cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Designed Synthetic Analogue of 4-OT Is Specific for a Non-Natural Substrate

The substrate specificity of 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4-OT) is characterized by electrostatic interactions between positively charged arginine (Arg) side chains on the enzyme and the dianionic substrate, 4-oxalocrotonate. To generate specific hydrogen-bonding interactions with a monoanionic substrate analogue, we have introduced a urea functional group into the active site by replacing arginine side chains with isosteric citrulline (Cit) residues. This design was based on the complementarity between the urea functionality of citrulline and the uncharged amide function of the substrate, as opposed to the guanidinium-carboxylate electrostatic interaction between the wild-type enzyme and the natural substrate. Indeed, the synthetic (Arg39Cit)4-OT analogue catalyzed the tautomerization of the non-natural monoamide-monoacid substrate while it was a poor catalyst for the natural diacid substrate. The specificity of (Arg39Cit)4-OT for the monoamide-monoacid substrate relative to that of the diacid substrate was found to be 740-fold greater than that of the wild-type enzyme for tautomerization of the non-natural substrate as compared with the natural one. The role of electrostatic interactions in the tautomerization of the monoamide-monoacid substrate was probed in detail with several other Arg to Cit analogues of this enzyme. This study has demonstrated that chemical manipulation of the functional groups within the active site of an enzyme can modify its catalytic activity and substrate specificity in a predictable way, suggesting that the incorporation of noncoded amino acids into proteins has great promise for the development of new enzymatic mechanisms and new binding interactions.
Interactive segmentation and boundary surface formation for 3-D digital images

Abstract In visualizing objects in 3-D digital images based on shaded-surface displays, segmentation of the 3-D regions is a basic processing operation. When object and nonobject regions touch or overlap and have identical features, automatic segmentation methods fail. We present an interactive technique which permits isolation of arbitrary subregions of the 3-D image by a region filling procedure. We illustrate the usefulness of this capability, through computerized tomography data, in preoperative surgical planning and for producing arbitrary fragmentations of objects in 3-D images. The techniques are applicable in other fields as well, where independent display of overlapping structures is important. When the object regions are specified through a set of contours in a sequence of slices, we show that the boundary surfaces of the object are produceable in an efficient way using the cuberille-based discrete representation of the object surfaces. The algorithms we present for forming boundary surfaces do not impose restrictions on the shape and pattern of distribution of contours in the slices as do the surface tiling schemes reported in the literature. We assume that a contour is made up of at least three points.
Mechanism, vitalism, and biopoesis

(1968). Mechanism, vitalism, and biopoesis. Pacific Philosophy Forum: Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 3-56.
Modeling U.S. Coal Export Planning Decisions

Abstract This paper develops a network-optimization planning methodology for U.S. coal port infrastructure. The model analyzes the economic and geographic impacts of harbor deepening and offshore topping-off, improvements which are considered essential for the U.S. to maintain export levels in the face of lower-cost competition because they enable loading of the largest coal supercolliers. The Coal Logistics System (COLS) is a mixed-integer programming model that captures the interaction between coal types and origins, rail and barge networks, ports and intermodal terminals, economies of scale in ocean shipping, foreign demand for steam and metallurgical coal, and environmental regulation. Model results provide the optimal set of coal flows for minimizing the costs of producing, transporting, and transshipping coal. A base case is calibrated for 1985 in which the model predicts the throughput at each of five major ports within 10 percent of actual historical levels. Four scenarios evaluate the effects of ...
A mesoscale description of microstructure evolution for the sintering of ceramics

A new mesoscale description of sintering microstructures has been developed based on pore boundary tessellation. Evolution in the populations of tessellation cell properties suggests that intermediate stage sintering is characterized by the removal of relatively large pore sections thought to be associated with a low density network. The reduction in the area fraction associated with these larger pore sections was found to correlate with the change in densification rate during sintering, leading to speculation on the cause of the commonly observed logarithmic relationship between solid volume fraction and time. Sintering above a solid volume fraction of 0.9 appeared to be dominated by pore shrinkage and elimination consistent with the common perception of final stage sintering.
Unusual manifestations of invasive pneumococcal infection

Unusual pneumococcal infections occurred frequently in the preantibiotic age but rapidly declined with the advent of the antibiotic era. Unfortunately, the morbidity and mortality associated with invasive pneumococcal disease remain high despite antibiotic therapy and monumental advances in medical technology. The incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease has increased recently because of the onset of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcus. Robert Austrian described the clinical triad of pneumococcal pneumonia, meningitis, and endocarditis, a syndrome that now bears his name. Although seen infrequently today, unusual manifestations of pneumococcal infection such as those Austrian reported still occur. A review of these cases is warranted because, as drug-resistant organisms continue to emerge worldwide, more unusual pneumococcal infections will be seen. Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible for a remarkable array of disease processes; our literature review uncovered 95 different types of unusual pneumococcal infections representing 2,064 cases. Examples of these infections included pancreatic and liver abscesses, aortitis, gingival lesions, phlegmonous gastritis, inguinal adenitis, testicular and tubo-ovarian abscesses, and necrotizing fasciitis. We also reviewed predisposing underlying illnesses and conditions. Alcoholism, HIV infection, splenectomy, connective tissue disease, steroid use, diabetes mellitus, and intravenous drug use remain common risk factors for invasive pneumococcal infections. Currently, multidrug-resistant S. pneumoniae remains susceptible to vancomycin and several new third-generation fluoroquinolones. As what some fear will be a possible postantibiotic era approaches, clinicians must be able to recognize and manage unusual pneumococcal infections.
Decision-Making Under Model Uncertainty of Damaged Aircraft Systems

When in-flight failures occur, rapid and precise decision-making under imprecise information is required in order to regain and maintain control of the aircraft. To achieve planned aircraft trajectory and complete landing safely, the uncertainties in vehicle parameters of the damaged aircraft need to be learned and incorporated at the level of motion planning. Uncertainty is a very important concern in recovery of damaged aircraft since it can cause false diagnosis and prognosis that may lead to further performance degradation and mission failure. The mathematical and statistical approaches to analyzing uncertainty are first presented. The damaged aircraft is simulated via a simplified kinematics model. The different sources and perspectives of uncertainties under a damage assessment process and post-failure trajectory planning are presented and classified. The decision-making process for an emergency motion planning to landing site is developed via the Dempster-Shafer evidence theory. The objective of the trajectory planning is to arrive at a target position while maximizing the safety of the aircraft under uncertain conditions. Simulations are presented for an emergency motion planning and landing that takes into account aircraft dynamics, path complexity, distance to landing site, runway characteristics, and subjective human decision.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Alterations in corticospinal neuron activity associated with thalamocortical recruiting responses

Abstract 1. 1. The relation between different varieties of repetitively evoked thalamocortical responses in motor cortex and corticospinal neuron activity has been studied in locally anesthetized-paralyzed cats. 2. 2. Long-latency (> 20 msec) recruiting responses evoked by medial thalamic stimulation are associate dwith long-latency (> 20 msec) relayed corticospinal tract discharges which recruit pari passu with surface-negativity. Short-latency (8–15 msec) recruiting responses evoked by stimulation of antero-lateral components of the thalamic reticular system (TRS) are associated with recruiting tract discharges that are initiated during the prior surface-positivity that characterizes many of these responses. 3. 3. Relayed tract discharges triggered during short or long-latency recruiting responses are distinguishable from those associated with augmenting and non-augmenting specific thalamocortical activities in terms of latency, magnitude and duration. 4. 4. Direct and indirect corticospinal tract responses evoked by 7–10/sec weak motor cortex stimulation and short-latency (2–4 msec) relayed discharges evoked during specific thalamocortical responses are inhibited prior to and after relayed tract volleys associated with short and long-latency recruiting responses. 5. 5. Relayed activity in corticobulbar and corticospinal pathways associated with recruiting responses in motor cortex is distributed to a wide variety of elements in brain stem reticular organizations and spinal cord. 6. 6. Evidence is presented indicating that sub-surface synaptic events responsible for the alterations in corticospinal neuron activity during different varieties of recruiting responses are independent of those involved in the production of recruiting surface-negativity.
Hyperfine Structure Emission and Absorption Lines in Hot Gas

Syunyaev & Churazov originally pointed out that there is a large set of hyperfine structure lines that are produced by isotopes of the abundant elements. They occur with the H‐like (1 electron), Li‐like, and Na‐like ions by the same process as the hydrogen 21 cm line. Most are highly charged ions, so they will be present in hot X‐ray–emitting gas. More recently, Zhang & Sampson computed collision strengths for some of these lines, making it possible to compute accurate level populations, emission, and absorption for the first time. We have incorporated the full set of Syunyaev & Churazov lines into the spectra simulation code Cloudy. We use the Zhang & Sampson calculations as a guide for estimating the order of magnitude of the collision strengths for the lines that do not have collision data. We also calculate a visibility function that predicts which lines will be most easily seen in absorption. The column densities needed to produce strong absorption are greater than those found in even the most massive galaxy clusters, suggesting that these lines will be very hard to detect.
The Influence of the Discussion Leader Procedure on the Quality of Arguments in Online Discussions

Many consider rich argumentation to be the core of quality discussions and view it as a vehicle to solving problems and clarifying content. This study examined the influence of a discussion leader ...
Epithelial Organization: New Perspective on α-Catenin from an Ancient Source

Cadherins and catenins evidently partnered at the dawn of the animal kingdom to enable the first polarized epithelium, and perhaps animal evolution itself. New evidence from a primitive slime mold, however, suggests that α- and β-catenins may have engaged this function independently, long before cadherins arrived on the scene.
Second annual AGU Take Your Child to Work Day

The second annual Take Your Child to Work Day was held 26 April at AGU headquarters. Nearly 25 children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews of AGU staff members participated in the daylong activities. Jill Treby, assistant director of member services, began the day by welcoming the children and telling them about what many AGU Earth and space scientists do. AGU blogger Callan Bentley and his Northern Virginia Community College colleagues provided mineral samples and an ultraviolet light; these allowed AGU staff to demonstrate fluorescence in minerals from Franklin, N. J., and other localities.
Multiplicity dependence of azimuthal distributions for Ar 36 + 197 Au collisions at E / A =35 MeV

Collisions between $^{36}\mathrm{Ar}$ projectile and $^{197}\mathrm{Au}$ target nuclei at E/A=35 MeV have been studied with the Michigan State University Miniball, a 4\ensuremath{\pi} phoswich array with a low detection threshold. Azimuthal distributions of charged particles with respect to the reaction plane are determined via the transverse-momentum-tensor method. Dependence on the kinetic energy of the emitted particles, the collision geometry, and the associated charged particle multiplicity is investigated. Corrections for the intrinsic resolution of the experimental reaction plane determination are applied. Scaling implied by the coalescence model is explored and the data are compared to the results of microscopic calculations within the Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck theory.
On-tissue identification of insulin: in situ reduction coupled with mass spectrometry imaging.

Purpose The aim of this study was to use on- tissue reduction followed by MALDI-IMS to identify an m/z 5812.85 peak which is over-expressed in healthy human pancreatic tissue compared to Type one Diabetes (T1D) tissue.
Chemical derivatization of histones for facilitated analysis by mass spectrometry

Histone post-translational modifications have been recently intensely studied owing to their role in regulating gene expression. Here, we describe protocols for the characterization of histone modifications in both qualitative and semiquantitative manners using chemical derivatization and tandem mass spectrometry. In these procedures, extracted histones are first derivatized using propionic anhydride to neutralize charge and block lysine residues, and are subsequently digested using trypsin, which, under these conditions, cleaves only the arginine residues. The generated peptides can be easily analyzed using online LC-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry to identify the modification site. In addition, a stable isotope-labeling step can be included to modify carboxylic acid groups allowing for relative quantification of histone modifications. This methodology has the advantage of producing a small number of predicted peptides from highly modified proteins. The protocol should take approximately 15–19 h to complete, including all chemical reactions, enzymatic digestion and mass spectrometry experiments.
Irradiation creep in transient irradiation environments

Abstract Creep in a transient irradiation environment is examined theoretically. Pulsing the irradiation flux can enhance the predicted climb-glide creep rate. The enhancement is due to cyclic transients in the point defect fluxes which are shown to be a function of pulse duty cycle, pulse frequency and temperature. The pulsed mechanism is only effective if the climb barrier height is of the order of a nanometer or less. Furthermore, the enhanced creep rate is expected to have a weak stress dependence. The SIPA creep rate, on the other hand, is reduced with pulsing because pulsing reduces the time-averaged interstitial flux as compared with a continuous irradiation having the same time-averaged damage rate. A final consideration in the present analysis is that of discontinuously stepping the irradiation temperature to induce a transient-enhanced climb-glide creep rate.
Spatio‐temporal change analysis to identify anomalous variation in the vegetated land surface: ENSO effects in tropical South America

[1] Seasonal variation of the vegetated land surface across tropical South America was evaluated using Trajectory Analysis (TA) on the Pathfinder AVHRR Land (PAL) NDVI data. These 8 km 10-day maximum-value composite images of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) span nearly two decades (7/81–12/99) that include several ENSO warm/cold phases. The derived trajectory established a baseline to assess the effect of climatic events related to the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the temporal development of the spatial dependence structure of the NDVI image time series. Results indicate that ENSO phases have significant effects on the spatial dependence structure of the land surface in Tropical South America that would be undetected, if the spatial domain of remotely sensed data were neglected. As such, TA provides an important technique for the assessment of the effects of global change and long-term land use/land cover transformations on phenologies of the vegetated land surface.
Computerized tomographic findings in medulloblastomas

Twenty patients with intracranial medulloblastoma were analyzed by CT. All patients presented with symptoms of headache, and in eight clinical findings consistent with intracranial hypertension were the only neurological abnormalities. In 16 cases, the medulloblastoma appeared as midline posterior fossa mass and in four cases it was located laterally in the cerebellar hemisphere. The fourth ventricle appeared abnormal and there was evidence of obstructive hydrocephalus in all cases. The lesion was hyperdense in 14 cases but in only one was there evidence of calcification; the neoplasm appeared isodense in six. Post-contrast enhancement was visualized in all cases; this was homogeneous in 18 and had a ring-pattern of variable thickness in two others.
Equipment Selection for the Pharmaceutical Industry

The selection process involving equipment for use in the pharmaceutical industry is discussed. A protocol is outlined to assist the evaluator in making the optimum choice for the application. A mod...
Stereotypes on Campus: How Contact and Liking Influence Perceptions of Group Distinctiveness

In two studies, subjects' stereotypes of various campus groups were assessed using a content-free, cognitive methodology in which stereotypes are defined as “generalizations about a class of people that distinguish that class from others” (McCauley, Stitt, & Segal, 1980, p. 197). In an effort to predict strength of stereotypes, four main findings emerged: (a) contact with a group's members was associated with increased liking of the group; (b) contact predicted increased stereotype strength; (c) liking a group was associated with decreased stereotype strength; and (d) over time, the strength of stereotypes tended to decrease. These data are discussed in regard to the contact hypothesis (Airport, 1954; Amir, 1969; Cook, 1978,1984), the role of positive affect in altering cognitive organization, and more generally, to the issue of stereotype development.
Commentary Children's Work, Children's Rights

Most people would agree that enslaving children or forcing them to work in sweatshops or brothels are morally reprehensible practices. Yet the number of children laboring in hazardous and exploitative conditions around the world continues to grow. In June 1998, the International Labour Organization reported that, in the developing countries, some 250 million children aged 5 to 14 work— 120 million of them full time. Outlawing child labor may seem to be the obvious solution, but it is not the best way to protect children.
Can modeling of HIV treatment processes improve outcomes? Capitalizing on an operations research approach to the global pandemic.

Background Mathematical modeling has been applied to a range of policy-level decisions on resource allocation for HIV care and treatment. We describe the application of classic operations research (OR) techniques to address logistical and resource management challenges in HIV treatment scale-up activities in resource-limited countries.
Towards a Modular, Robust, and Portable Sensing Platform for Biological and Point of Care Diagnostics

The ability to conveniently and immediately test and diagnose in a diverse and rapidly changing environment is critical for field diagnostics. Smart biomedical sensors employ many different diagnostic/therapeutic methodologies; however, an ideal system would include the ability for results to be shared instantaneously with all members of the team through a software interface. We discuss our efforts towards the development and use of a robust, mobile platform (Android-based smart phone) that incorporates stable molecular recognition elements in sensor development. The inexpensive, compact, robust, archival, and portable design is ideal for rapid field diagnostics.
Studies on structural foam processing. IV. Bubble growth during mold filling

An experimental and theoretical study was carried out to achieve a better understanding of bubble growth during the filling of gas-charged molten polymers into a rectangular mold cavity. For the experimental study, a rectangular mold cavity (15.24 × 4.55 × 0.64 cm) was constructed, with glass windows on both sides to permit recording on a movie film of the growth of gas bubbles in the mold cavity as a molten polymer containing inert gas was injected into it. Sodium bicarbonate (generating carbon dioxide) was used as a chemical blowing agent, and the polymer used was a general purpose clear polystyrene. All experimental runs were made at isothermal molding conditions, and the injection rate was varied. It was found that, at and above a certain injection rate, little bubble formation was observed in the mold cavity during injection except at and near the moving melt front. For the theoretical study, the growth of a single gas bubble in a viscoelastic medium (represented by the DeWitt model), subjected to high injection rates, was considered by including the effects of diffusion from the liquid phase to the gas phase, interfacial tension between the liquid and the gas phases, and stress relaxation of the melt upon ejection. It was found that the level of stresses, built up in the met during injection, has a profound influence on the formation and growth of gas bubbles during the initial stage of mold filling. Also, a multichannel mold cavity was employed in order to observe the effect of processing variables on the cell size and its distribution in molded specimens. A uniform cell structure was obtained at higher injection pressures, at an optimum injection melt temperature, and with an optimum combination of blowing agent and nucleating agent concentrations.
Perceived stress and health complaints: An examination of the moderating roles of personality and physical activity

275 undergraduate university students were asked to complete a battery concerning their health complaints, perceived stress, strenuous physical activity, and personality ("Big Five" traits). An hierarchical regression showed that Stress and Strenuous Physical Activity Participation, but not Personality, predicted the Number of Health Complaints in this sample. Also, there was a significant interaction for Stress by Strenuous Activity indicating individuals who did not frequently engage in strenuous leisure-time physical activity reported more health complaints than those who did. This finding corroborates the notion that physical activity (or fitness) may serve to attenuate the relation between stress and health complaints.
The Association Between Activity-Based Costing and Manufacturing Performance

This study examines the association between activity-based costing and manufacturing performance. Results using a cross-sectional sample of manufacturing plants indicates that extensive ABC use is associated with higher quality levels and greater improvements in cycle time and quality, and is indirectly associated with manufacturing cost reductions through quality and cycle time improvements. However, on average, extensive ABC use has no significant association with return on assets. Instead, we find weak evidence that the association between ABC and accounting profitability is contingent on the plant’s operational characteristics.
Shared landmarks in complex coordination environments

We explore the concept of social landmarks in complex, shared information and coordination environments. Previous research in navigation and shared spaces has tended to emphasize individual navigation, formally inscribed spaces, social filtering, and boundary objects. Based on ethnographic research into complex collaborative work in organizations, we extend the concept of navigational "landmarks" to include not only individually-used documents, but also shared landmarks in the form of persons, roles, and events. This emerging concept of social landmarks may be applied in identifying and representing these coordinating points, to support the work of teams and organizations in complex projects.
The preparation of the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial forms of malate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase from pig heart by a single procedure

Abstract A single procedure for the preparation of the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic forms of malate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase from pig heart is described. l -3-Hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase may also be obtained from this procedure. The five enzymes are obtained in preparative amounts in homogeneous form with specific activities equal to or higher than those previously reported. These experiments also have established that the subforms of the mitochondrial isozyme of malate dehydrogenase are apparently the result of preparative manipulations.
Analytical Solutions for Cloud-Drop Concentration

Abstract This note compares and evaluates the analytical solutions of Squires and Twomey for cloud droplet concentration. Either solution is likely to be fairly accurate (±30%) when the slope parameter (β) of the cloud condensation nuclei distribution is small (β<0.8). For large β errors increase rapidly and both solutions are likely to underestimate the actual drop concentration by a wide margin.
Regulation of Airway Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses: The IL-17 Paradigm

IL-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by immune cells. Its significance in host defense and disease development has been demonstrated in various infection and autoimmune models. Recently, additional studies have shown that IL-17 is also important in modulating airway immune response in several aspects. Along with the well-established Th1/Th2 model, new discoveries regarding the Th17 lineage and IL-17 functions have added an extra twist to the already complicated cytokine network that regulates airway immunity. The IL-17 receptor is expressed on blood cells, as well as on structural cells such as the epithelial cells in the airway. Therefore, the effect of IL-17 on airway immunity is very broad, covering both the innate and the adaptive aspects. In this review, we summarize the findings of recent studies on IL-17 signaling and function in pulmonary immune response, and the implications of IL-17 in disease pathogenesis.
Web server performance analysis

The Web Wide Web (WWW) has experienced an exponential growth during the last ten years and in the current era Web servers represent one of the most important sources of information and services. Web servers, which are typically based on the HTTP protocol running over TCP/IP, are expected to serve millions of transaction requests per day at an acceptable level of performance. Due to the stringent performance expectations imposed on a Web server, it is important to analyze its performance for different levels of load prior to deployment. Model-based analysis, which consists of capturing the relevant aspects of a Web server into an appropriate model, validating the model and then using the validated model to predict the performance for different settings and load levels can be used for this purpose. A number of research efforts have focused on performance modeling and analysis of Web servers. Slothouber [14] model a Web server as an open queuing network. Van der Mei et al. [16] present an end-to-end queuing model for the performance analysis of a Web server, encompassing the impact of client workload characteristics, server hardware/software configurations, communication protocols and interconnect topologies. Cao et al. [2] use an M/G/1/K ∗ PS queuing model to model the performance of a Web server. Nossenson et al. [10] introduce a new N − Burst/G/1 queuing model with heavy-tailed service time distribution for Web server performance modeling. Squillante et al. [15] employ a G/G/1 queue to model high-volume Web sites. Kant et al. [6] describe a queuing network model for a multiprocessor system running a static Web workload. The model is based on detailed measurements from a baseline system and a few of its variants.
Nicotinic depolarization activates calcium dependent gK in myenteric neurons.

Abstract Intracellular recordings were made from S type neurons in the myenteric plexus of the guinea-pig ileum. Acetylcholine (ACh) was applied directly onto the soma membrane by iontophoresis with visual placement of the iontophoretic pipette. Fast nicotinic depolarizations were evoked which were followed by slow muscarinic depolarizations. After application of hyoscine to block the slow muscarinic depolarization, the nicotinic depolarization was found to be followed by a hyperpolarization. This hyperpolarization was several mV in amplitude and 1–5 s in total duration. It disappeared when the preceding nicotinic depolarization was blocked by hexamethonium. The ACh induced hyperpolarization was due to calcium entry and subsequent opening of potassium channels.
Countermeasures for sleep loss and deprivation.

Sleep deprivation is ubiquitous and carries profound consequences in terms of personal and public health and safety. There is no substitute for a good night’s sleep. Sleep that is optimal in quality and quantity for individuals, factoring in their age and personal sleep requirements, will minimize sleep debt and maximize daytime performance. Therefore, setting aside an adequate amount of time for sleep should be a priority; sleep should not be sacrificed at the expense of other activities of daily living. Nevertheless, there are certain therapeutic countermeasures available for individuals who are unable to obtain adequate sleep because of medical or sleep-related conditions (eg, narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea) when excessive daytime sleepiness is the main feature of the condition, or residual sleepiness despite treatment for the main conditions is present. These therapeutic countermeasures may also be considered in situations in which occupational constraints (eg, rotating shift work, military duty) dictate that constant or heightened vigilance is important or critical to work performance, crucial decision making, and/or survival. Exploration of the causes of sleep loss or deprivation, whether it is voluntary, or work or family induced, and/or the effects of a medical or sleep disorder, is a necessary first step in the evaluation of a patient who has significant daytime fatigue or sleepiness. Wake-promoting substances and medications such as caffeine, modafinil, methylphenidate, and dextroamphetamine may be considered in situations in which sleep loss is unavoidable or persists despite treatment of an underlying disorder that is characterized by or associated with daytime fatigue or sleepiness.
Ligand binding kinetics of a soluble full-length murine erythropoietin receptor

The full-length murine erythropoietin receptor was expressed in Sf9 cells using a baculovirus vector. Erythropoietin receptors in solubilized Sf9 cell lysates bound erythropoietin with high affinity (92 pM). Erythropoietin receptor-125I-labeled erythropoietin association and dissociation kinetics using solubilized Sf9 cell lysates revealed a ka of 0.16 nM-1 min-1 and a kd of 0.00055 min-1 giving an observed KD of 3.45 pM. The erythropoietin receptors was partially purified from Sf9 cell lysates by chromatography on Con A Sepharose. When erythropoietin receptors were crosslinked to 125I-labeled erythropoietin and analyzed by SDS-7.5% PAGE protein complexes of 90 and 125 kDa were observed with receptors in solubilized lysate, and 170 and 190 kDa with the partially purified receptors.
Rising from the Ashes: The Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project and the Corporatization of University-Based Scientific Research.

Summary A plethora of books and articles have appeared recently that announce the global triumph of corporate capitalism and its attendant ideologies. Nowhere are these articles more scathing in their critique of corporatization than in the field of education. However, few have taken a historical perspective in examining the institutional policies and practices that paved the way for private‐sector influence and the adoption of business and administrative sensibilities in higher education. This article examines the University of Michigan (U‐M) between 1945 and the early 1960s as a case study of the kinds of physical and philosophical changes that occurred to usher in the process of corporatization at a major research university. I focus predominantly on one major research effort‐‐the Phoenix Memorial Project‐‐that set in motion many of the forces that would effectively reshape the school's philosophy and practices. The article begins with a discussion of the ideological and political tensions that charact...
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Circulating Anticoagulant: Report of a Case

A patient without lupus erythematosus in whom a routine presurgical work-up resulted in discovery of the SLE circulating antibody is described. The diagnosis and treatment are discussed.
What have we learned on costs and financing of routine immunization from the comprehensive multi-year plans in GAVI eligible countries?

Abstract Background Immunization is one of the most cost-effective health interventions, but as countries introduce new vaccines and scale-up immunization coverage, costs will likely increase. This paper updates estimates of immunization costs and financing based on information from comprehensive multi-year plans (cMYPs) from GAVI-eligible countries during a period when countries planned to introduce a range of new vaccines (2008–2016). Methods The analysis database included information from baseline and 5-year projection years for each country cMYP, resulting in a total sample size of 243 observations. Two-thirds were from African countries. Cost data included personnel, vaccine, injection, transport, training, maintenance, cold chain and other capital investments. Financing from government and external sources was evaluated. All estimates were converted to 2010 US Dollars. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA, and results were population-weighted. Results Results pertain to country planning estimates. Average annual routine immunization cost was $62 million. Vaccines continued to be the major cost driver (51%) followed by immunization-specific personnel costs (22%). Non-vaccine delivery costs accounted for almost half of routine program costs (44%). Routine delivery cost per dose averaged $0.61 and the delivery cost per infant was $10. The cost per DTP3 vaccinated child was $27. Routine program costs increased with each new vaccine introduced. Costs accounted for 5% of government health expenditures. Governments accounted for 67% of financing. Conclusion Total and average costs of routine immunization programs are rising as coverage rates increase and new vaccines are introduced. The cost of delivering vaccines is nearly equivalent to the cost of vaccines. Governments are financing greater proportions of the immunization program but there may be limits in resource scarce countries. Price reductions for new vaccines will help reduce costs and the burden of financing. Strategies to improve efficiency in service delivery should be pursued.
Some new results on the Littlewood-Offord problem

Abstract We consider the 2n sums of the form Σϵiai with the ai's vectors, | ai | ⩾ 1, and ϵi = 0, 1 for each i. We raise a number of questions about their distribution. We show that if the ai lie in two dimensions, then at most n ( n 2 ) ) sums can lie within a circle of diameter √3, and if n is even at most the sum of the three largest binomial coefficients can lie in a circle of diameter √5. These are best results under the indicated conditions. If two a's are more than 60° but less than 120° apart in direction, then the bound ( n [ n 2 ] ) on sums lying within a unit diameter sphere is improved to ( n+1 [ n 2 ] ) − 2( n−1 [(n− 1 2 )]) . The method of Katona and Kleitman is shown to lead to a significant improvement on their two dimensional result. Finally, Lubell-type relations for sums lying in a unit diameter sphere are examined.
Atomic level simulations on a million particles: The cell multipole method for Coulomb and London nonbond interactions

The N2 computations implicit in the Coulomb and other long range interactions remain the critical bottleneck in atomic‐level simulations of the structure and dynamics of large systems. We report here the cell multipole method which scales linearly with N and requires only modest memory. To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, we report systematic calculations on realistic polymer systems with up to 1.2 million atoms on a laboratory workstation. The method becomes faster than the exact method for systems of 300 atoms, and for a 1.2 million‐atom polymer, it is 2377 times faster. The method treats a class of interactions of the form qiqj/rijp, which includes Coulomb (p=1), London dispersion (p=6), or shielded Coulomb (p=2) interactions. This method is well suited for highly parallel and vector computers.
Supporting creativity in problem solving environments

We seek to provide a theoretical basis for the development of problem solving environments that support creativity. This paper combines flow theory, the systems model of creativity, and a newly developed workflow of problem solving to produce a theory of the creative problem solving user, WorkFlow. It extends the definition of usability to include creativity and identifies key areas and methods for the support of creativity in problem solving.
Furthering the understanding of maternal obesity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in children today and the prevalence has more than doubled over the past decade.(1) From an epidemiologic standpoint, the rapid rise in NAFLD outpaces the increase in obesity.(1) This is concerning given the current and future burden of pediatric NAFLD to individuals and the healthcare system. Our understanding of pediatric NAFLD and its etiology continues to evolve. One major contributor appears to be diets high in sugar and fat leading to the development of obesity, increased adipose insulin resistance and subsequent hepatic steatosis. The search for other, non-dietary contributors to pediatric NAFLD has prompted researchers to pursue genetic, epigenetic and other causes. In the paper by Mouralidarane and colleagues, they explore the complex interplay between maternal diet, gestational environment, and the developing innate immune system. It seems that the development NAFLD begins even before children have a chance to eat on their own.
Crowding Out Public Service Motivation? Comparing Theoretical Expectations with Empirical Findings on the Influence of Performance-Related Pay:

This article draws on a sample of city managers, assistant city managers, and department heads in U.S. local government jurisdictions to examine whether theoretical assertions about the relationships between performance-related pay, public service motivation, and employee job satisfaction hold empirical merit. Contrary to theoretical expectations, findings from an ordered logistic regression and a series of Monte Carlo simulations suggest performance-related pay is associated with greater job satisfaction, especially among employees who possess stronger public service motives. Results also suggest variable pay may be particularly important to employees who have lower levels of public service motivation.
Who's that Girl: Television's Role in the Body Image Development of Young White and Black Women:

Although findings indicate a connection between frequent media use and greater body dissatisfaction, little attention has focused on the role of race. Accordingly, this study investigates the relation between television viewing and body image among 87 Black and 584 White women. Participants reported monthly viewing amounts of mainstream and Black-oriented television programs as well as body attitudes as measured by the Eating Disorders Inventory, the Body Esteem Scale, and the Body Shape Questionnaire. Results suggest different patterns predicting body image for White and Black women. Among White women, viewing mainstream television predicted poorer body image, while viewing Black-oriented media was unrelated to body image. Among Black women, viewing Black-oriented television predicted healthier body image, while viewing mainstream television was unrelated to body image. Ethnic identity also predicted healthier body image among Black women, and appeared to moderate, to some extent, the contributions of vi...
Patients with Acinetobacter baumannii bloodstream infections are colonized in the gastrointestinal tract with identical strains

In this study, we identified critically ill patients with Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia and examined perirectal surveillance cultures for the presence of genetically related A baumannii strains using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to determine whether gut colonization preceded clinical infection. Seven patients with imipenem-resistant A baumannii bacteremia were identified from January to June of 2008. Six of 7 (86%) patients were colonized in the gastrointestinal tract with genetically similar strains preceding their bacteremia.
Defining the thermal environment in fire tests

The ability of engineered systems to withstand a fire environment is usually demonstrated by test. Iterative design and experimentation historically has been used to develop these engineered systems. To optimize the engineered system, in instances where the cost of the prototype is high, the process of iterative redesign and testing may be infeasible. Consequently, in such instances it is desirable to predict the thermal performance of the engineered system analytically. In order to predict the thermal performance of the engineered system the thermal insult the test environment provides to a test unit must be quantified. To quantify the thermal insult, both temperature and heat flux measurements are necessary. However, as will be discussed, one of the major difficulties associated with conducting any type of fire test is making accurate measurements in both the fire and on the test unit. This paper discusses a number of measurement techniques. Due to the potential for errors in the measurements, the uncertainty in the measured parameters is emphasized.
Alkaline peroxide delignification of agricultural residues to enhance enzymatic saccharification

Approximately one-half of the lignin and most of the hemicellulose present in agricultural residues such as wheat straw and corn stover are solubilized when the residue is treated at 25 degrees C in an alkaline solution of hydrogen peroxide. The delignification reaction is most efficient when the ratio of hydrogen peroxide to substrate is at least 0.25 (w/w) and the pH is 11.5. The supernatant fraction from a given pretreatment, after addition of makeup peroxide and readjustment of the pH, can be recycled to treat at least six additional batches of substrate, resulting in a substantial concentration of hemicellulose and soluble lignin degradation products. Hydrolysis of the insoluble fraction with Trichoderma reesei cellulase after alkaline peroxide treatment yields glucose with almost 100% efficiency, based upon the cellulose content of the residue before treatment. These data indicate that alkaline peroxide pretreatment is a simple and efficient method for enhancing the enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulosic crop residues to levels approaching the theoretical maximum.
Simultaneous utilization of glucose, xylose and arabinose in the presence of acetate by a consortium of Escherichia coli strains

The efficient microbial utilization of lignocellulosic hydrolysates has remained challenging because this material is composed of multiple sugars and also contains growth inhibitors such as acetic acid (acetate). Using an engineered consortium of strains derived from Escherichia coli C and a synthetic medium containing acetate, glucose, xylose and arabinose, we report on both the microbial removal of acetate and the subsequent simultaneous utilization of the sugars. In a first stage, a strain unable to utilize glucose, xylose and arabinose (ALS1392, strain E. coli C ptsG manZ glk crr xylA araA) removed 3 g/L acetate within 30 hours. In a subsequent second stage, three E. coli strains (ALS1370, ALS1371, ALS1391), which are each engineered to utilize only one sugar, together simultaneously utilized glucose, xylose and arabinose. The effect of non-metabolizable sugars on the metabolism of the target sugar was minimal. Additionally the deletions necessary to prevent the consumption of one sugar only minimally affected the consumption of a desired sugar. For example, the crr deletion necessary to prevent glucose consumption reduced xylose and arabinose utilization by less than 15% compared to the wild-type. Similarly, the araA deletion used to exclude arabinose consumption did not affect xylose- and glucose-consumption. Despite the modest reduction in the overall rate of sugar consumption due to the various deletions that were required to generate the consortium of strains, the approach constitutes a significant improvement in any single-organism approach to utilize sugars found in lignocellulosic hydrolysate in the presence of acetate.
Faster First-Order Methods for Extensive-Form Game Solving

We study the problem of computing a Nash equilibrium in large-scale two-player zero-sum extensive-form games. While this problem can be solved in polynomial time, first-order or regret-based methods are usually preferred for large games. Regret-based methods have largely been favored in practice, in spite of their theoretically inferior convergence rates. In this paper we investigate the acceleration of first-order methods both theoretically and experimentally. An important component of many first-order methods is a distance-generating function. Motivated by this, we investigate a specific distance-generating function, namely the dilated entropy function, over treeplexes, which are convex polytopes that encompass the strategy spaces of perfect-recall extensive-form games. We develop significantly stronger bounds on the associated strong convexity parameter. In terms of extensive-form game solving, this improves the convergence rate of several first-order methods by a factor of O((#information sets ⋅ depth ⋅ M)/(2depth)) where M is the maximum value of the l1 norm over the treeplex encoding the strategy spaces. Experimentally, we investigate the performance of three first-order methods (the excessive gap technique, mirror prox, and stochastic mirror prox) and compare their performance to the regret-based algorithms. In order to instantiate stochastic mirror prox, we develop a class of gradient sampling schemes for game trees. Equipped with our distance-generating function and sampling scheme, we find that mirror prox and the excessive gap technique outperform the prior regret-based methods for finding medium accuracy solutions