cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gilbert's conjecture: the search for DNA (cytosine-5) demethylases and the emergence of new functions for eukaryotic DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferases.

Abstract In 1985 Walter Gilbert challenged members of the DNA methylation community assembled at a National Institutes of Health meeting organized by Giulio Cantoni and Ahron Razin with the following words: “The most exciting aspect about the methyl groups on DNA is the thought that they might provide a locally inherited change in a DNA structure. However, for that to be interesting, those changes have to be different in different cells. Furthermore, the alterations in methylation have to be freely imposable and have to be maintained. It is not yet clear that all these properties are true. . . . So I don’t think one will find that methylation ever is one of the primary, top-level controls on gene expression.” In essence, Gilbert’s conjecture, that DNA methylation is not one of the top-level controls on gene expression, assumes that evidence in favor of both of its testable propositions will not be obtained. Evidence for the first proposition, that alterations in methylation status associated with gene-expression states have to be maintained, was already available in 1985 and has been strengthened by a number of very recent experiments. However, the extensive effort to obtain evidence for the second proposition, that alterations in methylation status be freely imposable, has not been successful in its original intent. The effort has, on the other hand, resulted in the emergence of new functions for 5-methylcytosine and the cytosine methyltransferases in eukaryotic DNA repair, recombination and chromosome stability.
Defining and characterizing drug/compound function

The receptor concept, now more than century old, remains the core concept in understanding the mechanisms of disease causality and drug action. Originally formulated in the early 1900s, receptor theory has evolved in both detail and complexity as the tools of molecular biology and increasingly sophisticated research technologies have facilitated the study of drug/ligand receptor interactions at the molecular level. The result has been a more detailed and nuanced understanding of the parameters of drug action that together with knowledge of the pleotropic nature of cellular targets and associated signaling pathways has reshaped the receptor concept. Added to the basic agonist/antagonist view of drug/ligand function, concepts like allosterism, inverse agonism, biased signaling and compound residence time have provided a broader understanding of compound-target interactions to better inform drug discovery efforts. The iteration of descriptive data from pharmacological experiments to provide generic indices of affinity and efficacy can now be used to predict expected drug/compound effects in other cell/organ systems where the sensitivity of the latter to drug effects (either via expression levels of cell surface receptors or variances in the efficiency with which those receptors are coupled to cytosolic metabolic processes) can be accommodated.
Tight single-stranded DNA knots.

Trefoil (31) and figure-8 (41) knots have been synthesized from DNA molecules containing two single-turn helical domains, linked by four oligodeoxythymidine linkers. Both topologies are derived fro...
Sampled ensemble neutrality as a feature to classify potential structured RNAs

Structured RNAs have many biological functions ranging from catalysis of chemical reactions to gene regulation. Yet, many homologous structured RNAs display most of their conservation at the secondary or tertiary structure level. As a result, strategies for structured RNA discovery rely heavily on identification of sequences sharing a common stable secondary structure. However, correctly distinguishing structured RNAs from surrounding genomic sequence remains challenging, especially during de novo discovery. RNA also has a long history as a computational model for evolution due to the direct link between genotype (sequence) and phenotype (structure). From these studies it is clear that evolved RNA structures, like protein structures, can be considered robust to point mutations. In this context, an RNA sequence is considered robust if its neutrality (extent to which single mutant neighbors maintain the same secondary structure) is greater than that expected for an artificial sequence with the same minimum free energy structure. In this work, we bring concepts from evolutionary biology to bear on the structured RNA de novo discovery process. We hypothesize that alignments corresponding to structured RNAs should consist of neutral sequences. We evaluate several measures of neutrality for their ability to distinguish between alignments of structured RNA sequences drawn from Rfam and various decoy alignments. We also introduce a new measure of RNA structural neutrality, the structure ensemble neutrality (SEN). SEN seeks to increase the biological relevance of existing neutrality measures in two ways. First, it uses information from an alignment of homologous sequences to identify a conserved biologically relevant structure for comparison. Second, it only counts base-pairs of the original structure that are absent in the comparison structure and does not penalize the formation of additional base-pairs. We find that several measures of neutrality are effective at separating structured RNAs from decoy sequences, including both shuffled alignments and flanking genomic sequence. Furthermore, as an independent feature classifier to identify structured RNAs, SEN yields comparable performance to current approaches that consider a variety of features including stability and sequence identity. Finally, SEN outperforms other measures of neutrality at detecting mutational robustness in bacterial regulatory RNA structures.
Maintenance of foraging trails by the giant tropical antParaponera clavata (Insecta: Formicidae: Ponerinae)

Establishment and maintenance of foraging trails to an artificial nectar source by ten colonies ofParaponera davata (Fabr.) in Panama is reported. The first forager to locate the artificial nectar source was responsible for recruiting additional foragers and for marking trails to orient these foragers. More than half of the trail marking was performed by the first two ants to mark the path back to the colony, although up to 11 ants per colony per hour marked trails. The number of trail marks and the number of marking ants decreased through time, presumably as foragers learned the location of the artificial nectar source. Four categories of recruits were noted: markers, foragers, patrollers, and visitors.
New approach to recycling of thermosets

The decrosslinking of thermosetting reaction injection molded (RIM) polyurethane-urea products with the smallest amounts of glycols was studied. The effects of the reaction conditions on the properties of liquid oligomers were determined. Successful scale-up studies and utilization of the resulting liquid oligomers for preparation of RIM products, coatings and adhesives are described.
Optimal Scheduling and Filtering of Distorted Multi-Sensor Data

In this paper, a framework to schedule and filter distorted multi-sensor outputs is developed. The distortion caused by sensor nonlinearity is considered. As the distorted signal is not a true representation of the original signal, it is often necessary to develop and incorporate signal recovery schemes. Once such a scheme is developed, implementation may be straightforward if the system is employed with a single sensor. When the bandwidth of a signal of interest is very high, the use of a single sensor may not be feasible. High cost and accuracy are major concerns worth noting. It is proposed that a good practical solution to this problem is to employ an array of low bandwidth sensors. Practical Implementation of recovery schemes is very challenging and difficult in this case due to a possible overlapping of multi-source data. This sensor scheduling problem is investigated in detail and a data fusion scheme based on the optimization of weighted error function is initiated and developed for the two-sensor case. Simulation results are presented to validate the fusion procedure developed.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Some relations of general intelligence and selective attention

Abstract General intelligence may set structural feature limitations on three aspects of selective attention: direction, adjustability, and breadth. Amiable hypotheses considered are that subjects of varying intelligence may (1) have some partially fixed tendencies to look at different dimensions of stimuli, (2) have varying rates of adjusting their direction of attention, and (3) have varying upper limits on breadth of attention for tasks demanding it. Data, theory, and methods bearing on these hypotheses were reviewed from the domain of visual discrimination learning.
Detecting cognitive and physical stress through typing behavior

Monitoring of cognitive and physical function is central to the care of people experiencing or at risk for various health conditions, but existing solutions rely on intrusive methods that are inadequate for continuous tracking. This research explores the possibility of detecting cognitive and physical stress by monitoring keyboard interactions with the eventual goal of detecting acute or chronic changes in cognitive and physical function. Preliminary results indicate that it is possible to classify cognitive and physical stress conditions relative to non-stress conditions based on keystroke and text features with accuracy rates comparable to those currently obtained using affective computing methods. The proposed approach is attractive because it requires no additional hardware, is unobtrusive, is adaptable to each user, and is very low-cost.
Key Points of the “Authentic Assessment Portfolio”

Theory into Practice (formerly called ``Tips for Teachers”) is a regular department presenting practical teaching suggestions in the areas of reading, mathematics, written language, content areas, and organizational and social skills that can be used in a classroom or clinical setting. What practical ideas or suggestions do you find useful in your teaching or clinical situations? We encourage you to submit ideas and suggestions to one of the column co-editors: Dr. Peggy L. Anderson, Theory into Practice Co-Editor, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Department of Early Childhood/Elementary Education, PO Box 173362, Denver, CO 80217, or Dr. Mary E. Cronin, Theory into Practice Co-Editor, Department of Special Education and Habilitative Services, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148.---PLA & MEC
Describing an algorithm by Hopcroft

We give an algorithm, its correctness proof, and its proof of execution time bound, for finding the sets of equivalent states in a deterministic finite state automaton. The time bound is K · m · n · log n where K is a constant, m the number of input, symbols, and n the number of states. Hopcroft [3] has already published such an algorithm. The main reason for this paper is to illustrate the use of communicating an algorithm to others using a structured, top-down approach. We have also been able to improve on Hopcroft's algorithm by reducing the size of the algorithm and correspondingly complicating the proof of the running time bound.
Pseudo-cubic Compounds of Alkaline Earth Oxides with Tungsten and Molybdenum Oxides

THERE are well-recognized anhydrous tungstates of the alkaline earths calcium, strontium and barium typified by the composition RWO4. The mineral scheelite, CaWO4, is an example, and its crystal structure conforms to the tetragonal system with an axial ratio approximately 2·171. These tungstates are readily prepared synthetically by precipitation methods or by heat treatment of the appropriate mixtures of the alkaline earth carbonate with tungsten oxide. Calcium tungstate in particular is an important inorganic luminescent compound, and is utilized for a variety of purposes, for example, as an ingredient of X-ray intensifying screens.
Sensitivity of the snowmelt runoff model to underestimates of remotely sensed snow covered area

Three methods for estimating snow covered area (SCA) from Terra MODIS data were used to derive conventional depletion curves for input to the Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM). We compared the MOD10 binary and fractional snow cover products and a method for estimating sub-pixel snow cover using spectral mixture analysis (SMA). All three methods underestimated SCA and this contributed to underestimates in runoff modeled by SRM. The closest relationship between measured and computed runoff was achieved when SRM was run with conventional depletion curves derived from the MODIS binary snow cover product (R2 = 0.91). Although the MODIS fractional snow cover product and SMA did not perform as well as the binary snow cover product (R2 = 0.70 and R2 = 0.72 respectively) we anticipate that either of these methods may be reworked to better account for forest cover in our study area and so improve SCA estimates.
A decision procedure for bit-vector arithmetic

Bit-v ector theories with concatenation and extraction have been shown to be useful and important for hardware verification. We have implemented an extended theory which includes arithmetic. Although deciding equality in suc h a theory is NP-hard, our implementation is efficient for many practical examples. We believ e this to be the first such implementation which is efficient, automatic, and complete.
The yeast ubiquitin gene: head-to-tail repeats encoding a polyubiquitin precursor protein.

Ubiquitin1, a 76-residue protein, occurs in cells either free or covalently joined to a variety of protein species2,3, from chromosomal histones4–6 to cytoplasmic proteins. Conjugation of ubiquitin to proteolytic substrates is essential for the selective degradation of intracellular proteins in higher eukaryotes7,8. We show here that a protein homologous to human ubiquitin exists in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and that yeast extracts conjugate human ubiquitin to a variety of endogenous proteins in an ATP-dependent reaction. We have isolated the S. cerevisiae ubiquitin gene and found it to contain six consecutive ubiquitin-coding repeats in a head-to-tail arrangement. This apparently unique gene organization suggests that yeast ubiquitin is generated by processing of a precursor protein in which several exact repeats of the ubiquitin amino acid sequence are joined directly via Gly–Met peptide bonds between the last and first residues of mature ubiquitin, respectively. Ubiquitin-coding yeast DNA repeats are restricted to a single genomic locus; although the sequenced repeats differ in up to 27 of 228 bases per repeat, they encode identical amino acid sequences. As this predicted amino acid sequence differs in only 3 of 76 residues from that of ubiquitin in higher eukaryotes, ubiquitin is apparently the most conserved of known proteins.
PARTIAL-BREAST IRRADIATION VERSUS WHOLE-BREAST IRRADIATION FOR EARLY-STAGE BREAST CANCER: A COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS

Purpose Accelerated partial-breast irradiation (PBI) is a new treatment paradigm for patients with early-stage breast cancer. Although PBI may lead to greater local recurrence rates, it may be cost-effective because of better tolerability and lower cost. We aim to determine the incremental cost-effectiveness of PBI compared with whole-breast radiation therapy (WBRT) for estrogen receptor–positive postmenopausal women treated for early-stage breast cancer. Methods and Materials We developed a Markov model to describe health states in the 15 years after radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. External beam (EB) and MammoSite (MS) PBI were considered and assumed to be equally effective, but carried different costs. Patients received tamoxifen, but not chemotherapy. Utilities, recurrence risks, and costs were adapted from the literature; the baseline utility for no disease after radiotherapy was set at 0.92. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to model uncertainty in the PBI hazard ratio, recurrence pattern, and patient utilities. Costs (in 2004 US dollars) and quality-adjusted life-years were discounted at 3%/y. Results The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for WBRT compared with EB-PBI was $630,000/quality-adjusted life-year; WBRT strongly dominated MS-PBI. One-way sensitivity analysis found that results were sensitive to PBI hazard ratio, recurrence pattern, baseline recurrence risk, and no evidence of disease PBI utility values. Probabilistic sensitivity showed that EB-PBI was the most cost-effective technique over a wide range of assumptions and societal willingness-to-pay values. Conclusions EB-PBI was the most cost-effective strategy for postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer. Unless the quality of life after MS-PBI proves to be superior, it is unlikely to be cost-effective.
Applications of wavelet transforms in biomedical optoacoustics

We discuss the utility of wavelet transform methods in signal processing in general, and in particular, demonstrate the technique in optoacoustic applications. In several optoacoustic experiments with different samples, we have successfully enhanced the signal to noise ratios. Wavelet transforms optimize resolution by utilizing a tailored, variable time-window in different frequency regions. The technique's great advantage lies in the fact that the wavelet transform adds some redundancy to the original signal, and some desired features can be enhanced in the transformed space. In addition, proper choice of the basis set allows a sparse representation of the signal. Therefore, even when some components are suppressed in the transformed space, the signal itself can maintain its fidelity. This technique has great potential in biomedical optoacoustics, such as medical image processing and signal denoising. We use the wavelet transform technique to resolve acoustic echoes in the time-dilation space. White noise was removed by the wavelet shrinkage method. This processing was used to analyze several experimental results. These include optoacoustic measurements in solid samples as well as in biological tissues.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Affordable, Effective, and Realistic Marketing

Abstract Marketing ideas and techniques can be found from observing and surveying patrons in your library. The marketing techniques discussed in this article were utilized over a seven-year period at the F. Franklin Moon Library, a small specialized academic library. These affordable, effective, and realistic marketing techniques include a variety of adaptable ideas including surveys, pencils, screen savers, signage, college newspaper columns, and e-mail.
Technology, genres, and value change: The case of little magazines

Producers in creative genres are frequently motivated by goals that put those producers in opposition to popular culture and marketplace pressures. Questions about whether those goals reflect values that belong specifically to print culture, or whether those values will continue to motivate producers in creative genres after the introduction of online technology, have not been answered empirically. Previous studies of genre change have been among those that have focused on the ability of human actors to use information technology to alter those genres as social structures. However, these studies have focused on generic artifacts rather than on the creative values that motivated the creation of those artifacts. Editors of small literary magazines (generally referred to as little magazines) make ideal subjects for this study. Creative values play an important role in their decisions, and they frequently publish poetry, fiction, and other work that stand in opposition to popular culture and literature. This study proposed and evaluated a conceptual framework for anticipating whether editors of little magazines will use online technologies to reinforce or alter the values characteristic of their genre. The study found that the values posited in the conceptual framework fit the goals expressed by little magazine editors. Not all editors held those values equally, however. These findings suggest that producers in creative genres can use online technology in ways that actually reflect an intensification of those values. The concept of intensifying use of technology (IUT) was posited to explain the differences. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
DDT and sodium transport in the eel electroplaque

Abstract DDT inhibits the ATPase activity of the intact eel electroplaque. At a concentration of 10 −5 M , DDT inhibited 46% of the total ATPase activity, and 10 −4 M DDT inhibited 62% of the total ATPase activity and 62% of the ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity. The latter concentration of DDT reduced the rate of Na efflux from intact electroplaques and slowed the rate of recovery of the membrane potential following a large depolarization produced by carbamylcholine application. Repetitive direct stimulation of the innervated membrane at 10 Hz during the application of 10 −4 M DDT produced a significant irreversible depolarization. Ouabain, 10 −4 M , produced similar effects. The possible role of the inhibition of active NaK transport in producing the symptoms of DDT poisoning is discussed.
Use of a Distal Ulnar Artery Perforator–Based Bilobed Free Flap for Repairing Complex Digital Defects

Purpose To retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of using a distal ulnar artery perforator (DUAP)-based bilobed free flap (BFF) for the repair of complex digital defects in the hand. Methods We retrospectively studied 15 patients who sustained traumatic digital defects with complicating tendon and phalanx exposure and were hospitalized for repair using a DUAP-based BFF. Main outcome measures included patients’ self-assessed physical appearance, total active motion, and 2-point discrimination. Results The flaps survived and the wounds healed with primary intention in all patients except one who experienced partial flap necrosis of the distal margin and required treatment with a second skin graft. Patients were observed for a mean of 13 months. The physical appearance and texture of the repaired fingers were assessed as good with minimal scarring. Total active motion and 2-point discrimination were 113° to 255° (contralateral, 255° to 275°) and 6 to 11 mm (contralateral, 5 to 8 mm), respectively. Conclusions Use of the DUAP-based BFF is a feasible, effective, and safe treatment alternative for repairing complex digital defects with favorable aesthetic and sensorimotor outcomes. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
Soluble Mediators as Therapeutic Targets in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Cytokines, Immunoglobulin Receptors, and the Complement System

After many years of anticipation, we have entered a period of promise for new lupus therapies; several clinical trials are planned or are in progress. The accelerated activity in systemic lupus erythematosus therapeutics has been driven by scientific advances. Enhanced understanding of the cells and mediators that drive autoimmunity and tissue damage has led to the identification of rational therapeutic targets. The conventional immunosuppressive therapies, including corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, can be effective but at a high and unacceptable cost of adverse effects. There is high optimism that targeted therapies, including those that are specific for soluble mediators, will allow effective control of disease activity while sparing patients the damaging toxicities that are associated with traditional immunosuppressive agents.
Data from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery database: The surgical management of primary lung tumors

Objective Our objective was to investigate the surgical management of primary lung cancer by board-certified thoracic surgeons participating in the general thoracic surgery portion of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. Methods We identified all pulmonary resections recorded in the general thoracic surgery prospective database from 1999 to 2006. Among the 49,029 recorded operations, 9033 pulmonary resections for primary lung cancer were analyzed. Results There were 4539 men and 4494 women with a median age of 67 years (range 20–94 years). Comorbidity affected 79% of patients and included hypertension in 66%, coronary artery disease in 26%, body mass index of 30 kg/m 2 or more in 25.7%, and diabetes mellitus in 13%. The type of resection was a wedge resection in 1649 (18.1%), segmentectomy in 394 (4.4%), lobectomy in 6042 (67%), bilobectomy in 357 (4.0%), and pneumonectomy in 591 (6.5%). Mediastinal lymph nodes were evaluated in 5879 (65%) patients; via mediastinoscopy in 1928 (21%), nodal dissection 3722 (41%), nodal sampling in 1124 (12.4%), and nodal biopsy in 729 (8%). Median length of stay was 5 days (range 0–277 days). Operative mortality was 2.5% (179 patients). One or more postoperative events occurred in 2911 (32%) patients. Conclusion The patients in the general thoracic surgery database are elderly, gender balanced, and afflicted by multiple comorbid conditions. Mediastinal lymph node evaluation is common and the pneumonectomy rate is low. The length of stay is short and operative mortality is low, despite frequent postoperative events.
Calculations of atomic parameters of dielectronic satellite lines of Ca XX resonance lines

Abstract Theoretical atomic parameters calculated with the multiconfiguration Thomas-Fermi model were recently reported and used in the analysis of dielectronic satellite spectra of hydrogenlike calcium observed from the P78 solar flare. A comparison of our calculations based on the Hartree-Fock-Slater atomic model shows a reasonable agreement for n = 2 satellites but systematic and sometimes significant differences are found for n = 3 and 4 satellites. Here we present atomic parameters for dielectronic satellite lines of Ca XX resonance lines. Effects of radiative cascades on the intensities of the satellite lines that proceed via lower lying autoionizing states are also investigated.
Heart Rates in Restrained and Freely-Moving Japanese Quail via Radio Telemetry

Abstract The wide range of basal heart rate (HR) figures reported in the literature for Japanese quail indicates the presence of uncontrolled influences. With the use of radio telemetry, quail were found to have mean HRs of 360 ± 14.6 (SE) beats per minute (b.p.m.) when freely-moving. Immediately after restraint, which is common in traditional HR recording procedures, HRs significantly increased to 455 ± 22.2 b.p.m. During the 30 minutes following restraint HRs decreased; at 30 minutes after restraint, the HR (436 ± 17.9 b.p.m.) was significantly lower than immediately after restraint and higher than the freely-moving condition. No sex effect on HR was observed.
Optimization of cytokine stability in stored amniotic fluid.

Objective: Many studies use stored amniotic fluid samples to assay cytokines and other proteins for outcome-based research; however, there is little information on the optimal methods of storage. The objective of our study was to evaluate cytokine stability in amniotic fluid stored at different temperatures both with and without a proteolytic enzyme inhibitor. Study Design: Patients undergoing midtrimester genetic amniocentesis for routine indications gave consent for the study. After the sample was centrifuged, the acellular portion of the sample was mixed to homogeneity and aliquoted in 0.5-mL increments and stored for 1 year at 4°C, –20°C, and –80°C with and without the protease inhibitor aprotinin. Enzyme-linked immunoassays for angiogenin, interleukin-6, and vascular endothelial growth factor were performed simultaneously on each aliquot. Results: Thirty samples were assayed for each storage condition. Results were calculated as the percentage of its own sister aliquot stored at -80°C without aprotinin. In all samples, there was a significant relation between storage temperature and cytokine levels, with the lowest levels found at 4°C and the highest at –80°C (angiogenin, P =.004; interleukin-6, P <.001; vascular endothelial growth factor, P =.02). The addition of aprotinin improved stability only for angiogenin at all temperatures (all P <.05). Conclusions: Degradation of cytokines occurs when amniotic fluid samples are stored for prolonged periods at temperatures greater than –80°C. The addition of a protease inhibitor helps stem the degradation of some cytokines. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:459-62.)
Overexpression of rice TLPD34 enhances dollar-spot resistance in transgenic bentgrass

Abstract Creeping bentgrass ( Agrostis palustris Huds.) is an important cool-season turfgrass and has been extensively used in golf course putting greens. To improve host resistance to fungal diseases, the rice thaumatin-like protein (TLPD34) gene was introduced into creeping bentgrass cv. ‘Crenshaw’ by using Agrobacterium -mediated transformation. Plant transformation was performed on mature seed-derived embryogenic calli by using A. tumefaciens strain LBA4404 in concert with a binary plasmid pUbiTLP, which carries the rice tlpD34 gene and a bar selection marker. To screen the putative transgenic plants, bialaphos (2 mg l −1 ), and glufosinate–ammonium (0.2%, w/v) were applied at the tissue-culture stage and on plants in the greenhouse, respectively. In the glufosinate-tolerant bentgrass, genomic integration of tlpD34 was first confirmed by PCR amplification and then by Southern analysis. The expression of TLPD34 in the transgenic lines was documented by Western blotting. The inheritance and expression of tlpD34 transgene were further documented in the T 1 generation. To assess fungal disease resistance, a number of T 0 transgenic lines were screened against brown patch ( Rhizoctonia solani ) and dollar spot ( Sclerotinia homoeocarpa ). Field tests demonstrated that the transgenic lines displayed improved resistance to dollar spot. However, the same transgenic lines showed no improvement against brown patch under greenhouse conditions. The antifungal function of rice TLPD34 protein is additionally discussed.
Antioxidant effects of phyto-and synthetic-estrogens on cupric ion-induced oxidation of human low-density lipoproteins in vitro

Oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) promotes the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Estrogenic compounds (EC) from foods and other natural products, and synthetic estrogenic compounds (SECs) may prevent heart disease by inhibiting LDL oxidation. In the present study, we tested the antioxidant capacities of two phytoestrogens, daidzein (DAI) and genistein (GEN), and four SECs, (+)- and (-)-Z-bisdehydrodoisynolic acid (ZBDDA), and (+)- and (-)-hydroxy-allenoic acid (HAA), on isolated human LDL subjected to oxidation by cupric sulfate. The effects of these estrogenic compounds on the kinetics of conjugated diene formation in LDL undergoing oxidation were evaluated with a lag-time assay with continuous monitoring of absorbance at 234 nm. Lag-time data revealed that (+)-HAA, (-)-HAA, (+)-ZBDDA, and (-)-ZBDDA had similarly stronger antioxidant activities than either GEN or DAI. We also found that (+)-HAA, (-)-HAA, (+)-ZBDDA, and (-)-ZBDDA strongly inhibited the formation of Cu+-induced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in LDL, and that GEN and DAI were less effective for inhibiting LDL lipid peroxidation. Finally, electrophoretic evaluation suggested that (+)-HAA, (-)-HAA, (+)-ZBDDA, and (-)-ZBDDA protected the apolipoprotein B-100 of LDL against oxidation better than did GEN or DAI. In summary, the four SECs, (+)-HAA, (-)-HAA, (+)-ZBDDA, and (-)-ZBDDA, were more potent antioxidants than the phytoestrogens, DAI and GEN.
The land mobile radio services

Of the myriad uses of radio, probably the least known — and in many respects the least appreciated — are those encompassed under the general heading of the Land Mobile Services. These services involve, principally, two-way base-to-mobile and mobile-to-mobile voice communication systems. Every part of our industrial, social, and economic structure has found it possible to operate more efficiently and more effectively by adapting radio to its present-day needs. For the most part, these radio systems are now indispensable and are an integral part of the entities concerned, whether they be industrial, public-safety oriented, or any other type. But public knowledge of the extent of the organization of these activities around radio is extremely limited even though the public uses radio-equipped taxicabs and watches television enough to know that the police use two-way radio.
Development of Rural Interdisciplinary Geriatrics Teams

Abstract The interdisciplinary team approach is a hallmark of geriatric care. However, the development and provision of interdisciplinary health care services to rural elderly populations remain a challenge. Contributing to this situation is the fact that traditional training programs for health professions students rarely incorporate clinical rotations that provide actual experience with an interdisciplinary health care team. Moreover, student experiences in rural geriatrics settings also are lacking. This article describes a project to develop interdisciplinary geriatrics teams and student training sites in rural Appalachian primary care settings. Discussion includes development and composition of the geriatric teams, procedures used in patient assessment, characteristics of the patient populations, student participation, and challenges and successes encountered in the implementation process.
Risk Factors for Posttreatment Edema in Patients Treated With Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Meningiomas

BACKGROUND Peritumoral edema is a recognized complication following stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). OBJECTIVE To evaluate the risk of posttreatment peritumoral edema following SRS for intracranial meningiomas and determine predictive factors. METHODS Between 2002 and 2008, 173 evaluable patients underwent CyberKnife or Gamma Knife SRS for meningiomas. Eighty-four patients (49%) had prior surgical resections, 13 patients had World Health Organization grade II (atypical) meningiomas, and 117 patients had a neurological deficit before SRS. Sixty-two tumors were in parasagittal, parafalcine, and convexity locations. The median tumor volume was 4.7 mL (range, 0.1-231.8 mL). The median prescribed dose and median prescribed biologically equivalent dose were 15 Gy (range, 9-40 Gy) and 67 Gy (range, 14-116 Gy), respectively. Ninety-seven patients were treated with single-fraction SRS, 74 received 2 to 5 fractions, and 2 received >5 fractions. RESULTS The median follow-up was 21.0 months. Thirteen patients (8%) developed symptomatic peritumoral edema, with a median onset time of 4.5 months (range, 0.2-9.5 months). The 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month actuarial symptomatic edema rates were 2.9%, 4.9%, 7.7%, and 8.5%, respectively. The crude tumor control rate was 94%. On univariate analysis, large tumor volume (P = .01) and single-fraction SRS (P = .04) were predictive for development of posttreatment edema. CONCLUSION SRS meningioma treatment demonstrated a low incidence of toxicity; however, large tumor volumes and single-fraction SRS treatment had an increased risk for posttreatment edema. Risk factors for edema should be considered in meningiomas treatment.
Person and Thing Orientations: Psychological Correlates and Predictive Utility

Individuals differ in their orientation toward the people and things in their environment. This has consequences for important life choices. The authors review 15 studies on Person and Thing Orient...
Post-transcriptional modification of the poly(A) length of galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase mRNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract Thermal elution poly(U)-Sepharose chromatography was utilized to fractionate yeast mRNA based on poly(A) size. Analysis of the in vitro translation products of the fractionated RNAs in a wheat-embryo cell-free protein synthesis system shows a heterogeneous but equal distribution of these abundant translatable mRNAs in the different poly(A) size classes. By comparing the translational activity of inducible galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase mRNA, which can be monitored as a function of age, to contitutive mRNAs, we demonstrate that initially galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase mRNA has a uniformly large poly(A) tail which becomes heterogeneous and shorter with age in the cytoplasm. These observations are consistent with the previously observed cytoplasmic poly(A) catabolism in yeast and with cytoplasmic post-transcriptional modification of the poly(A) length of galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase mRNA.
The role of isolated profundaplasty for the treatment of rest pain.

• This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy and durability of profundaplasty and define preoperative factors predictive of success. The hospital charts, vascular laboratory data, and arteriograms of 20 patients having 21 isolated profundaplasties for ischemic rest pain between 1979 and 1987 were reviewed. Follow-up extended to 72 months (mean, 26 months). Early success was achieved in 12 extremities (57%) and life-table analysis showed continued success to six years in 11 extremities (55%). Of the multiple preoperative factors assessed, only a low-thigh/ankle gradient pressure index (TAGI) of less than 0.55 was predictive of success. Lifetable analysis for limbs with a TAGI of less than 0.55 showed an 89% success rate at six years compared with only a 32% success rate for limbs with a TAGI of more than 0.55. Isolated profundaplasty for the treatment of ischemic rest pain can be an efficacious and durable procedure when patients are selected based on objective hemodynamic measurements. (Arch Surg1989;124:441-444)
Water-Soluble Progesterone Analogues Are Effective, Injectable Treatments in Animal Models of Traumatic Brain Injury

After more than 30 years of research and 30 failed clinical trials with as many different treatments, progesterone is the first agent to demonstrate robust clinical efficacy as a treatment for traumatic brain injuries. It is currently being investigated in two, independent phase III clinical trials in hospital settings; however, it presents a formidable solubility challenge that has so far prevented the identification of a formulation that would be suitable for emergency field response use or battlefield situations. Accordingly, we have designed and tested a novel series of water-soluble analogues that address this critical need. We report here the synthesis of C-20 oxime conjugates of progesterone as therapeutic agents for traumatic brain injuries with comparable efficacy in animal models of traumatic brain injury and improved solubility and pharmacokinetic profiles. Pharmacodynamic analysis reveals that a nonprogesterone steroidal analogue may be primarily responsible for the observed activity.
The impact of software radio on wireless networking

A software radio is a wireless communications device in which some or all of the physical layer functions are implemented in software. The flexibility provided by the software implementation enables a single device to interoperate with other devices using different wireless physical layer technologies, by simply invoking the appropriate software. A mobile computing device equipped with a software radio would have access to a wide range of connectivity options including cellular, wireless LAN and satellite systems. This would not only enable seamless anytime, anywhere connectivity, but also provide users the flexibility of choosing from the available connectivity options to best suit their price/performance requirements.Most software radio research to date has been driven by military and commercial cellular applications. Mobile networking applications require additional functionality present new software radio design constraints. This paper reviews existing software radio research, describes the SpectrumWare software radio system and identifies some important research challenges that must be addressed in order to apply software radio research to mobile networking applications.
Asthma as a risk factor for respiratory complications after adenotonsillectomy in children with obstructive breathing during sleep.

Background Children with asthma are at increased risk for obstructive breathing during sleep. Adenotonsillectomy, the treatment of choice for obstructive breathing during sleep, is associated with significant postoperative respiratory morbidity. Objective To determine whether asthma is a risk factor for respiratory complications after adenotonsillectomy in children with obstructive breathing during sleep. Methods This case-control study compared 115 children aged 3 to 18 years with respiratory complications after adenotonsillectomy (study group) with 115 children without respiratory complications after adenotonsillectomy (control group). Results The postoperative respiratory complications ranged from oxygen desaturation to respiratory failure that required mechanical ventilation. The study group had a higher proportion of children with asthma ( P Conclusions In children with obstructive breathing during sleep, the presence of asthma is associated with an increased risk of respiratory complications after adenotonsillectomy.
Fibre coatings for the fabrication of graphite-reinforced magnesium composites

A new fabrication technique for graphite-fibre-reinforced magnesium is presented. An air-stable silicon dioxide coating is deposited on the fibre surfaces from an organometallic precursor solution. The fibres are passed through this solution, followed by hydrolysis or pyrolysis of the organometallic compound to form silicon dioxide on the fibre surfaces. The silicon dioxide coating facilitates wetting and bonding when the fibres are immersed in molten magnesium. A modification of this coating technique was developed for coating fibres with amorphous carbon, which was found to improve the adhesion between the graphite fibres and the silicon dioxide coating. Composites containing either T300, P55, or P100 graphite fibres in pure magnesium, magnesium-1 wt% silicon, and magnesium alloy AZ91 have been fabricated. Preliminary mechanical property data are presented.
The chondrocyte primary cilium

Summary The presence and role of primary, or non-motile, cilia on chondrocytes has confused cartilage researchers for decades. Initial explanations attributed a vestigial nature to chondrocyte cilia. Evidence is now emerging that supports the role of the chondrocyte primary cilium as a sensory organelle, in particular, in mechanotransduction and as a compartment for signaling pathways. Early electron microscopy images depicted bent cilia aligned with the extracellular matrix (ECM) in a manner that suggested a response to mechanical forces. Molecules known to be mechanotransducers in other cell types, including integrins and proteoglycans, are present on chondrocyte cilia. Further, chondrocytes which lack cilia fail to respond to mechanical forces in the same manner that chondrocytes with intact cilia respond. From a clinical perspective, chondrocytes from osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage have cilia with different characteristics than cilia found on chondrocytes from healthy cartilage. Objective This review examines the evidence supporting the function of chondrocyte cilia and briefly speculates on the involvement of intraflagellar transport (IFT) in the signaling pathway of mechanotransduction through the cilium. Conclusions Emerging evidence suggests cilia may be a promising target for preventing and treating OA.
Mother–Child Conflict and Sibling Relatedness: A Test of Hypotheses From Parent–Offspring Conflict Theory

Parent–offspring conflict theory (POCT) has been underutilized in studies of human family dynamics. An implication of POCT is that the presence of siblings will increase conflict in biological parent–child dyads, and that half siblings will increase that conflict more than full siblings. Evidence consistent with this prediction was found in a longitudinal study of 236 early adolescent children and their mothers. Following parental disruption, the entry of younger maternal half siblings into the home was uniquely associated with elevated conflict between mothers and their biological children, independent of the effects of family size, socioeconomic status, and maternal depression. As predicted by the model, the effect of parental disruption on mother–child conflict was partially mediated by the entry of half siblings (but not stepfathers) into the home.
Unique gene expression signatures of independently-derived human embryonic stem cell lines

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have the potential to differentiate to diverse cell types. This ability endows hESCs with promise for the development of novel therapeutics, as well as promise for the development of a rigorous genetic system to probe human gene function. However, in spite of the impending utility of hESCs for clinical and basic applications, little is known about their fundamental properties. Recent reports have documented transcriptional profiles of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), adult stem cells and a single hESC line, H9. To date, however, the transcriptional profiles of independently-derived hESC lines have not been compared. In order to examine the similarities and differences in multiple hESC lines, we compared gene expression profiles of the HSF-1, HSF-6 and H9 lines. We found that the majority of genes examined were expressed in all three cell lines. However, we also observed that each line possessed a unique expression signature; the expression of many genes was limited to just one or two hESC lines. We suggest that the observed differences in gene expression between independently-derived hESC lines may reflect inherent differences in the initial culture of each line and/or the underlying genetics of the embryos from which the lines were derived.
System-level self-diagnosis in sparsely interconnected systems

A probabilistic diagnosis algorithm for identifying faulty units in sparsely interconnected systems is presented. The algorithm is partially based on a comparison approach where identical test vectors are applied to all units and their outputs are intracompared. The comparison diagnosis schemes based on majority-voting or voting-with-threshold-of-1 are inappropriate for diagnosing those systems implemented on a single chip or wafer. Unlike other schemes, the authors' scheme adjusts algorithm parameters depending on unit yield, degree of connectivity, and the probability of common-cause failures. Fault coverage is further improved by disseminating test results to neighbors. The fault coverage of the diagnosis algorithm is remarkably high, and diagnosis decisions are made in a distributed manner. The algorithm is quite general in that it can be applied to arbitrarily connected systems. >