cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TO THE QUESTION OF THE INFLUENCE OF LINKING LANGUAGE MEANS ON SUBORDINATE RELATIONS STRUCTURING IN A COMPLEX SENTENCE (based on the material of the Russian and German languages)

В статье рассматривается влияние выбора средств связи на структурирование подчинительных отношений в сложном предложении. Актуальность обозначенной проблематики определяется возрастающим интересом исследователей к процессам выбора средств связи компонентов речевых высказываний с подчинением, основывающихся на учете особенностей речемыслительной деятельности языковой личности. Цель исследования состоит в установлении степени влияния средств связи на категоризационно-интерпретационные процессы речемыслительной деятельности языковой личности, в результате которых она порождает подчинительную конструкцию определенного типа. Материалом исследования служат сложноподчиненные предложения из художественных произведений русских и немецких писателей XX века.
The Vicious Cycle Linking Stereotypes and Social Roles

Members of social categories defined by attributes such as sex, race, and age occupy certain types of social roles much more than members of other social categories do. The qualities that define th...
Biometrics: when identity matters

Establishing the identity of a person is becoming critical in our vastly interconnected society Questions like “Is she really who she claims to be?”, “Is this person authorized to use this facility?” or “Is he in the watchlist posted by the government?” are routinely being posed in a variety of scenarios ranging from issuing a driver's licence to gaining entry into a country The need for reliable user authentication techniques has increased in the wake of heightened concerns about security and rapid advancements in networking, communication and mobility Biometrics, described as the science of recognizing an individual based on her physiological or behavioral traits, is beginning to gain acceptance as a legitimate method for determining an individual's identity Biometric systems have now been deployed in various commercial, civilian and forensic applications as a means of establishing identity These systems rely on the evidence of fingerprints, hand geometry, iris, retina, face, hand vein, facial thermogram, signature, voice, etc to either validate or determine an identity.
A substrate noise circuit for accurately testing mixed-signal ICs

A substrate coupling noise measurement technique is presented in this paper. The proposed on-chip test circuit can accurately and efficiently measure substrate coupling noise in any type of semiconductor substrate. The measured substrate coupling voltage is converted to a digital code by a simple on-chip analog-to-digital converter. The I/O pads, bounding wires, package frame, external cables, and test fixture/circuit do not affect the accuracy of the measurement. On-chip calibration is also included to further extend the test accuracy. The circuit provides an effective substrate coupling noise test technique for evaluating a variety of existing substrate coupling noise models. Less than 0.4% error as compared to SPICE is achieved.
Product Hardware Complexity and Its Impact on Inventory and Customer On-Time Delivery

This paper studies the impact of hardware complexity reduction on supply chain inventory against various customer on-time delivery alternatives and manufacturing environments. Different methods of hardware complexity reduction are proposed, and their impacts on total supply chain inventory and customer serviceability are quantified. An analytical inventory optimization scheme taking into account multi-stage supply networks, product structure, forecast accuracy, lead-time variability, and supplier reliability is used to determine optimal inventory levels in a stochastic modeling environment. The analysis is based on a business case for an IBM midrange computer family consisting of more than two hundred models and upgrades with hundreds of features. We investigate different hardware complexity reduction strategies, including low usage feature reduction, low volume feature reduction, and feature substitution, as well as quick response and postponement mechanisms. Our computational results show that in a fabrication-fulfillment center environment, implementing a hardware complexity reduction mechanism results in significantly higher inventory savings than in an integrated manufacturing environment. The results presented in this paper were used to implement hardware complexity reduction in IBM’s midrange computer division.
Measurement of the Diffusion Coefficient of Miscible Fluids Using Both Interferometry and Wiener's Method

Measurements of the diffusion coefficient of two miscible liquids are reported. The liquids are various combinations of pure silicone oils and those to which small amounts of solvents are added to control the difference in density between the fluids. The liquids were placed in a quartz cell such that the interface is initially horizontal. As the fluids diffuse, the profile of the index of refraction near the interface is time dependent and is related to the local concentration of the diffusing fluids. The concentration gradient profile was measured by a shearing interferometer incorporating a Wollaston prism, as well as Wiener's method. In the latter technique, a 45° light sheet was passed through the test cell, and the local deflection of the light beam was measured. The average diffusion coefficient was obtained by analysis of the measured concentration gradient profile, assuming that the diffusion process is one-dimensional and is characterized by a constant value of the diffusion coefficient.
Regulation of adenylate cyclase by cannabinoid drugs: insights based on thermodynamic studies

The abilities of lipophilic cannabinoid drugs to regulate adenylate cyclase activity in neuroblastoma cell membranes were analyzed by thermodynamic studies. Arrhenius plots of hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity exhibited a break point at 20 degrees. The break point was reduced to 14 degrees by benzyl alcohol, consistent with results from other laboratories that have correlated this response with the increase in membrane fluidity induced by benzyl alcohol. Because cannabinoid drugs partition into membrane lipids and alter membrane fluidity parameters in a number of model systems, it was of interest to examine the influence of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on enzyme activity analyzed by the Arrhenius plot. delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, known to inhibit adenylate cyclase, failed to decrease the transition temperature either at 1 microM or at concentrations exceeding its aqueous solubility (30 microM), suggesting that delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol could not mimic the effects observed with benzyl alcohol. In contrast, 30 microM cannabidiol, which stimulated enzyme activity slightly, decreased the Arrhenius plot break point to 17.5 degrees. The decrease in the transition temperature in response to benzyl alcohol or cannabidiol was not accompanied by a change in activation energies above or below the transition temperature. delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol inhibits adenylate cyclase activity via Gi as does the muscarinic agonist carbachol (Howlett et al., Mol Pharmacol 29: 307-313, 1986). Both carbachol and delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol decreased the enthalpy and entropy of activation. The net free energy of activation at 37 degrees was increased in the presence of both of these inhibitory agonists. These data suggest that, for the entropy-driven hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase enzyme, less disorder of the system occurs in the presence of regulators that inhibit the enzyme via Gi. In summary, thermodynamic data suggest that cannabidiol can influence adenylate cyclase by increasing membrane fluidity, but that the inhibition of adenylate cyclase by delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol is not related to membrane fluidization.
Direct Imaging of the Coda of Teleseismic P Waves

This paper reviews the theoretical background of existing techniques for direct imaging of the coda of teleseismic P waves. A unifying theme of all approaches is the Born series for elastic wave scattering. Inversion methods for one-dimensional structure commonly included multiply scattered waves while all existing two and three-dimensional implementations are limited by a single scattering approximation that defines a linear inverse problem in material property perturbations. The problem has an analytic inverse because the forward problem can be cast as a generalized Radon transform with line/surface integrals along single scatterer isochrons. The inverse Radon transform can then be applied to estimate scattering strength at a given point as a linear combination of all data that match a time and polarization constraint. I describe how backprojection, Kirchhoff approximations, and inverse scattering approaches are related to the fundamental scattering equations. I introduce a new concept called the exploding converter model that is a useful physical model for understanding imaging techniques and show how it is related to the Born integral equation. Finally, I discuss limitation on imaging imposed by deconvolution of the incident wavefield. I show that deconvolution is based on an incorrect assumption because it neglects a propagator term from the base of the imaging volume to the free surface. I give the correct form of the deconvolution operator and suggest it may be possible to improve deconvolution through application of downward continuation operators that enter in these equations.
The Anatomy of Tax Evasion

Three things are certain in life: death, taxes, and mankind's unrelenting effort to evade both. But despite the long history of taxpayer revolts and resistance to tax laws, tax compliance has only recently emerged as a topic receiving more than passing scholarly attention. Researchers from a number of fields have attempted to establish theoretical and empirical support for some basic propositions about compliance behavior-namely, that detection risk and penalties are deterrents to noncompliance and higher tax rates encourage noncompliance.' Virtually all studies have found that measures of detection risk, such as the fraction of income subject to information reporting, the audit rate, perceived detection risk, or the difficulty of constructing an audit trail, influence compliance in the expected direction (Mason and Calvin; Clotfelter; Slemrod; Witte and Woodbury; Dubin and Wilde; Kagan). The evidence on the influence of penalties and taxes, however, is more varied. Only a few studies have found much evidence suggesting that penalties deter
Surgical Treatment of Achilles Tendinitis by Decompression of the Retrocalcaneal Bursa and the Superior Calcaneal Tuberosity

Background: Initial nonoperative treatment of pain at the Achilles tendon, often referred to as “tendinitis,” is not always successful.Hypothesis: Surgical treatment is effective for patients with insertional tendinitis unrelieved by nonoperative measures.Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.Methods: Thirty-five patients (41 feet) who had painful Achilles tendon syndrome unrelieved by 6 months of nonoperative measures were treated surgically. The technique consisted of a single incision along the lateral border of the Achilles tendon. The dissection exposed the retrocalcaneal bursa and fat pad, which were completely excised along with any scarred and thickened paratenon. A partial calcaneal exostectomy of the tubercle was performed.Results: At a minimum follow-up of 20 months (average, 39), the patients' pain scores (rated from 0 to 6) improved from 4.7 (SD, 1.1) preoperatively to 1.5 (SD, 1.3); 90% had complete or significant relief of symptoms, 10% felt improved, and none felt unchanged or worse.Con...
Developmental and Varietal Comparisons of Pod Carboxylase Levels in Pisum sativum L.

The activities of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase and ribulose-l,5-bisphosphate (RuDP) carboxylase have been determined in the developing pod walls of six genotypes of Pisum sativum. Genotypes were chosen which varied in pod characters such as chlorophyll content and tissue morphology, which it was hoped would be associated with variation in carboxylase levels. Whilst both enzymes were detected in all genotypes, the levels of activity varied considerably with pod type and with age. In general RuDP carboxylase activity correlated with chlorophyll concentration, and yellow podded types had considerably less activity than green types. The yellow podded genotypes, however, contained significantly higher levels of PEP carboxylase which, in terms of total carboxylase activity, compensated for the lower RuDP carboxylase levels. The activities of both enzymes were determined within the endocarp and within the mesocarp plus exocarp, using 16-day-old pods. All genotypes showed an enrichment for PEP carboxylase in the endocarp and all but one genotype showed a similar enrichment for RuDP carboxylase activity in this layer. The role of the carboxylase enzymes within the pod wall is discussed and it is suggested that their main function may be to maintain an appropriate level of C02 within the pod cavity as well as recycling carbon to the developing seeds.
Phenylthallium Bis(trifluoroacetate)

[23586-54-1] C10H5F6O4Tl (MW 507.53) InChI = 1S/C6H5.2C2HF3O2.Tl/c1-2-4-6-5-3-1;2*3-2(4,5)1(6)7;/h1-5H;2*(H,6,7);/q;;;+2/p-2 InChIKey = BHNSTHDCODXOQD-UHFFFAOYSA-L (reagent for preparation of substituted benzenes) Physical Data: mp 184–189 °C Solubility: sol MeOH, EtOH, MeCN, THF, DMSO. Form Supplied in: colorless crystalline solid. Drying: in vacuo over sodium hydroxide. Preparative Method: readily prepared from benzene. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: all thallium compounds are extremely toxic (cumulative toxicity) to inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion; extreme caution should be used when handling these materials; use in a fume hood.
The Colors of Double Exceptionalism – The Founders and African America

This essay examines American exceptionalism and the African American response to it, from Phillis Wheatley to W. E. B. Du Bois. The author argues that African Americans formed a double exceptionalism that is most clearly evident in the way that they remember and revise the legacies of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
AVIAN POX IN CALIFORNIA QUAIL FROM OREGON

California quail (Lophortyx californicus) from several locations in Oregon were examined seasonally between fall 1975 and summer 1978 for avian pox. Pox lesions were present on 66 of 256 (26%) birds from the E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area. None of the remaining 41 birds from other areas was infected. Rates of infection of males and females were equal; juveniles had a slightly, but not significantly, higher prevalence of pox than did adults.
Treatment-resistant depression and risk of suicide.

We evaluated whether treatment-resistant depression (TRD) as measured by the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) staging method was associated with suicide in a large U.S. health system. Data from the Veterans Health Administration and the National Death Index were used to conduct a case-control study of patients newly diagnosed with depression who received antidepressant treatment between 2003 and 2006. Suicide cases (N = 499) were matched with nonsuicide controls (N = 1994). Conditional logistic regression was used to assess whether MGH stage at time of suicide (or matched date) was associated with case status, adjusting for patient demographic characteristics, comorbidity, and service use. Results indicated 11.6% of suicide cases had MGH stage 3 or greater (indicating at least two antidepressant trials) compared to 6.4% of controls (p < .001). In adjusted analyses, suicide was not significantly more likely among patients with stage 3 or greater (OR 1.52; 95% CI: 0.98, 2.37) or stages 1.5-2.5 (OR 1.19; 95% CI: 0.91, 1.55) compared to patients with stage 1 or less (<10 weeks of antidepressant medication). Staging TRD using MGH criteria is unlikely to substantially improve suicide risk assessment of depressed patients beyond existing measures contained in health system records.
Recent Advances in Pathologic Evaluation and Reporting of Melanoma

Recent changes to the staging of melanoma, coupled with advances in surgical and medical treatment, have resulted in new methods for diagnostic evaluation and reporting of melanocytic lesions by pathologists. This review provides an update on recent changes in evaluation and reporting of primary melanoma, evaluation of regional lymph nodes, especially sentinel nodes, and the workup of distant metastatic melanoma specimens. A brief summary of commercially available molecular diagnostic techniques and their application to practice is included.
Inflammation-Induced Cell Proliferation Potentiates DNA Damage-Induced Mutations In Vivo

Mutations are a critical driver of cancer initiation. While extensive studies have focused on exposure-induced mutations, few studies have explored the importance of tissue physiology as a modulator of mutation susceptibility in vivo. Of particular interest is inflammation, a known cancer risk factor relevant to chronic inflammatory diseases and pathogen-induced inflammation. Here, we used the fluorescent yellow direct repeat (FYDR) mice that harbor a reporter to detect misalignments during homologous recombination (HR), an important class of mutations. FYDR mice were exposed to cerulein, a potent inducer of pancreatic inflammation. We show that inflammation induces DSBs (γH2AX foci) and that several days later there is an increase in cell proliferation. While isolated bouts of inflammation did not induce HR, overlap between inflammation-induced DNA damage and inflammation-induced cell proliferation induced HR significantly. To study exogenously-induced DNA damage, animals were exposed to methylnitrosourea, a model alkylating agent that creates DNA lesions relevant to both environmental exposures and cancer chemotherapy. We found that exposure to alkylation damage induces HR, and importantly, that inflammation-induced cell proliferation and alkylation induce HR in a synergistic fashion. Taken together, these results show that, during an acute bout of inflammation, there is a kinetic barrier separating DNA damage from cell proliferation that protects against mutations, and that inflammation-induced cell proliferation greatly potentiates exposure-induced mutations. These studies demonstrate a fundamental mechanism by which inflammation can act synergistically with DNA damage to induce mutations that drive cancer and cancer recurrence.
Frequency and severity of infections in day care: Three-year follow-up

This study was undertaken to compare prospectively the frequency, nature, and severity of infections in children participating in three types of child care arrangements: home care, group care (two to six childre), and day care (seven or more children). Children were enrolled at birth and observed for at least 36 months. The families were telephoned every 2 weeks to record on a standardized form the type and severity of illness during the previous interval. Children remaining in their original child care group for 1, 2, or 3 years were compared with regard to the frequency and severity of illness. Each child care group had the highest number of infections in year 2. Children in day care had more respiratory infections during each year than children in home care, but the magnitude of the differences decreased in year 3. When the child care groups were compared for the proportion of children with more than six illnesses per year or more than 60 days of respiratory illness per year, significant differences observed in years 1 and 2 for day care children compared with home care children were no longer significant in year 3. We conclude that there is a trend toward stabilized or decreased rates of infection, duration of illness, and risk of hospitalization for children remaining in day care for 3 years.
Health Care and Social Media Platforms in Hospitals

The objective of this article is to illustrate user characteristics of a hospital’s social media structure using analytics and user surveys. A 1-year retrospective analysis was conducted along with an Internet survey of users of the hospital’s Facebook, Twitter, and blog. Of the survey respondents (n = 163), 95.7% are female and 4.3% are male; most are ages 50–59 years (31.5%) and 40–49 years (27.8%); and 93.2% are Caucasian. However, the hospital system database revealed 55% female and 37% minority population, respectively. Of the survey respondents, 61.4% reported having a bachelor’s degree or higher, whereas only 11.7% reported having a high school degree/equivalent or lower. However, within the hospital patient databases, 93% of patients have a high school degree/equivalent or lower and only 3% have a bachelor’s degree or higher in our women’s services population. Social media were used to seek personal health information 68.7% (n = 112), to learn about hospital programming 27.6% (n = 45), and to seek...
Fast holographic wavefront sensor: sensing without computing

In this talk we will present work on a fast zonal wavefront sensor. The device consists of a multiplexed hologram which can reconstruct multiple diffracted beams to an image plane with the input of a single object beam. The hologram is prerecorded with many different gratings designed to detect any combination of Zernike term and amplitude. In operation, a wavefront incident on the hologram reconstructs a number of output beams that focus onto a distant detector. The location of these spots is specifically related to a particular Zernike polynomial of particular strength, so a complete description of the wavefront can be made by simple readout of a CCD. While this wavefront sensor is limited in spectral coverage due to dispersion in the hologram there are many benefits. Since no calculations are required, this sensor can operate at MHz rates irrespective of the number of Zernike terms used. The removal of complex computations also reduces instrument complexity and size. In this talk we will present results of the both the theory and operation of our holographic wavefront sensor.
Using corrugated fins to decrease the beamwidth of the radiation pattern from a Vlasov launcher

Summary form only given. Some gyrotrons which are under development for ECRH generate power in a rotating TE/sub mn/ mode in circular cylindrical cavities. These modes are not suitable to use directly for plasma heating because their radiation patterns have off axis peaks and are not linearly polarized. Mode conversion to a more suitable mode using perturbed-wall mode converters is not always practical. This problem can be overcome by using a Vlasov-type launcher feeding a series of two or more reflectors. The Vlasov launcher is a member of the slot radiator family. The fields inside the waveguide can be represented by rays which fill out the region between a caustic circle inside the guide and the waveguide walls. In this geometrical optics model, all of these rays will exit the waveguide through a slot of minimum width /spl phi//sub c/ and length L. The length of the slot is determined by the mode, frequency and waveguide size. The minimum azimuthal extent of the slot and hence the azimuthal character of the radiation pattern are determined only by the mode. For example the radiation pattern from a TE/sub 22,6/ mode Vlasov launcher will have approximately the same azimuthal beamwidth regardless of the frequency or waveguide size. The radiation from the slot can be shaped and directed by means of suitably designed reflectors so that it has the desired characteristics for transmission through the gyrotron window and then for plasma heating. We have attached corrugated flares to the aperture to decrease the azimuthal beamwidth and found that a narrower beamwidth with lower side lobes can be achieved. Experimental results are presented.
Characterization of anti-reovirus immunoglobulins secreted by cloned hybridoma cell lines.

Abstract Nineteen hybridoma cell lines derived from the spleen cells of a mouse immunized with reovirus serotype 3 (strain Dearing) were cloned and the IgGs secreted by them characterized. Four of the IgGs were directed against polypeptide μNS and two against polypeptide σNS, the two nonstructural reovirus-specified polypeptides. Two IgGs were directed against polypeptide λ2 and two against polypeptide σ2, both components of the reovirus inner capsid shell. Four IgGs were directed against polypeptide σ1, the most type specific of all reovirus-specified polypeptides, three against polypeptide μl/gmlC and one against polypeptide σ3, all of them components of the reovirus outer capsid shell. One IgG was directed against a complex composed of polypeptides μl/gmlC and σ3, but failed to react with either of these polypeptides alone. Thus the 19 hybridoma cell lines secreted IgGs with specificities for 7 of the 10 reovirus-specified proteins. The ability of all these IgGs to precipitate the proteins specified by the two heterologous reovirus serotypes, serotypes 1 and 2, was also measured.
Poisoning the Messengers: Could Tumor Endothelial Cells Acquire Drug Resistance

No Abstract AvailableCommentary to:Title: Variable Sensitivity of Endothelial Cells to Epirubicin in Xenografts of Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma CNE-2 CellsAuthors: Xiao-Shi Zhang, Xiao-Feng Zhu, Jin-Song Gao, Yan-Li Ye, Qi-Sheng Feng, Zong-Chao Liu and Yi-Xin ZengPage Numbers: 263-265
Xps Analysis of Y-Ba-Cu-O and Zr-O Thin Films and Interfaces with Silicon Substrates

Thin films of Y1Ba2Cu3Ox,ZrO2, and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) have been deposited on Si(100) by the UV-laser ablation technique, and characterized by several techniques including x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM). Si substrates were prepared by several techniques including thermal oxidation, and oxide etching and passivation by hydrogen termination. Certain of these YBCO films (= 250 nm thick) deposited on YSZ buffer layers have excellent superconducting properties. Other YBCO and zirconia films, deposited to 2-5 nm thickness and transferred under dry N2 into UHV, allowed XPS evaluation of the thermal and chemical stability of the interfaces and nearby regions. 2-nm films of YBCO on 15-nm films of SiO2/Si, deposited at 550–670 °C, showed Cu 2p core-level XPS lines similar to those of bulk YBCO (i.e., Cu II) but with two components due to reactions. The Si 2p line showed formation of silica on the YBCO surface at 670 °C and of silicate at 550 °C. XTEM lattice images showed that use of H-terminated Si produced superior interfaces with the zirconia films.
Measurement at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory of thresholds of samples in the Balzers round-robin laser-damage experiment

A summary is given of the two experimental procedures used at Livermore to measure 1064-nm 1-nsec laser-damage thresholds of thin film coatings in the Balzers round-robin experiment.
Framing Space and Time in the City: Urban Policy and the Politics of Spatial and Temporal Scale

This article seeks to analyze urban politics through the lens of the social constructionist approach to scale. This approach views scale not as a set of pre-given, natural, and immutable levels upo...
The use of parenteral hyperalimentation and elemental formula feeding in the treatment of Wolman disease

Abstract Wolman disease is a rare lipid storage disorder characterized by hepatomegaly, steatorrhea, organ cholesteryl ester and triglyceride accumulation, vomiting and adrenal calcification. Most reported cases of Wolman disease resulted in death in infancy. By treating an infant with the clinical and biochemical characteristics of Wolman disease with a six week course of parenteral hyperalimentation, we observed a halt in the patient's deterioration. The nutritional stabilization of the infant not only provided the time needed to establish an effective low fat elemental diet and to investigate the possibility of enzyme replacement therapy, but also indicated that patients severely deficient in acid ester hydrolase suffer clinical deterioration due to starvation. We conclude that parenteral hyperalimentation holds promise in the management of patients with Wolman disease.
On Convergence of Convex Minorant Algorithms for Distribution Estimation with Interval-Censored Data

Abstract Local convergence results of the convex minorant (CM) algorithm to obtain the nonparametric maximum-likelihood estimator of a distribution under interval-censored observations are given. We also provide a variation of the CM algorithm, which yields global convergence. The algorithm is illustrated with data on AIDS survival time in 92 members of the U.S. Air Force.
Distribution and amount of soil organic C in long-term management systems in Texas

Soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution is altered by residue management practices, but the effect on total C mass is not well understood, especially in warm regions. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of residue management practices on SOC distribution and amount across an 1100 km transect (northwest to southeast) of Texas. Long-term (>10 years) continuous cropping rotation and residue management plots located near Bushland, Temple, and Corpus Christi, Texas, were sampled incrementally with depth for SOC distribution and mass. The mass of SOC varied among locations depending on management, and climatic conditions. No-tillage management resulted in increased SOC concentration and mass in the surface 0.07 m in comparison to more intensive tillage management (e.g., sweep, chisel plow, moldboard plow). Fertilization had little effect on C sequestration at any site. Carbon sequestration decreased as mean annual temperature increased. Carbon may be sequestered in soil under Texas climatic conditions, but the amounts may be quite small.
Recent strategies targeting HIV glycans in vaccine design

Although efforts to develop a vaccine against HIV have so far met with little success, recent studies of HIV-positive patients with strongly neutralizing sera have shown that the human immune system is capable of producing potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs), some of which neutralize up to 90% of HIV strains. These antibodies bind conserved vulnerable sites on the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120, and identification of these sites has provided exciting clues about the design of potentially effective vaccines. Carbohydrates have a key role in this field, as a large fraction of bnAbs bind carbohydrates or combinations of carbohydrate and peptide elements on gp120. Additionally, carbohydrates partially mask some peptide surfaces recognized by bnAbs. The use of engineered glycoproteins and other glycostructures as vaccines to elicit antibodies with broad neutralizing activity is therefore a key area of interest in HIV vaccine design.
Time-resolved absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy of cytochrome c3 from Desulfovibrio

The UV-visible absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of the ferric, ferrous, CO-ligated forms and kinetic photolysis intermediates of the tetraheme electron-transfer protein cytochrome c3 (Cc3) are reported. Consistent with bis-histidinyl axial coordination of the hemes in this Class III c-type cytochrome, the Soret and visible region MCD spectra of ferric and ferrous Cc3 are very similar to those of other bis-histidine axially coordinated hemeproteins such as cytochrome b5. The MCD spectra indicate low spin state for both the ferric (S = 1/2) and ferrous (S = 0) oxidation states. CO replaces histidine as the axial sixth ligand at each heme site, forming a low-spin complex with an MCD spectrum similar to that of myoglobin-CO. Photodissociation of Cc3-CO (observed photolysis yield = 30%) produces a transient five-coordinate, high-spin (S = 2) species with an MCD spectrum similar to deoxymyoglobin. The recombination kinetics of CO with heme Fe are complex and appear to involve at least five first-order or pseudo first-order rate processes, corresponding to time constants of 5.7 microseconds, 62 microseconds, 425 microseconds, 2.9 ms, and a time constant greater than 1 s. The observed rate constants were insensitive to variation of the actinic photon flux, suggesting noncooperative heme-CO rebinding. The growing in of an MCD signal characteristic of bis-histidine axial ligation within tens of microseconds after photodissociation shows that, although heme-CO binding is thermodynamically favored at 1 atm CO, binding of histidine to the sixth axial site competes kinetically with CO rebinding.
Pressure effects of urinary reflux studied with renal autotransplantation and pyelocystostomy

Abstract The pressure effects of urinary reflux on renal structure and function were studied using a canine model in which the kidney was autotransplanted to the iliac fossa and the urine drained through a pyelocystostomy. This provided grade III reflux of urine (distention of the renal pelvis and calyces). A control group of nonrefluxing animals with the ureter and ureterovesical valve intact was studied in an identical fashion, and all animals were observed for one year. The reflux of sterile urine was not associated with any impairment of the inulin clearance or transport maximum of para-aminohippuric acid. There were no histologic abnormalities of glomeruli, tubules, or interstitium noted in the animals exposed to sterile reflex, nor were any differences found between the study and control groups. The transmission of bladder pressures into the renal pelvis and calyces during reflux is considered an unimportant factor in explaining the renal damage noted from sterile reflux of short duration in adults. The pyelocystostomy provides a satisfactory means of urinary drainage, and may be used effectively to study the properties of urinary reflux.
Backgrounds and projected limits from dark matter direct detection experiments

A simple formula is introduced which indicates the amount by which projections of dark matter direct detection experiments are expected to be degraded due to backgrounds.
Organizational Characteristics that Foster Early Adoption of Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment in the United States

Abstract Recent years have seen an increased interest in developing culturally and linguistically responsive systems of care in substance abuse treatment in the United States. This study examines the extent to which external and internal organizational pressures contributed to the degree of adoption of culturally and linguistically responsive practices in the nation's outpatient substance abuse treatment system early in the period of development of this system of care. Findings show that a higher degree of adoption of culturally competent practices was most likely in treatment programs with high dependence on external funding and regulation. Internally, programs with a larger number of professionals were associated with the lowest degree of adoption, while managers’ cultural sensitivity contributed significantly to a high degree of adoption of these responsive practices. Considering the passage of recent legislation enforcing the use of cultural and linguistic competence in health care, implications of these baseline findings on early adoption patterns are discussed for future research and health care policy evaluation.
The Behavior of Foreign Exchange Rates

The analysis of the distribution of foreign exchange rate changes provides a description of the behavior of foreign exchange rates and its determining underlying process. The application of empirical methodologies or further theoretical developments is limited by the nature of this distribution. In this paper, the empirical analysis of major currencies during the flexible exchange rate period suggests that there is no unique distribution representing the behavior of the foreign exchange rate. This, however, is determined both by foreign exchange management policies and the fundamental economic forces.
Defining absolute confidence limits in the identification of Caulobacter proteins by peptide mass mapping.

A derivatization reaction, guanidination, was recently reported that increases MALDI-TOF MS sensitivity toward lysine-terminated peptides. Its application conveys sequence information that can be used as a parameter in peptide mass mapping database searches. This paper presents a systematic study of the impact of guanidination on proteomic analysis of an entire bacterial organelle. Sixty-two 2-D gel isolated proteins from Caulobacter crescentus stalks were studied. A novel computer algorithm, Prodigies, was developed to analyze the data. Absolute confidence limits associated with protein assignments were established using Monte Carlo simulations of database searches. The advantages of guanidination are illustrated using both experimental and theoretical data. Keywords: proteomics • peptide mass mapping • database searching • MALDI-TOF • Caulobacter
TouchSound: making sounds with everyday objects

In this paper I am presenting TouchSound, a wearable device that generates sounds and music by interacting with everyday objects by hand. By mixing tactile and auditory sensations, TouchSound promotes enjoyable musical experiences. It could be used by musicians to explore new ways to perform music, for educators to teach music to kids, and provide an opportunity for people to play music by touching everyday objects.
Isolation and chromosomal localization of a novel nonerythroid ankyrin gene.

Abstract Immunoreactive isoforms of erythrocyte ankyrin have been shown to be present in a variety of nonerythroid tissues. Isolation of the genes that encode these isoforms will clarify their relationship to erythrocyte ankyrin. Using an erythrocyte ankyrin cDNA clone as a hybridization probe, we screened a human genomic library and isolated a clone that hybridizes with the probe at low stringency but not at high stringency. Partial nucleotide sequence of the clone revealed the presence of a 99-bp segment that is homologous to an exon of the erythrocyte ankyrin gene. Northern analysis showed that a labeled fragment of the clone hybridized to a 7-kb message in RNA of fetal brain but not of erythroid cells, suggesting that this clone is part of a novel gere that is expressed predominantly in nonerythroid tissue. Comparison of the sequence of the genomic clone with that of a recently isolated cDNA clone for brain ankyrin ( Otto et al. , 1989 ) showed identity of 96 of 99 bp between the putative exon and a segment of the cDNA clone (V. Bennett, personal communication, 1991), suggesting that the genomic clone is part of a gene for nonerythroid ankyrin, which we have designated ANK2. By analysis of somatic cell hybrids and fluorescence in situ hybridization, we assigned ANK2 to human chromosome 4 at a position equivalent to bands 4q25–q27.
Measurement of salivary cortisol concentration in the assessment of adrenal function in critically ill subjects: a surrogate marker of the circulating free cortisol.

Methods: Baseline and cosyntropin-stimulated serum (total and free) and salivary cortisol concentrations were measured, in the early afternoon, in 51 critically ill patients and healthy subjects. Patients were stratified according to their serum albumin at the time of testing: those whose serum albumin levels were 2.5 gm/dl or less vs. others whose levels were greater than 2.5 gm/dl. Results: Baseline and cosyntropin-stimulated serum free cortisol levels were similar in the two groups of critically ill patients and were severalfold higher (P < 0.001) than those of healthy subjects. Similarly, baseline and cosyntropin-stimulated salivary cortisol concentrations were equally elevated in the two critically ill patient groups and were severalfold higher (P < 0.001) than those of healthy subjects. Salivary cortisol concentrations correlated well with the measured serum free cortisol levels. Conclusions: Salivary cortisol measurements are simple to obtain, easy to measure in most laboratories, and provide an in...
A Prospective Randomized Study to Evaluate the Antipyretic Effect of the Combination of Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen in Neurological ICU Patients

Background To compare the antipyretic effect of simultaneously administered acetaminophen (APAP) plus ibuprofen (IBU) to either APAP or IBU alone in critically ill febrile neurological and neurosurgical patients.
Charlson Comorbidity Indices and In-hospital Deaths in Patients with Hip Fractures

Background The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and its modifications are comorbidity-based measures that predict mortality. It was developed for patients without trauma and inconsistently predicted mortality and adverse events in several previous studies of patients with trauma.
On the combinatorics of crystal graphs, II. The crystal commutor

We present an explicit combinatorial realization of the commutor in the category of crystals which was first studied by Henriques and Kamnitzer. Our realization is based on certain local moves defined by van Leeuwen.
Suppression of DNA-damage checkpoint signaling by Rsk-mediated phosphorylation of Mre11

Ataxia telangiectasia mutant (ATM) is an S/T-Q–directed kinase that is critical for the cellular response to double-stranded breaks (DSBs) in DNA. Following DNA damage, ATM is activated and recruited by the MRN protein complex [meiotic recombination 11 (Mre11)/DNA repair protein Rad50/Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1 proteins] to sites of DNA damage where ATM phosphorylates multiple substrates to trigger cell-cycle arrest. In cancer cells, this regulation may be faulty, and cell division may proceed even in the presence of damaged DNA. We show here that the ribosomal s6 kinase (Rsk), often elevated in cancers, can suppress DSB-induced ATM activation in both Xenopus egg extracts and human tumor cell lines. In analyzing each step in ATM activation, we have found that Rsk targets loading of MRN complex components onto DNA at DSB sites. Rsk can phosphorylate the Mre11 protein directly at S676 both in vitro and in intact cells and thereby can inhibit the binding of Mre11 to DNA with DSBs. Accordingly, mutation of S676 to Ala can reverse inhibition of the response to DSBs by Rsk. Collectively, these data point to Mre11 as an important locus of Rsk-mediated checkpoint inhibition acting upstream of ATM activation.
Relative importance of the effect of family environment and heredity on obesity

In a study using data from 254 families with 546 non-biologically related children and 10 337 families with 25 554 biologically related children an analysis of variance technique was used to evaluate the effect of family environment and heredity for children ages 4-11. Family environment accounted for 32% of the variation in obesity if all children were used and more than 39% of the variation in obesity using subgroups of children similar with respect to sex and age. The estimate of heritability was quite low, only 11%. These results suggest that family environment, which consists of such things as parental example and child rearing techniques, has an important effect on childhood obesity.
Automated Nondestructive Assay Instrumentation for Nuclear Materials Safeguards

Four systems developed at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory for nondestructive analysis of nuclear fuel materials will be described. These systems utilize either minicomputers or a programmable calculator for measurement control and data analysis, and are typical of a variety of automated measurement systems developed for nuclear materials safeguards applications.
Practical Strategies for Teaching Students with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in General Physical Education Classrooms.

Due to federal mandates, physical educators are now expected to teach a wide range of students, spanning the entirety of the learning continuum, in their classes. These mandates support and encourage students with disabilities to learn and grow in inclusive settings alongside their general education peers. Students diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) specifically can pose a challenge to physical educators because they are inattentive or have trouble following directions. However, there are strategies that physical educators can use to help these students reach their full potential. This article shows the many benefits that physical education has for students with ADHD.
A simulation-based assessment of clinical breast examination technique: do patient and clinician factors affect clinician approach?

Abstract Background Recent publications describing widely accepted clinical breast examination (CBE) techniques have sparked interest in setting standards for CBE. In support of CBE training and assessment, the purpose of our study was to quantify CBE palpation techniques using simulation technology and assess the affects of clinical presentation and clinician background on CBE techniques. Methods Three sensored silicone breast models were configured to represent 3 different clinical presentations. The models were examined by 102 clinicians at a local breast cancer meeting, and their performance was captured by using sensored based data acquisition technology. Results Clinicians had significantly longer examination times on the fatty breast with no masses compared with the breast with a dominant mass and the breast with fibrocystic changes (66.37 seconds, 40.50 seconds, and 42.28 seconds, P Conclusions Clinical presentation and clinician background may affect CBE technique yet does not appear to negatively affect clinician accuracy. Additional research quantifying the range of CBE techniques used in medical practice may inform CBE standardization and competency testing.
Chocolate: Food as Medicine/Medicine as Food

Cocoa and chocolate products have been delicacies for hundreds of years. Only recently have they been recognized as significant sources of phytochemicals with healthful effects. These foods are among the most concentrated sources of the procyanidin flavonoids, catechin and epicatechin. Recent studies have shown that these polyphenols are absorbed from the intestine of animals and humans with epicatechin absorbed much more than catechin. These flavonoids have potent antioxidant and antiplatelet activities following consumption of cocoa or chocolate.
Fracture Resistance of Mandibular Molars with Occlusal Class I Amalgam Preparations

The internal angles in a mandibular molar with a Class I occlusal amalgam preparation could affect the strength of the teeth. An experiment was done to compare the fracture strength of natural and acrylic resin teeth with either rounded or sharp line angles.
Toxicity comparison of intraocular azithromycin with and without a bioadhesive delivery system in rabbit eyes.

Purpose To determine whether the addition of a bioadhesive drug-delivery system to topical azithromycin induces intraocular inflammation and damage when introduced intraocularly by different approaches and in varying doses. Setting John A. Moran Eye Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Design Experimental study. Methods Commercial topical azithromycin 1.0% was duplicated, including the benzalkonium chloride, but without inclusion of the Durasite bioadhesive drug-delivery system. Injections of 50 μL, 25 μL, and 10 μL of the antibiotic solutions were administered in a masked fashion to 2 rabbits; 1 eye (study eye) in each rabbit was randomized to receive azithromycin with the delivery system and the fellow eye (control eye) to receive azithromycin without the delivery system. Two rabbits had topical drops of each solution placed after a 2.8 mm incision was created. Masked slitlamp examinations, pachymetry, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were determined 1 day and 2 days postoperatively. The animals were humanely killed, and the endothelial density and histopathology were examined. Results The IOP ( P .001), pachymetry ( P .001), and signs of inflammation ( P =.38 to .003) were consistently higher in the study eye, especially at the 50 μL dose, than in the control eye. This was confirmed by histopathology. Conclusion If the drug-delivery system gains access to the anterior chamber, it may cause substantial corneal edema and inflammation, even at low doses and after topical administration. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.