cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Empirical Methods for Identifying Specific Peptide-protein Interactions for Smart Reagent Development

ABSTRACT The current state of the art in the development of antibody alternatives is fraught with difficulties including mass production, robustness, and overall cost of production. The isolation of synthetic alternatives using peptide libraries offers great potential for recognition elements that are more stable and have improved binding affinity and target specificity. Although recent advances in rapid and automated discovery and synthetic library engineering continue to show promise for this emerging science, there remains a criti cal need for an improved fund amental understanding of the mechanisms of recognition. To better understand the fundamental mechanisms of binding, it is critical to be able to accurately assess binding between peptide reagents and protein targets. The development of empirical methods to analyze peptide-protein interactions is often overlooked, sin ce it is often assumed that peptides can easily substitute for antibodies in antibody-derived immunoassays. The physico-chemical difference between peptides and antibodies represents a major challenge for developing peptides in standard immunoassays as capture or detection reagents. Analysis of peptide presents a unique challenge since the peptid e has to be soluble, must be capable of target recognition, and capable of ELISA plate or SPR chip binding. Incorporating a plate-binding, hydrophilic peptide fusion (PS-tag) improves both the solubility and plate binding capability in a direct peptide ELISA format. Secondly, a solution based methods, affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) method is presented as a solution- based, affinity determination method that can be used for determining both the association constants and binding kinetics. Keywords: peptide ELISA, PS-tag, peptide affinity reagent, protective antigen, peptide capillary electrophoresis, immunoassay,
The effect of renal revascularization on kidney function.

A study of the changes in excretory renal function after renal revascularization for hypertension is performed in kidneys monitored with both preoperative and postoperative split renal function studies. Although the changes in creatinine clearances and effective renal plasma flows were not statistically significant for the total group, those kidneys with severe reductions in function were significantly benefitted. Seven of the eight kidneys with creatinine clearances less than 30 ml/min preoperatively had significant increases in creatinine clearances postoperatively (P < 0.02). Likewise, all seven kidneys with effective renal plasma flows less than 100 ml/min before operation had statistically significant improvements (P < 0.005). The fact that all patients in this study had a favorable blood pressure response to revascularization points to the independence of the pressure-regulating mechanisms and excretory functions of the kidney.
Surlyn®/titanate hybrid materials via polymer in situ sol–gel chemistry

Acid form Surlyn®/titanate hybrid materials were achieved by polymer insitu sol–gel reactions for a titanium alkoxide monomer. Atomic force microscopic images revealed arrays of titania nanoparticles having diameters of 10–30 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectra verified the presence of an internally polymerized titanate phase although unhydrolyzed TiOR groups were present. Carboxylic acid dimerization was complete at room temperature, but carboxylate anions appeared at higher titanate levels. The methylene rocking doublet persisted upon incorporation of the inorganic component, which supported the idea of largely undisrupted crystallinity. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the degradation onset temperature of each hybrid is largely unaffected by the presence of the inorganic filler, which is consistent with the concept of an isolated titanate phase. The first-scan differential scanning calorimetric thermogram for unfilled Surlyn® revealed the usual twin-melting endotherms. In contrast, the primary, high-temperature melting endotherm was seen on the first scan for the Surlyn®/titanate hybrids, but the lower temperature endotherm was either not present or weak. Primary melting persisted after several cycles of heating above the melting temperature followed by cooling, demonstrating that primary crystallinity persisted despite titanate phase incorporation. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 11–22, 2003
A comparison of methods using optical coherence tomography to detect demineralized regions in teeth

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a three- dimensional optical imaging technique that can be used to identify areas of early caries formation in dental enamel. The OCT signal at 850 nm back-reflected from sound enamel is attenuated stronger than the signal back-reflected from demineralized regions. To quantify this observation, the OCT signal as a function of depth into the enamel (also known as the A-scan intensity), the histogram of the A-scan intensities and three summary parameters derived from the A-scan are defined and their diagnostic potential compared. A total of 754 OCT A-scans were analyzed. The three summary parameters derived from the A-scans, the OCT attenuation coefficient as well as the mean and standard deviation of the lognormal fit to the histogram of the A-scan ensemble show statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) when comparing parameters from sound enamel and caries. Furthermore, these parameters only show a modest correlation. Based on the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) plot, the OCT attenuation coefficient shows higher discriminatory capacity (AUC=0.98) compared to the parameters derived from the lognormal fit to the histogram of the A-scan. However, direct analysis of the A-scans or the histogram of A-scan intensities using linear support vector machine classification shows diagnostic discrimination (AUC = 0.96) comparable to that achieved using the attenuation coefficient. These findings suggest that either direct analysis of the A-scan, its intensity histogram or the attenuation coefficient derived from the descending slope of the OCT A-scan have high capacity to discriminate between regions of caries and sound enamel.
An aversive naloxone-morphine interaction in rats.

Abstract In a conditioned taste aversion (CTA) paradigm, male Wistar rats were injected intracerebroven-tricularly with a solution of either morphine (120 μg) or Ringer's vehicle following intraperitoneal injections of either naloxone (10 mg/kg) or Ringer's. Neither intracerebral morphine alone nor intraperitoneal naloxone produced an aversion. The combination of central morphine plus peripheral naloxone did induce a significant and reliable CTA.
Radiolaria: Sinking population, standing stock, and production rate

Abstract A method is presented for estimating sinking population, rate of production, and residence time in the living zone for Radiolaria. This method employs vertical flux measurements from PARFLUX sediment traps and laboratory sinking speed measurements of the radiolarian skeletons. The estimated population sinking through the oceanic water column is approximately equal to the standing stock at several hundred meters depth reported from direct measurements by other workers. The rate of production of total Radiolaria was estimated to be approximately 80 shells m −3 day −1 in the western equatorial Atlantic (E) and central Pacific (P 1 ) stations and 230 shells m −3 day −1 in the Panama Basin (PB). The production of Nassellaria is greater than that of the other suborders. The average residence time for Radiolaria in the living zone (0–200 m) was estimated to be between 16 and 42 days.
Divergent effects of dihydropyridine and phenylalkylamine calcium channel antagonist classes on autonomic function in human hypertension

Abstract Calcium channel antagonists differ by class in reported frequency of side effects that suggest reflex sympathoadrenal activation. Do such differences result from differential effects on autonomic and baroreflex function? The present study compared acute and chronic effects of two classes of calcium channel antagonists, the dihydropyridine type (felodipine) and the phenylalkylamine type (verapamil), on efferent sympathetic outflow and baroreflex slope in 15 essential hypertensive subjects. Blood pressure, heart rate, hemodynamics, and biochemistries were determined at baseline and after acute (first dose) and chronic (4 weeks) administration of the drugs versus placebo. Acutely, felodipine caused a greater decrease in blood pressure associated with a larger decline in systemic vascular resistance than the corresponding effects produced by verapamil. Chronically, there were similar, significant declines in blood pressure ( P =.001) and systemic vascular resistance ( P =.001) after each drug. Acutely, increased sympathetic activity after felodipine was suggested by reflex tachycardia (from 69±3 to 74±2 beats per minute, P =.014) and elevation of plasma norepinephrine (from 264±25 to 323±25 pg/mL, P =.037), whereas after verapamil the corresponding changes were closely similar to those after placebo. Chronically, verapamil suppressed sympathetic activity, as evidenced by a decrease in resting heart rate (from 76±2 to 69±3 beats per minute, P =.002), decrease in plasma norepinephrine (from 264±25 to 178±21 pg/mL, P <.001), decrease in chromogranin A (from 33.0±2.4 to 27.8±1.7 ng/mL, P <.001), and lessened response of mean arterial pressure ( P =.006) and heart rate ( P =.016) to phentolamine α-adrenergic blockade; after chronic felodipine, all of these variables were unchanged. Neither drug affected baroreflex slope. We conclude that felodipine and verapamil have qualitatively different, time-dependent actions on efferent sympathetic nervous system activity, actions that may in part explain the disparity in autonomic/hemodynamic side effect profiles of the dihydropyridine and phenylalkylamine classes of calcium channel antagonists.
Age and Sex Modification of Responses to Adreno-corticotropin in Young Chickens: 2. Changes in Adrenal Cholesterol and Blood Constituent Levels

Abstract RESISTANCE to general systemic stress in mammals has been characterized by adrenal hyperfunction as manifested by adrenal hypertrophy, adrenal cholesterol and ascorbic acid depletion, general lymphatic tissue involution and associated blood element changes (Selye, 1950). It is generally accepted that these responses are mediated through increased hypophysial corticotropin output. Similarly, a variety of stress stimuli have been shown to induce adrenal hypertrophy and lymphatic involution in birds (Garren and Shaffner, 1956; Siegel, 1960; Siegel and Siegel, 1961). Chronic or prolonged doses of exogenous corticotropin (ACTH) induce increases in adrenal weight and involution of lymphatic tissue in birds (Bates et al., 1940; Jailer and Boas, 1950; Zarrow and Baldini, 1952; Garren and Hill, 1958). Garren et al. (1961) have also observed that route and vehicle of application may modify responses. However, possibly as a result of greater functional independence of avian cortical tissue from the anterior pituitary (Brown et al., 1958; …
RF Exercises Associated with Acceleration of Intense Antiproton Bunches at Fermilab

Antiprotons for the Fermilab p?p collding beam project (Tevatron I) will be extracted from an 8 GeV accumulation ring in a few (1 to 3) bunches of ~ 1011, a single bunch at a time. To preserve the stack as a source of subsequent bunches, each bunch will be removed from the dense core of the stack with an isolated bucket at harmonic number h = 2. The longitudinal emittance of the bunches will be in range 1.5 to 2. eVs, roughly five times what the Main Ring usually accelerates with the installed 53 MHz rf system. Therefore, the bunch is to be narrowed on the Accumulator extraction orbit to match a 2.5 MHz bucket in the Main Ring. By raising the 2.5 MHz voltage (harmonic number h = 53), the bunch will be further narrowed in the Main Ring to span seven buckets of the prinipal system (h = 1113). The bunch will then be captured adiabaically from the h = 53 bucket into seven adjacent h = 1113 buckets for acceleration to a 150 GeV flattop. At this energy the 2.5 MHz and 53 MHz systems will be used jointly to coalesce 3the seven bunches into a single h = 1113 bucket for injection into the Energy Doubler. This paper describes unstacking in the Accumulator, the adiabatic capture into seven bunches in the Main Ring, and the coalescing of the seven back into one bunch at 150 GeV.
Dual transposition flaps for the reconstruction of large scalp defects.

Background Large scalp defects can be challenging to repair because of the inelasticity of the scalp. While there are several methods to close this type of wound, they result in either alopecia or unacceptable scarring. We present a dual transposition flap to close a large defect following Mohs surgery for a basal cell carcinoma on the scalp. Methods We describe and report the case of a man with a basal cell carcinoma on the scalp vertex who had been referred for Mohs micrographic surgery. The surgery resulted in a large scalp defect. Results A dual transposition flap performed with tumescent anesthesia was used in a delayed closure of a 78.5-cm2 defect. It resulted in minimal alopecia, minimal distortion of the hair orientation, and minimal scar stretch-back. Limitations The limitation of this study is that this technique is based on one case report. Conclusions This dual transposition flap is a good reconstructive option for large, immobile scalp defects. It can be performed under local anesthesia with minimal alopecia and camouflaged scars.
The health of American Indian children in multi-problem families.

Abstract Health histories of American Indian children from families with multiple psychosocial problems were compared to those of children from adequately functioning families living in similar conditions on reservations. The data were derived from reviews of hospital and clinic charts. Distinc differences were found for the first year of life, with children of multi-problem families having more illness and less well-baby care than children of control families. Children of multi-problem families will benefit from special medical and social services, particularly those which will improve their general socioeconomic and environmental conditions.
Auditor perceptions of prior involvement and reputation threats as antecedents of quality threatening audit behavior

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate practicing auditors' beliefs regarding the effect of prior involvement on the occurrence of quality threatening behaviour (QTB) during an audit. The authors examine the extent to which auditors' beliefs about QTB are consistent with the theoretical framework of Kanodia et al., according to which prior involvement in audit work would increase the likelihood of auditors suppressing evidence inconsistent with earlier audit decisions.Design/methodology/approach – The authors conduct an experiment in which auditors assess the likelihood of perceived reputation threats associated with encountering disconfirming evidence late in the audit, and the likelihood that such evidence will be suppressed.Findings – Auditors participating in the study believe that prior involvement will induce a perception of personal reputation threats in an auditor encountering evidence inconsistent with the conclusions of earlier audit work. Participants perceive an auditor with pri...
Conjugate complex variables method for the computation of gravity anomalies

Using conjugate complex variables, a generalized method is presented to derive formulas to calculate first‐ and higher‐order derivatives of the gravity potential due to selected mass models. Double integrals in the computation of gravity‐gradient anomalies are transformed into complex contour integrals. Analytical expressions for higher‐order derivatives of the gravitational potential in arbitrary directions due to two‐dimensional (2‐D) polygonal mass models are derived. The method is extended to 2‐D polygonal bodies whose density contrasts vary with depth and horizontal distance and can be generalized to deal with 2‐D bodies of any shape. The vertical gravity field and its first derivatives due to a homogeneous radially symmetric body are also computed using conjugate complex variables. Derivation of gravity and gravity gradient formulas generally is greatly simplified by the use of complex variables.
Energy-Efficient Multi-Pipeline Architecture for Terabit Packet Classification

Energy efficiency has become a critical concern in designing high speed packet classification engines for next generation routers. Although TCAM-based solutions can provide high throughput, they are not scalable with respect to power consumption. On the other hand, mapping decision-tree-based packet classification algorithms onto SRAM-based pipeline architectures becomes a promising alternative to TCAMs. However, existing SRAM-based algorithmic solutions need a variable number of accesses to large memories to classify a packet, and thus suffer from high energy dissipation in the worst case. This paper proposes a partitioning-based multi-pipeline architecture for energy-efficient packet classification. We optimize the HyperCuts algorithm, which is considered among the most scalable packet classification algorithms, and build a decision tree with a bounded height. Then we study two different schemes to partition the decision tree into several disjoint subtrees and map them onto multiple SRAM-based pipelines. Only one pipeline is active for classifying each packet, which takes a bounded number of accesses to small memories. Thus the energy dissipation is reduced. Simulation experiments using both real-life and synthetic traces show that the proposed architecture with 8 pipelines can store up to 10K unique rules in 0.336 MB SRAM, sustains 1 Tbps throughput, and achieves 2.25-fold reduction in energy dissipation over the baseline pipeline architecture that is not partitioned.
Crafting an International Legal Regime for Worker Rights: Assessing the Literature since the 1999 Seattle WTO Protests

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, critical attention has increasingly focused on the remaining world system, capitalist in nature and anchored in the World Trade Organization (WTO), founded in 1994 as the successor to the 1948 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). As the 1990s progressed, a smattering of exciting new intellectual work began to appear on the social and environmental impacts of the international trade and investment regime, especially given its apparently negative impact on many developing countries and the world’s working people. “The distinction somewhat comfortably maintained by ‘trade hands’ who managed the post-World War II international economy––that trade is strictly a commercial function with no immediate connection to social concerns––has evaporated under the pressure of political and social forces generated by the globalization of the economy.” 1 These incipient currents of political disquiet, at first easily overlooked, would surface with surprising force in late 1999 when large and dramatic street protests confronted the WTO’s Third Ministerial Conference in Seattle. For the first time, a meeting of the mandarins of international trade was met with a massive and unruly expression of democracy in the streets. The Seattle events seized the world’s imagination in part because they were so unexpected in a thriving tradebased US city that was, at the time, the world headquarters of Boeing and Microsoft, giants of the “old” and “new” global economy, respectively. The labor issue even reverberated in the suites of the city, as government representatives debated the inclusion of worker rights in the agenda of the “Millennium Round” of international trade negotiations that was to have started in Seattle. 2 The Seattle protests heightened public and scholarly attention to proposals for social or worker rights clauses in international trade agreements, an issue that had briefly flared up at the 1994 GATT meeting in Marrakesh (though not in the streets). As the new millennium began, the labor question was part of a vital international policy debate that spoke to societal concerns felt well beyond the usual haunts of academic labor specialists. Indeed, the formation of the WTO, with near-universal membership, led a number of labor scholars, as early as 1996, to envisage new possibilities for promoting worker rights on a world scale. 3 Drawing on interdisciplinary reflections going back to the early twentieth century, this review essay offers a point of entry into the pitched debates about globalization, which peaked during the protest cycle
Replacement of Fish Meal with Poultry By‐product Meal as a Protein Source in Pond‐raised Sunshine Bass, Morone chrysops ♀ × M. saxatlis ♂, Diets

Replacement of fish meal (FM) as a protein source with alternative sources of protein in aquaculture diets has been widely explored in aquaculture. The goal of replacement of FM in production diets is to maintain growth, lower production costs, and increase sustainability. Evaluation of the replacement of FM with poultry by-product meal (PBM) in phase II sunshine bass diets, Morone chrysops 3 M. saxatilis, was conducted in ponds over 246 d. Four diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous (37%) and isocaloric (4 kcal/g) with different levels of FM replacement with PBM (0, 33, 67, and 100%, Diets 1‐4, respectively). Twelve ponds were stocked with 400 phase II sunshine bass (mean weight 5.6 g) and randomly assigned one of the four diets. Fish were fed below satiation based on predicted growth and feed conversion, initially once daily (1700 h) and then twice daily (0700 and 1700 h) as water temperatures and feeding activity increased. Diets were evaluated based on production and performance indicators, body composition, and economic analysis. Production results revealed no significant differences in mean final individual fish weight (511 6 21 g), net production (4257 6 247 kg/ha), and survival (85 6 2%). No significant differences occurred between the performance indicators: mean feed conversion ratio (2.47 6 0.11), specific growth rate (1.84 6 0.02), and protein conversion efficiency (23 6 1.3%). Body composition was statistically similar for mean percent fillet weight (49 6 0.6%) and percent intraperitoneal fat (9.8 6 1.0%); however, the hepatosomatic index was significantly different between Diets 3 (3.7 6 0.1%) and 4 (3.2 6 0.1%). Mean proximate analysis of whole fish (dry weight basis) was not significantly different among treatments yielding the following: percent protein (46 6 0.4%), lipid (47 6 1.3%), and ash (8 6 0.7%). Mean fillet composition (dry weight basis) also revealed no significant differences: percent protein (72 6 0.8%), percent lipid (30 6 1.6%), and percent ash (5 6 0.2%). Proximate analysis was also performed on the diets and revealed a significantly lower protein content in Diet 3 (34.3 6 0.5%) compared to the other diets (37.1 6 0.4%). Amino acid analysis of the diets indicated a possible deficiency in methionine in Diets 3 and 4. Based on production, performance, and body composition, the results indicate that complete replacement of FM with PBM in sunshine bass diets is feasible; however, economic analysis suggests that the replacement of FM with PBM may result in reduced revenue over feed costs.
Concept formation in American black bears, Ursus americanus

Despite their large relative brain size, bears have been neglected in studies of comparative cognition in comparison to their fellow carnivores, the social canines and pinnipeds. Here, three captive adult American black bears were presented with a series of natural concept discrimination tasks on a touchscreen computer, in which the discriminations varied in degree of abstraction. The more abstract discriminations could not be performed by attending to perceptual features of the stimuli alone. For instance, at the most abstract level, the bears were required to select images of animals rather than nonanimals, and exemplars within both categories were perceptually diverse. At least one bear performed at above-chance levels with transfer to novel images at each level of abstraction. The bear that began testing with the most abstract problems showed the best transfer on more abstract discriminations, suggesting that the usual practice of overtraining animals on perceptual discriminations may hinder their ability to acquire concepts at more abstract levels. The bears' performance suggests that a generalized diet may be more critical than group living with regard to the evolution of complex cognition in carnivores.
A Social Influence Interpretation of Worker Motivation

A framework for understanding worker motivation is proposed. The framework draws heavily on theory and research in the areas of social influence, individual differences, and organizational typology. In addition to integrating these theoretical approaches in a social influence interpretation of worker motivation, the proposed framework identifies specific, testable hypotheses.
A system dynamics model of island biogeography

Abstract The MacArthur-Wilson equilibrium theory of island biogeography has been one of the more influential concepts in modern biogeography and ecology. In this paper, we synthesize the theory and examine effects of different immigration/extinction rate-species diversity curves on original predictions from the theory by using the System Dynamics simulation modeling approach. Moreover, we develop a comprehensive and generic System Dynamics model to incorporate a variety of recent modifications and extensions of the theory, including area effect, distance effect, competition effect, habitat diversity effect, target effect, and rescue effect. Through computer simulation with STELLA, a more profound understanding of the theory of island biogeography can be gained. The System Dynamics modeling approach is especially appropriate for such a study because it maximizes the utilization of the ecological data by incorporating qualitative information so that a complex, imprecisely-defined ecological system can be studied quantitatively, effectively, and comprehensively. Our simulation results show that different monotonic rate-species diversity curves do not affect the essence of the theory of island biogeography, while the magnitude of equilibrium species diversity may be greatly affected. Non-monotonic rate-species diversity curves may result in potential multiple equilibria of species diversity. In addition, our model suggests that a non-monotonic relationship may exist between the equilibrium turnover rate and island area and between the equilibrium turnover rate and distance.
Commensal-Epithelial Signaling Mediated via Formyl Peptide Receptors

Commensal bacteria and/or their products engender beneficial effects to the mammalian gut, including stimulating physiological cellular turnover and enhancing wound healing, without activating overt inflammation. In the present study, we observed commensal bacteria-mediated activation of the noninflammatory extracellular signal-regulated kinase[ERK]/mitogen-activated protein kinase and Akt signaling pathways in gut epithelial cells and delineated a mechanism for this bacterially activated signaling. All tested strains of commensal bacteria induced ERK phosphorylation without stimulating pro-inflammatory phospho-IκB or pro-apoptotic phospho-c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, with Lactobacillus species being most potent. This pattern of signaling activation was recapitulated using the peptide N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe, a bacterial product known to stimulate signaling events in mammalian phagocytes. Sensing of N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe by gut epithelial cells occurs via recently characterized formyl peptide receptors located in the plasma membrane. Both commensal bacteria and N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe application to the apical surface of polarized gut epithelial cells resulted in specific formyl peptide receptor activation. In addition, pretreatment of model epithelia and murine colon with Boc2 (a specific peptide antagonist) or pertussis toxin (a Gi-protein inhibitor) abolished commensal-mediated ERK phosphorylation. Taken together, these data show that commensal bacteria specifically activate the ERK/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in an formyl peptide receptor-dependent manner, delineating a mechanism by which commensal bacteria contribute to cellular signaling in gut epithelia.
Active trunk stiffness during voluntary isometric flexion and extension exertions.

Objective: Compare muscle activity and trunk stiffness during isometric trunk flexion and extension exertions. Background: Elastic stiffness of the torso musculature is considered the primary stabilizing mechanism of the spine. Therefore, stiffness of the trunk during voluntary exertions provides insight into the stabilizing control of pushing and pulling tasks. Methods: Twelve participants maintained an upright posture against external flexion and extension loads applied to the trunk. Trunk stiffness, damping, and mass were determined from the dynamic relation between pseudorandom force disturbances and subsequent small-amplitude trunk movements recorded during the voluntary exertions. Muscle activity was recorded from rectus abdominus, external oblique, lumbar paraspinal, and internal oblique muscle groups. Results: Normalized electromyographic activity indicated greater antagonistic muscle recruitment during flexion exertions than during extension. Trunk stiffness was significantly greater during flexi...
The Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

In January 2003, the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced that certain individuals should receive smallpox vaccine or other countermeasures to be prepared to serve the civilian population in the event of a smallpox bioterrorism event. In April 2003, Congress passed and the President signed the Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act of 2003. This act created the Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to provide medical and lost employment income coverage as a payer of last resort to persons who sustain a covered medical injury as a direct result of receiving smallpox vaccination voluntarily under a DHHS-approved smallpox emergency response plan. As of September 2006, 62 persons had requested benefits, of whom 19 had been determined to be medically eligible, 27 were denied benefits, and 16 submitted the request after the legislatively defined filing deadline.
Hibernoma arising from the adrenal gland.

Abstract Hibernomas, or “brown fat” tumors, arising from the adrenal gland, have not been reported previously. These benign lesions consist of brown fat and demonstrate inert features. The most common anatomic location of these tumors is in the adipose tissue of the thigh, shoulder, chest, and back. We describe a hibernoma within the adrenal gland in close association with a myelolipoma that was excised for its solid enlarging characteristics.
Inside Out in the Open: An Expressionist Journey in the Music Known as Free Jazz

Alan Roth, director and producer. DVD (PAL and NTSC). ESP‐Disk’, ESP‐4042, 2008. $11.99. (Originally released as Asymmetric Pictures, 2001, VHS tape.) Released in 2001 on videocassette and re‐relea...
The Border Between Relativity and Quantum Theory

Many efforts have been made to fulfill Einstein’s dream of unifying general relativity and quantum theory, including the study of quantum field theory in curved space, supergravity, string theory, twistors, and loop quantum gravity. While all of these approaches have had notable successes, unification has not yet been achieved. After a brief tour of the progress which has been made, we focus on the role played by spinors in several of these approaches, suggesting that spinors may be the key to combining classical relativity with quantum physics. We conclude by outlining one possible generalization of traditional spinor language, involving the octonions, and speculate on its relevance to quantum gravity.
Etiology of Acute Pancreatitis

Biliary tract disease is associated with 30% to 75% of all cases of pancreatitis. Some patients with gallstones develop acute pancreatitis in association with symptoms of acute cholecystitis. Others develop pancreatitis in the context of gallstones within the common bile duct causing pain (biliary colic), sepsis, and jaundice. Still others develop acute pancreatitis without any symptoms suggestive of acute cholecystitis or active disease within the common bile duct. These various clinical presentations have at least two features in common: (1) all usually cause mild edematous pancreatitis which resolves completely, although in some instances an episode may progress into severe hemorrhagic pancreatitis associated with serious complications; and (2) once the biliary tract disease has been eliminated by surgery, the patient usually experiences no further episodes of acute pancreatitis.
Mount Laurel II and the Revitalizing City

Exclusionary zoning and community development in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. The article suggests that inclusionary zoning techniques developed to provide low and moderate-income access to for the suburbs may also be useful to slow gentrification occurring during inner-city revitalization.
Zinc-Mediated Carbene Insertion to C-Cl Bonds of Chloromethanes and Isolable Zinc(II) Isocyanide Adducts.

The zinc adduct {[HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Zn}+, which was generated from [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]ZnEt and [Ph3C]{B[3,5-(CF3)2C6H3]4}, catalyzes the activation of C–halogen bonds of chloromethanes via carbene insertion. Ethyl diazoacetate serves as the carbene precursor. The presence of {[HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Zn}+ in the reaction mixture was confirmed by obtaining {[HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Zn(CNtBu)3}+ using CNtBu as a trapping agent. {[HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Zn(CNtBu)3}+ loses one zinc-bound CNtBu easily to produce five-coordinate {[HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Zn(CNtBu)2}+.
Personalizing routes

Navigation services (e.g., in-car navigation systems and online mapping sites) compute routes between two locations to help users navigate. However, these routes may direct users along an unfamiliar path when a familiar path exists, or, conversely, may include redundant information that the user already knows. These overly complicated directions increase the cognitive load of the user, which may lead to a dangerous driving environment. Since the level of detail is user specific and depends on their familiarity with a region, routes need to be personalized. We have developed a system, called MyRoute, that reduces route complexity by creating user specific routes based on a priori knowledge of familiar routes and landmarks. MyRoute works by compressing well known steps into a single contextualized step and rerouting users along familiar routes.
Optimization of microdroplet radiofluorination towards on-demand synthesis of N-succinimidyl-4-[18F]fluorobenzoate (SFB) on an EWOD microdevice

1483 Objectives Positron emission tomography (PET) has been increasingly used in the clinic research for early diagnosis, detection of metastases, and understanding specific biochemical pathways for diseases. To date, the key barrier of PET imaging is in the production of diverse PET probes, which is for on-demand synthesis of diverse PET probes. Our group is developing all-electronic microfluidic devices based on electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) and has demonstrated reliable radiosynthesis of [18F]FDG starting from the fluoride drying to deprotection reactions on-chip.3 To demonstrate the versatility of the EWOD radiosynthesizer (Fig. A), our objective was to optimize the fluorination reaction in synthesis of N-Succinimidyl-4-[18F]Fluorobenzoate (SFB), one of the most widely used prothetic groups for labeling biomolecules. Methods The radiofluorination of tert-Butyl 4-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumbenzoate triflate (TBAB) within a sandwiched microdroplet was performed between Teflon-glass substrates (Fig. C), which mimic the microdroplet configuration on the EWOD chip. In this study, we investigated the effect of different molar ratios of the precursor, base and Kryptofix on the fluorination efficiency. Results We found that the optimal ratio of precursor, base and Kryptofix is 1, 2.2 and 3.7, respectively in the sandwiched microdroplet configuration (Fig. H). Based on the optimized radiofluorination conditions on Teflon coated glass substrates, we have successfully demonstrated the radiofluorination of the SFB precursor on EWOD chip with 70±7% (n=2) (Fig. E-F). Conclusions The radiofluorination was successfully accomplished in EWOD. Further work will examine the remaining steps in order to complete the full synthesis of [18F]SFB on-chip
Adsorption Site Distributions on Cu(111), Cu(221), and Cu(643) as Determined by Xe Adsorption

Xe has been used to probe the distributions of adsorption sites across three different Cu single-crystal surfaces: Cu(111), Cu(221), and Cu(643). These expose terrace, step, and kink sites, respectively. The study couples the use of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and photoemission of adsorbed Xe (PAX) to assess their use as methods for determining adsorption site distributions on Cu surfaces. STM shows that the Xe adsorption sites in order of energetic preference are kink, step edge, and terrace, but indicates that the binding energy differences between the three are likely very small. This is borne out by Xe TPD studies that show distinct differences in the desorption kinetics on the three surfaces but unresolvable differences in the desorption temperatures and binding energies at the terrace, step, and kink sites. PAX spectra reveal observable features that can be associated with Xe adsorption at terrace, step, and kink sites. These features can be analyzed...
Decreased synthesis of acetylcholine accompanying impaired oxidation of pyruvic acid in rat brain minces

The relation between pyruvate utilization and acetylcholine synthesis was investigated in minces of adult rat brain. The flux of pyruvate to acetylcholine was less than 1% of that to CO2; nevertheless, a number of agents which inhibited conversion of [1-14C]-pyruvate or [2-14C]pyruvate into 14CO2 were associated with corresponding decreases in the conversion of [2-14C]pyruvate into acetylcholine. The amount of acetylcholine produced by minces of whole rat brain, measured by g.l.c.-mass spectrometry, decreased similarly. Among the inhibitory compounds tested were 3-bromopyruvate, an irreversible inhibitor of pyruvate dehydrogenase; 2-oxobutyrate, a competitive inhibitor of pyruvate dehydrogenase; other 2-oxo acids; and amobarbital and pentobarbital. Linear-regression equations relating CO2 production to acetylcholine synthesis gave correlation coefficients of 0.89-0.93 for the combined observations. The inhibition of acetylcholine synthesis could not be attributed to inhibition of choline acetyltransferase. Incorporation of [2-14C]pyruvate into lipids, proteins and nucleic acids was effected less than that into acetylcholine. Under these experimental conditions, it was shown that pyruvate utilization can limit acetylcholine synthesis.
Analysis on the characteristics of syphilis in Luohe city during 2004-2012

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of syphilis in Luohe City,Providing the basis for formulation of prevention and control measures.Methods Using the method of descriptive epidemiology.Results From 2004 to 2012 in Luohe City, the incidence rate of syphilis increased rapidly in these years,going up from 4.46 per 100,000 residents in 2004 to 35.30 per 100,000 residents in 2012;Incidence ranked by the 11 rise in 2004 to fifth in 2012; The incidence to the big age group, 70 age group for 19.31 % of the total cases;Recessive syphilis increased the proportion, accounting for 51.59 %.Conclusion The incidence rate of syphilis is in rapid growth stage in Luohe cify. Syphilis prevention and control work is to strengthen the focus on health education, To strengthen the training of clinicians, the timely detection and treatment of malaria patients, Specification for containment of the outbreak epidemic situation report, the momentum of rapid increase.
Analysis of immunization coverage rate and its affecting factorof expanded program on immunization

Objective: To find the immunization coverage rate and influence factors of floating children left-behind children and resident children in Linyi city.Methods: 150 floating children and 300 resident children aged 1-2 years old and 300 left-behind children aged 3-6 years old were investigated for immunization coverage rates and influence factors by Probability Proportionate to Size sampling.The vaccination records were judged by the standard of Ministry of Health.Results: The qualified coverage rate of the 5 vaccines of floating children,left-behind children and resident children were 60%,89.7% and 98.7% respectively.Multi-factor Logistic regression model showed mother's occupation,mother's academic diplomas,parities and distance influenced the immunization coverage rates.Caregiver's cognition manner about vaccination also influenced the immunization coverage rates.Conclusion: To different types of children,the influence factors of timely immunization rates are different.Various measures should be taken to increase the understanding about vaccination.
Interstitial microwave hyperthermia for brain tumors. Results of a phase-1 clinical trial.

The technical feasibility and clinical safety of interstitial microwave hyperthermia was evaluated in six patients with glioblastoma and malignant astrocytoma. Prior to entry into the study, each patient had received surgery, radiation and nitrosourea chemotherapy. All patients were implanted at open craniotomy with a flexible microwave radiator/sensor (o.d. 1.5 mm) and transcutaneously connected to a 2450 MHz microwave generator. Intraoperative thermal field plots and cooling curves were obtained with the aid of non-perturbing probes (o.d. 1.2 mm) perpendicularly driven into the tumor at fixed radial distances from the central antenna. In comparison to similar measurements carried out in normal feline brains, human gliomas were unable to efficiently dissipate heat as demonstrated by doubling of the effective diameter of the thermal field to 4 cm and by prolongation of the decay time in all cooling curves. Patients were also implanted with subarachnoid ICP monitors over the contralateral hemisphere. Two postoperative treatments were given at 45°C for 60 min on the night of surgery and 48 hr later. No patient was aware of power on/ power off, there were no permanent neurologic sequelae and there were no significant changes in the ICP. Power was manually controlled with visual feedback in the first three patients and automatically controlled by a computer-based system in the final three patients. Four of the six patients have lived 18 months after implantation and two of these have negative CT scans at 18 and 27 months since recurrence. It appears that interstitial microwave hyperthermia is both feasible and safe within the intracranial cavity and that combined interstitial irradiation and hyperthermia deserves clinical study.
Sustainable Democracy: Privatization and Its Alternatives

The Pitfalls of Large-Scale Privatization Privatization programs are justified by their advocates on three grounds: (1) enhancing economic efficiency, (2) increasing government revenue, and (3) eliciting political support. We can classify privatization strategies along two dimensions: whether a given strategy advocates a fast or slow privatization, and whether it advocates privatization from below (spontaneous privatization) or from above (centrally directed privatization). Of course, any typology is arbitrary. We choose this one because it enables us to focus on two crucial dimensions of economic – political transformation. Democratic institutions have their “institutional time.” The pace and timing of privatization strategies have important implications for the mutual relations among the political institutions. If one wants to push through privatization as quickly as possible, presidential decree power is needed, and parliamentary debates are an obstacle. In turn, the issue of who directs the privatization program shapes the relation between the state and the economy. The Hayekian belief about “spontaneous order” has been used against all attempts to guide the privatization process through policy intervention from above, except in the form of a general enabling law that would allow the private sector to grow spontaneously. The debates about the pace of privatization are based on economic as well as political arguments. Advocates of slow privatization believe that state firms should be sold off gradually, after the new rules of economic behavior begin to emerge and after a more rational price system and a real business class has had time to develop.
New Opportunities for PODC?: Massive, Volatile, but Highly Predictable Resources

Classical models for distributed systems focus on fine-grained resources and failures (e.g. single processes and fail-stop or byzantine). Cheap hardware, the rise of the worldwide web, and now the rise of cloud computing has transformed distributed systems practice. Instead of single resources, application sites have ten-thousands of virtual machines, and in addition to independent failures, there are a raft of correlated failure modes.Motivated by the reality the computing is the fastest growing consumer of electric power (and associated carbon emissions), we are creating new model for cloud computing systems, Zero-carbon Cloud, that taps a growing phenomenon of "stranded power" -- energy that is generated, but has no economic value. Stranded power is significant today (7.7 terawatt-hours in the Midwest power grid in 2014, perhaps 50 TWH worldwide), and growing rapidly as concerns about climate change drive a conversion of the grid to intermittent renewable energy generation such as wind and solar.Zero-carbon cloud resources have several novel properties. First, they have correlated availability at massive scale -- 10K-1M cores in an entire data center will go on or offline at once. Second, these periods may be highly predictable -- external factors such as weather, predicted load, and power markets shape the availability of stranded power. Third, these properties can be engineered -- for example, a small amount of energy storage can be used to "delay" unavailability. We will propose Zero-carbon cloud, or massive volatile resources based on stranded power as an interesting new model for a variety of classical distributed systems challenges (consistency, etc.) and new challenges for optimization.More information is available at http://zccloud.cs.uchicago.edu/
West’s Syndrome (Infantile Spasms)

Infantile spasms are a unique disorder, peculiar to infancy and early childhood. These seizures, which have been recognized as an epileptic phenomenon since they were first described by William West in 184153 are referred to by a variety of names, including “flexion spasms”, “jackknife seizures”, “massive spasms” and “infantile myoclonic seizures”. In 1952, Gibbs and Gibbs16 described the interictal EEG pattern, hypsarrhythmia, which was noted to occur in a large number of infantile spasms patients. Most patients with infantile spasms have some degree of mental and developmental retardation, and the triad of infantile spasms, hypsarrhythmia and retardation has become known as “West’s syndrome”. In 1958, a major breakthrough in the treatment of this disorder was reported by Sorel and Dusaucy-Bauloye48 who noted improvement in the EEG and cessation of spasms in patients treated with adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH).