cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The risk of autoimmunity associated with tumor immunotherapy.

The development of increasingly powerful methods to stimulate anti-tumor immune responses carries the risk of breaking tolerance to self and causing autoimmune pathology. How concerned should we be?
Copyright and First Amendment After Eldred v. Ashcroft

The Supreme Court's 2003 opinion in Eldred v. Ashcroft was the Court's first comprehensive attempt to address the intersection of copyright and the First Amendment the question whether federal copyright law violates the Amendment by abridging the freedom of copyright infringers to reproduce and publish copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright owner. In Eldred, the Supreme Court rejected the suggestion that federal copyright laws are completely immune from First Amendment attack, but refused to subject the application of the term extension to existing copyrights to any form of First Amendment heightened scrutiny. The Court resolved the case solely on the basis of the Constitution's Copyright Clause. This article argues that the Court's decision generally points in the right direction, however, the Court's analysis presents practical and theoretical difficulties. In concluding that copyright and the First Amendment do not generally conflict, the Eldred opinion pays too little attention to the fact that the vast majority of infringements that federal copyright law prohibits do not at all involve the sort of free expression that the First Amendment is designed to protect and too much attention to copyright tradition.
The Relationship Between Sociodemographic Factors and Oral Health–Related Quality of Life in Dentate and Edentulous Community-Dwelling Older Adults

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the associations between sociodemographic factors and oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) in dentate and edentulous community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using a 54-item OHRQoL questionnaire. SETTING: Five counties in central Alabama: Jefferson and Tuscaloosa (urban), and Hale, Bibb, and Pickens (rural). PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred eighty-eight participants (Dental Study subjects) aged 65 and older were recruited from participants in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging, a longitudinal study of mobility in older African Americans and non-Hispanic whites. MEASUREMENTS: Dental Study subjects were queried on their OHRQoL and sociodemographic status and classified into two categories: dentate and edentulous. Bivariate analyses were used to quantify associations between sociodemographic variables and OHRQoL after excluding participants with severe depression. Variables included age, sex, race, marital status, veteran status, residence, income, education, and transportation difficulties. RESULTS: Dentate and edentulous subjects had similar OHRQoL across age, sex, marital status, veteran status, and residence. Analyses suggested a strong association between OHRQoL and race, education, income, and transportation difficulties in dentate subjects. Sociodemographic factors were less strongly associated with OHRQoL in edentulous participants. CONCLUSION: OHRQoL decrements were prevalent in dentate and edentulous subjects. Of dentate persons, African Americans and those with a 6th-grade education or less, with income less than $16,000/year, and with transportation difficulties were more likely to have decrements in OHRQoL. In edentulous persons, these associations were not statistically significant or were weaker. These findings suggest differential associations between sociodemographic factors and OHRQoL when stratified according to dentate status.
Do local governments maximize access rates to public services across areas? A test based on marginal benefit incidence analysis

This paper investigates whether the poor benefit more or less than the non-poor from an expansion in public services and whether this depends on the type of service provided. Using data from Bolivia, this study investigates the allocation of education and basic infrastructure services across jurisdictions. Results indicate that the marginal benefit incidence is higher for the poor than for the non-poor in education, but lower in the case of access to infrastructure services. A model is proposed to suggest that the distribution of the observed marginal benefits from an expansion in the public provision of services is consistent with local Governments maximizing average access rates. This maximization appears to occur without policymakers taking into account distributional weights in their implicit social welfare function.
A complex adaptive Harmonic IIR notch filter

A complex adaptive Harmonic IIR notch filter is proposed for estimating and tracking the frequency of periodic complex signals in a noisy harmonic environment. The transfer function of the developed notch filter consists of cascaded first-order complex transfer functions whose notch frequencies are constrained to the fundamental and harmonic frequencies. The least mean squares (LMS) algorithm is developed and a formula to determine the stability bound for the algorithm is derived. In addition, an improved simple scheme is devised to prevent the adaptive algorithm from converging to its local minima of the mean square error (MSE) function when the tracked signal fundamental frequency changes. Computer simulations validate the performance of the developed algorithm.
Dog Bites in Urban Children

As a result of a perceived increase in pit bull injuries, all children who presented to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia during 1989 for evaluation of dog bite injuries were prospectively studied. Epidemiologic information was collected from parents, either at the time of visit or by phone on the following day. A total of 168 children were enrolled; the mean age was 8 years. Males outnumbered females 1.5:1. Most (61%) injuries occurred in or around the home and involved dogs known to the patient (77%). Types of injuries included abrasions (33%), punctures (29%), and lacerations (38%). Thirteen bites had associated complications; nine developed infection. Twelve (7%) children required admission to the hospital. More than 12 different purebreeds or cross-breeds were identified as perpetrators, including German shepherds (n = 35), pit bulls (n = 33), rottweilers (n = 9), and Dobermans (n = 7). Most (54%) animals were contained (ie, leashed, fenced, in-house) at the time of injury. Fewer (46%) were provoked prior to biting. Significantly more pit bull injuries (94% vs 43%, P less than .001) were the consequence of unprovoked attacks and involved freely roaming animals (67% vs 41%, P less than .01). Children aged 5 or younger were more likely to provoke animals prior to injury than were older children (69% vs 36%, P less than .001). It is recommended that families with young children be the target of pet safety education and that measures be sought that would lead to early identification of a potentially dangerous dog and restrict ownership.
Rapid fabrication of microfluidic polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell in PDMS by surface patterning of perfluorinated ion-exchange resin

Abstract In this paper we demonstrate a simple and rapid fabrication method for a microfluidic polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which has become the de facto standard material in BioMEMS. Instead of integrating a Nafion sheet film between two layers of a PDMS device in a traditional “sandwich format,” we pattern a perfluorinated ion-exchange resin such as a Nafion resin on a glass substrate using a reversibly bonded PDMS microchannel to generate an ion-selective membrane between the fuel-cell electrodes. After this patterning step, the assembly of the microfluidic fuel cell is accomplished by simple oxygen plasma bonding between the PDMS chip and the glass substrate. In an example implementation, the planar PEM microfluidic fuel cell generates an open circuit voltage of 600–800 mV and delivers a maximum current output of nearly 4 μA. To enhance the power output of the fuel cell we utilize self-assembled colloidal arrays as a support matrix for the Nafion resin. Such arrays allow us to increase the thickness of the ion-selective membrane to 20 μm and increase the current output by 166%. Our novel fabrication method enables rapid prototyping of microfluidic fuel cells to study various ion-exchange resins for the polymer electrolyte membrane. Our work will facilitate the development of miniature, implantable, on-chip power sources for biomedical applications.
Direct Interaction between a Precursor Mature Domain and Transport Component Tha4 during Twin Arginine Transport of Chloroplasts

Proteins destined for the thylakoid lumen of chloroplasts must cross three membranes en route. The chloroplast twin arginine translocation (cpTat) system facilitates the transport of about one-half of all proteins that cross the thylakoid membrane in chloroplasts. Known mechanistic features of the cpTat system are drastically different from other known translocation systems, notably in its formation of a transient complex to transport fully folded proteins utilizing only the protonmotive force generated during photosynthesis for energy. However, key details, such as the structure and composition of the translocation pore, are still unknown. One of the three transmembrane cpTat components, Tha4, is thought to function as the pore by forming an oligomer. Yet, little is known about the topology of Tha4 in thylakoid, and little work has been done to detect precursor-Tha4 interactions, which are expected if Tha4 is the pore. Here, we present evidence of the interaction of the precursor with Tha4 under conditions leading to transport, using cysteine substitutions on the precursor and Tha4 and disulfide bond formation in pea (Pisum sativum). The mature domain of a transport-competent precursor interacts with the amphipathic helix and amino terminus of functional Tha4 under conditions leading to transport. Detergent solubilization of thylakoids post cross linking and blue-native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis shows that Tha4 is found in a complex containing precursor and Hcf106 (i.e. the cpTat translocase). Affinity precipitation of the cross-linked complex via Tha4 clearly demonstrates that the interaction is with full-length precursor. How these data suggest a role for Tha4 in cpTat transport is discussed.
A metallographic preparation procedure for RDX dispersed in tnt

Abstract A procedure for the optical metallographic preparation of an explosive material, RDX dispersed in TNT, is described. The technique involves conventional polishing techniques with diamond abrasive as a polishing medium. Etching to reveal the microstructure of the material is described, and photomicrographs and photomicrographs are presented to illustrate the results of the metallographic procedure. Precautionary measures for the safe handling of the explosive material are enumerated and discussed.
Dendrimeric Supramolecular and Supramacromolecular Assemblies

#Reprinted from Supramolecular Polymers, Ciferri, A., Ed.; Marcel Dekker, Inc.: New York, 2000, 359–434.
Ginseng and Ganoderma lucidum use after breast cancer diagnosis and quality of life: a report from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study.

Objective To evaluate associations between quality of life (QOL) and use of ginseng and Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) among breast cancer survivors. Methods Included in this study were 4,149 women with breast cancer who participated in the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study. Ginseng use was assessed at 6-, 18-, and 36-month post-diagnosis surveys; G. lucidum use was assessed at the 6- and 36-month surveys. QOL was evaluated at the 6- and 36-month surveys. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine associations between ginseng and G.lucidum use and QOL assessed at the 36-month survey, with adjustment for potential confounders and baseline QOL. Results At 6 months post-diagnosis, 14.2% of participants reported regular use of ginseng and 58.8% reported use of G. lucidum. We found no significant associations between ginseng use at 6, 18, and 36 months post-diagnosis and participants’ total QOL score or individual scores for psychological, physical, or social well-being. Post-diagnosis G. lucidum use was positively associated with social well-being (adjusted mean difference: 1.26; 95% CI: 0.66, 1.86), but was inversely associated with physical well-being (adjusted mean difference: −1.16; 95% CI: −1.86, −0.47) with a dose-response pattern observed for cumulative number of times of use (P for trend <0.001 for both). Conclusion We found no evidence that post-diagnosis ginseng use improved the QOL of breast cancer survivors. Post-diagnosis G. lucidum use was associated with better social well-being scores, but poorer physical well-being scores.
Surface/interface analysis and optical properties of RF sputter-deposited nanocrystalline titanium nitride thin films

Abstract Titanium nitride (TiN x ) thin films were grown by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputter deposition by varying the nitrogen content in the reactive gas mixture over a wide range. The effect of nitrogen gas flow rate on the surface and interface morphology, chemical composition and optical properties of TiN thin films was studied employing atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). Analysis of the optical properties probed with SE has shown that films deposited at low (0–5 sccm) nitrogen flow rates have the highest absorption at energies 2 flow rate, remaining consistent thereafter. SEM cross-sectional imaging analysis indicates the dense, columnar structure for the films grown at lower nitrogen flow rates. XPS analysis of atomic composition and the chemical states indicate that the atomic composition remained nearly constant while the chemical states varied significantly among the samples as a function of N 2 flow rate. XPS analyses confirm the presence of TiN x , TiO 2 and TiO x N y . These process–property relationships derived could be useful for defining and expanding the range of optical and electronic applications of titanium nitrides and (oxy)nitrides.
Quantization of solitons using the subsidiary condition theorem

Abstract A canonical quantization of solitons using the subsidiary condition theorem is presented. The primary constraint is used in the weak sense on the state vectors. In this approach, the recoiling solitons are a coherent superposition of translational zero mode states. Conventional Rayleigh-Schrodinger perturbation theory yields the expected relativistic energies.
Come Into My Parlor: Rendition, Ugly Betty, and Rude Awakening from the American Dream

Although the national ideology emphasizes that the American Dream is available to immigrants, recent events have made public opinion hostile to two groups, Mexicans and Arabs. Popular culture has played a historic role in presenting sympathetic portrayals of immigrants and their assimilation to American culture. Current depictions of Mexican immigrants continue this tradition, as shown by the television show, Ugly Betty. Arabs and Muslims, in contrast, have had a largely negative presentation in popular culture. A few recent movies and television shows have been more sympathetic, especially the movie, Rendition.
Ultrastructure of differentiated malpighian tubules from cockroach nymphs during the molting cycle

Differentiated Malpighian tubules of Periplaneta americana nymphs consist of four distinct regions. The distal, middle, and proximal regions are similar to the same regions in adult tubules. However, the transparent portion of the middle region was found to have ultrastructural characteristics different from those of the longer opaque segment of the middle region and the two other tubule regions. This newly distinguished region is called the lower middle region. Transitional zones, areas where cells show characteristics of two adjacent regions, are apparent between the distal and middle regions and between the middle and lower middle regions. The middle region of primary tubules undergoes an increase in autophagic activity and a modification of its basal infoldings and microvilli shortly before each molt. An increase in autophagic activity is also observed in the lower middle region near the time of molting.
Proton-pumping activities of soybean (Glycine max L.) root microsomes: Localization and sensitivity to nitrate and vanadate☆

Abstract Soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Williams '79) root microsomal suspensions exhibit two proton-pumping activities. The largest proportion of activity, localized at a low density on sucrose gradients and inhibited by nitrate, does not correspond to markers for Golgi, endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane, or mitochondria and presumably originates from the tonoplast. There is a small shoulder of proton-pumping activity, which is sensitive to vanadate, localized at a higher density on gradients (37%, w/w). This activity coresponds fairly well with vanadate-sensitive ATPase activity (39%, w/w) and a shoulder of glucan synthetase II activity (39%, w/w). The main peak of glucan synthetase II activity co-equilibriates with the mitochondrial marker cytochrome c oxidase at 43% (w/w). It is likely that this activity originates from the plasma membrane.
Arbitration Case Law Update 2011

This paper summarizes and describes important arbitration law cases decided by the Supreme Court and lower courts during the past year, and analyzes their impact on securities arbitration practice.
Neurophysiology of neocortical slices resected from children undergoing surgical treatment for epilepsy.

Abstract The recent emergence of surgical treatment of childhood epilepsy has led to the accessibility of young human cerebral tissue for electrophysiological studies of the mechanisms involved in epileptogenesis. Intracellular recordings were obtained from neurons in slices prepared from neocortical tissue resected from children (3 months to 15 years) with catastrophic epilepsy. Data from ‘least abnormal’ versus ‘most abnormal’ tissue were compared; the evaluation of the degree of abnormality was based on several clinical criteria. Hypotheses concerning NMDA receptors, local synaptic circuits, and epileptiform bursts were tested. The NMDA receptor-mediated component of synaptic responses, which was isolated pharmacologically, had a voltage dependence that was functionally mature by 8–10 months of age and did not appear to be altered even in the most abnormal tissue. Local inhibitory and excitatory synaptic circuits were present as early as 11 months and 8 months, respectively. Local excitatory circuits were sufficiently extensive in young children to initiate and sustain epileptiform activity when synaptic inhibition was suppressed. Bicuculline-induced epileptiform bursts were similar to those in adult human or animal neocortical slices. Burst duration and the presence of after-discharges were unrelated to patient age or tissue abnormality. These data demonstrate that (1) the electrophysiological properties of human neocortical neurons are very similar to those observed in animal experiments, (2) the mechanisms of neuronal communication are qualitatively mature within the first year of life, and (3) synaptic transmission and local neuronal circuits appear qualitatively normal, even in the most abnormal tissue from children with catastrophic epilepsy.
A Psychophysiological Investigation of the Continuous Flow Model of Human Information Processing

Twelve subjects responded to target letters "H" or "S" by squeezing dynamometers with the left or right hand. Targets could be surrounded by compatible (e.g., HHHHH) or incompatible noise (SSHSS) letters. Measures of the P300 component of the event-related brain potential and of correct and incorrect electromyographic and squeeze activity were used to study stimulus evaluation and response-related processes. When incorrect squeeze activity was present, execution of the correct response was prolonged, indicating a process of response competition. This process occurred more often under incompatible noise conditions, which were also associated with a delayed P300. Thus, the noise/compatibility manipulation influenced both stimulus evaluation and response competition processes. In contrast, a warning tone that preceded array presentation on half the trials, increased response speed without influencing evaluation time. The data suggest that the latency and accuracy of overt behavioral responses are a function of (a) a response activation process controlled by an evaluation process that accumulates evidence gradually, (b) a response priming process that is independent of stimulus evaluation, and (c) a response competition process.
Multifunctional nanoparticles for prostate cancer therapy

The relapse of cancer after first line therapy with anticancer agents is a common occurrence. This recurrence is believed to be due to the presence of a subpopulation of cells called cancer stem cells in the tumor. Therefore, a combination therapy which is susceptible to both types of cells is desirable. Delivery of this combinatorial approach in a nanoparticulate system will provide even a better therapeutic outcome in tumor targeting. The objective of this study was to develop and characterize nanoparticulate system containing two anticancer agents (cyclopamine and paclitaxel) having different susceptibilities toward cancer cells. Both drugs were entrapped in glyceryl monooleate (GMO)-chitosan solid lipid as well as poly(glycolic-lactic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles. The cytotoxicity studies were performed on DU145, DU145 TXR, and Wi26 A4 cells. The particle size of drug-loaded GMO-chitosan nanoparticles was 278.4 ± 16.4 nm with a positive zeta potential. However, the PLGA particles were 234.5 ± 6.8 nm in size with a negative zeta potential. Thermal analyses of both nanoparticles revealed that the drugs were present in noncrystalline state in the matrix. A sustained in vitro release was observed for both the drugs in these nanoparticles. PLGA blank particles showed no cytotoxicity in all the cell lines tested, whereas GMO-chitosan blank particles showed substantial cytotoxicity. The types of polymer used for the preparation of nanoparticles played a major role and affected the in vitro release, cytotoxicity, and uptake of nanoparticles in the all the cell lines tested.
Evidence of the passive deposition of meiofauna into fiddler crab burrows

Small-scale biogenic depressions are known to accumulate suspended particles from the water column. Fiddler crab Uca spp. burrows are prevalent depressions in salt marsh sediments and provide habitats for numerous meiofauna. This research investigated the distribution of meiofauna in fiddler crab burrows in a North Carolina salt marsh and examined the hypothesis that patterns of meiofauna abundance in these burrows are the result of passive accumulation of meiofauna. Burrow sediments contained higher densities of total meiofauna than ambient marsh sediments. The differential collection of meiofauna in large (1.6 cm diameter) vs. small (1.1 cm diameter) burrow mimics (test tubes) placed in the field over one tidal cycle suggested that (a) meiofauna are passively trapped in burrows and (b) burrow morphology may cause differential deposition into burrows. These findings were supported by observations of water flow patterns over large and small burrow mimics in a flume in which dye was entrained 0.5–3.5 cm into tubes. Entrainment of meiofauna appeared more likely at flow speeds of 4.3 than 2.5 or 8.7cm·s−1. Adult copepods, foraminifera, and adult and larval polychaetes were equally abundant in natural Uca burrows at all depths sampled. Nematodes, ostracods, juvenile copepods, copepod and noncopepod nauplii, and turbellarians were less abundant in deep (3–16 cm) than shallow (<3 cm) burrow sediments.
Noninducibility of cytochrome P-450 in the earthworm Dendrobaena veneta

1. 1. Cytochrome P-450 has been measured in the earthworm Dendrobaena veneta (Rosa) in a direct spectrophotometric procedure. 2. 2. The P-450 was found not in the dense microsomal fraction, but in the less dense overlying fraction often referred to as buffy coat. 3. 3. Earthworm P-450 was not induced by 3-methylcholanthrene or phenobarbitol.
Evolution of Herbivory in Terrestrial Vertebrates: Perspectives from the Fossil Record

Evolution of Herbivory in Terrestrial Vertebrates: Perspectives from the Fossil Record, H.-D. Sues (Editor), 2000, Cambridge University Press, New York, 256 p. ($80) ISBN: 0521-59449-9. Terrestrial habits are immanent to Amniota. The history of amniotes utilizing terrestrial primary production (e.g., plants) is ultimately the central story of amniote evolution, despite a veneer of glamour associated with carnivores and carnivory. Therefore, the Evolution of Herbivory in Terrestrial Vertebrates ( EHTV ) carries with it the prestige of being the key history for Amniota. It concomitantly carries the burden of having a lot to explain. The book is an outgrowth of a symposium co-convened by the Editor (H.-D. Sues) and presented by the authors at the Sixth North American Paleontological Convention held at the Smithsonian Institution in June of 1996. Like many outgrowths of symposia, this volume provides a patchy perspective on the evolution of herbivory. In the following, I review what each of the chapters offers, returning at the end of this review to consider larger issues in evolution and amniote herbivory and the contributions that this volume makes to those. The Introduction, by Sues, is a conventional summary of some the issues associated with herbivory in terrestrial amniotes. After beginning at the beginning of functional morphology (with Cuvier), Sues lightly touches on the nutritive value (or comparative lack thereof) of plants, the basic modifications (oral and gastro-intestinal) needed for the digestion of plants, and the difficulty of demonstrating trophic relationships between plants and amniotes in the fossil record. From these subjects, he moves to brief summaries of the articles contained in his volume. I have in essence condemned Sues' introduction by the word “conventional,” because this would be a choice time to frame key questions about the evolution of vertebrate (or in this case, amniote) herbivory. Here, however, no such questions are …
A methodology for quantifying the value of spatial information for dynamic Earth problems

We develop a methodology for assessing the value of information (VOI) from spatial data for groundwater decisions. Two sources of uncertainty are the focus of this VOI methodology: the spatial heterogeneity (how it influences the hydrogeologic response of interest) and the reliability of geophysical data (how they provide information about the spatial heterogeneity). An existing groundwater situation motivates and in turn determines the scope of this research. The objectives of this work are to (1) represent the uncertainty of the dynamic hydrogeologic response due to spatial heterogeneity, (2) provide a quantitative measure for how well a particular information reveals this heterogeneity (the uncertainty of the information) and (3) use both of these to propose a VOI workflow for spatial decisions and spatial data. The uncertainty of the hydraulic response is calculated using many Earth models that are consistent with the a priori geologic information. The information uncertainty is achieved quantitatively through Monte Carlo integration and geostatistical simulation. Two VOI results are calculated which demonstrate that a higher VOI occurs when the geophysical attribute (the data) better discriminates between geological indicators. Although geophysical data can only indirectly measure static properties that may influence the dynamic response, this transferable methodology provides a framework to estimate the value of spatial data given a particular decision scenario.
Life Stress in Spasmodic and Congestive Dysmenorrhea

145 college-aged women completed The Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire dealing with menstrual subtype (congestive or spasmodic), life stress, age, and menstrual severity. Spasmodic-typed women seemed to report significantly greater severity following recent (within one month) life stress but the expected dichotomous split between congestive and spasmodic dysmenorrhea was not noted. It appears that women scoring clearly spasmodic respond differentially to recent life stress. Psychological stress may trigger prostaglandin production in spasmodic women or stress may contribute to uterine muscular tension.
Geometric optics of gold nanoparticle-polydimethylsiloxane thin film systems

Interest in optical properties of plasmonic nanoparticles embedded in transparent dielectrics is growing due to potential uses in biomedicine, sustainable energy, and manufacturing. This work evaluates geometric optics in polymer thin films containing mono- or polydisperse gold nanoparticles (AuNP) using a compact linear algebraic sum. Reflection and transmission from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films containing uniformly- or assymetrically-distributed monodisperse or polydisperse AuNPs decreased with AuNP morphological isotropy and particle density. In PDMS, monodisperse AuNPs increased optical attenuation linearly with gold content, while polydisperse AuNPs reduced from hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (TCA) increased optical attenuation in proportion to order-of-magnitude rises in gold content. Polydisperse AuNP concentrated asymmetrically at one film interface exhibited higher attenuation. Cumulative optical responses from AuNP-PDMS films paired with another film or reflective element were within 0.04 units on average from values predicted for transmission, reflection, or attenuation using linear algebra. These results support design of NP-containing dielectric films to integrate into biochemical, microelectromechanical, and optoelectronic devices and systems.
Therapy is more than treatment.

The recent statement by the Committee on Children With Disabilities1 concerning therapy services for children with motor disabilities provides useful information about how therapists function as well as prescription guidelines for pediatricians to follow. The publication is timely, because the number of children with motor disabilities remains at a steady level, and there is a strong demand for such services.2 Also, pediatricians in practice continue to have limited training, experience, and perspective in this area.3 Nevertheless, it is my view that the committee statement should have had a broader … Address correspondence to Alfred L. Scherzer, EdD, MD, FAAP, PO Box 1023, New York, NY 11901. E-mail: scherzer{at}optonline.net
On the computation of angular distributions of radiation in planetary atmospheres.

Abstract The discrete ordinate approximation to the radiative transfer equation is used to derive simple analytic expressions for the intensity in a vertically inhomogeneous plane parallel atmosphere. This approach allows one to compute the intensity at arbitrary depths and angles. The merit and soundness of these expressions, which are interpolatory in nature, are discussed and it is conjectured that they are superior to any other standard interpolation scheme as far as accuracy is concerned. The computational time also compares favorably with that of standard interpolation schemes such as cubic splines.
Helping Members Commit to Exercise: Specific Strategies to Impact the Climate at Fitness Centers

Research has revealed that when individuals perceive a caring and task-involving climate in physical activity settings they are more likely to have positive experiences. The purpose of this paper is to provide fitness center employees with specific strategies for creating a caring, task-involving environment in their exercise settings. These strategies can help employees positively influence members’ overall exercise experiences. A variety of employee positions in fitness centers are targeted including front desk staff, membership, group fitness, personal trainers, supervisors and support staff.
Perspective on “Dynamics of folded proteins”

This paper provides an overview of the title paper, discussing its background and significance, some details of the results, and subsequent developments that were stimulated by the work.
Solid conduction in low dt/dp beds of spheres, pellets and rings

Abstract Experimental measurements of effective thermal conductivity and wall heat transfer coefficients were made for stagnant annular fixed beds of low tube-to-particle diameter ratio. A wide range of particle shapes, sizes and thermal conductivity was covered. Empirical correlations are given for the wall-to-solid heat transfer coefficient, which becomes important for low d t / d p . Predictive formulas for thermal conductivity were tested, and recommendations made on their use. Both parameters were found to be relatively insensitive to particle shape. The results are applied to the estimation of effective conductivity in the cylindrical beds of industrial practice.
Sorcerers, saints and charlatans: Black folk healers in urban America

Case histories of black Americans who believe their illness has been caused by sorcery have been reported with increasing frequency in the clinical literature. Such individuals often believe that their problems are not amenable to orthodox medical regimens and they may leave treatment to seek out a folk healer. Healers believed to be able to cure sorcery are viewed ambivalently as they are though able to magically cause illness as well as cure it. There is little information available on such individuals or their modes of treatment, making it difficult to assess their abilities. This article reviews what is known about such individuals, including an attempt to learn more about those who have advertised in a large city newspaper. It is concluded that some of these individuals provide a useful service to their clients but that many others use their reputations as manipulators of occult powers to extract money from the poor and gullible.
Behavioral effects of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine and dose-dependent antagonism by BC-105.

The discriminative effects of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-OMeDMT) were studied in rats trained to discriminate 1.5 mg/kg or 3.0 mg/kg 5-OMeDMT from saline. A series of antagonist and generalization tests revealed that (1) antagonism of the 5-OMeDMT stimulus response by the presumed serotonin antagonist BC-105 depended on the dose of 5-OMeDMT, (2) the 5-OMe DMT stimulus generalized to LSD, and (3) like 5-OMeDMT, antagonism of the LSD generalization response by BC-105 depended on the dose of LSD. In a second study, with rats responding under a variable-interval (VI) 15-s schedule of reinforcement, doses of 1.0–3.0 mg/kg 5-OMeDMT significantly decreased response rate. Furthermore, the decrease in responding produced by the administration of 1.5 mg/kg (but not by 3.0 mg/kg) 5-OMeDMT was blocked by BC-105. This dosedependent antagonism was of particular interest since the 1.5 mg/kg and 3.0 mg/kg dose of 5-O-MeDMT had essentially the same effect on responding when given alone. The results of both studies emphasize the importance of 5-OMeDMT dose in antagonism experiments.
NUCLEI‐FORMATION OF COMMUNIST CHINA'S IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY

The iron and steel manufacturing apparatus in mainland China has been developed through several major stages, each of which manifests a distinctive pattern underlined by certain overriding factors. From the embryonic period at the turn of this century to World War II, transportation, capital availability, and market condition were alternately the chief determinant in the location of this industry. Since the Communist take-over and through the various construction and expansion programs, particularly as a result of the development of new resources, a new pattern has taken shape which tends to guide the future growth of this industry. This paper offers a locational analysis of the major nuclei in the emerging pattern and their effect upon the development of the secondary centers in the various regions of China.
Three-Step Censored Quantile Regression and Extramarital Affairs

This article suggests very simple three-step estimators for censored quantile regression models with a separation restriction on the censoring probability. The estimators are theoretically attractive (i.e., asymptotically as efficient as the celebrated Powell's censored least absolute deviation estimator). At the same time, they are conceptually simple and have trivial computational expenses. They are especially useful in samples of small size or models with many regressors, with desirable finite-sample properties and small bias. The separation restriction costs a small reduction of generality relative to the canonical censored regression quantile model, yet its main plausible features remain intact. The estimator can also be used to estimate a large class of traditional models, including the normal Amemiya–Tobin model and many accelerated failure and proportional hazard models. We illustrate the approach with an extramarital affairs example and contrast our findings with those of Fair.
VARIABLE WINDOWS AND FORCING FUNCTION ALGORITHMS FOR HARDWARE IN THE LOOP SIMULATIONS

The DSTO Hardware in the Loop (HIL) facility, currently has a limited Radio Frequency Scene Generator (RFSG) that restricts the scope of HIL simulations. Furthermore it is a multi-use facility and hence has restricted availability. This report derives algorithms and methods and indicates ways that can enable HIL simulations of most real world engagement scenarios. The variable window algorithm is the key algorithm and when used to expand simulations must be complemented by the injection of a forcing function into the missile tracking loop. By adding a zero motion compensation algorithm closed loop HIL simulations can be run without the need to use the motion table and the RFSG. The algorithms and method have been successfully applied and used in the HIL facility.
A Monte Carlo Simulation of Thermal-Driven Fluid: Flux Rate and Density Profile

Abstract Effects of uniform temperature and linear temperature gradient on flow rate and density profile of fluid driven from a source to an open system is studied by a Monte Carlo simulation in three dimensions. The steady-state density profile with uniform temperature differs significantly from that of the temperature gradient at all but high-temperature regimes, where the profile is a linear density gradient; the crossover to linear density gradient of the profile is sensitive to range of temperature variation. The response of the flow rate density to the temperature is nonlinear.
Isolation of a murine leukaemogenic virus p-llv.

THE induction of lymphocytic leukaemia and other morphologic forms of reticular neoplasms has been reported in various strains of mice by cell-free agents isolated from leukaemic tissues or from long-transplanted neoplasms of non-reticular origin1–7. Agents producing profound haematopoietic disturbances have also been described8,9. In several investigations the precise source of the virus, whether from extracted tissues or from inoculated recipient (‘activation’ of virus), has been difficult or impossible to prove5,6. Investigations of the inter-relationships of the several viruses have been hampered because of the absence of specific virus-neutralizing antibodies in the host and the lack of rapid in vitro assays. The significance of the presence of type C particles in recipients of several of these cell-free extracts and in tissues of leukaemic mice of those high-leukaemic strains investigated10 remains to be determined.
State of the Art of Robotic Pancreatic Surgery

More than a decade has passed since robotic technology was adopted for abdominal surgery, and virtually every gastrointestinal operation has since been shown to be feasible, safe, and reproducible using the robotic approach. Robotic pancreatic surgery had been left behind at the beginning, because they were technically challenging, requiring not only being very familiar with the robotic technology but also having a perfect knowledge of the anatomical variations, very frequent in this area. Nonetheless in the last few years many authors have approached the robot for pancreatic surgery with very promising results in terms of surgical and oncological outcomes. The aim of this article is to review the literature on robotic pancreatic surgery and to define the state of the art use of the robotic approach for pancreatic disease.
Deciphering Regulatory Mechanism of the Juxtamembrane Region in Thrombopoietin Receptor Activation

Abstract: The thrombopoietin receptor (TpoR/c-MPL) plays an important role in megakaryocyte differentiation, platelet formation and hematopoietic stem cell renewal. Its intracellular membrane-proximal region, which constitutively binds to JAK2, regulates activation of the receptor and signalling of the JAK-STAT pathway. However, the activation mechanism of TpoR at the molecular level is not understood. In our report, cell proliferation assay, fluorescence, circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy are employed to elucidate the role of the juxtamembrane (JM) region in TpoR activation. We find that secondary structure and membrane affinity of the JM region are strongly controlled by W515 at the hinge region between the transmembrane and JM regions. Secondary structure prediction also reveals that the JM region in TpoR has a larger helical content than in other single-chained cytokine receptors. Thus, we hypothesize that TpoR, which is regulated by a more structured JM region, is strictly inactive when unliganded and can perform ligand-specific signalling.
A Hexokinase-initiated Inhibition of Oxygen Uptake in Tomato Fruit Mitochondria Uncoupled by Dinitrophenol.

The stimulation of oxygen uptake in plant mitochondria uncoupled by 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) depends on adenine nucleotide in the absence of hexokinase (EC 2.7.1.1). Laties (9) observed this dependence with cauliflower bud mitochondria oxidizing malate, while WViskich and Bonner (13) reported a doubling of the DNP-rate of oxygen uptake by adenine nucleotide in sweet potato mitochondria oxidizing succinate. 'Tomato fruit mitochondria also showed a dependence on adenine nucleotide in the presence of DNP and succinate and the absence of hexokinase (5). Heytler (7) reported a graduated suppression of oxygen uptake with increasing concentrations of the uncoupler, in-Cl-carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone, in the presence of hexokinase, in mouse liver mitochondria oxidizing succinate. Inhibition of succinate oxidation in rat liver and potato mitochondria in the absence of hexokinase depended on the concentration of uncoupler -(12, 13). The inhibition of succinate oxidation may be due to an inhibition of succinate dehyodrogenase (EC 1.3.99.1) by oxaloacetate (13). Wiskich and Bonner (13) suggested that ATP, which could be formed
Models of static, cylindrically symmetric solutions of the einstein-maxwell field

Models of static, cylindrically symmetric solutions of the combined Einstein-Maxwell field equations are given. These models consist of extended distributions of matter with surface electric currents and magnetic fields outside the matter. The electric currents serve as sources of the magnetic fields; the distribution of matter as well as the magnetic fields serve as sources of the gravitational field. The magnetic lines of force may be parallel to the axis or circular and centered on the axis. The matter distribution is cylindrically symmetric and may be contained within a central cylinder or a tube centered about the axis. All ordinary physical and geometric requirements are satisfied by the models.
Evidence for functional convergence in genes upregulated by herbivores ingesting plant secondary compounds

Nearly 40 years ago, Freeland and Janzen predicted that liver biotransformation enzymes dictated diet selection by herbivores. Despite decades of research on model species and humans, little is known about the biotransformation mechanisms used by mammalian herbivores to metabolize plant secondary compounds (PSCs). We investigated the independent evolution of PSC biotransformation mechanisms by capitalizing on a dramatic diet change event—the dietary inclusion of creosote bush (Larrea tridentata)—that occurred in the recent evolutionary history of two species of woodrats (Neotoma lepida and N. bryanti). By comparing gene expression profiles of two populations of woodrats with evolutionary experience to creosote and one population naive to creosote, we identified genes either induced by a diet containing creosote PSCs or constitutively higher in populations with evolutionary experience of creosote. Although only one detoxification gene (an aldo-keto reductase) was induced by both experienced populations, these populations converged upon functionally equivalent strategies to biotransform the PSCs of creosote bush by constitutively expressing aldehyde and alcohol dehydrogenases, Cytochromes P450s, methyltransferases, glutathione S-transferases and sulfotransferases. The response of the naive woodrat population to creosote bush was indicative of extreme physiological stress. The hepatic detoxification system of mammals is notoriously complex, with hundreds of known biotransformation enzymes. The comparison herein of woodrat taxa that differ in evolutionary and ecological experience with toxins in creosote bush reveals convergence in the overall strategies used by independent species after a historical shift in diet. In addition, remarkably few genes seemed to be important in this dietary shift. The research lays the requisite groundwork for future studies of specific biotransformation pathways used by woodrats to metabolize the toxins in creosote and the evolution of diet switching in woodrats. On a larger level, this work advances our understanding of the mechanisms used by mammalian herbivores to process toxic diets and illustrates the importance of the selective relationship of PSCs in shaping herbivore diversity.