cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel Imprinted Polymer for the Preconcentration of Cadmium with Determination by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

A novel Cd(II)-imprinted polymer was prepared with chemical immobilization approach by using N-methacryloyl-L-histidine as a vinylated chelating agent for on-line solid phase extraction of Cd(II) for determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cd(II)-monomer complex was synthesized and copolymerized via bulk polymerization method in the presence of ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate cross-linker. The resulting polymer was leached with 1.0 mol L-1 HNO3 to generate the cavities in the polymer for Cd(II) ions. The experimental conditions, including load pH, solution flow rate, and eluent concentration for effective sorption of Cd(II) were optimized using a minicolumn of the imprinted polymer. A volume of 5.0 mL sample 5 μg L-1 Cd(II) solution at pH 6.5 was loaded onto the column at 2.0 mL min-1 by using a sequential injection system (FIALab 3200) followed by elution with 1.0 mL of 0.75 mol L-1 HNO3. The relative selectivity coefficients of the imprinted polymer for Cd(II) were 38.5, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5 and 6.0 in the presence of Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II) and Pb(II), respectively. Computational calculations revealed that the selectivity of the imprinted polymer was mediated by the stability of Cd(II)-N-methacryloyl-L-histidine complex which was far more stable than those of commonly used monomers, such as 4-vinyl pyridine, methacrylic acid and vinylimidazole. The detection limit (3s) and relative standard deviation (%) were found to be 0.004 μg L-1 and 3.2%, respectively. The method was validated by analysis of seawater certified reference material (CASS-4) and successfully applied to the determination of Cd(II) in coastal seawater and estuarine water samples.
Multiplexed Western Blotting Using Microchip Electrophoresis.

Western blotting is a commonly used protein assay that combines the selectivity of electrophoretic separation and immunoassay. The technique is limited by long time, manual operation with mediocre reproducibility, and large sample consumption, typically 10–20 μg per assay. Western blots are also usually used to measure only one protein per assay with an additional housekeeping protein for normalization. Measurement of multiple proteins is possible; however, it requires stripping membranes of antibody and then reprobing with a second antibody. Miniaturized alternatives to Western blot based on microfluidic or capillary electrophoresis have been developed that enable higher-throughput, automation, and greater mass sensitivity. In one approach, proteins are separated by electrophoresis on a microchip that is dragged along a polyvinylidene fluoride membrane so that as proteins exit the chip they are captured on the membrane for immunoassay. In this work, we improve this method to allow multiplexed protein det...
Creation and Analysis of a Virome: Using CRISPR Spacers

Advances in sequencing technology have allowed for the study of complex and previously unexplored microbial and viral populations; however, linking host-phage partners using in silico techniques has been challenging. Here, we describe the flow-through for creation of a virome, and its subsequent analysis with the viral assembly and analysis module "Viritas," which we have recently developed. This module allows for binning of contigs based on tetranucleotide frequencies, putative phage-host partner identification by CRISPR spacer matching, and identification of ORFs.
A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of Pollen Loads Collected and Stored by Honeybees

SummaryIt was observed that honeybees (Apis mellifera) frequently mixed pollen species in their corbicular pollen loads even when little competitive bloom was available. From the time the bees collected it, pollen was stored without visible evidence of damage or digestion of the grain walls; even the osmotic potential of the pollen membrane in the stored pollen (bee bread) was retained. Growth of fungi was inhibited in the stored pollen, but some other microorganisms multiplied.
Foundations of an Afrocentric Social Science: Implications for Curriculum-Building, Theory, and Research in Black Studies

The focus of this analysis is to clarify the epistemological base and emergent direction of Black Studies; to establish the role of social science in the Black Studies enterprise; and to suggest directions for generating social-scientific theory, paradigms, models, and research in Black Studies. A basic premise of this analysis is that if one considers logical and empirical categories linked to the nascent growth of Black Studies, then Afrocentrism should become the guiding principle of Black Studies. By Afrocentrism I mean an activity whereby Afrikan people attempt to understand all other phenomena by virtue of its relationship to their survival and prosperity. Such an understanding must be informed by analyzing Afrikan culturebuilding from its earliest known manifestations. Without the
Money as a mirror of marriage.

Freud’s statement (1913) that “money questions will be treated by cultured people in the same manner as sexual matters, with the same inconsistency, prudishness, and hypocrisy” is not yet outdated. As Krueger (1986) says, “Money may be the last emotional taboo in our society.”
The in situ protection of aldehydes via α-amino alkoxides

Abstract Aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes can be protected in situ via the formation of α-amino alkoxides and their O-trimethylsilyl derivatives.
Evaluating the relationships among psychological distress, executive cognitive function and economic factors on mammography use in unaffected African American women at risk for breast cancer.

Objective: Psychological distress impairs the cognitive function involved in planning and decision-making (executive cognitive function), and hinders engagement in health promoting behaviors. This study examined the relationship among distress, executive cognitive function (ECF) and mammography use in African American women at risk for breast cancer. Design: A cross-sectional sample of mammography screening adherers (n544) and nonadherers (n516) completed measures of psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory) and executive cognitive function, (Wisconsin Card Sort Task and Stroop Color Word Test). Results: More than one-quarter of the highrisk sample had high levels of distress. Distress scores explained 12% of the variance in two ECF components (abstract concept formation and cognitive flexibility), suggesting a significant relationship between psychological distress and cognitive function. Distress scores and ECF measures did not predict mammography use; employment status emerged as the strongest predictor of mammography screening (OR54.36, 95% CI: 1.18–16.07). Conclusion: Elevated psychological distress is evident in high-risk African American women and appears to have an effect on the cognitive function involved in behavioral regulation and planning. Results also support the role of socioeconomic status as a significant predictor of mammography use. (Ethn Dis. 2010;20: 467–473)
Selectively biorefining astaxanthin and triacylglycerol co-products from microalgae with supercritical carbon dioxide extraction

Abstract Clustering behavior of supercritical carbon dioxide, triacylglycerides, and astaxanthin solutes were analyzed using Kamlet-Taft solvatochromic properties of dipolarity/polarizability, π∗, and hydrogen-bond acceptance, β. Both parameters were decreased for supercritical carbon dioxide with TAG at low densities and with astaxanthin at high densities. These results indicated supercritical carbon dioxide could selectively extract triacylglycerides at low densities followed by astaxanthin at higher densities from microalgae. Accordingly, Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae were subject to a two-stage continuous extraction scheme where a density of 642 mg/ml was employed to extract triacylglycerides followed by a density of 971 mg/ml, by an increase in pressure, to extract astaxanthin. The first, lower density extract yielded over 78% of the total triacylglycerides and was composed of less than 1% astaxanthin. The sequential, higher density extract yielded less than 5% of the total microalgae triacylglycerides, over 70% of the total astaxanthin, and was composed of 60–76% astaxanthin by mass.
Borges, Ethics, and Evil

After so many books and articles, it seems as though everything has been said about Borges’s fiction. While granting that much productive analysis has been contributed by scholars, it should also be said that the copious interpretations and presumptions have created favorable circumstances for critical errors to creep in. A case in point concerns Borges’s attitude toward ethics and evil, which has attracted the attention of a number of writers. This article aims to locate and correct them.
Quantitative Electroluminescence Analysis of Triple Junction Solar Cells to Determine Subcell Voltage-Temperature Coefficients

Solar cells in space experience varying temperatures throughout their lifetime on spacecraft and satellites. At higher temperatures, photovoltaic performance decreases. In multijunction cells, a reduction in open-circuit voltage occurs across each subcell. This voltage-temperature coefficient is crucial for design purposes. The voltage of subcells within multijunction cells has traditionally been difficult to characterize, requiring the use of isotype cells for each subcell. However, the reciprocity relation allows the voltage characteristics of a cell to be correlated with its electroluminescent emission and quantum efficiency, even within a multijunction cell, providing an alternative to the use of isotypes. This research presents the steps and accuracy of this method.
Developing a community of practice for applied uses of future PACE data to address marine food security challenges

External interaction:The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission will include a hyperspectral imaging radiometer to advance ecosystem monitoring beyond heritage retrievals of the concentration of surface chlorophyll and other traditional ocean color variables, offering potential for novel science and applications. PACE is the first NASA ocean color mission to occur under the agency's new and evolving effort to directly engage practical end users prior to satellite launch to increase adoption of this freely available data toward societal challenges. Here we describe early efforts to engage a community of practice around marine food-related resource management, business decisions, and policy analysis. Obviously one satellite cannot meet diverse end user needs at all scales and locations, but understanding downstream needs helps in the assessment of information gaps and planning how to optimize the unique strengths of PACE data in combination with the strengths of other satellite retrievals, in situ measurements, and models. Higher spectral resolution data from PACE can be fused with information from satellites with higher spatial or temporal resolution, plus other information, to enable identification and tracking of new marine biological indicators to guide sustainable management. Accounting for the needs of applied researchers as well as non-traditional users of satellite data early in the PACE mission process will ultimately serve to broaden the base of informed users and facilitate faster adoption of the most advanced science and technology toward the challenge of mitigating food insecurity.
Characterization of 650 V Enhancement-mode GaN HEMT at Cryogenic Temperatures

In order to evaluate the feasibility of newly developed GaN devices in a cryogenic-cooled converter, this paper characterizes a 650 V enhancement-mode Gallium-Nitride heterojunction field-effect transistor (GaN HFET) at cryogenic temperatures. The characterization includes two parts: static and dynamic characterization. The results show that this GaN HEMT is an excellent device candidate to be applied in cryogenic-cooled applications. For example, transconductance at cryogenic temperature is 2.5 times of one at room temperature, and accordingly, peak di/dt during turn-on transients at cryogenic temperature is around 2 times of that at room temperature. Moreover, the on-resistance of the channel at cryogenic temperature is only one-fifth of that at room temperature.
The TCJA and the Questionable Incentive to Incorporate

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has put the question should a business be organized as a pass through entity or as a corporation at center stage. The TCJA eliminated much of the tax disadvantage from using the corporate form, but did Congress go so far that it advantaged corporations relative to pass-through entities? Some prominent commentators say yes. They argue that the federal income tax now encourages individual owners of pass-through businesses to restructure their business as sub-chapter C corporations, and they predict that the TCJA will lead to a cascade of incorporations. The principal driver of the shift to the corporate form is said to be high-bracket owners of successful businesses using their new corporations as “pocket books” through which to invest in and hold portfolio assets that they would otherwise hold on personal account. The benefit is the deferral of the personal tax on such income and hence a reduction in the present value of that tax. This essay, the first of a two-part series, argues that there generally are no tax benefits from converting and investing in portfolio assets through a corporation. That is because the corporate tax on the invested income more than compensates for the deferral of the individual level tax on that income. The second essay in this series extends the argument to consider other provisions in the tax law that could potentially change that result and argues that any benefits from converting from a pass through entity to a C corporation at present are modest at best.
A soft robotic actuation system for a bat robot

A crucial development in the field of biomimicry is accurately recreating the kinematics of various organisms. In the example of a bat robot in development inspired by the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, this takes the form of accurately recreating fast motions of the pinnae and noseleaf observed during echolocation. In order to accurately recreate these baffle shapes it is important to choose a material that is malleable but will retain its originally molded state. An actuation system was developed to replicate the ear movement seen in the bat when using biosonar. Several actuation designs were tested, including a physical motor connection, shape memory alloys, and soft-robotic pneumatics. In addition to the actuation system, a feedback system was developed in order to accurately control the robot and provide information which could be used to determine the effectiveness of the robot. Additionally, the final challenge to assemble all the components, i.e., the baffle shapes, actuator mechanism, and feedback control mechanism, in a way that recreates the baffle motions in an effective and accurate manner.
Utilizing gastric cancer organoids to assess tumor biology and personalize medicine

While the incidence and mortality of gastric cancer (GC) have declined due to public health programs, it remains the third deadliest cancer worldwide. For patients with early disease, innovative endoscopic and complex surgical techniques have improved survival. However, for patients with advanced disease, there are limited treatment options and survival remains poor. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more effective therapies. Since novel therapies require extensive preclinical testing prior to human trials, it is important to identify methods to expedite this process. Traditional cancer models are restricted by the inability to accurately recapitulate the primary human tumor, exorbitant costs, and the requirement for extended periods of development time. An emerging in vitro model to study human disease is the patient-derived organoid, which is a three-dimensional system created from fresh surgical or biopsy tissues of a patient's gastric tumor. Organoids are cultured in plastic wells and suspended in a gelatinous matrix, providing a substrate for extension and growth in all dimensions. They are rapid-growing and highly representative of the molecular landscape, histology, and morphology of the various subtypes of GC. Organoids uniquely model tumor initiation and growth, including steps taken by normal stomach cells to transform into invasive, intestinal-type tumor cells. Additionally, they provide ample material for biobanking and screening novel therapies. Lastly, organoids are a promising model for personalized therapy and warrant further investigation in drug sensitivity studies for GC patients.
Functional Anabolic Network Analysis of Human-associated Lactobacillus Strains

Abstract Members of the Lactobacillus genus are frequently utilized in the probiotic industry with many species conferring demonstrated health benefits; however, these effects are largely strain-dependent. We designed a method called PROTEAN (Probabilistic Reconstruction Of constituent Anabolic Networks) to computationally analyze the genomic annotations and predicted metabolic production capabilities of 144 strains across 16 species of Lactobacillus isolated from human intestinal, oral, and vaginal body sites. Using PROTEAN we conducted a genome-scale metabolic network comparison between strains, revealing that metabolic capabilities differ by isolation site. Notably, PROTEAN does not require a well-curated genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction to provide biological insights. We found that predicted metabolic capabilities of lactobacilli isolated from the vaginal microbiota cluster separately from intestinal and oral isolates, and we also uncovered an overlap in the predicted metabolic production capabilities of intestinal and oral isolates. Using machine learning, we determined the most informative metabolic products driving the difference between predicted metabolic capabilities of intestinal, oral, and vaginal isolates. Notably, intestinal and oral isolates were predicted to have a higher likelihood of producing D-alanine, D/L-serine, and L-proline, while the vaginal isolates were distinguished by a higher predicted likelihood of producing L-arginine, citrulline, and D/L-lactate. We found the distinguishing products to be consistent with published experimental literature. This study showcases a systematic technique, PROTEAN, for comparing the predicted functional metabolic output of microbes using genome-scale metabolic network analysis and computational modeling and provides unique insight into human-associated Lactobacillus biology. Importance The Lactobacillus genus has been shown to be important for human health. Lactobacilli have been isolated from human intestinal, oral, and vaginal sites. Members of the genus contribute significantly to the maintenance of vaginal health by providing colonization resistance to invading pathogens. A wide variety of clinical studies have indicated that Lactobacillus-based probiotics confer health benefits for several gut- and immune-associated diseases. Microbes interact with the human body in several ways, including the production of metabolites that influence physiology or other surrounding microbes. We have conducted a strain-level genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction analysis of human-associated Lactobacillus strains, revealing that predicted metabolic capabilities differ when comparing intestinal/oral isolate to vaginal isolates. The technique we present here allows for direct interpretation of discriminating features between the experimental groups.
Hydrogen sulphide production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae UCD 522 in a synthetic grape juice medium deficient of thiamin (vitamin B1 ) and/or pyridoxine (vitamin B6 ).

The impacts of thiamin and pyridoxine along with YAN on alcoholic fermentation and hydrogen sulphide production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae were studied. Using a synthetic grape juice medium, three fermentation trials were conducted; (i) 2 × 3 factorial design with thiamin (0, 0·2, or 0·5 mg l-1 ) and YAN (60 or 250 mg l-1 ) as variables, (ii) 2 × 3 factorial design with pyridoxine (0, 0·25, or 0·5 mg l-1 ) and YAN (60 or 250 mg l-1 ) as variables, and (iii) 3 × 3 factorial design with thiamin (0, 0·2 or 0·5 mg l-1 ) and pyridoxine (0, 0·25 or 0·5 mg l-1 ) as variables in media containing 60 mg l-1 YAN. Although the progress of fermentations was affected by thiamin or pyridoxine, YAN had a larger impact than either vitamin. H2 S production was significantly lower with increasing amounts of thiamin in those fermentations under low YAN (60 mg l-1 ) while even lower amounts ( 110 µg l-1 ), with the lowest production in media with pyridoxine and high YAN (<20 µg l-1 ). SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Concentrations of thiamin, pyridoxine and yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) influenced the synthesis of hydrogen sulphide (H2 S) by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a synthetic grape juice medium. With a few exceptions, an increase in the concentration of either vitamin or YAN resulted in less H2 S released. This is the first report to demonstrate that both thiamin and pyridoxine along with YAN affected H2 S production, emphasizing the need to assess yeast nutrients to lower risks of off-odours during fermentation.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Reduces Postoperative Opioid Use and 90-Day Readmission Rates After Open Thoracolumbar Fusion for Adult Degenerative Deformity.

BACKGROUND The role of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways implementation has not been previously explored in adult deformity patients. OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of ERAS pathways implementation in adult patients undergoing open thoraco-lumbar-pelvic fusion for degenerative scoliosis on postoperative outcome, opioid consumption, and unplanned readmission rates. METHODS In this retrospective single-center study, we included 124 consecutive patients who underwent open thoraco-lumbar-pelvic fusion from October 2016 to February 2019 for degenerative scoliosis. Primary outcomes consisted of postoperative supplementary opioid consumption in morphine equivalent dose (MED), postoperative complications, and readmission rates within the postoperative 90-d window. RESULTS There were 67 patients in the ERAS group, and 57 patients served as pre-ERAS controls. Average patient age was 69 yr. The groups had comparable demographic and intraoperative variables. ERAS patients had a significantly lower rate of postoperative supplemental opioid consumption (248.05 vs 314.05 MED, P = .04), a lower rate of urinary retention requiring catheterization (5.97% vs 19.3%, P = .024) and of severe constipation (1.49% vs 31.57%, P < .0001), and fewer readmissions after their surgery (2.98% vs 28.07%, P = .0001). CONCLUSION A comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to complex spine surgery can reduce opioid intake, postoperative urinary retention and severe constipation, and unplanned 90-d readmissions in the elderly adult population.
Research on Guideway Magnetically Coupled Mechanism for Dynamic Wireless Charging System

In recent years, as an important supplement to the wired charging method, the application field of wireless Charging technology has been expanding and has great development prospects. The magnetic coupling mechanism is one of the most important components of the entire wireless energy transmission system. In this paper, a kind of rail-type magnetic coupling mechanism of "work" type is designed based on the dynamic wireless charging system. The magnetic circuit model of the magnetic coupling mechanism is given, and the basic factors affecting its transmission characteristics are analyzed. The ANSYS electromagnetic simulation software is used. The "work" type rail-type magnetic coupling structure parameters are simulated to obtain the relationship between the coupling coefficient and the structural parameters. The corresponding coils are actually wound and matched with appropriate capacitors. In addition, the SS-type simulation model is built by Matlab to verify the resonance effect, and the experimental prototype was tested and verified.
A low malic acid trait in cranberry fruit: genetics, molecular mapping, and interaction with a citric acid locus

The fruit of commercial cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) cultivars have relatively high concentrations of malic acid (MA) and citric acid (CA), and, to a lesser extent, quinic acid. These acids contribute to the high titratable acidity (TA), a measure of tartness, of cranberry fruit, which typically ranges from 2.3 to 2.5% citric acid equivalents in commercial cultivars. Thus, considerable amounts of sugar are added (“added sugar”) in products such as sweetened-dried cranberries and juices. Within our cranberry germplasm collection, a unique accession was identified with fruit having a TA ≈ 1.5%, where MA concentration was reduced to ~ 4 mg/g fresh weight (FW), compared to ~ 8 mg/g FW in current cultivars. Inbred crosses derived from this accession yielded progeny with a lower MA phenotype (~ 2 mg/g FW). Observed segregation indicated the accession was heterozygous (Mala/mala) for a low MA allele (mala) and very low MA progeny were homozygous (mala/mala). MA was reduced approximately 75% in these populations relative to standard cultivars. The homozygous mala/mala locus also depressed fruit CA and quinic acid concentrations. Quantitative trait loci mapping identified a region on chromosome 4 associated with low MA. The combined segregation of three half-sib populations derived from the low MA accession generated effective (within < 1 cM) Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers for use in breeding of cranberry cultivars with lower MA. Dihybrid populations were developed having a previously described low CA allele, cita, with the mala alleles of this study to explore the interaction of alleles at both loci.
A Pilot Study Evaluation of 3-Dimensional Imaging in Cosmetic Breast Augmentation: Results of a Single Surgeon 3.5-Year Retrospective Study Using the BREAST-Q Questionnaire.

Background Traditional methods of breast implant size selection provide limited ability to demonstrate postoperative outcomes. Three-dimensional (3D) imaging provides an opportunity for improved patient evaluation, surgical planning, and evaluation of postoperative breast appearance. Objectives The authors hypothesized that preoperative 3D imaging for patients undergoing breast augmentation would improve patient satisfaction and understanding of expected surgical outcomes. Methods A retrospective review of patients undergoing breast augmentation by a single surgeon over a 3.5-year period was performed. Patients presenting after the VECTRA was purchased had preoperative 3D imaging, while patients presenting before this did not. Eligible patients received a BREAST-Q questionnaire designed for postoperative evaluation of breast augmentation. They also received a second survey that evaluated expected vs actual breast outcomes. Results In total, 120 surveys were mailed and 61 patients (50.8%) returned the survey. The 3D imaged group had improved BREAST-Q scores regarding satisfaction with outcome, surgeon, and physical well-being compared with the group that did not. The imaged group also had higher size, shape, and overall breast correlation scores, confidence in implant size selection scores, and communication with surgeon scores. The differences between the 2 groups were not statistically significant. Conclusions Three-dimensional imaging is a valuable tool in breast surgery. Although this study showed improvement in patient satisfaction and predicted outcome scores in the 3D imaged group, the results were not statistically significant. With the majority of patients reporting that they would choose 3D imaging, it appears to instill confidence in patients regarding both surgeon and implant selection. Level of Evidence 4
Physical Therapy for the Treatment of Respiratory Issues using Systemic Manual Therapy Protocols

Abstract Background The emergence of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic increased the need for an effective treatment for respiratory conditions exponentially. To meet this challenge, we reevaluated the effectiveness of our physical therapy protocols for respiratory conditions. Protocols of interest were categorized as decongestive, neurogenic, mechanical, and immune modulating. Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate which of our existing treatment protocols or protocol combinations produce the best outcome. To do so, we analyzed which ones can meet the following criteria when compared to all other treatments: test statistic (>2.0) in parametric and non-parametric tests, [statistical significance (p Design Retrospective multivariate analysis using a modified adaptive platform design. Methods A computerized sampling using respiratory related key words from a blinded dataset yielded 178 patients with respiratory complaints or pain in the chest area. Additional statistical analysis using parametric and non-parametric tests evaluated the difference between each treatment protocol and the rest of the treatments provided. Results Several protocol combinations and one individual protocol passed the study criteria. Cardiac vascular venous thoracic (CVVT) protocol was used most frequently within these combinations (7), followed by Urinary Drainage (UD) (4). Other protocols in this group were Cardiac Cervical Cranial Vascular (CCCV), Venous Thoracic Cardiopulmonary (VTCP), and Diaphragm Cranial Sinus (DCS). Among the respiratory specific protocols, CVVT was significantly better than VTCP (0.40, p Discussion and conclusion For the patient population studied, CVVT appears to be the primary protocol to consider, followed by UD, CCCV, VTCP, and DCS. Combining CVVT with Barral Abdominal Motility protocol (Barral) or VTCP with Lower Abdominal Urogenital (LAUG) on the same day might be required with acute patients.
NRG1 fusions: Biology to therapy

NRG1 fusions are rare oncogenic drivers that exist at low frequencies across multiple tumor types. They are uncommon in lung cancer with an estimated incidence of 0.2 %. NRG1 fusions have a unique biology and are challenging to detect, due to large intronic regions of the gene, but they do represent possible therapeutic targets. Several agents targeting the ErbB signaling pathway have shown early evidence of efficacy including pan-ErbB kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and bispecific antibodies. Supporting data are limited to case reports and small series for now, but prospective trials are underway. While our understanding of these fusions is still evolving, it is clear that NRG1 will be a clinically relevant finding in the years to come.
A variable-gain stochastic pooling motif mediates information transfer from receptor assemblies into NF-κB

A myriad of inflammatory cytokines regulate signaling pathways to maintain cellular homeostasis. The IκB kinase (IKK) complex is an integration hub for cytokines that govern nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling. In response to inflammation, IKK is activated through recruitment to receptor-associated protein assemblies. How and what information IKK complexes transmit about the milieu are open questions. Here, we track dynamics of IKK complexes and nuclear NF-κB to identify upstream signaling features that determine same-cell responses. Experiments and modeling of single complexes reveal their size, number, and timing relays cytokine-specific control over shared signaling mechanisms with feedback regulation that is independent of transcription. Our results provide evidence for variable-gain stochastic pooling, a noise-reducing motif that enables cytokine-specific regulation and parsimonious information transfer. We propose that emergent properties of stochastic pooling are general principles of receptor signaling that have evolved for constructive information transmission in noisy molecular environments.
Genetic Counseling: Psychological Issues

The psychological consequences of a genetic diagnosis, risk or test are shaped by client traits, background and prior experiences. Evaluation of the success of genetic counseling in addressing psychological needs of clients necessitates well-designed process and outcome studies. Keywords: goals of genetic counseling; psychoeducational; illness perception; client expectations; process studies; outcome studies
An Investigation of the Influence of Digital Elevation Model Inaccuracies on Terrain-Based Delineation of Drainage Networks

Precise delineation of ephemeral and perennial drainage networks is increasingly important to forest managers seeking to achieve fine-grained linking of ground-based measurements of vegetation and remote sensing data to address issues concerning riparian forest systems. Such issues include economic and ecological impacts of alternative riparian buffer strip configurations, relationships between riparian forest structure and impacts like sediment transport and stream temperature, and linkages between upland and riparian forests and in-channel woody debris. Yet existing maps and digital coverages (e.g., USGS topo quads and DLG files) often contain errors that make them unsuitable for spatial overlay and buffer impact assessment (e.g., assessing the value of buffer strip timber forgone), and yield inconsistent representations of drainage networks.
Augmented Models for Statistical Fault Isolation in Complex Dynamic Systems

The equation error approach to fault isolation implies the statistical testing of balance equation errors. In this paper, some substantial extensions to the existing methodology are proposed, including - generalized linear dynamic models - the concept of statistical isolability - the idea of and an algorithm for model augmenting - fault sensitivity analysis and filtering
Ciliated endometrial cells.

Abstract The occurrence of cilia in endometrim that is normal, hyperplastic, atrophic, and adenocarcinomatous has been studied. Cilia are frequent in normal cyclic endometria and in hyperplastic endometria, are less frequent in those exhibiting atrophy, and are rare in carcinomatous endometria. These findings indicate that ciliated endometrial cells are normally present, rather than being a metaplastic variant.
Common Envelope Evolution and Formation of Cataclysmic Variables and Low-Mass X-ray Binaries

Common envelope evolution plays a critical role in the formation of both cataclysmic variables and low-mass X-ray binaries. Conditions necessary for a binary to survive this phase and produce a viable cataclysmic variable are outlined, as are their consequences for the physical properties of the system which survives. Three proposed models for low-mass X-ray binary formation – accretion-induced collapse, helium star supernovae, and triple star evolution - are then examined, with emphasis on the conditions which initial systems must satisfy to follow and survive each of these evolutionary channels.
Satellite Anomalies due to Space Storms

Space weather is a term that refers to the dynamic, highly variable conditions in the geospace environment. This includes conditions on the sun, in the interplanetary medium, and in the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere system. Rapid changes in the near-Earth space environment during major geomagnetic disturbances can affect the performance and reliability of both spacecraft and ground-based systems. Modern spacecraft systems and subsystems appear to show an increasing susceptibility to effects of the space environment including communication, navigation, and reconnaissance satellite operational anomalies. This trend is probably due to “softer” designs of electronic components, reduction in subsystem sizes, and increases in performance demands. The major elements of the space environment that contribute to spacecraft anomalies can be reasonably well identified. This paper reviews operational anomaly trends and assesses the identification and potential prediction of causative space weather. We discuss the principal adverse space environmental effects presently known including cosmic rays, trapped magnetospheric radiation, and solar energetic particles. The scientific underpinnings for present prediction methods in space weather are also considered.
Tuberculosis of cervical lymph nodes.

Although these results were determined in a small group of patients, it is believed they indicate that surgical excision is the best treatment for cervical tuberculous adenitis. Streptomycin, which may fail as a lone therapeutic agent, may be of value as a postoperative adjunct to surgery.
Computer Architecture: Software Aspects, Coding, and Hardware

From the Publisher: With the new developments in computer architecture, fairly recent publications can quickly become outdated. Computer Architecture: Software Aspects, Coding, and Hardware takes a modern approach. This comprehensive, practical text provides that critical understanding of a central processor by clearly detailing fundamentals, and cutting edge design features. With its balanced software/hardware perspective and its description of Pentium processors, the book allows readers to acquire practical PC software experience. The text presents a foundation-level set of ideas, design concepts, and applications that fully meet the requirements of computer organization and architecture courses.The book features a "bottom up" computer design approach, based upon the author's thirty years experience in both academe and industry. By combining computer engineering with electrical engineering, the author describes how logic circuits are designed in a CPU. The extensive coverage of a micprogrammed CPU and new processor design features gives the insight of current computer development. Computer Architecture: Software Aspects, Coding, and Hardware presents a comprehensive review of the subject, from beginner to advanced levels. Topics include:o Two's complement numbers o Integer overflow o Exponent overflow and underflow o Looping o Addressing modes o Indexing o Subroutine linking o I/O structures o Memory mapped I/O o Cycle stealing o Interrupts o Multitasking o Microprogrammed CPU o Multiplication tree o Instruction queue o Multimedia instructions o Instruction cache o Virtual memory o Data cache o Alpha chip o Interprocessor communications o Branch prediction o Speculative loading o Registerstack o JAVA virtual machine o Stack machine principles
Legal Truths and Falsities

This paper has a two-pronged thesis. First, laws should be understood as making factual claims about the moral order. Second, the truth or falsity of these claims depends as much on the content of the law as on whether the lawmaker has political authority. In particular, laws produced by legitimate authorities are suc- cessful as laws when they guide subjects' behavior by giving subjects authoritative reasons for action. This paper argues that laws produced by legitimate authorities accomplish this task (i) by being on their own sufficient to change the moral state of affairs, which (ii) thereby generates for people new moral reasons to act that they can read right off of the legislation. I.
Power fatigue of the rat diaphragm muscle

We hypothesized that decrements in maximum power output (W˙max) of the rat diaphragm (Dia) muscle with repetitive activation are due to a disproportionate reduction in force (force fatigue) compare...
Lagged relationships between North American snow mass and atmospheric teleconnection indices

Relationships between North American winter (January, February, March or JFM) snow mass, or snow water equivalent (SWE), between 1980 and 1997, and four teleconnection indices are explored at different spatial and temporal scales, with teleconnection indices leading SWE by one to two seasons. Summer (July, August, September, or JAS) and fall (October, November, December, or OND) Pacific North American pattern (PNA), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), El-Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) are included in this analysis. Principal components analysis of the SWE data set results in four components, explaining over 56% of the variance in the SWE signal which have significant relationships to ENSO, PDO, and NAO. Strong spatial components associated with these relationships emerge, with the first component (NAO, ENSO) located in the northcentral to northwestern regions of the United States and the southcentral to southwestern regions of Canada. A third component (PDO) stretches from the midwest to the east coast of the United States, New England, and the Atlantic Provinces. Ranked correlation analyses using the SWE data set, and additional analyses of station observations in order to extend the time domain, corroborate and elucidate the PCA results. Examinations of these relationships at different spatial scales, and over varying time domains, indicate that there may be some scale-dependant predictive ability for North American snow mass. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society.
The effects of structural relaxation and crystallization on isothermal viscous flow near the glass temperature in Metglas 2826

Abstract The viscosity of Metglas 2826 near the glass temperature was found to vary linearly with time and from this an expression is derived showing the relaxation strain dependence on the logarithm of the time. The relaxation strain is directly correlated to the structural relaxation parameter of Egami (which was found from X-ray measurements). Crystallization incubation periods were determined from viscous flow and are compared with periods taken from differential scanning calorimetry analysis. In each measurement, crystallization intervened before the glass fully relaxed.
Polarized membrane distribution of potassium-dependent ion pumps in epithelial cells: Different roles of the N-glycans of their β subunits

The Na,K-ATPases and the H,K-ATPases are two potassium-dependent homologous heterodimeric P2-type pumps that catalyze active transport of Na+ in exchange for K+ (Na,K-ATPase) or H+ in exchange for K+ (H,K-ATPase). The ubiquitous Na,K-ATPase maintains intracellular ion balance and membrane potential. The gastric H,K-ATPase is responsible for acid secretion by the parietal cell of the stomach. Both pumps consist of a catalytic α-subunit and a glycosylated β-subunit that is obligatory for normal pump maturation and trafficking. Individual N-glycans linked to the β-subunits of the Na,K-ATPase and H,K-ATPase are important for stable membrane integration of their respective α subunits, folding, stability, subunit assembly, and enzymatic activity of the pumps. They are also essential for the quality control of unassembled β-subunits that results in either the exit of the subunits from the ER or their ER retention and subsequent degradation. Overall, the importance of N-glycans for the␣maturation and quality control of the H,K-ATPase is greater than that of the Na,K-ATPase. The roles of individual N-glycans of the β-subunits in the post-ER trafficking, membrane targeting and plasma membrane retention of the Na,K-ATPase and H,K-ATPase are different. The Na,K-ATPase β 1-subunit is the major β-subunit isoform in cells with lateral location of the pump. All three N-glycans of the Na,K-ATPase β 1-subunit are important for the lateral membrane retention of the pump due to glycan-mediated interaction between the β 1-subunits of the two neighboring cells in the cell monolayer and cytosolic linkage of the α-subunit to the cytoskeleton. This intercellular β 1–β 1 interaction is also important for formation of cell–cell contacts. In contrast, the N-glycans unique to the Na,K-ATPase β 2-subunit,which has up to eight N-glycosylation sites, contain apical sorting information. This is consistent with the apical location of the Na,K-ATPase in normal and malignant epithelial cells with high abundance of the β 2-subunit. Similarly, all seven N-glycans of the gastric H,K-ATPase β-subunit determine apical sorting of this subunit.
Glutamine Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate Amidotransferase-independent Phosphoribosyl Amine Synthesis from Ribose 5-Phosphate and Glutamine or Asparagine

Phosphoribosylamine (PRA) is the first intermediate in the common pathway to purines and thiamine and is generated in bacteria by glutamine phosphoribosylpyrophosphate (PRPP) amidotransferase (EC 2.4.2.14) from PRPP and glutamine. Genetic data have indicated that multiple, non-PRPP amidotransferase mechanisms exist to generate PRA sufficient for thiamine but not purine synthesis. Here we describe the purification and identification of an activity (present in both Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica) that synthesizes PRA from ribose 5-phosphate and glutamine/asparagine. A purification resulting in greater than a 625-fold increase in specific activity identified 8 candidate proteins. Of the candidates, overexpression of AphA (EC 3.1.3.2), a periplasmic class B nonspecific acid phosphatase, significantly increased activity in partially purified extracts. Native purification of AphA to >95% homogeneity determined that the periplasmic l-asparaginase II, AnsB (EC 3.5.1.1), co-purified with AphA and was also necessary for PRA formation. The potential physiological relevance of AphA and AnsB in contributing to thiamine biosynthesis in vivo is discussed.
Oral delivery of wafers made from HBsAg-expressing maize germ induces long-term immunological systemic and mucosal responses.

Abstract Background The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has been administered over the last 20 years as a parenteral vaccine against the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Despite high seroconversion rates, chronic infection rates are still high worldwide. Orally delivered vaccines provide a practical alternative to injected vaccines, potentially helping poorly responding populations and providing a viable alternative for populations in remote locations. Anamnestic responses are vital to establishing the efficacy of a given vaccine and have been assessed in this study using a plant-based oral delivery platform expressing HBsAg. Methods Long-term immunological memory was assessed in mice injected with a primary dose of Recombivax ® and boosted with orally-delivered HBsAg wafers, control wafers, or parenterally-delivered commercial vaccine (Recombivax ® ). Results Mice boosted with HBsAg orally-administered wafers displayed sharp increases in mucosal IgA titers in fecal material and steep increases in serum IgA, whereas mice boosted with Recombivax ® showed no detectable levels of IgA in either fecal or serum samples following four boosting treatments. Long-term memory in the orally-treated mice was evidenced by sustained fecal IgA, and serum IgA, IgG, and mIU/mL over one year, while Recombivax ® -treated mice displayed sustained serum IgG and mIU/mL. Furthermore, sharp increases in these same antibodies were induced after re-boosting at 47 and 50 weeks post-primary injection. Conclusions Orally-delivered vaccines can provide long-term immune responses mucosally and systemically. For sexually-transmitted diseases that can be acquired at mucosal surfaces, such as HBV, an oral delivery platform may provide added protection over a conventional parenterally administered vaccine.
Quantum interference spectra at the difference-frequency generation in four-level atomic systems

Analytical expressions of the spectral functions have been derived for a number of induced excitations that occur near the difference-frequency generation in a four-level atomic system interacting with three laser fields. The spectral heights and subnatural line widths of the induced peaks depend on the intensities of the laser fields involved. The maximum heights of the induced peaks take positive, zero and negative values, indicating that the processes of absorption (attenuation), dark resonance and stimulated emission (amplification) are likely to occur near the difference-frequency generation, respectively.