cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variation in DNA methylation is associated with migratory phenotypes of lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens in the St. Clair River, MI, USA

Lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens populations show a variety of movement patterns that are poorly understood. To compare two migratory phenotypes of A. fulvescens in the St. Clair River, MI, USA, multiple data types were analysed. Individual fish were classified into migratory phenotypes based on acoustic telemetry data collected 2012-2015. Acipenser fulvescens consistently showed movement from the St. Clair River upriver into Lake Huron or downriver into Lake St. Clair. The two migratory phenotypes were then compared for differences in morphometrics, genetics and epigenetics. Morphological differences based on linear measurements were not detected between phenotypes. Microsatellite data from 11 loci suggested one population with no genetic differentiation between migratory phenotypes. Our epigenetic results indicated that the migratory phenotypes are differentially methylated (P < 0.05), thus epigenetics may be associated with migratory differences in A. fulvescens. Only one restriction site was identified to be driving the differential methylation (P < 0.05). While little evidence at neutral loci occurred for genetic differentiation of A. fulvescens, DNA methylation may play a role in the observed movement pattern variation. When combined with microsatellite and morphometric analyses, our results suggested that different migratory patterns may reflect phenotypic plasticity, allowing A. fulvescens to acclimate to short-term environmental variability. Without an integrated approach, the role of epigenetics in the migratory phenotype of A. fulvescens may have been overlooked. Further characterization of migratory phenotypes could be important for management to conserve behavioural variation across the distribution of A. fulvescens and for design of stocking guidelines.
Challenging the Current Recommendations for Carrier Testing in Children.

The authors of current professional guidelines generally do not support the return of information about genetic carrier status for infants and children because of a perceived lack of immediate benefit and an abundance of caution regarding potential harm and desire to protect the children’s future autonomy. The advent of genomic sequencing, used either as a diagnostic or a screening tool, and the increasing use of this technology in childhood creates the potential for the identification of carrier status in the pediatric period. As part of the BabySeq Project, researchers are exploring the implications of genomic sequencing in both newborns who are healthy and newborns who are sick and developing policies and procedures for the return of carrier status information to the parents and physicians of newborns. In this commentary, we review the history of carrier testing in children and explore the potential benefits, risks, and challenges of returning such results both for the children, their parents, and potential future siblings.
Abstract TP92: When Less is More: Do We Need Advanced Perfusion Neuroimaging Prior to Mechanical Thrombectomy?

Objective: To assess whether the choice of pretreatment neuroimaging has an impact on clinical outcomes following mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Background: Most MT trials required advanced neuroima...
Nanoarchitecture of TiO2 microspheres with expanded lattice interlayers and its heterojunction to the laser modified black TiO2 using pulsed laser ablation in liquid with improved photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation

Abstract Different morphologies and crystal phases of black titanium dioxide (TiO2) were synthesized using Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquid (PLAL). The synthesized laser modified black TiO2 (LMB-TiO2) structures included hydrogenated anatase TiO2 nanoparticles, as the core shell structures, and TiO2 microspheres. TiO2 core-shell nanoparticles, which had crystalline-disordered structures, demonstrated the laser ablation pulse duration-dependence growth of amorphous shells and hence formation of disordered TiO2 nanoparticles with different thickness of hydrogen-doped amorphous shells were shown. TiO2 microspheres with the yolk–shell like structures (YSHL-TiO2 microspheres), on the other hand, showed the formation of rutile phases in the shell which encapsulate Lattice Expanded Planes (LEPs) in the core. The microspheres demonstrated phase transitions from anatase to rutile and size-dependent lattice interlayers expansion from 0.35 nm to 0.94 nm. The maximum particle size growth occurred when the samples were subjected to the laser ablation for 120 min. The crystal phase transition, consequently, led to the formation of heterostructured photocatalysts through construction of hydrogenated anatase TiO2 nanoparticles junctions with rutile TiO2 microspheres. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) using LMB-TiO2 heterostructure was tested under visible light irradiation Results showed approximately 99% of MB was degraded after 60 min. Enhanced visible light absorption and increased charge carrier lifetime due to formation of different types of heterojunctions may explain the higher photocatalytic performance of LM-TiO2 samples. Moreover, the Photoluminescence analysis indicated that hydroxyl radicals were the main active species involved in the photocatalytic degradation tests and therefore the photocatalysis mechanism was accordingly suggested.
Bridging the Radiation Oncology and Diagnostic Radiology Communication Gap: A Survey to Determine Usefulness and Optimal Presentation of Radiotherapy Treatment Plans for Radiologists.

Abstract Rationale and Objectives We hypothesized that providing visual-spatial information to radiologists on where radiation has been delivered in an easily accessible way may improve the accuracy of image interpretation and thereby improve quality of patient care. We present a national representation of radiologists’ opinions regarding the usefulness and optimal approach for implementing a system to promote access to radiotherapy (RT) plans. Methods An anonymous survey was sent to the members of the Association of University Radiologists. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results Questionnaires were returned by 95 of 1383 members. Demographics comprised of 76% attendings with 94% practicing within an academic setting. Only 40% of radiologists reported that they knew most of the time whether a patient has received RT in the field scanned. A large majority of respondents (88%) felt that a history of prior radiation in a cancer patient was at least an occasional barrier that affected the ability to interpret imaging findings in a clinically useful way. The following types of information was considered helpful when interpreting a scan: screenshots of the radiation plan (85%), scrollable DICOM data on planning CT showing delivered RT dose lines (54%), and written text RT treatment summary (47%). Nearly all (89%) desired DICOM data within the clinical radiology Picture Archiving and Communication System system. Radiologists expected the ease of accessibility to RT plans to result in increased efficiency (76%) and accuracy (88%). Conclusion Diagnostic radiologists desire improved access and integration of radiotherapy plans into the diagnostic radiology clinical workup in the form of visual-spatial data.
Novel Somatostatin Receptor Subtype-4 Agonist Mitigates Microglia Inflammatory Activation

This research evaluated the impact of novel somatostatin receptor subtype-4 (SSTR4) agonist SM-I-26 on microglia inflammatory activation. SSTR4 shows particular promise as a treatment target for Al...
Efficient functionalization of acylnitroso cycloadducts: Application to the syntheses of carbocyclic nucleoside precursors

Abstract 1,4- cis -disubstituted cyclopentene precursors of carbocyclic nucleotides were readily prepared utilizing acylnitroso hetero Diels-Alder reactions and Pd(0)-catalyzed alkylation reactions as the key steps. The chemistry was explored in both racemic and asymmetric fashion. The hydroxymethyl components of the carbocyclic nucleoside precursors were obtained from nitromethyl groups under oxidative Nef conditions and may be further elaborated into a variety of compounds of potential biological interest.
1990 Reproductive effort and the balance between egg number and egg size

Abstract Barry Sinervo (1990, 1991) developed a cleaver technique for manipulating the energy content of lizard eggs. This allowed him to study basic theories concerning the relationships between egg numbers and egg size.
Patterns of bird species occurrence in relation to anthropogenic and wildfire disturbance: Management implications

Abstract We used a chronosequence approach to investigate the relationship between existing conditions of forested land that burned at some point between 1984 and 2014 in western Montana and the abundances of various bird species based on 7533 point-counts. Twelve of 68 bird species occurred significantly more frequently in burned mixed-conifer forest than in any of 13 unburned vegetation types, and most of them reached their greatest abundance in the severely burned portions of those forests. After restricting the analysis to conifer forest types only, 33 of 68 species (49%) were significantly more abundant in burned forest at some combination of time-since-fire and fire severity than in unburned conifer forest. One species, the black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus), occurred nearly exclusively in severely and recently burned mixed-conifer forests. Its restricted distribution suggests that it must have evolved in the presence of those burned-forest conditions and, therefore, that it accurately reflects historical post-fire conditions that are critical to maintain on the landscape. This disturbance-dependent species was also affected strongly and negatively by both pre-fire and post-fire tree harvesting. Two important management implications follow directly from these findings: (1) the presence of the full complement of bird species in a landscape cannot be maintained through land management that either suppresses fire or acts to reduce overall fire severity through widespread forest thinning or through the application of homogeneous, low-severity, prescribed burning across the broader landscape—only severe fire can produce the variety of post-fire conditions used by species that are nowhere more abundant than in burned forests; and (2) the presence of many species (especially those most specialized to use burned forest conditions) is incompatible with both pre-fire and post-fire timber harvesting. To maintain the ecological integrity of disturbance-dependent mixed-conifer forest systems, land managers must, therefore, use strategic landscape planning to harvest trees while still retaining both an abundance of minimally disturbed, unburned, mature-forest conditions and an abundance of severely burned forest conditions that emerge from natural fire disturbance events.
Lp regularity of the Bergman projection on domains covered by the polydisc

Abstract If a bounded domain can be covered by the polydisc through a rational proper holomorphic map, then the Bergman projection is L p -bounded for p in a non trivial interval depending on the ramified rational covering. This result can be applied to the symmetrized polydisc and to the Hartogs triangle with exponent γ.
Contemporary Analysis of Rhytidectomy Using the Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons Database with 13,346 Patients.

Background Rhytidectomy is a popular procedure for facial rejuvenation, but an up-to-date, comprehensive, and broadly representative appraisal is lacking. Methods A cohort of patients undergoing rhytidectomy between 2008 and 2016 was identified from the Tracking Outcomes in Plastic Surgery database. Perioperative data and patient characteristics were analyzed with respect to adverse events. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify association of complications with various risk factors. Results A total of 13,346 patients with a mean age of 60 years underwent rhytidectomies and a total of 31,206 Current Procedural Terminology procedures. Most were healthy women with an American Society of Anesthesiologists class of 1 or 2 (98 percent). On average, 2.3 procedures were performed in 3.8 hours per patient, and blepharoplasty was the most common adjunctive procedure. Fifty percent of operations were performed in office-based settings, and general anesthesia utilized in 63 percent of cases. The incidence of adverse events was 5.1 percent, with hematomas and infections as the most frequent surgical complications. Male gender, obesity, current smoker, duration, combined procedures, general anesthesia, and office-based surgery were associated with increased odds of adverse events. Conclusions This is the largest outcomes analysis of face-lift surgery in a patient population solely representative of board-certified plastic surgeons. Rhytidectomy is a very safe procedure when performed by board-certified plastic surgeons. Nevertheless, risk factors for complications are identified, several of which can be affected by surgeon choice of surgical venue, additive procedures, duration of operation, and type of anesthetic. The study provides a standard reference for professionals when counseling patients and in guiding clinical practices. Clinical question/level of evidence Risk, III.
Protein Structure Modeling from Cryo-EM Map Using MAINMAST and MAINMAST-GUI Plugin.

Protein structure modeling is a fundamental step for the structural interpretation of 3D electron microscopy (EM) density map. Recently, because of the significant progress of the cryo-EM technique, protein structure modeling tools are needed for EM maps determined around 4 A resolution. At this rear atomic resolution, finding main-chain structure and assigning the amino acid sequence into EM map are still challenging problems. We have developed a de novo modeling tool named MAINMAST for EM maps at near-atomic resolution (~4.5 A). MAINMAST can trace the backbone structure of a protein from an EM density map directory. We also developed a Graphical User Interface (GUI) plugin of MAINMAST for the UCSF Chimera so that users can monitor structures at each step of a modeling procedure. In this chapter, we demonstrate two examples of the use of MAINMAST software and MAINMAST-GUI to build protein structure model from an EM density map. MAINMAST software and MAINMAST-GUI plugin are freely available for academic users at http://kiharalab.org/mainmast/index.html .
Colouring superheroes: Hue, saturation, and value in Ms.Marvel: Kamala Khan #1 and DC’s Detective Comics Annual #12 and Batman Annual #28

Cultural representations of second-generation Muslim immigrants in North America and Western Europe often grapple with themes of conflicted identity and cultural dislocation. However, what is disti...
Clinician-Scientists: Can They Survive in the Modern Era?

Abstract Clinician-scientists are commonly characterized as health care professionals who are proficient in both research and clinical practice. Their dual expertise positions them to play a vital role in translating research outcomes to clinical practice. However, economic changes in the past few decades are threatening their very survival. The purposes of this article are to review some of the economic forces that pose the greatest risks to clinician-scientists in the modern era and to glean lessons from the business world in overcoming these challenges. Health care consolidation and decreasing reimbursements are putting increasing financial pressure on academic institutions, leaving them more inclined to cut back on departmental research support. Innovative companies commit a certain percentage of their revenue to research and discovery. Academic institutions should similarly view their research budget as research and discovery that will sustain the future growth of radiology. They should quantify and define expectations for academic productivity, focus on return on investment, and bolster the infrastructure to foster commercial partnerships that can provide additional revenue to support the research mission. Success in academics does not occur by accident. It requires more than individual talent and hard work. It also requires institutional leaders who are committed to developing future academic leaders and supporting innovation.
Incompatibility Group I1 (IncI1) Plasmids: Their Genetics, Biology, and Public Health Relevance

SUMMARY Bacterial plasmids are extrachromosomal genetic elements that often carry antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes and genes encoding increased virulence and can be transmissible among bacteria by conjugation. One key group of plasmids is the incompatibility group I1 (IncI1) plasmids, which have been isolated from multiple Enterobacteriaceae of food animal origin and clinically ill human patients. The IncI group of plasmids were initially characterized due to their sensitivity to the filamentous bacteriophage If1. Two prototypical IncI1 plasmids, R64 and pColIb-P9, have been extensively studied, and the plasmids consist of unique regions associated with plasmid replication, plasmid stability/maintenance, transfer machinery apparatus, single-stranded DNA transfer, and antimicrobial resistance. IncI1 plasmids are somewhat unique in that they encode two types of sex pili, a thick, rigid pilus necessary for mating and a thin, flexible pilus that helps stabilize bacteria for plasmid transfer in liquid environments. A key public health concern with IncI1 plasmids is their ability to carry antimicrobial resistance genes, including those associated with critically important antimicrobials used to treat severe cases of enteric infections, including the third-generation cephalosporins. Because of the potential importance of these plasmids, this review focuses on the distribution of the plasmids, their phenotypic characteristics associated with antimicrobial resistance and virulence, and their replication, maintenance, and transfer.
Endoscopic Endonasal Orbital Apex Decompression for Carotid Cavernous Fistula.

Significance StatementThis case report demonstrates a novel approach to treating a rare indirect carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) and associated abducens palsy. Although endovascular treatment is th...
Exercise 9: Determination of Antibody Titer and Screening Techniques

The amount of antibody present in an antiserum can be determined by a variety of serologic reactions that are based on the detection of antigen-antibody complexes (immune complexes). When antigens are mixed with specific antisera in the right ratio, insoluble Immune complexes are formed. These antigen-antibody reactions vary in their sensitivity, specificity and simplicity, and can be performed in liquid or gel media.
Occurrence and removal of PPCPs from on-site wastewater using nitrogen removing biofilters.

Abstract The presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment is primarily the result of discharge of waste, including from onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTSs) which are employed by 25% of homes in the United States. However, the occurrence and removal of PPCPs in OWTSs is not well understood, particularly given the large diversity in PPCP compounds as well as in OWTS designs. In this study, we monitored 26 different PPCPs in 13 full-scale nitrogen removing biofilters (NRBs), an innovative/alternative type of OWTS that utilizes an overlying sand layer and an underlying woodchip/sand layer to simultaneously remove nitrogen and other wastewater-derived contaminants. The specific objectives of this study were (i) to measure the occurrence of PPCPs in septic tank effluent (STE) that served as an influent to NRBs, (ii) to quantify PPCP removal in three types of NRB configurations (n = 13), and (iii) to evaluate PPCP removal with depth and environmental conditions in NRBs. Aqueous samples were taken during 42 separate sampling events during 2016 – 2019 and analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Analysis of the STE samples yielded detection of 23 of the 26 PPCPs, with caffeine being the most abundant and frequently detected compound at 52,000 ng/L (range: 190 – 181,000 ng/L), followed by acetaminophen and paraxanthine at 47,500 ng/L (190 – 160,000 ng/L), and 34,300 ng/L (430 – 210,000 ng/L), respectively. Cimetidine, fenofibrate, and warfarin were the only compounds not detected. The average removal of PPCPs by NRBs ranged from 58% to >99% for the various compounds. PPCP removal as a function of depth in the systems showed that 50 to >99% of the observed removal was achieved within the top oxic layer (0 - 46 cm) of the NRBs for 19 analytes. Seven of the compounds had >85% removal by the same depth. These results indicate that NRBs are effective at removing PPCPs and that a large portion of the removal is achieved within the oxic nitrifying layer of the NRBs. Overall, the removal of PPCPs in NRBs was comparable (n = 8) or better (n = 15) than that observed for conventional wastewater treatment plants.
Contaminated Concrete Surface Layer Removal

Equipment is being developed to economically remove contaminated concrete surfaces in nuclear facilities . To be effective this equipment should minimize personnel radiation exposure, minimize the volume of material removed, and perform the operation quickly with the least amount of energy. Several methods for removing concrete surfaces are evaluated for use in decontaminating such facilities. Two unique methods especially suited for decontamination are described: one, the water cannon, is a device that fires a high-velocity jet of fluid causing spallation of the concrete surface; the other, a concrete spaller, is a tool that exerts radial pressure against the sides of a pre-drilled shallow cylindrical hole causing spallation to occur. Each method includes a means for containing airborne contamination. Results of tests show that these techniques can rapidly and economically remove surfaces, and leave minimal rubble for controlled disposal.
Quantitative Test for Zinc Phosphate Coating Quality

Zinc phosphated steels representing a wide range of salt spray performance were analyzed for coating weight, composition, X-ray structure, morphology, and porosity. Of these factors, apparent coating porosity was the only characteristic that consistently correlated with salt spray performance. An electrochemical test has been developed which measures relative porosity values accurately, rapidly, and directly on zinc phosphated steels. Residual carbonaceous materials bound tightly to the surface of commercial steels need to produce porosity levels of only a few percent in order to reduce drastically the effectiveness of zinc phosphate coatings as a paint base.
Enzymic and immunochemical properties of lysozyme--XV. Delineation of the reactive site around the two central disulfides by immunochemical studies of novel synthetic peptides that contain diglycyl bridges instead of disulfides.

Abstract The two-disulfide peptide 62–68 (Cys 64–Cys 80) 74–97 (Cys 76–Cys 94) has been shown in previous reports in this series to carry a full antigenic reactive site of lysozyme. It was also shown that the reactive site required, for appropriate reactivity, one or both of tryptophans 62 and 63 and one or both of lysines 96 and 97. Also, some or all of the region 84–93 around Asp 87 was needed for achievement of full reactivity. When the contribution of the latter was obliterated, the reactivity of the site decreased (from about 28–33% down to 13–16%; Atassi et al ., 1976 a ). The integrity of the disulfides 64–80 and 76–94 was critical for bringing the various regions of the site into close proximity. In the present communication, the independent roles of the two trytophans and the two lysines were investigated by studying the immunochemistry of seven synthetic peptides. These peptides were designed to stimulate the sequences: 62–64 linked to 76–80 which is in turn linked to sequence 94–97. However, we have employed a novel and an unorthodox approach in that our synthetic peptides carried diglycyl segments instead of disulfide bonds. Also, the four peptide bonds in the central part of each synthetic peptide (designed to simulate the segment 76–80) were of the opposite direction to the natural sequence. In several of the peptides, tryptophan residues were substituted by phenylalanine. Peptides with one tryptophan, one phenylalanine or two phenylalanines at the amino end possessed comparable inhibitory activities which approximated the aforementioned expected value. When the peptide did not carry a tryptophan or a phenylalanine at the amino end, the inhibitory activity decreased drastically (down to 3–5%). Removal of one or two lysines on the C-terminal end of the peptides (but adding back two phenylalanines at the amino end to maintain size and contribution of that portion to immunochemical reaction) had an adverse effect on the immunochemical reaction. The decrease in inhibitory activity was greater on deletion of the last lysine than on deletion of the second lysine. These studies showed that only one tryptophan (residue 62) is part of the antigenic site in lysozyme, whereas both lysines are required for the reactivity of the site with one being more critical than the other. The results also indicated that diglycyl segments substituted with surprising
Interfering Effect of Incubation in Carbon Dioxide on the Identification of Pneumococci by Optochin Discs

Incubation of pneumococci in a CO(2) environment decreases the zone sizes produced by optochin discs, with the result that pneumococcal-like organisms require further study.
The Neurofibromatosis 1 Gene Product Neurofibromin Regulates Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide-Mediated Signaling in Astrocytes

Individuals with the neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1)-inherited tumor predisposition syndrome develop low-grade astrocytomas. The NF1 tumor suppressor gene product neurofibromin exhibits GTPase-activating activity (GAP) toward RAS, such that loss of neurofibromin expression leads to high levels of activated RAS and increased cell proliferation. Previous work has demonstrated that Nf1 inactivation in astrocytes leads to increased cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, accompanied by increased RAS pathway activation. Studies on Nf1 mutant Drosophila have suggested that neurofibromin might also regulate cAMP signaling. Because intracellular cAMP levels have profound effects on astrocyte growth control, we sought to determine the contribution of neurofibromin to astrocyte cAMP regulation. In this report, we demonstrate that Nf1 inactivation in astrocytes results in reduced cAMP generation in response to PACAP and attenuated calcium influx and Rap1 activation. Based on the differential effects of forskolin and dibutyryl-cAMP on Nf1-/- astrocytes, neurofibromin likely functions at the level of adenylyl cyclase activation. Last, the reintroduction of a fragment of neurofibromin containing residues sufficient for restoring RAS-GAP function in Nf1-/- cells resulted in only partial restoration of neurofibromin-mediated cAMP regulation. These results demonstrate that neurofibromin positively influences cAMP generation and activation of cAMP growth regulatory targets in astrocytes and expands the role of the NF1 gene in astrocyte growth regulation.
Utilization of health care services among adults attending a health fair in South Los Angeles County.

A bilingual survey was developed to collect information regarding socio-demographics, access to medical and dental care, health insurance coverage, perceived health status, and use of folk medicine providers from 70 adults presenting to a health fair in South Los Angeles County. Ninety-seven percent of respondents were foreign-born. Seventy-nine percent reported having no health insurance during the year prior to survey. Of the uninsured, 61 percent lacked a doctor visit and 76 percent lacked a dental visit during the previous year. The high cost of care was the most frequently cited barrier to seeking medical (58 percent) and dental (67 percent) care even when respondents felt it was necessary. Respondents who felt they needed medical attention but did not seek it had a lower perceived health status (7.0 ± 2.2) than those who did (8.0 ± 2.0). Among respondents perceiving themselves in poor health, only 17 percent were insured. Relatively few respondents (7.2 percent) reported seeing a folk healer during the past year. Our results support the argument that the medically indigent in some localities face serious financial, as well as less salient, barriers to access. These local conditions reflect inadequate enforcement by local governments in correcting the difficult problems indigent populations face in accessing medical and dental care.
Germ cell differentiation and intercellular bridges

Germ cell differentiation proceeds in a highly ordered manner. Stages of migration, mitosis and meiosis follow a regular pattern, with a temporal sequence characteristic of the species. Such a consistent arrangement requires complex and intricate regulatory mechanisms. These mechanisms must be mediated at genetic, biochemical and structural levels enabling coordination of the differentiation process.
Properties of d-Arabinose Isomerase Purified from Two Strains of Escherichia coli

d-Arabinose isomerase (EC 5.3.1.3) has been isolated from l-fucose-induced cultures of Escherichia coli K-12 and d-arabinose-induced cultures of E. coli B/r. Both enzymes were homogeneous in an ultracentrifuge and migrated as single bands upon disc electrophoresis in acrylamide gels. The s(20,w) was 14.5 x 10(-13) sec for the E. coli K-12 enzyme and 14.3 x 10(-13) sec for the E. coli B/r enzyme. The molecular weight, determined by high-speed sedimentation equilibrium, was 3.55 +/- 0.06 x 10(5) for the E. coli K-12 enzyme and 3.42 +/- 0.04 x 10(5) for the enzyme isolated from E. coli B/r. Both enzyme preparations were active wth l-fucose or d-arabinose as substrates and showed no activity on any of the other aldopentoses or aldohexoses tested. With the E. coli K-12 enzyme, the K(m) was 2.8 x 10(-1)m for d-arabinose and 4.5 x 10(-2)m for l-fucose; with the E. coli B/r enzyme, the K(m) was 1.7 x 10(-1)m for d-arabinose and 4.2 x 10(-2)m for l-fucose. Both enzymes were inhibited by several of the polyalcohols tested, ribitol, l-arabitol, and dulcitol being the strongest. Both enzymes exhibited a broad plateau of optimal catalytic activity in the alkaline range. Both enzymes were stimulated by the presence of Mn(2+) or Co(2+) ions, but were strongly inhibited by the presence of Cd(2+) ions. Both enzymes were precipitated by antisera prepared against either enzyme preparation. The amino acid composition for both proteins has been determined; a striking similarity has been detected. Both enzymes could be dissociated, by protonation at pH 2 or by dialysis against buffer containing 8 m urea, into subunits that were homogeneous in an ultracentrifuge and migrated as single bands on disc electrophoresis in acrylamide gels containing urea. The molecular weight of the subunit, determined by high-speed sedimentation equilibrium, was 9.09 +/- 0.2 x 10(4) for the enzyme from E. coli K-12 and 8.46 +/- 0.1 x 10(4) for the enzyme from E. coli B/r. On the basis of biophysical studies, both isomerases appear to be oligomeric proteins consisting of four identical subunits.
Phase Dependence on Motion

This unit introduces the sources of variable phase in the presence of motion. The sources of these phase changes can come from the read gradient, from the slice select gradient and from the phase encoding gradient. Motion during the gradient moves the spin from one location to another and, therefore, changes the effective field it sees. This field change leads to a frequency change in time during either the dephasing or rephasing gradient or both. As a result, the spins do not refocus at the expected time.
Integrated communications and exploitation

Integrated Communications and Exploitation (ICE) is defined as "systems that provide end-to-end optimization from the output of the sensor to the exploitation analyst." ICE applies to the key phases of a military operation (e.g. intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting, battle damage assessment, etc.). Recently, DoD reports, such as Network Centric Warfare, are beginning to emerge that characterize the importance of information superiority and of the Integrated Communications and Exploitation (ICE) problem space and offer recommendations and plan to address them.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Use of a facilitated discussion model for antenatal care to improve communication.

Abstract Background Achieving health literacy is a critical step to improving health outcomes and the health of a nation. However, there is a lack of research on health literacy in low-resource countries, where maternal health outcomes are at their worst. Objectives To examine the usefulness and feasibility of providing focused antenatal care (FANC) in a group setting using picture cards to improve patient–provider communication, patient engagement, and improve health literacy. Design An exploratory, mixed methods design was employed to gather pilot data using the Health Literacy Skills Framework. Settings A busy urban district hospital in the Ashanti Region of Ghana was used to gather data during 2014. Participants A facility-driven convenience sample of midwives ( n =6) aged 18 years or older, who could speak English or Twi, and had provided antenatal care at the participating hospital during the previous year prior to the start of the study participated in the study. Methods Data were collected using pre-test and post-test surveys, completed three months after the group FANC was implemented. A semi-structured focus group was conducted with four of the participating midwives and the registered nurse providing support and supervision for the study ( n =5) at the time of the post-test. Data were analyzed concurrently to gain a broad understanding of patient communication, engagement, and group FANC. Results There were no significant differences in the mean communication ( t (df=3)=0.541, p =0.626) and engagement ( t (df=3)=−0.775, p =0.495) scores between the pre- and post-test. However, the focus group revealed the following themes: (a) improved communication through the use of picture cards; (b) enhanced information sharing and peer support through the facilitated group process and; and (c) an improved understanding of patient concerns. Conclusions The improved communication noted through the use of picture cards and the enhanced information sharing and peer support elicited through the group FANC undoubtedly provided patients with additional tools to invoke self-determination, and carry out the behaviors they thought were most important to improve pregnancy outcomes.
Purification and partial characterization of a bacilliform virus from Agaricus bisporus: A single-stranded RNA mycovirus

Abstract A bacilliform virus from the cultivated mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, has been extensively purified and shown to be a unique mycovirus in that the genome is single-stranded (ss) RNA. The purification procedure entailed extraction at pH 6, followed by polyethylene glycol-NaCl precipitation, and differential, rate-zonal, and equilibrium centrifugation. Mushroom bacilliform virus (MBV) has a buoyant density of 1.317 g/cm3 in Cs2SO4, A 260 A 280 nm absorbance ratio of 1.67, and contains approximately 20% nucleic acid by weight. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analyses revealed that MBV contains a single major nucleic acid species with a molecular weight of 1.4 × 108 and a single capsid polypeptide of molecular weight 24,400. The nucleic acid was hydrolyzed by pancreatic ribonuclease A in high ionic strength buffer and by 0.4 M KOH, but not by pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I. Further, the kinetics of melting of MBV RNA upon thermal denaturation closely paralleled that of the ssRNA of tobacco mosaic virus. Based on this evidence, we propose that MBV is the first mycovirus shown to possess a ssRNA genome.
Identification and Quantification of Feruloylated Mono-, Di-, and Triacylglycerols from Vegetable Oils

The use of HPLC-MS to separate and identify the feruloylated acylglycerols formed during the transesterification of ethyl ferulate with TAG was examined. Novozym 435 (Candida antarctica lipase B)-catalyzed transesterifications of ethyl ferulate and soybean oil resulted in a mixture of feruloylated MAG, DAG, and TAG and diferuloylated DAG and TAG. These feruloylated acylglycerols have recently garnered much interest as cosmeceutical ingredients. The ratio of the various feruloylated acylglycerol species in the resultant oils is presumed to affect the oil's cosmetic efficacy as well as its physical (formulation) properties. Thus, it was desirable to develop an analytical method to separate, identify, and quantify the individual feruloylated acylglycerols to determine their relative ratios. The feruloylated acylglycerols were successfully separated and identified by HPLC-MS using a phenyl-hexyl reversed-phase column developed with a water/methanol/1-butanol gradient. The chromatograms of the feruloylated acylglycerols from soybean oil were convoluted by myriad fatty acids; therefore, feruloylated acylglycerols from triolein were studied as a model reaction. Hydrolysis of the feruloylated acylglycerols from triolein catalyzed by Lipase PS-C “Amano” I (Burkholderia cepacia), which showed no hydrolysis reactivity toward ethyl ferulate, allowed for the chromatographic assignment of the feruloyl acylglycerol positional isomers.
Deglycosylated mammalian β2-adrenergic receptors: Effect on radioligand binding and peptide mapping

Abstract Mammalian β-adrenergic receptors are glycoproteins containing both high-mannose and complex-type carbohydrate chains [G. L. Stiles, J. L. Benovic, M. G. Caron, and R. J. Lefkowitz (1984) J. Biol. Chem. , 259 , 8655–8663] . Endoglycosidase F treatment of β 2 -adrenergic receptors results in the removal of at least two N-linked oligosaccharides, resulting in an increased mobility of the receptor peptide on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis ( M r 62,000 to 49,000). In the present study the properties of the deglycosylated β 2 -adrenergic receptor were assessed. Following deglycosylation, the β 2 -adrenergic receptor recognized both agonists and antagonists with the same potency order and affinities as the glycosylated form. In addition, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis peptide mapping techniques applied to control and deglycosylated β 2 -adrenergic receptors (both within and between species) demonstrated that there was a marked homology of the β 2 -adrenergic receptor between species which are closely related phylogenetically. In addition, the glycan component of the receptor did not appear to interfere with the ability of proteinases to generate accurate peptide maps.
Concurrent hearing and visual impairment and morbidity in community-residing adults: the National Health Interview Survey, 1986 to 1996.

Objective: To examine the association between the presence and severity of concurrent hearing and visual impairment (HI+VI) and morbidity. Methods: Data for adults 45 years and older were obtained ...
Cloud characterization and clear-sky correction from Landsat-7

Abstract Landsat, with its wide swath and high resolution, fills an important mesoscale gap between atmospheric variations seen on a few kilometer scale by local surface instrumentation and the global view of coarser resolution satellites such as MODIS. In this important scale range, Landsat reveals radiative effects on the few hundred-meter scale of common photon mean-free-paths, typical of scattering in clouds at conservative (visible) wavelengths, and even shorter mean-free-paths of absorptive (near-infrared) wavelengths. Landsat also reveals shadowing effects caused by both cloud and vegetation that impact both cloudy and clear-sky radiances. As a result, Landsat has been useful in development of new cloud retrieval methods and new aerosol and surface retrievals that account for photon diffusion and shadowing effects. This paper discusses two new cloud retrieval methods: the nonlocal independent pixel approximation (NIPA) and the normalized difference nadir radiance method (NDNR). We illustrate the improvements in cloud property retrieval enabled by the new low gain settings of Landsat-7 and difficulties found at high gains. Then, we review the recently developed “path radiance” method of aerosol retrieval and clear-sky correction using data from the Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) site in Oklahoma. Nearby clouds change the solar radiation incident on the surface and atmosphere due to indirect illumination from cloud sides. As a result, if clouds are nearby, this extra side-illumination causes clear pixels to appear brighter, which can be mistaken for extra aerosol or higher surface albedo. Thus, cloud properties must be known in order to derive accurate aerosol and surface properties. A three-dimensional (3D) Monte Carlo (MC) radiative transfer simulation illustrates this point and suggests a method to subtract the cloud effect from aerosol and surface retrievals. The main conclusion is that cloud, aerosol, and surface retrievals are linked and must be treated as a combined system. Landsat provides the range of scales necessary to observe the 3D cloud radiative effects that influence joint surface-atmospheric retrievals.
Travelling Waves on Transmission Systems

The purpose of this paper is two-fold: First; to present the theory of traveling waves on multi-conductor systems, and second, to compile a brief compendium on the general subject of traveling waves on transmission systems. While the application of the multi-conductor theory is more laborious than that of the single-wire theory, yet it does not involve much greater complication, and it becomes necessary to go to the more general theory when mutual effects are important, as in the study of ground wires, or when discontinuities exist in paralleled circuits carrying traveling waves. The origin, shape, and general characteristics of traveling waves are discussed. The equivalent circuits of terminal equipment and the corresponding reflections and refractions from such junctions are given for a large number of cases. The methods of computing a multiplicity of successive reflections by means of lattices are described. The effect of line losses in equalizing the subsidence of traveling waves and on their attenuation and distortion is also discussed.
Formation of peptide aggregates during ESI: Size, charge, composition, and contributions to noise

Ion mobility/time-of-flight techniques have been used to examine the onset of aggregation in model systems of Gly-Xxx (where Xxxx = Ala, Asn, Asp, Gln, Glu, His, Leu, Ser, Thr, and Trp) dipeptides. Under the experimental conditions employed, there is evidence that simple binary and quaternary mixtures of these dipeptides produce clusters containing as many as 16 to 75 peptide units (and 1 to 7 charges). In some systems, cluster compositions appear to come about largely from statistical association of peptide units; other dipeptide mixtures (and generally for small clusters) show evidence for nonstatistical behavior which could arise from some differences in gas-phase or solution thermochemistry. The minimum aggregate size appears to be largely determined by the charge state. Average thresholds for aggregate formation in the z = 2, 3, and 4 charge state families occur at m/z ∼500, 660, and 875, respectively. We briefly consider the idea that aggregates formed during electrospray ionization (ESI) may contribute to the background signal observed in the analysis of complex peptide mixtures.
Acetylcholine release from striatal slices of young adult and aged Fischer 344 rats

Abstract The release of endogenous and newly synthesized acetylcholine (ACh) was examined in neostriatal slices prepared from young adult (10-month) and aged (28-month) Fischer 344 rats. Both spontaneous and potassium-stimulated release were tested after various in vitro incubation times (1, 3 or 5 hr). The potassium-stimulated release of ACh from slices of 28-month rats was decreased by 53% when tested after incubating the slices 1 hr. The age-related differences in ACh release lessened if the slices were incubated for longer times (3 or 5 hr) before monitoring release. The spontaneous release of ACh was similar among the slices from both age-groups and at all times points monitored. When the neostriatal slices were incubated in medium supplemented with deuterated choline, the release of both the endogenous and newly synthesized ACh from slices of 28-month rats was decreased by 33% when tested after a 1-hr incubation, but was again similar to that released from slices of 10-month rats when tested after a 3-hr incubation. Choline release from slices of the 28-month rats was similar to that released from the slices of the 10-month rats when acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was inhibited during the release incubation. In slices with intact AChE activity, however, the age-related difference in choline release was similar to that observed for ACh release when AChE was inhibited. That is, when AChE activity was intact, the potassium-stimulated choline release from slices of 28-month rats was less than that released from slices of 10-month rats when release was tested after a 1-hr incubation. This difference in choline release was not apparent when release was tested after longer incubation times. The results show that in vitro age-related differences in neostriatal ACh release are apparent in early periods of incubation and reverse with longer incubation times.
Searching for the Native Molten Globules

Many biologically active proteins are either completely disordered or contain disordered regions of substantial size. These proteins are known as intrinsically disordered proteins, IDPs, among different names. The flexibility of these proteins and regions serves as the basis for their biological functions, where they are often involved in protein-protein interaction, regulation, recognition and signal transduction. These proteins are common in nature and are frequently associated with the pathogenesis of various human diseases Furthermore, intrinsic disorder-based protein-protein interactions, which are commonly accompanied by the disorder-to-order transitions, represent very attractive targets for novel drug development aiming at the specific inhibition of disease-associated protein-protein interactions. Therefore, it not surprising that IDPs have recently gained considerable attention. It is recognized now that ID comes in several flavors and that IDPs show an extremely wide diversity of their structural properties. The major pitfall of the current studies on IDPs in general and on the inhibition of the IDP-based protein-protein interactions in particular is that they are mostly focused on the extended IDPs almost completely ignoring a very substantial subset of IDPs, native molten globules. The goal now is to fill this gap and to identify and structurally and functionally characterize a set of native molten globules. The hypotheses that will be tested are the following: (i) native molten globules are very common in nature; (ii) native molten globules possess recognizable structural and functional properties and therefore can be found computationally and experimentally; (iii) native molten globules are frequently associated with human diseases.
The OHDEP Project: Creating a Shared Catalog for the Northeast Ohio Depository

In 2011, the Northeastern Ohio Cooperative Regional Library Depository completed a pilot project that created a shared catalog for depository holdings. The project, coordinated by the Northeastern Ohio Cooperative Regional Library Depository Implementation Group, has paved the way for the remaining four Ohio depositories to contribute their depository holdings to the shared catalog. This paper describes the motivation for the project and the planning, implementation, and impact of a shared catalog on depository workflow and service at the Northeast Ohio Regional Depository. It also highlights implications for the improved storage capacity through statewide deduplication projects.