cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Porcine oocyte zona pellucida Mr 55,000 glycoproteins: Identification of O-glycosylated domains

The distribution of O-linked oligosaccharides on the M(r) 55,000 glycoproteins, ZP3 alpha and ZP3 beta, of the porcine oocyte zona pellucida was examined. Purified preparations of endo-beta-galactosidase digested ZP3 alpha and ZP3 beta were reduced and carboxamidomethylated and digested with trypsin. When the trypsin digests were mapped by HPLC, each glycoprotein yielded only one N-acetylgalactosamine containing glycopeptide. Purification of the O-glycopeptides was achieved by a two-step protocol. Tryptic digests were applied to jacalin-agarose and specifically-bound O-glycopeptides (alpha OGP and beta OGP) were eluted with buffer containing 50 mM alpha-methylgalactoside as the haptenic sugar. Further purification of each O-glycopeptide was accomplished by reverse phase HPLC. Purified O-glycopeptides were characterized with respect to amino acid and carbohydrate compositions and sequenced by automated Edman degradation; alpha OGP was a 41-residue glycopeptide with three O-linked sugar chains. Sequence comparisons revealed a 75% identity between alpha OGP and a corresponding segment of rabbit rec55 zona protein; beta OGP was a 25-residue glycopeptide characterized by the presence of one N-linked and five O-linked sugar chains and a trypsin-resistant internal arginine residue. Sequence alignments revealed an 80% or greater identity between beta OGP and internal peptides of mouse, hamster and human ZP3 zona proteins. These studies demonstrate that in the case of ZP3 alpha and ZP3 beta, the pig homologues of rabbit rec55 and mouse ZP3, respectively, O-linked oligosaccharides are confined within delimited domains rather than widely dispersed on the polypeptide backbone. Such clustering of O-linked oligosaccharides may represent an essential determinant of the structure and biological activity of zona proteins.
Detection of fungal spore antigens by serologic methods.

Immunologische Agglutinations-Reaktionen eignen sich als Methoden zur Untersuchung von spezies-spezifischen Antigenen von Pilzsporen.
A new environment for interactive neural network experiments

Abstract DESIRE/NEUNET is a new environment for interactive experiments with neural networks. Simulations on 80386/80387-based personal computers execute faster than in Microsoft FORTRAN. Screen-edited programs, moreover, execute directly without the usual annoying wait for program translation. A true (not incremental) compiler, small and extra fast, is built into a powerful interpreter and compiles all time-critical operations directly into memory. A reasonable matrix language makes it easy to split large neuron interconnection matrices into smaller, intuitively meaningful pieces. DESIRE/NEUNET includes two built-in screen editors, a DOS shell, a debugger, and a journal-file generator, plots graphs, and lets users write their own help screens and menus. The new program admits up to 16,383 neuron interconnections under MS-DOS and will be ported to AT clones.
Simplified ab externo scleral fixation for late in-the-bag intraocular lens dislocation

Many surgical techniques to repair late in-the-bag intraocular lens (IOL) dislocation have been described. We present a modification to ab externo scleral fixation of in-the-bag IOL dislocation that minimizes cumbersome intraocular manipulations. Using an iris hook for intraocular suture retrieval under direct visualization eliminates the need to mate the suture needle with a hypodermic needle, and the site through which the hook is used provides an ideal place for suture knot burial, potentially minimizing late suture erosion or exposure. Financial Disclosure Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Phase control of circadian activity in the antelope ground squirrel

Abstract Wheel‐running activity of forty antelope ground squirrels, Ammospermophilus leucurus, was monitored for several months in both an outdoor cage and in the laboratory. The squirrels demonstrated a highly diurnal pattern which persisted in “constant conditions.” After removal from the field the initial free‐running period was close to 24 hrs, but typically lengthened in a nearly linear fashion at least for the first few months. There was no evidence of any difference in this trend for squirrels, in D/D, L/L 100 lx, 250 lx or 1200 lx. Eventually, about 90 percent of the squirrels had periods longer than 24 hrs. The synchronizing capacity of the natural photoperiod was used to “catch the free‐running rhythm” and thereby demonstrate a response curve. Synchronization occurred by a shortening of the period when the time of sunrise was between 125° and 0° (subjective night) and by a lengthening of the period when the time of sunrise was between 0° and 125° (subjective day). To more thoroughly examine the ...
Nutrient transport in a restored riparian wetland

We determined the water quality effect of a restored forested riparian wetland adjacent to a manure application area and a heavily fertilized pasture in the Georgia Coastal Plain. The buffer system was managed based on USDA recommendations and averaged 38 m in width. Water quality and hydrology data were collected from 1991-1999. A nitrate plume in shallow ground water with concentrations exceeding 10 mg NO3-N L(-1) moved into the restored forested riparian wetland. Along most of the plume front, concentrations were less than 4 mg NO3-N L(-1) within 25 m. Two preferential flow paths associated with past hydrologic modifications to the site allowed the nitrate plume to progress further into the restored forested riparian wetland. Surface runoff total N, dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), and total P concentrations averaged 8.63 mg N L(-1), 1.37 mg P L(-1), and 1.48 mg P L(-1), respectively, at the field edge and were reduced to 4.18 mg N L(-1), 0.31 mg P L(-1), and 0.36 mg P L(-1), respectively, at the restored forested riparian wetland outlet. Water and nutrient mass balance showed that retention and removal rates for nitrogen species ranged from a high of 78% for nitrate to a low of 52% for ammonium. Retention rates for both DRP and total P were 66%. Most of the N retention and removal was accounted for by denitrification. Mean annual concentrations of total N and total P leaving the restored forested riparian wetland were 1.98 mg N L(-1) and 0.24 mg P L(-1), respectively.
Cotton Water Use and Lint Yield in Four Great Plains Soils

The development of earlier maturing, cool temperature tolerant varieties of cotton (L.) has allowed cotton production to expand into regions with shorter, cooler growing seasons. The objective of this research was to evaluate the interactive effect of soil type, irrigation, and meteorological conditions on the water use and lint yield of cotton grown in four U.S. Great Plains soils. Cotton was grown in 2005 through 2007 in 48 weighing lysimeters which contained clay loam, silt loam, sandy loam, or fine sand at Bushland, TX, with irrigation beginning after emergence. The seasonal heat units (HU) from planting to harvest were 1010°C in 2005, 1075°C in 2006, and 985°C in 2007. From seedling to beginning boll development, reference evapotranspiration averaged 7.6 mm in 2005, 8.5 mm in 2006, and 6.7 mm in 2007. Lint yield was significantly related to open boll number at harvest in all soils and years. Averaged cotton lint yields for the 2005 and 2007 full and deficit irrigation treatments were significantly larger in the fine sand (160 g m) than in the other soils (126 g m). In 2006, cotton lint yield in the fine sand was significantly smaller (101 g m) than the average of the other soils (147 g m). Cotton lint yield increased in the silt loam soil and decreased in the fine sand as seasonal HU increased. Early season meteorological conditions which influenced square shedding and boll development may have affected lint yields interactively with soil texture and irrigation.
Citizen police academies: the importance of communication

Purpose – To describe the class content of a citizen police academy (CPA) and the preference for communicative problem solving over physical force.Design/methodology/approach – This ethnographic case study followed 20 participants through a CPA run by a suburban police department. Participants were interviewed before the academy began. All classes were observed and transcribed, and group discussions were held after the academy's conclusion. Instructors were also interviewed.Findings – The more “action‐packed” parts of policing attract participants to CPAs, which then can emphasize the less adventuresome aspects. While officers must be ready to respond to violence used against them, communication plays a greater role in investigating crime and solving day‐to‐day problems. Citizens are encouraged to work with police by reporting problems and becoming involved with community policing efforts. CPAs counter the violent portrayal of police work in the mass media.Research limitations/implications – Generalizabil...
The madmen's song and dance in the duchess of Malfi

(1988). The madmen's song and dance in the duchess of Malfi. Literature in Performance: Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 14-27.
Genetic Association of COL5A1 Variants in Keratoconus Patients Suggests a Complex Connection between Corneal Thinning and Keratoconus

PURPOSE Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located near or within the COL5A1 gene, at 9q34.2-q34.3 chromosomal region have been reported in association with central corneal thickness (CCT). Using family linkage analysis, we identified a keratoconus susceptibility locus at 9q34. These findings led us to perform an association study between COL5A1 variation and keratoconus susceptibility. METHODS A Caucasian case-control cohort of 222 keratoconus patients and 3324 controls was selected as the discovery panel. An independent case-control panel of 304 cases and 518 controls and a family panel of 186 subjects were replicated for genotyping and association. Forty-four SNPs (21 for discovery and 23 for fine-mapping) spanning 300 kilobases in and around COL5A1 were genotyped and tested for genetic association. Logistic regression models implemented in PLINK were used to test for association in case controls. Generalized estimating equation models accounting for familial correlations implemented in genome-wide interaction analyses with family data were used for association testing in families. RESULTS Two CCT associated SNPs (rs1536482 and rs7044529 near and within COL5A1) were identified in the keratoconus discovery cohort (P values of 6.5 × 10(-3) and 7.4 × 10(-3)). SNP rs1536482 was replicated in the second case-control sample (P = 0.02), and SNP rs7044529 was replicated in a keratoconus family panel (P = 0.03). Meta P values of rs1536482 and rs7044529 in the keratoconus cohorts were 1.5 × 10(-4) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.30) and 2.9 × 10(-3) (OR = 1.39). After Bonferroni correction, the association of SNP rs1536482 remained significant (P = 6.5 × 10(-3)). CONCLUSIONS SNPs in the COL5A1 region, which regulate normal variation in CCT, may play a role in the thinning associated with keratoconus.
Dislocation emission at ledges on cracks

In this paper, we propose that, depending on their height, ledges on cracks can be efficient sources of dislocations at loadings well below the critical loading for homogeneous emission. Detailed 3-D elastic calculations are presented supporting this proposition. There are two configurations for emission: one which blunts the crack, and one we call a jogging configuration. By our calculations, the blunting configuration should be the more efficient source; however, jogging dislocations are more frequently observed, experimentally. We find that the ledge is only a finite source of dislocations, in the sense that the ledge height decreases as the dislocations are emitted. The atomic configuration at the ledge is composed of finite lengths of real dislocations, which is the reason why such dislocations can be emitted easier than homogeneously produced dislocations. The stresses at the ledge tip produce a cloud of bound dislocations near the ledge, pinned at the ledge ends, so that the ledge crack configuration becomes delocalized. Delocalization of the pileup dislocations in the jogging direction may explain why the jogging dislocations are more frequently seen. Implications for dislocation free zones and ductile transitions are discussed.
How to image from head to pubis for blunt abdominal trauma using GE LightSpeed QX/i

Multislice CT scanners can rapidly produce head-to-pubis images in multitrauma patients. This article summarizes the technical advances that distinguish multislice CT scanners from single-slice helical CT scanners. It is important to understand certain physical principles in order to use this powerful technology to maximum diagnostic advantage while keeping radiation doses at reasonable levels. The CT imaging protocol of our institution is presented along with a discussion of the rationale behind our protocol choices. One of the important advantages in using the total body CT approach is its ability to perform CT angiography of the aorta and multiplanar reformatted images of the spine from a single pass through the torso. Techniques for optimizing reformatted images conclude the article.
Preface: Recent Advances in Modeling Multiphase Flow and Transport with the TOUGH Family of Codes

A symposium on research carried out using the TOUGH family of numerical codes was held from May 15 to 17, 2006, at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. This special issue of the 'Vadose Zone Journal' contains revised and expanded versions of a selected set of papers presented at this symposium (TOUGH Symposium 2006; http://esd.lbl.gov/TOUGHsymposium), all of which focus on multiphase flow, including flow in the vadose zone.
Consumption of serum factors and prothrombin during intravascular clotting in rabbits.

We have studied the effect of experimental intravascular clotting upon Factors II, VII, IX, and X in rabbits. Animals were given sodium warfarin intravenously to block the synthesis of these factors and, 4 hours later, were infused with either dilute tissue thromboplastin or saline. The tissue thromboplastin induced intravascular clotting extensive enough to halve fibrinogen and platelet levels and to reduce markedly Factor V and Factor VIII levels. These changes resulted from a consumption during clotting of about 10 per cent of the available prothrombin. Each of the serum factors fell further during the infusion of tissue thromboplastin than during the infusion of saline; apparently, serum factors activated during clotting do not circulate in the rabbit. Net losses due to intravascular clotting equalled about 15 to 30 per cent of the Factors VII, IX, and X initially present. These data suggest that consumption during intravascular clotting may account for the low levels of Factors VII, IX, and X described in patients with diffuse intravascular clotting complicating septicaemia. The evidence of consumption of Factor IX raises the possibility that tissue thromboplastin may activate intrinsic clotting during hemostasis in vivo.
A Phase-Change Via-Reconfigurable CMOS $LC$ VCO

This paper demonstrates the efficacy of phase-change (PC) vias in reconfiguring RF front-end circuits for multiband/multi-standard operation. Constructed using two series-connected (SC) GeTe vias, a PC switch can be reversibly transformed between a high ROFF state and a low RON state within 1 μs. Using such PC switches to switch the inductor in a resonator, two LC voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) based on: 1) a SC and 2) a coupling-controlled (CC) resonator are developed. Designed and fabricated in 0.13- μm CMOS in conjunction with an in-house GeTe process, the VCOs can switch their operating frequency over widely separated bands. Wide tuning ranges of 2.89-4.23/(4.93-7.79) and 4.80-8.53/(5.28-10.20) GHz were achieved in the off/on state for the SC/(CC) VCOs. The measured phase noise over the entire tuning range was lower than -103.4 and -102.7 dBc/Hz, at a 1-MHz offset frequency, respectively.
Shape distinction of particulate materials by laser diffraction pattern analysis

Abstract A pattern of a diffraction image depends on the particle shape, while the size of the pattern depends on the sectional area of the particle. In this work, the method to extract differences from the diffraction patterns due to different shapes of non-spherical particles was studied conceptually. In this respect, a radial segment (wedge) photo-detector was assumed as a detector. Diffraction patterns and intensity patterns detected by the radial segment detector were calculated for many kinds of two-dimensional shapes, corresponding to the projections of particles, as a circle, ellipses, triangles, quadrangles, other anonymous shapes, also shapes extracted from real phytoplanktons. From these detected light intensity patterns, we extracted (or define) two indexes: “circular index” and “peak number.” It was shown that various shapes can be distinguished by means of two-dimensional mapping with these parameters. In addition, an applicability of a concentric detector was examined to estimate the particle size when the particle is non-spherical but is a single particle in the measurement. As a result, it was found that the circle equivalent diameter determined with usual scheme agreed well with the sectional area equivalent diameter of the original particle even in any cases of non-spherical samples. From these results, it was shown that the particle size and shape in wide range can be distinguished from the three-dimensional mapping with “circular index”, “peak number” and “particle size”.
Turning Rights Into Symbols: The U.S. Supreme Court And Criminal Justice:

The U.S. Supreme Court has often been analyzed in light of its symbolic importance. While most such analyses focus solely on the high court's insti tutional image, this article examines the justices' techniques for manipulating the symbolic qualities of their decisions affecting criminal justice rights. By creating a gap between the formal pronouncements about rights contained in well-known precedents and the actual implementation of those rights, the Supreme Court maintains its image as the institutional guardian of constitu tional rights while simultaneously advancing the crime control policy prefer ences favored by the dominant conservative justices.
STEADY CREEP BENDING IN A BEAM WITH RANDOM MATERIAL PARAMETERS

A statistical analysis is presented for steady creep bending in a beam, where the material parameters are random processes along the neutral axis arising from random fluctuations in temperature and imperfection density. Analytical and numerical results are presented for the statistical properties of the normal stress and lateral velocity. It is found that whereas the normal stress shows very little random fluctuation the lateral velocity is highly random. The statistics of the lateral velocity generally show a significant dependence on the nominal value of the creep power and on the position along the neutral axis.
The Life History of the California Red Scale Chrysomphalus Aurantii Maskell: Progress Report

This progress report is restricted to three phases in a study of the life history of the California red scale. Daily observations on field-collected adults on green lemon fruits indicated an average productivity of from 85 to 90 crawlers per female. When plotted against mean temperatures: the duration of the first instar was least dependent upon temperature, the length of the third stage the most. Natural mortality following settling was greater in the last than in the first two instars, and during the winter approached 100 per cent.
Structural performance of metallic sandwich beams with hollow truss cores

The article focuses on the structural performance of sandwich beams with hollow truss lattice cores made from a ductile stainless steel. The trusses are arranged in an orthogonal (cross-ply) configuration, in either ±45° (diamond) or 0°/90° (square) orientations with respect to the face sheets. The responses in shear, tension and compression, as well as simply supported and fully clamped bending, are measured for specimens with both core orientations. While the two cores perform equally well in compression, the diamond orientation exhibits higher shear strength but lower stretch resistance. For bend-dominated loadings of the sandwich beams, the core in the diamond orientation is preferred because of its higher shear strength. For stretch-dominated loadings encountered in large-displacement, fully clamped bending, the square orientation is superior. Models of core and beam yielding are used to rationalize these observations. Optimizations are then performed to identify strong lightweight designs and to enable performance comparisons with other sandwich structures.
Gazing into a Distorted Looking Glass: Masculinity, Femininity, Appearance Ideals, and the Black Body

This article reviews socio-psychological literature on racial identity development and feminist work on the body in an effort to better understand past and present constructions of the Black body. I begin by providing a brief overview of previous research on Black identity and self-image, noting how these theories have been applied to appearance. I then historically trace the unique raced and gendered constructions of Black masculinity and femininity – showing how the experiences of Black men and women differ from the White hegemonic paradigm. Finally, I review current research on the Black body and highlight areas of inquiry where the field can be further expanded.
Evidence against suppressor cell involvement in naturally acquired tolerance of a minor histocompatibility antigen.

The hypothesis was investigated that suppressor cells may be responsible for maintenance of immunologic tolerance of a minor H3 antigen in mice that express the antigen naturally. Lymphoid cell populations from B6.C-H-24c (HW54) mice, a congenic-resistant strain histoincompatible with H-24b-expressing C57BL/6 (B6) mice only with respect to the H-24 locus, were examined in cell-transfer experiments to see if they contained naturally arising H-24c-specific suppressor cells. The H-24 antigen was chosen for these studies because, unlike most other minor and major histocompatibility (H) antigens, it is not detectable on mature lymphoid cells by any of several functional criteria. Thus transfer of HW54 lymphoid cells to B6 hosts could be done without the complication of inducing hyporesponsiveness de novo in the host, as occurs with other minor H antigens that are expressed on lymphocytes. B6 hosts were given HW54 skin grafts along with HW54 lymphoid cells to assess their tolerance of the H-24c-encoded antigen. The hosts were either (1) normal, nonimmune B6 mice; (2) B6 mice rendered immunodeficient by thymectomy and irradiation (TxB) and repopulated with H-24c-immune B6 lymphocytes; or (3) TxB B6 hosts repopulated with nonimmune B6 lymphocytes. In each case it was found that the additionally infused HW54 lymphoid cellsmore » did not suppress the ability of these hosts to reject HW54 skin grafts. In other words, HW54 lymphoid cells appear not to possess suppressive activity specific for the H-24c antigen that might maintain antigen-specific natural tolerance. Additional experiments were performed to determine whether HW54 lymphoid cells can inhibit the ability of sublethally irradiated B6 mice to regain the capacity to reject HW54 skin.« less
Partial nephrectomy for T2 renal masses: contemporary trends and oncologic efficacy

Increasing popularity and improved technical feasibility of partial nephrectomy (PN) has encouraged urologists to treat larger renal masses with nephron-sparing surgery. We used a national database to characterize practice patterns for the surgical management of patients with T2 renal tumors and examined the effect of PN on cancer-specific survival in such patients. Between 2001 and 2011, 10,259 patients with primary tumor size >7 cm confined to the kidney (T2) were treated surgically for kidney cancer. PN trends were examined using annual percentage change (APC). Multivariate survival models were developed to identify independent determinants of PN use and cancer-specific survival (CSS) following surgical treatment of kidney cancer. Overall, 543 patients (5.29 %) were treated with PN versus 9716 (94.71 %) who underwent radical nephrectomy (RN). The use of PN increased progressively between 2001 and 2011 (APC +11.1 %, p 10 cm, localized disease, and papillary histology were all associated with improved CSS with PN (all p values <0.05). PN is increasingly utilized to treat T2 renal masses. Our analysis demonstrates that PN for T2 renal masses has no contraindicated effect on CSS.
Type I interferons enhance production of IFN-γ by NK cells

In murine models, challenge with different viral and parasitic infection is closely associated with the production of type I interferons (IFN-alpha/beta) and NK cell production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Therefore, we wished to determine if IFN-alpha/beta had a role in the regulation of NK cell production of IFN-gamma. IFN-alpha/beta alone stimulated low levels of IFN-gamma production by purified populations of IL-2 activated NK cells but in combination with IL-12 resulted in the production of significant levels of IFN-gamma. Interestingly, maximal production of IFN-gamma by NK cells stimulated with IL-2 plus IFN-alpha/beta was dependent on endogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Further studies revealed that TNF-alpha enhanced the ability of IFN-alpha/beta to stimulate production of IFN-gamma by NK cells. In contrast to the stimulatory effect of IFN-alpha/beta on NK cell production of IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha/beta inhibited IL-2 induced proliferation of NK cells. This inhibitory effect was not reversed by the addition of neutralizing antibodies specific for IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha. These data demonstrate that the type I interferons enhance NK cell production of IFN-gamma and suggest that they may be important in the regulation of NK cell production of IFN-gamma during infection.
The effect of aging and of the development of disease on the ballistocardiogram; a study of eighty subjects, originally healthy, followed from ten to fourteen years.

Second ballistocardiograms were taken on 80 subjects who were part of the series from which the original normal standards were secured in 1937, 1938 and 1939. Sixty-five of these subjects had retained good health during the long interval; by a comparison between their old and new records, the effect of "normal" aging on the ballistocardiogram has been determined. Fifteen subjects lost their health during the interval and two of them have died since the second test. The evolution of their ballistocardiograms has been compared with the development of their disabilities.
Abortions, contraceptive use and locus of control.

Steinlauf (1979) found that the more unplanned pregnancies single women had undergone the lower their scores on the internal locus and the higher their scores on chance locus of control using Levensons locus of control scale (1974). The present study was designed to explore the relationship between locus of control and contraceptive use and abortions further in a sample of women seeking abortions. Testing the women on a day of great stress may have produced results different from those that would be obtained by testing at other times. 109 women (Mage=22.7 yr. SD=5.6) seeking abortions were administered a questionnaire on the day of the abortion which included Levensons (1974) scale for measuring locus of control. The locus of control of this sample were compared with scores of a group of 25 women in a college class on statistics. The groups did not differ in age (means 22.7 and 24.0 yr. SD=5.6 and 9.0; t=.19) or belief in internal control (means 12.6 and 12.2 SD=5.8 and 5.1 t=.33) powerful others (means -9.0 and -6.9 SD=7.4 and 7.1 t=1.36) or chance (means -5.5 and -7.2 SD=8.3 and 8.8 t=.90). The number of prior abortions was not related to belief in internal control by powerful others or by chance (Pearson rs=0.04 -0.07 and -0.07 respectively). The number of children born was related to internal scores (r=0.18 p=.04) but not to powerful others or chance scores (rs=-0.16 and -0.15). Partial correlations controlling for age did not change these results. For the 79 women younger than 30 years those using no contraceptives did not differ in locus of control scores from those using contraceptives even taking age into account as 1 factor in an analysis of variance. Similarly no differences were found between those using contraceptives applied by women (the pill diaphragm sponge and spermicides) and those applied by men (condom). (full text)
Evaluating 17 breast cancer susceptibility loci in the Nashville breast health study

Background Genome-wide association studies have discovered multiple genetic loci associated with breast cancer risk. Investigating these loci would be helpful to evaluate previous findings and identify causal variants for breast cancer. We evaluated index SNPs in 17 of these loci in a study of 1,511 cases and 1,454 controls of European descent.
Maple Syrup Urine Disease: Identification and Carrier-Frequency Determination of a Novel Founder Mutation in the Ashkenazi Jewish Population

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder of branched-chain amino acid metabolism. We noted that a large proportion (10 of 34) of families with MSUD that were followed in our clinic were of Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) descent, leading us to search for a common mutation within this group. On the basis of genotyping data suggestive of a conserved haplotype at tightly linked markers on chromosome 6q14, the BCKDHB gene encoding the E1β subunit was sequenced. Three novel mutations were identified in seven unrelated AJ patients with MSUD. The locations of the affected residues in the crystal structure of the E1β subunit suggested possible mechanisms for the deleterious effects of these mutations. Large-scale population screening of AJ individuals for R183P, the mutation present in six of seven patients, revealed that the carrier frequency of the mutant allele was ∼1/113; the patient not carrying R183P had a previously described homozygous mutation in the gene encoding the E2 subunit. These findings suggested that a limited number of mutations might underlie MSUD in the AJ population, potentially facilitating prenatal diagnosis and carrier detection of MSUD in this group.
Confidence Intervals of the Attributable Risk under Cross-Sectional Sampling with Confounders

Since it can account for both the strength of the association between exposure to a risk factor and the underlying disease of interest and the prevalence of the risk factor, the attributable risk (AR) is probably the most commonly used epidemiologic measure for public health administrators to locate important risk factors. This paper discusses interval estimation of the AR in the presence of confounders under cross-sectional sampling. This paper considers four asymptotic interval estimators which are direct generalizations of those originally proposed for the case of no confounders, and employs Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the finite-sample performance of these estimators in a variety of situations. This paper finds that interval estimators using Wald's test statistic and a quadratic equation suggested here can consistently perform reasonably well with respect to the coverage probability in all the situations considered here. This paper notes that the interval estimator using the logarithmic transformation, that is previously found to consistently perform well for the case of no confounders, may have the coverage probability less than the desired confidence level when the underlying common prevalence rate ratio (RR) across strata between the exposure and the non-exposure is large (≥4). This paper further notes that the interval estimator using the logit transformation is inappropriate for use when the underlying common RR =˙ 1. On the other hand, when the underlying common RR is large (≥4), this interval estimator is probably preferable to all the other three estimators. When the sample size is large (≥400) and the RR ≥ 2 in the situations considered here, this paper finds that all the four interval estimators developed here are essentially equivalent with respect to both the coverage probability and the average length.
DOES HOME COUNTRY INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY MATTER FOR FOREIGN ASSET DIVESTITURES

Foreign divestments have become a regular feature of global investment patterns. These divestments have mainly been explained by changes in the economic and institutional factors of the host countries. Recently, as institutional quality has improved in emerging economies, perceived risks have decreased and divestments can no longer be fully explained by host country factors. This paper examines the effects of a firm's home country institutional quality on its divestment decisions in foreign markets. It also studies whether these factors affect developed and developing host countries differently during normal and crises years.
Phase Equilibrium in a Portion of the Ternary System Ba OA-I2,O3,-SiO2,

Phase-equilibrium relations on the liquidus surface in the system Ba0-A12O3-SiO2 have been investigated by the quenching method. The compositions investigated within the ternary area were those containing less than 30%, A12O3 and more than 20% SiO2 by weight. Petrographic and X-ray techniques were employed in the determination of the crystalline phases. The crystal phases that separate from melts within the area investigated are barium orthosilicate (2BaO. SiO2,), barium metasilicate (BaO 2SO2,), solid solutions, sanbornite (BaO 2SiO2), tridymite and cristobalite (SO2), mullite (3A12O3 2SiO2), and celsian (BaO A12O3.2SiO2). Diagrams show the isotherms and indices of refraction of the glasses. Five quintuple points and eleven boundary curves have been determined within = .5yo compositional variations. The liquidus-surface temperatures have been obtained within limits of ± 125°C.
Efficient High Hamming Distance CRCs for Embedded Networks

Cyclic redundancy codes (CRCs) are widely used in network transmission and data storage applications because they provide better error detection than lighter weight checksum techniques. 24- and 32-bit CRC computations are becoming necessary to provide sufficient error detection capability (Hamming distance) for critical embedded network applications. However, the computational cost of such CRCs can be too high for resource-constrained embedded systems, which are predominantly equipped with 8- bit microcontrollers that have limited computing power and small memory size. We evaluate the options for speeding up CRC computations on 8-bit processors, including comparing variants of table lookup approaches for memory cost and speed. We also evaluate classes of CRC generator polynomials which have the same computational cost as 24- or 16-bit CRCs, but provide 32-bit CRC levels of error detection, and recommend good polynomials within those classes for data word lengths typical of embedded networking applications.
On the switching transient in the forward conduction of semiconductor diodes

When a semiconductor diode is caused suddenly to pass forward current, the voltage across it shows a transient, overshooting its steady-state value. This transient behavior is analyzed with the help of a recently given theory of forward current and high-level minority carrier injection in the diodes, with special attention to types of diode often used in pulse circuits, where these transients may be important. The waveform of the transient is calculated for a hypothetical diode with characteristics similar to some types in common use, and it is found to be very similar to those actually observed.
A load-balanced switch with an arbitrary number of linecards

The load-balanced switch architecture is a predicting way to scale router capacity. It requires no centralized scheduler, requires no memory operating faster than the line-rate which can be built using a fixed, optical mesh. In a recent paper it is explained how to prevent packet missequencing and provide 100% throughput for all traffic patterns, and described the design of 100 Tb/s router using technology available within three year there is one major problem with the load-balanced switching makes the basic mesh architecture impractical: Because the optical mesh must be uniform, the switch does not work when one or more linecards is missing or has failed. Instead we can use the passive optical switch architecture with MEMS switches the reconfigured only when linecards are added and deleted, all the router to function when any subset of linecards is presently working. In this paper we derive an expression for the number of MEMS switches that are needed, and describe an algorithm to configure them. We prove that the algorithm will be a always correct configuration in polynomial time, and show example of its running time
Application of Graph-based Data Mining to Metabolic Pathways

We present a method for finding biologically meaningful patterns on metabolic pathways using the SUBDUE graph-based relational learning system. A huge amount of biological data that has been generated by long-term research encourages us to move our focus to a systems-level understanding of bio-systems. A biological network, containing various biomolecules and their relationships, is a fundamental way to describe bio-systems. Multi-relational data mining finds the relational patterns in both the entity attributes and relations in the data. A graph consisting of vertices and edges between these vertices is a natural data structure to represent biological networks. This paper presents a graph representation of metabolic pathways to contain all features, and describes the application of graph-based relational learning algorithms in both supervised and unsupervised scenarios. Supervised learning finds the unique substructures in a specific type of pathway, which help us understand better how pathways differ. Unsupervised learning shows hierarchical clusters that describe the common substructures in a specific type of pathway, which allow us to better understand the common features in pathways.
DEPOSITIONAL HISTORY OF THE E2.0 RESERVOIR IN THE KOLO CREEK FIELD, NIGER DELTA

The paleoenvironments of the middle Miocene E2.0 Reservoir in the Kolo Creek field have been reconstructed in cores of Wells 27 and 29 from investigations of sedimentological and microfossil data. The sediments were examined for lithological features, trace fossils, mineralogical composition, diagenetic imprints, palynodebris, palynomorphs and foraminifera, and these results were integrated with geophysical log data. Seven deltaic sub-environments of deposition have been recognized, the distributary channel-fill, lagoon/tidal flat, coastal barrier and delta fringe sub-environments were common to both cores, while the prodelta was present in the core of Well 27, and lagoonal and flood-tidal deltas occurred in Well 29. The sequence stratigraphic concept has been applied to these sub-environments, and using the information from Wells 27 and 29, well-to-well log correlation across the entire field allowed a reconstruction of the depositional history of the reservoir. The reservoir was deposited as one or two progradational parasequences during a high-frequency highstand systems tract. There was more open vegetation and extensive development of lagoons/tidal flats in the western part of the field, but the overall depositional trend is similar to that of the present-day Niger Delta.
Targeting anti-apoptotic Bcl2 proteins with scyllatoxin-based BH3 domain mimetics.

BH3 domain mimetics based on the small protein scyllatoxin (ScTx) were designed to target the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 in vitro. Intrinsically disordered ScTx variants were found to bind Bcl2 with nanomolar affinity, indicating that an induced fit binding mechanism is required for favorable BH3 : Bcl2 interaction.
ABCD2 Score and Large-Artery Atherosclerosis

Background and Purpose: Extracranial stenosis (ECS) or intracranial stenosis (ICS) are independent risk factors for stroke after transient ischemic attack (TIA). We examined the association of the ...
Human Problem Solving during Complete Paralysis of the Voluntary Musculature

A human S, with his voluntary musculature completely paralyzed by curare, was nevertheless able to solve simple arithmetical and verbal problems given him orally and to recall the answers when again able to speak. This is evidence for the centralist, and against the peripheralist, view of thought.
Pre-stabilization for rigid body articulation with contact and collision

We propose a novel approach for dynamically simulating articulated rigid bodies undergoing frequent and unpredictable contact and collision. Many practitioners solve these types of problems using reduced coordinate (or generalized coordinate) formulations that parameterize the degrees of freedom in a manner consistent with the constraints of articulation, effectively reducing the overall degrees of freedom, eliminating those that could violate the constraints. However, consistency conditions are required to ensure that closed loops are actually closed adding a nonlocal constraint to the system. Moreover, unpredictable contact and collision can pose serious difficulties. We have found it easier to design algorithms that treat closed loops and frequent contact and collision in maximal coordinates, and propose a novel maximal coordinates approach that builds on the previous work of [Guendelman et al. 2003]. Our approach works with any black box method for specifying valid joint constraints, and no special considerations are required for arbitrary closed loops and/or branching. Moreover, our technique is linear both in the number of bodies and in the number of auxiliary contact and collision constraints, unlike many other methods that are linear in the number of bodies but not in the number of auxiliary constraints.
Induction of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CXCR7) switches stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) signaling and phagocytic activity in macrophages linked to atherosclerosis.

The discovery of CXCR7 as a new receptor for SDF-1 places many previously described SDF-1 functions attributed to CXCR4 in question, though whether CXCR7 acts as a signaling or “decoy” receptor has been in debate. It is known that CXCR7 is not expressed in normal blood leukocytes; however, the potential role of leukocyte CXCR7 in disease states has not been addressed. The aim of this study was to determine the expression and function of macrophage CXCR7 linked to atherosclerosis. Here, we show that CXCR7 was detected in macrophage-positive area of aortic atheroma of ApoE-null mice, but not in healthy aorta. During monocyte differentiation to macrophages, CXCR7 was up-regulated at mRNA and protein levels, with more expression in M1 than in M2 phenotype. In addition, CXCR7 induction was associated with a SDF-1 signaling switch from the pro-survival ERK and AKT pathways in monocytes to the pro-inflammatory JNK and p38 pathways in macrophages. The latter effect was mimicked by a CXCR7-selective agonist TC14012 and abolished by siRNA knockdown of CXCR7. Furthermore, CXCR7 activation increased macrophage phagocytic activity, which was suppressed by CXCR7 siRNA silencing or by inhibiting either the JNK or p38 pathways, but was not affected by blocking CXCR4. Finally, activation of CXCR7 by I-TAC showed a similar signaling and phagocytic activity in macrophages with no detectable CXCR3. We conclude that CXCR7 is induced during monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation, which is required for SDF-1 and I-TAC signaling to JNK and p38 pathways, leading to enhanced macrophage phagocytosis, thus possibly contributing to atherogenesis.
CPItm Certification as Predictor of Clinical Investigators’ Regulatory Compliance:

Hospitals, research sponsors, institutional review boards, and other stakeholders do not have data to support a universal “test” to ensure that a clinical investigator is not only adequately trained in the International Conference on Harmonization Good Clinical Practices but can implement those principles into practice. Many stakeholders have created their own training programs of vastly different content and quality with little to no reciprocity. This has led to waste in the industry as well as qualified investigators having to retake basic courses because of the lack of reciprocity or globally accepted mark. In addition, investigators who may not be as well versed as they should be often are left to continue in their role because of the lack of efficacy evaluation of what training they received. The Certified Physician Investigator (CPI™) certification put forth by the Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Investigators is poised to be that standard yet is not widely accepted as it is relatively new,...
Evaluation of the Accuracy of SNAP Technology Sleep Sonography in Detecting Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults Compared to Standard Polysomnography

Objective: To determine the accuracy of snoring and apnea analysis by SNAP (SNAP Laboratories; Glenview, IL), a technology that uses snoring recorded by a home microphone system and nasal airflow, to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as well as determine its severity. Methods: For all patients who had undergone a prior SNAP study and were referred to the Sleep Disorders Center of Lifespan Hospitals for polysomnography testing from January 2000 through December 2001, we compared the results of the SNAP study to standard polysomnography (polysomnography). The severity of each apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) [mild, moderate, or severe, as defined by the AHI Severity Task Force of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine] recorded by SNAP was compared to that of the polysomnography result. All polysomnography tests were scored independently and without the prior knowledge of any SNAP results. Results: For the 31 patients on whom data were available, the mean age, body mass index, and Epworth sleepiness scale scores were 50.3 years (range, 29 to 77 years), 31.6 kg/m 2 (range, 24 to 44 kg/m 2 ), and 11.3 (range, 1 to 20), respectively. The mean follow-up time between the two studies was 5 months. The severity criteria indicated by the SNAP study accurately assessed the true severity confirmed by polysomnography in only 11 of 31 patients (35.5%). When the AHI severity score from the SNAP study was compared to polysomnography using a statistic measure of agreement, there was overall agreement with a value of 0.23 (p 0.008), but the agreement was only fair. SNAP study severity scores were overestimated in 13 of 31 patients (41.9%) compared to the polysomnography results. In the majority of these subjects (8 of the 13 “overestimated” patients or 8 of 31 total patients [25.8%]), the SNAP study diagnosed OSA when the patient had a normal polysomnography finding. Conclusion: Although there may be some night-to-night variability in polysomnography testing, these results suggest that SNAP studies do not appear to accurately assess the severity of OSA. (CHEST 2004; 125:886 – 891)
The Navy Language School Program and Foreign Languages in Schools and Colleges: Aims and Techniques

Author's Summary— A first-hand description of an intensive language course with the traditional four-fold aim given at the Navy Language School; the significance of the aims and techniques of this course for the teacher of civilian language classes.