cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unsupervised tissue segmentation in screening mammograms for automated breast density assessment

This paper describes a computer-assisted algorithm to automatically assess mammographic breast density. The algorithm was applied to 160 cranio-caudal DDSM mammograms (80 Lumisys and 80 Howtek images). The breast region was first segmented from its background using our self-organizing map (SOM) with knowledge-based refinement algorithm (presented previously). A different SOM neural network was subsequently developed to operate within the determined breast region. Multiscale feature vectors from the breast region were used to train the new SOM. The weight vectors of the SOM were then clustered by the K-means method, resulting in a breast region segmented into K different clusters. The prevalence of SOM clusters containing dense tissues was calculated to develop a summary density index. Statistical analysis was applied to optimize the implementation parameters of the summary index. The average summary index was higher in dense breasts than in non-dense breasts. The trend was consistent for both digitizers, though the results were statistically significant for only the Lumisys set. Unsupervised clustering and segmentation of mammograms is a promising approach for automated breast density assessment.
Axle Load Distribution for Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design in North Carolina: Multidimensional Clustering Approach and Decision Tree Development

A multidimensional clustering approach to generate regional average truck axle load distribution factors (ALDFs) for North Carolina is presented. The results support the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). Weigh-in-motion data collected on North Carolina road-ways are used in the analysis. A multidimensional clustering analysis based on ALDF data develops representative clusters for different highway functional classifications. Findings show that ALDF clusters have distinct characteristics for primary roads, secondary roads, collectors, and local roads. An easy-to-use decision tree based on available traffic parameters and local knowledge helps the pavement designer select the proper ALDF input. Specific contributions include a multidimensional clustering analysis that is guided by MEPDG damage-based analysis, well-defined ALDF clusters that represent specific traffic patterns in North Carolina, and a decision tree characterized by its simplicity to help pavement designers select ALDF inputs.
Weekly Measurements Accurately Represent Trends in Resting Energy Expenditure in Children Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

BACKGROUND Resting energy expenditure (REE) measurements are optimal for accurate assessment of energy requirements and precise provision of parenteral nutrients. We previously observed significant reduction in REE during a 4-week period in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The goal of this study was to determine if weekly REE measurements could accurately represent changes in REE in the peritransplant period compared with a more frequent standard of daily measurements. METHODS Data are presented from a previously described cohort of 37 children undergoing HSCT. We performed weekly indirect calorimetry on 25 patients; of those 25, we performed daily measurements on a convenience sample of 5 children. The time course of REE was analyzed in each sample by repeated measures regression. RESULTS The REE trend of the 20 weekly participants was similar to that of the 5 daily participants, reaching about 80% of predicted REE at 4 weeks posttransplant, with an average decline of 3.4% per week during 4 weeks. CONCLUSION The results suggest that weekly REE measurements accurately characterize REE changes 4 weeks after HSCT compared with daily measurements. Characterization of these trends using weekly measurements may help guide clinical and nutrition care of these patients.
Further studies of trace elements in C3 chondrites

Five carbonaceous chondrites (Renazzo C2V, Allende C3V, Ornans C3O, Warrenton C3O, and Orgueil C1) were analyzed by radiochemical neutron activation analysis for 20 elements. Elements condensing between approximately 700 and 420 K are systematically more depleted than those condensing between 1000 and 900 K, and the depletion correlates inversely with matrix content and directly with degree of metamorphism. A model of gas-dust fractionation during condensation, by settling of dust to the median plane of the nebula, is proposed. Gas/dust ratios relative to the cosmic ratio ranged from 0.7 at 1000 K to 0.5 at 700 K for C3O chondrites that accreted first and from 1.3 to 0.6 for the last. No further gas/dust fractionation was indicated below 700 K
A fast and accurate method to register medical images using Wavelet Modulus Maxima

Abstract This paper presents a fast, accurate and automatic method to register images of rigid bodies. It uses wavelets to obtain control points. Wavelets are not shift invariant but the structures determined by the wavelet high pass image, the Modulus Maxima Image, provide the information necessary for a fast-rough convergence. These structures represent shapes from which we segment the invariant shapes for the images being registered. For example, the MRI and CT images of the brain can be considered as rigid bodies that do not undergo a change in shape over reasonable periods of time. By using a convex hull, we make the procedure insensitive to the internal changes in the object. Hence, even with the growth of tumors, the procedure registers brain images very accurately. The method uses the correlation coefficient to measure the similarity between images and to determine how well the images are registered. The method has been extensively tested with various types of images and in all cases the registration accuracy is very high. The correlation coefficient used to validate the registrations has deficiencies that occasionally required a visual inspection to terminate the algorithm after a point of marginal improvement.
Electrophoretic analysis of iodine-labeled influenza virus RNA segments

Abstract A simple method is described for labeling influenza viral RNA with 125 I. The labeled virion RNA segments remain intact and suitable for analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Very small amounts of purified virus may be extracted and labeled, making this procedure particularly useful for characterizing large numbers of recombinant strains, new virus isolates, and other strains which cannot be efficiently labeled in cell culture systems.
Paleomagnetism of three upper Jurassic ash‐flow sheets in southeastern Arizona: Implications for regional deformation

A sequence of three petrologically distinct Upper Jurassic ash-flow tuffs has been sampled for palcomagnetic analysis in the Huachuca Mountains, Canelo Hills, and Mustang Mountains of southeastern Arizona. Site-mean palco- magnetic directions for these units indicate significant ver- tical-axis rotations between sampling localities (-_15o-40o), and a comparison of these and previously published data with reference directions from the Colorado Plateau implies that the Jurassic rocks in southeastern Arizona have been rotated in a clockwise sense with respect to stable North America. These new data are consistent with palcomagnetic results showing clockwise rotation of Upper Cretaceous rocks in south central Arizona, and further indicate that studies of North American apparent polar wander based on rocks from southern Arizona could be subject to error. The clockwise rotations in southern Arizona are likely related to Late Cretaceous and early Tertiary strike-slip movement on northwest-trending high- angle faults in the region, and this movement may be linked to an increase in oblique Farallon-North American plate conver- gence at that time.
Estimation of the pharmacokinetic parameters of the two-compartment open model from post-infusion plasma concentration data

A model is presented which can serve as a means for obtaining the pharmacokinetic parameters of the two-compartment open system for drugs which are too poorly soluble or too irritating to be administered by rapid intravenous injection. Experimentally, this method involves administering the drug by constant rate intravenous infusion, until the attainment of infusion equilibrium, and determining the plasma concentrations of drug in the postinfusion period. This approach has been applied to literature data and has resulted in the evaluation of the two-compartment pharmacokinetics of oxacillin.
Designing dispute resolution systems in the health care industry

The postulates of systems design and accompanying hospital case study suggest a framework for systems design in many other settings. Consultants at the Center for Conflict Management, Inc. are in the process of applying the generic model to systems design in churches, small businesses, and other large organizations. The framework presented above is entirely compatible with Ury, Brett, and Goldberg's (1988) in-depth description of principles for designing effective dispute resolution systems. The postulates should be useful not only for the design of dispute resolution systems, but also in framing testable hypotheses regarding cost, satisfaction, and durability of agreement outcomes in a full range of community and organizational settings.
A core Collection for Saccharum spontaneum L. from the World Collection of sugarcane

Vegetative maintenance of the large number of Saccharum spontaneum clones in the World Collection is extremely laborious and expensive. A core subset, chosen to represent the range of diversity of the World Collection, can enhance preservation research and exploit the potential value for breeding. A total of 342 accessions of S. spontaneum from the World Collection at the USDA-ARS National Germplasm Repository in Miami, FL, were used to evaluate various sampling strategies for choosing a core collection of this species and to designate a core collection of 75 clones using geographic origin and characterization data. Eleven sampling methods with 11 quantitative traits were used to designate the 75 clones in the core collection. The efficiency of sampling was increased by stratification by geographical grouping of accessions before a stratified random sampling procedure was carried out. Cluster analysis was used within each geographic region based on retained principal components with morphological variables, followed by random selection of entries within each cluster for designating the core collection. In addition to the efficient use of S. spontaneum, this core collection should prevent the loss of significant components of the World Collection, ensure better use of limited resources, and enhance conservation research.
The technology of the human voice: Oral systems of information dissemination and retrieval among the Akan of Ghana

Summary In an age of complex, fast and technologically based communication systems, some African societies continue to utilize indigenous communication systems (ICS) that are effective for their specific, local environments. Employing mixed methodologies, this paper examines one of these communicative systems known among the people of Elmina (and other Akan communities of Ghana) as dawurb —signified by the gong-gong—its processes and dynamics, its interrelationship with the socio-cultural milieu, and its interface with modern media. It concludes that ICS do not just represent cultural continuity; they are inclusive, interactive, and integrated into the chieftaincy institution, and continue to have an informational and educational value among rural folks. Confronting the dilemma of the interface between tradition and modernity, this essay recommends the retention of ICS alongside radio, TV, and the electronic media.
Encouraging user management participation in systems design

Abstract Although the need for managers of user functions to be involved in the design of information or decision support systems (DSS) is broadly accepted as one of the essential principles of information systems development, we know little about why some firms have been able to achieve high levels of such managerial participation while others have been less successful. Though field interviews with MIS directors, it was possible to identify three widely held assumptions concerning the organizational level factors which might facilitate middle management participation from user organizations in systems design. To explore the relationship between these factors and user middle management participation, 152 user managers (functional area department heads) were studied from 55 firms. The results suggest that many firms may, unknowingly, manage their information system function in a manner which does not encourage user middle management involvement in the design of the systems they use.
Termination and antitermination: RNA polymerase runs a stop sign

Termination signals induce rapid and irreversible dissociation of the nascent transcript from RNA polymerase. Terminators at the end of genes prevent unintended transcription into the downstream genes, whereas terminators in the upstream regulatory leader regions adjust expression of the structural genes in response to metabolic and environmental signals. Premature termination within an operon leads to potentially deleterious defects in the expression of the downstream genes, but also provides an important surveillance mechanism. This Review discusses the actions of bacterial and phage antiterminators that allow RNA polymerase to override a terminator when the circumstances demand it.
Harmonic maps with fixed singular sets

Suppose Ω is a smooth domain in Rm,N is a compact smooth Riemannian manifold, andZ is a fixed compact subset of Ω having finite (m − 3)-dimensional Minkowski content (e.g.,Z ism − 3 rectifiable). We consider various spaces of harmonic mapsu: Ω →N that have a singular setZ and controlled behavior nearZ. We study the structure of such spacesH and questions of existence, uniqueness, stability, and minimality under perturbation. In caseZ = 0,H is a Banach manifold locally diffeomorphic to a submanifold of the product of the boundary data space with a finite-dimensional space of Jacobi fields with controlled singular behavior. In this smooth case, the projection ofu eH tou ¦ϖΩ is Fredholm of index 0.
Working Memory Performance in Poor Outcome Schizophrenia: Relationship to Age and Executive Functioning

Performance on the Letter-Number Sequencing (LNS) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Tests (WCST) have been shown to be significantly correlated in patients with schizophrenia, a relationship postulated to be due to working memory demands of the two tests (Gold, Carpenter, Randolph, Goldberg, & Weinberger, 1997). An alternative explanation for the association between these two tests is their sorting demands, in that both require sorting of information albeit in slightly different ways. If the latter explanation is valid, then working memory tasks that do not require sorting or other conceptualization demands should be less predictive of WCST performance than LNS. These hypotheses were examined in 34 poor outcome patients with schizophrenia, one-half of whom were over the age of 65. Patients were evaluated on Digit Span Forward, spatial working memory, LNS, and the WCST. It was found that WCST performance was significantly associated with performance on the LNS but no other working memory task. Age related performance differences were greatest on the WCST Categories and floor effects were noted on this test in one-half of the subjects. Analyses predicting WCST Categories in subjects whose scores were greater than zero (n = 16) also demonstrated that LNS, but not Digit Span or spatial working memory (any delay) predicted WCST performance. These findings indicate that LNS may be an index of executive functioning, particularly in patients who cannot perform the WCST.
Costs and benefits of Wolbachia infection in immature Aedes albopictus depend upon sex and competition level.

Abstract Bacterial endosymbionts induce various effects on hosts and can dramatically impact host fitness and development. An example is provided by obligate, maternally-inherited Wolbachia, which infect a broad range of invertebrates. Wolbachia are capable of altering host reproduction, thereby promoting infection spread. Wolbachia also pose direct physiological costs and benefits to hosts, complicating their categorization as parasites or mutualists. This study examines for an effect of Wolbachia infection in intra-specific larval competition by Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, with the goal of examining for an impact of Wolbachia infection in mixed populations. Similar to prior work examining for an influence of Wolbachia infection on the fitness of A. albopictus in adults, the results presented here support the hypothesized impact of Wolbachia across all life stages, including immatures. The differential competitiveness of infected larvae detected in our experiments indicates that Wolbachia infected A. albopictus females are less competitive relative to uninfected females when competing under highly competitive conditions. In contrast, under low competitive pressures, infected females experience higher survivorship. Thus, Wolbachia infection shifts from parasitism to mutualism as a function of developmental conditions. Results are discussed in relation to the invasion and persistence of Wolbachia in A. albopictus populations. The results are important to the evolution of stable Wolbachia symbioses, including Wolbachia invasion of an uninfected population. The resulting infection dynamics that occur in an infected population are discussed.
Olfactory function in patients with Parkinson's disease

Olfactory acuity of 22 patients with Parkinson's disease was measured repeatedly and compared with that of 37 age- and sex-matched controls. Ten of 22 patients with Parkinson's disease showed significant decrease (p < 0.05) in olfactory acuity. Nine of these 10 patients had moderately or rapidly progressive disease. A significant correlation (p < 0.05) was found between rate of progression of the disease and decreased olfactory acuity. This finding may be of prognostic value.
Solutions of Some Birthday Problems Using Dirichlet Integrals

ABSTRACT We solve many different interesting birthday problems using Dirichlet functions (I, J, C, D). Some of them are very well-known classical problems which we generalize. These solutions are richly illustrated with numerical examples and tables. Some asymptotic expansions are given. We also prove that the expectation of getting r observations in the same cell with b cells and p i = 1 achieves its maximum when the cell probabilities are all equal, i.e., when p 1 = p 2 = … = p b = 1/b.
Prostaglandins and articular cartilage metabolism: Does prostaglandin perturbation perpetuate cartilage destruction?

Abstract There is sufficient evidence available attesting to the in vitro inhibitory effect that PGs have on articular cartilage metabolism. In view of the indomethacm sensitivity of substances secreted by RS in culture, the elevated levels of PGs found in synovial fluid from rheumatic joints, and the suggestion of the presence of an inflammatory aspect in osteoarthritis, it is becoming suspect that similar circumstances may exist in vivo. That inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis by PGs may play a role in development and/or progression of cartilage changes is compatible with (1) in vitro evidence of a positive feedback system of PC synthesis (hence the vicious cycle terminology) and (2) the essential irreversability of the PG inhibitory effect. However, this inhibition of cartilage metabolism is most readily seen at what must be considered pharmacologic doses. How can we reconcile these effects when levels of endogenous PG are several orders of magnitude less, even in inflammatory disease? Moreover, it is becoming disturbingly clear that various PGs may have opposing metabolic effects (i.e., PGI stimulation of metabolism) so that the overall role of PGs in cellular regulation may be dependent upon the algebraic sum of the various subtypes. These questions must still be addressed, but it is certainly a tenable concept that homeostatic regulation and responsiveness of cartilage to external stimuli (in the absence of neural and vascular elements) may indeed be mediated by PG modulation of metabolism.
Spontaneous growth of an in-plane shear crack

Abstract We consider the nonsteady growth of a two-dimensional in-plane shear crack under the influence of a critical stress intensity factor criterion at the crack tips and dynamical frictional stresses on the fracture surface. For a spontaneous rupture initiating at a point and extending bilaterally, the dynamic stress distribution must be known in advance to determine the stress intensities at the crack tips. When these stresses are scaled with respect to the singular stresses at the respective crack tips, an approximation that was found to be suitable for problems of the growth of anti-plane shear cracks that tear with high velocities, is also found to be suitable in the present case. The region of validity of this approximation is tested for the in-plane mode of crack growth by comparison with cases of crack histories that are solvable exactly. For the latter purpose, we use the exact solution to the self-similar problem of uniform bilateral growth of in-plane cracks, which is found by functionally invariant methods. For low rupture speeds, iterative methods based on this approximation can be developed to improve the solution. For the self-similar cases, rupture velocities cannot be greater than the Rayleigh wave velocity in the medium; we have only considered those cases of non-uniform crack propagation for which this limit also applies.
Direct titration of nitrate with diphenylthallium(III) sulfate

Abstract Nitrate may be titrated with diphenylthallium(III) sulfate. The titration may be monitored amperometrically or potentiometrically. Fluoride, perchlorate, sulfate and phosphate do not interfere. Chloride, bromide and iodide interfere and must be removed. For amperometric titration, the range is 5 – 22 × 10−3 M nitrate.
Functional Skeletal Muscle Formation with a Biologic Scaffold

Biologic scaffolds composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) have been used to reinforce or replace damaged or missing musculotendinous tissues in both preclinical studies and in human clinical applications. However, most studies have focused upon morphologic endpoints and few studies have assessed the in-situ functionality of newly formed tissue; especially new skeletal muscle tissue. The objective of the present study was to determine both the in-situ tetanic contractile response and histomorphologic characteristics of skeletal muscle tissue reconstructed using one of four test articles in a rodent abdominal wall model: 1) porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS)-ECM; 2) carbodiimide-crosslinked porcine SIS-ECM; 3) autologous tissue; or 4) polypropylene mesh. Six months after surgery, the remodeled SIS-ECM showed almost complete replacement by islands and sheets of skeletal muscle, which generated a similar maximal contractile force to native tissue but with greater resistance to fatigue. The autologous tissue graft was replaced by a mixture of collagenous connective tissue, adipose tissue with fewer islands of skeletal muscle compared to SIS-ECM and a similar fatigue resistance to native muscle. Carbodiimide-crosslinked SIS-ECM and polypropylene mesh were characterized by a chronic inflammatory response and produced little or no measurable tetanic force. The findings of this study show that non-crosslinked xenogeneic SIS scaffolds and autologous tissue are associated with the restoration of functional skeletal muscle with histomorphologic characteristics that resemble native muscle.
Speckle At Various Planes In An Optical System

The statistical theory of speckle is presented in detail, including discussions of the transmission functions for a surface roughness type of diffuser and the associated characteristic function. The correlation function for the output amplitude is calculated for a variety of optical systems. These second-order moments are written for two states of position and temporal-frequency variables so that one can analyze both the spatial and the wavelength dependence of speckle. We parallel the usual cases that are treated in Fourier optics, summarizing the following configurations: space-variant, Fourier transform, far-zone, and imaging.
Revisiting the cost of protectionism

Abstract Most studies of the welfare impacts of trade policy have ignored interactions between these policies and pre-existing distortions from the income tax. This paper demonstrates that when these interactions are taken into account, the potential gains or losses from tariffs, import quotas, or voluntary export restrictions are significantly magnified. However, as long as the trade barrier doesn't generate rents for domestic households, the optimal level of the trade barrier is unchanged from the first-best case. Trade policies which do increase domestic rents, either in the form of quota rents or rents to fixed factors in production, suffer an additional efficiency cost, and the optimal policy in this case is less strict than in the first-best case.
The effect of water on the acidity of TiO2 and sulfated titania

Abstract Temperature-programmed desorptions (TPD) of isopropylamine (IPA), NH3, and pyridine were compared with diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) of pyridine to determine the effect of H2O on the acidities of three titania catalysts. Bronsted acidity increased in the following order: Degussa P-25 TiO2
The effect of temperature-dependent exchange coeeficients on poleward heat flux by oceanic gyres

Abstract The gravitational stability of the air overlying the sea surface is determined by the air-sea temperature difference. Air-sea exchange coeeficients have been shown to increase when the air is unstable and decrease when the air is stable. This stability dependence of the wind stress has been approximated by a linear law relating wind stress to air-sea temperature difference and it has been shown that this thermal feedback generates a warm, Gulf-Stream-like jet emerging from the western boundary current eastward into the interior. Here, the thermal correction is applied tot he wind stress and to the air-sea heat exchange coefficient to study the effects on the circulation and on the poleward heat flux. The basic dynamical model is linear, wind-driven and has an anticyclonic gyre in the southern half and an equally intense cyclonic half in the northern half basin. The thermodynamic model uses the vertically averaged, convective-diffusive heat equation. Thermal feedback leads to a compression of the anticyclonic gyre to a narrower lattitude band near the western boundary and to a warm Gulf Stream extending eastward into the interior. The redistribution of the dynamical properties in the anticyclonic gyre resembles that due to inertial processes. In the cyclonic gyre the changes are quite unlike those due to inertial effects. The main quantitative change is the poleward heat flux across the gyre boundary, which can be several times the value obtained without feedback and should be important for climate studies.
Inhibition of secretion from isolated rat alveolar epithelial type II cells by the cell permeant calpain inhibitor II (N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-methioninal).

Abstract Although several signal transduction pathways, including activation of specific protein kinases have been proposed and studied for the secretory processes of lung surfactant from alveolar epithelial type II cells, the role of proteolytic processing by calpains (calcium-activated neutral proteases) in secretion has not been investigated. Therefore, we examined the effect of cell permeable calpain inhibitor I (N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal) and II (N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-methioninal) on secretion to test the hypothesis that calpains participate in the secretory processes of alveolar epithelial type 11 cells. Calpain inhibitor I preferentially inhibits micro (μ)-calpain while inhibitor II inhibits milli (m)-calpain. Isolated type II cells were prelabelled with [3H]-choline for 18–24 h. To measure secretion, [3H]-labelled disaturated phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) released in the medium was monitored. Basal secretion of DSPC was maximally (87%) depressed by the presence of 10 μM inhibitor II. Secretagogue-stimulated secretion was also modulated by inhibitor 11 treatment. Stimulation with calcium ionophore A23187 enhanced secretion 3-fold. However, cells pre-exposed to inhibitor II displayed a 90% reduction of calcium-stimulated secretion. Terbutaline (10 μM) and ATP (1 mM) each increased secretion 2- and 4-fold, respectively. However, the inhibitor-treated cells, exposed to the same stimuli, attained only 53 or 62% of these increases. Calpain inhibitor I, on the other hand, inhibited neither basal nor stimulated secretion. The results suggest that m-calpain, the major isozyme of lung calpain requiring mM calcium for activity in vitro, is involved in the secretory pathways of alveolar epithelial type II cells.
Hydrogen peroxide in air during winter over the south‐central United States

Hydrogen peroxide and other atmospheric trace gases were measured along the 91°30′ meridian from near the Iowa border to the Gulf of Mexico during February 1987. The measured H2O2 values were within the range of <0.1 to 1.0 ppbv and an increase in concentration from north to south of 0.04-0.05 ppbv per degree of latitude was observed on five of six flights. The concentration of H2O2 appeared to be primarily dependent upon air mass history; concentration discontinuities were observed when the aircraft flew across air mass boundaries. H2O2 measurements during flights in air masses of similar histories during daylight and night showed no significant difference in concentration. Neither was there a consistent dependence of the H2O2 concentration upon altitude.
Growing Old In El Barrio

Growing Old In El Barrio. Judith Noemi Freidenberg. New York: New York University Press, 2000. ix + 309 pp., tables, notes, references, index.
Clinical child psychology: The need for developmental principles

Clinical child psychology is in dire need of advances in diagnoses and treatment. The author suggests several ways this goal can be achieved through the application of developmental psychology.
Robustness of the single dressing fraction characterization of polaron structure in multi-mode partial dressing theory

Abstract In approaches to polaron theory which attempt to unify small and large polaron behavior, the notion of “partial dressing” plays a central role in determining the allocation of interaction energy between correlations of the small and large polaron types. This paper examines some of the consequences of generalizing from a single dressing fraction to a distribution of dressing fractions. Employing a distribution of dressing fractions allows distinct phonon modes to allocate interaction energy in distinct ratios, thereby supporting a more flexible description of polaron structure than that based on a single dressing fraction applied uniformly to all modes. The distribution of optimal dressing fractions can be characterized by a mean dressing fraction whose properties are in close agreement with the single dressing fraction used previously.
Structure and assembly of the influenza A virus ribonucleoprotein complex

The genome of influenza A viruses consists of eight segments of single-stranded, negative-sense RNA that are encapsidated as individual rod-shaped ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs). Each RNP contains a viral RNA, a viral polymerase and multiple copies of the viral nucleoprotein (NP). Influenza A virus RNPs play important roles during virus infection by directing viral RNA replication and transcription, intracellular transport of the viral RNA, gene reassortment as well as viral genome packaging into progeny particles. As a unique genomic entity, the influenza A virus RNP has been extensively studied since the 1960s. Recently, exciting progress has been made in studying the RNP structure and its assembly, leading to a better understanding of the structural basis of various RNP functions.
Similar Mutagenicity of Photoactivated Porphyrins and Ultraviolet A Radiation in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts: Involvement of Oxidative DNA Lesions in Mutagenesis†

Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation is implicated in the etiology of human skin cancer. However, the underlying mechanism of carcinogenicity for UVA is not fully delineated. A mutagenic role for UVA has been suggested, which involves activation of endogenous photosensitizers generating oxidative DNA damage. We investigated the mutagenicity of UVA alone and in combination with delta-aminolevulinic acid (delta-ALA), a precursor of the intracellular photosensitizers porphyrins, in transgenic Big Blue mouse embryonic fibroblasts. A significant generation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG), a typical promutagenic oxidative DNA lesion, was observed in cells treated with a combination of delta-ALA (1 mM) and UVA (0.06 J/cm(2)) as quantified by high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (p T transversions (p < 0.0003; relative to the control), which are the hallmark mutations induced by 8-oxo-dG. Notably, the 8-oxo-dG-mediated mutagenicity of UVA plus delta-ALA is similar to that established previously for UVA alone at a mutagenic dose of 18 J/cm(2). We conclude that, in the presence of exogenous photosensitizers, UVA at a nonmutagenic dose induces mutations through the same mechanism as does a mutagenic dose of UVA per se.
Parallel FFT-based Poisson solver for isolated three-dimensional systems

Abstract We describe an implementation to solve Poissonʼs equation for an isolated system on a unigrid mesh using FFTs. The method solves the equation globally on mesh blocks distributed across multiple processes on a distributed-memory parallel computer. Test results to demonstrate the convergence and scaling properties of the implementation are presented. The solver is offered to interested users as the library PSPFFT . Program summary Program title: PSPFFT Catalogue identifier: AEJK_v1_0 Program summary URL: http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEJK_v1_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queenʼs University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.html No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 110 243 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 16 332 181 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: Fortran 95 Computer: Any architecture with a Fortran 95 compiler, distributed memory clusters Operating system: Linux, Unix Has the code been vectorized or parallelized?: Yes, using MPI. An arbitrary number of processors may be used (subject to some constraints). The program has been tested on from 1 up to ∼ 13 000 processors. RAM: Depends on the problem size, approximately 170 MBytes for 48 3 cells per process. Classification: 4.3, 6.5 External routines: MPI ( http://www.mcs.anl.gov/mpi/ ), FFTW ( http://www.fftw.org ), Silo ( https://wci.llnl.gov/codes/silo/ ) (only necessary for running test problem). Nature of problem: Solving Poissonʼs equation globally on unigrid mesh distributed across multiple processes on distributed memory system. Solution method: Numerical solution using multidimensional discrete Fourier Transform in a parallel Fortran 95 code. Unusual features: This code can be compiled as a library to be readily linked and used as a blackbox Poisson solver with other codes. Running time: Depends on the size of the problem, but typically less than 1 second per solve.
Isoprenylation of transfer ribonucleic acid.

Abstract A two-fold difference in the total N 6 -(Δ 2 -isopentenyl) adenosine content was found between the serine accepting tRNA fractions from adult and embryonic bovine liver. Elution profiles of benzoylated DEAE cellulose showed three peaks of adult tRNA were capable of accepting serine. Using gas-liquid chromatography, each peak had measurable amounts of N 6 -(Δ 2 -isopentenyl) adenosine. When the same techniques were applied to embryonic bovine tRNA, three peaks accepted serine; however, only one peak contained N 6 -(Δ 2 -isopentenyl) adenosine. These results can be interpreted to indicate that adult and embryonic tRNA differ in the N 6 -(Δ 2 -isopentenyl) adenosine content of tRNA ser .
Characteristics and Treatment Needs of Preadolescent Versus Adolescent Children in an Intensive Residential Treatment Program

Increasing numbers of younger children are entering intensive residential treatment, but most programs were developed for older children. This study compares preadolescent and adolescent children in a residential treatment program across a broad range of behavioral, emotional, and medical measures. This study examined data for 693 children consecutively admitted to a psychiatric residential treatment facility between January 2005 and December 2010. Data included problems at admission, early problem behavior in program, use of seclusion and restraint, health care and psychological services utilization, psychotropic medications, and length of stay. Generally, preadolescents were more behaviorally and emotionally troubled than were adolescents. Adolescents had higher medical care utilization rates. Results highlight the need for designing and implementing treatment programs tailored to meet the differing needs of preadolescent and adolescent children.
Self-assembly of SbCl3 and 1,4-dioxane: Cubic structure connected by very weak bonds

The self-assembly of SbCl3 and 1,4-dioxane in a 2:3 ratio leads to an interpenetrating extended cubic structure from X-ray crystallography. The structure is held together by very weak Sb−O bonds (∼7 kcal/mol each), which still maintain strong directionality. Parameterization and subsequent simulation of the system using a reactive force field (ReaxFF) gives us insight into the key interactions necessary for self-assembly from a completely random configuration of molecules into the experimentally observed cubic structure. We explain why the porous structure (with no interpenetration of lattices) is not observed, and we trace the important intermediate substructures formed en route to the crystal.
A Counterbalance System for Dynamic Testing of Equipment Designed to Operate in a Zero-G Field

Counterbalance system using a servomechanism, for dynamic testing of equipment operating in a zero-g field
Trends in Hospital Discharges and Dispositions for Episodes of Co-occurring Severe Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders

This study examined trends in general hospital discharges and dispositions involving episodes of severe mental illness (SMI) with and without co-occurring substance use disorders. We analyzed data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey from 1979 through 2008. Discharges involving SMI and co-occurring substance use disorders (COD) were associated with shorter lengths of stay and had a greater likelihood of being discharged routinely or home and reduced likelihood of being transferred to a short- or long-term facility. Although COD discharges had a greater odds of leaving against medical advice than SMI discharges, this effect was not significant over time. A greater understanding of hospital discharge planning practices is needed to ensure that patients are linked to appropriate aftercare services.
Precision of position signals for letters.

Accurate reading of words and text relies on reliable identification of letters in left-to-right order. Previous studies have shown that people often make letter-reversal errors when identifying strings of letters away from fixation. These errors contribute to a decline in letter identification performance away from fixation. This study tests the hypothesis that these errors are due to decreased precision (increased position noise) in the coding of letter position in the periphery. To test our hypothesis, we measured observers’ performance for identifying pairs of adjacent letters presented within eight letter positions left and right of fixation. The task was to name the two letters of each pair, from left to right. Responses were scored in two ways for each letter position: (1) letters were identified correctly and in the correct position, and (2) letters were identified correctly but in the wrong position. The ratio of these two scores, when subtracted from 1, gives the empirical rate of mislocation errors. Our primary finding shows that the coding of letter position becomes increasingly imprecise with distance from fixation. A model in which the encoded position of each letter is independent and Gaussian distributed, and in which the spread of the distribution governs the precision of localizing the letter accounts for the empirical rate of mislocation errors. We also found that precision of letter position coding scales with letter size but the precision does not improve with the use of a pre-cue.
An overview of Turkey's experience with economic liberalization and structural adjustment

Abstract Turkey's recovery from its debt crisis during the 1980s provides a good example for study. The most successful aspect of Turkish experience was the remarkable growth in exports. Liberal policies were implemented extensively to restructure the economy. But in terms of their impact on the real economy, the outcome has been disappointing. While income distribution deteriorated, internal resource mobilization failed to materialize. Successful growth in exports was only partly influenced by economic policies such as subsidies, which fell outside the “liberal” category. Under present circumstances, where self-sustaining growth is increasingly urgent, explicit policies targeting private investment have become necessary.
Micelles and networks formed by symmetric triblock copolymers in dilute solutions that are poor solvents for the terminal blocks

A simulation for symmetric triblock copolymers in dilute solution shows a rich variety of structures when the solvent produces a net attractive interaction between the terminal blocks. Depending on the strength of this interaction, the system can form transitory aggregates, large independent micelles, or branched structures in which bridging soluble internal blocks connect dense particles formed by the aggregation of insoluble terminal blocks. The formation of the branched structure with the ABA triblock copolymer can be seen under conditions where the corresponding AB diblock copolymer would provide steric stabilization for a polymer colloid.
The Stability Studies of the Message Transmission in CAN Bus

The message transmission stability is very important for the design of the CAN bus system, which is related to the normal operation of the bus control system. The message transmission time is analyzed based on the Tindell scheduling theory, and the message transmission stability analysis is studied by means of probability analysis based on the second-moment method. An example in vehicle is calculated to get its message stability and the result is contrasted with the MONTE-CARLO method, and then the message transmission stability can be got using the method above; this will be the basis for calculating the stability of the CAN bus system, and provides the foundation for the further scheduling theory studies. It has great practical significe for CAN bus.
Deacetylation ofN-acetylthienamycin to thienamycin by a cell-free extract ofStreptomyces cattleya, the thienamycin producer

A cell-free extract from the thienamycin producer,Streptomyces cattleya, has been found to deacetylate the co-product,N-acetylthienamycin. The pH optimum of the reaction is 7.5. Due to the lability ofN-acetylthienamycin, we used thed andl forms of the synthetic substrateN-chloroacetylvaline. We found that the enzyme is anl-deacetylase, has a molecular weight of 58 000, is stable up to 40°C, acts optimally at 45°C, is stable at pH 5–8, is not activated by divalent metal ions and is inhibited by Hg++, Cu++ andp-chloromercuribenzoate. This is the first report of an extract from a carbapenem producer which carries out the deacetylation ofN-acetylthienamycin, suggesting that the acetylated derivative is a precursor of thienamycin.
Guidelines for the prevention of fracture of root canal instruments

Abstract 1. Stainless steel reamers and files are preferable to carbon steel instruments because, while they may bend under excessive torque, they are less likely to break. 2. Root canal instruments should be examined both before and after use to make certain that the blades are regularly aligned. Too little or too much space between the blades is an indication that the instrument has been under strain and may break. 3. The smaller sizes of reamers and files (Nos. 10 to 30) should not be used more than twice (that is, instrumentation for more than two root canals). Rubber stops of different colors attached to the instrument are a convenient means of indicating how many times it has been used. 4. Dull instruments are likely to become lodged against dentine instead of cutting, and this promotes the chances of breakage. 5. Files break more often from the torque used in gaining a purchase on the dentine than from the act of filing against dentine. The degree of torque applied should be minimal. 6. Reamers should be twirled back and forth between the thumb and fingers, never exceeding a 180 degree are. 7. Instruments should be used in sequence of sizes, without ever skipping a size. 8. Because of the slight difference in diameter between a reamer and a file of a given size, both types of instrument should be used in narrow canals. Smaller stepwise increments in width will accrue than if either reamers or files alone are used, thus minimizing breakage of instruments. 9. Debris should be removed between the blades from time to time while one is operating with the same instrument in the root canal, as the accumulated debris retards cutting and so predisposes the instrument to breakage. 10. All root canal instruments should be used in a wet canal, preferably one which has been flooded with sodium hypochlorite, to facilitate cutting and thereby prevent breakage. 11. Chemical agents should be used along with instrumentation when necessary to facilitate cutting of dentine. 12. Where an instrument has been broken in the root canal, the prognosis is more favorable if an area of rarefaction is not present at the time of the accident.
The chiral condensate and topology in SU(2) lattice gauge theory

Abstract The chiral condensate in quenched SU(2) lattice gauge theory is calculated using a spectral basis. By evaluating the expectation values of winding number in the modes with small eigenvalue, we present qualitative evidence for a topological origin of chiral symmetry breaking.
Globalization and identity development: a Chinese perspective.

This chapter begins with a discussion of the unique experience of adolescents and emerging adults who grew up with globalization in China and how it has affected their sense of self. We then discuss the effects of globalization on identity development in general, with a special focus on the sociohistorical context of China. We also review and critique the psychological literature that has been conducted on identity within Chinese and Chinese American populations. Finally, we discuss the applicability of Western concepts of identity on a culture that does not necessarily share the same value structure. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.