jimnoneill/paper-to-field-training huggingface dataset:
TMEM16A(a)/anoctamin-1 shares a homodimeric architecture with CLC chloride channels. Molecular and Cellular Proteomics 10

TMEM16A/anoctamin-1 has been identified as a protein with the classic properties of a Ca2-activated chloride channel. Here, we used blue native polyacrylamide gel elec-trophoresis (BN-PAGE) and chemical cross-linking to as-sess the quaternary structure of the mouse TMEM16A(a) and TMEM16A(ac) splice variants as well as a genetically concatenated TMEM16A(a) homodimer. The constructs carried hexahistidyl (His) tags to allow for their purification using a nondenaturing metal affinity resin. Neither His-tag-ging nor head-to-tail concatenation of two copies of TMEM16A(a) noticeably affected Ca2-induced measured macroscopic Cl currents compared with the wild-type TMEM16A(a) channel. The digitonin-solubilized, nondena-tured TMEM16A(a) protein migrated in the BN-PAGE gel as a homodimer, as judged by comparison with the concate-

Topic: Ion channel regulation and function
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Comprehensive and definitive molecular cytogenetic characterization of HeLa cells by spectral karyotyping.

We revisited the cytogenetic alterations of the cervical adenocarcinoma cell line HeLa through the use of spectral karyotyping (SKY), comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). SKY analysis unequivocally characterized all abnormal chromosomes. Chromosomal breakpoints were primarily assigned by simultaneous assessment of SKY painted chromosomes and inverted 4,6-diamidino2-phenylindole banding from the same cell. Twenty clonally abnormal chromosomes were found. Comparison with previously reported HeLa G-banding karyotypes revealed a remarkably stable cytogenetic constitution because 18 of 20 markers that were found were present before. The classification of 12 markers was refined in this study. Our assignment of the remaining six markers was consistent with those described in the literature. The CGH map of chromosomal copy number gains and losses strikingly matched the SKY results and was, in a few instances, decisive for assigning breakpoints. The combined use of molecular cytogenetic methods SKY, CGH, and FISH with site-specific probes, in addition to inverted 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole or conventional G-banding analysis, provides the means to fully assess the genomic abnormalities in cancer cells. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are frequently integrated into the cellular DNA in cervical cancers. We mapped by FISH five HPV18 integration sites: three on normal chromosomes 8 at 8q24 and two on derivative chromosomes, der(5)t(5;22;8)(qll;q11q13;q24) and der(22)t(8; 22)(q24;q13), which have chromosome 8q24 material. An 8q24 copy number increase was detected by CGH. Dual-color FISH with a c-MYC probe mapping to 8q24 revealed colocalization with HPV18 at all integration sites, indicating that dispersion and amplification of the c-MYC gene sequences occurred after and was most likely triggered by the viral insertion at a single integration site. Numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations identified by SKY, genomic imbalances detected by CGH, as well as FISH localization of HPV18 integration at the c-MYC locus in HeLa cells are common and representative for advanced stage cervical cell carcinomas. The HeLa genome has been remarkably stable after years of continuous cultivation; therefore, the genetic alterations detected may have been present in the primary tumor and reflect events that are relevant to the development of cervical cancer.

Topic: Genomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
Subfield: Genetics
Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Comment on ‘‘Feynman-Kac path-integral calculation of the ground-state energies of atoms’’

A Comment on the Letter by Korneziowski, Fry, Orr, and Fazleev, Phys. Rev. Lett. 69, 893 (1993).Received 4 November 1992DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.71.2159©1993 American Physical Society

Topic: Advanced Chemical Physics Studies
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Assessment of Clinical Outcomes Following Ankle Arthro desis Among Patients Who Had Post Traumatic Arthritis and Infected Primary Ankle Injury at Specialized Hospitals in Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study is on the assessment of clinical outcomes following ankle arthrodesis among patients who had posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the ankle and infected open primary ankle injury at specialized hospitals in Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria, with the aim of determining the mechanism of injury, mode of treatment and treatment outcome. A retrospective study research design was employed for all the patients to collect data from the two specialized hospital records. The data were analyzed using Pearson and chi-square test tool. The results revealed that Motor vehicular crashes (MVCs) are the leading mechanism of injury, accounting for 66.7%, majority of patients underwent ankle arthrodesis using Charnley’s compression clamp, and on the functional outcomes measured using the AOFAS Ankle-Hind foot scale, findings show that they were favorable, with over 80% of patients achieving good-to-excellent results. The paper recommended that further research with larger cohorts and randomized controlled designs is warranted to more definitively compare the long-term efficacy and safety profiles of Charnley’s clamp versus trans articular screw fixation in ankle arthrodesis.

Topic: Musculoskeletal Disorders and Rehabilitation
Subfield: Rehabilitation
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Service academies and student transitions : an exploratory study

Service Academies are vocationally-focussed courses run in New Zealand secondary schools. They have a military style teaching and learning environment, and were initiated with the intention of helping students who were at risk of not achieving, in a very structured environment. Students seeking recruitment into the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and other uniformed government services also take part in the course to gain relevant skills and experience. The first course was set up in 1999, and since then there have been several expansions, resulting in twenty-six academies currently operating nationwide. This qualitative research sought the opinions of academy directors and ex-students on the efficacy of the course and its effect on the transition to employment or other outcomes. Research questions guiding the study considered the educational strategies and leadership practices that support the academies, the factors students and their course directors perceive as leading to successful engagement with the programmes and ways of further developing Service Academies to enhance student outcomes. Academy directors and exstudents were surveyed to produce data on the course and its effect on student transitions to employment. There were significant similarities in the responses from staff and ex-students, showing they valued many of the same elements of the courses and had a shared vision of effective ways of transitioning students. The questionnaire and interview responses were mainly very positive, with a lot of emphasis placed on the beneficial nature of the military-style learning environment and the effect of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) ethos and culture in the academies. The key areas identified for improvement were the external leadership of the programmes, particularly from the Ministry of Education, and the need for an organised programme to support new staff setting up academies, as well as existing staff. Desired elements of this programme included a central resource bank of classroom and assessment material as well as administrative templates. The opportunity for students to achieve NCEA credits through the academies also needs more work, and needs clear communication between the Ministry, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), the academies and the NZDF. Finally, there is a need for clear pathways of professional learning and development for academy directors, most of whom are not trained teachers to enable them to support students as effectively as possible.

Topic: Education and Military Integration
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Children’s contact with their imprisoned fathers and the father–child relationship following release

This article investigates children’s contact with their imprisoned fathers and the influence on their relationships following release. It is based on data from a mixed-methods prospective longitudinal study of 45 children (aged four to 18) in England whose fathers had played an active role in their lives prior to the prison sentence. The study found that face-to-face contact and telephone calls correlated significantly with the father–child relationship after the father’s release, as reported by both parents. Written contact played less of a role. The longitudinal correlations remained significant after controlling for the level of the father’s involvement with his children before imprisonment. The quantitative findings were supported by qualitative data from the children, fathers and mothers, which illustrated how contact supported the father–child relationship through the facilitation of familiar interactions (physical comfort, emotional support, discipline, guidance) even if in a limited and altered form.

Topic: Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Nachweis von Alpha-1-Antitrypsin in exhaliertem Atemwegskondensat

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder that predisposes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and liver cirrhosis. The main function of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) is to protect the lungs against neutrophil elastase. It is difficult to measure the levels of AAT in different compartments of the lung. Bronchoscopy is still the gold standard to assess the lower respiratory tract and the epithelial lining fluid (ELF). Measurement of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a non invasive method to investigate parameters of the epithelial lining fluid of the lung and to detect changes in physiological homeostasis. It was the aim of the study to show that AAT is measurable with the non invasive method of EBC. An AAT-ELISA and AAT-Western Blot were standardized to detect very small amounts of AAT in EBC. AAT was also measurable in patients with AATD. No correlation could be found between AAT-serum-levels and AAT-levels in EBC. A further aim of this study was to compare AAT-levels in EBC of healthy controls (HC), patients with stable and exacerbated COPD as well as augmented and non-augmented patients with AATD. Patients with exacerbated COPD had significantly increased AAT-values compared to HCs and patients with stable COPD. Augmented patients with AATD had also significantly higher AAT-values in EBC compared to HCs and patients with stable COPD. Furthermore, non augmented AATD-patients showed significantly higher AAT-values compared with augmented AATD-patients. In a final step pH- and interleukin-8-values (IL-8) as markers of pulmonary inflammation were measured in EBC from patients with stable and exacerbated COPD, augmented and non augmented patients with AATD and from healthy controls. Patients with stable and exacerbated COPD showed significantly lower pH-values compared to HCs. IL-8-values in EBC of patients with AATD were significantly higher than in patients with COPD and HCs. In conclusion we found EBC collection is extremely simple to perform, non invasive, inexpensive and reproducible. Therefore, it is well-suited for non invasive analysis in longitudinal follow-ups and individual monitoring of patients with chronicle disease. It could be shown that AAT has an important role as acute-phase-protein and marker of inflammation. Especially in inflammatory processes of the lung it has major impact. More standardization work must be done to improve the method of EBC for future approach.

Topic: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Controlling Pd Morphology in Electrodeposition from Nanoparticles to Dendrites via the use of Mixed Solvents

&lt;p&gt;By changing the mole fraction of water (cwater) in the solvent acetonitrile (MeCN), we report a simple procedure to control nanostructure morphology during electrodeposition. We focus on the electrodeposition of palladium (Pd) on electron beam transparent boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. Three solutions are employed MeCN rich (90% v/v MeCN, cwater = 0.246), equal volumes (50% v/v MeCN, cwater = 0.743) and water rich (10% v/v MeCN, cwater = 0.963) with electrodeposition carried out under diffusion-controlled conditions for fixed time periods (50, 150 and 300 s). Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) reveals that in MeCN rich solution, Pd atoms, amorphous atom clusters and (majority) nanoparticles (NPs) result. As water content is increased, NPs are again evident but also elongated and defected nanostructures which grow in prominence with time. In the water rich environment, NPs and branched, concave&lt;sup&gt; &lt;/sup&gt;and star-like Pd nanostructures are now seen, which with time translate to aggregated porous structures and ultimately dendrites. We attribute these observations to the role MeCN adsorption on Pd surfaces plays in retarding metal nucleation and growth.&lt;/p&gt;

Topic: Electrochemical Analysis and Applications
Subfield: Electrochemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Short Communication: Effect of a New Carbapenem Antibacterial Agent, Meropenem, on Normal Human Faecal Microflora

The effects of a newly developed carbapenem antibiotic, meropenem, on intestinal microflora were investigated in healthy male volunteers. Six volunteers were given intravenously one dose of 500 mg at 12 h intervals for 5 d, and another six volunteers received 1000 mg of meropenem. Faecal samples were collected during the investigation period for cultivation of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Meropenem induced an increase in enterococci and a decrease in streptococci in all subjects. Meropenem caused a marked decrease of the levels of intestinal bacteria especially, Enterobacteriaceae, eubacteria, Gram-positive anaerobic cocci, bacteroides and veillonellae in some subjects. Meropenem caused a marked decrease of the total levels of intestinal bacteria in two of six subjects who received 500 mg and 1000 mg of meropenem respectively. There were no differences between subjects receiving the 500 mg dose and 1000 mg dose of meropenem. Keywords: Antibacterial agent; Carbapenem; Meropenem; Intestinal flora.

Topic: Antibiotics Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy
Subfield: Pharmacology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Low Enrichment Fuel Conversion for Iowa State University (Progress Report for Period August 1, 1991-July 31, 1992)

The UTR-10 reactor at Iowa State University which went critical on low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel on August 14, 1991. However, subsequent to the criticality experiments the fuel plates started to discolor. In addition, roll pins used to lift the fuel assemblies were discovered to be cracked. It was determined that these problems were due to chemical agents in the primary coolant water. The roll pins were replaced by solid stainless steel pins. The primary coolant was replaced and the reactor is currently in operation. Surveillance specimens will be used to monitor any possible future discoloration. The high enriched fuel (HEU) is being prepared for eventual shipment to a high enriched fuel receiving facility.

Topic: Nuclear and radioactivity studies
Subfield: Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
A Self-Normalized Central Limit Theorem for Markov Random Walks

Motivated by the study of the asymptotic normality of the least-squares estimator in the (autoregressive) AR(1) model under possibly infinite variance, in this paper we investigate a self-normalized central limit theorem for Markov random walks. That is, let { X n , n ≥ 0} be a Markov chain on a general state space X with transition probability P and invariant measure π. Suppose that an additive component S n takes values on the real line , and is adjoined to the chain such that { S n , n ≥ 1} is a Markov random walk. Assume that S n = ∑ k =1 n ξ k , and that {ξ n , n ≥ 1} is a nondegenerate and stationary sequence under π that belongs to the domain of attraction of the normal law with zero mean and possibly infinite variance. By making use of an asymptotic variance formula of S n / √ n , we prove a self-normalized central limit theorem for S n under some regularity conditions. An essential idea in our proof is to bound the covariance of the Markov random walk via a sequence of weight functions, which plays a crucial role in determining the moment condition and dependence structure of the Markov random walk. As illustrations, we apply our results to the finite-state Markov chain, the AR(1) model, and the linear state space model.

Topic: Probability and Risk Models
Subfield: Management Science and Operations Research
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Variable annuities with Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefits (GMWB) are making inroads to Canadian retirement planning. Here is a synopsis of facts about them based on market history.

Variable Annuities (VA) with Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefits (GMWB) are very popular in the USA. They were first introduced by Hartford in 2002. In 2004, sales of all variable annuities (with or without GMWB) in the US reached $128 billion, of which 69% of all sales had the GMWB rider. The total assets in VA’s were about $1.1 trillion at the end of 2004. In this series of articles, I will use VAG to refer to a variable annuity with guaranteed withdrawal benefits. Last year, Manulife introduced VAG to Canada. Other insurance companies are following Manulife’s lead. In this series of articles, I will try to demonstrate the benefits, pitfalls, the hype and the truth about VAG before you put your client’s money and your practice at risk. What is this product? The name variable annuity is a misnomer; it has little to do with an annuity. Think of it as a segregated fund. Your client’s investment in a segregated fund is the “premium”. Add to it the basic GMWB rider and you have a living benefit and a guarantee of return of your entire premium by means of annual withdrawals spread over 20 years. This is the worst-case situation. If markets do well, you may be able to have income for a longer period of time. The segregated funds have a market value, which fluctuates just like a mutual fund. This is called the “Contract Value”. In addition, there is another balance to track which is called the “Guaranteed Withdrawal Balance”. Its value does not fluctuate with market conditions, but it is the base amount used to calculate the income that is paid out. The day you buy the VAG, both the contract value and the guaranteed withdrawal balance are same, i.e. your initial premium. Even if the contract value might go down to zero in adverse markets, annual payments continue for the life of the contract based on the guaranteed withdrawal balance. If a client buys a VAG with $100,000 at age 65, he is guaranteed to receive $5,000 each year throughout the contract period regardless of how his investments perform.

Topic: demographic modeling and climate adaptation
Subfield: Management Science and Operations Research
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
EXPERIMENTS ON THE CULTIVATION OF SO CALLED TRACHOMA BODIES

1. An organism was isolated and studied in pure cultures from cases of conjunctivitis accompanied by the so called trachoma body inclusions, as well as from a case of old trachoma without inclusions. 2. This organism was not found in the cultures made from other forms of conjunctivitis in which the inclusions were absent. 3. The organism presents the morphological features characteristic of so called trachoma bodies. It undergoes an early transformation, during which the forms known as initial bodies appear, and a later change, during which forms resembling elementary granules arise, while certain intermediate forms between these occur simultaneously. 4. No definite cell inclusions could be produced in monkeys by inoculating pure cultures of the organism. 5. The cultivation of this organism from a case of trachoma without the cell inclusions, together with the previously ascertained fact that the inclusions can be produced in suitable animals by inoculating such material directly from a human case, suggests the possibility of the organism being still present in such cases of trachoma, although not in the form of cell inclusions. 6. The facts presented justify the statement that by a suitable method an organism resembling the various important stages of the trachoma bodies and totally distinct from the gonococcus has been obtained in a living condition, capable of indefinite cultivation from cases of human trachoma and inclusion conjunctivitis. Whether the organism and trachoma bodies are identical cannot be positively stated at present. But the way is now opened to determine this point, as well as the specificity of the trachoma bodies.

Topic: Reproductive tract infections research
Subfield: Microbiology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Numerical and Experimental Crashworthiness Studies of Foam-filled Frusta

Thin-walled metallic components have been widely used as energy absorbers. One key drawback is the high initial crippling load, which typically results in passenger injuries. It is the objective of this study to introduce taper angle to thin-walled prisms, and to examine the crushing response of thin-walled frusta. Nonlinear finite element models of thin-walled frusta of different cross-sectional geometries were developed. Experimental investigations were conducted to validate these models. The effects of key design parameters on the energy absorption characteristics of frusta were explored. Comparison between thin-walled prisms and frusta show that taper angle helps to reduce the initial crippling load and increase the resistance to global buckling. To take advantage of the interaction effects, a novel multi-frusta configuration was developed and it was shown that the energy absorption efficiency is significantly increased. The results of this work are valuable for enhancing the crashworthiness performance of thin-walled metallic energy absorber.

Topic: Cellular and Composite Structures
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Delineation of MEMS microstructures in silicon using CF 4 /O 2 gas mixtures in reactive ion etching

Experiments performed in a reactive ion etching (RIE) system are discussed with the purpose of studying the influence of the addition of O<sub>2</sub> in different ratios in the main CF<sub>4</sub> gas flow for silicon etching. Conventional planer reactive ion etching system has been utilized for etching of SiO<sub>2</sub> and silicon in fluorine chemistry. The patterns were delineated in SiO<sub>2</sub> using photo-resist as the mask material using CHF<sub>3</sub> gas in combination with argon. Sidewall passivation technique has been employed to achieve microstructure profile control in silicon. The quantity of O<sub>2</sub> gas was varied from 2 to 10% in the total CF<sub>4</sub> gas flow (10 sccm) at self dc-bias of -250 volts and process pressure 30 mTorr to achieve a balance between fluorine and oxygen radicals. Anisotropic etched profiles with smooth bottom surfaces were obtained at 2% O<sub>2</sub> flow in CF<sub>4</sub>. The usefulness of this technique has been demonstrated for the delineation of MEMS microstructures in silicon.

Topic: Plasma Diagnostics and Applications
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences