cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring Sense of Community Responsibility in Community-Based Prevention Coalitions: An Item Response Theory Analysis.

Research on sense of community (SOC) has traditionally been approached from a resource perspective. Recently, however, research on the experience of SOC has evolved to include a related but distinct construct of sense of community responsibility (SOC-R), or feelings of accountability for the well-being of a community. This study applied item response theory to examine the psychometric properties of a SOC-R scale used in an evaluation of community-based substance abuse prevention coalitions. Data were collected in 2017 from coalition members (analytic sample = 309) in the northeastern United States. Findings indicate that the scale was reliable, unidimensional, and functioned well, particularly at low and moderate levels of the construct. The addition of two items intended to capture higher levels of the construct improved the scale's functioning at higher levels of SOC-R. The adapted SOC-R scale was also shown to have moderately strong relationships with conceptually relevant variables, including SOC, coalition participation, number of roles performed in the coalition, and engagement in community action activities. These findings provide empirical evidence to support the reliability and validity of the SOC-R scale, and have critical implications for our conceptualization of the SOC construct, its measurement, and for the evaluation of community-based prevention interventions.
Exploration vs. Exploitation in Case-Base Maintenance: Leveraging Competence-Based Deletion with Ghost Cases

Case-base maintenance research has extensively studied strategies for competence-retaining case base compression. Such approaches generally rely on the representativeness assumption that current case base contents can be used as a proxy for future problems when determining cases to retain. For mature case bases in stable domains, this assumption works well. However, representativeness may not hold for sparse case bases during initial case base growth, for dynamically changing domains, or when a case base built for one task is applied to cross-domain problem-solving in another. This paper presents a new method for competence-preserving deletion, Expansion-Contraction Compression (ECC), aimed at improving competence preservation when the representativeness assumption is only partially satisfied. ECC precedes compression with adaptation-based exploration of previously unseen parts of the problem space to create “ghost cases” and exploits them to broaden the range of cases available for competence-based deletion. Experimental results support that this method increases competence and quality retention for less representative case bases. They also reveal the unexpected result that ECC can improve retention of competence and quality even for representative case bases.
Microgrid Modeling and Fuel Savings Opportunities Through Direct Load Control

Small microgrids can derive their electrical power from a variety of energy resources. Some of these microgrids, including U.S. Military Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), use diesel generators as the primary or sole resource. In almost all cases, efficient utilization of generation resources is a high priority. This is particularly so for FOBs, for which diesel fuel resupplies come at remarkable monetary, logistical, and safety costs. Increasing the fuel efficiency of such microgrids requires not only incremental improvements to generation and load services, but also a higher-level understanding of how these components interact. This study of a typical U.S. Army FOB characterizes its power system, which is powered by diesel generators and has a load profile dominated by distributed environmental control units (ECUs). The study contributes an actionable simulation model of this power system and uses it to identify an opportunity for energy savings through appropriate scheduling of the ECUs.
Synthetic Cannabinoid-Associated Multiple Organ Failure: Case Series and Literature Review.

Objective We describe a multicenter descriptive case series of six patients admitted with synthetic cannabinoid (SC) intoxication displaying similar symptoms and sequelae, all resulting in multiple organ failure. Methods Patients were included in this report if they presented with known SC use and experienced multiple organ failure between March 1, 2016, and July 19, 2016, to the intensive care units of three hospitals in Maryland. Patients were followed to either discharge or death, and complications related to SC were documented. Results All six patients presented with altered mental status and severe rhabdomyolysis, with a peak creatine phosphokinase ranging from 4000 to >320,000 units/L. The majority of patients (five of six) presented with acute kidney injury, with most (four of six) requiring continuous renal replacement therapy. Most patients experienced fever (five of six) and myocardial injury, as evidenced by a troponin elevation (three of six). Seizures occurred in half of patients (three of six patients). Two patients required emergent fasciotomies of the bilateral lower extremities for acute compartment syndrome. Two patients developed fulminant hepatic failure that necessitated liver transplant evaluation, one requiring Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) therapy as a bridge to successful transplant, while the patient without it did not survive. Delirium, severe rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, and fever are common in patients with synthetic cannabinoid intoxication. Conclusions Given the growing abuse of these substances, clinicians should consider their use in the differential of such patient presentations. To our knowledge, only a few published case reports discuss multiple organ failure associated with SC toxicity, and only two have described an associated acute liver failure. Our report describes the first case of SC-associated acute liver failure requiring organ transplantation. Clinicians should be aware of life-threatening complications and consider SC ingestion in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with multiple organ failure.
The Road Less Traveled: New Directions for Schools for Students with Visual Impairments.

This article analyzes the changing purposes of schools for children with visual impairments in relation to their evolution, current practices, and future functions. It presents three models of futu...
Florian C. Reiter, The Taoism of Clarified Tenuity 清微道法: Content and Intention. Asien- und Afrikastudien der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 48. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2017. vi, 163 pp. Bibliography, Glossary. € 38 (PB). ISBN 978-3-447-10772-3

Daoism of Clarified Tenuity, or the Qingwei (Ch’ing-wei) school, emerged from obscurity in the 13th century and occupied a significant place in the development of Thunder Rituals (leifa). Thunder R...
Design of Direct Drive Modular Permanent Magnet Generator With Magnetic Slot Wedges and Step-Skewed Outer Rotor for Wind Power Applications

The direct-drive low speed permanent magnet generator has received more attention in variable-speed wind power generation system due to high efficiency and simple structure, compared to conventional gearbox-coupled generator. This paper presents the design and analysis of direct drive modular permanent magnet generator with magnetic slot wedges and step-skewed outer rotor for wind power applications. First, the topology and features are introduced. Some significant design considerations of proposed large permanent magnet generator were illustrated. Finally, the finite element analysis was employed to predict and compare the electromagnetic performance.
UPAYA MENGEMBANGKAN ASPEK BAHASA DALAM MENGHUBUNGKAN TULISAN SEDERHANA DENGAN SIMBOL MELALUI MODEL MAKE A MATCH PADA ANAK KELOMPOK B TK AISYIYAH HULU SUNGAI UTARA

Permasalahan yang ada disekolah TK Aisyiyah No 3 Galagah Hulu Kabupaten Hulu Sungai Utara adalah kurangnya perkembangan berbahasa anak hal itu dapat kita lihat dari 15 orang anak hanya 3 anak yang mendapat bintang ****,4 anak yang dapat bintang ***,dan 8 anak yang dapat bintang **. Adapun tujuan penelitian ini dilaksanakan selain mengembangkan aspek berbahasa anak,juga untuk mengembangkan aktifitas anak dan hasil pengembangan anak dalam pembelajaran sehari-hari sehingga mencapai indikator keberhasilan yang ditetapkan/diinginkan. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan dengan menggunakan metode tindakan kelas (Classroom Action Research) yang settingnya di TK Aisyiyah No.3 tahun pelajaran 2014 /2015.Subjek penelitian ini adalah anak kelompok B berjumlah 15 orang anak.Instrument yang digunakan adalah lembar obsevasi guru dan tes lisan. Penelitian ini dinyatakan berhasil apabila keberhasilan mencapai minimal 80% dengan kuaalifikasi anak Berkembang Sangat Baik. Penelitian Tindakan Kelas (PTK) dilaksanakan dalam 2 siklus, masing-masing siklus terdiri dari 2 kali pertemuan dengan tahapan perencanaan, pelaksanaan, observasi dan refleksi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pembelajaran dengan mengunakan model pembelajaran Make A Match pada kemampuan berbahasa dengan menghubungkan tulisan sederhana dengan simbol di Kelompok B TK Aisyiyah No 3 Tahun Pelajaran 2014/2015 dapat meningkatkan aktivitas guru dengan hasil siklus 1 mencapai nilai 78 dengan kualifikasi Baik dan siklus 2 mencapai nilai 89 dengan kualifikasi Sangat Baik.Adapun aktivitas anak dengan hasil siklus 1 mencapai nilai 66% dengan kualifikasi Aktif dan siklus 2 mencapai nilai 84%. Dengan kualifikasi Sangat Aktif dan hasil belajar anak siklus 1 mencapai keberhasilan 67 dan siklus 2 mencapai keberhasilan 82. Kata Kunci : Kemampuan Bahasa , tulisan sederhana, simbol, Model Make a Match UPAYA M ENGEMBANG K AN ASPEK BAHASA DALAM MENGHUBUNGKAN TULISAN SEDERHANA DENGAN SIMBOL MELALUI MODEL MAKE A MATCH PADA ANAK KELOMPOK B TK AISYIYAH HULU SUNGAI UTARA
Queering Reproductive Justice

The Supreme Court has simultaneously retreated from its once-protective stance towards reproductive rights while recognizing and safeguarding LGBTQ rights. This jurisprudential disconnect affords advocates an opportunity. By focusing on the intersection of these two areas of law — queer reproductive justice — advocates may be able to forge useful precedent in the LGBTQ rights space to then apply to other reproductive justice issues, including abortion and contraception. This Essay highlights three queer reproductive justice spaces — family formation, sex education curricula, and medical decision-making — to demonstrate how LGBTQ rights advances may inure to the benefit of reproductive justice more generally. This argument, while deeply practical in nature, implicitly challenges the conventional wisdom of social movement mobilization. Social movements are usually thought to promote the interests of their most privileged group members, whose rights are the least threatening to the status quo. Each incremental rights gain then trickles down to more marginalized individuals. For reproductive justice advocacy, the most effective approach may be one that “trickles up” from the most to the less marginalized.
Examining the Frictional Behavior of Primitive Contact Geometries for use as Robotic Finger Pads

Prosthetic and robotic grippers rely on soft finger pads to better acquire objects of varying size, shape and surface. However, the frictional behavior of soft finger pads of different designs and geometries have yet to be quantitatively compared, in large part due to the difficulty in modeling soft contact mechanics. In this letter, we experimentally examine the frictional behavior of several common primitive contact geometries in terms of their performance under shear loads that would tend to cause the contact to slip and the grasp to potentially fail. The effective static and kinetic coefficients of friction were recorded for each finger pad under a range of common grasping loads. The results show that the variance in contact curvature, contact patch geometry and pressure distribution have influences on key parameters for grasping at low forces. The advantages and disadvantages of these simple geometries are discussed for design of single finger, multi-finger and manipulation-based robotic hands.
Rutgers University's interdisciplinary Job Opportunities for Biomedical Scientists (iJOBS) Program: iNQUIRE, iNITIATE, iMPLEMENT, iNSTRUCT

Abstract Rutgers' interdisciplinary Job Opportunities for Biomedical Scientists (iJOBS) Program, a partnership between Rutgers' Center for Innovative Ventures of Emerging Technologies and the School of Graduate Studies, is available to over 2,000 trainees, spread across 27 distinct graduate programs in 3 geographically distinct campuses, and shares programming with regional universities. Trainees progress through four program phases; P1 introduces career choices; P2 offers externships/shadowing, mentorship and career-specific pedagogy; P3 guides the trainee's job search and P4 welcomes iJOBS alumni to share their perspectives. NJ-based trade organizations facilitate program branding and corporate/non-profit partners enable program content, informing a diversity of careers including clinical research, regulatory affairs, public policy, business/finance consulting, scientific writing, and entrepreneurship. Programming of note includes (career) panels, job simulations, company site visits, networking events, career fairs, talent/strength assessments, and personal branding. iJOBS is deemed a veritable success as we deliver motivated, skilled, and informed bioscience doctorate fellows into the workplace.
Substrate Mapping and Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia: The LAVA Approach

Comparison of real-time ICD electrograms during VT to that of stored arrhythmia events may be helpful in distinguishing “clinical” spontaneous arrhythmia from other induced “non-clinical” VTs. Abnormal local potentials recorded within the scar (LAVA, LP) reflect anisotropic slow conduction and may correlate with sites within the reentrant circuit. Substrate mapping focuses on LAVA or LP facilitates mapping and improves ablation outcomes.
HIV-related stigma and life goals among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Florida.

Goals are an important component of quality of life (QoL) as they provide motivation to accomplish tasks we strive to achieve. Stigma has been identified as a factor that may be deleterious to achieving personal goals. People living with HIV(PLWH) continue to face HIV-related stigma. As HIV prevalence continues to grow in the U.S., it is important to focus on factors that can help improve the health and QoL of PLWH. This study aims to examine the association between HIV-related stigma and goal-setting behaviors among PLWH in Florida. We used baseline data collected from the Marijuana and Potential Long-term Effects (MAPLE) observational cohort study. We collected life goals data using an abbreviated version of the Personal Projects Analysis inventory. Participants listed up to three goals in five domains and were asked about each goal’s difficulty and importance. HIV-related stigma was measured using an abbreviated version of the Herek HIV-related stigma scale. Relative risk estimates and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using multivariate linear regression models. The overall sample (n = 232) was majority male (52.4%), Black (72.4%), and non-Latino (84.9%). HIV-related stigma was positively associated with the total number of listed goals (β = 0.042[0.003, 0.082]; p = 0.037) and perceived goal difficulty (β = 0.010[0.003, 0.017]; p = 0.004), but not significantly associated with perceived goal importance (β = 0.001[− 0.002, 0.004]; p = 0.562). The results suggest that HIV-related stigma may be affecting the pursuit of goals among PLWH. There is a need to develop and evaluate QoL interventions that are tailored to PLWH and focused on achieving goals in the face of HIV-related stigma. People living with HIV have faced stigma and discrimination since the beginning of the epidemic. However, not much is understood on how this stigma may affect parts of their quality of life. In this study, we explored the association between HIV-related stigma and goal characteristics. Our study found that higher HIV-related stigma increased total number of reported goals and increased perceived goal difficulty. Due to goal’s importance to quality of life, there is a need to develop interventions for people living with HIV to improve goal characteristics in the face of HIV-related stigma to improve their overall quality of life.
Automatic Data Validation and Testing for Enterprise Asset Management in the Power and Utilities industry

Enterprise asset management (EAM) in the Power and Utilities (P&U) industry is a structured process that includes the collection of people, processes, and tools established to optimize the lifecycle value of the physical assets. EAM requires a suite of tools to meet the needs of a modern grid for increased reliability, service quality, improved resiliency, security, reduced costs, and enhanced customer experience. A major challenge that P&U organizations face with their EAM programs is the quality of data that is required to maintain and track the life cycle of the physical assets used in the generation, transmission, and distribution of power. EAM systems typically fetch data from heterogeneous source systems. The data are then extracted, transformed, and loaded (ETL) so as to standardize them. The ETL process is therefore critical since it directly affects the quality of data. Failures in the ETL process often leads to loading incorrect data into the EAM system which ultimately contributes to asset management practitioners making inaccurate decisions affecting the asset life cycle. This research was conducted at a major P&U organization experiencing asset data quality issues with their physical assets deployed in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The research proposed Automatic Data Validation and Testing Framework for Enterprise Asset Management (ADVTFEAM). The proposed framework adds additional data quality checks to the existing ETL process and generates use cases to test the validity of the data. Narrative analysis will describe the overview of the ADVTFEAM framework focusing on data quality dimensions of completeness, consistency, and uniqueness. The research leveraged a data validation program, business rules, templates, and other external systems with a study of 2,000 electric recloser assets each with twenty (20) critical asset specification attributes totaling 40,000 datasets. Reclosers are used throughout the power distribution system, from the substation to residential utility poles. They range in size from small reclosers for use on single-phase power lines, to larger three-phase reclosers used in substations and on high-voltage power lines up to 38,000 volts. The outcome of this research will contribute to the current enterprise asset management best practices from a data quality standpoint. It will also pave the way for future research purposes.
Audience Agency in Social Performance

Cultural pragmatics is a fruitful analytic tradition in sociology. However, theoretical use of this six-element model has largely focused on actors. Despite fusion’s definition as a product made be...
Some Thoughts on the Valuation of Closely Held Business Interests

Very few problems encompassed within the task of the valuation of property for the purpose of the determination of tax liability partake more of the nature of guesstimates than those relating to the valuation of closely held business interests. Ye , we find that the valuation of these interests is a matter of constant concern and that an error in such valuation may well spell disaster to those subjected to the tax bu den a d, possibly, ruin to the business to which the valuation relates.
The Coupling of 5-Oxo-Eicosanoid Receptors to Heterotrimeric G Proteins

5-Oxo-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-oxoETE) stimulated human neutrophil (PMN) and eosinophil chemotaxis, PMN hexose uptake, and PMN membrane GTP/GDP exchange. Pertussis toxin (PT), a blocker of heterotrimeric G proteins (GP), completely inhibited these responses, but proved far less effective on the same responses when elicited by leukotriene B4, C5a, FMLP, platelet-activating factor, IL-8, or RANTES chemotactic factors. 5-OxoETE also specifically bound to the membrane preparations that conducted GTP/GDP exchange. This binding was down-regulated by GTPγS, but not ADPγS, and displaced by 5-oxoETE analogues, but not by leukotriene B4, lipoxin A4, or lipoxin B4. Finally, PMN expressed PT-sensitive GP αι2 and PT-resistant GP αq/11- and α13-chains; eosinophils expressed only αi2 and αq/11. We conclude that 5-oxoETE activates granulocytes through a unique receptor that couples preferentially to PT-sensitive GP. The strict dependency of this putative receptor on PT-sensitive GP may underlie the limited actions of 5-oxoETE, compared with other CF, and help clarify the complex relations between receptors, GP, cell signals, and cell responses.
Sucrose Ingestion, Insulin Response and Mineral Metabolism in Humans

The effects of sucrose ingestion on the excretion of urinary calcium, zinc, phosphorus, sodium and potassium have been investigated and compared among 13 individuals to the magnitude of their postprandial serum insulin response. Fasted subjects consumed a beverage containing 2 g sucrose/kg, and urine and blood samples were taken at intervals during the next 3 h. As a result of sucrose consumption there were significant increases in serum insulin and decreases in serum phosphorus, but no change in serum total or filterable calcium, zinc, sodium or potassium. Urine calcium peaked at 1.5 h and was significantly increased from 10 through 2.5 h. Sucrose-induced increases in serum insulin and urine calcium were highly variable among subjects, and within the group were significantly correlated (r = 0.82, P less than 0.01). Urine calcium excretion was correlated with serum phosphorus (r = 0.41, P less than 0.05) and urine zinc (r = 0.80, P less than 0.01). Sucrose consumption also increased the urinary excretion of zinc and sodium, although renal reabsorption was not impaired. The effects of sucrose on urinary calcium are consistent with the hypothesis that insulin inhibits renal calcium reabsorption.
Investigation of microRNA alterations in leukemias and lymphomas.

Abstract Alterations in miRNA genes play a critical role in the pathophysiology of many, perhaps all, human cancers: cancer initiation and progression can involve alterations of microRNA genes (miRNAs) encoding small noncoding RNAs that can regulate gene expression. The main mechanism of microRNoma (defined as the full complement of microRNAs present in a genome) alteration in cancer cell seems to result in aberrant gene expression characterized by abnormal levels of expression for mature and/or precursor miRNA sequences in comparison with the corresponding normal tissues. Loss or amplification of miRNA genes has been reported in a variety of cancers, and altered patterns of miRNA expression may affect cell cycle and survival programs. The causes of the widespread differential expression of miRNA genes between malignant and normal cells can be explained by the genomic location of these genes in cancer‐associated genomic regions, by epigenetic mechanisms as well as by alterations of members of the processing machinery. Germline and somatic mutations in miRNAs or polymorphisms in the mRNAs targeted by miRNAs may also contribute to cancer predisposition and progression. miRNAs expression profiling has been exploited to identify miRNAs potentially involved in the pathogenesis of human cancers and has allowed the identification of signatures associated with diagnosis, staging, progression, prognosis, and response to treatment of human tumors. Here we present a flowchart of principal steps to produce, analyze, and understand the biological significance of miRNA microarray data.
Evaluation of a Most-Probable-Number Technique for the Enumeration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A most-probable-number (MPN) technique was evaluated for detecting and enumerating Pseudomonas aeruginosa in water and wastewater. Both the presumptive and confirmatory media, as described in the 13th edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, as well as modifications of these media were included in evaluations. Various samples of water were tested, namely chlorinated tap water, creek water, and influent to a wastewater treatment plant. Modified media repeatedly gave higher estimated MPNs of P. aeruginosa than media listed in Standard Methods. P. aeruginosa was detected and recovered from all creek water and wastewater samples, but not from tap water samples tested. This organism was determined to be present in as large numbers as the fecal coliforms and in even greater quantities than the fecal streptococci in all samples, whenever MPN estimations were determined from those positive tubes containing the modified confirmatory medium.
Supplementary steam - A viable hydrogen power generation concept

Technical and economic aspects of a supplementary steam generation for peaking power applications are discussed. Preliminary designs of the hydrogen/oxygen combustors to be used for such applications are described. The integration of the hydrogen/oxygen steam-generating equipment into a typical coal-fired steam station is studied. The basic steam generation system was designed as a 20 MW supplementary system to be added to the existing 160 MW system. An analysis of the operating and design requirements of the supplementary system is conducted. Estimates were made for additional steam and fuel supply lines and for additional control required to operate the combustors and to integrate the combustor system into the facility.
Balancing on a Planet: Toward an Agricultural Anthropology for the TWenty-First Century

Robert Netting had a central role in establishing agricultural anthropology. Many people rightly remember him as an astute ethnographer of farming communities, focused on analyzing the empirical details of changing patterns of household composition, land holding size and labor use. Yet, during his career he was increasingly concerned about the sustainability of smallholder vs. conventional industrial agriculture models on a global scale. Thus, Netting also had an important role in laying the foundation for the development of an agricultural anthropology for the twenty-first century, an anthropology that shows how smallholders “balancing on an Alp” can help us to understand how we might balance on this planet. This paper analyzes Netting's contribution to the future of agricultural anthropology in three key areas: the environment, population, and agriculture relationship; farmer knowledge and epistemology; and models for global sustainability.
Metabolic Requirements for Microcycle Sporogenesis of Bacillus megaterium

Spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 germinated, elongated, and resporulated (microcycle sporogenesis) in simple chemically defined media which permitted no cell division. The second-stage spores thus produced were heat-stable and required heat activation for germination. The original amount of spore deoxyribonucleic acid tripled before completion of the cycle. Acetate and a small amount of a tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate were the minimal organic metabolic requirements for microcycle sporogenesis. During this cycle, germinated cells oxidized acetate only after a delay, whether or not glucose was initially present. Spores that were germinated in the absence of a carbon source first oxidized an endogenous substrate, and then developed the ability to oxidize acetate. Images
Injuries in Underride-Override Collisions - A Clinical Study

AUTOMOBILES DAMAGED IN COLLISIONS IN WHICH THE MAIN VEHICLE STRUCTURE HAS BEEN UNDERRIDDEN OR OVERRIDDEN WERE STUDIED, AS WELL AS INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS OF THE AUTOMOBILES. THE PARAMETERS THAT AFFECT INJURIES ARE LISTED AND DISCUSSED, AS ARE THE EFFECTS OF THESE PARAMETERS FOR EACH CASE EXAMPLE. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR MODIFICATIONS OF PASSENGER CARS, TRUCKS, TRAILERS, AND HIGHWAY FURNITURE TO MITIGATE THE SEVERITY OF INJURY IN UNDERRIDE-OVERRIDE COLLISIONS. /SAE/
Persistence of regularity for the viscous Boussinesq equations with zero diffusivity

We address the global regularity for the 2D Boussinesq equations with positive viscosity and zero diffusivity. We prove that for data (u0, ρ0 )i nH s × H s−1 ,w here 1 1.
The carboxylate ion in the active center of pepsin.

Abstract Modification of a single carboxylate side chain in pepsin by 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane abolished enzymic activity. The degree of inactivation was related to incorporation of the modifier in a 1:1 molar ratio. The essential residue was an aspartic acid which is contained in the amino acid sequence Ile-Val-Asp-Thr-Gly-Ser-Ser-Asn. The pH rate profile of enzymic inactivation suggested the pKa of the active carboxylate ion to be below pH 3. Rate constants for the reaction of the 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane with water, citrate ion, and pepsin and for the reaction of propylene oxide with pepsin were determined. Evaluation of these rate constants allowed some quantitative determination of the effect of "affinity labeling" in this system and of the nucleophilic character of the reactive carboxylate ion. In the light of these experiments and information available in the literature, potential mechanisms for pepsin catalysis are discussed.
Chapter 10 Anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation and the prospects for microbial enhanced energy production

Publisher Summary There is a biotechnological link between oil and natural gas that is the product of the relatively recent recognition that many hydrocarbons are susceptible to anaerobic biodegradation and can be converted into methane and carbon dioxide. Unlike the well-documented patterns of aerobic oil biodegradation, anaerobic hydrocarbon metabolism was dismissed as ecologically insignificant. This chapter reviews evidence for anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation and provide an overview of some of the more generalizing metabolic features. It explores whether these reactions can be predicted, identifies some of the implications for the ability of anaerobes to convert hydrocarbons into methane, and thereby, generates useful energy. There is ample evidence that anaerobic microbial processes occur under reservoir conditions. There is even evidence, albeit indirect, that such processes occur in situ . The most widely used indicator for biological methanogenesis comes from the carbon isotopic abundance signature of the methane in natural gas deposits. The chapter ends with a discussion on microbial enhanced energy recovery and carbon dioxide.
Sex comb on midleg (Scm) is a functional link between PcG-repressive complexes in Drosophila

The Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are key regulators of development in Drosophila and are strongly implicated in human health and disease. How PcG complexes form repressive chromatin domains remains unclear. Using cross-linked affinity purifications of BioTAP-Polycomb (Pc) or BioTAP-Enhancer of zeste [E(z)], we captured all PcG-repressive complex 1 (PRC1) or PRC2 core components and Sex comb on midleg (Scm) as the only protein strongly enriched with both complexes. Although previously not linked to PRC2, we confirmed direct binding of Scm and PRC2 using recombinant protein expression and colocalization of Scm with PRC1, PRC2, and H3K27me3 in embryos and cultured cells using ChIP-seq (chromatin immunoprecipitation [ChIP] combined with deep sequencing). Furthermore, we found that RNAi knockdown of Scm and overexpression of the dominant-negative Scm-SAM (sterile α motif) domain both affected the binding pattern of E(z) on polytene chromosomes. Aberrant localization of the Scm-SAM domain in long contiguous regions on polytene chromosomes revealed its independent ability to spread on chromatin, consistent with its previously described ability to oligomerize in vitro. Pull-downs of BioTAP-Scm captured PRC1 and PRC2 and additional repressive complexes, including PhoRC, LINT, and CtBP. We propose that Scm is a key mediator connecting PRC1, PRC2, and transcriptional silencing. Combined with previous structural and genetic analyses, our results strongly suggest that Scm coordinates PcG complexes and polymerizes to produce broad domains of PcG silencing.
High-speed current-mode logic amplifier using positive feedback and feed-forward source-follower techniques for high-speed CMOS I/O buffer

A new approach to implement low-power high-performance integrated output pad drivers in monolithic integrated circuits is presented. The design utilizes a source-follower topology along with a simple positive feedback and a simple feed-forward approach to control both rise and fall times for a given loading capacitance. This novel technique is used to implement a differential output pad driver for the high-speed serial data/clock design in a standard 0.13 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. The driver occupies less than 0.12 mm/sup 2/ of die area including the area of two ball pads and can drive 50-/spl Omega/ load through 50-/spl Omega/ transmission line for higher than 12-Gb/s data rates.
Socio‐technical analysis of IPTV: a case study of Korean IPTV

Purpose – This paper seeks to investigate the prospects for internet protocol TV (IPTV) from the social, economic and regulatory perspective to gain a better understanding of how IPTV will evolve and stabilize in next generation network environments.Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from multiple data collection methods. The analysis is based on theoretical frameworks derived from socio‐technical theories and web of stakeholder analyses.Findings – From the socio‐technical analysis, the development of IPTV implies that IPTV has been through internally‐driven change (more or less technology‐driven and regulatory‐constrained), but from now on it will likely be driven by external factors (market and user). The web of stakeholder analysis implies that the further development of IPTV in Korea is likely to comprise multiple stages, predicated by several significant events: the deployment of Broadband Convergence Network and FTTH, the resolving of content issues, estab...
Implication of different cardiac troponin I levels for clinical outcomes and prognosis of acute chest pain patients.

OBJECTIVES We compared outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (ACS) according to the degree of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) elevation. BACKGROUND Controlled trials of high-risk patients have found that troponin elevations identify an even higher risk subset. It is unclear whether outcomes are similar among a lower risk, heterogeneous patient group. Also, few studies have reported outcomes other than myocardial infarction (MI) or death, based on the peak troponin value. METHODS Consecutively, admitted patients without ST-segment elevation on the initial electrocardiogram underwent serial marker sampling using creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB fraction, and cTnI. Patients were grouped according to peak cTnI: negative = no detectable cTnI; low = peak greater than the lower limit of detectability but less than the optimal diagnostic value; intermediate = peak greater than or equal to the optimal diagnostic value but less than the manufacturer's suggested upper reference limit (URL); and high = peak greater than or equal to the URL. Thirty-day outcomes included cardiac death, MI based on CK-MB, revascularization, significant disease, and a reversible defect on stress testing. Six-month mortality was also determined. Negative evaluations for ischemia included nonsignificant disease, no reversible stress defect, and negative rest perfusion imaging. RESULTS Of the 4,123 patients admitted, 893 (22%) had detectable cTnI values. Cardiac events and positive test results at 30 days and 6-month mortality increased significantly with increasing cTnI values. Negative evaluations for ischemia were significantly and inversely related to peak cTnI values. Although adverse events were significantly more common in patients with a low cTnI value than in those with negative cTnI, negative evaluations for ischemia were frequent. CONCLUSIONS Increased cTnI values are associated with worse outcomes. Although low cTnI values are associated with adverse events, they do not have the same implication as higher cTnI values, and nonischemic evaluations are frequent.
Effects of ultraviolet light on mitosis in Physarum polycephalum

Abstract Plasmodia of the slime mold, Physarum polycephalum , were irradiated with ultraviolet light at different times in the mitotic cycle. Mitosis was delayed most if irradiation took place during the preceding mitosis or during early interphase (= S-phase). From then on the sensitivity decreased gradually to almost zero at early prophase when irradiated with 2900 ergs/mm 2 . With a dose of 14,500 ergs/mm 2 , the sensitivity remained at an approximately constant level during the latter half of the intermitotic period. Irradiation with 14,500 ergs/mm 2 during early prophase, as late as 13 min before metaphase, caused reversion to interphase and approximately the same mitotic delay as irradiation at other times during the latter part of the intermitotic period. The mitotic cycles following the first postirradiation mitosis were shorter than the corresponding mitotic cycles of unirradiated control halves. At the first and second postirradiation mitosis the RNA/DNA and the protein/DNA ratios were above the levels measured for the corresponding mitoses in the control halves. After the second postirradiation mitosis these values gradually approached the levels found in the control halves.
Characterization of bitumens and coals

Elemental analyses can be used to distinguish many bitumens and coals by plotting the data on an H/C versus (N + S)/0 diagram.
Stopping guidelines for clinical trials with multiple treatments

Stopping guidelines are widely used in long-term clinical trials involving two treatments. These allow planned interim analyses of the accumulating data to be undertaken whilst preserving the type I error rate for the treatment comparison. Their philosophy is extended to the case of trials with multiple treatments so that at any interim analysis, treatments may be considered for dropping from the trial if they are significantly inferior to all treatments that will remain. The proposed guidelines are designed to preserve the error rate in determining that treatment or group of treatments which is, in reality, best. Using simulation studies, stopping guidelines developed for two-arm trials are shown to be directly usable in multiple-arm studies when the treatments studied are all experimental and so in direct competition. When one treatment is the standard of care, a modification gives a better ethical perspective by also permitting treatments to be dropped when they are deemed inferior to the standard. Results are presented for normally distributed responses in trials involving three or four treatments and using stopping boundaries of the form proposed by O'Brien and Fleming. In conclusion, I discuss some of the additional considerations that are important in employing stopping guidelines in trials with multiple treatments.
Retinotoxicity of 1,4,-bis(4-aminophenoxy)-2-phenylbenzene (2-phenyl-APB-144) in albino and pigmented rats.

Albino and pigmented strains of rats were administered 0, 5, 25, 100 or 500 mg/kg 2-phenyl-APB-144 by gavage and were killed 14 days later. Although no ocular lesions were found in rats dosed at 5 mg/kg, similar dose-related retinopathy was found at 25, 100, or 500 mg/ kg in both albino and pigmented rats. The primary target site appeared to be retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and photoreceptor outer segments (POS). At 25 mg/kg or greater, multifocal retinal detachment with disrupted POS occurred where the RPE cells showed necrotic changes and contact loss with POS due to fragmention of apical processes in the RPE cells. Also, RPE cells showed hyperplasia, migration, and phagocytic activity toward disrupted POS. The photoreceptor nuclei (outer nuclear cells) were displaced into the areas occupied by disrupted POS. At 100 or 500 mg/kg, multifocal or diffuse disruption of POS and photoreceptor inner segments (PIS) was observed with markedly proliferating RPE cells. The photoreceptor nuclei were disorganized, less numerous, and necrotic. Some photoreceptor nuclei directly apposed the RPE cells or Bruch's membrane due to the absence of both POS and PIS. The cytoplasm of RPE cells was loaded with phagosomes, disrupted lamellar discs, myelin bodies, and lysosomal residual bodies. The morphological changes appeared to be related to lysosomal dysfunction of the RPE cells. The presence of melanin pigment in the RPE cells did not appear to be the primary factor in the development of the retinopathy.
Use of Winter Annual Cover Crops to Reduce Soil Nitrate Levels

ABSTRACT The scientific community and various environmental groups have been concerned about the leaching of nitrate (NO3) to ground water from various sources including crop fields where all the applied NO3 is not utilized by the primary crop. Experiments were conducted on two soil types in Alabama to investigate the use of winter cover crops to capture NO3 remaining after the harvest of corn, cotton and soybeans. In these experiments, harvest of the primary crops was so late that cover crop growth in the fall was insufficient to immobilize significant amounts of NO3. Soil testing the following spring showed that most of the soil NO3 was in the top 30 cm (12 in) of the soil profile. A subsequent cover crop planting date experiment showed that wheat planted after September 18 and rye planted after October 2 made insufficient fall growth to immobilized significant amount of NO3. Most spring growth occurred after late February when much of the winter rainfall had already occurred. It appears that judicious ...
Oceanographic work at the Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, for the year 1932

While in the first three years the work carried out by the Hydrobiological Survey of Hopkins Marine Station was limited to the waters quite close to the Station, in 1932 our program was considerably extended on account of better boating facilities. The entire bay was included in our program and particular emphasis was placed on ascertaining the role played by the deep channel in the general hydrographical changes characteristic of the Bay. Seven stations were established. One was on the northern side of the channel; two were on the southern side; the remaining four, in a manner, triangulated the central channel. Weather and other conditions permitting, these stations were visited once a week. All of these stations except one were limited to the upper 100 meters. One extended down as far as 900 meters. At the 900-meter station water-samples, as well as temperatures, were taken, while at the shallower stations only temperatures were observed.
Some observations on the diagnosis and treatment of complete denture problems

Diagnosis of problems in the wearing of complete dentures can only be made after taking a complete history of the difficulties encountered by the patient. This necessitates careful attention whilst the patient relates the various difficulties. The record of these statements should be scrutinized carefully and this will assist in making the correct diagnosis of the cause of the difficulties. Specific problems encountered by elderly patients are examined and some methods of overcoming them are presented.
Light-scattering study on the association behavior of triblock polymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide in aqueous solution

Static and dynamic light-scattering studies on the temperature-induced micellization behavior in aqueous solutions of poly (oxyethylene-oxypropylene-oxyethylene) block copolymer, poloxamer 188, are presented. A wide temperature range from 21.5 to 78°C was covered in this work. Three temperature regions exist, namely, unimer, transition, and micelle. At room temperatures, i.e., below the critical micellization temperature, molecularly dispersed particles of an average radius of ∼2.3 nm with a broad polydispersity have been detected. In the micelle region, the micellar weights measured are of the order of 105 g mol−1 and increase linearly with increasing temperature, while the hydrodynamic radius of micelles remains nearly constant (∼8.0 nm). Such a dual effect of temperature could be interpreted in terms of enhanced dehydration with temperature. The polydispersity of polymolecular micelles becomes much narrower than that of unimers. In the intermediate transition region, the equilibrium unimers ⇌ micelles shifts toward micelles with rising temperature and increasing concentration. Thus a reasonably complete picture about the association process in the aqueous poloxamer system has been given in accordance with the closed association model.
Imbalance of T cell subpopulations in peripheral blood of children with non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 13 children with newly diagnosed untreated non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma were investigated for the proportion of Tμ and Tγ cells. Tumor involvement was classified as stage II in two patients, stage III in five patients, and stage IV in six patients. Diffuse poorly differentiated lymphoblastic histological-type lymphomas, as defined by the Rappaport classification, were found in eight patients. The proportion of Tγ cells was found to be increased and that of Tμ cells decreased in the patient group as compared to levels in healthy controls. A marked imbalance of the Tμ/Tγ ratio was observed in ten of 13 patients. There was no correlation between Tμ/Tγ ratios and stage of the disease. Imbalances of Tμ and Tγ cell proportions are discussed in relation to humoral and cellular immunodeficiencies observed in patients with non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma.
Preconditioning of microchannel plate stacks

A preconditioning scheme for the stabilization of microchannel plate (MCP) Z stacks has been developed. Vacuum baking of MCP Z stacks is shown to have little effect on the gain and pulse height distribution characteristics, but tends to increase the background event rate. The major outgassing components during baking are found to be H2, N2, H2O, and CO2. The MCP stack resistance is found to decrease as the temperature rises, and the temperature coefficient has been determined. Burn-in of MCP stacks is shown to cause a 3x to 10x decrease in gain and also results in minimization of the background event rate. The major outgassing components during burn-in are found to be H2, N2, and CO2. Stabilization of the MCP stacks has been achieved when 0.06 to 0.08 Coulomb cm-2 have been extracted from the MCP stack output during burn-in.
A strong Connes spectrum for finite group actions of simple rings

Abstract In this paper, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for a skew group ring to be simple. Our conditions are in terms of the irreducible representations of the group G. We also introduce a version of the strong Connes spectrum for finite group actions of simple rings.