cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Architecture of a Coat for the Nuclear Pore Membrane

The symmetric core of the nuclear pore complex can be considered schematically as a series of concentric cylinders. A peripheral cylinder coating the pore membrane contains the previously characterized, elongated heptamer that harbors Sec13-Nup145C in its middle section. Strikingly, Sec13-Nup145C crystallizes as a hetero-octamer in two space groups. Oligomerization of Sec13-Nup145C was confirmed biochemically. Importantly, the numerous interacting surfaces in the hetero-octamer are evolutionarily highly conserved, further underlining the physiological relevance of the oligomerization. The hetero-octamer forms a slightly curved, yet rigid rod of sufficient length to span the entire height of the proposed membrane-adjacent cylinder. In concordance with the dimensions and symmetry of the nuclear pore complex core, we suggest that the cylinder is constructed of four antiparallel rings, each ring being composed of eight heptamers arranged in a head-to-tail fashion. Our model proposes that the hetero-octamer would vertically traverse and connect the four stacked rings.
Recovery of Fertility by Irradiated Males of the Indian Meal Moth

Unmated 24-h-old ♂ Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) were irradiated with doses of 0, 25, 35 or 50 krad-γ-irradiation and mated successively each day to virgin females. Sterilized males (50 krad) regained fertility after 3 or more successive matings, and the substerilized males (25 and 35 krad) had a marked increase in fecundity after several matings. A comparison between irradiated males mated 5 times successively and irradiated males mated only once, at 5 days posteclosion, indicated that recovery of fertility occurred because new sperm were produced by spermatogonial cells and not because irradiation-damaged spermatozoa were selectively eliminated. This recovery of fertility should have little effect on the sterile-male release technique because in the field males normally mate only once or twice and because the few progeny that could be produced, should recovery occur, would probably be sterile.
Integrating gazetteers and remote sensed imagery

This work explores the potential for increased synergy between gazetteers and high-resolution remote sensed imagery. These two data sources are complementary. Gazetteers provide high-level semantic information about what is where but they must be manually compiled and maintained. On the other hand, imagery can be automatically acquired but only provides low-level radiometric information. We explore ways in which these two data sources can be integrated to more fully automate geographic data management. In particular, we show how gazetteers represent a rich source of semi-supervised training data for geospatial object modelling. We also describe an example of information flow in the other direction, namely, how high-resolution imagery can be used to refine the spatial extents of geospatial objects in gazetteers.
A Robust Feature Selection Method for Novel Pre-microRNA Identification Using a Combination of Nucleotide-Structure Triplets

MicroRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs that play an important role in post-transcriptional regulation of gene products. Identification of novel microRNA is difficult because the validated microRNA set is still small in size and diverse. Existing feature selection methods use different combinations of features related to the biogenesis of microRNAs, but performance evaluations are not comprehensive. We developed a robust feature selection method using a combination of three types of nucleotide-structure triplets, the minimum free energy of the secondary structure of precursor microRNAs and other extracted characteristics. We compared our new combination feature set and three other previously published sets using three different classifiers: logistic regression, support vector machine, and random forest. Our proposed feature set was not only robust across all classifier methods, but also had the highest classification performance, as measured by the area under the ROC curve.
What factors are associated with the maintenance of PTSD after a motor vehicle accident? The role of sex differences in a help-seeking population.

To investigate potential sex differences in factors that are associated with chronic PTSD, data from 223 participants were examined using logistic regression analyses. Each participant had been involved in a serious motor vehicle accident (MVA), which had occurred at least 6 months earlier (range 6 mos - 37 years). Although men and women did not differ in the rate of diagnosed PTSD, four variables were found to interact significantly with sex in the prediction of chronic PTSD: peritraumatic experiences of helplessness, danger, and the certainty that one would die during the MVA and lack of employment. Follow up analyses indicated that although the peritraumatic experience variables were statistically significant, no notable differences emerged in the odds ratios of men and of women. In contrast, men who were unemployed were 9.94 times more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD, relative to men who were employed, while unemployed women were 2.85 times more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD, relative to women who were employed. Results are discussed in light of the role of functional limitations and their impact on the maintenance of PTSD in men and women.
Quickest Detection in Cognitive Radio: A Sequential Change Detection Framework

In this work, the agility of detection algorithms in cognitive radio is studied. A sequential change detection framework is developed to investigate the delay of detection algorithms. Three scenarios with different information about primary users' parameters available at cognitive users are considered. Optimal detection schemes that minimize the detection delay under certain false alarm constraints are developed. Minimal detection delay is characterized as a function of the false alarm probability and the Kullback-Leibler distance between signal plus noise and noise only models.
Stability of modulated finite-gap cylindrical Couette flow: linear theory

The linear stability of an extensively modulated cylindrical Couette flow is investigated in the finite-gap range. A closed form analytic solution is obtained for the basic unsteady flow after modulation is introduced through the boundary conditions. The general linear perturbation equations for three-dimensional disturbances are then derived and subsequently solved using the Galerkin method with the stability analysed by the Floquet theory. Modulation is found to destabilize the flow in most cases and results compare very favourably with the ones obtained experimentally. Stabilization is possible only for some cases of outer cylinder modulation.
Assessment of thin film batteries based on polymer electrolytes. II. Pulse power density

Abstract The modeling of polymer electrolyte batteries based on prismatic unipolar and bipolar electrode configurations capable of delivering high specific pulse powers are described. The theoretical performance level of this class of rechargeable solid state batteries utilizing polyethylene oxide based solid electrolytes and V6O13 composite cathodes is analyzed; specific pulse powers of about 4 MW/kg are conceivable for a metallized plastic current collector, bipolar electrode design concept.
Modeling of Anodic Current Transients Resulting from Oxide Rupture of Plastically Strained β + α Titanium

The film rupture behavior on dynamically strained Ti-15 Mo-3 Nb-3 Al exposed to 0.6 M NaCl has been examined by rapid data acquisition of anodic current transients. The anodic current transients resulted from dislocation intersection of the passive film, followed by film rupture, bare surface dissolution, and repassivation. The transient morphology during dynamic straining differs from that generated via conventional depassivation techniques (i.e., manual scratch and fractured thin film depassivation) which incorporate an electrode that does not experience active plastic straining following depassivation. During conventional depassivation testing, current transients increase relatively rapidly and decay with an approximately linear slope on the log i-log t plot. In contrast, the transients acquired during dynamic straining are characterized by a relatively slow current increase and a nonlinear current decay on the log i-log t plot. This nonlinear decay is not attributable to ohmic or capacitive effects. Film rupture results from surface intersection of a superdislocation comprised of individual dislocations which are spatially and temporally separated. Current transient modeling of superdislocation intersection agrees qualitatively with that observed experimentally. It is concluded that the repassivation behavior determined by conventional depassivation techniques may not be relevant for modeling of environmentally assisted cracking of dynamically strained electrodesmore » in some cases.« less
Fatty acid profiles of plasmalogen choline and ethanolamine glycerophospholipids in pig and rat hearts.

Abstract The presence of relatively high concentrations of plasmalogen choline and ethanolamine in the heart of many animal species suggests a role of these ether-linked phospholipids in the pathophysiology of certain myocardial diseases. However, the fatty acid composition of myocardial plasmalogens in many species is not known. This study examined the fatty acid composition of the choline and ethanolamine glycerophospholipids in pig heart and compared the results with those in rat heart. Lipids were extracted from the heart biopsies obtained from pig and rat by standard techniques. Phosphoglycerides were separated by thin-layer chromatography followed by their derivatization into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and dimethyl acetals (DMAs). FAME and DMA samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Our results indicate striking differences in the fatty acid composition of both choline and ethanolamine glycerophosphates between rat heart and pig heart. Pig heart ethanolamine glycerophosphates are rich in linoleic acid (18:2) and arachidonic acid (20:4). but low in descosahexenoic (22:6) fatty acids while choline glycerophosphates are poor in both 20:4 and 22:6 fatty acids compared to those in rat hearts.
Building construction: A deterministic non-periodic flow – A case study of chaos theories in tracking production flow

The authors recast the definition of construction as an organization-based planning and placing of information-rich objects and systems in a co-moving patch of space–time. In short, for the purposes of this article, building construction is a deterministic non-periodic flow activated and populated by a temporary virtual organization of stakeholders and exhibits all the characteristics of a complex system. The emergence of unpredictable and sometimes unexpected situations in execution may push this complicated or complex production system into becoming chaotic. Currently, Project Management thought implies that project management (command) is identical to manufacturing (execution), a paradigm that, when applied to construction, implies that construction is predictable. In real life, the number of players and phases creates an environment where a plan may experience high levels of emergent variability in the form of accelerations and decelerations of planned work. This emergence of variability in situ may l...
Phase Equilibria in the Systems SrO‐CuO and SrO‐1/2Bi2O3

The phase equilibria of the systems SrO-CuO and SrO-1/2Bi2O3 were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis of quenched powder samples. The compounds SrCuO2 and Sr2CuO3 melt incongruently at 1085° and 1225°C, respectively. The newly found compound Sr6Bi2O9 decomposes at 965°C into SrO and Sr3Bi2O6 melts incongruently into SrO and liquid at 1210°C. SrBi2O4 undergoes a phase transition at ∼825°C, and although both are nonstoichiometric, the low-temperature phase is slightly poorer in SrO with 33.5 mol% SrO than the high-temperature phase.
Effect of channel length on interdigitated flow-field PEMFC performance: A computational and experimental study

Abstract This study examines the effect of increased channel length on the distribution of flow gases and cell performance in an interdigitated flow-field PEMFC. A numerical model was used to simulate the pressure distribution and gas flow in 5 cm and 25 cm channel length interdigitated flow fields that have eight channels with fixed channel and land widths of 1 mm. The results show the distribution of flow under land areas (cross flow) is subject to maldistribution in the longer cell while the shorter cell produces relatively homogenous cross flow along its length. An experimental test cell was designed to run with the same channel lengths, under similar conditions to those modeled. Inlet pressure data was recorded to account for parasitic pump losses, used to calculate net system power curves. Results show that a shorter channel interdigitated flow field may produce both higher maximum power and limiting current densities compared with longer cells.
Purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase from Arabidopsis thaliana

The deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana was expressed and the gene product was purified. Crystallization was performed by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method at 298 K using 2 M ammonium sulfate as the precipitant. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.2 A resolution using Cu Kα radiation. The crystal belongs to the orthorhombic space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 69.90, b = 70.86 A, c = 75.55 A. Assuming the presence of a trimer in the asymmetric unit, the solvent content was 30%, with a VM of 1.8 A3 Da−1.
Isoforms of Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase PDE3 and Their Contribution to cAMP Hydrolytic Activity in Subcellular Fractions of Human Myocardium

Abstract Three isoforms of PDE3 (cGMP-inhibited) cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase regulate cAMP content in different intracellular compartments of cardiac myocytes in response to different signals. We characterized the catalytic activity and inhibitor sensitivity of these isoforms by using recombinant proteins. We determined their contribution to cAMP hydrolysis in cytosolic and microsomal fractions of human myocardium at 0.1 and 1.0 μm cAMP in the absence and presence of Ca2+/calmodulin. We examined the effects of cGMP on cAMP hydrolysis in these fractions. PDE3A-136, PDE3A-118, and PDE3A-94 have similar Km and kcat values for cAMP and are equal in their sensitivities to inhibition by cGMP and cilostazol. In microsomes, PDE3A-136, PDE3A-118, and PDE3A-94 comprise the majority of cAMP hydrolytic activity under all conditions. In cytosolic fractions, PDE3A-118 and PDE3A-94 comprise >50% of the cAMP hydrolytic activity at 0.1 μm cAMP, in the absence of Ca2+/calmodulin. At 1.0 μm cAMP, in the presence of Ca2+/calmodulin, activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-activated (PDE1) and other non-PDE3 phosphodiesterases reduces their contribution to <20% of cAMP hydrolytic activity. cGMP inhibits cAMP hydrolysis in microsomal fractions by inhibiting PDE3 and in cytosolic fractions by inhibiting both PDE3 and PDE1. These findings indicate that the contribution of PDE3 isoforms to the regulation of cAMP hydrolysis in intracellular compartments of human myocardium and the effects of PDE3 inhibition on cAMP hydrolysis in these compartments are highly dependent on intracellular [Ca2+] and [cAMP], which are lower in failing hearts than in normal hearts. cGMP may amplify cAMP-mediated signaling in intracellular compartments of human myocardium by PDE3-dependent and PDE3-independent mechanisms.
Static and dynamic effects of eccentric stiffening of plates and cylindrical shells.

Buckling characteristics of eccentrically stiffened cylindrical shells under hydrostatic pressure loading and vibration, buckling and flutter characteristics of stiffened flat plates
Motor-pattern-generating networks in invertebrates: modeling our way toward understanding

Motor-pattern-generating networks in invertebrates have been the objects of intensive study to determine the origin and modulation of rhythmic neural activity. In some pattern generators, intrinsically bursting neurons drive activity throughout the network. In most pattern generators, however, rhythmicity arises from the interplay between intrinsic membrane properties and synaptic interaction. Reciprocal inhibitory synapses between neurons are thought to be crucial for generating oscillation in these networks, but a fundamental understanding of how such network oscillators work remains elusive. Progress towards this goal has come from attempts to combine computational modeling approaches with conventional physiological analysis.
Influence of residual gas atmosphere in space chambers on neutral efflux and critical temperature of tungsten ionizers.

Influence of residual gas atmosphere in space chambers on neutral efflux and critical temperature of tungsten ionizers
Optimal control of polling models for transportation applications

We formulate and analyze a dynamic scheduling problem for a class of transportation systems in a Markov Decision Process (MDP) framework. A transportation system is represented by a polling model consisting of a number of stations and a server with switch-over costs and constraints on its movement (the model we have analyzed is intended to emulate key features of an elevator system). Customers request service in order to be transported by the server from various arrival stations to a common destination station. The objective is to minimize a cost criterion that incorporates waiting costs at the arrival stations. Two versions of the basic problem are considered and structural properties of the optimal policy in each case are derived. It is shown that optimal scheduling policies are characterized by switching functions dependent on state information consisting of queue lengths formed at the arrival stations.
Explaining the Variance in Reading Ability in Terms of Psychological Processes: What Have We Learned?

After years of confusion, the literature on individual differences in reading ability is finally beginning to coalesce around a small set of general conclusions that are endorsed by the vast majority of researchers. The most fundamental is that word decoding ability accounts for a very large proportion of the variance in reading ability at all levels. Variation in word decoding skill is primarily the result of differences in phonological abilities, rather than visual processes. Less-skilled readers are not characterized by a general inability to use context to facilitate word recognition. However, situations where such readers fail to utilize context to facilitate word recognition will arise when their slow and inaccurate decoding of words renders the context useless. Less-skilled readers display performance deficits on a wide variety of short-term memory tasks, probably due to an inability to efficiently employ various memory strategies, and most certainly due to inadequate phonological coding. Less-skilled readers may have comprehension deficits that are partially independent of word decoding skill. These problems probably arise because syntactic abilities and metacognitive strategies are inadequately developed.
Plane strain near-tip fields for elastic-plastic interface cracks

Abstract The plane strain problem of a stationary interface crack between two dissimilar ductile solids is studied asymptotically, where the ductile solids are assumed to be incompressible, elastic perfectly plastic, and obey the J 2 -flow theory of plasticity. Candidate asymptotic crack-tip assemblies of plastic and elastic sectors are proposed, and all associated admissible near-tip fields are presented. It is found that when the crack tip is fully surrounded by plastic sectors, then only isolated, mode 1 type solutions exist. When an elastic sector appears along the crack flank in one solid and all other sectors in the two solids are plastic, a two-parameter family of solutions exists, which produces crack-tip stress variations similar to those of the mixed-mode as well as mode I slip-line fields for homogeneous ductile materials. When each of the two solids contains an elastic sector along the crack flank, the crack-tip solutions are found to belong to a four-parameter family, which also resembles mixed-mode and mode I solutions for homogeneous solids. For completeness, the special case of ductile/rigid interfaces is also studied, and several one-parameter families of crack-tip solutions are obtained, which are complementary to those already published in the literature.
Mechanics of antibody globulin synthesis by lymphoid tissue in vitro

Abstract Lymph nodes from immunized rabbits effect a net synthesis of antibody on a synthetic medium in vitro . Several amino acid analogs inhibit this synthesis and their effects are reversed by the natural amino acids. An optimal concentration of amino acids in the medium is required for antibody formation. On the basis of isotope experiments it was concluded that cellular proteins were not converted to antibody in vitro and antibody was derived largely, if not exclusively, from free amino acids. Similarities between antibody synthesis and protein synthesis in microorganisms and mammalian tissues were indicated.
Biochemical and ultrasonic abnormalities of the pancreas in anorexia nervosa.

Seven of 10 patients with anorexia nervosa had ultrasonic and/or biochemical abnormalities of the pancreas. Seven patients had elevated amylase creatinine clearance ratios (>4%), three patients had elevated serum amylase values (>90 units/liter), and three patients had reduced echogenicity of the pancreas. There was no consistent association between presenting abdominal symptoms and abnormal ultrasonic and biochemical studies of the pancreas. After nutritional repletion, all studies reverted to normal. An eleventh patient, who was initially diagnosed as having anorexia nervosa but later found to have an astrocytoma of the medulla, had reduced echogenicity of the pancreas, suggesting malnutrition as the cause of these abnormal pancreatic studies. Pancreatic abnormalities due to protein-calorie malnutrition may be common in anorexia nervosa and must be differentiated from primary pancreatitis.
New Madrid GPS: Much ado about nothing?

Two articles in this issue address the surprising and intriguing negative result that high-precision geodetic measurements find no compelling evidence for crustal motions in the New Madrid Seismic Zone of the central Unites States. The geodetic measurements have drawn great interest because they add another puzzle to the many surrounding New Madrid. This area is the best known case of large earthquakes within the interior of the plates, in continental lithosphere. Such earthquakes are much rarer and release much less seismic energy than those at plate boundaries. Because idealized plates are perfectly rigid, these earthquakes demonstrate that deformation occurs within plates and provide a lower bound on their rigidity. Moreover, precisely because such earthquakes are rare, they pose a hazard to areas that are less well prepared for earthquakes than areas with more active ones. Assessing the hazard is further complicated by a growing sense that earthquakes within plates migrate among seismic zones that ‘turn on,’ remain active for some time, and then ‘turn off.’
Construction of human XRCC1 minigenes that fully correct the CHO DNA repair mutant EM9

The human gene that corrects the DNA repair defect of the CHO cell mutant EM9 is designated XRCC1 and is the first human gene to be cloned that has an established role in DNA strand-break repair. In this study, either an XRCC1 cosmid genomic fragment or synthetic oligonucleotides were ligated to an incomplete XRCC1 cDNA to generate two full-length XRCC1 cDNA constructs. The ability of these minigene constructs to restore normal levels of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) to EM9 upon transfection was demonstrated, and the transfectants grew at normal rates in selective medium that is fully toxic to EM9 cells. Constructs in which the XRCC1 open reading frame (ORF) was transcribed from the SV40 early promoter or the genomic XRCC1 native promoter were compared in their efficiency of correction. EM9 transfectants derived from the SV40 promoter displayed fewer SCEs and lower sensitivity to CldUrd than either AA8 wild-type cells or transfectants containing the ORF transcribed from the native promoter.
Characterization and functional assessment of a cobalt(III)-oxo cubane cluster water oxidation catalyst immobilized on ITO

Abstract A cobalt(III) oxo cubane water oxidation catalyst, a structural mimic of the natural oxygen-evolving center, was immobilized on indium tin oxide (ITO) to promote recycling. The structure and composition of the complex were characterized by Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, surface FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry was used to assess catalyst functionality, stability, and recyclability. The results showed that this catalyst can be successfully immobilized on ITO, and that the complex functions in the same manner as the free catalyst in solution. This separation of synthesis and immobilization has great potential for optimizing heterogeneous catalysts.
Values of middle-class blacks and whites: A replication and extension†

This study gathered ratings of the importance of the 36 Rokeach terminal and instrumental values from 37 black adults, 53 white adults, 105 black and 113 white students. The purpose was to replicate Ness and Stith's (1984) [Ness, T. E., and Smith, M. T. (1984). Middle-class values in blacks and whites. In Pitts, R. E., and Woodside, A. G. (Eds.), Personal values and consumer psychology (pp. 231–237). Lexington, MA: D.C. Heath & Co.] finding that black adults rated many of these values higher than did white adults at the same socioeconomic level. The results support this finding. Black students rated many of the values higher than white students, and students in general rated many of the values higher than did adults in general. Measuring and controlling for two response sets, yeasaying and social desirability, showed that the race difference for the adult subsample could not be ascribed to these artifacts, but that many apparent age differences in value ratings could be accounted for by response set effects.
Being who I am: effective teaching, learning, student support, and societal change through LGBQ faculty freedom.

Framed within the context of a heterosexist society in which not all sexual minority faculty feel professionally and/or personally safe stepping out of the classroom closet, this qualitative study examines the phenomenon of non-heterosexual faculty disclosing their sexual orientation to students in their classrooms. Findings demonstrate the depth and magnitude of impact the disclosure has on teaching, learning, student support, and societal change. Overarching is that faculty do not necessarily view the experience as “coming out in the classroom,” but rather as “being who I am” in terms of freedom to present an authentic self, if so desired, to students.
Adenovirus-Vectored Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies Directed Against gp120 Prevent Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Acquisition in Humanized Mice

Despite nearly three decades of research, a safe and effective vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has yet to be achieved. More recently, the discovery of highly potent anti-gp160 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) has garnered renewed interest in using antibody-based prophylactic and therapeutic approaches. Here, we encoded bNAbs in first-generation adenoviral (ADV) vectors, which have the distinctive features of a large coding capacity and ease of propagation. A single intramuscular injection of ADV-vectorized bNAbs in humanized mice generated high serum levels of bNAbs that provided protection against multiple repeated challenges with a high dose of HIV-1, prevented depletion of peripheral CD4+ T cells, and reduced plasma viral loads to below detection limits. Our results suggest that ADV vectors may be a viable option for the prophylactic and perhaps therapeutic use of bNAbs in humans.
A Class of Discrete Transformation Survival Models With Application to Default Probability Prediction

Corporate bankruptcy prediction plays a central role in academic finance research, business practice, and government regulation. Consequently, accurate default probability prediction is extremely important. We propose to apply a discrete transformation family of survival models to corporate default risk predictions. A class of Box-Cox transformations and logarithmic transformations is naturally adopted. The proposed transformation model family is shown to include the popular Shumway model and the grouped relative risk model. We show that a transformation parameter different from those two models is needed for default prediction using a bankruptcy dataset. In addition, we show using out-of-sample validation statistics that our model improves performance. We use the estimated default probability to examine a popular asset pricing question and determine whether default risk has carried a premium. Due to some distinct features of the bankruptcy application, the proposed class of discrete transformation surviv...
Phase II study of dolastatin-10 in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Dolastatin-10 is an agent isolated from the organism Dolabella auricularia, a shell-less mollusk known as a sea hare. Its structure is comprised of four amino acids, three of which are unique to this organism, bound to a complex primary amine, also unique [1]. Dolastatin-10 has demonstrated anti-tumor effects in several preclinical models including hematologic and solid tumor malignancies [2, 3]. The antiproliferative effect of dolastatin-10 is derived from its inhibition of microtubule assembly. The peptide portion of the molecule binds to tubulin, inhibiting polymerization and tubulin-dependent GTP hydrolysis similar to the effects seen with vinca alkaloids [4]. Dolastatin-10 also induces apoptosis, in part, through phosphorylation and subsequent inactivation of the BCL-2 protein [3]. Two phase I trials of dolastatin-10 have been reported [5, 6]. In both trials, dolastatin-10 was administered intravenously every three weeks. The dose limiting toxicity was granulocytopenia. The recommended dose for patients with minimal prior treatment was 400 ug/m [5]. We used this dose in a phase II trial to study the efficacy of dolastatin-10 in patients with advanced non-smallcell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Morphological and population genomic evidence that human faces have evolved to signal individual identity

Facial recognition plays a key role in human interactions, and there has been great interest in understanding the evolution of human abilities for individual recognition and tracking social relationships. Individual recognition requires sufficient cognitive abilities and phenotypic diversity within a population for discrimination to be possible. Despite the importance of facial recognition in humans, the evolution of facial identity has received little attention. Here we demonstrate that faces evolved to signal individual identity under negative frequency-dependent selection. Faces show elevated phenotypic variation and lower between-trait correlations compared with other traits. Regions surrounding face-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms show elevated diversity consistent with frequency-dependent selection. Genetic variation maintained by identity signalling tends to be shared across populations and, for some loci, predates the origin of Homo sapiens. Studies of human social evolution tend to emphasize cognitive adaptations, but we show that social evolution has shaped patterns of human phenotypic and genetic diversity as well.
A Knowledge-Based Framework for Controller Structure Selection In Intelligent Process Control

Intelligent control principles are used to address the issue of combinatorial complexity in controller structure selection for plantwide control, i.e., the variable seection and pairing problem. A knowledge-based framework combining symbolic representation of heuristics and designer expertise, simple analytical "ranking" criteria, and more elaborate computational routines for selection and pairing is described in this paper. The use of an object-oriented structure leads to a system that is flexible, extensible, and multipurpose, which are features necessary if industrial engieering organizations are to adopt this tool on a routine basis.
Performance of Light-Frame Wood Residential Construction Subjected to Earthquakes in Regions of Moderate Seismicity

The majority of single-family dwellings in the United States are light-frame wood construction. Residential construction practices have evolved gradually over the years, most light-frame wood structures have not been structurally engineered, and many residential buildings suffered significant damage in recent hurricane and earthquake disasters. As a result, new concepts and methodologies are evolving to better predict and evaluate the performance of wood frame structures exposed to natural hazards and to support improved residential building practices. This paper examines the behavior of typical light-frame wood structural systems in the central and eastern United States under earthquake hazards. Nonlinear structural analysis tools and stochastic methods are used to model the uncertainties in ground motion intensity and structural response. Fragility curves defining damage state probabilities as a function of ground motion intensity are developed for typical lateral force-resisting shear wall systems subjected to increasing levels of ground motion. A comparison of these fragilities with those embedded in HAZUS provides additional perspective on damage potential for residential construction in regions of low-to-moderate seismicity.
Autophagy in Pancreatic Acinar Cells in Caerulein-treated Mice Immunolocalization of Related Proteins and Their Potential as Markers of Pancreatitis

Drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP) is an underdiagnosed condition that lacks sensitive and specific biomarkers. To better understand the mechanisms of DIP and to identify potential tissue biomarkers, we studied experimental pancreatitis induced in male C57BL/6 mice by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein (10 or 50 μg/kg) at 1-hr intervals for a total of 7 injections. Pancreata from caerulein-treated mice exhibited consistent acinar cell autophagy and apoptosis with infrequent necrosis. Kinetic assays for serum amylase and lipase also showed a dose-dependent increase. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotin-dNTP nick labeling (TUNEL) detected dose-dependent acinar cell apoptosis. By light microscopy, autophagy was characterized by the formation of autophagosomes and autolysosomes (ALs) within the cytoplasm of acinar cells. Immunohistochemical studies with specific antibodies for proteins related to autophagy and pancreatic stress were conducted to evaluate these proteins as potential biomarkers of pancreatitis. Western blots were used to confirm immunohistochemical results using pancreatic lysates from control and treated animals. Autophagy was identified as a contributing process in caerulein-induced pancreatitis and proteins previously associated with autophagy were upregulated following caerulein treatment. Autophagosomes and ALs were found to be a common pathway, in which cathepsins, lysosome-associated membrane protein 2, vacuole membrane protein 1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), autophagy-related protein 9, Beclin1, and pancreatitis-associated proteins were simultaneously involved in response to caerulein stimulus. Regenerating islet-derived 3 gamma (Reg3γ), a pancreatic acute response protein, was dose-dependently induced in caerulein-treated mice and colocalized with the autophagosomal marker, LC3. This finding supports Reg3γ as a candidate biomarker for pancreatic injury.
Impact of fuel cells on load-frequency control in power distribution systems

This paper describes a concept of a distribution system that has enough generation to track its load without the help of a substation. Specifically, it addresses the presence of solid-oxide fuel cells in the distributed generation mix. Two control loops are proposed: 1) to guarantee that the fuel cell is protected by maintaining its cell utilization within its admissible range and 2) to track load changes and regulate the frequency. The two respective loops are called primary and secondary loops. The primary loop maintains constant the ratio of stack current to input fuel flow, and the secondary loop tracks the load and regulates the frequency. A distribution area error (DSE) is introduced to formulate the frequency-control problem. The secondary loop feeds back this DSE signal. Tuning of the parameters is performed using genetic algorithms.
Iron in Innate Immunity: Starve the Invaders

Iron is essential for nearly all living organisms. Innate immunity effectively restricts iron availability to microbial invaders. Some microbes have evolved effective countermeasures that blunt the effect of iron restriction. Recent epidemiologic studies have highlighted the potentiating effect of iron on microbial infections. Laboratory studies have focused on specific immune mechanisms that mediate iron withholding from microbes constitutively and in response to infections. Specialized inflammation-regulated proteins chelate iron, trap siderophores, and transport iron or modulate its transport to alter its tissue distribution during infections.
Size Matters: The Influence of Adolescents’ Weight and Height on Dating and Sex

We examine the relationship between body size (specifically, weight and height) and dating and sexual activity using two large, nationally representative, longitudinal data sets. Our conceptual framework assumes that the utility an adolescent derives from dating and sexual activity is a function of the weight and height of his or her partner, and it predicts that heavier and shorter adolescents will be less likely to date and have sex. Empirical tests confirm that dating is less likely among heavier girls and boys and among shorter girls and boys. In adolescent dating, size clearly matters. For sexual activity, the results are less consistent.
A critical appraisal of overdiagnosis: estimates of its magnitude and implications for lung cancer screening

Background: The magnitude of overdiagnosis is a critical and unresolved issue in lung cancer (LC) screening: (1) its contribution to the increase in survival constitutes specious evidence of benefit; (2) overdiagnosed individuals who undergo resection will experience a reduction in life expectancy, partially or completely offsetting the benefit received by others in whom earlier intervention proves curative. Method: Critical analysis of studies in opposition and support of the view that LC screening imposes a substantial burden of overdiagnosis. Results: Approximately 25%, possibly more, of radiographically (chest x ray) diagnosed LC appears to be overdiagnosed. Based on the observed tumour volume doubling time of low dose CT identified small malignant pulmonary nodules, CT will markedly augment lead time, increasing exposure to competing lethal morbidities, thereby increasing overdiagnosis. Conclusion: To reduce all-cause mortality, CT screening will need to reduce LC mortality by an amount that exceeds the increase in mortality attributable to surgery and loss of pulmonary reserve in persons who are overdiagnosed or pathologically understaged (ie, with occult micrometastases). Presently, there is no evidence that CT screening will achieve any reduction in LC mortality.
Delirium with manic and psychotic features associated with amantadine

While clinicians are familiar with psychosis as a complication in the long-term treatment with amantadine, rapid psychiatric complications are of much less concern. In the case presented, severe decompensation in mental status occurred within 48 h of initiation of standard doses of amantadine hydrochloride. Clinicians should be alert not only for delayed complications but also for early-onset mental decompensation in elderly patients with influenza A treated with amantadine.
ATARIC: an algebraic technique to analyse reconfiguration for fault tolerance in a hypercube

The hypercube architecture is a popular topology for many parallel processing applications. Several researchers have analysed the performance and dependability aspects of this architecture or its variants. Fault tolerance by reconfiguration is another important problem in a large distributed computing environment, for continued operation of the hypercube multiprocessors after the failure of one or more i-subcubes and/or links. This paper considers the fault tolerance issue and presents an algebraic technique, called ATARIC, to analyse the problem. ATARIC (algebraic technique to analyse reconfiguration for fault tolerance in a hypercube) uses algebraic operators to identify the maximum dimensional fault-free subcube, and it thus helps in achieving graceful degradation of the system. The authors analyse the complexity of their algorithm. >
Adapting the Group Lifestyle Balance™ Program for Weight Management Within a Large Health Care System Diabetes Education Program.

PurposeThe purpose of this translation study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of an adapted Group Lifestyle Balance (GLB) intervention for weight management implemented through an existing diabetes education program within a large health care delivery system for overweight/obese individuals with diabetes, prediabetes, or neither condition.MethodsAdults with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 participated in an adapted GLB intervention designed to be appropriate regardless of diabetes status. Effectiveness was based on changes in weight and minutes of physical activity between baseline and completion of the 12-week core. Differences between subjects based on diabetes status were also examined.ResultsA total of 111 subjects with diabetes, prediabetes, and no diabetes completed baseline survey data and attended at least 9 of the 12 core sessions from April 2010 through December 2011. All achieved significant weight loss, and the proportion of subjects who reported exercising at least 150 minutes/week increased....
Using schedule simulation approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in highway construction project

Scheduling approaches used in construction projects like Critical Path Method (CPM) and Linear Scheduling Method (LSM) are different ways of expressing resource, spatial and temporal constraints. Given the nature of the project, one or the other approaches may prove to be more suitable in representing project characteristics crucial to managing the schedule. This paper argues that different scheduling approaches have different impacts on project greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions regardless of the construction strategies used. The argument is investigated by applying two construction strategies to complete three as-planned highway construction schedules on a simulation platform. As-planned schedules are created from CPM, LSM, and an actual schedule. The quantities of GHG emissions were calculated and compared. The paper identified effective scheduling approaches in reducing GHG emissions. This research supports methods to reduce construction GHG emissions considering the trade-offs between cost, duration, and GHG emissions during the project planning and construction phase.
Pediatric acute osteomyelitis in the postvaccine, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus era

Abstract Objective We sought to describe the causative organisms, bones involved, and complications in cases of pediatric osteomyelitis in the postvaccine age and in the era of increasing infection with community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Methods We reviewed the medical records of children 12 years and younger presenting to our pediatric emergency department between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2012, with the diagnosis of osteomyelitis. We reviewed operative cultures, blood cultures, and imaging studies. We identified causative organisms, bone(s) involved, time to therapeutic antibiotic treatment, and local and hematogenous complications. Results The most common organism identified was methicillin-sensitive S aureus (26/55), followed by MRSA (21/55). Seventy-three bone areas were affected in 67 subjects. The most common bone area was the femur (24/73). Forty-six subjects had 75 local complications. The most common organism in cases with local complications was MRSA (49%). Three subjects had hematogenous complications of deep venous thrombosis, septic pulmonary embolus, and endophthalmitis. Subjects with complications had shorter time to therapeutic antibiotic treatment. When an operative culture was done after therapeutic antibiotics were given, an organism was identified from the operative culture in 84% of cases. Conclusion Treatment of pediatric osteomyelitis should include antibiotic coverage for MRSA. Most cases of pediatric osteomyelitis occur in the long bones. Hematogenous complications may include deep venous thrombosis and may be related to treatment with a central venous catheter. Operative culture yield when antibiotics have already been given is high, and antibiotic treatment should not be delayed until operative cultures are obtained.
The technocratic, humanistic, and holistic paradigms of childbirth

This article describes three paradigms of health care that heavily influence contemporary childbirth, most particularly in the west, but increasingly around the world: the technocratic, humanistic, and holistic models of medicine. These models differ fundamentally in their definitions of the body and its relationship to the mind, and thus in the health care approaches they charter. The technocratic model stresses mind-body separation and sees the body as a machine; the humanistic model emphasizes mind-body connection and defines the body as an organism; the holistic model insists on the oneness of body, mind, and spirit and defines the body as an energy field in constant interaction with other energy fields. Based on many years of research into contemporary childbirth, most especially through interviews with physicians, midwives, nurses, and mothers, this article seeks to describe the 12 tenets of each paradigm as they apply to contemporary obstetrical and health care, and to point out their futuristic implications. I suggest that practitioners who combine elements of all three paradigms have a unique opportunity to create the most effective obstetrical system ever known.
Levels of Proinflammatory Cytokines in Plasma after Pneumoccoccal Immunization in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Patients

To ascertain if immunization with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is associated with rises in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the plasma of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients, the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured serially after immunization. IL-6 levels rose an average of 2.2- and 2.1-fold 6 and 8 h after immunization, respectively, but TNF-α levels remained unchanged. The levels of these cytokines were stable in unimmunized controls. Immunization with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine induces increases in the levels of IL-6 in the plasma of persons with HIV-1 infection.