cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association between Vitamin D Genetic Risk Score and Cancer Risk in a Large Cohort of U.S. Women

Some observational studies suggest an inverse association between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and cancer incidence and mortality. We conducted a Mendelian randomization analysis of the relationship between a vitamin D genetic risk score (GRS, range 0–10), comprised of five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of vitamin D status in the DHCR7, CYP2R1 and GC genes and cancer risk among women. Analysis was performed in the Women’s Genome Health Study (WGHS), including 23,294 women of European ancestry who were cancer-free at baseline and followed for 20 years for incident cancer. In a subgroup of 1782 WGHS participants with 25OHD measures at baseline, the GRS was associated with circulating 25OHD mean (SD) = 67.8 (26.1) nmol/L, 56.9 (18.7) nmol/L in the lowest versus 73.2 (27.9) nmol/L in the highest quintile of the GRS (p trend < 0.0001 across quintiles). However, in age-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, higher GRS (reflecting higher 25OHD levels) was not associated (cases; Hazard Ratio (HR) (95% Confidence Interval (CI)), p-value) with incident total cancer: (n = 3985; 1.01 (1.00–1.03), p = 0.17), breast (n = 1560; 1.02 (0.99–1.05), p = 0.21), colorectal (n = 329; 1.06 (1.00–1.13), p = 0.07), lung (n = 330; 1.00 (0.94–1.06), p = 0.89) or total cancer death (n = 770; 1.00 (0.96–1.04), p = 0.90). Results were similar in fully-adjusted models. A GRS for higher circulating 25OHD was not associated with cancer incidence or mortality.
Energy efficiency in adaptive neural circuits

The human brain accomplishes its feat in cognitive general intelligence, unparalleled by any artificial intelligence to date even combining all of the world's current supercomputing power, with biological machinery that taken together are highly efficient and resilient, despite operating with fundamental neural and synaptic components that are intrinsically sluggish, noisy, and unreliable [1, 2]. Neuromorphic engineering [3] pursues naturally inspired artificial intelligence through exploiting physical foundations of computing with electronic devices and circuits that share similar thermodynamic properties and structural organization as ionic transport and neural circuits in the biological brain. While initial efforts in neuromorphic computing have shown modest success on the path towards general artificial intelligence, recent efforts in tandem with developments in machine learning using deep neural networks are targeting unprecedented performance levels in autonomy and efficiency of cognitive computing. Here we survey recent progress in such efforts towards 10–100x improvement in energy efficiency over the most advanced special-purpose cognitive computing platforms available today, through highly optimized neuromorphic integrated circuits that employ dense mixed-signal (analog and digital) neural and synaptic arrays with embedded highly flexible learning and inference function.
Visualizing convolutional neural network protein-ligand scoring.

Abstract Protein-ligand scoring is an important step in a structure-based drug design pipeline. Selecting a correct binding pose and predicting the binding affinity of a protein-ligand complex enables effective virtual screening. Machine learning techniques can make use of the increasing amounts of structural data that are becoming publicly available. Convolutional neural network (CNN) scoring functions in particular have shown promise in pose selection and affinity prediction for protein-ligand complexes. Neural networks are known for being difficult to interpret. Understanding the decisions of a particular network can help tune parameters and training data to maximize performance. Visualization of neural networks helps decompose complex scoring functions into pictures that are more easily parsed by humans. Here we present three methods for visualizing how individual protein-ligand complexes are interpreted by 3D convolutional neural networks. We also present a visualization of the convolutional filters and their weights. We describe how the intuition provided by these visualizations aids in network design.
Effects of microwave and ultrasound exposure to microsphere particles made out of different classes of inorganic and organic materials

Abstract In this study polymer, metal oxide and polymer-PZT composite microsphere materials were prepared by either hydrothermal or microwave assisted methods. Materials were subjected to microwave and ultrasound irradiation under specific conditions in order to understand their mechanical stability and morphological changes in dimensions. Scanning electron microscopy imaging was carried out before and after each irradiation and clear differences were observed depending on irradiation method and sample composition.
Patient education strategies in cataract surgery: A systematic review.

Objective To systematically review the comparative effectiveness of patient education strategies in cataract surgery. Methods A comprehensive literature search of five electronic databases was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studying the efficacy of educational interventions for cataract surgery patients. Peer-reviewed articles published in English were considered for inclusion without restriction limits on publication date. General study characteristics, measurement methodologies, and outcome measures were narratively synthesized. Quality appraisal was conducted using the Oxford quality rating system (for individual studies) and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) guidelines (for bodies of evidence). Results Sixteen RCTs were compiled for qualitative review. We identified 21 distinct patient outcomes, four (19%) with a multi-study evidence base: knowledge of cataracts/cataract surgery, knowledge of postoperative care, proficiency in postoperative care, and anxiety. Targeted interventions significantly increased educational efficacy in 11 (69%) studies, but there were consistent improvements only for patient understanding of cataracts/cataract surgery and postoperative care. Quality of evidence was poor for all outcomes examined in multiple studies, as well as for deciding to undergo cataract surgery (measured in one study). Cross-study examination revealed appreciable clinical and methodological heterogeneity. Conclusions Targeted interventions fostered patients' understanding of cataract surgery and postoperative care. Additional high-quality studies are needed to determine appropriate educational strategies that improve other clinical, performance, and humanistic outcomes.
Role of host age and genotype in murine enterotropic coronavirus infection

Enterotropic mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) is probably the most common form of MHV in contemporary laboratory mouse populations, but very little is known about its pathogenesis. In spite of a large volume of literature on MHV, most of these reports are related to the respiratory prototype strains of virus (1, 2). When several prototype MHV and enterotropic MHV strains were inoculated into infant mice, it became clear that different MHV strains produced two distinctly different patterns of disease: respiratory, in which virus disseminated from nasal epithelium to multiple target organs; or enterotropic, in which virus was largely restricted to intestine, with minimal dissemination (3). However, enterotropic MHV has been poorly characterized because of its fastidious and selective in vitro growth characteristics. Host age seems to significantly influence the outcome of disease in mice infected with enterotropic MHV (4–11), and host genotype may also be important in susceptibility to enterotropic MHV disease (12). These are well established factors in the pathogenesis of respiratory or polytropic MHV disease (1, 2). The present study systematically examined the relative susceptibility of inbred mice of different ages that have previously been shown to develop severe (BALB/cByJ) or mild (SJL/J) disease when inoculated oronasally with respiratory MHV-JHM (13). Pilot studies suggested that these mouse genotypes also display differential disease severity when infected with enterotropic MHV, strain Y (12).
Optimizing the Sequence of Chemotherapy for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma with Clinically Positive Regional Lymph Nodes.

Purpose:Upper tract urothelial carcinoma with clinically positive regional lymph nodes is an aggressive disease state with a high propensity for metastasis and death. The current literature is limi...
The Role of Intelligence Tests in the Assessment of Intellectual Disabilities

This chapter reviews the role intelligence tests have played in the assessment of intellectual disabilities (ID). This long-standing relationship has existed for over a century. The evolution of the diagnostic nomenclature for ID can be traced in the historical tapestry that has developed from the study of intelligence over time. Beginning with Binet’s first intelligence test, this chapter provides readers with an understanding of the historical origins of intelligence tests and the forces that have shaped their development. An overview of contemporary theory and measures used to assess intellectual capacities in children and adolescents are offered. Diagnostic and clinical implications associated with selecting and interpreting these instruments for use with the ID population are also explored.
Next-Generation Sequencing in High-Sensitive Detection of Mutations in Tumors: Challenges, Advances and Applications

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have come of age as preferred technologies for screening of genomic variants of pathologic and therapeutic potential. Because of their capability for high-throughput and massively parallel sequencing, they can screen for a variety of genomic changes in multiple samples simultaneously. This has made them platforms of choice for clinical testing of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Consequently, they are increasingly replacing conventional technologies, such as Sanger sequencing and pyrosequencing, expression arrays, real-time PCR, and fluorescence in situ hybridization methods, for routine molecular testing of tumors. However, one limitation of routinely used NGS technologies is the inability to detect low-level genomic variants with high accuracy. This can be attributed to the frequent occurrence of low-level sequencing errors and artifacts in NGS workflow that need specialized approaches to be identified and eliminated. This review focuses on the origins and nature of these artifacts and recent improvements in the NGS technologies to overcome them to facilitate accurate high-sensitive detection of low-level mutations. Potential applications of high-sensitive NGS in oncology and comparisons with non-NGS technologies of similar capabilities are also summarized.
Effects of MBSR Parent Intervention on Internalizing Problems in Children: ASD Status as a Moderator

Children with developmental delays (DD), particularly autism spectrum disorders (ASD), are at high risk for increased levels of behavior problems and developing internalizing problems. While previo...
Patient Perceptions of COVID-19-Related Surgical Delay: An Analysis of Patients Awaiting Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

BackgroundCOVID-19 has caused unprecedented delays in elective orthopedic surgery. Understanding patients' perceptions of the disruptions in care and their willingness to reengage the healthcare sy...
SQLCheck: Automated Detection and Diagnosis of SQL Anti-Patterns

The emergence of database-as-a-service platforms has made deploying database applications easier than before. Now, developers can quickly create scalable applications. However, designing performant, maintainable, and accurate applications is challenging. Developers may unknowingly introduce anti-patterns in the application's SQL statements. These anti-patterns are design decisions that are intended to solve a problem but often lead to other problems by violating fundamental design principles. In this paper, we present SQLCheck, a holistic toolchain for automatically finding and fixing anti-patterns in database applications. We introduce techniques for automatically (1) detecting anti-patterns with high precision and recall, (2) ranking the anti-patterns based on their impact on performance, maintainability, and accuracy of applications, and (3) suggesting alternative queries and changes to the database design to fix these anti-patterns. We demonstrate the prevalence of these anti-patterns in a large collection of queries and databases collected from open-source repositories. We introduce an anti-pattern detection algorithm that augments query analysis with data analysis. We present a ranking model for characterizing the impact of frequently occurring anti-patterns. We discuss how SQLCheck suggests fixes for high-impact anti-patterns using rule-based query refactoring techniques. Our experiments demonstrate that SQLCheck enables developers to create more performant, maintainable, and accurate applications.
Controlled Markov chains with non-exponential discounting and distribution-dependent costs

This paper deals with a controlled Markov chain in continuous time with a non-exponential discounting and distribution-dependent cost functional. A definition of closed-loop equilibrium is given and its existence and uniqueness are established. Due to the time-inconsistency brought by the non-exponential discounting and distribution dependence, it is proved that the equilibrium is locally optimal in some appropriate sense. Moreover, it is shown that our problem is equivalent to a mean-field game for infinite-many symmetric players with a non-exponential discounting cost.
Status and prospects of genome-wide association studies in plants.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have developed into a powerful and ubiquitous tool for the investigation of complex traits. In large part, this was fueled by advances in genomic technology, enabling us to examine genome-wide genetic variants across diverse genetic materials. The development of the mixed model framework for GWAS dramatically reduced the number of false positives compared with naive methods. Building on this foundation, many methods have since been developed to increase computational speed or improve statistical power in GWAS. These methods have allowed the detection of genomic variants associated with either traditional agronomic phenotypes or biochemical and molecular phenotypes. In turn, these associations enable applications in gene cloning and in accelerated crop breeding through marker assisted selection or genetic engineering. Current topics of investigation include rare-variant analysis, synthetic associations, optimizing the choice of GWAS model, and utilizing GWAS results to advance knowledge of biological processes. Ongoing research in these areas will facilitate further advances in GWAS methods and their applications.
FPGA Simulation Engine for Customized Construction of Neural Microcircuit

In this poster we describe a platform-based approach for rapid construction of FPGA-based simulation of neural microcircuits composed from integrate-and-fire (IAF) neurons. Our approach exploits high-level synthesis to bypass the high design complexity of RTL coding, and enables automatic optimization and design space exploration. We demonstrate the benefits of this approach by simulating a neural microcircuit that performs oscillatory path integration, which evidence suggests may be a critical building block of the navigation system inside a rodent's brain. Experiments show that our FPGA simulation engine can achieve up to 23x speedup and 450x energy reduction compared to commodity CPU. The methodology described in this paper should be broadly applicable for creating FPGA simulations over a wide range neural microcircuit architectures.
Transmedia Adaptation in the Nineteenth Century: Transmedia Adaptation in the Nineteenth Century, by Lissette Lopez Szwydky, Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Press, 2020, 250 pp., $69.95 (hardcover), ISBN: 978-0-8142-1423-7

Transmedia Adaptation in the Nineteenth Century sets out to recuperate adaptation within literary history as the driving force of literary and artistic production and reception, rather than part of...
Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome Type II in a Patient Presenting With Hypotension After Acute Illness

Introduction: Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome Type II (PAS-2) is a rare disorder characterized by two or more endocrine diseases (primary adrenal insufficiency, autoimmune thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes). Of these, the most common is autoimmune thyropathy, followed by Type 1 Diabetes (1). These endocrinopathies rarely have concurrent onset. This case reports a 22-year-old male, recently recovered from severe pneumonia, who presented to the Emergency Department in acute adrenal crisis and was diagnosed with PAS-2. Case: A 22-year-old male with past medical history of celiac disease presented with abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and dizziness for 1–2 weeks. Review of systems included a 20-pound weight loss over several months. Recent history included a hospitalization at another facility three weeks prior for pneumonia and septic shock requiring admission to the ICU and vasopressor treatment. He was not discharged on any medications. He was afebrile with heart rate of 105/min, blood pressure 78/48 mm Hg and BMI of 17.2. Physical exam revealed dry mucous membranes and mild diffuse abdominal tenderness. Skin was warm and dry without hyperpigmentation. Laboratory values included sodium 123 (135 - 146 mmol/L), potassium 6.8 (3.3 - 4.8 mmol/L), glucose 47 (70 - 100 mg/dL), TSH 37.67 (0.3 - 5.00 uIU/mL), and FT4 0.7 (0.7 - 1.7 ng/dL). He was started on fluids and intravenous hydrocortisone. Cortisol and ACTH levels drawn prior to the initiation of steroids resulted at 0.6 (6–20 mcg/dl) and 977 (9 - 46 pg/mL) respectively. Additional labs included: aldosterone 1000 (0 - 100 Units) and GAD-65 antibody > 47 IU/mL (<5 IU/mL). Levothyroxine was initiated after hydrocortisone. Blood glucose was elevated during hospitalization, peaking at 227 mg/dL. He was discharged on prednisone, fludrocortisone and levothyroxine. At 2 week follow up, he reported overall improvement in health and was pleased with a weight gain of 12 lbs. Blood glucose remained mildly elevated (123 - 143 mg/dL). Conclusion: The patient had pneumonia and septic shock septic at an outside hospital three weeks prior to presentation. There was no record of steroid administration or suspicion of adrenal insufficiency. We postulate that his severe illness contributed to significant depletion of his adrenal reserve, and therefore he presented to our facility a short time later in overt adrenal crisis. Adrenal crisis is unusual to be the first presentation of PAS-2. It is important to have a high index of suspicion for adrenal insufficiency and PAS-2 in patients presenting with severe illness or hypotension who have known autoimmune disorders. Reference: 1. Kahaly, G.J., Frommer, L. Polyglandular autoimmune syndromes. J Endocrinol Invest. 2018; 41: 91–98.
Versatile Hardware Architecture of a Support Platform for Spatial Image Processing Accelerators using Xilinx SoCs

In this paper, a novel hardware architecture of a support platform for spatial image process accelerators using Xilinx SoCs is presented. The proposed architecture supports any spatial image processing accelerator that maintains a simple handshaking protocol regardless of the latency of the accelerator. The design of the support platform allows rapid development of spatial image processing accelerators by isolating the complex task of managing the data transfers back and forth from the main memory. Multiple instances of the support platform were instantiated using two different edge detection accelerators at a core clock rate of 105 MHz for test purposes. The system was processing 1920x1080 pixel frames at a rate of 205 frames per second. The importance of this research is to provide a scalable platform for high-performance video image processing applications like in medical robotics.
Bubbles, Noise and Breaking Waves: A Review of Laboratory Experiments

We review a series of laboratory experiments on the sound production and air entrainment by breaking waves. The acoustic radiation and microwave backscatter from individual breaking events are found to correlate with important kinematic and dynamic properties of the breaking waves. Air entrainment measurements using a conductivity technique show that the bubble plume characteristics evolve as simple functions of time. The void-fraction for time scales of the order of a surface wave period is found to be several orders of magnitude greater than time-averaged values reported from the field. A large fraction (30% to 50%) of the surface wave energy dissipated is found to be expended in entraining air against buoyancy forces. A simple model of the sound generated by breaking is shown to reproduce the sound spectrum from gently breaking waves measured by Medwin & Daniel (1990).
Water Storage in the Prehistoric Southwest

ABSTRACTPrehistoric water storage features occur throughout the Southwest, dating between 6000 B.C. and historic times. A typology for over 150 features provides a means for classifying the basins and assessing the variability in the technology used to access and store water. Excavation is usually necessary for accurate evaluation of feature function. Access to impounded water freed populations from the need to settle near natural water sources and permitted aggregation above the limit imposed by available natural water supplies.
Determining skill transferability of action games as a method to reduce in-vehicle phone distractions

Distracted driving has been shown to be a safety issue in numerous studies. To combat this problem, in-vehicle technology, legislation, media interventions, and other methods have been proposed and attempted. However research indicates that the drivers themselves may circumvent, ignore, or not be able to react in time for these interventions to be effective. Therefore research into training programs for drivers may improve reaction time under distraction. Research indicates that action game players have faster reaction times and more attentional resources than non-players on paper-based tests. However, transferability to driving has not been studied yet. This paper outlines a study to determine if action game players perform better at a driving task based on frequency of game-play. Participants will be placed into two groups of play (high vs. low) and tested against two levels of distraction (none vs. phone conversation). It is expected that participants who play higher frequency of action games will perform better under distraction than lower frequency players. Driver performance, conversation recall, frequency and durations of eye fixations will be analyzed based on previous research which has validated those variables as a measure of distraction and higher workload. Keywords: Driver distraction; Language: en
PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF GLUTAMINASE AND ASPARAGINASE FROM A PSEUDOMONAD. I. PURIFICATION AND PHYSICAL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES.

Abstract An enzyme preparation from a strain of Pseudomonas has been purified several hundredfold from sonicate extracts by treatment with butanol, ammonium sulfate, and zone electrophoresis. The enzyme preparation exhibits both glutaminase and asparaginase activities, and no significant separation of the two enzyme activities was achieved by a variety of procedures. The protein(s) has a comparatively low molecular weight of the order of 25,000. The enzyme can be stabilized and kept for long periods frozen in a medium containing 0.01 M borate buffer, 0.01 M acetamide, and 10% glycerol.
MotY, a component of the sodium-type flagellar motor.

Abstract Energy to power the rotation of bacterial flagella can be derived from the proton or sodium transmembrane potential. Until now, genes encoding a bacterial sodium-type flagellar motor have not been defined. A gene, motY, encoding one component of the sodium-type flagellar motor of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was cloned by complementation of a Mot- mutant strain. Sequencing revealed an open reading frame of 879 nucleotides in which a transposon conferring a motility defect mapped. Overexpression of motY in Escherichia coli allowed identification of a product 33 kDa in apparent size on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This size correlated well with the predicted molecular mass of 33,385 Da. Unlike mot genes identified in other bacteria, localized transposon mutagenesis suggested that the locus was not an extended region containing multiple genes required for swimming motility. Sequencing upstream and downstream of motY confirmed that the gene maps alone and placed it within a locus homologous to the E. coli rnt locus. Although data bank searches failed to reveal significant similarity to known motility components, the carboxyl terminus of MotY showed extensive homology to a number of outer membrane proteins known to interact with peptidoglycan, including OmpA and peptidoglycan-associated lipoproteins. To a limited extent, this domain could also be identified in the Bacillus subtilis MotB protein. This finding suggests that MotY plays the role of a stator in the sodium flagellar motor, stabilizing the force-generating unit through direct interaction with the cell wall.
Calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe in the dog: a pseudoparotid tumor.

B of its relative rarity in the human being and its heretofore unreported occurrence in the dog, and because this lesion may entail a diagnostic pitfall, we felt that this report might be of more than routine interest. Calcifying epithelioma in man is manifest usually in the second or third decade as a hard, solitary, rounded tumor situated deep in the subcutaneous tissues. It is covered by normal uninvolved skin and is freely movable with it. It may attain considerable size; tumors 5 cm. in diameter have been observed. It is usually found in the upper extremities, face, neck, or back, well demarcated from the surrounding structures of the deep corium or subcutaneous fat by a well-developed capsule of collagenic connective tissue. The histologic appearance is quite characteristic for this tumor. Irregularshaped masses of epithelial cells are separated from one another by thin strands of fibrous connective tissue. The epithelial cells are of two kinds, a germinative or basal-cell type and a “shadow cell” that occurs in sheets. There is marked similarity in the appearance of the basal cells and those of basal-cell cpithelioma, and this erroneous diagnosis may be made if sufficient care is not exercised. The basophilic cells are rounded or elliptical and composed of nearly all nucleus, the cytoplasm being quite scant.? The “shadow cells” are pale eosinophilic masses of epithelial cells that have lost their nuclear hematoxylinophilic property but not their individuality. One can often see areas of transition between the two cell forms. Sheets of cornified cells can be found either in the basophilic cellular masses or in the “ shadow cells. ” These keratinized nests arc prone to undergo calcification. The stroma quite frequently manifests a number of foreign body giant cells either near the pale cosinophilia “shadow cells” or near an area of hemorrhage, both of which were observed in the case to be described. Occasionally bone may be found in the connective tissue strands or in areas where calcification has previously occurred. There are many theories of histogenesis : calcification of a sebaceous gland epithelioma,l misplaced cpithelial rests of sebaceous glands,= degenerating basal-cell carcinoma,3 hair matrix cells,4’ 5 and primary epithelial germ cells.G
The Dynamic Capabilities of Firms

An expanded paradigm is needed to explain how competitive advantage is gained and held. Firms resorting to ‘resource-based strategy’ attempt to accumulate valuable technology assets and employ an aggressive intellectual property stance. However, winners in the global marketplace have been frms demonstrating timely responsiveness and rapid and flexible product innovation, along with the management capability to effectively coordinate and redeploy internal and external competences. This source of competitive advantage, ‘dynamic capabilities’, emphasizes two aspects. First, it refers to the shifting character of the environment; second, it emphasizes the key role of strategic management in appropriately adapting, integrating, and re-configuring internal and external organizational skills, resources, and functional competences toward a changing environment. Only recently have researchers begun to focus on the specifics of developing firm-specific capabilities and the manner in which competences are renewed to respond to shifts in the business environment. The dynamic capabilities approach provides a coherent framework to integrate existing conceptual and empirical knowledge, and facilitate prescription. This chapter argues that the competitive advantage of firms stems from dynamic capabilities rooted in high performance routines operating inside the frm, embedded in the firm’s processes, and conditioned by its history. It offers dynamic capabilities as an emerging paradigm of the modern business firm that draws on multiple disciplines and advances, with the help of industry studies in the USA and elsewhere.
Sequence of tryptic cleavages in porcine pancreatic secretory inhibitor II.

Abstract The appearance of sequential forms of inhibitor in a mixture of inhibitor and less than equimolar quantities of porcine trypsin at pH 2.75 has been monitored by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Each of the detected forms has been isolated and identified by its Rf in gel electrophoresis, its composition, and its NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal amino acids. The sequence of the bond cleavages by trypsin during temporary inhibition is Lys 14-Ile 15, followed by Arg 40-Gln 41, Lys 48-Ser 49, and Lys 38-Lys 39. The modified inhibitor (with one cleavage at the reactive site) was active while all other forms were inactive. The second cleavage, Arg 40-Gln 41, is the temporary (inactivating) cleavage. The modifying cleavage of the Lys 14-Ile 15 bond was found to be an obligatory step for the further digestion of the inhibitor. The reversible nature of the reactive site bond cleavage was demonstrated in gel electrophoresis by the examination of separate incubations of virgin and modified inhibitors with trypsin. Starting with either form, a mixture of virgin and modified inhibitor was obtained. The modified inhibitor was susceptible to digestion by α-chymotrypsin.
Stable matrix-multiplication algorithms for low-temperature numerical simulations of fermions

In this note, we discuss the use of matrix factorizations to stabilize the numerical matrix multiplications and inversions needed to simulate systems of interacting fermions at low temperatures. While the essence of a specific stable numerical algorithm is presented, we mainly emphasize the concepts of stabilization. A detailed description of a ground state and finite temperature algorithm is given elsewhere.1
Identification of the Prototheca Species by Immunofluorescence

Abstract Studies were carried out to develop fluorescent antibody reagents for the identification of the Prototheca species and for their differentiation from morphologically similar fungi of various genera in formalin-fixed tissues. Antisera against representative isolates of P. filamenta, P. moriformis, P. stagnora, P. wickerhamii, and P. zopfii were produced in rabbits. Antiglobulins, labeled with fluorescein-isothiocyanate that intensely stained most cells of the homologous species, were selected for use as potential diagnostic reagents. By adsorbing the conjugates with selected heterologous cross-staining protothecae, reagents that were both sensitive and specific were obtained. Evaluation of the adsorbed conjugates with sections of tissue infected with protothecae, sections of tissue infected with morphologically similar fungi, and cultures of protothecae showed that these reagents are useful for the rapid and reliable identification of the Prototheca species.
Using MANECSIM as a Simulation for Agribusiness Capstone Courses

MANECSIM is a business simulation especially developed for use in economic-based management classes. Students are put in charge of a firm and must make periodic managerial decisions in the areas of marketing, production, and finance in an environment in which economic conditions and competing firms influence the firm's performance. MANECSIM allows students to apply concepts and techniques learned about demand, forecasting, production, cost analyses, and financial planning-all major topics in agribusiness programs. The simulation offers an alternative to traditional case studies providing students with a “real-life” decision-making experience.
Re-viewing The Battle of Algiers with Germaine Tillion

There is an important scene missing from the film, The Battle of Algiers. In July and August 1957, Yacef Saâdi, the nationalist leader in Algiers and a motivating force behind Gillo Pontecorvo's film, met secretly with the French ethnologist and Resistance heroine Germaine Tillion. This essay explores the relation established between the Gaullist Tillion and Yacef. They recognized the resister in one another and during the Battle of Algiers sought to create the conditions for a new relationship between Algeria and France. The essay concludes by looking at the ways this event is interpreted in different memory traditions in contemporary Algeria, and what resonance it has for the Euro-American left today.
Sources of Difference in Information Used by Black and White Housing Seekers: An Exploratory Analysis

Survey data are used to examine search characteristics of recent home-buyers in two Boston neighbourhoods and two suburban Boston towns. Significant differences are found for black and white buyers, with blacks tending to use fewer information sources and to inspect fewer houses before purchase. The marketing of 'for sale' properties in the two Boston neighbourhoods covered by the survey is also examined. It appears to be more difficult to collect information from newspapers and brokers in predominantly black parts of these neighbourhoods than in predominantly white parts. While other factors considered in the paper can also explain lower information use by black home-buyers, it seems plausible that greater difficulty in collecting information in the black areas is a contributing factor.
Hybridization of mitochondrial transfer RNA's with mitochondrial and nuclear DNA of grande (wild type) yeast☆

Abstract The hybridization of mitochondrial leucyl- (mit-leucyl-) tRNA and mit-valyl-tRNA with mitochondrial and nuclear DNA of grande yeast has been studied. The tRNA's were charged in vitro with amino acids of high specific radioactivity and hybridization carried out at 33 °C in formamide at pH 5.0 to minimize deacylation of the tRNA. The mit[ 3 H]leucyl- and mit[ 3 H]valyl-tRNA's hybridized with mitochondrial DNA but not with yeast nuclear DNA or Escherichia coli DNA. Apparent hybridization-saturation curves were obtained. The melting profile of the hybrid was sharp and equivalent to a T m of 71 °C in 2 × standard saline citrate. Unlabeled yeast mitochondrial tRNA competed for the hybridization, but yeast supernatant and E. coli tRNA's did not. RNase and alkaline digests of the mit[ 3 H]valyl-tRNA-mit-DNA hybrid yielded [ 3 H]valyladenosine and [ 3 H]valine, respectively, providing further evidence for the validity of the hybridization system.
Interleukin‐8 is associated with proliferation, migration, angiogenesis and chemosensitivity in vitro and in vivo in colon cancer cell line models

Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a chemokine with a defining CXC amino acid motif, is known to possess tumorigenic and proangiogenic properties. Overexpression of IL-8 has been detected in many human tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC), and is associated with poor prognosis. The goal of our study was to determine the role of IL-8 overexpression in CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. We stably transfected the IL-8 cDNA into two human colon cancer cell lines, HCT116 and Caco2, and selected IL-8-secreting transfectants. Real-time RT-PCR confirmed that IL-8 mRNA was overexpressed in IL-8 transfectants with 45- to 85-fold higher than parental cells. The IL-8-transfected clones secreted 19- to 28-fold more IL-8 protein than control and parental cells as detected by ELISA. The IL-8 transfectants demonstrated increased cellular proliferation, cell migration and invasion based on functional assays. Growth inhibition studies showed that IL-8 overexpression lead to a significant resistance to oxaliplatin (p < 0.0001). Inhibition of IL-8 overexpression with small interfering RNA reversed the observed increases in tumorigenic functions and oxaliplatin resistance, suggesting that IL-8 not only provides a proliferative advantage but also promotes the metastatic potential of colon cancer cells. Using a tumor xenograft model, IL-8-expressing cells formed significantly larger tumors than the control cells with increased microvessel density. Together, these findings indicate that overexpression of IL-8 promotes tumor growth, metastasis, chemoresistance and angiogenesis, implying IL-8 to be an important therapeutic target in CRC.
Fragrance material review on 3,7-dimethyloct-6-en-3-ol

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of 3,7-dimethyloct-6-en-3-ol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.
Multidimensional SME filter for multitarget tracking

Kamen et al. have developed the symmetric measurement equation (SME) filter as an alternative to multi-target trackers based on data association. This paper presents an improved multi-dimensional SME tracking algorithm which agrees with Kamen's for one-dimensional scenarios and avoids the ghost target problem in higher dimensions. In addition, we provide a more efficient method for computing the noise covariance matrix of the SME coefficients. This was the major computational bottleneck of earlier SME implementation, and we have reduced its complexity from at least 2N/2 operations to at most D4N5, where N is the number of targets and D the number of dimensions. Computer simulations illustrate a failure mode that the new algorithm avoids, and gives a sample comparison to a standard data- association algorithm, global nearest neighbor.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The negaton spectrum of 36Cl

Abstract The shape of the twice-forbidden negaton spectrum of 36 Cl was measured in a 4 π semiconductor spectrometer. It was not possible to fit the data with the normal approximation to the theoretical shape factor, L 0 q 2 +9 λ 2 L 1 , for any value of the parameter λ 2 . By including all terms in the theoretical shape factor to one higher order in the nuclear radius, it was possible to obtain an excellent fit to the data using the reduced matrix elements as parameters. The endpoint of the spectrum was determined to be 708.7±0.6 keV.
Health Care Utilization and Cost Among Children With Asthma Who Were Enrolled in a Health Maintenance Organization

Objective. To measure the impact of asthma on the use and cost of health care by children in a managed care organization. Design. Population-based historical cohort study. Setting. A medium-sized staff model health maintenance organization in western Washington state. Subjects. All 71 818 children, between age 1 to 17 years, who were enrolled and used services during 1992. Outcome Measures. Children were identified with one or more asthma diagnoses during 1992 using automated encounter data. Nonurgent outpatient visits, pharmacy fills, urgent care visits, and hospital days, as well as associated costs were measured. All services were categorized as asthma care or nonasthma care. Multivariate regression analysis was used to compute marginal cost for asthma (difference in total cost between children with asthma and other children using services, adjusted for covariates). Results. Treated prevalence of asthma was 4.9%. Children with asthma incurred 88% more costs ($1060.32 vs $563.81/yr), filled 2.77 times as many prescriptions (11.59 vs 4.19/yr), made 65% more nonurgent outpatient visits (5.75 vs 3.48/yr), and had twice as many inpatient days (.23 vs .11/yr) compared with the general population of children using services. Asthma care represented 37% of all health care received by children with asthma, while the remaining 63% were for nonasthma services. Almost two-thirds of asthma-related costs were attributable to nonurgent outpatient care and prescriptions; only one third was attributable to urgent care and hospitalizations. Controlling for age, sex, and comorbidities, the marginal cost of asthma was $615.17/yr (95% confidence interval $502.73, $727.61), which includes asthma as well as nonasthma services. This marginal cost represents 58% of all health care costs for children with asthma. Conclusions. Children with asthma use significantly more health services (and incur significantly more costs) than other children using services, attributable largely to asthma care. The majority of all health care costs for children with asthma were for nonasthma services. Urgent care visits and hospitalizations are less important components of asthma costs in this managed care organization than has been found in other national studies.
Cytotoxic effects of chlorhexidine and nystatin on cultured hamster buccal epithelial cells

Abstract Primary cultures of hamster buccal epithelial cell were used in this study to investigate the potential cytotoxicity of chlorhexidine and nystatin. Following exposure to 0–0.01% of chlorhexidine for 5–60 min, or following exposure to either nystatin suspension or solution ranging from 0–0.1% for 1 h, the viability of hamster buccal epithelial cells was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethyl–2-thiazoyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2 H -tetrazolium bromide (MTT) hydrolysis and colony-forming efficiency. Chlorhexidine digluconate at concentrations greater than 0.005% was cytotoxic to the cells after a 1 h incubation. However, a 5 min contact with this drug did not cause significant effects when the concentration was less than 0.01%. A linear decrease in survival rate was observed when the cells were exposed to 100–200 μg/ml (0.01–0.02%) of nystatin solution. The inhibition of colony-forming efficiency by a nystatin suspension (ID 50 = 634 μg / ml ) was 8.3-fold lower than that of a nystatin solution (ID 50 = 76 μg / ml ). Results of this study suggested that buccal epithelial cells were relatively more resistant to toxic effects of chlorhexidine and nystatin than other cell types.
The status and conservation of the cheetah Acinonyx jubatus in Tanzania

Abstract This is the first assessment of the status of cheetahs, Acinonyx jubatus , in Tanzania since 1965. It completes a series of recent studies in Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi to provide an overall understanding of the species’ status in East Africa. Interviews with 370 informants yielded 1050 cheetah sightings. Eighty nine percent of all sightings were made in 1990–1994, and 39% of all sightings occurred in protected areas. All-adult groups contained 1.92±0.04 S.D. individuals; the average number of dependent cubs was 2.63±0.08 S.D.; and the cub-to-adult ratio was 0.34. Since the 1960s, the distribution has remained stable overall with possible reductions in central Tanzania. No definite population trends were detected. With an estimated 569–1007 cheetahs, Tanzania emerges as a sanctuary for the species worldwide. However rangelands, which may hold half of Tanzania’s cheetahs, are undergoing rapid degradation. This precarious situation calls for the establishment of a nationwide monitoring program. Distribution map and population sizes from this study could serve as a baseline for monitoring the species’ status.
Making receptors a reality: the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

On October 10, 2012, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the award of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Drs Robert Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka ‘for studies in G-protein-coupled receptors’ (GPCRs). This award is important to the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, and, especially, pharmacology, because it recognizes work done over several decades aimed at the elucidation of the structure and function of one of the most fundamental elements of pharmacology. As succinctly put by Humphrey Rang, the concept of the receptor was ‘pharmacology's big idea’ [1].
The Use of Meta-Analysis in Exercise and Sport: A Tutorial

Abstract Meta-analysis is a set of procedures used to quantify, integrate, and analyze the findings of a large number of research studies. It offers the advantage of quantifying effects from individual studies in addition to specifying the procedures the authors followed when reviewing the literature. Although meta-analysis has been demonstrated as a useful technique in exercise and sport research, and new and more appropriate statistical techniques for use in meta-analysis have been developed, these procedures are not widely used. This tutorial describes these advances and provides an example of their application to data from gender differences in throwing velocity during childhood and adolescence.
The River Shrimp Macrobrachium Ohione (Smith) (Decapoda, Palaemonidae): Its Abundance, Reproduction, and Growth in the Atchafalaya River Basin of Louisiana, U.S.A. 1)

[Se hicieron colecciones de Macrobrachium ohione por medio de trampas y redes en el rio Atchafalaya en Louisiana desde Septiembre de 1973 hasta Julio de 1975. M. ohione fue el mas abundante durante los meses de Agosto, Septiembre y Octubre. La recolecciones hechas en el rio prinpical y sus mayores tributarios dieron por resultado la mayor cantidad de camarones. El periodo de desove de M. ohione va desde Marzo hasta Septiembre con una mayor incidencia en Mayo y Junio. La mayoria de hembras ovigeras tuvieron entre 60 y 70 mm de longitud total (LT). Los huevos eran ovoides y median 0.52-0.65 mm X 0.39-0.52 mm. Las hembras tenian 6,273-24,800 huevos. El tamano de las hembras fue mayor que el do los machos de un ano de edad tenian 65-70 mm y 40-55 mm de longitud total (LT) respectivamente. M. ohione es un componente muy importante del ecosistema de la cuenca del Atchafalaya., Se hicieron colecciones de Macrobrachium ohione por medio de trampas y redes en el rio Atchafalaya en Louisiana desde Septiembre de 1973 hasta Julio de 1975. M. ohione fue el mas abundante durante los meses de Agosto, Septiembre y Octubre. La recolecciones hechas en el rio prinpical y sus mayores tributarios dieron por resultado la mayor cantidad de camarones. El periodo de desove de M. ohione va desde Marzo hasta Septiembre con una mayor incidencia en Mayo y Junio. La mayoria de hembras ovigeras tuvieron entre 60 y 70 mm de longitud total (LT). Los huevos eran ovoides y median 0.52-0.65 mm X 0.39-0.52 mm. Las hembras tenian 6,273-24,800 huevos. El tamano de las hembras fue mayor que el do los machos de un ano de edad tenian 65-70 mm y 40-55 mm de longitud total (LT) respectivamente. M. ohione es un componente muy importante del ecosistema de la cuenca del Atchafalaya.]
On the state of the economic in sociology : A content analysis

This article explores contemporary economic sociology by means of a content analysis of the anthologies published in the field between 1993 and 2005, with attention given to four dimensions: the economic topics covered; the relative focus on economic conflict vs. cooperation; the methodologies employed; and the relationship to the field of economics. The content analysis reveals that economic sociology (1) most commonly studies markets and national institutions (2) tends to ignore issues of class conflict (3) relies primarily on interview-based and historical methodologies, and (4) only superficially incorporates a small number of concepts from economic theory. Of particular importance is the absence of sociological investions of important macroeconomic outcomes like unemployment and economic growth. It is suggested that the field can be strengthened by following Weber's (and Schumpeter's) formulation ofSozialokonomie a multidisciplinary approach that would conjoin economic theory and history to economic sociology.