cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MeTaDoR: a comprehensive resource for membrane targeting domains and their host proteins

Motivation: Protein-lipid interactions play a central role in cellular signaling and membrane trafficking and at the core of these interactions are domains specialized in lipid binding and membrane targeting. Considering the importance of these domains, we have created MeTaDoR, a comprehensive resource dedicated to membrane targeting domains (MTDs). Result: MeTaDoR begins with a brief introduction about all the important MTDs including their subcellular localization and structural features. Sequences of all known MTDs are then provided in two formats: standard Prosite format and a parsed tab-delimited format that provides a manually curated classification into binding or nonbinding. Structures of all MTDs and host proteins known so far are provided with links to PDB and Pfam databases. Membrane-binding orientation of these proteins, whether experimentally determined or proposed, is also provided with links to the appropriate literature. To facilitate molecular dynamics studies of these proteins, the force-field parameters for many non-standard lipids that commonly interact with these proteins are also provided. Finally, an online server for predicting membrane-binding proteins and a search function with various search fields are included. The resource is publicly available and will be updated on a regular basis.
Post-traumatic stress disorder in child sexual abuse survivors: A literature review

Research to date has failed to identify a unique syndrome describing the sequelae of child sexual abuse (CSA). Recently, however, some researchers have suggested Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as the diagnosis which best fits the syndrome commonly seen in CSA survivors. Research examining the consequences of CSA in terms of the applicability of a PTSD diagnosis is reviewed. Additionally, based on findings of significant relationships between PTSD and traumatic exposure in other trauma groups, this review also examines studies which have investigated relationships between exposure and symptom development among CSA survivors. Finally, conclusions regarding the applicability of PTSD to CSA survivors and suggestions for future research are offered.
Multilevel Algorithms for Generating Coarse Grids for Multigrid Methods

Geometric Multigrid methods have gained widespread acceptance for solving large systems of linear equations, especially for structured grids. One of the challenges in successfully extending these methods to unstructured grids is the problem of generating an appropriate set of coarse grids. The focus of this paper is the development of robust algorithms, both serial and parallel, for generating a sequence of coarse grids from the original unstructured grid. Our algorithms treat the problem of coarse grid construction as an optimization problem that tries to optimize the overall quality of the resulting fused elements. We solve this problem using the multilevel paradigm that has been very successful in solving the related grid/graph partitioning problem. The parallel formulation of our algorithm incurs a very small communication overhead, achieves high degree of concurrency, and maintains the high quality of the coarse grids obtained by the serial algorithm.
We are the Canaries: Self-Care in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Sufferers

This ethnographic study investigates the experiences of living with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), a condition increasing in prevalence but medically contested, on which very little qualitative research has been done. Participant observation included two treatment centers, a support organization, an Internet chat room, and conversations with MCS sufferers, activists, and educators. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 33 people with MCS, recruited to reflect a broad demographic range and severity of illness variation. This article describes several methodological issues associated with doing "peer research" and then describes self-care for symptom management. With no known cure, MCS sufferers manage their symptoms through three main avenues: prevention/avoidance, detoxification, and emotional self-care. Implications include education of health care providers and a warning from those who have MCS: "We are the canaries in the coal mine; what has happened to us will happen to many others unless we clean up our environment."
Spinal Epidural Hematoma After Spinal Manipulative Therapy in a Patient Undergoing Anticoagulant Therapy: A Case Report

Objective We report on the case of a patient with spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) after spinal manipulative therapy and review features of reported cases of a similar nature. Clinical Features The patient was undergoing Coumadin anticoagulant therapy for atrial fibrillation and presented to the chiropractor complaining of a stiff neck. After cervical manipulation, he developed paresthesia in both feet, progressing to motor deficits in all 4 extremities. He required a laminectomy and evacuation of a clot indenting the spinal cord. Results Review of the literature revealed 7 reported cases of SEH after manipulation; 5 patients underwent cervical manipulation and 1 patient received Coumadin therapy. Conclusion Practitioners of spinal manipulative therapy should be aware of SEH as a possible complication of manipulation in patients at risk and should exercise caution in the care of patients undergoing anticoagulant therapy.
Very low‐pressure pyrolysis. VII. The decomposition of methylhydrazine, 1,1‐dimethylhydrazine, 1,2‐dimethylhydrazine, and tetramethylhydrazine. Concerted deamination and dehydrogenation of methylhydrazine

The rate constants (kuni) for the first-order disappearance of the title molecules have been determined under VLPP conditions. The kuni are not the rate constants of ultimate interest since they reflect the fact that energy transfer competes with the chemical decomposition. Use of the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-(Marcus) [RRK(M)] theory allows the determination of the high-pressure rate constants (kα), if the mode of decomposition is known. The heats of formation of the radicals NH2, CH3NH, and (CH3)2N are known. These values should be usable for prediction of the activation energy for NN bond homolysis in the hydrazines. Measured rate constants for UDMH and TMH bear this out, but the rate constant for MMH does not. This and other evidence lead to the conclusion that MMH decomposes via molecular concerted elimination of NH3 and H2 not and by NN bond scission. The following values are preferred from this work (θ = 2.303RT in kcal/mole). Mode of decomposition is N—N bond scission unless noted otherwise in parenthesis: .
HiTSelect: a comprehensive tool for high-complexity-pooled screen analysis

Genetic screens of an unprecedented scale have recently been made possible by the availability of high-complexity libraries of synthetic oligonucleotides designed to mediate either gene knockdown or gene knockout, coupled with next-generation sequencing. However, several sources of random noise and statistical biases complicate the interpretation of the resulting high-throughput data. We developed HiTSelect, a comprehensive analysis pipeline for rigorously selecting screen hits and identifying functionally relevant genes and pathways by addressing off-target effects, controlling for variance in both gene silencing efficiency and sequencing depth of coverage and integrating relevant metadata. We document the superior performance of HiTSelect using data from both genome-wide RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 screens. HiTSelect is implemented as an open-source package, with a user-friendly interface for data visualization and pathway exploration. Binary executables are available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/hitselect/, and the source code is available at https://github.com/diazlab/HiTSelect.
Conditional responsiveness of a chemically transformed cell line to growth factor stimulated DNA synthesis

BP3T3, a clonal benzo(a)pyrene-transformed BALB/c-3T3 cell line, is conditionally responsive to growth factor stimulation. Density arrested cell populations deprived of growth factors by pretreatment with 0.5% platelet-poor plasma synthesized DNA both in response to ng/ml concentrations of PDGF, EGF, and somatomedin C, and in response to insulin, plasma, and serum. The above agents acted singly to induce DNA synthesis, but synergism is suggested because a higher percentage of cells were stimulated to enter the S phase when the growth factors were added in combination. Desensitization to growth factors occurred when cultures were pretreated with the high concentration of growth factors present in 10% serum (or plasma). In desensitized cultures none of the above agents, added singly or in combination, stimulated DNA synthesis. This effect appears to be global because pretreatment with one growth factor (e.g., insulin) inhibited the action of another (e.g., PDGF). Cell density appears to play a critical role in regulating DNA synthesis. Unlike nontransformed BALB/c-3T3 cells whose density is regulated by the serum concentration, the density of BP3T3 cells reached a plateau when cultures were grown in a serum (or plasma) concentration of 3% or greater. Such density arrested cultures were growth factor unresponsive; however, the cells rapidly responded to growth factors by synthesizing DNA and replicating when reseeded at a lower cell density. Thus the growth of BP3T3 cells is regulated by both growth factors and cell density.
Mercury concentrations and omega-3 fatty acids in fish and shrimp: Preferential consumption for maximum health benefits

The consumption of fish and shrimp containing omega-3 fatty acids can result in protective health effects including a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes. These protective effects may be decreased by the presence of mercury in the muscle tissue of fish and shellfish. Mercury can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems and impede neurological development. The objective of this project was to determine appropriate consumption amounts of selected fish species and shrimp based on mercury levels and recommended intake levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Species that are high in omega-3s and low in mercury include salmon, trout, and shrimp. Species with both high levels of mercury and omega-3 fatty acids include tuna, shark, and halibut, swordfish, and sea bass.
Recommender systems using linear classifiers

Recommender systems use historical data on user preferences and other available data on users (for example, demographics) and items (for example, taxonomy) to predict items a new user might like. Applications of these methods include recommending items for purchase and personalizing the browsing experience on a web-site. Collaborative filtering methods have focused on using just the history of user preferences to make the recommendations. These methods have been categorized as memory-based if they operate over the entire data to make predictions and as model-based if they use the data to build a model which is then used for predictions. In this paper, we propose the use of linear classifiers in a model-based recommender system. We compare our method with another model-based method using decision trees and with memory-based methods using data from various domains. Our experimental results indicate that these linear models are well suited for this application. They outperform a commonly proposed memory-based method in accuracy and also have a better tradeoff between off-line and on-line computational requirements.
Using musical instruments as human control interface for electronic games

Musical instruments, both acoustic and electronic, can be implemented as human control interfaces for electronic game applications. The control parameters are extracted from instrument performances and further mapped to game control parameters. The authors also illustrate the details of response feedback and provide a summary.
An enhanced bandwidth design technique for electromagnetically coupled microstrip antennas

This paper describes a method of enhancing the bandwidth of two different electromagnetically coupled microstrip antennas by utilization of a tuning stub. An approximate theory and equations are developed to demonstrate the potential bandwidth improvement and required stub impedance characteristics. A novel dual-stub design is presented that achieves better characteristics than a conventional quarter wavelength open-end stub. As examples, the bandwidth (VSWR<2) of a conventional proximity-coupled microstrip antenna is increased from 4.8 to 8.4% and the bandwidth of a stacked aperture-coupled microstrip antenna is increased from 27.5 to 34.5% using this technique.
A Schwarz–Christoffel-Based Analytical Method for Electric Machine Field Analysis

With the recent increase in the availability and widespread use of inverters, exotic rare earth permanent-magnet materials, and low-cost, precision manufacturing, new design tools are needed to aid engineers in designing state-of-the-art electromechanical systems. For this purpose, recent software advances allow a reexamination of previously intractable analytical solutions to the boundary value problems governing these systems. This paper presents an analytical field analysis method for electric machines utilizing the Schwarz-Christoffel transformation and implemented with the SC Toolbox software package. With the method, general 2-D electric machine cross sections with linear magnetic materials are analyzed. The method is then extended using superposition to analyze wound-rotor induction machines in the time domain. With this extension, numerous machine geometries, stator excitations, winding and slot harmonics, and torque ripple can be examined.
Random Generators and Normal Numbers

Pursuant to the authors' previous chaotic-dynamical model for random digits of fundamental constants [Bailey and Crandall 01], we investigate a complementary, statistical picture in which pseudorandom number generators (PRNGs) are central. Some rigorous results are achieved: We establish b-normality for constants of the form Σ 1/(b mi c ni) for certain sequences (mi), (ni) of integers. This work unifies and extends previously known classes of explicit normals. We prove that for coprime b, c > 1 the constant α b,c = Σ n=c,c 2,c 3 , … 1/(nb n ) is b-normal, thus generalizing the Stoneham class of normals [Stoneham 73a]. Our approach also reproves b-normality for the Korobov class [Korobov 90] β b, c d , for which the summation index n above runs instead over powers cd , cd2 , cd3 , … with d > 1. Eventually we describe an uncountable class of explicit normals that succumb to the PRNG approach. Numbers of the α,β classes share with fundamental constants such as π, log 2 the property that isolated digits can b...
Fertility Preservation in Breast Cancer Patients: A Prospective Controlled Comparison of Ovarian Stimulation With Tamoxifen and Letrozole for Embryo Cryopreservation

Purpose To develop safe ovarian stimulation methods to perform in vitro fertilization (IVF) in breast cancer patients who wish to preserve their fertility via embryo cryopreservation before chemotherapy. Patients and Methods Sixty women (age range, 24 to 43 years) with breast cancer were prospectively studied. Twenty-nine patients underwent 33 ovarian stimulation cycles with either tamoxifen 60 mg/d alone (Tam-IVF) or in combination with low-dose follicle-stimulating hormone (TamFSH-IVF) or letrozole 5 mg in combination with FSH (Letrozole-IVF). After IVF, all resultant embryos were cryopreserved to preserve fertility. Recurrence rates were compared with controls (n 31) who elected not to undergo IVF. Results Compared with Tam-IVF, both TamFSH-IVF and Letrozole-IVF patients had greater numbers of follicles (2 0.3 v 6 1 and 7.8 0.9, respectively; P .0001), mature oocytes (1.5 0.3 v 5.1 1.1 and 8.5 1.6, respectively; P .001), and embryos (1.3 0.2 v 3.8 0.8 and 5.3 0.8, respectively; P .001). Peak estradiol (E2) levels were lower with Letrozole-IVF and Tam-IVF compared with TamFSH-IVF. After 554 31 days (range, 153 to 1,441 days) of follow-up, cancer recurrence rate was similar between IVF and control patients (three of 29 v three of 31 patients, respectively; hazard ratio, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.29 to 7.4), and this estimate was not affected by cancer stage. Conclusion The combination of low-dose FSH with tamoxifen (TamFSH-IVF) or letrozole (Letrozole-IVF) results in higher embryo yield compared with Tam-IVF. Recurrence rates do not seem to be increased, but the letrozole protocol may be preferred because it results in lower peak E2 levels.
Function and Signaling of the pH-Sensing G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Physiology and Diseases

Maintenance of pH homeostasis is essential for normal physiology and regulated by a complex network of pH sensors and acid–base transporters. Here, we discuss a family of pH-sensing G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including GPR4, OGR1 (a.k.a. GPR68), TDAG8 (a.k.a. GPR65), and G2A (a.k.a. GPR132). These GPCRs are activated by acidic extracellular pH through the protonation of histidine residues of the receptors and transduce several downstream G protein pathways including the Gs, Gq, and G13 pathways. Functional studies using cells and animal models have begun to reveal the roles of the pH-sensing GPCRs in the cardiovascular, immune, renal, respiratory, nervous, and skeletal systems. These pH-sensing GPCRs are also involved in a variety of pathological conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and pain. Growing evidence suggests that the pH-sensing GPCRs play pivotal roles in multiple physiological systems and various diseases. Therefore, more research is greatly needed to further delineate and clarify the function and signaling pathways of these receptors. Since GPCRs traditionally serve as important pharmaceutical targets, the research of the family of pH-sensing GPCRs may lead to new approaches for disease treatment.
Neurobehavioral development of common marmoset monkeys

Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) monkeys are a resource for biomedical research and their use is predicted to increase due to the suitability of this species for transgenic approaches. Identification of abnormal neurodevelopment due to genetic modification relies upon the comparison with validated patterns of normal behavior defined by unbiased methods. As scientists unfamiliar with nonhuman primate development are interested to apply genomic editing techniques in marmosets, it would be beneficial to the field that the investigators use validated methods of postnatal evaluation that are age and species appropriate. This review aims to analyze current available data on marmoset physical and behavioral postnatal development, describe the methods used and discuss next steps to better understand and evaluate marmoset normal and abnormal postnatal neurodevelopment.
End to end congestion control in high-speed networks

This paper proposes an adaptive methodology to prevent congestion in packet switched networks such as the Internet, where the internal network nodes convey very little information to the ingress nodes. Two architectures of preventing the congestion are presented: the first one when the traffic arrival rates and bottleneck queue levels are known and the other when these are unknown. In the latter, the network traffic is estimated online using an adaptive system by measuring the buffer occupancy. In both architectures, the congestion is controlled by adjusting the transmission rates of non real-time and certain real-time sources in response to the feedback information so that a desired quality of service (QoS) can be met instead of using the existing additive increase multiplicative decrease (AIMD) algorithm. The QoS is defined in terms of packet loss, transmission delay, network utilization and fairness. Mathematical analysis is given to demonstrate the stability of the closed-loop system. Studies are included to show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme during simulated congestion. The proposed methodology can be readily applied to network planning, designing routing algorithms and transmission links as well as for real-time video and voice data transfer in unicast networks.
Coherent optical pattern recognition

Pattern-recognition systems, techniques, and applications using coherent optical systems are reviewed. Many optical pattern-recognition system architectures exist that include time-domain optical correlators and the optical joint transform correlators and refinements in the original optical matched spatial filter synthesis processor. Advanced optical pattern-recognition systems are also described such as hybrid optical/digital processors and diffraction-pattern sampling systems using specially shaped Fourier plane detector arrays. The optical space-variant pattern-recognition systems described are examples of the growing repertoire of operations now achievable in optical computers.
Top-Down Control of Rhythm Perception Modulates Early Auditory Responses

Our perceptions are shaped by both extrinsic stimuli and intrinsic interpretation. The perceptual experience of a simple rhythm, for example, depends upon its metrical interpretation (where one hears the beat). Such interpretation can be altered at will, providing a model to study the interaction of endogenous and exogenous influences in the cognitive organization of perception. Using magnetoencephalography (MEG), we measured brain responses evoked by a repeating, rhythmically ambiguous phrase (two tones followed by a rest). In separate trials listeners were instructed to impose different metrical organizations on the rhythm by mentally placing the downbeat on either the first or the second tone. Since the stimulus was invariant, differences in brain activity between the two conditions should relate to endogenous metrical interpretation. Metrical interpretation influenced early evoked neural responses to tones, specifically in the upper beta range (20‐30 Hz). Beta response was stronger (by 64% on average) when a tone was imagined to be the beat, compared to when it was not. A second experiment established that the beta increase closely resembles that due to physical accents, and thus may represent the genesis of a subjective accent. The results demonstrate endogenous modulation of early auditory responses, and suggest a unique role for the beta band in linking of endogenous and exogenous processing. Given the suggested role of beta in motor processing and long-range intracortical coordination, it is hypothesized that the motor system influences metrical interpretation of sound, even in the absence of overt movement.
On foraging strategies for large-scale multi-robot systems

Physical interference limits the utility of large-scale multi-robot systems. We present an empirical study of the effects of such interference in systems with hundreds of minimalist robots. We consider the canonical multi-robot foraging task, and define a new parametrized controller. This controller allows for evaluation of spatial arbitration strategies along a continuum with the traditional homogeneous and bucket-brigading algorithms at each end. We present data from thousands of simulations which suggests that methods surprisingly close to homogeneous foraging, but augmented with limited arbitration, can improve both performance and reliability
Congenital Hyperextension of the Knees in Twins

Bilateral congenital hyperextension of the knees occurring in dizygotic twins is reported. Twin A had the mild form of the disease, genu recurvatum, while twin B had a more severe form of the disease, congenital subluxation. Hyperextension of the knee may occur as a sporadic abnormality, in conjunction with multiple dislocations or as a feature of a syndrome. Early detection and diagnosis are important, especially in the more severe forms of the condition, subluxation and dislocation, which require aggressive immediate intervention to prevent long-term sequelae. Conservative treatment consisting of manipulations and immobilization usually will correct the mild forms of the condition if instituted soon after birth. Prognosis is less favorable with delayed treatment, in the presence of other congenital anomalies, and with genetic syndromes.
Human-In-The-Loop (HITL) Simulation and Analysis of Optimized Profile Descent (OPD) Operations at Atlanta

The MITRE Corporation’s Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD), under the sponsorship of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO), conducted a Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) simulation of Optimized Profile Descent (OPD) operations on the proposed DIRTY Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR) procedure into Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL). The simulation, conducted at the Atlanta Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility, assessed the workability of several alternatives for utilizing OPD operations on the DIRTY STAR. As a result of the evaluation, CAASD identified issues which would limit the use of the DIRTY STAR specifically, as well as OPDs more generally. In addition, CAASD was able to identify mitigating strategies and resolutions for many of the issues identified.
Protected dissemination and computer-aided reconstruction of digitized cultural artifacts

Advances in sensing technologies and data processing algorithms allow us to accurately and efficiently digitize the shape and surface characteristics of many physical objects. Among other applications, this capability presents new opportunities for preserving, sharing, and analyzing cultural heritage objects, such as artistic statuary and archaeological artifacts. This dissertation describes computational methods that we have developed and applied to allow the protected dissemination of archives of digitized 3D objects, and to aid in the reconstruction of a fragmented archaeological artifact. The increased capability for creation and sharing of three-dimensional digital models of valuable cultural artifacts introduces new concerns for their digital rights management. We have investigated several methods of protecting 3D models from piracy and misuse, while still allowing for their interactive display and manipulation. We describe an effective approach using a remote rendering system, which protects the high-resolution 3D geometry by allowing users to access the models only via images rendered on a remote secured server. Several possible types of 3D reconstruction attacks and corresponding defenses are considered. An implementation of our protected graphics system has been employed to protect and share large archives of 3D cultural heritage objects. Next we describe our digitization of the shape and surface appearance of the nearly 1,200 extant fragments of the Severan Marble Plan (Forma Urbis Romae), a giant 3rd-century marble map of Rome that is a primary source of topographical knowledge of the ancient city. We have created a unique digital archive of the Plan, one that includes a searchable relational database with collected archaeological information about each fragment, and that allows users to view 3D models of the fragments using our remote rendering system. Finally, we present a set of computer matching techniques that we have applied to the problem of reassembling the fragments of the Plan. These methods utilize the geometric constraints of the fragments' incisions, shapes, and other archaeological features that we have digitized. The effectiveness of our computer-aided reconstruction approach is demonstrated with a number of new proposed fragment matches and identifications, undiscovered in prior scholarship on the Plan, that extend our understanding of ancient Rome's topography.
Ultrafast, dynamical imaging of surfaces by use of a scanning tunneling microscope with a photoexcited, low-temperature-grown GaAs tip

We demonstrate ultrafast dynamical imaging of surfaces, using a scanning tunneling microscope with a low-temperature-grown GaAs tip photoexcited by 100-fs, 800-nm pulses. We use this setup to detect picosecond transients on a coplanar stripline and demonstrate a temporal resolution (full width at half-maximum) of 1.7 ps. The temporal waveform resulting from our low-temperature-grown GaAs tip is compared with waveforms obtained by means of photoconductively gated metal tips in the same setup. By dynamically imaging the stripline we demonstrate that the local conductivity in the sample is reflected in the transient correlated current and that 20-nm spatial resolution is achievable for a 2-ps transient correlated signal. Finally, we report the characterization of a picosecond pulse propagating along the stripline for millimeter-scale distances.
Identifying Documentation of Delirium in Clinical Notes through Topic Modeling

Delirium is prevalent, costly and under detected. Diagnosis or classification is largely done in text and often the narrative is behavioral, fuzzy and informal. To enable just-in-time decision support, we set out to identify the documentation of delirium in clinical notes. Two experts annotated documents from a Pittsburgh dataset. We experimented with 3 different topic modeling methods including LDA and 2 ICD-based methods and a keyword search method for the identification of delirium related documents and sentences in clinical notes. As expected, the keyword search method is highly specific but insufficiently sensitive when searching for mentions of delirium in the documents. All 3 topic models performed better in terms of recall but worse in precision when compared with keyword search. The ICD-2 method, in particular, achieved a F-score of 0.677. In contrast, the keyword search reached a F-score of 0.442. Implications regarding decision support design, enhancing collaboration within clinical teams and improving resource utilization were discussed.
Determination of serum antitrypsin in the study of malignant neoplasia.

ConclusionsThe plasma antitrypsin test does not show changes in association with early or minimal lesions of cancer.2) The test may aid in excluding the diagnosis of advanced but non-terminal malignancy, or in the discovery of these lesions when they present themselves in obscure form.3) Since antitrypsin values appear to be closely related to the growth of seminoma of the testis, it suggested that the test may have unique prognostic value in the study of this condition.
Moiré study of anticlastic deformations of strips with tapered edges

When a thin elastic strip is bent, anticlastic deforming of the cross section takes place, and the edges move away from the center of curvature. This effect can have serious consequences in several applications. However, it has been found that the magnitudes of the deformations can be very greatly reduced if the concave edges of the bent strip are tapered. The proportions of the tapers have already been worked out theoretically so as to optimize the reduction in anticlastic deformation in any given strip bent to a known radius of curvature. The main purpose of the present paper is to verify the theoretical deformations for optimally tapered strips by experiments using the moire method.
Intestinal Absorption of Pyrimidines in the Rat.

SummaryThe intestinal absorption of 3 natural pyrimidines and of 17 2-thiopyrimidines was studied in intact rats, and the antithyroid activity of 12 of the latter compounds tested by subcutaneous injection. With the possible exception of uracil, all compounds tested were passively absorbed. No relation was found between intestinal absorption and adsorption, and among compounds showing oral antithyroid activity, no relation was found between this activity and absorption. Both absorption and antithyroid activity were decreased by ionization or by polar groups, while small, non-polar groups had little or no effect on absorption. The position of the groups was of minor importance. It is suggested that the rate of intestinal absorption, for any series of similar, water-soluble compounds, is inversely related to polarity.
Postmortem on INF talks

The first anniversary of the demise of the intermediate- range nuclear forces (INF) arms limitation talks in Geneva is a suitable occasion to reflect on their origin and their failure. For although the question of resuming INF negotiations is still posed, and the United States professes a desire to resume the talks, the prospects for their resurrection is virtually nonexistent. While we may regret the collapse of the talks, we should recognize the fact and consider why they were fated not to succeed.
Survey and Dietary Exposure Assessment of Total Mercury in Milled Rice Farmed in 6 Provinces of Southern China

The study aims to investigate the occurrence of total mercury in milled rice from 6 provinces of Southern China during harvest in 2009,and determine the dietary exposure of target population using a non-parameter probabilistic model with information on rice consumption and body weight.Altogether 1 321 milled rice samples were collected from Jiangxi,Hubei,Hunan,Guangdong,Guangxi and Sichuan Provinces.Total mercury was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry(ICP-MS),and the limit of detection(LOD) for it was 0.000 8 mg·kg-1.The analytical results showed that 76.2% of the samples contained detectable concentrations of total mercury,which ranged from 0.000 8 to 0.063 4 mg·kg-1,but levels were generally low,with only 2.3% of the samples having concentrations above 0.02 mg·kg-1,the maximum level(ML).On the other hand,there was an apparent regional difference found for the concentrations of total mercury in milled rice.The provisional tolerable weekly intake(PTWI) of mercury,as recommended by Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives(JECFA) is 5 μg·(kg bw)-1.The estimated exposure values for populations of interest were compared to the PTWI.For the relevant population,this study confirmed the low probability of health risks from total mercury via the milled rice from the 6 provinces of Southern China.But exposure to total mercury for the population below 14 years old at P99.9 represented 41.5%～62.9% of the PTWI.While for children aged 2～4 years and boy aged 4～7 years,their estimated exposure at P99.9 were all over 60% of the PTWI.Considering the potential risk,this study suggests that a yearly monitoring program for total mercury in milled rice is necessary.
Transport to an infected site of azithromycin by phagocyte cells

Azithromycin is a new macrolide antibiotic developed by Pfizer. This compound has a 15 ring structure formed by adding a methyl-nitrogen to the 14-member lactone ring of erythromycin. Azithromycin has acid stability and significant improved activity against gram negative bacteria compared to other macrolides. Further, sustained high tissue levels of azithromycin have been demonstrated clinically and in basic research. There has been particular interest in the phagocyte delivery system of azithromycin to the site of infection. The mechanism is characterized by the intake of azithromycin by phagocytic cells which release the antibiotic at the site of infection. This report describes the mechanism of sustained high tissue levels by summarizing the data of Japanese and western clinical trials and research.
OROS Methylphenidate in Adolescents with ADHD

The efficacy and tolerability of osmotic-release oral system (OROS) methylphenidate in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were evaluated in a multisite controlled study at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and other centers in the United States.
Opportunities to Improve Milk Quality

Many opportunities exist to improve the bacterial quality of milk, particularly of manufacturing-grade milk. Test results, using plate counting procedures by 10 Iowa dairy laboratories, reflect a gradual improvement in recent years in manufacturing-grade milk quality. In recent months, 70 to 84% of 3,000 to 5,000 individual Iowa farm's manufacturing-grade milk samples tested each month were placed in Class I (plate-loop count of less than 500,000/ml). Problems still exist in farm milking equipment sanitation, undersized bulk tanks with inadequate cooling capacities, and delays in processing raw milk. USDA DMCC results on milk samples obtained from milk-storage tanks in Iowa dairy manufacturing plants reveal that in 1977-78 only 5.8 to 13.1% of the commingled raw milk would be classified as Class I. These results reflected a deterioration in bacterial quality of raw milk from the time milk leaves the farm until held in the plant storage system. Part of the quality deterioration can be blamed on failure to empty and clean plant storage tanks often, allowing too much time before milk is processed, and on milk not at 40 F or less. Cheese and butter exhibits reveal that poor milk quality has a negative influence on product flavor quality. Quality assurance programs for dairy farms, milk transportation, and plant storage must stress sanitation, cold temperatures and minimum times before processing to obtain good bacteriological quality milk and pleasing-flavored dairy foods.
August Schleicher and the Linguistics/Philology Dichotomy: A Chapter in the History of Linguistics

(1970). August Schleicher and the Linguistics/Philology Dichotomy: A Chapter in the History of Linguistics. WORD: Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 17-31.
Outcomes utilizing imported liver grafts for recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) offers the best chance of survival in selected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Wait list mortality or dropout due to tumor progression can be significant and therefore timely transplantation is critical. Liver grafts discarded by outside organ procurement organizations are a potential source of grafts for low MELD tumor patients. The primary aim of this study was to assess the disease-free and overall survival of patients with HCC transplanted with imported liver grafts (ILG). Methods: Review of all patients transplanted for HCC between June 2005 and December 2014 was performed. Data on demographics, survival and HCC recurrence were analyzed. Results: During this time period, 59 out of 190 recipients (31%) with HCC received ILG. Of these 59 grafts, 54 were imported from within the region and 5 were from national offers (outside the region). The mean cold ischemia time for local liver grafts (LLG) was 4.1 ± 1.5 hours versus 5.1± 1.4 hours for ILG (p < 0.001). The 1, 3, and 5 year patient survival was 90%, 85%, and 83% and 85%, 80%, and 79% for LLG and ILG (p=0.08), respectively. The observed disease recurrence rate for both LLG and ILG recipients was equivalent. The median wait list time for HCC recipients was 43 days (Range 2-1167 days). Conclusion: With careful graft assessment, the use of ILG result in comparable outcomes following liver transplantation and no increased risk of HCC recurrence. Use of ILG maximizes the donor pool and results in a higher rate of transplantation for HCC recipients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
What drives patient outcomes in brain metastases: Number, volume, or biology?

2071Background: To delineate the prognostic importance of number of brain metastases (BM), lesion volume, and biology on overall survival. Methods: Patients treated for BM with whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT), surgery, and/or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) at a single tertiary care institution from 1997-2015 were reviewed. The primary outcome was overall survival. Multivariable proportional hazards regression was used to adjust for confounding factors. Results: 3,955 patients with 16,189 BM were included in the analysis. There was a reduction in median survival with increasing number of lesions [1 lesion, 10.2 months; 2-4 lesions, 7.2 months, Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.36; 5-10 lesions, 5.6 months, HR: 1.69; > 10 lesions, 5.5 months, HR: 1.57, p 10 lesions, 6.9 months, HR 1.19], p...
Distributive politics and congressional voting: public lands reform in the Jacksonian era

During the 1830s, Congress passed a series of laws reforming U.S. policy on acquiring public lands. These laws established a federal land policy of preemption, under which squatters on public land obtained legal title to it in exchange for payment of a minimum (and low) price per acre. Preemption significantly liberalized the terms of land ownership in the U.S. We analyze roll call voting on the preemption acts in Congress from a distributive politics perspective. The key finding is that a member’s region of the country consistently adds explanatory power on top of that provided by ideology or party: members of Congress from the original thirteen states were less supportive of preemption on Western lands, all else constant. Moreover, this effect is much stronger in the House of Representatives than in the Senate. This is inconsistent with explanations of a West-South coalition vs. the North often found in the historical literature, but is consistent with a distributive politics perspective based on rent seeking by Western landholders.
Quantitative profiling of BATF family proteins/JUNB/IRF hetero-trimers using Spec-seq

BATF family transcription factors (BATF, BATF2 and BATF3) form hetero-trimers with JUNB and either IRF4 or IRF8 to regulate cell fate in T cells and dendritic cells in vivo. While each combination of the hetero-trimer has a distinct role, some degree of cross-compensation was observed. The basis for the differential actions of IRF4 and IRF8 with BATF factors and JUNB is still unknown. We propose that the differences in function between these hetero-trimers may be caused by differences in their DNA binding preferences. While all three BATF family transcription factors have similar binding preferences when binding as a hetero-dimer with JUNB, the cooperative binding of IRF4 or IRF8 to the hetero-dimer/DNA complex could change the preferences. We used Spec-seq, which allows for the efficient and accurate determination of relative affinity to a large collection of sequences in parallel, to find differences between cooperative DNA binding of IRF4, IRF8 and BATF family members. We found that without IRF binding, all three hetero-dimer pairs exhibit nearly the same binding preferences to both expected wildtype binding sites TRE (TGA(C/G)TCA) and CRE (TGACGTCA). IRF4 and IRF8 show the very similar DNA binding preferences when binding with any of the three hetero-dimers. No major change of binding preferences was found in the half-sites between different hetero-trimers. IRF proteins bind with substantially lower affinity with either a single nucleotide spacer between IRF and BATF binding site or with an alternative mode of binding in the opposite orientation. In addition, the preference to CRE binding site was reduced with either IRF binding in all BATF–JUNB combinations. The specificities of BATF, BATF2 and BATF3 are all very similar as are their interactions with IRF4 and IRF8. IRF proteins binding adjacent to BATF sites increases affinity substantially compared to sequences with spacings between the sites, indicating cooperative binding through protein–protein interactions. The preference for the type of BATF binding site, TRE or CRE, is also altered when IRF proteins bind. These in vitro preferences aid in the understanding of in vivo binding activities.
WALL: A writeback-aware LLC management for PCM-based main memory systems

In this paper, we propose WALL, a novel writeback-aware LLC management scheme to reduce the number of LLC writebacks and consequently improve performance, energy efficiency, and lifetime of a PCM-based main memory system. First, we investigate the writeback behavior of LLC sets and show that writebacks are not uniformly distributed among sets; some sets observe much higher writeback rates than others. We then propose a writeback-aware set-balancing mechanism, which employs the underutilized LLC sets with few writebacks as an auxiliary storage for storing the evicted dirty lines of sets with frequent writebacks. We also propose a simple and effective writeback-aware replacement policy to avoid the eviction of the writeback blocks that are highly reused after being evicted from the cache. Our experimental results show that WALL achieves an average of 26.6% reduction in the total number of LLC writebacks, compared to the baseline scheme, which uses the LRU replacement policy. As a result, WALL can reduce the memory energy consumption by 19.2% and enhance PCM lifetime by 1.25x, on average, on an 8-core system with a 4GB PCM main memory, running memory intensive applications.
Intersections of valuation overrings of two-dimensional Noetherian domains

We survey and extend recent work on integrally closed overrings of two-dimensional Noetherian domains, where such overrings are viewed as intersections of valuation overrings. Of particular interest are the cases where the domain can be represented uniquely by an irredundant intersection of valuation rings, and when the valuation rings can be chosen from a Noetherian subspace of the Zariski-Riemann space of valuation rings.
Site selection, design criteria and performance assessment for wetland restorations in the prairie pothole region

7 INTRODUCTION 8 STUDY AREA AND METHODS 10 Description of the Southern Prairie Pothole Region 10 Information Sources 11 Characteristics Related to Water Quality 12 Characteristics Related to Wildlife Habitat 13 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 18 Water Quality 18 Wildlife Habitat 23 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ONGOING RESTORATION PROGRAMS 36 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 38 LITERATURE CITED 39 PAPER 2. PLANT RECOLONIZATION OF RECENTLY RESTORED PRAIRIE GLACIAL MARSHES 45 ABSTRACT 47 INTRODUCTION 48 METHODS 51
A String Matching Algorithm Based on Real Scaling

A good intrusion detection algorithm is important not only in traditional networks, but also in Ad Hoc networks. This paper proposes a novel intrusion detection algorithm based on the real scale of the string matching. Based on properties of Ad Hoc networks, we design a real indexing tree which gives a complete implementation of the algorithm based on the real scale of the string matching. The algorithm can find out all the possible text scaling, and identify all the possible strings with the text scaling. In order to evaluate efficiencies of our algorithms, we use an evaluation data set, widely used in intrusion detection, to test our algorithms. The experimental results show that our algorithm is superior over other sate of art algorithms, and Ad Hoc network security is improved.
A Framework for Improving Effectiveness of MIS Steering Committees

MIS steering committees have been a mainstay of many organizations for several years now. Steering committees have been found to be invaluable in long-range planning for information systems IS, getting user involvement in IS development efforts, and in allocation of scarce computing resources to different projects. However, because of a number of pitfalls associated with steering committees some organizations have found them to be more of a problem than a solution to both the IS staffs and organizations they serve. This paper integrates research on group decision making, reported in the organizational behavior literature, with empirical research on MIS steering committees, reported in the MIS literature, and presents a framework for improving effectiveness of MIS steering committees. The proposed framework consists of guidelines for managing three stages of an MIS steering committee function: its inception, design, and day-today operational aspects. It is argued that attention to these guidelines at the three stages will help organizations steer clear of common pitfalls associated with these committees.
Investmentintensität kann sämtliche Pläne zunichte machen

Im funften und sechsten Kapitel haben wir gesehen, wie der finanzielle Erfolg Ihrer Geschaftseinheit durch die im bedienten Markt erreichte Wettbewerbsposition bestimmt wird. Die Rentabilitat hangt aber auch von der Produktivitat Ihres Betriebes ab, d. h. der Ausbringungsmenge pro investiertem Dollar oder Beschaftigtem.
The associations between bullying victimization and internalizing distress, suicidality, and substance use in Jamaican adolescents: the moderating role of parental involvement

The present study investigated whether bullying victimization and parental involvement were associated with internalizing distress, suicidal thoughts and behavior, and substance use in Jamaican ado...