reveal biexponential emission decays, where the lifetime of the longer-lived state corresponds to observed variations in the nearest-neighbor cofacial stilbene–stilbene distances in their crystal structures. For 3, a monoexponential decay with shorter lifetime was determined, indicating significant paramagnetic quenching of its emissive state.
Matrix representation for combinatorics

Abstract Denumerably infinite matrices are introduced for the representation of combinatorial quantities. The purpose is to simplify and unify the presentation and to provide a method for the discovery of combinatorial identities and for proving them. The key concept is the derivative of a matrix.
A metric for convergence in distribution

Abstract Given two probability distributions on R k , γ(F,G)≔ ∫∫ e −(1/8)∥x−y∥ 2 [ d F(x) d F(y)−2 d F(x) d G(y)+ d G(x) d G(y)] defines a metric for convergence in distribution. Theoretical properties and computational advantages (with potential applications) of γ are discussed.
Mass-transfer enhancement and reaction-rate limitations in solid-liquid phase-transfer catalysis

Abstract We present an analysis of mass transfer in solid-liquid phase-transfer catalysis (SLPTC), obtaining analytical solutions for the stagnant-film model and numerical solutions to the complete transport equations for the von Karman rotating-disk flow. The latter is viewed as a prime candidate for experimental studies on SLPTC. A catalyst-effectiveness plot is developed, which displays both mass-transfer enhancement and reaction-rate limitation associated with the two distinct Damkohler parameters for the bulk and surface reactions. Solutions are obtained from the film model for pseudo-first-order reaction and for rapid equilibrium reaction, including irreversible reaction with flame-like reaction fronts. Comparison of stagnant-film model against the numerical solutions for the rotating disk shows generally good agreement, as one would expect for uniformly accessible surfaces.
Possible Use of Genealogical Spin-Adapted Functions in the Table-CI Method.

The use of genealogical spin-adapted functions (SAFs) in the table-CI method for the description of electron correlation in molecular electronic structure calculations is suggested. It is demonstrated that genealogical functions are compatible with the basic idea of a double representation of SAFs. The genealogical SAFs are shown to lead to an upper triangular matrix relating spin-projected main determinants and SAFs as opposed to a fully populated square matrix. Consequently, a computational efficiency increase of approximately a factor of 2 for this stage of the calculation is expected. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 81: 130–134, 2001
111: Maternal morbidity and infant mortality in late preterm singleton births: 1989-91 vs 1999-01

1989-91 VS 1999-01. BARBARA LUKE, VICTOR HUGO GONZALEZ-QUINTERO, University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies, Coral Gables, Florida, University of Miami School of Medicne, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Miami, Florida OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the characteristics of late preterm twin births during 1989-91 and 1999-01 to determine if risk factors and pregnancy outcomes had changed using national vital statistics data. STUDY DESIGN: The study population included all liveborn twins of 34-36 weeks gestation from the 1989-91 and 1999-01 Birth Cohort Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set: 99,127 twins in 1989-91 and 156,984 twins in 1999-01. Maternal and newborn characteristics were compared using 2 or t tests. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals calculated the infant mortality risk, controlling for maternal age, race, parity, education, smoking, adequacy of prenatal care, and infant gender. RESULTS: Between the two time periods, there was a significant shift to older maternal ages (35, 11.5% to 20.3%), more education (college graduates, from 19.8% to 33.2%), and earlier prenatal care (first trimester, from 78.7% to 85.6%), but also increases in smoking (from 6.7% to 8.9%), diabetes (from 2.9% to 4.3%), pregnancy-associated hypertension (from 7.5% to 10.6%), and cesarean delivery (from 53% to 58.7%). The risk of infant mortality fell significantly by 38% between the two time periods (AOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.57-0.68), with reductions in both neonatal and postneonatal deaths. CONCLUSION: The contemporary risk profile of women delivering late preterm twins has changed since the early 1990s, with decreases in many risk factors, but increases in others. Advances in medical care have resulted in significant reductions in neonatal and infant mortality during this period.
The effect of mood induction in a risky decision-making task

The Velten mood induction procedure was used to create positive, negative, and neutral mood states in subjects who were asked to evaluate a series of risk-taking scenarios. Significant mood effects were found in the evaluations of the first—and most personal—scenario. Subjects in the positive state were most apt to indicate a willingness to risk a medical operation, and subjects in the negative state were least willing to take the risk. Results were discussed in terms of the relationship between mood and the framing of information in risky decision making. Both a positive mood and a positive frame produce more favorable evaluations of a stimulus than do a negative mood and a negative frame.
Dr. Hans Christian Jaochim Gram

Abstract Hans Christian Joachim Gram, who pioneered the method of the Gram stain, was born on September 13, 1853, in Copenhagen, Denmark. His early interests involved plants, pharmacology, and microscopes. He obtained his M.D. from the University of Copenhagen and ultimately became a resident physician at the Municipal Hospital of Copenhagen. Gram's early work concerned the study of red corpuscles in humans. Gram traveled throughout Europe studying pharmacology and bacteriology and worked in the Berlin laboratory of the well-respected microbiologist, Karl Friedlander. It was here that Gram developed and perfected his new method for staining and identifying bacteria. Throughout his career he showed a keen interest in the clinical education of students. In 1923, Gram retired from his medical practice position and lived inconspicuously, resuming his former interest in the history of medicine. He died in 1938 at the age of 85.
Paper Spray Ionization of Noncovalent Protein Complexes

Paper spray (PS) ionization, an ambient ionization method, has previously been explored as a direct and fast method for mass spectrometric analysis of complex mixtures. It has been applied to the analysis of a wide variety of compounds, mostly small molecules. The work reported here extends the application of PS ionization to noncovalent protein complexes on an ion mobility tandem mass spectrometer. Similar mass spectra for protein complexes were obtained by PS ionization and nanoflow electrospray ionization (nESI), indicating that intact protein complexes can be preserved in PS ionization. In addition, collisional cross sections measured by ion mobility provide evidence that the protein assemblies may remain compact by PS ionization. With PS, it is possible to detect hemoglobin tetramer from a blood sample with minimal sample preparation. This is the first report to show that PS ionization is a promising ionization method for nonconvalent protein complexes.
The Berkeley Accelerator Space Effects (BASE) Facility – A new mission for the 88-Inch Cyclotron at LBNL

In FY04, the 88-Inch Cyclotron began a new operating mode that supports a local research program in nuclear science, R&D in accelerator technology and a test facility for the National Security Space (NSS) community (the U.S. Air Force and NRO). The NSS community (and others on a cost recovery basis) can take advantage of both the light- and heavy-ion capabilities of the Cyclotron to simulate the space radiation environment. A significant portion of this work involves the testing of microcircuits for single event effects. The experimental areas within the building that are used for the radiation effects testing are now called the Berkeley Accelerator and Space Effects (BASE) facility. Improvements to the facility to provide increased reliability, quality assurance and new capabilities are underway and will be discussed. These include a 16 AMeV ''cocktail'' of beams for heavy ion testing, a neutron beam, more robust dosimetry, and other upgrades.
Method for Determining the Orbital Angular Momentum in K - -d Capture

It is pointed out that the K--d orbital angular momentum determines the reaction rates for reactions which are fairly accessible experimentally, the nonmesonic capture reactions in deuterium. The discussion is confined to the K/ sup -/ + d yields SIGMA /sup -/ + p reaction since it is easily recognized in a deuterium-filled bubble chamber and is known to occur at approximately 0.7% when stopped K/sup -/ mesons are captured. If capture occurs predominantly from S orbitals, the fraction of nonmesonic absorptions observed at rest and in flight must be a continuous and slowly varying function of K/sup -/ momentum. The lower limits for fractions of nonmesonic absorptions expected in flight when K/sup -/ capture at rest occurs from either S or P atomic orbitals are given for K/sup -/ momenta of 50, 200, and 300 Mev/c. (B.O.G.)
Kinetics of polymerization of styrene initiated by substituted peroxides. II. Decomposition rate constants and efficiencies

The following bis-substituted benzoyl peroxides were used as initiators for the polymerization of bulk styrene monomer at 90°C.: p-methoxy-, p-methyl-, p-chloro-, m-bromo-, 3,4-dichloro-, p-cyano-, and p-nitro-; in addition, unsubstituted benzoyl peroxide was also studied. From the observed rates of polymerization the rate constants for the unimolecular decomposition and for the radical-induced decomposition of the peroxides were obtained, as well as the efficiency of initiation of polymerization. It was observed that substituents more electron-withdrawing than p-chloro did not change the unimolecular rate constant. Conversely, substituents less electron-releasing than p-chloro had little effect on the efficiency of initiation. The induced decomposition rate constant gave a simple linear Hammett plot with positive slope.
Energetic trans-iron composition explorer (ENTICE): a mission concept

We describe a mission concept which has as its primary objective the measurement of the elemental abundances of galactic and solar energetic nuclei over the charge range of 14 less than or equal to Z less than or equal to 92. The instruments would have sufficient collecting power to improve the number of particles collected over that of previous measurements by more than an order of magnitude and, more important, will have the capability to clearly distinguish individual elements. These measurements are of fundamental importance to an understanding of the origin, nucleosynthesis, and acceleration of energetic galactic and solar particles.
Patient-physician racial/ethnic concordance and blood pressure control: the role of trust and medication adherence.

Objectives. To examine the associations between racial/ethnic concordance and blood pressure (BP) control, and to determine whether patient trust and medication adherence mediate these associations.Design. Cross-sectional study of 723 hypertensive African-American and white patients receiving care from 205 white and African-American providers at 119 primary care clinics, from 2001 to 2005. Racial/ethnic concordance was characterized as dyads where both the patient and physician were of the same race/ethnicity; discordance occurred in dyads where the patient was African-American and the physician was white. Patient perceptions of trust and medication adherence were assessed with self-report measures. The BP readings were abstracted from patients' medical charts using standardized procedures.Results. Six hundred thirty-seven patients were in race/ethnic-concordant relationships; 86 were in race/ethnic-discordant relationships. Concordance had no association with BP control. White patients in race/ethnic-con...
Effects of epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-β1 on rat heart endothelial cell anchorage-dependent and -independent growth☆

This report describes the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on the anchorage-dependent and -independent growth of rat heart endothelial cells (RHE-1A). When RHE-1A cells were grown in monolayer culture with medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) supplemented with epidermal growth factor (0.1-100 ng/ml), growth was stimulated fivefold when compared to that of cells grown in medium containing 10% FBS alone. The stimulatory effect of EGF on RHE-1A cell monolayer growth was dose-dependent and half-maximal at 5 ng/ml. The addition of TGF-beta 1 in the range 0.1-10 ng/ml had no effect on RHE-1A cell monolayer growth when added to medium containing 10% FBS alone or 10% FBS supplemented with EGF (50 ng/ml). RHE-1A cells failed to grow under anchorage-independent conditions in 0.3% agar medium containing 10% FBS. In the presence of EGF, however, colony formation increased dramatically. The stimulatory effect of EGF was dose-dependent in the range 0.1-100 ng/ml and was half-maximal at 5 ng/ml. In contrast to its effects under anchorage-dependent conditions, TGF-beta 1 (0.1-10 ng/ml) antagonized the stimulatory effects of EGF on RHE-1A cell anchorage-independent growth. The inhibitory effect of TGF-beta 1 was dose-dependent and half-maximal at 0.1 ng/ml. EGF-induced RHE-1A soft agar colonies were isolated and reinitiated in monolayer culture. They retained the cobblestone morphology and contact-inhibition characteristic of normal vascular endothelial cells. Each of the clones continued to express Factor VIII antigen. These findings suggest that TGF-beta may influence not only endothelial cell proliferation but also anchorage dependence. These effects may in turn be of relevance to endothelial cell growth and angiogenesis in vivo.
Putting It All Together: Building a Prereplicative Complex

The identification of components of the pre-RC is an important step in the elucidation of the mechanism of eukaryotic replication initiation. The SV40 in vitro replication system faithfully recapitulates the complete replication of the virus and has been of crucial importance in dissecting aspects of the elongation reactions, which depend on cellular enzymes (reviewed byHassell and Brinton 1996xSee all ReferencesHassell and Brinton 1996). However, origin recognition, replication initiation, and the replicative helicase activities in the SV40 system are all dependent on a single viral protein, large T antigen. In contrast, the initiation of chromosomal DNA replication is much more complicated than in viral systems, requiring the coordination of multiple replication origins and responding to several layers of cell cycle control designed to assure that the genome is replicated in a timely fashion and with high fidelity. The large number of gene products required for the proper initiation of chromosomal DNA replication reflects these additional layers of control. The information about the components required for pre-RC formation and their order of function, together with tantalizing clues of biochemical function provided by these recent studies, may make it possible to develop partial in vitro reactions that will provide insights into the mechanism of pre-RC assembly and DNA replication initiation.