cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular properties of complexes formed between the prion protein and synthetic peptides.

Abstract Complexes of the Syrian hamster cellular prion protein (PrPC) and synthetic Syrian hamster PrP peptides were found to mimic many of the characteristics of the scrapie PrP isoform (PrPSc). Either PrPC expressed in chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells or a C-terminal fragment of 142 residues of recombinant PrP protein (rPrP) produced in Escherichia coli was mixed with an excess of a synthetic 56 amino acid peptide, denoted PrP(90-145). Complex formation required PrPC or rPrP to be destabilized by guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) or urea and PrP(90-145) to be in a coil conformation; it was enhanced by an acidic environment, salt and detergent. If PrP(90-145) was in a β-sheet conformation, then no complexes were formed. While complex formation was rapid, acquisition of protease resistance was a slow process. Amorphous aggregates with a PrPC/PrP(90-145) ratio of 1:1 were formed in phosphate buffer, whereas fibrils with a diameter of ∼10 nm and a PrPC/PrP(90-145) ratio of 1:5 were formed in Tris buffer. The complexes were stable only in the presence of excess peptide in either the coil or β-sheet conformation; they dissociated rapidly after centrifugation and resuspension in buffer without peptide. Neither a peptide having a similar hydrophobicity profile/charge distribution to PrP(90-145) nor a scrambled version, denoted hPrP(90-145) and sPrP(90-145), respectively, were able to induce complex formation. Although hPrP(90-145) could stabilize the PrPC/PrP(90-145) complexes, sPrP(90-145) could not. Studies of PrPC/peptide complexes may provide insights into how PrPC interacts with PrPSc during the formation of a nascent PrPSc molecule and into the process by which PrPC is converted into PrPSc.
Neuropeptides Controlling Our Behavior

Major contributors in the control of food intake include behavioral response to the environment, hedonic behavior, and metabolism: nutrient sensors, neuropeptide hormones, and peripheral hormones. All combined contribute to three primary stimuli to eat: hunger, reward, and stress. The brain plays a critical role in relaying information about the neuroendocrine and endocrine system regulating the energy network. The mechanisms for controlling food intake require interaction among three major components: the gut, brain, and adipose tissue. The parasympathetic, sympathetic, and other systems are also needed for communication between the brain satiety center, gut, and adipose tissue. These neuronal circuits include many neuropeptide hormones and peptide hormones coming from the periphery, all acting in concert in the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis. This chapter describes mostly brain peptide hormones and some coming from the periphery. The interested reader could find a full description of all peptide hormones involved in energy balance regulation in a recent review by Crespo et al. (2014). Although regulation of energy homeostasis engages several brain regions including the brainstem, cortex, amygdala, and the limbic system, it is the hypothalamus that is responsible for integrating neuronal and humoral signals in the control feeding behavior. In response to sensory and social stimulation including visual, smell, taste, stress, reward, culture, and exercise, a feeding center in the hypothalamus initiates food uptake that is then terminated by a satiety center. Both the gastrointestinal tract and the white fat cells are responsible for releasing hormone signals that are integrated with the hypothalamus and nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) to control feeding neural circuits. In spite of the sophistication of these interconnected systems, which are tightly regulated to control energy demand with energy expenditure, the recent sizeable increase in the prevalence of obesity seen in modern urban societies represents a deviation of this evolutionary control of weight homeostasis. Among the major contributors to this disarrangement of the feeding control system are highly palatable and relatively cheap foods ubiquitously available and unfamiliar to our genetic repertoire. The massive reduction in physical activity also contributed to this condition. These current life factors combined with the evolutionary genetic predisposition are the leading causes of the common obesity. This chapter describes the role of neuropeptide and some essential peripheral hormones interacting in the hypothalamus toward controlling feeding behavior. The role of hypothalamic nutrient sensors, important in metabolic sensing, is discussed in Chap. 7.
OpenSim: Simulating musculoskeletal dynamics and neuromuscular control to study human and animal movement.

Movement is fundamental to human and animal life, emerging through interaction of complex neural, muscular, and skeletal systems. Study of movement draws from and contributes to diverse fields, including biology, neuroscience, mechanics, and robotics. OpenSim unites methods from these fields to create fast and accurate simulations of movement, enabling two fundamental tasks. First, the software can calculate variables that are difficult to measure experimentally, such as the forces generated by muscles and the stretch and recoil of tendons during movement. Second, OpenSim can predict novel movements from models of motor control, such as kinematic adaptations of human gait during loaded or inclined walking. Changes in musculoskeletal dynamics following surgery or due to human–device interaction can also be simulated; these simulations have played a vital role in several applications, including the design of implantable mechanical devices to improve human grasping in individuals with paralysis. OpenSim is an extensible and user-friendly software package built on decades of knowledge about computational modeling and simulation of biomechanical systems. OpenSim’s design enables computational scientists to create new state-of-the-art software tools and empowers others to use these tools in research and clinical applications. OpenSim supports a large and growing community of biomechanics and rehabilitation researchers, facilitating exchange of models and simulations for reproducing and extending discoveries. Examples, tutorials, documentation, and an active user forum support this community. The OpenSim software is covered by the Apache License 2.0, which permits its use for any purpose including both nonprofit and commercial applications. The source code is freely and anonymously accessible on GitHub, where the community is welcomed to make contributions. Platform-specific installers of OpenSim include a GUI and are available on simtk.org.
Emerging Technologies in Upper Extremity Surgery: Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel Implant for Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty and Processed Nerve Allograft and Nerve Conduit for Digital Nerve Repairs

In the field of upper extremity surgery there are myriad new and developing technologies. The purpose of this article is to highlight a few of the most compelling new technologies and review their background, indications for use, and most recently reported outcomes in clinical practice.
Administration of N-Acyl-Phosphatidylethanolamine Expressing Bacteria to Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor -/- Mice Improves Indices of Cardiometabolic Disease.

Obesity increases the risk for cardiometabolic diseases. N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs) are precursors of N-acylethanolamides, which are endogenous lipid satiety factors. Incorporating engineered bacteria expressing NAPEs into the gut microbiota retards development of diet induced obesity in wild-type mice. Because NAPEs can also exert anti-inflammatory effects, we hypothesized that administering NAPE-expressing bacteria to low-density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr)−/− mice fed a Western diet would improve various indices of cardiometabolic disease manifested by these mice. NAPE-expressing E. coli Nissle 1917 (pNAPE-EcN), control Nissle 1917 (pEcN), or vehicle (veh) were given via drinking water to Ldlr−/− mice for 12 weeks. Compared to pEcN or veh treatment, pNAPE-EcN significantly reduced body weight and adiposity, hepatic triglycerides, fatty acid synthesis genes, and increased expression of fatty acid oxidation genes. pNAPE-EcN also significantly reduced markers for hepatic inflammation and early signs of fibrotic development. Serum cholesterol was reduced with pNAPE-EcN, but atherosclerotic lesion size showed only a non-significant trend for reduction. However, pNAPE-EcN treatment reduced lesion necrosis by 69% indicating an effect on preventing macrophage inflammatory death. Our results suggest that incorporation of NAPE expressing bacteria into the gut microbiota can potentially serve as an adjuvant therapy to retard development of cardiometabolic disease.
Correlation of near surface fractures with seismic radial anisotropy: An approach for near surface fracture identification

Abstract Fluid flow and solute transport in geologic environments are vital for natural systems, public well-being, and infrastructure that rely on understanding subsurface hydrology . Fractures strongly affect the hydraulic properties of rocks as they often serve as preferential flow paths for fluids. Therefore, the characterization of subsurface fractures is crucial to understand fluid flow in the geological environments and estimate the hydraulic properties of fractured-rock formations. Seismic radial anisotropy that is defined with respect to the difference between the velocity of a vertically polarized S-wave (S V) and one polarized horizontally (SH ) can be used as a strong attribute for forecasting near surface fractures. We evaluate the correlation of seismic radial anisotropy with near-surface fractures. We obtain seismic radial anisotropy models at two sites with different bedrock geologies (one metamorphic-igneous and the other sedimentary) using dispersion analyses of the Rayleigh waves , for vertical polarization, and Love waves, for horizontal polarization. The seismic radial anisotropies at these two sites show a strong correlation with near surface fractures. We also perform a sensitivity analysis to obtain an optimum cut-off value to better interpret seismic radial anisotropy in terms of fracture probability.
Tigers and “Good Indian Wives”: Feminist Political Ecology Exposing the Gender-Based Violence of Human–Wildlife Conflict in Rajasthan, India

This qualitative study, based on fifty-two focus groups, interviews, and participant observation within a 10-km buffer around Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, India, builds on Monica Ogra’s foun...
Response to: 'erector spinae plane and paravertebral blocks have similar opioid-sparing effects following breast surgery

To the Editor We would like to thank Chin for his letter regarding our recent publication.[1 2][1] We concluded that ‘paravertebral nerve blocks (PVB) are superior to erector spinae plane blocks (ESPB) for both short-term analgesia as well as opioid-sparing following non-mastectomy surgery” and
The case of a 61-year-old man with unusual headaches.

A 61-year-old man with past medical history significant for prediabetes, hyperlipidemia and high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia presents with headaches for one month. Imaging of his brain reveals hydrocephalus and spine imaging reveals a cord lesion. These findings are discussed further in the case.
Cost-Sharing: A Blunt Instrument

Cost-sharing is a health care cost-containment technique in which health care services are partially paid for by patients out of pocket. Cost-sharing can reduce non-cost-effective care, but it can also undermine the financial protection and access values of health insurance. We review the empirical evidence published since the mid-1980s about cost-sharing's effect on utilization, expenditures, health, and adverse consequences, including how the effects vary by form of care, by health status, and by sociodemographic characteristics. Some cost-sharing, such as emergency department copayments, reduces utilization without any harmful effects, whereas other cost-sharing reduces valuable care such as maintenance drug use among the chronically ill. Cost-sharing should be used judiciously, with attention taken not to reduce highly cost-effective care.
Extension of Electric Resonance Spectroscopy to the Submillimeter Wavelength Region

The requirements for the performance of molecular beam electric resonance experiments at wavelengths shorter than one millimeter are discussed. Examples relevant to current experiments are presented, and comparisons made with millimeter and near IR experiments.
Automated interpretation of electrocardiographic tracings

Abstract Electrocardiography (ECG) is frequently used to detect a wide variety of cardiac conditions. Historically, clinicians are trained to analyze ECG recordings and to make a diagnosis based on signal morphologies. However, due to the considerable monetary and nonmonetary costs associated with reliance on human experts as well as issues related to availability and continuous monitoring, there has been great attention toward the automated interpretation of ECG recordings. In this chapter, we present a brief background on ECG signals; then, we explain traditional and modern approaches to the automated analysis of ECG recordings, including methods based on feature engineering and automated end-to-end learning methods. Then, we conclude by discussing the evaluation of these systems and outlining research directions for future studies.
Parametric Bootstrap for Differentially Private Confidence Intervals.

The goal of this paper is to develop a practical and general-purpose approach to construct confidence intervals for differentially private parametric estimation. We find that the parametric bootstrap is a simple and effective solution. It cleanly reasons about variability of both the data sample and the randomized privacy mechanism and applies "out of the box" to a wide class of private estimation routines. It can also help correct bias caused by clipping data to limit sensitivity. We prove that the parametric bootstrap gives consistent confidence intervals in two broadly relevant settings, including a novel adaptation to linear regression that avoids accessing the covariate data multiple times. We demonstrate its effectiveness for a variety of estimators, and find that it provides confidence intervals with good coverage even at modest sample sizes and performs better than alternative approaches.
Negative Regulation during Bacterial Infection

This chapter highlights some of the many interesting cases of negative regulation at work during different stages of infection for several pathogens, focusing on the diverse molecular mechanisms involved in gene repression and the selective pressures that led to their evolution. Some pathogenic bacteria cycle through multiple hosts; for example, some pathogens use arthropod vectors to invade human populations, an extreme transition that demands a great deal of regulatory flexibility. During infection, pathogenic bacteria must contend with an in vivo environment that is under the surveillance of immune mechanisms capable of rapidly identifying and eliminating foreign microorganisms. Immune recognition presents a significant challenge to pathogenic bacteria. A central mechanism to evade host defenses is to stop producing the structures, such as flagella and pili, that are recognized by host antibodies and toll-like receptors (TLRs). During infection of a new host, flagellar breakage allows the derepression of virulence again. Negative regulation in transcriptional programs in vivo has also been found in Salmonella enterica, a gram-negative pathogen that is the cause of disease in humans and other mammalian hosts. Virulence genes are frequently encoded in clusters on the genomes of pathogens, and these clusters are termed “pathogenicity islands". The deactivation of CovR has been shown to be mediated through selection of CovS mutants in the presence of innate immune responses, but it also appears to be regulated by as-yet-unknown signals sensed by CovS.
Treatment outcome of personality disorders

Objective:To review the treatment outcome of personality disorders.Method:A literature search of studies pertaining to personality disorder and outcome was conducted, and studies that focused primarily on Axis II were retained. Of these, naturalistic outcome studies were distinguished from those that addressed treatment outcome specifically. The treatment outcome studies were examined in terms of type of treatment intervention, dependent variables, and outcome.Results:Contrary to contemporary assumptions about Axis II, a substantial number of treatment outcome studies were identified. Trends in the assumptions underlying psychosocial and pharmacologic approaches were identified on the basis of dependent variables.Conclusion:There is evidence that effective treatments exist to alleviate symptoms and reduce symptomatic behaviours that accompany personality disorders. What these results hold for the idea of remission from personality disorder is considered.
Global Pharmaceutical Policy: Ensuring Medicines for Tomorrow's World

Contents: Preface 1. The Challenges we Face 2. Promoting Innovation: Patents, Subsidies, Prizes and Prices 3. Policies on Innovation: Past, Present and Future 4. The Global Regulatory Environment: Quality, Safety and Efficacy 5. Medicines for the Developing World 6. The Use of Medicines: Education, Information and Persuasion 7. Regulation and the Role of the Courts 8. Specialized Policy Areas: Vaccines, Biologicals and Blood Products Alternative and Traditional Medicines Self-Medication Counterfeit Medicines 9. The Rich, the Poor and the Neglected 10. Global and Regional Policies: The Way Ahead Index
The role of CdK5 in the activation and effector function of T cells in experimental autoimmune uveitis (BA14P.216)

The activation and survival of T cells are both essential for the development and progression of uveitis. Cyclin-dependent kinas 5 (Cdk5) is a unique member of Cdk family that forms a complex with p35 (CDK5R1) and modulates the function of many proteins through proline-directed serine threonine phosphorylation. Our previous study showed that Cdk5 expression and activity is induced during T cell activation, but it is unclear whether CdK5 is implicated in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU). In this study, we found that CD4+CD44+ T cells have a higher level of Cdk5 expression. Inhibition of CdK5 by a small molecule inhibitor (roscovitine) led to the decrease in the number of activated CD4+CD44+ T lymphocytes, which coincided with increased T cell apoptosis. We observed increased expression and activity of CdK5, p35 (and its cleaved product p25) in the eyes and lymphocytes of C57BL/6 mice induced to develop EAU by immunization with interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein peptide 1-20 (IRBP1-20). In addition, roscovitine significantly suppressed proliferation of and cytokine production in T cells from mice with the disease in vitro. These results demonstrate that CdK5 plays a critical role in T cell activation during the pathogenesis of uveitis and suggests that targeting CdK5 may be a novel therapeutic strategy for treating T cell-mediated uveitis.
THE IMPACT OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS ON MIS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

The appropriate design for an information systemdepends not only on the characteristics of the system users,but also on certain characteristics of the organization, e.g.,technology, structure, and environment. Implementation islikely to be most successful when there is a A¢Â¬ÂSfitA¢Â¬Â? betweenthe system and the organization. This paper describes anemerging theory of how organizational characteristics determineinformation system requirements.
2D materials: Memristor goes two-dimensional

A single layer of MoS2 can be used to fabricate a memristor by exploiting structural defects in the crystal.
Cell-Based Protein Sensor Array Using Genetically Engineered Microbes

A cell-based protein-detecting array was developed on which genetically engineered microbes were spatially organized as sensor elements in a microfluidic device. Whole E. coli cells displaying protein-binding peptide ligands at high density on their outer membrane served as effective capture reagents. Cells were immobilized on gold electrodes using dielectrophoresis, thus allowing each sensor element to be electrically addressable. On-chip fluorescence analysis and flow cytometry were used to confirm highly specific capture of target molecules. The use of dielectrophoresis in microfluidic devices enabled efficient utilization of whole-cell capture reagents for a variety of protein detection and diagnostic applications.
Terahertz Pioneer: Paul F. Goldsmith “New Eyes for THz Astronomers”

Reports on the contributions and work of Paul F. Goldsmith, a terahertz technology pioneer.
The influence of hemispheric asymmetries on field-aligned ion drifts at the geomagnetic equator

[1] In the topside ionosphere, equatorial field-aligned ion drifts are driven by field-aligned gradients in the plasma pressure. These gradients form due to hemispheric asymmetries in plasma temperature and density, which are caused by the sun and the neutral atmosphere. The role of the neutral atmosphere in creating a field-aligned plasma pressure gradient and driving ion drifts across the geomagnetic equator is examined for several local times during solar minimum. Using satellite observations and complimentary modeled data, the field-aligned ion drifts are found to correlate with the vertical displacement between conjugate ion density peaks in both the observed and modeled data sets. In the modeled data sets, an even stronger correlation is seen between the field-aligned ion drift and the total neutral wind along the magnetic meridian at the height of the ion density peak. This correlation is seen to improve in the absence of anE × B drift.
2‐Phenyl Oxazolone

[1199-01-5] C9H7NO2 (MW 161.16) InChI = 1S/C9H7NO2/c11-8-6-10-9(12-8)7-4-2-1-3-5-7/h1-5H,6H2 InChIKey = QKCKCXFWENOGER-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent used as a masked glycine equivalent and for the formation of heterocyclic structures) Alternate Name: 2-phenyl-5(4H)-oxazolone. Physical Data: mp 89–92 °C.1 Solubility: soluble in most common organic solvents. Will react with nucleophilic solvents such as methanol. Form Supplied in: light buff to yellow crystalline solid.1 Preparative Methods: typically prepared from the reaction of hippuric acid with a dehydrating agent such as 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDCI)2 or acetic anhydride.1, 3 The use of other carbodiimides has also been reported.4 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: air sensitive.
Twist Drill Craniostomy and Closed System Drainage of Chronic and Subacute Subdural Hematomas

Based on reports in the literature on the success and low morbidity of twist drill craniostomy (TDC) and closed system drainage (CSD) for chronic subdural hematomas, a prospective study was initiated in 1981 and included all symptomatic patients presenting with a history and clinical and computed tomographic (CT) findings consistent with subacute or chronic subdural hematoma. A total of nine patients were treated with TDC and CSD as the initial procedure. An asymptomatic or progressively improving patient with greater than 50% reduction in subdural size by repeat CT scan was set as the end point of therapy. There were no complications, all patients improved with drainage, and seven were cured by this method alone. The results are compared retrospectively to surgically treated patients, and an overall decrease in morbidity and length of hospitalization are noted. The technique and CT scan correlations are described, and the rationale for use of this method is discussed in terms of our current understanding of the pathophysiology and complications of the disease.
Exploring the role of the Senate Majority Leader's political public relations efforts

Grounded in first- and second-level agenda building, this study explored the role of the U.S. Senate Majority Leader in shaping the salience of issues and issue attributes in news media coverage and policymaking in 2011. A total of 358 public relations messages, 164 newspaper articles, and 83 policymaking documents were analyzed. Significant correlations were found supporting agenda-building linkages at both levels. Different types of information subsidies were explored, including press releases, blog posts, Facebook posts, and Twitter messages.
Use of social media to conduct a cross-sectional epidemiologic and quality of life survey of patients with neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix: A feasibility study

Objective To determine the feasibility of using social media to perform cross-sectional epidemiologic and quality-of-life research on patients with rare gynecologic tumors, we performed a survey of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the cervix using Facebook.
High-resolution X-ray and radio images of the galactic SNR G39. 2-0. 3

Images of the galactic supernova remnant G39.2-0.3 at radio, infrared, and X-ray wavelengths are presented. The 6 and 20 cm VLA maps reveal a shell-brightened source with substantial emission in the central regions and a rather high degree of linear polarization throughout; no significant spectral variations over the face of the remnant are apparent. The Einstein X-ray image also shows emission from both the limb and the central region, while the IRAS data show no flux that can be unambiguously associated with the remnant, although an uncataloged small H II region is seen adjacent to the shell. It is concluded that, contrary to previous suggestions, there is no evidence for a Crab-like component in G39.2-0.3, and that the central emission plateau is most likely simply a shell filament which happens to fall across the center of the remnant.
Interleukin-1α suppresses gap junction-mediated intercellular communication in human endothelial cells

Abstract Interleukin-1α a (IL-1α) is a potent modulator of endothelial cell-surface properties and function as well as an inhibitor of endothelial cell proliferation. The present experiments demonstrate that IL-1α can also suppress gap junction activity as measured by dye-coupling assays on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The effect of IL-1α is dose- and time-dependent, inhibitable by IL-1 receptor antagonist, independent of changes in intracellular [Ca +2 ], and distinguishable from the short-term effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Interestingly, IL-1α was not effective in reducing cell communication in senescent HUVEC which exhibit lower coupling than early-passage cells and for which elevated levels of IL-1α transcript and polypeptide had been reported previously. These results suggest a novel role for IL-1α in the regulation of intercellular communication, which may be related to its role as a regulator of endothelial differentiation and senescence.
Homoclinic tangles for noninvertible maps

Not all naturally occurring iterated systems have the property that time is reversible. In which case, the dynamics must be modelled by a noninvertible map rather than by a di eomorphism. While one-dimensional theory describes dynamics of noninvertible maps, higher-dimensional theory has focussed on di eomorphisms, though there are many higher-dimensional examples of natural systems modelled by noninvertible maps. For example, noninvertible maps occur in the study of population dynamics [2], time one maps of delay equations [25], control theory algorithms [1, 5, 6], neural networks [16], and iterated di erence methods [14]. In order to use dynamical systems theory in applications for which maps are noninvertible, it is important to know how the theory di ers from the di eomorphism case. One of the principal indications of chaotic dynamics in deterministic systems is the existence of transverse homoclinic orbits. This paper examines the existence of homoclinic tangles and the associated dynamic behavior for noninvertible maps. In particular, we give examples of maps which have transverse intersection of stable and unstable manifolds but no horseshoe. Furthermore, we show that this is a codimension two phenomenon. Papers by Steinlein and Walther [24,25] and Lerman and Shil’nikov [13] both establish conditions for a transverse homoclinic point of a noninvertible map to be contained in a horseshoe. This is discussed further in Section 4. The work of Laura Gardini [10] addressed transverse homoclinic orbits for planar maps. However, she missed the subtle distinction for noninvertible maps between a transverse homoclinic point and
Frequency Shift Detection of Speech with GMMs AND SVMs

In certain situations, speech might be shifted in the frequency domain amid the presence of noise. To be able to compensate for the spectral shift, it is important to know the amount of frequency shift present. A method based on Mel-frequency-cepstral-coefficient (MFCC) and Gaussian Mixture model (GMM) super vector is proposed for detecting frequency shifts in speech. MFCC or LFCC is extracted to characterize the energy variation of the signal. A GMM is trained for each shifted utterance, and the corresponding GMM super vector is used as the input feature for SVM. Results show that the proposed solution could yield good performance.
Sociodemographic Characteristics of Cannabis Smokers and the Experience of Cannabis Withdrawal

Background: Cannabis withdrawal can be a negative reinforcer for relapse, but little is known about its association with demographic characteristics. Objectives: Evaluate the association of demographic characteristics with the experience of cannabis withdrawal. Methods: Retrospective self-report of a “serious” cannabis quit attempt without formal treatment in a convenience sample of 104 non-treatment-seeking, adult cannabis smokers (mean age 35 years, 52% white, 78% male) with no other current substance use disorder (except tobacco) or chronic health problems. Reasons for quitting, coping strategies to help quit, and 18 specific withdrawal symptoms were assessed by questionaire. Results: Among withdrawal symptoms, only anxiety, increased sex drive, and craving showed significant associations with age, race, or sex. Women were more likely than men to report a physical withdrawal symptom (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = .99–10.4, p = .05), especially upset stomach. There were few significant demographic associations wit...
Management of the patient with progressive radioiodine non-responsive disease

Differentiated thyroid cancer accounts for a majority of the nearly 200,000 people in the United States with thyroid cancer. A significant minority of patients with thyroid cancer do not respond to conventional therapy (surgery, radioiodine, levothyroxine [LT4]). Current therapy for progressive, radioiodine non-responsive differentiated thyroid cancer includes surgery and external-beam irradiation (with or without low-dose weekly Adriamycin) for neck disease, and high-dose Adriamycin therapy for widely metastatic disease. Adriamycin therapy provides a 30% to 40% partial response of disease, but long-term cures are rare. Studies of combination chemotherapy do not show greater benefit than therapy with Adriamycin alone and carry understandably greater toxicity. Retinoic acid, octreotide, and tamoxifen therapies are currently being studied as future therapeutic possibilities. Chemotherapy may prove useful not only as a tumoricidal agent but as therapy for tumor re-differentiation in preparation for radioiodine therapy. Semin. Surg. Oncol. 16:34–41, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Providing Overviews of China Datasets Using Linked Micromaps

Showing statistical overviews of datasets is often helpful in providing context before drilling to details. Linked Micromaps have been primarily used so to show overviews based on US statistical summaries with many featuring environmental and health statistics. This poster features data from China. The example below shows the gender ratio for China provinces in 2000 and 2010. The imbalance is problematic. The design creates small perceptual groups of four or fewer provinces to focus attention and to limit the number of colors used to link province names to their locations. This is helpful for those not familiar with China's provinces. Sorting the 2010 ratios provides a ranking of provinces. Cumulative highlighting of provinces based their ranks provides spatial patterns that can be informative. Access to statistics from China's provinces and large cities will get easier over time. Concerns about air pollution have led to increased monitoring and reporting of statistics. The poster will include other available statistics related to house price for selected cities.
Effect of the Rate of Injection of Digitalis Upon its Lethal Dose in Guinea Pigs

Eighty-four male guinea pigs were divided into seven groups of twelve each and anesthetized with urethane. Each group was tested with varying concentrations of U. S. P. Reference Standard Digitalis (1942) Tincture, using normal saline solution as the diluent. The effects of varying the concentration of digitalis tincture are reported. The results obtained are compared with those of other investigators and recorded in this report.
Two primary carcinomas of the lung: Adenocarcinoma and a metachronous squamous cell carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature

The case of a patient who underwent a left lower lobe lobectomy for adenocarcinoma of the lung and developed a metachronous squamous cell carcinoma of the right lung eight years later, is presented. The unusual nature of the case is emphasized utilizing a review of the literature. The criteria for diagnosing metachronous carcinomas are presented and a unified terminology for such cases is proposed. The requirement for life-long follow-up of any patient with cancer is emphasized.
Retention of list differentiation and word frequency

List identification for all items seen during learning was tested immediately or at 24 hr following presentation of either two high-frequency (HF) or two low-frequency (LF) word lists. With identical presentation parameters, immediate list differentiation was better for LF lists. When presentation trials were increased for the HF lists and immediate performance was matched, there was no difference in the identification of list membership at 24 hr.
Evaluation of image registration in subtracted 3D dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of treated hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to quantify hepatic displacement between breath-holds in multiphasic contrast-enhanced MRI and assess the value of a 3D registration algorithm for displacement correction on subtracted images. MATERIALS AND METHODS. For this retrospective analysis, we evaluated MR images of 25 cirrhotic patients with treated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and at least one coexisting small hepatic cyst that was hypointense on T1-weighted imaging. With the use of an automated 3D deformable registration algorithm, registered base and subtraction images were created using portal venous phase images as the baseline images. The relative displacement of the cysts over the dynamic phases was used to estimate hepatic displacement before and after registration. The width of the subtraction band artifact, HCC lesion conspicuity, and overall subtraction artifact level (i.e., image quality of the entire volume) of the subtraction images were evaluated before and after registration on a 5-point...
The little bang! results from RHIC

I report first results on Au + Au collisions at = 130 GeV/ per nucleon pair from all four experiments at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The energy density achieved is well above the threshold predicted by Lattice QCD for quark deconfinement. Large pressure is developed early in the collision, leading to collective asymmetric ow of the particle transverse to the beam energy and explosive expansion of the hot system. The hadron yields indicate presence of an equilibrated hadron gas in which the chemistry is fixed at a temperature near 170 MeV, which is also the temperature at which the quark gluon plasma to hadron phase transition is expected. A deficit of high transverse momentum particles is observed in central Au+Au collisions, compared to expected yields from independent nucleon-nucleon collisions or expectations from peripheral Au+Au collisions. This is likely the first indication of jet quenching by energy loss of hard scattered partons traversing the dense medium created in the collision
Indigenous regional systems and Rural Development in Southern India

As a result of critism of the industrial-urban biased paradigm of development, a new social development approach is beginning to emerge. According to this strategy, development must be fitted to ecological constraints, priority attention must be given to rural development, and planning for rural development must be decentralized, participatory, and deeply immersed in the particulars of local settings. Agropolitan districts, or networks of socio-economic and political interaction, have been suggested as a suitable territorial basis for this paradigm. In India, where local planning has not been successful, indigenous regional systems, which correspond closely to criteria suggested to delineate agropolitan districts, have existed for hundreds of years. This is especially true in Tamil Nadu where a hierarchy of nesting socio-spatial units is firmly established in peasant tradition. Information is presented on the positive and negative aspects of the use of such regions for rural planning. It is suggested that these regions may better fulfil the objectives of agropolitan development than sets of functional regions derived from the urban hierarchy.
Bimodal Interaction of Coatomer with the p24 Family of Putative Cargo Receptors

Cytoplasmic domains of members of the p24 family of putative cargo receptors were shown to bind to coatomer, the coat protein of COPI-coated transport vesicles. Domains that contained dilysine endoplasmic reticulum retrieval signals bound the alpha-, beta'-, and epsilon-COP subunits of coatomer, whereas other p24 domains bound the beta-, gamma-, and zeta-COP subunits and required a phenylalanine-containing motif. Transit of a CD8-p24 chimera from the endoplasmic reticulum through the Golgi complex was slowed when the phenylalanine motif was mutated, suggesting that this motif may function as an anterograde transport signal. The either-or bimodal binding of coatomer to p24 tails suggests models for how coatomer can potentially package retrograde-directed and anterograde-directed cargo into distinct COPI-coated vesicles.
The pharmacokinetics of methadone following co-administration with a lamivudine/zidovudine combination tablet in opiate-dependent subjects.

Methadone pharmacokinetics were determined in an open-label, within subject study in 16 methadone-maintained, non-HIV-infected subjects prior to and following administration of one lamivudine 150-mg/z idovudine300-mg combination tablett determine whether this antiretroviral therapy alters methadone serum concentrations. No significant differences in the mean area under the serum concentration-time curve (AUC0-24h; 8753 &#45 4280 vs. 8641 &#45 4431 µ g-h/L), oral clearance (CL/F;9.9 &#45 4.9 vs. 10.3 &#45 5.5 L/h), oral volume of distribution (Vd/F; 647 &#45 465 vs. 481 &#45 305 L), maximum serum concentration (C max; 514 &#45 223 vs. 5510 &#45 237 µ g/L), or terminal elimination half-life (t 1/2; 55.3 &#45 61.0 vs. 35.0 &#45 17.5 h) were detected. These results suggest that methadone dose change is not likely to be necessary for patients treated with lamivudine/zidovudine combination pharmacotherapy.
Further Understanding of Recombinant Activated Factor VII Mode of Action

Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is being increasingly used to treat bleeding associated with a variety of non-hemophilic coagulopathic indications, and its mechanism of action in these areas is under active investigation. Numerous studies have shown that FVIIa binds with low affinity to activated platelets; rFVIIa can subsequently enhance platelet-surface thrombin generation by activating factor (F) X and by contributing additional FIXa to the hemostatic process. This FIXa can rapidly activate additional FX, which may explain why non-hemophilic coagulopathic bleeds respond to lower doses of rFVIIa than do hemophilic bleeds. However, the platelet surface may be able to process only a limited amount of FXa, accounting for the observation that some models of non-hemophilic coagulopathy show a plateau in the effect of rFVIIa.
RNA helicase A is necessary for translation of selected messenger RNAs

RNA helicase A (RHA) is a highly conserved DEAD-box protein that activates transcription, modulates RNA splicing and binds the nuclear pore complex. The life cycle of typical mRNA involves RNA processing and translation after ribosome scanning of a relatively unstructured 5' untranslated region (UTR). The precursor RNAs of retroviruses and selected cellular genes harbor a complex 5' UTR and use a yet-to-be-identified host post-transcriptional effector to stimulate efficient translation. Here we show that RHA recognizes a structured 5'-terminal post-transcriptional control element (PCE) of a retrovirus and the JUND growth-control gene. RHA interacts with PCE RNA in the nucleus and cytoplasm, facilitates polyribosome association and is necessary for its efficient translation. Our results reveal a previously unidentified role for RHA in translation and implicate RHA as an integrative effector in the continuum of gene expression from transcription to translation.
Robust Model-Based Fault Detection for a Roll Stability Control System

Fault management is critical for a vehicle active safety system. Since a sensor fault may not always be detectable by a sensor self-test or an electronic monitoring system whose detection often relies on out-of-range signals, a redundancy check is warranted for the detection of an in-range signal fault. In this paper, an in-vehicle roll rate sensor failure detection scheme utilizing analytical redundancy is presented. The vehicle is assumed to be equipped with a steering wheel angle sensor, a yaw rate sensor, a lateral accelerometer, and wheel speed sensors in addition to the roll rate sensor. Due to the wide variation of vehicle dynamics under a vast operating range, such as various and dynamically changing road super-elevations and road grades, the detection of a roll rate signal fault using analytical redundancy is particularly challenging. These challenges, as well as the robustness and performance of the proposed scheme are discussed. The robust performance of the proposed scheme, over model uncertainties and road disturbances, is illustrated analytically and validated through experimental test data. The analytical illustrations include three elements: a robust estimation of the vehicle roll angle, a dynamic compensation of both electrical and kinematics-induced biases in the roll rate signal, and a directionally sensitive design of a robust observer which decouples the model uncertainties and disturbances from the fault. The experimental verifications of no false positive and/or no false negative were taken with a variety of maneuvers and road conditions on several vehicle test platforms
Local and Global Testing of Linear and Nonlinear Inequality Constraints in Nonlinear Econometric Models

This paper considers a general nonlinear econometric model framework that contains a large class of estimators defined as solutions to optimization problems. For this framework we derive several asymptotically equivalent forms of a test statistic for the local (in a way made precise in the paper) multivariate nonlinear inequality constraints test H: h(1) > 0 versus K: 1 E RK. We extend these results to consider local hypotheses tests of the form H: hI(1) ? 0 and h2(3) = 0 versus K: 1 E RK. For each test we derive the asymptotic distribution for any size test as a weighted sum of x2-distributions. We contrast local as opposed to global inequality constraints testing and give conditions on the model and constraints when each is possible. This paper also extends the well-known duality results in testing multivariate equality constraints to the case of nonlinear multivariate inequality constraints and combinations of nonlinear inequality and equality constraints. This paper develops three local (in a way to be made precise) asymptotic tests for a set of nonlinear inequality restrictions on the parameters of nonlinear econometric models from the general class of models considered by Burguete, Gallant, and Souza [10] and Gallant [19], henceforth abbreviated as the BGS class of estimators. Models contained in this class are all of the least mean distance estimators and method of moments estimators. See Gallant [19, chap. 3] for a listing of all of the estimators in this class. The results are extended to devising local large-sample tests for combinations of multivariate nonlinear inequality and equality constraints. For the sake of expositional ease and brevity, we present our results for one member of this class: the maximum likelihood (ML) model. Modifications necessary for these procedures to apply to the BGS class of models are stated later in the paper.
Thematizing the Subject from Gothicism to Late Romanticism

In "Thematizing the Subject from Gothicism to Late Romanticism," Slobodan Sucur takes Habermas’ suggestion that "modern art reveals its essence in Romanticism; and absolute inwardness determines the form and content of Romantic art" and offers an analysis of a spectrum of primary texts in relation to the statement. The texts analysed range from Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto to Odoyevsky’s Russian Nights. The texts are analyzed in chronological fashion, in an attempt to see how the thematization of the subject shifts as the Early Gothic novel (Walpole, Radcliffe) develops into High Romanticism (Hoffmann, Maturin) and finally into Late Romanticism (Poe, Odoyevsky). There appears to be a gradual but perceptible shift from thirdto first-person narration across this broad period. Consequently, the present study engages ideas of the sublime (Edmund Burke, Carl Grosse), the picturesque (Uvedale Price), and spatial constructs, and attempts to see the ways in which such ideas reconfigure the subject and are themselves reconfigured as the subject is further thematized during these significant years in which the Gothic novel is transformed into other Romantic and Late Romantic forms. Slobodan Sucur, "Thematizing the Subject from Gothicism to Late Romanticism" page 2 of 19 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 2.3 (2000):
Can earnings equations estimates improve CPS hot-deck imputations?

Some participants in income and labor market surveys fail to report their earnings. We use data on imputed and reported wages for the same workers, taken from the 1988 change in the CPS processing system to compare actual earnings to both hotdeck and earnings-equations imputations. Our results indicate that failure to correct for non-participation is a serious and continuing problem in the current CPS processing system.
A protein binds to a satellite DNA repeat at three specific sites that would be brought into mutual proximity by DNA folding in the nucleosome

Using a generally applicable assay for specific DNA-binding proteins in crude extracts, we have detected and purified an HMG-like nuclear protein from African green monkey cells that preferentially binds to the 172 bp repeat of alpha-satellite DNA (alpha-DNA). DNAase I footprinting with the purified protein detects three specific binding sites (I-III) per alpha-DNA repeat. Site II is 145 bp (one core nucleosome length) from site III on the adjacent alpha-DNA repeat, while site I lies midway between sites II and III. In the alpha-nucleosome phasing frame corresponding with this arrangement, sites I-III would be brought into mutual proximity by DNA folding in the nucleosome. This phasing frame is identical with the preferred frame detected previously in isolated chromatin. Our results suggest that this new and abundant protein recognizes a family of short, related nucleotide sequences found not only in alpha-DNA but also throughout the genome, and that functions of this protein are mediated through its nucleosome-positioning activity. Such nucleosome-positioning proteins may underlie the sequence specificity of both nucleosome arrangements and higher order chromatin structures.