cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Game-Changing Instructor Tool to Reinforce Coding Concepts

We developed a 3D serious game that teaches and reinforces programming concepts. An innovative feature allows instructors to create customized challenges that students solve in the context of the game, allowing instructors to use the game to effectively target course topics or skills. A web-based portal gives instructors access to data about student performance in the game.
Evolutionary Debunking, Moral Realism and Moral Knowledge

This paper reconstructs what I take to be the central evolutionary debunking argument that underlies recent critiques of moral realism. The argument claims that given the extent of evolutionary influence on our moral faculties, and assuming the truth of moral realism, it would be a massive coincidence were our moral faculties reliable ones. Given this coincidence, any presumptive warrant enjoyed by our moral beliefs is defeated. So if moral realism is true, then we can have no warranted moral beliefs, and hence no moral knowledge. In response, I first develop what is perhaps the most natural reply on behalf of realism – namely, that many of our highly presumptively warranted moral beliefs are immune to evolutionary influence and so can be used to assess and eventually resuscitate the epistemic merits of those that have been subject to such influence. I then identify five distinct ways in which the charge of massive coincidence has been understood and defended. I argue that each interpretation is subject to serious worries. If I am right, these putative defeaters are themselves subject to defeat. Thus many of our moral beliefs continue to be highly warranted, even if moral realism is true.
On value dependence and meliorative projects

In his innovative and thought-provoking Why Worry About Future Generations? Samuel Scheffler argues that the value of many of our present-day projects depends upon the existence of future generatio...
The curative effect of nasal flush combined budesonide suspension liquid atomizing inhaled treatment in infant allergic rhinitis

Objective To observe the nasal flush combined budesonide suspension liquid atomizing inhaled treatment of allergic rhinitis in infants,explore the allergic rhinitis treatments in infants. Methods 137 cases diagnosed as allergic rhinitis were collected and randomly divided into 70 cases as the treatment group and 67 patients as the control group. The patients in control group were washed the nasal cavity with 2.8% warm sodium chloride solution using 50ml and 0.5% metronidazole injection 30ml by turn. At the first week, 1 time/d, then one time every other day,while according to age,body mass the patients were given to loratadine, 1 time/d. Treatment group were used budesonide nasal inhalation of 1 ml at the base of treatment of the control group. Before and after the treatment , nasal congestion,sneezing, flow clear nose, sleep snoring and sleep quality score index were observed and compared.Results 70%of the treatment group the nasal congestion,sneezing,flow clear in 3 times after treatment with ease.The children sleep quality improved and the snoring fewer over night,only 56.7% of the control group of these symptoms improved. After the treatment the efficiency evaluation of treatment group and control group respectively was 95.1% and 77.7% ,there was statistically significant difference( x2 =9.83 ,P ＜0. 01 ). 137 cases of patients without a side effects. Conclusion curative effect of nasal flush combined budesonide suspension liquid nasal spray inhaled treatment of allergic rhinitis was distinct,infant effect-acting quickly,without side effects,easy to use. Key words: Nasal wash; Budesonide; Infants; Allergic rhinitis
MINDFULNESS, SELF-INQUIRY, AND ARTMAKING

This article describes a qualitative study of pre-service art education students that was designed to explore relationships between mindfulness, self-inquiry, and artistic practices. The researcher...
Pre-silicon Noise to Timing Test Methodology

This document provides a new pre-silicon PDN design methodology which validates the performance of the circuit design before it is approved for fabrication. It combines Signal and Power Integrity performance trades off of the General Purpose IO buffer. As the GPIO is built with a brand new silicon process, the method helps to define a new power integrity specification using the combined Signal and Power Integrity method, calculating on timing margins allowable. Traditionally, the power integrity solution metric is vastly defined by a hand-waving of +/-10% of nominal voltage.
Making Xavier’s dream real: Vernacular writings of catholic missionaries in modern Japan: by Nanyan Guo, Tokyo, Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture, 2020, 232 pp., JPY 3000 (hardback), ISBN: 9784866581347

This monograph, originally published in Japanese (Kaku, 2018), marks (to my knowledge) the first broad attempt in English to probe the relationship between Catholicism and modern Japanese culture s...
It’s Deeper Than That!: Restorative Justice and the Challenge of Racial Reflexivity in White-led Schools

This paper uses critical race theory to analyze several case studies focused on the experiences of two restorative justice coordinators (RJCs), both Black women and how they understood and responde...
Mapping Historical Archaeology and Industrial Heritage: The Historical Spatial Data Infrastructure

While a vibrant and growing research literature exists on the value of GIS to archaeology in general, the application of geospatial digital data to the subfield of historical archaeology is less well developed, especially in North America. This is particularly true for the era of industrialization, where the archaeological record is accompanied by a comparatively rich historical record. Historical and industrial archaeology are fundamentally bound up in the interplay between material and historical data, and it is in enhancing the dialogue between these two evidentiary bodies that interdisciplinary geospatial approaches are most fruitful to these subdisciplines. Drawing on recent discussions in digital archaeology and Historical GIS (HGIS), which has a robust history in the social sciences and humanities, we present an approach to modelling, visualizing, and analyzing longitudinal physical and social environment data for historical and industrial archaeology: a Historical Spatial Data Infrastructure (HSDI). Our HSDI, which is data-rich and highly flexible in scale, is especially well-adapted to facilitating this dialogue within archaeological research, as well as having important applications to heritage management and public engagement, as demonstrated in our case study.
Borderline personality disorder in suicidal adolescents

The diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adolescents has been controversial. Thus, few studies have examined BPD in suicidal adolescents, even though it is strongly associated with suicidal behaviours in adults. This study examines differences between suicidal adolescents with (n = 47) and without (n = 72) BPD on history and characteristics of suicidal behaviour, Axis I co-morbidity, affect regulation and aggression. Assessments were completed with both adolescents and parents, and consensus ratings based on best available data were analysed. BPD participants were more likely to have a history of suicide attempts and to have been admitted because of a suicide attempt (vs. suicidal ideation). There were no significant differences in self-injurious behaviours or degree of suicidal ideation. BPD participants also had more psychiatric co-morbidity and higher aggression scores but no significant differences in affective dysregulation compared with suicidal adolescents without BPD. Diagnostic stability over 6 months was modest. Our results demonstrate that, compared with other acutely suicidal adolescents, the clinical profile of BPD participants is unique and suggests an increased risk for suicidal behaviours. This extends upon other studies that support the construct validity of BPD during adolescence and suggests that BPD should be considered in suicide risk assessment for adolescents. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
An energy-efficient circuit technique for single event transient noise-tolerance

Presented is a circuit technique that mitigates the impact of single event transient (SET) noise in deep submicron (DSM) circuits with minimal speed, power and area penalty. The technique combines a novel dual-sampling flip-flop (DSFF) and a skewed CMOS (SCMOS) circuit style. The DSFF and SCMOS are designed to eliminate, respectively, SETs with polarity of 1-0-1 and 0-1-0. We present a case study of inverter chain circuits in a typical 0.18 /spl mu/m process under the influence of radiation induced soft errors. We quantify the SET-tolerance of the proposed technique by simulating the circuits' soft error rate (SER) using a recently developed tool, SERA (soft error rate analyzer). The results show that the DSFF latches the input without any speed penalty compared to a conventional flip-flop, if no soft error has occurred. Otherwise, the DSFF alone eliminates the 1-0-1 SETs while incurring a worst-case speed and power penalty of 310 ps and 39 /spl mu/W/GHz, respectively. The proposed technique can completely eliminate the impact of SETs with both polarities when tuned appropriately.
A Model of the Redescription Process in the Context of Geometric Proportional Analogy Problems

It has been recognized for some time that analogies can redescribe an object or situation sometimes resulting in a radically new point of view. While this creative aspect of analogy is often cited as a reason for its study, AI approaches to analogy have, for the most part, ignored this phenomenon and instead have focused on computing similarities between fixed descriptions. To study this ‘redescription’ process by which new points of view can be created, we seek a micro-world in which the redescription phenomenon occurs in its full subtlety but in which it can be isolated from extraneous and ill-understood factors. Proportional analogies (i.e., analogies of the form: A is to B as C is to D) in the abstract domain of geometric figures form just such a micro-world. In this paper, we describe an algebraic formulation of the redescription process in the context of geometric proportional analogies. We then discuss the design of a computer program called PAN which redescribes geometric figures while solving proportional analogy problems. Finally, we briefly discuss our plans for future work in this area.
What's new in antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy recommendations for unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: 2012 focused update from the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association task force on practice guidelines.

This focused update addresses the use of the newly approved oral antiplatelet agents, prasugrel and ticagrelor, for the management of patients with UA/NSTEMI. The author has no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.
Truncation of the Extracellular Region Abrogrates Cell Contact but Retains the Growth-suppressive Activity of E-cadherin

E-cadherin has been demonstrated to induce growth suppression and decrease the invasiveness of cancer cells and thus has been proposed to be a tumor suppressor gene. The ability of E-cadherin to mediate cell-cell contact and contact inhibition presumably accounts for its antitumor effects, which are attributed to the extracellular domain of the protein. Here we report that blocking the ability of E-cadherin to mediate contact inhibition by either antagonistic antibodies or expression of a mutant form of E-cadherin with the extracellular region deleted does not abrogate growth suppression. Transfection of the E-cadherin gene into the human prostate cancer cell line TSU.Pr-1 induced cell-cell contact formation, growth suppression, and redistribution of beta-catenin to the cell membrane. Treatment of the E-cadherin transfectant (CAD) with blocking antibodies disrupted cell-cell contact formation but did not influence the growth rate, suggesting that cell-cell interaction is not required for E-cadherin-mediated growth suppression. Similarly, transfection of an E-cadherin construct in which the NH2-terminal (extracellular) region was deleted did not allow cell-cell contact formation but induced growth suppression. In contrast, transfection of an E-cadherin construct in which the COOH-terminal (cytoplasmic) region was deleted did not induce suppression but promoted cell contact formation. In cells expressing E-cadherin lacking the cytoplasmic region, beta-catenin was evenly distributed in the cytoplasm. By contrast, in cells expressing E-cadherin lacking the extracellular region, beta-catenin was cell membrane associated. Growth suppression was always associated with the localization of beta-catenin to the cell membrane. The redistribution of beta-catenin from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane initially suggested the involvement of the Wnt signaling pathway in regulating cell growth. However, only small differences in beta-catenin/T-cell factor signaling were detected in control and E-cadherin-expressing cells, suggesting that the Wnt pathway is not involved. Taken together, these findings suggest that E-cadherin-induced growth inhibition may not be solely attributed to contact inhibition but may involve the redistribution of beta-catenin from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane, and this redistribution may affect growth pathways independent of T-cell factor.
SFTPC gene mutation p.R167Q in a premature infant

We present an infant who was born premature at 23 weeks gestation with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and a SFTPC gene mutation, p.R167Q, who had a complicated neonatal course requiring 4 months of mechanical ventilation. Over time, his clinical course has improved, and he only requires oxygen by nasal cannula and low dose hydroxychloroquine, suggesting that p.R167Q mutation contributed to his clinical course and may manifest with a variable disease pattern making long-term prognostication difficult in the immediate newborn period.
Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitors: Mechanistic Controversies

Many studies have investigated the mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. Initially, the hemodynamic changes that occur with these agents were attributed solely to the inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in plasma. Further research suggested other mechanisms were operable as a relationship was not always evident between hemodynamic changes and inhibition of the plasma renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. A relationship between the pharmacodynamics of these agents and the inhibition of vascular and tissue renin-angiotensin systems, however, has been observed. Mechanisms less likely to contribute to the actions of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are increases in bradykinin and prostaglandin concentrations, or inhibition in the renin-angiotensin system within the central nervous system. Ancillary cardiovascular effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors offer possible new therapeutic gains. An understanding of these mechanistic controversies and newly-defined cardiovascular actions of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are important to clinicians using these agents.
INOTROPIC & CHRONOTROPIC RESPONSES TO CEREBRAL & SYSTEMIC G-STROPHANTHIN IN LAMBS

The contribution of the central nervous system(CNS) in newborns to inotropic and chronotropic responses induced by G-trophanthin(G-S) is unknown and was the subject of this investigation. Five reflexlc lambs, 2-15 days of age, in which the cerebral circulation had been isolated were subjected to (1)cerebral, and then, (2) systemic infusions of G-S (80 ug/Kg). Cerebral perfusion pressure(arterial - intracranial pressure), flow, and EEG, systemic pressure, left ventricular contractility(LVC) during pacing, and EKG were continuously monitored while in both circulations blood gases and temperature were kept close to normal. The infusion of G-S into the cerebral circulation was not associated with significant changes in LVC, rate, or rhythm. Systemic infusion of G-S produced a significant increase in LVC (p .01) evidenced by an increase in DP/DT/P. Chronotropic disturbances developed in 4/5 animals. CNS perfusion and its viability was interrupted, LVC transiently increasing(p .001). All lambs developed arrhythmias when the G-S infusion was increased. It is concluded that CNS influences are not essential for inotropic and chronotropic responses to G-S in the lamb.
The Formal Discussion Requirement in Federal Labor Relations — a Reassessment

This paper summarizes the results of an evaluation of the formal discussion requirement of the federal labor-management relations program. The results suggest that the goals of the formal discus sion requirement are unclear and that its current interpretation bears no relationship to the intent of the original 1961 policy.
Excitons in InP quantum dots

The excitonic spectrum of InP quantum dots is investigated using an atomistic pseudopotential approach for the single-particle problem and a state-dependent screened Coulomb interaction for the many-body problem. Our calculations show a different energy distribution of single-particle states relative to the commonly used $\mathbf{k}\mathbf{\ensuremath{\cdot}}\mathbf{p}$ theory as well as significant parity mixing in the envelope functions, forbidden in $6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}6$ $\mathbf{k}\ensuremath{\cdot}\mathbf{p}$. The calculated excitonic spectrum, including seven excitons, explains well the recent experimental measurements.
Allan Award lecture: Rare patients leading to epigenetics and back to genetics.

It is a great honor to receive the Allan Award today, and I want to thank Jim Lupski for his extremely kind remarks. I am sure that receiving this award will always be one of the highlights of my academic career.
Survey of the international evidence on the causal relationship between energy consumption and growth

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to survey the empirical literature on the causal relationship between energy consumption and economic growth.Design/methodology/approach – The four major hypotheses (growth, conservation, neutrality, and feedback) are briefly outlined with respect to the energy consumption‐growth nexus and corresponding policy implications of each. The survey focuses on country coverage, variables selected and model specification, econometric approaches, various methodological issues, and empirical results.Findings – Though there is no clear consensus on the results for a specific country or groups of countries, directions for future research are discussed.Research limitations/implications – The research surveyed may be dated by the time of publication given the ongoing research in this area.Originality/value – This paper serves as a reference for researchers on the causal relationship between energy consumption and economic growth.
CONTINGENT OBJECTS AND THE BARCAN FORMULA

It has been argued by Bernard Linsky and Edward Zalta, and independently by Timothy Williamson, that the best quantified modal logic is one that validates both the Barcan Formula and its converse. This requires that domains be fixed across all possible worlds. All objects exist necessarily; some – those we would usually consider contingent – are concrete at some worlds and non-concrete (but still existent) at others. Linsky and Zalta refer to such objects as ‘contingently non-concrete’. I defend the standard usage of the word ‘exists’, and the view that many objects exist only contingently. I argue that the Linsky/Zalta analysis, and to a lesser extent Williamson’s, suffers not only from a peculiar ontology but also from two related formal difficulties. Their analysis gives either counter-intuitive or ad hoc results about essences, and it fails to accommodate contingently existing abstracta.
Hydrogen Peroxide-Mediated Isoniazid Activation Catalyzed by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Catalase- Peroxidase (Katg) and its S315T Mutant.

Inhibition of the enzyme Mycobacterium tuberculosis InhA (enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase) due to formation of an isonicotinoyl-NAD adduct (IN-NAD) from isoniazid (INH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cofactor is considered central to the mode of action of INH, a first-line treatment for tuberculosis infection. INH action against mycobacteria requires catalase−peroxidase (KatG) function, and IN-NAD adduct formation is catalyzed in vitro by M. tuberculosis KatG under a variety of conditions, yet a physiologically relevant approach to the process has not emerged that allows scrutiny of the mechanism and the origins of INH resistance in the most prevalent drug-resistant strain bearing KatG[S315T]. In this report, we describe how hydrogen peroxide, delivered at very low concentrations to ferric KatG, leads to efficient inhibition of InhA due to formation of the IN-NAD adduct. The rate of adduct formation mediated by wild-type KatG was about 20-fold greater than by the isoniazid-resistant KatG[S315T...
Proneness to, perceptions of, and responses to teasing: the influence of both intrapersonal and interpersonal factors

In spite of the frequency with which people tease and are teased by others, until recently surprisingly little research attention has been devoted to the phenomenon of teasing, and existing research has been plagued by conceptual disparities and relatively atheoretical formulations of teasing. To address these problems, a social interactionist model of teasing is presented as a framework for examining intrapersonal and interpersonal variables that influence a perpetrator's willingness to tease and the target's susceptibility to victimization and reactions to being teased. Representative variables include personality characteristics, past history with teasing, affect, the nature of the relationship between the target and the perpetrator, and the presence of an audience. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Linguistics and Indigenous American Languages: Mayan Examples

Most recent linguistic work on indigenous American languages has been done by foreign scholars. Speakers of all American languages who have been politically and economically marginalized since European contact are now, however, gaining some greater access to higher education and political power. Mayas have become increasingly interested in learning linguistics in order to take control of language decisions that affect them. They have both benefited from training from foreign scholars and criticized the foreign linguistic effort. An examination of this relationship provides a case study of the emergence of new patterns of cooperation between outside linguists and speakers
Influence of step edge diffusion on surface morphology during epitaxy

The role of step edge diffusion in epitaxy is discussed using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Three models with different rates of edge diffusion are investigated. Increasing the rate of edge diffusion results in an early onset of second layer nucleation, pattern formation in thick films, and increased surface roughness. An expression for the uphill current due to edge diffusion is derived in the limit of fast edge diffusion.
Telephone-Administered Motivational Interviewing and Behavioral Skills Training to Reduce Risky Sexual Behavior in HIV-Positive Late Middle-Age and Older Adults

Abstract By 2014, 50% of all persons living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. will be 50 years of age or older. An estimated 13% to 30% of HIV-positive older adults continue to engage in risky sexual behaviors that risk HIV transmission. Project SAFER, a large pilot randomized controlled trial, evaluated telephone-administered motivational interviewing and behavioral skills training to reduce sexual risk behavior in HIV-positive, urban-dwelling late middle-age and older adults. The intervention consists of 4 weekly integrated motivational interviewing and behavioral skills training sessions delivered by a mental health clinician over the telephone. This paper highlights study procedures and intervention outcomes. The primary focus, however, is a detailed description of the 4-session intervention with sample counselor-client dialogue that is thematically emblematic of topics addressed in the intervention. We conclude with lessons learned conducting telephone-administered motivational interviewing and behavioral skills training with HIV-positive late middle-age and older adults.
INTRARENAL T CELLS IN LUPUS NEPHRITIS ANALYZED BY CDR3 SIZE SPECTRATYPING♦ 1842

Increasing evidence supports a pivotal role of T cells in the pathogenesis of a number of autoimmune processes. Lupus nephritis (LN) is characterized by variable degrees of glomerular and interstitial inflammation comprised primarily of lymphocytes and plasma cells. We have used the process of CDR3 spectratyping to analyze the TCR Vβ repertoire complexity based on CDR3 length heterogeneity of intrarenal T cells in newly diagnosed LN as compared to corresponding peripheral blood. Following PCR amplication of cDNA with each of 25 Vβ oligonucleotide 5′ primers paired with a single fluorescently labeled 3′ Cβ primer, CDR3 spectratypes were generated through the analysis of these products on denaturing acrylamide gels. For evaluation of spectratypes, histograms were generated from data collected using an automated DNA sequencer and GeneScan Analysis software. Analysis of 4 patients with new onset LN demonstrated that intrarenal T lymphocytes contain oligoclonal expansion as compared to circulating T lymphocytes. Thus, the method of CDR3 spectratyping provides a more indepth analysis of the TCR repertoire and is a powerful tool to search for antigen-driven clonal expansions.Supported by National Kidney Foundation
723: Use of progesterone to prevent preterm births: Attitudes and practices of U.S. Obstetrician-Gynecologists

PRACTICES OF U.S. OBSTETRICIAN-GYNECOLOGISTS ZSAKEBA HENDERSON, MICHAEL POWER, EVE LACKRITZ, VINCENZO BERGHELLA, JAY SCHULKIN, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Reproductive Health, Atlanta, Georgia, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Research Department, Washington, District of Columbia, Thomas Jefferson University, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania OBJECTIVE: To determine current attitudes and practices regarding the use of progesterone to prevent preterm birth among members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). STUDY DESIGN: A self-administered mail survey was sent to members of the ACOG Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network in March-May 2007. Clinicians were eligible to complete the survey if they currently practiced obstetrics in the U.S. The survey consisted of 36 questions, including respondents= demographic characteristics, their preterm birth risk factor knowledge and screening practices, and their understanding and use of progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth. RESULTS: The overall response rate, adjusted for eligibility, was 52% (N 345). The primary specialty of 89% of respondents was general Ob/Gyn, followed by maternal-fetal medicine (8%). Seventy-four percent reported that they currently recommend or offer progesterone for prevention of preterm birth; of those (n 254), 42% reported recommending it to women with any prior preterm birth 37 weeks, and 55% reported recommending progesterone to women without a prior preterm birth for other conditions in the current pregnancy (39% for prematurely dilated or effaced cervix, 35% for short cervix on ultrasound, and 27% for cerclage). Of all respondents, 55% considered prophylactic use of progesterone for high risk patients an effective treatment to reduce the incidence of preterm birth. However, some were very concerned that it was not easily available (36%), not covered by insurance (31%), that more data are needed (28%), and that there may be long-term fetal or neonatal effects (27%). CONCLUSION: Nearly three-fourths of responding physicians reported recommending or offering progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth, and over half of them reported offering it to women without a prior preterm birth. Despite this widespread use of progesterone, concerns still remain regarding long-term effects and the need for more data to support its use.
Tunable two frequency free electron laser using a Pelletron as a driver for a plasma beatwave accelerator

In this paper, the possibility of amplifying two frequencies simultaneously in a free electron laser is discussed. Stability conditions for electron motion are derived, and numerical calculations reported. The advantages offered by using a D.C. Pelletron beam to power such a device, with application to the plasma beatwave accelerator - high efficiency, high average power, radiation wavelength tunability, and the possibility of phase locking several independent optical cavities - are evaluated. Related research efforts, and their impact on the design of this device are discussed.
Transcriptional Regulation of the Base Excision Repair Pathway by BRCA1

Inactivation of the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 plays a significant role in the development of a subset of breast cancers, although the major tumor suppressor function of this gene remains unclear. Previously, we showed that BRCA1 induces antioxidant-response gene expression and protects cells against oxidative stress. We now report that BRCA1 stimulates the base excision repair pathway, a major mechanism for the repair of oxidized DNA, by stimulating the activity of key base excision repair (BER) enzymes, including 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1), the DNA glycosylase NTH1, and the apurinic endonuclease redox factor 1/apurinic endonuclease 1 (REF1/APE1), in human breast carcinoma cells. The increase in BER enzyme activity appears to be due, primarily, to an increase in enzyme expression. The ability of BRCA1 to stimulate the expression of the three BER enzymes and to enhance NTH1 promoter activity was dependent upon the octamer-binding transcription factor OCT1. Finally, we found that OGG1, NTH1, and REF1/APE1 each contribute to the BRCA1 protection against oxidative stress due to hydrogen peroxide and that hydrogen peroxide stimulates the expression of BRCA1 and the three BER enzymes. These findings identify a novel mechanism through which BRCA1 may regulate the repair of oxidative DNA damage.
Temperature-Dependent Development Rate of Myiopharus doryphorae (Diptera: Tachinidae) within Its Host, the Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Myiopharus doryphorae (Riley), a tachinid parasitoid of the Colorado potato beetle, were reared at a 27°C constant temperature after being deposited within 2nd-instar beetle larvae. Their growth was measured 48 and 96 h after larviposition. During this time, M. doryphorae larvae grew but remained as 1st instars while the parasitized beetle larvae reached full maturity and dropped to the ground to pupate. The development rates of parasitized 3rd-instar Colorado potato beetle larvae and the parasitoids within them in 1990 and 1991 were measured at 6 and 5 different constant temperatures, respectively. M. doryphorae development rate was measured for the interval between late 1st-instar larvae until adult emergence. These data were fitted to the nonlinear, temperature-driven rate of development model of Hilbert and Logan.
Non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase

Four years ago it became apparent that an allosteric site on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase was responsible for the enzyme inhibitory activity of a number of structurally diverse organic compounds. These molecules bear little resemblance to the endogenous substrate, deoxynucleotide triphosphates, and through kinetic measurements they were found to be noncompetitive inhibitors. When examined in cell culture, these compounds proved to be potent antiviral agents. Improvements made in the potency and pharmacodynamic properties of the early inhibitors quickly allowed evaluation of several compounds in a clinical setting. From these and other studies came a discouraging profile of rapidly emerging viral resistance. Further work in the field may show that a combination of these and other drugs may be of benefit in combatting AIDS.
Stretching short sequences of DNA with constant force axial optical tweezers.

Single-molecule techniques for stretching DNA of contour lengths less than a kilobase are fraught with experimental difficulties. However, many interesting biological events such as histone binding and protein-mediated looping of DNA1,2, occur on this length scale. In recent years, the mechanical properties of DNA have been shown to play a significant role in fundamental cellular processes like the packaging of DNA into compact nucleosomes and chromatin fibers3,4. Clearly, it is then important to understand the mechanical properties of short stretches of DNA. In this paper, we provide a practical guide to a single-molecule optical tweezing technique that we have developed to study the mechanical behavior of DNA with contour lengths as short as a few hundred basepairs. The major hurdle in stretching short segments of DNA is that conventional optical tweezers are generally designed to apply force in a direction lateral to the stage5,6, (see Fig. 1). In this geometry, the angle between the bead and the coverslip, to which the DNA is tethered, becomes very steep for submicron length DNA. The axial position must now be accounted for, which can be a challenge, and, since the extension drags the microsphere closer to the coverslip, steric effects are enhanced. Furthermore, as a result of the asymmetry of the microspheres, lateral extensions will generate varying levels of torque due to rotation of the microsphere within the optical trap since the direction of the reactive force changes during the extension. Alternate methods for stretching submicron DNA run up against their own unique hurdles. For instance, a dual-beam optical trap is limited to stretching DNA of around a wavelength, at which point interference effects between the two traps and from light scattering between the microspheres begin to pose a significant problem. Replacing one of the traps with a micropipette would most likely suffer from similar challenges. While one could directly use the axial potential to stretch the DNA, an active feedback scheme would be needed to apply a constant force and the bandwidth of this will be quite limited, especially at low forces. We circumvent these fundamental problems by directly pulling the DNA away from the coverslip by using a constant force axial optical tweezers7,8. This is achieved by trapping the bead in a linear region of the optical potential, where the optical force is constant-the strength of which can be tuned by adjusting the laser power. Trapping within the linear region also serves as an all optical force-clamp on the DNA that extends for nearly 350 nm in the axial direction. We simultaneously compensate for thermal and mechanical drift by finely adjusting the position of the stage so that a reference microsphere stuck to the coverslip remains at the same position and focus, allowing for a virtually limitless observation period.
Particle dispersion in isotropic turbulence under Stokes drag and Basset force with gravitational settling

An analysis that includes the effects of Basset and gravitational forces is presented for the dispersion of particles experiencing Stokes drag in isotropic turbulence. The fluid velocity correlation function evaluated on the particle trajectory is obtained by using the independence approximation and the assumption of Gaussian velocity distributions for both the fluid and the particle, formulated by Pismen & Nir (1978). The dynamic equation for particle motion with the Basset force is Fourier transformed to the frequency domain where it can be solved exactly. It is found that the Basset force has virtually no influence on the structure of the fluid velocity fluctuations seen by the particles or on particle diffusivities. It does, however, affect the motion of the particle by increasing (reducing) the intensities of particle turbulence for particles with larger (smaller) inertia. The crossing of trajectories associated with the gravitational force tends to enhance the effect of the Basset force on the particle turbulence. An ordering of the terms in the particle equation of motion shows that the solution is valid for high particle/fluid density ratios and to 0(1) in the Stokes number.
Relationship between perceptual style and ability to reproduce a standard work task.

The present study examined the relationship between perceptual style and perception of physical effort. Perceptual style of 10 men and 10 women was assessed by the rod-and-frame apparatus. Percepti...
Role of sulfhydryl compounds in the Bactericidal effect of metronidazole

Abstract The bactericidal effect of metronidazole on Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis can be partially reversed by cysteamine under conditions that lead to the formation of an adduct, the thioether, 4-(2-aminoethyl)thio-2-mathylimidazole-1-ethanol (4-ATME). This adduct, which is not mutagenic for the Ames histidine auxotrophs of Salmonella typhimurium, forms at a rate that is independent of live bacterial cells and, therefore, can not be shown to relate to the biological effect of cysteamine. When treated with Raney nickel, this adduct yields 2-methylimidazole-1-ethanol. To determine whether a structurally related adduct forms with bacterial protein, a culture of B. fragilis was incubated with radiolabelled metronidazole and then treated with 5% trichloroacetic acid. That the radiolabel in the precipitate did not yield 2-methylimidazole-1-ethanol when treated with Raney nickel suggests that binding of metronidazole to cellular macromolecules does not involve thioether formation.
A new biodegradable polyester elastomer for cartilage tissue engineering

The objective of this study is to assess whether a new biodegradable elastomer, poly(1,8-octanediol citrate) (POC), would be a suitable material to engineer elastomeric scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering. Porous POC scaffolds were prepared via the salt-leaching method and initially assessed for their ability to rapidly recover from compressive deformation (% recovery ratio). Controls consisted of scaffolds made from other materials commonly used in cartilage tissue engineering, including 2% agarose, 4% alginate, non woven poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) meshes, and non woven poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) meshes. Articular chondrocytes from bovine knee were isolated and seeded onto porous disk-shaped POC scaffolds, which were subsequently cultured in vitro for up to 28 days. POC scaffolds completely recover from compressive deformation, and the stress-strain curve is typical of an elastomer (recovery ratio>98%). Agarose gel (2%) scaffolds broke during the compression test. The recovery ratio of 4% alginate gel scaffolds, PLLA, and PGA were 72, 85, and 88%, respectively. The Young's modulus of POC-chondrocyte constructs and cell-free POC scaffolds cultured for 28 days were 12.02+/-2.26 kPa and 3.27+/-0.72 kPa, respectively. After 28 days of culture, the recovery ratio of POC-chondrocyte constructs and cell-free POC scaffolds were 93% and 99%, respectively. The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen content at day 28 was 36% and 26% of that found in bovine knee cartilage explants. Histology/immunohistochemistry evaluations confirm that chondrocytes were able to attach to the pore walls within the scaffold, maintain cell phenotype, and form a cartilaginous tissue during the 28 days of culture.
An inference engine toolkit for computing with words

Computing with Words is an emerging paradigm in knowledge representation and information processing. It provides a mathematical model to represent the meaning of imprecise words and phrases in natural language and introduces advanced techniques to perform reasoning on inexact knowledge. Since its introduction, there have been many studies on computing with words but mostly from the theoretical point of view and the paradigm still lacks sufficient support from the software side. This paper is an attempt to fill this gap by presenting an enhanced inference engine toolkit for supporting computing with words. The scope of the presented toolkit, as opposed to many available fuzzy logic tools, goes beyond simple fuzzy-if-then rules and performs a chain of inferences on complex fuzzy propositions containing fuzzy arithmetics, fuzzy quantifiers, and fuzzy probabilities. The toolkit may be appealing to researchers, practitioners, and educators in knowledge based applications and soft computing as it implements a powerful declarative language which allows users to express their knowledge in a more natural and convenient way and performs a chain of reasoning on imprecise propositions.
An Economical, Digital Meter for Gypsum Soil Moisture Blocks

Most meters for soil moisture blocks are designed for use with relatively moist soils. This paper describes a meter that utilizes a frequency output proportional to block resistance and that is usable over a relatively wide range of soil moisture. Advantages of this meter are digital display, easy and reliable operation, low power drain, and simple economical design. It is stable with changes in temperature, lead length to sensors, and battery voltage. The meter functions satisfactorily with several types of commercially available gypsum blocks and provides good resolution of matric water potential in the range of −0.06 to −1.5 MPa.
Pharmacokinetics of Drugs in Obesity

Pharmacokinetic data in obesity are only available for a limited number of drugs. The rate or extent of drug absorption is not known to be altered by obesity which is not complicated by other medical disease. In contrast, drug distribution is in some instances significantly altered in obesity. Digoxin and bromsulphalein, both hydrophilic drugs, do not distribute into excess bodyweight over ideal bodyweight. However, antipyrine, paracetamol, aminoglycoside antibiotics and theophylline, all of intermediate lipid solubility, distribute to a limited extent into excess bodyweight over ideal bodyweight, although not as extensively as into ideal bodyweight. Benzodiazepines, halothane and enflurane, highly lipophilic agents, may distribute much more extensively into excess bodyweight over ideal bodyweight than into ideal bodyweight. This suggests some relationship between drug distribution and drug lipid-solubility in obese subjects. Whether these distributional changes in obesity will hold for other drugs is not currently known. Drug protein binding has not been demonstrated to be changed in obesity, data being presently available only for the basic drugs diazepam and desmethyldiazepam. Drug biotransformation in obesity is unchanged for oxidatively metabolised drugs studied to date. Paracetamol, the only metabolised drug which is conjugated for which pharmacokinetic parameters have been accurately determined in obesity, undergoes increased clearance in obese subjects.
Advanced Mass Spectrometry of Lubricants

Several developments have been made in mass spectrometry during the last few years. One of the most significant developments, fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry, has tremendous potential for the characterization of lubricants. The technique is described, and examples of its use for the direct, rapid, and semiquantitative characterization of synthetic base oils and additives in lubricants are given. Presented at the 40th Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada May 6–9, 1985
A Unification Of Brightness Theories

In this paper, a new visual model of brightness perception is introduced to resolve apparent incompatibilities among Fechner's logarithmic relation, Stevens' power law response, and psychophysical and electrophysiological Km•I/(I+S) experimental results. The proposed visual model, which is based upon combining and extending two existing ones, is shown to predict these results successfully. Thus, a unification of three apparently conflicting visual laws emerges and the versatility and validity of the new visual model is demonstrated.
Varying Effects of Hemodynamic Forces on Tissue Factor RNA Expression in Human Endothelial Cells

Background Atherosclerotic lesions predominantly localize in areas exposed to distinct hemodynamic conditions. In such lesions, tissue factor (TF) is over-expressed. Therefore, we hypothesized that varying types of mechanical forces may induce different effects on TF expression in endothelial cell, and may also influence the effects of chemical stimuli. Materials and Methods TF RNA expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) exposed to mechanical stress in the presence or absence of chemical stimulation with thrombin (Th) was determined. The forces examined were: steady unidirectional laminar flow (LF), pulsatile unidirectional laminar flow (PF), constant oscillatory flow (OF), pulsatile to-fro flow (TFF), and cyclic strain (CS). Results Mechanical stimulation of HUVEC with LF for 2 h induced an 8.7 ± 0.7-fold increase in TF RNA expression, while PF induced 4.7 ± 0.9 and TFF induced 8.6 ± 1.7-fold, respectively. These responses were significantly higher than static controls. Exposure to OF or CS did not result in any significant increase, whereas chemical stimulation with Th led to significant TF expression (4.9 ± 0.3-fold). The combination of mechanical-chemical stimuli induced significantly higher TF expression than mechanical stresses alone, and this effect was synergistic. Combination of LF+Th for 2 h induced significantly increased TF expression (16.6 ± 1.7-fold), as did PF+Th (14.8 ± 2.4) and TFF+Th (17.4 ± 1.0). Furthermore, after 6 h exposure, only TFF demonstrated significantly higher TF expression both with and without Th. Conclusions While uniform laminar flow resulted in transient TF expression, disturbed flow induced sustained amplification of TF expression. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the mechanism of localized atherosclerosis in areas exposed to disturbed flow.
Preservation of delayed response following combined lesions of prefrontal and posterior association cortex in infant monkeys

Abstract The preservation of delayed response capacity in monkeys sustaining bilateral ablations of prefrontal cortex in infancy has been attributed to the intactness of the caudate nucleus, since combined prefrontal-caudate lesions in infant monkeys produce severe delayed response deficits at later testing. However, before concluding that the integrity of the caudate is essential, it must be shown that another type of combined lesion sustained in infancy is without substantial effect on later test performance. Since bilateral ablations of parieto-temporo-preoccipital (posterior association) cortex in adult monkeys are known to produce delayed-response deficits, a combined prefrontal-posterior association cortex lesion was judged to be the appropriate control. Accordingly, three infant monkeys were subjected to two-stage bilateral ablations of prefrontal and posterior association cortex prior to postnatal day 18. Testing on a series of delayed response problems was initiated between the eighth and tenth postnatal months. Test performances were found to be essentially equivalent to those of animals sustaining only a prefrontal ablation in infancy. In one preparation, a transient delayed response deficit during initial testing was attributed to minor caudate involvement. Although subtotal ablations in posterior association cortex were found in all cases, the massive lesions that were sustained make it unlikely that this area is functionally involved in preserving delayed response capacity in the early lesioned prefrontal monkey. These results tend to confirm our previous conclusion as to the functional importance of the caudate nucleus, possibly via its capacity to regulate locomotion and attention.
What can physicians do about obesity

Obesity is a serious and very common health problem. In 1998, the American Heart Association announced the addition of obesity to its list of major risk factors that people can control to prevent death and disability from coronary heart disease ((1)).