cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structures of ruthenium-modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin and [Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)2(imidazole)2]SO4·10H2O

The crystal structure of Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)2(imidazole)(His83)azurin (RuAz) has been determined to 2.3 A ­resolution by X-ray crystallography. The spectroscopic and thermodynamic properties of both the native protein and [Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)2(imidazole)2]2+ are maintained in the modified protein. Dark-green RuAz crystals grown from PEG 4000, LiNO3, CuCl2 and Tris buffer are monoclinic, belong to the space group C2 and have cell parameters a = 100.6, b = 35.4, c = 74.7 A and β = 106.5°. In addition, [Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)2(imidazole)2]SO4·10H2O was synthesized, crystallized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Red–brown crystals of this complex are monoclinic, space group P21/n, unit-cell parameters a = 13.230 (2), b = 18.197 (4), c = 16.126 (4) A, β = 108.65 (2)°. Stereochemical parameters for the refinement of Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)2(imidazole)(His83) were taken from the atomic coordinates of [Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)2(imidazole)2]2+. The structure of RuAz confirms that His83 is the only site of chemical modification and that the native azurin structure is not perturbed significantly by the ruthenium label.
Energy loss spectroscopy of epitaxial versus free-standing multilayer graphene

Abstract We present a formalism and numerical results for the energy loss of a charged particle scattered at an arbitrary angle from epitaxially grown multilayer graphene (MLG). It is compared with that of free-standing graphene layers. Specifically, we investigated the effect of the substrate induced energy gap on one of the layers. The gap yields collective plasma oscillations whose characteristics are qualitatively and quantitatively different from those produced by Dirac fermions in gapless graphene. The range of wave numbers for undamped self-sustaining plasmons is increased as the gap is increased, thereby substantially increasing and red-shifting the MLG stopping power for some range of charged particle velocity. We also applied our formalism to interpret several distinct features of experimentally obtained electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) data.
Misfit management for reduced dislocation formation in epitaxial quantum-dot-based devices

Abstract The improved control of lattice strain in the quantum-dot (QD) region of p – i – n structures using a modified epitaxial growth procedure has been observed and analyzed. Strain in the QD region was managed by (a) inserting a correction layer (CL) with a lattice constant that was intermediate between the lattice constant of the QD region and the lattice constant of the underlying substrate, (b) capping the QD islands with a layer that had the same lattice constant as the CL, and (c) the utilization of only three atomic elements in the growth of the QD intrinsic region. These results were demonstrated in In x Ga 1− x As/InAs/In x Ga 1− x As p–i–n devices with five InAs QD layers and then compared with In x Ga 1− x As p–n (HOM) devices with identical ternary alloy compositions and no quantum dot layers. The layers in all of the devices were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements showed the interface dislocations in the QD samples were fewer than in the HOM samples and were isolated at the In x Ga 1− x As–GaAs interface, away from the optically active QD region. Cross-sectional, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images showed no evidence of threading dislocations in the QD region. Post-growth calculations of the average lattice constant of the QD region, using atomic force microscopy, XRD, and HRTEM data, indicated the QD region experienced a ∼3× reduction in its lattice misfit while increasing its critical thickness by more than 3×. Although the total misfit in the QD samples increased with the insertion of the CL and the average lattice constant of the QD region was not matched to the CL, the strain energy nevertheless was absorbed successfully without creating deleterious dislocations as seen in QD devices exhibiting lower dark current densities than in HOM control devices.
CASTLE: an advanced technology partnership serving law enforcement

The Center for Applied Science and Technology for Law Enforcement (CASTLE) is supported by the National Institute of Justice Office of Science and Technology and is establishing partnerships with the National Law Enforcement Corrections and Technology Center in Charleston, South Carolina. Additionally, CASTLE is working with the American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD) to direct effective interface with and support of state and local crime laboratories. Extremely sophisticated, often one-of-a-kind, equipment and very-capable scientific expertise are resident at U.S. federal government laboratories and, until recently, have not been applied often to law enforcement problems, particularly at the state and local level. While there have been a number of research and development programs at national laboratories sponsored by agencies such as the National Institute of Justice, most of these have been focused on long-term objectives to meet broad national needs. In discussions with local law enforcement personnel, it is apparent that there are much more immediate technology needs, which are not being addressed by nationwide programs, in fundamental areas including video and audio surveillance, trace and physical evidence sampling, and forensic laboratory analysis. In a pilot program, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a significant component of the nation's science and technology resources located in Tennessee, recently made a commitment to support law enforcement where possible with advanced technology. ORNL formed the Center for Applied Science and Technology for Law Enforcement (CASTLE), a partnership of scientific, university, private sector, and law enforcement personnel. The goal of the CASTLE program is to apply technology at the grassroots working level to both solve crimes, to improve safety to law enforcement personnel, and to improve the overall quality of law enforcement services within the United States.
Microspherules from Sugars in the Absence of Nitrogen

Reactions of short sugars under mild, plausibly prebiotic conditions yield organic microspherules that may have played a role in prebiotic chemistry as primitive reaction vessels. It has been widely thought that nitrogen chemistry, in particular Amadori rearrangement, is central to this process, Here we show that microspherules form in the absence of any nitrogen compounds if the pH is sufficiently low. In particular, while the microspherule formation induced by ammonium acetate (pH 7) is not reproduced by ammonium chloride (pH 5), it is reproduced by oxalic acid and by hydrochloric acid (pH 1). The formation of microspherules in the presence of oxalic acid is similar to that in the presence of ammonium acetate: aqueous reactions of D-erythrose, D-ribose, 2-deoxy-D-ribose and D-fructose in the presence of oxalic acid produce microspherules ranging in size from approximately 1–5 μm after eight weeks incubation at 65°C, while the aldohexoses D-glucose, D-galactose and D-mannose do not. This pattern correlates with the occurrence of furanose forms in these sugars.
Pore size distribution of BPL activated carbon determined by different methods

Current methods of obtaining pore size distributions (PSDs) of microporous carbons are based on the interpretation of gas adsorption measurements through adsorption equilibrium models. We examine the consistency of five such models by constructing PSDs of a single adsorbent, BPL activated carbon, from an N2 adsorption isotherm at 77 K and from water desorption isotherms at various temperatures. For each method the adsorbent is modeled as a collection of independent, parallel-sided, slit-shaped pores. The distributions confirm that BPL carbon is a predominantly microporous material, but the maxima in the differential volume distributions vary from pore widths of 5.9 to 18 A. The variation among the distributions indicates a lack of consistency among the five gas adsorption models.
A fuzzy logic inference model for a rule-based system in medical diagnosis

: Intrinsically vague knowledge is typical of the decision processes involved in medical diagnosis, especially when they are based on complex and non numeric data. Linguistic descriptions of the symptoms exhibited by a given patient do not, by definition, represent a precise numeric concept and diagnostic classes cannot be modelled in terms of crisp sets. Fuzzy set theory and fuzzy logic provide an appropriate framework for the representation of imprecise medical concepts and imprecise modes of reasoning. A medical expert system with a fuzzy inference model, for the diagnosis of involutional osteoporosis is presented. Medical knowledge is represented in the form of relationships between combinations of symptoms and diagnostic classes. Two categories of disease, postmenopausal osteoporosis and senile osteoporosis are identified and three diagnostic classes are introduced for each disease category expressing the degree of severity of the disease: Definite, Possible, Excluded. For each diagnostic class the system infers a conclusion expressing the degree of satisfaction in the choice of the diagnostic class.
Microcontrollers Fundamentals for Engineers And Scientists

This book provides practicing scientists and engineers a tutorial on the fundamental concepts and use of microcontrollers. Today, microcontrollers, or single integrated circuit (chip) computers, play critical roles in almost all instrumentation and control systems. Most existing books arewritten for undergraduate and graduate students taking an electrical and/or computer engineering course. Furthermore, these texts have beenwritten with a particular model of microcontroller as the target discussion. These textbooks also require a requisite knowledge of digital design fundamentals. This textbook presents the fundamental concepts common to all microcontrollers. Our goals are to present the overarching theory of microcontroller operation and to provide a detailed discussion on constituent subsystems available in most microcontrollers. With such goals, we envision that the theory discussed in this book can be readily applied to a wide variety of microcontroller technologies, allowing practicing scientists and engineers to become acquainted with basic concepts prior to beginning a design involving a specific microcontroller. We have found that the fundamental principles of a given microcontroller are easily transferred to other controllers. Although this is a relatively small book, it is packed with useful information for quickly coming up to speed on microcontroller concepts.
Are humans cooperative breeders?: Most studies of natural fertility populations do not support the grandmother hypothesis

In discussing the effects of grandparents on child survival in natural fertility populations, Coall & Hertwig (C&H) rely extensively on the review by Sear and Mace (2008). We conducted a more detailed summary of the same literature and found that the evidence in favor of beneficial associations between grandparenting and child survival is generally weak or absent. The present state of the data on human alloparenting supports a more restricted use of the term “cooperative breeding.” Human stem family situations with celibate helpers-at-the-nest can be described as cooperatively breeding, but the term is a poor fit to many human family systems.
MARGINAL OR MONUMENTAL? VISIBILITY OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN SELECTED HIGHER-EDUCATION JOURNALS

Academic journals shape a field by including certain topics and excluding others. The purpose of this study was to explore in 5 higher-education journals published during 1990–2003 the visibility and the use of community colleges as research sites. Findings indicated an extremely limited visibility of community colleges, with use of community colleges as research sites varying from essential to opportunistic.
Polymers from 1,3‐dipole addition reactions: The nitrilimine dipole from acid hydrazide chlorides

An investigation of the suitability of the 1,3-dipole addition reaction of bisnitrilimines, generated from the corresponding acid hydrazide chlorides, with diyne and dinitrile dipolarophiles was carried out. The reactions of iso- and terephthaloylphenylhydrazide chlorides and 4,4′-oxydibenzoylphenylhydrazide chloride with the dipolarophiles m- and p-diethynylbenzene, m-divinylbenzene, and perfluoroglutaronitrile in the presence of triethylamine gave moderate molecular weight polymers containing pyrazole or triazole units along the polymer backbone. The polymers were soluble in such polar solvents as hexamethylphosphoramide and acids but had inherent viscosities only as high as 0.32. The thermogravimetric analyses of the finely powdered polypyrazoles showed breaks near 500°C. in air and in nitrogen atmospheres.
Improving the Anisotropy of Collagen by Electric Field Increases Its Toughness by Two-Fold

Collagen is the major structural protein in the connective tissues such as skin, bone, ligaments, and tendons. The specific hierarchical organization of collagen molecules determines the unique properties of each specific tissue. For example, in tendon, the parallel alignment of collagen molecules, fibrils, fibril bundles, fascicles and tendon units gives tendon good mechanical properties. Thus, in vitro engineering of collagen molecules hold great promise as a tissue regeneration material. However, there is a need for mechanically superior collagenous structures, which currently cannot be provided by isotropic gels which lack defined orientation. Increasing the anisotropy of gels would increase the strength of collagenous constructs tremendously.© 2007 ASME
Production of doubled haploid plants of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) by pseudofertilized ovule culture.

Abstract Doubled haploids of carnation ( Dianthus caryophyllus L.) were obtained by pseudofertilized ovule culture. Emasculated flower buds of carnation were pollinated with pollen inactivated by X-ray irradiation. After 2–3 weeks, the ovaries were explanted and were cultured on solid MS medium containing 2 μM NAA, 2 μM BAP and 6% sucrose. Regenerated plants(R0) were morphologically different from the mother plants, indicating that they did not originate from their somatic cells. Root tip cells of the R0 plants were chimeric for the chromosome number; both 2 n = 30 cells and 2 n = 15 cells were observed in root tips. The R0 plants were fertile and selfed seeds (R1) were obtained. The R1 plants of each R0 plant were morphologically uniform and were identical to their respective R0 plants. From these results we conclude that the R0 plants were doubled haploids.
pH responsive properties of non-fouling mixed-charge polymer brushes based on quaternary amine and carboxylic acid monomers.

In this work, we report a tunable mixed-charge copolymer surface containing positively charged quaternary amine monomers ([2-(Acryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethyl ammonium chloride, TMA) and negatively-charged carboxylic acid monomers (2-carboxy ethyl acrylate, CAA). The non-fouling properties of this copolymer coating depend on environmental pH. The surface has charge neutrality under neutral and basic conditions, and is positively charged under acidic conditions due to the protonation of the carboxylic acid group. This transition in surface charge with respect to pH allows the surface to be switched from bacteria-adhesive to bacteria-resistant. We demonstrate that the bacteria adhered to the surface under acidic conditions can be easily released as bulk pH increases. This tunable surface can be used to collect a contaminant and then be externally stimulated to release the contaminant, to allow for analysis of its composition. Its bacteria attraction and release property makes it very promising for decontamination and biomedical applications.
Context Effects on Survey Responses to Questions About Abortion

ALTHOUGH context effects in survey data are always a possible problem, they pose a particularly serious threat when surveys are used to study social change. In such research, a response difference due to questionnaire context is quite likely to be interpreted as a reflection of true change. Yet is is difficult to hold context constant from one survey to another: questions are almost always repeated on a selective basis, and it is rare for an earlier question order to be maintained perfectly. Even a vehicle like the National Opinion Research Center's General Social Survey (GSS), designed in part to measure change, rotates items in and out of the survey for practical reasons, which in turn alters context. Thus, it is important that we
Role of the mTOR pathway in LPS-activated monocytes: influence of hypertonic saline.

Background As heightened protein synthesis is the hallmark of many inflammatory syndromes, we hypothesize that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, which control the cap-dependent translation initiation phase, was activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, we studied the effect of hypertonic saline solution (HTS) on the mTOR cascade in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Materials and Methods PBMCs were isolated from healthy volunteers and treated with LPS. Cells were pretreated with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and mTOR inhibitors, or with HTS. Supernatants were harvested 20 h following LPS treatment, and interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis alpha (TNFα) were analyzed by ELISA. Immunoblot experiments were performed for components of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway at various time points. RNA was extracted after 90 min for real-time RT-PCR quantification. Results The mTOR pathway is activated in PBMCs within 1 h of LPS stimulation. Pretreatment with rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of mTOR, resulted in a significant decrease of IL-10 and IL-6 translation and expression but did not affect the LPS-induced TNFα production. Both the mTOR pathway and the LPS-induced IL-6 production were down-regulated by HTS pretreatment. Conclusions The PI3k/Akt/mTOR cascade modulates LPS-induced cytokines production differentially. IL-10 and IL-6 expression are both up-regulated by activation of the mTOR pathway in response to LPS in PBMCs, while TNFα is not controlled by the mTOR cascade. Meanwhile, pretreatment of PBMCs with a HTS solution suppresses mTOR activity as well as LPS-induced IL-6, suggesting a more central role for mTOR as a regulator of the immuno-inflammatory response.
Multiobjective optimization of structures with and without control

A multiobjective optimization algorithm is introduced, and the effect of different objective functions on structural design is investigated. The basic idea of this approach is to support the decisionmaker by directly selecting the best compromise solution from the Pareto optimal solutions. A payoff matrix is first constructed by optimizing each objective function subject to the given constraints; a substitute function is then formed. Under the original constraint conditions, maximizing the substitute function gives the best compromise solution. This research shows that multiobjective optimization should be carried out to obtain a rational structural design. Two structural optimal design examples—one frame structure and one frame structure with active control—illustrate the application of this approach. Numerical results show that the rational compromise solutions are achieved by multiobjective optimization procedure.
Common Permissions in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

This article provides a compact overview of the rich permission model used for access control in modern Microsoft Windows operating systems with special emphasis upon the file, directory, and registry subsystems. Guidance on avoiding common security mistakes is provided.
Lignin Model Compounds as Bio‐Based Reactive Diluents for Liquid Molding Resins

Lignin is a copious paper and pulping waste product that has the potential to yield valuable, low molecular weight, single aromatic chemicals when strategically depolymerized. The single aromatic lignin model compounds, vanillin, guaiacol, and eugenol, were methacrylated by esterification with methacrylic anhydride and a catalytic amount of 4-dimethylaminopyridine. Methacrylated guaiacol (MG) and methacrylated eugenol (ME) exhibited low viscosities at room temperature (MG: 17 cP and ME: 28 cP). When used as reactive diluents in vinyl ester resins, they produced resin viscosities higher than that of vinyl ester-styrene blends. The relative volatilities of MG (1.05 wt% loss in 18 h) and ME (0.96 wt% loss in 18 h) measured by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were considerably lower than that of styrene (93.7 wt% loss in 3 h) indicating the potential of these chemicals to be environmentally friendly reactive diluents. Bulk polymerization of MG and ME generated homopolymers with glass transition temperatures (T(g)s) of 92 and 103 °C, respectively. Blends of a standard vinyl ester resin with MG and ME (50 wt % reactive diluent) produced thermosets with T(g)s of 127 and 153 °C, respectively, which are comparable to vinyl ester-styrene resins, thus demonstrating the ability of MG and ME to completely replace styrene as reactive diluents in liquid molding resins without sacrificing cured-resin thermal performance.
An Improved Reineck Box for Sampling Coarse Sand

A Reineck Box core sampler has been modified for quantitative use in the marine benthos. The modifications are inexpensive and easily accomplished in any machine shop. Samples have been successfully taken in medium coarse to fine sands for layer by layer analysis. The apparatus has a high degree of efficiency, takes a large volume of sediment, and produces an undisturbed core.
Temporal patterns of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activation in the cortex following experimental brain injury in the rat.

Abstract: The activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, a DNA base excision repair enzyme, is indicative of DNA damage. This enzyme also undergoes site-specific proteolysis during apoptosis. Because both DNA fragmentation and apoptosis are known to occur following experimental brain injury, we investigated the effect of lateral fluid percussion brain injury on poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity and cleavage. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 52) were anesthetized, subjected to fluid percussion brain injury of moderate severity (2.5-2.8 atm), and killed at 30 min, 2 h, 6 h, 24 h, 3 days, or 7 days postinjury. Genomic DNA from injured cortex at 24 h, but not at 30 min, was both fragmented and able to stimulate exogenous poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Endogenous poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity, however, was enhanced in the injured cortex at 30 min but subsequently returned to baseline levels. Slight fragmentation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase was detected in the injured cortex in the first 3 days following injury, but significant cleavage was detected at 7 days postinjury. Taken together, these data suggest that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-mediated DNA repair is initiated in the acute posttraumatic period but that subsequent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activation does not occur, possibly owing to delayed apoptosis-associated proteolysis, which may impair the repair of damaged DNA.
Characterization of the metal composition of metallothionein isoforms using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with atomic absorption spectrophotometric detection

Abstract Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was used to separate metallothionein (MT) isoforms and on-line atomic absorption spectrophotometric (AAS) detection was used to quantitatively determine their metal content. With this coupled system (HPLC—AAS), it was possible to determine the zinc, cadmium and copper content of individual horse kidney MT isoforms. When rabbit liver MT and the purified isoforms (MT-1 and MT-2) were subjected to RP-HPLC and the zinc content determined by AAS, it was possible to assign each of the two major zinc-containing peaks of the MT sample to MT-1 or MT-2. HPLC—AAS was used to identify zinc-induced MT in heat-treated cytosol from turkey hen liver, thereby demonstrating its application to the analysis of crude tissue extracts. A standard curve was established using turkey liver MT for the quantitative determination of the zinc content of MT isoforms. There was excellent linear correlation between the μg of zinc bound to MT injected onto the column (ranging from 0.34 to 3.43, μg of MT-bond zinc) and the integrated peak area of the atomic absorbance for zinc. Using this standard curve, it was possible to quantitate the amount of MT-bound zinc in cytosol extracts of cultured turkey embryo hepatocytes exposed to varying levels of supplemental zinc in the culture medium.
Probing molecular pathways for DNA orientational trapping, unzipping and translocation in nanopores by using a tunable overhang sensor

Nanopores provide a unique single-molecule platform for genetic and epigenetic detection. The target nucleic acids can be accurately analyzed by characterizing their specific electric fingerprints or signatures in the nanopore. Here we report a series of novel nanopore signatures generated by target nucleic acids that are hybridized with a probe. A length-tunable overhang appended to the probe functions as a sensor to specifically modulate the nanopore current profile. The resulting signatures can reveal multiple mechanisms for the orientational trapping, unzipping, escaping and translocation of nucleic acids in the nanopore. This universal approach can be used to program various molecular movement pathways, elucidate their kinetics, and enhance the sensitivity and specificity of the nanopore sensor for nucleic acid detection.
Commentary on "a critical review of recent adoption, twin, and family studies of schizophrenia: behavioral genetics perspectives".

It is unfortunate that because of limitations of time and prior commitments, I have been unable to prepare the definitive critique that the article by Gottesman and Shields (1976) deserves. A proper resurvey of the material they have reviewed and evaluated would require several months. It is also unfortunate that they wrote their critical review unaware of the paper entitled "Communication of the Adoptive Parents of Schizophrenics" by Wynne, Singer, and Toohey (1976). Reading the paper will certainly lead Gottesman and Shields to modify some of their stronger statements about the significance of the findings of the various adoption studies—statements such as the following that to me seem unwarranted on the basis of the evidence:
The Integration of Regional and Interregional Capital Markets: Evidence from the Pacific Coast, 1883–1913

The literature on national capital market integration in nineteenth-century America has overlooked the role of markets at a regional level. Such markets were important in reducing the possible burden of isolation by efficiently recycling local savings, and in promoting eventual integration into a national financial market. This article presents evidence that a commercial market centered on San Francisco extended into the Pacific Coast states and formed the basis for a regional financial market. The degree of market integration is measured through tests of interest rate covariability and convergence.
Personality Factors and Sandtray Expressions

The present study investigated the relationships between different criteria of personality factors as measured by the NEO Personality Inventory and sandtray expressions of normal adult subjects. Several of the quantitative sandtray rating criteria correlated significantly with the Neuroticism and Openness factors. The Neuroticism facets of Impulsivity and Hostility were related to the amount of space used and the presence of fences; Anxiety was related to the amount of space used and Vulnerability to the use of fences. The Openness factor correlated with the number of archetypal figures used and the total amount of figures present in the constructions. The use of archetypal figures correlated significantly with the Value facet of the Openness factor, and the total number of objects used to the Aesthetics facet. The correlations of the lexically based NEO-PI with the imagery based sandtray expressions imply the commonalities of these two modes of expression for the two personality styles.
Multi-resolution switched system modeling

An approach for simulating linear switched networks, such as certain models of power converters, is given. The approach applies the principle of multi-resolution simulation. A full, detailed model is constructed from which a reduced order model is automatically extracted. The bandwidth of the reduced order model can be specified and changed at the users' discretion, even during a simulation run, yielding multiple resolutions and simulation speeds. The method is demonstrated on a simple power converter circuit.
Transformation of the Sandler and Rubin Nonsmooth Cap Model to the Pelessone Smooth Cap Model

The Sandler and Rubin cap model is the most popular cap model that is able to take account on geomaterial dilation and compaction effects. However, its nonsmooth yielding surface often results in a slow convergent rate or even nonconvergent solution in some numerical simulations. More often, analysts with the Sandler and Rubin model have to switch to a smooth cap model, for example, the Pelessone model, in order to obtain a convergent solution. For cases of original experimental data available direct fitting is the best way for obtaining the required smooth model parameters. For cases of only derived nonsmooth model parameters available, a transformation from nonsmooth models to smooth models is necessary. However, such a transformation is nontrivial. In this paper, we propose two simple and robust methods for transferring the Sandler and Rubin nonsmooth model to the Pelessone smooth model through making a few reasonable assumptions and solving only one nonlinear equation for one primary unknown. Two model examples are presented to demonstrate the good performance of our proposed methods.
Alcohol and drug use patterns have declined between generations of younger gay–bisexual men in San Francisco

Abstract Objectives : To describe changes in alcohol and drug use between two independent samples of gay–bisexual men aged 25–29. Methods : Comparisons between the 1984 San Francisco Men's Health Survey (SFMHS) and the 1992 San Francisco Young Men's Health Survey (SFYMHS). Results : Heaviest levels of alcohol use decreased between the 1984 and 1992 samples as did most types of drug use, with the exception of an increase in the use of MDA. Conclusions : Important declines in heavy alcohol use and overall drug use occurred among young gay men between 1984 and 1992. However, levels of substance use still remain high and may constitute a continued threat to the health of gay–bisexual men.
The Discourse of Freedom, Rights and Good in Nineteenth-Century English Liberalism*

For both its enthusiastic adherents as well as its more generous opponents, liberalism commands considerable ethical appeal but at a price. And that price is its lack of systematic integrity or coherence. The charm of its ethical appeal stems from the great values which it celebrates. But for many these very values seem fatally incommensurable, seem to be forever colliding with and thwarting one another. As Isaiah Berlin has never tired of reminding us, liberty and equality continue to defy our best efforts to reconcile them, to weave them together in some kind of orderly and compelling way. Liberalism, in other words, is flawed, if not tragically flawed. For those who nevertheless remain charmed by its ethical appeal, the tragedy of the incommensurability of its basic values is disappointing and disturbing.
Pseudorandom Coding for Improved Antenna Range Measurements

The autocorrelation function for pseudorandom binary codes is such that these codes are ideal for suppressing unwanted reflections on antenna ranges. The method presented here depends on amplitude modulating the transmitted signal with a maximum-length linear recurring modulo-two sequence (PN code) and correlating it at the receiver with a delayed version of the code. In this way reflections whose path transit times are greater than 1 bit time from the direct path transmission time are reduced in amplitude by a factor inversely proportional to the length of the code word. Also presented is a simple means for generating the maximum-length shift-register codes using delay lines and mixers that makes this method especially practical for most antenna range applications.
Method of reconstruction of 3-D pet images from projections

In this paper, a novel method of reconstruction of 3-D Positron Emission Tomography (PET) images is proposed. The method is based on the concept of non traditional, tensor and paired forms of representation of the 3-D image with respect to the 3-D discrete Fourier transform (DFT). Such representations use a minimal number of projections. The proposed algorithm is described in detail for an image (N × N × N), where N is a power of two. A multi-ring scanner that has contiguous rings of detectors stacked on top of each other is considered. The measurement data set containing specified projections of the 3-D image are generated according to the paired representation, and the proposed algorithm is tested on the data. The algorithm for selecting a required number of projections is described and illustrated for image (32×32×32).
A staphylococcal proteoglycan‐releasing factor

We report the effect of staphylococci on induction of proteoglycan release from cartilage in organ culture and document the presence of a staphylococcal proteoglycan-releasing factor in the bacterial growth medium. Staphylococci cocultured with cartilage increased release of proteoglycan 3-4-fold within 48 hours. Viable cartilage was essential for maximum loss of proteoglycan. Killed bacteria had no effect on proteoglycan release. Four Staphylococcus aureus strains yielded growth media preparations active in proteoglycan release. Analysis of the proteoglycan subunits released from cartilage showed only limited degradation, and glycosaminoglycan chain length was not significantly altered.
Gold nanorod-mediated hyperthermia enhances the efficacy of HPMA copolymer - 90Y conjugates in treatment of prostate tumors

Abstract Introduction The treatment of prostate cancer using a radiotherapeutic 90 Y labeled N -(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer can be enhanced with localized tumor hyperthermia. An 111 In labeled HPMA copolymer system for single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) was developed to observe the biodistribution changes associated with hyperthermia. Efficacy studies were conducted in prostate tumor bearing mice using the 90 Y HPMA copolymer with hyperthermia. Methods HPMA copolymers containing 1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) were synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation transfer (RAFT) copolymerization and subsequently labeled with either 111 In for imaging or 90 Y for efficacy studies. Radiolabel stability was characterized in vitro with mouse serum. Imaging and efficacy studies were conducted in DU145 prostate tumor bearing mice. Imaging was performed using single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). Localized mild tumor hyperthermia was achieved by plasmonic photothermal therapy using gold nanorods. Results HPMA copolymer-DOTA conjugates demonstrated efficient labeling and stability for both radionuclides. Imaging analysis showed a marked increase of radiolabeled copolymer within the hyperthermia treated prostate tumors, with no significant accumulation in non-targeted tissues. The greatest reduction in tumor growth was observed in the hyperthermia treated tumors with 90 Y HPMA copolymer conjugates. Histological analysis confirmed treatment efficacy and safety. Conclusion HPMA copolymer-DOTA conjugates radiolabeled with both the imaging and treatment radioisotopes, when combined with hyperthermia can serve as an image guided approach for efficacious treatment of prostate tumors.
Complete solubilization of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue may improve proteomic studies

Tissue-based proteomic approaches (tissue proteomics) are essential for discovering and evaluating biomarkers for personalized medicine. In any proteomics study, the most critical issue is sample extraction and preparation. This problem is especially difficult when recovering proteins from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections. However, improving and standardizing protein extraction from FFPE tissue is a critical need because of the millions of archival FFPE tissues available in tissue banks worldwide. Recent progress in the application of heat-induced antigen retrieval principles for protein extraction from FFPE tissue has resulted in a number of published FFPE tissue proteomics studies. However, there is currently no consensus on the optimal protocol for protein extraction from FFPE tissue or accepted standards for quantitative evaluation of the extracts. Standardization is critical to ensure the accurate evaluation of FFPE protein extracts by proteomic methods such as reverse phase protein arrays, which is now in clinical use. In our view, complete solubilization of FFPE tissue samples is the best way to achieve the goal of standardizing the recovery of proteins from FFPE tissues. However, further studies are recommended to develop standardized protein extraction methods to ensure quantitative and qualitative reproducibility in the recovery of proteins from FFPE tissues.
Boosted PRIM with application to searching for oncogenic pathway of lung cancer

Boosted PRIM (patient rule induction method) is a new algorithm developed for two-class classification problems. PRIM is a variation of those tree-based methods, seeking box-shaped regions in the feature space to separate different classes. Boosted PRIM is to implement PRIM-styled weak learners in Adaboost, one of the most popular boosting algorithms. In addition, we improve the performance of the algorithm by introducing a regularization to the boosting process, which supports the perspective of viewing boosting as a steepest-descent numerical optimization by Jerry Friedman. The motivation for boosted PRIM is to solve the problem of "searching for oncogenic pathways" based on array-CGH (comparative genomic hybridization) data, though the algorithm itself is suitable for general classification problems. We illustrate the performance of the method through some simulation studies as well as an application on a lung cancer array-CGH data set.
Single-Chain Estrogen Receptors (ERs) Reveal that the ERα/β Heterodimer Emulates Functions of the ERα Dimer in Genomic Estrogen Signaling Pathways

The effects of estrogens, particularly 17β-estradiol (E2), are mediated by estrogen receptor α (ERα) and ERβ. Upon binding to E2, ERs homo- and heterodimerize when coexpressed. The ER dimer then regulates the transcription of target genes through estrogen responsive element (ERE)-dependent and -independent pathways that constitute genomic estrogen signaling. Although ERα and ERβ have similar ERE and E2 binding properties, they display different transregulatory capacities in both ERE-dependent and -independent signaling pathways. It is therefore likely that the heterodimerization provides novel functions to ERs by combining distinct properties of the contributing partners. The elucidation of the role of the ER heterodimer is critical for the understanding of physiology and pathophysiology of E2 signaling. However, differentially determining target gene responses during cosynthesis of ER subtypes is difficult, since dimers formed are a heterogeneous population of homo- and heterodimers. To circumvent the pivotal dimerization step in ER action and hence produce a homogeneous ER heterodimer population, we utilized a genetic fusion strategy. We joined the cDNAs of ERα and/or ERβ to produce single-chain ERs to simulate the ER homo- and heterodimers. The fusion ERs interacted with ERE and E2 in a manner similar to that observed with the ER dimers. The homofusion receptors mimicked the functions of the parent ER dimers in the ERE-dependent and -independent pathways in transfected mammalian cells, whereas heterofusion receptors emulated the transregulatory properties of the ERα dimer. These results suggest that ERα is the functionally dominant partner in the ERα/β heterodimer.
Channels For Improved Performance From Living On Campus

In a recent study, de Araujo and Murray (2010) find empirical evidence that living on campus leads to improved student performance, finding both immediate effects (GPA improves while the student lives on campus) and permanent effects (GPA remains higher even after moving off campus). Using the same dataset, we extend the analysis to explain why students that live on campus perform better. We examine two possible channels. First, we examine whether on-campus students are more likely to take advantage of university provided resources (libraries, tutors, computer technology, university sponsored extracurricular activities, etc) than off-campus students. Secondly, we examine peer influences and interactions, including collaborative studying with friends and/or classmates and engagement in drug and alcohol consumption. For both these channels, we look for evidence of immediate and permanent effects. We find significant peer-effect channels that explain the positive permanent effect of academic performance from living on campus, and find two channels that explain why students should immediately perform better while they live on campus, but the evidence does not point to utilization of university resources.
Data Quality in Clinical Research

Every scientist knows that research results are only as good as the data upon which the conclusions were formed. However, most scientists receive no training in methods for achieving, assessing, or controlling the quality of research data—topics central to clinical research informatics. This chapter covers the basics of acquiring or collecting and processing data for research given the available data sources, systems, and people. Data quality dimensions specific to the clinical research context are used, and a framework for data quality practice and planning is developed. Available research is summarized, providing estimates of data quality capability for common clinical research data collection and processing methods. This chapter provides researchers, informaticists, and clinical research data managers basic tools to assure, assess, and control the quality of data for research.
Drought Risk and Adaptation in the Interior United States: Understanding the Importance of Local Context for Resource Management in Times of Drought

AbstractDrought is a natural part of the historical climate variability in the northern Rocky Mountains and high plains region of the United States. However, recent drought impacts and climate change projections have increased the need for a systematized way to document and understand drought in a manner that is meaningful to public land and resource managers. The purpose of this exploratory study was to characterize the ways in which some federal and tribal natural resource managers experienced and dealt with drought on lands managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and tribes in two case site examples (northwest Colorado and southwest South Dakota) that have experienced high drought exposure in the last two decades. The authors employed a social–ecological system framework, whereby key informant interviews and local and regional drought indicator data were used characterize the social and ecological factors that contribute to drought vulnerability and the ways in which drought onset, persist...
Urban-Industrial Development and Income Differentials between Occupations

Income data from the 1960 Census of Population was used to test the hypothesis that the factor markets “work better” adjacent to areas of urban‐industrial development. The medium income of males classified as operatives and males classified as farmers and farm managers were compared. The comparisons were made for counties grouped according to their distance from urban areas. The data show that income differentials between farmers and operatives did not increase as the distance from urban‐industrial areas increased. In most regions of the country the labor market appeared to be operating such that the income differentials could not be attributed to the differential effects of urban‐industrial development. However, the income differential between farmers and operatives was so large that a substantial disequilibrium between agricultural and nonfarm earnings is indicated.
72-Year-Old Woman With Redness, Swelling, and Pain of the Forearms and Hands.

dent tious A 72-year-old woman from far eastern Kansas who had a history of psoriatic arthritis treated with methotrexate and infliximab presented to the Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus emergency department for evaluation of redness, swelling, and pain of both forearms and hands of 10 weeks’ duration. Psoriatic arthritis had been diagnosed 4 years earlier, and her disease had been under good control until 3 months previously. Six weeks before the current presentation, the patient’s rheumatologist stopped her methotrexate, started prednisone at 20 mg/d (tapered to 2.5 mg/d), and increased the frequency of her infliximab infusions from every 6 weeks to every 4 weeks in the setting of worsening hand pain, swelling, and redness. Two weeks before presenting to the emergency department, redness, swelling, and induration of her forearms developed. Her right hand grew increasingly painful, and black skin discoloration developed over the right thumb pad. On presentation, her vital signs were notable for a heart rate of 116 beats/min and respirations of 25/min. Physical examination revealed diffuse edema of both forearms and hands with overlying erythematous, indurated plaques on the left forearm without palpable tenderness or crepitus. Marked swelling, induration, erythema, warmth, and scaling were noted on the thenar eminence and palmar metacarpophalangeal joint line of the right hand. There were 2 discrete areas of ulcerated black, dry, nonmalodorous skin on the right thumb pad. Laboratory studies yielded the following findings (reference ranges provided parenthetically): leukocytes, 10.5 10/L (3.5-10.5 10/L) with 54% neutrophils; plasma lactate, 3.3 mmol/L (0.6-2.3 mmol/L); and C-reactive protein, 128.2 mg/L ( 8.0 mg/L). Plain radiography of the hands revealed severe erosive osteoarthritis, chondrocalcinosis, and no subcutaneous gas.
Genetic diversity among Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens populations in the American High Plains

Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens is a Gram-positive bacterium and has reemerged as an incitant of bacterial wilt in common (dry, edible) beans in western Nebraska, eastern Colorado, and southeastern Wyoming. Curto- bacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens is diverse phenotypically and genotypically and is represented by several differ- ent pathogen color variants. The population structure of 67 strains collected between 1957 and 2009, including some isolated from alternate hosts, was determined with 3 molecular typing techniques: amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR), and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). All 3 typing techniques showed a great degree of population heterogeneity, but they were not congruent in cluster analysis of the C. flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens populations. Cluster analysis of a composite data set (AFLP, PFGE, and rep-PCR) using averages from all experiments yielded 2 distinct groups: cluster A included strains with colonies of yel- low, orange, and pink pigments, and cluster B had strains of only yellow pigment. Strains producing purple extracellular pig- ment were assigned to both clusters. Thus, C. flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens is diverse phenotypically and genotypically.