cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Genetic Algorithms and Sparse Logistic Regression to Find Gene Signatures for Chemosensitivity Prediction in Breast Cancer

Various gene signatures of chemosensitivity in breast cancer have been identified. When used to build predictors of have chemosensitivity, many of them have their prediction accuracy around 80%. Identifying gene signatures to build high accuracy such predictors is a prerequisite for their clinical tests and applications. To elucidate the importance of each individual gene in a signature is another pressing need before such signature could be tested in clinical settings. In this study, Genetic Algorithms (GAs) and Sparse Logistic Regression (SLR) were employed to identify two signatures. The first had 28 probe sets selected by GA from the top 65 probe sets that were highly overexpressed between pathologic compete response (pCR) and residual disease (RD) and was used to build a SLR predictor of pCR (SLR-28). The second had 86 probe sets (Notch-86) selected by GA from Notch signaling pathway and was used to develop a SLR predictor of pCR (SLR-Notch-86). These two predictors tested on a training set (n=81) and validation set (n=52) had very precise predictions measured by accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value with their corresponding P value all zero. Furthermore, these two predictors discovered 12 important genes in the 28 probe set signature and 14 important genes in the Notch-86 signature. Our two signatures produced superior performance over a signature in a previous study, demonstrating the potential of GA and SLR in identifying robust gene signatures in chemo response prediction in breast cancer.
When To Let Go-Diradical Intermediates from Zwitterionic Transition State Structures?

Several Brummond–Chen thermal intramolecular (2 + 2)-cycloaddition reactions were examined using density functional theory calculations. The results of these calculations indicate that it is possible for these reactions to involve diradical intermediates that form directly from zwitterionic transition state structures. The likelihood of this scenario was shown to be sensitive to both the nature of substituents and solvent polarity.
Effect of execution of Global Fund Malaria Project in Suining County

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of the execution of the Global Fund Malaria Project in Suining County. METHODS The data of malaria information and the execution of the Global Fund Malaria Project in Suining County from 2006 to 2012 were collected and analyzed statistically. RESULTS From 2006 to 2012, 215 confirmed malaria cases were reported, including 213 cases of vivax malaria and 2 cases of falciparum malaria. With the implementation of the Global Fund Malaria Project, the malaria cases decreased from 37 cases in 2006 to 1 case in 2012, and the incidence decreased from 0.28/10000 to 0.01/10000 with the decline rate of 96.43%. CONCLUSION The implementation of the Global Fund Malaria Project plays a significant role on malaria control in Suining County.
On the generalizability of the Chunk-and-Pass processing approach: Perspectives from language acquisition and music

Christiansen & Chater (C&C) offer the Chunk-and-Pass strategy as a language processing approach allowing humans to make sense of incoming language in the face of cognitive and perceptual constraints. We propose that the Chunk-and-Pass strategy is not adequate to extend universally across languages (accounting for typologically diverse languages), nor is it sufficient to generalize to other auditory modalities such as music.
Subdiffraction‐limited chemical imaging of patterned phthalocyanine films using tip‐enhanced near‐field optical microscopy

A tip-enhanced near-field optical microscope, based on a shear-force atomic force microscope with plasmonic tip coupled to an inverted, confocal optical microscope, has been constructed for nanoscale chemical (Raman) imaging of surfaces. The design and validation of the instrument, along with its application to near-field Raman mapping of patterned organic thin films (coumarin-6 and Cu(II) phthalocyanine), are described. Lateral resolution of the instrument is estimated at 50 nm (better than λ/10), which is roughly dictated by the size of the plasmonic tip apex. Additional observations, such as the distance scaling of Raman enhancement and the inelastic scattering background generated by the plasmonic tip, are presented. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Age Factors and Antiepileptic Drug Withdrawal

Age dependent factors concerning the withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs (AED) and seizure relapse rates, after a seizure-free period longer than 3 years, were evaluated in 304 patients with childhood epilepsies treated at the Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama City, Japan.
Paisajes Rituales y Políticos Paracas en el Valle de Chincha, Costa Sur del Perú

En este articulo se realiza una descripcion y analisis de los primeros edificios monumentales, caminos, geoglifos y canales de irrigacion del valle de Chincha, costa sur del Peru, como un conjunto de rasgos producto de la construccion de un paisaje ritual y politico. Se plantea que los edificios monumentales del periodo Paracas tardio (400–100 a.C.) fueron puntos de llegada, encuentro y salida de grupos humanos muy bien organizados en el territorio. Para organizar y dirigir los movimientos sociales hacia esta arquitectura, las elites que dirigieron la construccion de estos rasgos en el paisaje utilizaron su conocimiento del movimiento del sol durante el ano, especialmente, durante los solsticios y equinoccios.
Coping skills interventions with adolescents in anger management using animals in therapy

Pet Therapy reduces apprehension and is, therefore an important tool in working with children and adolescents. Treatment of animals by children is also indicative of their mental health and healthy development. Cruelty to animals may foretell later abuse to humans providing the link between child and animal abuse. Understanding the role of pets as indicators of individual and family problems enable therapists and other professionals to provide the proper counseling for the situation. This paper presents a describes a group work program cognitive behavioral approach with adolescents in pet therapy as an adjunct to treatment in anger management.
Grain- and macro-scale kinematics for granular micromechanics based small deformation micromorphic continuum model

Abstract Macro-scale deformation of granular solids comprising large number of grains (>106) are most efficiently described within the framework of continuum mechanics. It is notable, however that the micro-scale deformations in these materials are concentrated at the grain-boundaries or grain-contacts. Thus, the deformation energies in these systems must be modeled by considering the deformations concentrated in the neighborhood of the grain-boundaries or grain-contacts. To address this issue, grain-interactions has been widely described in the Hertzian sense by considering the relative movement of points on either side of a grain boundary or contact treated as an imperfect interface. This communication introduces the relevant kinematic variables given in the terms of the grain displacements, spins and size that can be used to estimate the relative movement of a grain boundary or contact. The macro-scale kinematic variables useful for continuum modeling are then identified with the grain-scale kinematic variables. The deformation energy density of the granular solid can thus be expressed both in terms of the grain-scale as well as the macro-scale kinematic variables providing the necessary pathway for micro-macro identification which can lead to non-classical micromorphic continuum models that incorporate grain-scale representation.
A fast numerical integrator for relativistic charged particle tracking

In this paper, we report on a fast second-order numerical integrator to solve the Lorentz force equations of a relativistic charged particle in electromagnetic fields. This numerical integrator shows less numerical error than the popular Boris algorithm in tracking the relativistic particle subject to electric and magnetic space-charge fields and requires less number of operations than another recently proposed relativistic integrator.
Dark Matter Indirect Detection with Gamma Rays

Searches for weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark matter with gamma-ray instruments are a way to get a unique observational handle on the particle nature of dark matter. I will discuss the details of how to perform these searches, both for annihilating and decaying WIMPs. I will discuss the calculation of the gamma-ray flux from possible sources of dark matter annihilation or decay and show examples of limits which have been calculated using these techniques.
Chromosphere and Corona: Observations of the Extreme Ultraviolet Solar Spectrum

The present state of knowledge of the Sun’s extreme ultraviolet spectrum is reviewed, and areas for future work are indicated. Recent extreme ultraviolet spectroheliograms, including one that shows an importance 2N flare, are discussed.
Distinct Roles of the Chromosomal Passenger Complex in the Detection of and Response to Errors in Kinetochore-Microtubule Attachment

Summary The chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) localizes to centromeres in early mitosis to activate its subunit Aurora B kinase. However, it is unclear whether centromeric CPC localization contributes to CPC functions beyond Aurora B activation. Here, we show that an activated CPC that cannot localize to centromeres supports functional assembly of the outer kinetochore but is unable to correct errors in kinetochore-microtubule attachment in Xenopus egg extracts. We find that CPC has two distinct roles at centromeres: one to selectively phosphorylate Ndc80 to regulate attachment and a second, conserved kinase-independent role in the proper composition of inner kinetochore proteins. Although a fully assembled inner kinetochore is not required for outer kinetochore assembly, we find it is essential to recruit tension indicators, such as BubR1 and 3F3/2, to erroneous attachments. We conclude centromeric CPC is necessary for tension-dependent removal of erroneous attachments and for the kinetochore composition required to detect tension loss.
Expression of T-Cell Markers on Chicken Bone Marrow Precursor Cells Incubated with an Avian Thymic Hormone

Thymic extracts from a number of mammals (mice, rats, calves, pigs, and humans) have been shown to contain a variety of hormones or factors which play an important role in the differentiation and maturation of T lymphocytes. Some of the well-characterized hormones or factors include thymosin (Goldstein, 1976), thymulin (Bach et al., 1978), thymopoietin (Goldstein, 1975), and thymic humoral factor (Kook et al., 1975). These and several additional factors have also been demonstrated to be present in the serum of some of the mammals. Most of these hormones are active in bioassays both in vitro and in vivo. Thymosin fraction 5 induces the expression of Thy-1 and Lyt antigens on murine precursor cells and functional maturation of T cells (Ahmed et al., 1978). It also has been shown to induce HTLA surface marker on human bone marrow cells (Touraine et al., 1975) and to enhance the number of E-rosette-forming T cells (Incefy et al., 1975). Similar biological activity has been reported for thymulin (Bach et al., 1978). Mouse bone marrow cells or spleen cells express TL and Thy-1 antigens when incubated in vitro with thymopoietin (Basch and Goldstein, 1974).
Vouching for a Head Start Reformation

In the words of Jack Shonkoff, Director of Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child: the quality of the foundation built in early childhood, whether it is strong or fragile, affects future development, health, learning and economic success. With a strong foundation, babies move easily through more and more complex learning stages. And “although it’s never too late to learn new skills since the brain never stops developing, it’s just harder and less effective to build on a weak foundation than it is to get development right the first time”. This speaks to the growing trend and continuation of a national and international effort to restructure our orphanages and homes to better suit the proper developmental needs of children. In conjunction with these changes, the United States government has also increased its focus on improving early childhood education and interactions for those in communities usually bereft of these opportunities. One such program, Head Start, was created in 1965 to prepare low-income students for elementary school. It has evolved and changed over the last five decades and now faces a key juncture that will determine its future.
DIAGNOSIS OF THROMBOEMBOLIC DISEASE: COMBINED VENTILATION PERFUSION LUNG SCAN AND COMPRESSION ULTRASONOGRAPHY

The clinical management of pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis of the legs are similar and requires prolonged anticoagulation therapy. The standard diagnostic approach in patients suspected of pulmonary embolism is ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) lung scan and compression ultrasonography to detect deep venous thrombosis. This retrospective study analyzed the role of V/Q lung scan and compression ultrasonography in detection of thromboembolic disease. One hundred-twenty consecutive patients (65 female, 55 male) age range 18-95 (Mean age 60.7) suspected for pulmonary embolism underwent concomitant V/Q lung scan and compression ultrasonography of the lower extremities. The clinical and radiographic correlation was performed. Of patients with non-diagnostic (Low or intermediate probability) lung scans, 15.4% (14/91) received anticoagulation therapy for pulmonary embolism. These patients had either high pre-clinical suspicion for PE or underwent pulmonary arteriogram. However, there was an additional 7% (7/91) increase in the number of patients who received anticoagulation therapy based on the results of ultrasound with confidence interval (3%-16%). We conclude that V/Q lung scan is a more sensitive examination for thromboembolic disease, and has a high negative predictive value. Ultrasonography of lower extremities demonstrated higher specificity and positive predictive value. Among patients with non-diagnostic lung scan, the detection rate of thromboembolic disease is improved with addition of ultrasound.
A plant succession gradient in a big sagebrush/grass ecosystem

Rangeland vegetation in the Great Basin of the United States is found in several seral stages depending upon gradients related to distance from water and grazing differences across fencelines. Detailed documentation of vegetation changes was attempted on a representative vegetation type in northern Nevada using a chronosequence approach. Frequency of occurrence appeared to be the vegetation attribute most clearly expressing an axis of change or differences across the site. Soil profile descriptions and soil analyses helped relate plant community changes to abiotic variation. Species, microtopography and soil surface characteristics varied with seral stage. Pattern analysis proved useful for relating vegetation changes to successional stages. Computer-based classification (TWINSPAN) and ordination (DECORANA) techniques defined a successional gradient that differed from a theoretical or assumed successional classification.
Guidelines for Operative Versus Nonoperative Management of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

In this chapter, we summarize the existing evidence comparing operative and nonoperative treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in skeletally mature athletes. We present a validated program of screening and rehabilitation for use in nonoperative treatment or when delaying ACL reconstruction for any reason. We concentrate on patients presenting after acute injury, because patients presenting with a symptomatic, chronically ACL-deficient knee are very likely to have a meniscus tear or chondral damage [4, 18, 48, 54] which will affect the function and evolution of the knee. Even today, among patients who are not evaluated promptly by a clinician knowledgeable about knee ligament injuries, an ACL tear may go undetected and present later due to ongoing or recurrent symptoms. These patients, who present with a symptomatic ACL-deficient knee, are much more likely to have symptomatic meniscal or chondral damage that requires treatment. In contrast, aside from the initial pain and swelling associated with acute ACL rupture, functional deficits and symptoms often are more subtle and activity specific when only the ACL has been injured.
Recovery of Vibrios from Coastal Waters-Involvement of Chitin

Since the early 1970’s more than 30 cases of cholera have been diagnosed in the United States as caused by Vibrio cholerae 01 (Kelly et al. , 1982). Many more cases of gastroenteritis have been caused following infection by V. cholerae non-01 strains. In addition V. mimicus, V. vulnificus, and V,parahaemolyticus have frequently been isolated from coastal waters. Other species of vibrio are known to cause infections in man ranging from gastroenteritis, to wound infections, to septicemia (Bonner et al. , 1983; Graevenitz, 1983; Tison and Kelly, 1984), but are less often isolated from water. The diseases which have been reported as a result of infection by vibrios have been reported by a number of investigators (Tison and Kelly, 1984; Graevenitz, 1983; Wilson et al. , 1981 and Blake et al. , 1980). Isolation of vibrios from both salt and fresh water continues to be reported (Colwell and Kaper, 1977; Kaneko and Colwell, 1978; Colwell et al. , 1981; Roberts et al. , 1982; Garay et al. , 1985; Rhodes et al. , 1986).
Prevention of shape and weight concerns among college students: An examination of education status variables.

Objective: The current study examined whether overlooked aspects of the postsecondary student experience predicted individuals’ body-related concerns, beyond the influence of demographic factors th...
Toward a neurobehavioral trait conceptualization of depression proneness.

The etiology of major depressive disorder is heterogeneous, and differing pathways leading to the development of depression are proposed to account for alternative variants of depressive illness and their distinct comorbidity patterns. The present study was undertaken as a step toward developing a model for conceptualizing and quantifying dispositional proneness to depression, marked by reduced neural sensitivity to rewarding events and more persistent occurrence of depressive symptomatology. Using data for college and community adult participants (N = 201), we sought to quantify variations in depression proneness by combining symptom indicators of persistent depressive conditions (dysthymic disorder, depressive personality) with a brain potential response that has been shown to index sensitivity to pleasurable events-the reward positivity (RewP; Proudfit, 2015). We first extended prior work on the RewP and depression by showing that the magnitude of RewP covaried negatively with symptoms of persistent depressive conditions (dysthymia, depressive personality) but not with current levels of depression. Persistent depressive symptoms and the RewP were then combined to form a composite neuroclinical index of depression proneness. Compared to persistent depressive symptoms alone, this composite dimensional index showed improved specificity of relations with diagnostic criterion measures, that is, similar-level associations with other indicators of depression proneness but significantly lower associations with fear disorder symptomatology. These findings provide evidence that a dimension of depression proneness can be quantified effectively by combining psychological indicators of persistent depression with a neurophysiological index of a core depression-related process (i.e., reward sensitivity).
Incontinentia pigmenti: A case report and literature review

Incontinentia pigmenti (IP; OMIM#308300) is a rare multisystem disorder with an incidence of 0.7:100,000 live births. IP is rare and predominantly seen in females. Mutations in IKBKG gene (Xq28, GenBank: NM_003639.3, OMIM#300248) were reported as underlying cause of IP. IKBKG encode NFkB protein, which controls the expression of other genes involved in cell proliferation, immunity, and inflammation. Oro-dental abnormalities have been documented in 50%–75% IP cases. We present a case report of a 16-year-old female with probable clinical IP, Arnold–Chiari malformation, hydrocephalus, delayed psychological development, and seizures. The IP hallmark feature: hyperpigmentation of the skin along the Blaschko's lines was present only on the left side of the body. Left-sided hemifacial and tongue hypertrophy were present, which have not been reported previously. Consistent with published reports, tooth size and shape discrepancies were present. However, unlike previous reports, discrepancies were prominent on affected versus unaffected side. This paper provides IP literature review, clinical considerations, and insight on management.
Dotychczas bezobjawowe dwumiesięczne niemowlę z unikatową prezentacją trójprzedsionkowego lewego serca, prawego częściowego nieprawidłowego spływu żył płucnych oraz krytycznej nadzastawkowej stenozy mitralnej

Major developments in diagnostic techniques in pre- and neonatal care have significantly reduced the rate of undetected congenital heart defects (CHD). Despite such advances, several patients with critical congenital heart defects are discharged annually from neonatal units with no proper diagnosis or treatment. We present the case of a two month-old originally asymptomatic girl who represents the perfect example of such a situation. The infant was diagnosed just after pulmonary and cardiovascular decompensation with critical, complex CHD. The absence of disease symptoms of occurred due to a rare and specific morphology of pulmonary vessels and intracardiac membranes.
Gendered livelihoods: migrating men, left-behind women and household food security in India

This paper assesses the food security implications of the out-migration of men for rural households headed by women. Recent transformations in the socio-economic landscape of the Global South invol...
Clinical Approach to Aerodynamic Assessment

Aerodynamic assessment is undertaken to obtain information about vocal function via measurement of subglottal pressure and glottal airflow, i.e., glottal aerodynamics. As is the case with acoustic assessment, aerodynamic assessment can be accomplished with children of a variety of ages (Lotz et al. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 26(2):165–72, 1993). Acoustic and aerodynamic measurements are often conducted concomitantly, and previously detailed suggestions for performing an acoustic assessment are appropriate.
An institutional approach for archaeology

Abstract Theoretical development in archaeology is hindered when basic reference terms such as ‘the settlement,’ ‘the site,’ or ‘society,’ have little relation to the behavior to be explained. Such units were not the organizations that people deployed for the activities important to them. We present an institutional framework that, we argue, helps to overcome this difficulty. Institutions are organizations of people that carry out objectives using regularized practices and norms, labor, and resources. Our approach attempts to identify important institutions and to describe their properties, potentially including resources and funding, durability, scale, activities, labor, formality, participants and membership, overlap with other institutions, naming, knowledge, and objectives and outcomes. Case studies from northeastern and southeastern North America illustrate the utility of this method for analyzing synchronic social structure and processes of structural transformation.
Design of a Testbed for Cybersecurity Research on Power Converters in Microgrids

In this paper, we study the design of an Internet-enabled power electronic converter for cybersecurity research in microgrid systems. The motivation for this paper comes from the OpenPLC project [1], and the development of a PLC testbed which can be used for cybersecurity research [2]. Depending on the economics of the problem, having dedicated and protected communication channels may not be economically feasible, especially for microgrid systems. In other words, the economics of the application may dictate the use of common and unprotected communication channels, like the Internet for higher level coordination. This means that the embedded system responsible for time-sensitive tasks, like power management, energy management, voltage regulation, or reactive power sharing, must also have some awareness of potential cyber threats. In particular, its state transition diagram, timeout values for blocking I/O operations, whether it will be bare-metal or not, and where the TCP/IP stack will run, are all very critical design issues. In this work, different design architectures are analyzed, the pros and cons of each option are studied, and a final system architecture is proposed.
Between fan and player

Branded escape rooms reveal points of tension between fan engagement and authorized content creation. Escape rooms are live-action puzzle games in which groups of participants are locked in a room ...
A Prevention Agenda for 2020 and Beyond: Why Environmental Interventions Matter Now More Than Ever

The next wave of prevention specialists must pay increased attention to the direct and indirect effects of the environment on a variety of health and educational outcomes. As a result, it is critic...
Dodds, Graham G. The Unitary Presidency : New York, NY: Routledge, 2020. 120 pages. $155 (hardcover); $42.95 (softcover).

In The Unitary Presidency, Graham Dodds has provided scholars with a concise summary of one of the more interesting normative issues in the study of the American presidency: the unitary executive t...
Training to improve temporal processing of letters benefits reading speed for people with central vision loss

Reading is slow and difficult for many people with central vision loss. A previous study showed that the temporal threshold for letter recognition is a major factor limiting reading speed for people with central vision loss. Here, we asked whether the temporal threshold for letter recognition for people with central vision loss could be improved through training and, if so, whether that would benefit reading. Training consisted of six sessions (3000 trials) of recognizing letter trigrams presented at fixation. Trigrams were initially presented at a baseline temporal threshold that was decreased by 0.1 log step when observers' letter recognition accuracies reached 80% or higher for four consecutive blocks. Before and after training, we measured observers' visual acuity, preferred retinal locus for fixation, fixation stability, reading speeds using the rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm, the MNREAD Acuity Chart and 100-word passages, the baseline temporal threshold for letter recognition at 80% accuracy, and a visual-span profile. After training, the temporal threshold was decreased by 68%. This improvement was accompanied by a higher RSVP maximum reading speed (but no change in MNREAD and passage reading speeds) and a larger visual span. A mediation analysis showed that the relationship between the temporal threshold and RSVP maximum reading speed was mainly mediated by the information transfer rate (size of visual span/temporal duration). Our results showed that the temporal threshold for letter recognition is amenable to training and can improve RSVP reading speeds, offering a practical means to improve reading speed for people with central vision loss.
Public and Poetic Wars of Liberation: August von Platen’s Ghazals, Patriotism, and Homoeroticism

August von Platen responded to Goethe’s West-ostlicher Divan by composing original German ghazals that allowed him to explore his sexuality and relationship to the Fatherland through the rigorous e...
Water Stress and Disruption of Mycorrhizae Induce Parallel Shifts in Phyllosphere Microbiome Composition

ABSTRACT Water and nutrient limitation are key stressors that affect plant health and ecosystem function. These environmental factors impact both soil- and root-associated microbial communities, and systemically alter plant physiology, but it is less clear how they affect aboveground plant-microbe interactions. Through experimental manipulations in the field and growth chamber, we examined the interacting effects of irrigation, soil fertility, and root mycorrhizal associations on bacterial and fungal communities of the tomato phyllosphere (Solanum lycopersicum). Both water stress and mycorrhizal disruption reduced bacterial richness within plants, homogenized bacterial community diversity among plants, and reduced the relative abundance of dominant fungal taxa. We observed striking parallelism in the individual microbial taxa affected by irrigation and mycorrhizal associations. Given the increasingly understood role of the phyllosphere in shaping plant health and pathogen susceptibility, these results offer an additional mechanism by which belowground conditions shape plant fitness.
Online Platform to Assess Complex Social Relationships and Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors.

PURPOSESocial integration and relationship issues have been understudied among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. This study compared social relationships (social networks, support,...
Making a First Impression: The Characterisation of David and His Opening Words in 1 Samuel 17:25-31

David is perhaps the most complex character in all of Scripture. He has been understood in many and various ways, from a backstabbing, ruthless warlord to a pious and poetic shepherd-king. One place we ought to probe when asking the question of David’s character is his first speech. It has been noted that in the Hebrew Bible first words are particularly important moments of characterisation. In the case of David, his first words look initially to emphasise his scheming and ambition. However, the present essay will take a closer look at David’s first words and argue that they present a more complex character than may first appear.
Fresh haskap berry postharvest quality characteristics and storage life1

Haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) is a relatively new berry crop in North America, and little research exists regarding its postharvest storage characteristics or storage life. Postharvest changes in b...
Modeling defect transport during Cu oxidation

Abstract A defect transport model describing Cu oxidation kinetics to Cu 2 O and CuO is presented. The model supports findings that the dominant defects in Cu 2 O are singly charged and neutral copper vacancies, and in CuO doubly charged copper vacancies. In this work, CuO is treated as a charge transfer insulator and from the model a reaction enthalpy for Cu vacancies in CuO was estimated to be 250 ± 10 kJ/mole. Using the model, defect-diffusion coefficients are extracted from copper oxidation experiments and activation energies for vacancy-diffusion in Cu 2 O and CuO were found to be 54 kJ/mole and 32 kJ/mole, respectively.
Demonstration of an Area-Enclosing Guided-Atom Interferometer for Rotation Sensing

We demonstrate area-enclosing atom interferometry based on a moving guide. Light pulses along the free-propagation direction of a magnetic guide are applied to split and recombine the confined atomic matter-wave, while the atoms are translated back and forth along a second direction in 50 ms. The interferometer is estimated to resolve 10 times the earth rotation rate per interferometry cycle. We demonstrate a "folded figure 8" interfering configuration for creating a compact, large-area atom gyroscope with multiple-turn interfering paths.
Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Advanced Oxide Materials for Higher-Temperature Coatings Applications

Advanced oxide material systems are being developed for higher-temperature thermal/environmental barrier coatings (T/EBCs) in advanced gas turbine engine applications. Four pyrochlore oxide (La 2 Zr 2 O 7 , Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7 , Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 , and La 2 Hf 2 O 7 ) and three magnetoplumbite oxide (LaMnAl 1 1 O 1 9 , LaMgAl 1 1 O 1 9 , and LaZnAl 1 1 O 1 9 ) powders were hot pressed. Ambient-temperature mechanical properties of these oxides including flexure strength, fracture toughness, elastic modulus, and hardness were determined. thermal properties such as thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion, and environmental durability were also determined. LaMgAl 1 1 O 1 9 and LaZnA 1 1 O 1 9 exhibited higher strength (>300 MPa) and higher fracture toughness (≥ 3 MPa√m) than the other oxides that exhibited strength of 40-150 MPa and fracture toughness of 1-2 MPa√m. Despite their poor ambient-temperature mechanical properties, certain pyrochlore oxides showed promising results over other oxides as coating materials in view of low thermal conductivity, good creep resistance and good water vapor stability in combustion environments.
Modulation of neural network activity in vitro by cyclothiazide, a drug that blocks desensitization of AMPA receptors.

To determine whether AMPA receptor channel desensitization has a physiological role in shaping network activity by modulating signal transmission through excitatory circuits, we examined the effects of cyclothiazide (CYT), the most potent known blocker of AMPA receptor desensitization, on the behavior of an endogenously active neural system in vitro, the brainstem network generating rhythmic respiratory oscillations in neonatal rat medullary slices. Bath application of 100 microM CYT significantly increased the frequency of endogenously generated rhythm and increased the amplitude of the circuit output [i.e., discharge of hypoglossal (XII) respiratory motoneurons]. Local application of CYT within the XII motor nucleus produced a concentration-dependent increase (up to 35%) in amplitude of the motoneuron population discharge as well as an increase in the peak current (23%) and total charge transfer of the rhythmic inspiratory synaptic drive (33%) to individual XII motoneurons. CYT also acted postsynaptically to increase the amplitude of spontaneous EPSCs in motoneurons. In addition, CYT produced a profound, long-term augmentation of network frequency and motor output that may be secondary to block of desensitization. These results suggest that AMPA receptor desensitization has functionally significant effects on the temporal behavior and output of the rhythmic, respiratory neural network, and, by extrapolation, on other integrative actions of the mammalian CNS.
Enhanced multiple exciton generation in amorphous silicon nanowires and films

ABSTRACTMultiple exciton generation (MEG) in nanometer-sized hydrogen-passivated silicon nanowires (NWs), and quasi two-dimensional nanofilms depends strongly on the degree of the core structural disorder as shown by the perturbative many-body quantum mechanics calculations based on the density functional theory simulations. Working to the second order in the electron–photon coupling and in the screened Coulomb interaction, we calculate quantum efficiency (QE), the average number of excitons created by a single absorbed photon, in the Si29H36 quantum dots (QDs) with crystalline and amorphous core structures, simple cubic three-dimensional arrays constructed from these QDs, crystalline and amorphous NWs, and quasi two-dimensional silicon nanofilms, also both crystalline and amorphous. Efficient MEG with QE ranging from 1.3 up to 1.8 at the photon energy of about 3Eg, where Eg is the electronic gap, is predicted in these nanoparticles except for the crystalline NW and crystalline film where QE ≃ 1. MEG in t...
Sin Returns To Sociology

Book reviewed in this article: The Seven Deadly Sins: Society and Evil. By Stanford M. Lyman. The Seven Deadly Sins Today. By Henry Fairlie.
FDA pregnancy categories: Help or hindrance?

In 1979, the FDA adopted the Pregnancy Category System to provide guidance regarding the risks of medication use in pregnancy; however, many shortcomings to this system have been identified. This article will review the main criticisms of the category system and discuss the new system proposed by the FDA to better convey the potential risks of medication use during pregnancy and/or lactation.
Complete protection from gentamicin-induced acute renal failure in the diabetes mellitus rat.

Complete protection from gentamicin-induced acute renal failure in the diabetic rat. The possible protective effect of solute and water diuresis on the development of acute renal failure (ARF) following administration of gentamicin, 40 mg/kg of body wt per day for 14 days, was studied in unanesthetized rats. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (DM) and rats with hereditary diabetes insipidus (DI) were used as models of chronic solute and water diuresis, respectively. Aged-matched Sprague-Dawley (C) and heterozygous Brattleboro (BC) rats were the respective controls. Because of higher creatinine clearance (C Cr ) in the DM rats, another DM group received a higher dose of gentamicin (DM-H), 70 mg/kg/day for 14 days. C and DM animals injected with Ringer's were SHAM-C and SHAM-DM groups. Following gentamicin, C rats developed ARF (maximal decrease in C Cr from baseline was 85 ± 6(SEM)%; P Cr , lysozymuria, and tubular necrosis. SHAM-C and DM rats maintained unchanged renal function throughout. The kidney content of gentamicin analyzed on day 15 of the study was significantly lower in the DM and DM-H rats than in C, while no differences were found between BC and DI rats. In a separate group of Sprague-Dawley C and DM rats, renal cortical gentamicin content was measured 3, 6, and 9 days after beginning gentamicin administration at 40 mg/kg/day. By day 3 the DM rats had a cortical gentamicin content that was three-fold lower (164 ± 18 µg/g wet tissue) than that of C animals (523 ± 55; P Protection complete contre l'insuffisance renale aigue induite par la gentamicine chez le rat ayant un diabete sucre. Un effet possible d'une diurese d'eau et de solutes sur le developpement de l'insuffisance renale aigue (IRA) par administration de gentamicine, 40 mg/kg/j pendant 14 jours etait etudie, chez des rats non anesthesies. Des rats femelles adultes Sprague-Dawley ayant un diabete sucre (DS) induit par la streptozotocine, et des rats ayant un diabete insipide (DI) hereditaire ont ete utilises comme modele de diurese chronique de solutes et de diurese aqueuse respectivement. Des rats Sprague-Dawley (C) du meme âge, et des rats Brattleboro (BC) heterozygotes ont servi respectivement de controle. En raison de la plus grande deblaiement de creatinine (C Cr ) des rats DS, un autre groupe de rats DS a recu une plus forte dose de gentamicine (DS-H), 70 mg/kg/j/14 jours. Des animaux C et DS recevant du Ringer ont servi de groupes controles. Apres la gentamicine, chez les rats C, sont apparues une IRA (abaissement maximum de C Cr de 85 ± 6%SEM a partir de la valeur de base, P Cr (56 ± 7%, P
Isolation and partial characterization of DNA polymerases from Crithidia fasciculata

Abstract Two types of DNA polymerase activity were partially purified from Crithidia fasciculata . The α-type, DNA polymerase A, was of high molecular weight and sensitive to N -ethylmaleimide, whereas the β-type, DNA polymerase B, was of low molecular weight and resistant to N -ethylmaleimide. Phosphocellulose chromatography revealed multiple peaks of DNA polymerase A activity the properties of which, such as pH optimum, salt sensitivity, utilization of synthetic template-initiator complexes and response to DNA polymerase inhibitors were similar. The response of the C. fasciculata DNA polymerase A enzymes to some of these inhibitors and utilization of poly(rA) · oligo(dT) 11 showed these enzymes to be markedly different from mammalian DNA polymerase α.
Impediments to Global Surveillance of Infectious Disease: Economic and social consequences of open reporting

Richard Cash and Vasant Narasimhan look at how globalization has increased the speed and scale of infectious disease spread. They show how international efforts are being launched to efficiently control the spread of infectious disease using global surveillance.
Assessing the value of permeability data in a carbon capture and storage project

Abstract Acquiring new field information can reduce the uncertainty about the reservoir properties and can (but not necessarily) alter decisions affecting the deployment of a CCS project. The main objective of this paper is to provide a decision-analytic framework to quantify the value of acquiring additional information regarding reservoir permeability. Uncertainty in reservoir characterization translates into risks of CO 2 migration out of the containment zone (or lease zone) and non-compliance with contractual requirements on CO 2 storage capacity. The field we consider is based on an actual, and mature, field located in Texas. Subsurface modeling of the injection zone was conducted using well logs, field-specific GIS data, and other relevant published literature. The value of information (VOI) was quantified by defining prior scenarios based on the current knowledge of the reservoir, contractual requirements, and regulatory constraints. The project operator has the option to obtain more reliable estimates of permeability, which will help reduce the uncertainty of the CO 2 plume behavior and storage capacity of the formation. The reliability of the information-gathering activities is then applied to the prior probabilities (Bayesian inference) to infer the value of such data.
Crystal growth: Anatase shows its reactive side.

Fluorine-containing species can cause titania to crystallize with an unusually large fraction of reactive {001} facets.
Ontogeny of dopamine D1 receptors in rat forebrain: a quantitative autoradiographic study

The development of dopamine D1 receptors during the early postnatal period is examined in rat forebrain, using quantitative autoradiography and [3H]SCH 23390 as ligand. Dopamine D1 receptors are present in many regions at birth. In general, regions with the highest densities of D1 receptors in adults have the highest densities of receptors in neonates. For most regions in the forebrain there is a steady increase in the density of D1 receptors, as measured in fmol/mg tissue, from day 1 to day 28 of age. This is most obvious in the regions with the greatest number of receptors, such as the caudate-putamen, the nucleus accumbens, and the olfactory tubercles. The more caudal regions examined in this study had a relatively greater portion of their receptors present at day 1 compared to day 28 than more rostral regions. In general they had about 50% of their receptors present at birth, whereas most regions studied had receptor levels at day 1 about 20% of those found at day 28. In the most anterior regions, the development of receptors was somewhat slower. Receptor number in the frontal cortex region did not begin to increase until about 10 days of age. The present studies indicate that dopamine D1 receptors develop in the forebrain of the rat in a steady pattern. There are no dramatic increases or decreases in receptor number throughout the postnatal period.
An Analysis of Subset Regression for Orthogonal Designs

Abstract In this article the difficulty of guarding against false rejection of the null hypothesis in subset regression is illustrated by the analysis of orthogonal-array experimental designs. In this case, the variance ratio can be interpreted in terms of order statistics, and the resulting bias is intuitively apparent. Simulation results are presented to highlight the high significance levels that can be obtained from random data by selecting subsets of variables. Methodology to obtain appropriate significance levels is briefly reviewed.
Electrophoretic identification of poly-γ-glutamate chain-lengths of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate using thymidylate synthetase complexes

A method has been developed to characterize the poly-gamma-glutamates of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate. Incorporation of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolates into a ternary complex with L. casei thymidylate synthetase and 5-fluoro-2-deoxy[3H]uridylate stabilizes the reduced folate against oxidation, loss of the one carbon moiety, and poly-gamma-glutamate degradation. The covalent ternary complexes, containing 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate polyglutamates, were resolved electrophoretically. Electrophoretic mobility was shown to be a linear function of polyglutamate chain-length. The method can potentially be applied to analysis of chemically prepared folate polyglutamates, the monitoring of enzyme-mediated interconversions of polyglutamates and characterization of tissue extract polyglutamates.
Genetic characterization of hypervariable region 1 in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 2.

The hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) has been most reliably identified in the genome of HCV genotype 1 isolates and thought to possibly play a role in immune evasion and development of chronic infection. There are few studies, however, of other HCV genotypes to determine if they also have such a hypervariable region present, and it is unclear whether or not there is any genotype-dependent difference in the genetic characteristics of HVR1. We determined the nucleotide sequence of 5' end of E2/NS1 region of the HCV genome spanning HVR1 of multiple genotype 1 and 2 HCV isolates and carried out a detailed genetic analysis. Similarity plots identified two hypervariable regions within the genotype 2 sequences, a larger one corresponding to HVR1 as well as a smaller 27-nucleotide region of hypervariability. The synonymous substitutions per synonymous site (ds) was greater than nonsynonymous substitutions per nonsynonymous site (dn) within genotype 1 group whereas dn and ds were similar in the genotype 2 group. Analysis of amino acid sequences revealed several conserved sites across genotype 1 and 2 (amino acid numbers 2,6, 20 and 26) and overall similar hydropathic profiles were found within two genotypes. Still, despite the hypervariability, the HVR1 showed a genotype-specific phylogenetic clustering. Thus, HVR1 appears to be conserved between genotypes in keeping with it having an important survival function. Genotype 2 appears to have a greater rate of nonsynonymous substitutions within HVR1, suggesting a greater positive evolutionary pressure.
Complete dissociation of the HIV-1 gp41 ectodomain and membrane proximal regions upon phospholipid binding

The envelope glycoprotein gp41 mediates the process of membrane fusion that enables entry of the HIV-1 virus into the host cell. Strong lipid affinity of the ectodomain suggests that its heptad repeat regions play an active role in destabilizing membranes by directly binding to the lipid bilayers and thereby lowering the free-energy barrier for membrane fusion. In such a model, immediately following the shedding of gp120, the N-heptad and C-heptad helices dissociate and melt into the host cell and viral membranes, respectively, pulling the destabilized membranes into juxtaposition, ready for fusion. Post-fusion, reaching the final 6-helix bundle (6HB) conformation then involves competition between intermolecular interactions needed for formation of the symmetric 6HB trimer and the membrane affinity of gp41’s ectodomain, including its membrane-proximal regions. Our solution NMR study of the structural and dynamic properties of three constructs containing the ectodomain of gp41 with and without its membrane-proximal regions suggests that these segments do not form inter-helical interactions until the very late steps of the fusion process. Interactions between the polar termini of the heptad regions, which are not associating with the lipid surface, therefore may constitute the main driving force initiating formation of the final post-fusion states. The absence of significant intermolecular ectodomain interactions in the presence of dodecyl phosphocholine highlights the importance of trimerization of gp41’s transmembrane helix to prevent complete dissociation of the trimer during the course of fusion.