cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drainage basins serve as multiple glacial refugia for alpine habitats in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

The evolutionary histories of alpine species are often directly associated with responses to glaciation. Deep divergence among populations and complex patterns of genetic variation have been inferred as consequences of persistence within glacier boundaries (i.e., on nunataks), while shallow divergence and limited genetic variation are assumed to result from expansion from large refugia at the edge of ice shields (i.e., massifs de refuge). However, for some species, dependence on specific microhabitats could profoundly influence their spatial and demographic response to glaciation, and such a simple dichotomy may obscure the localization of actual refugia. In this study, we use the Nebria ingens complex (Coleoptera: Carabidae), a water-affiliated ground beetle lineage, to test how drainage basins are linked to their observed population structure. By analysing mitochondrial COI gene sequences and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms, we find that the major drainage systems of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California best explain the population structure of the N. ingens complex. In addition, we find that an intermediate morphotype within the N. ingens complex is the product of historical hybridization of N. riversi and N. ingens in the San Joaquin basin during glaciation. This study highlights the importance of considering ecological preferences in how species respond to climate fluctuations and provides an explanation for discordances that are often observed in comparative phylogeographical studies.
Simulating the Boundary Layer between a White Dwarf and Its Accretion Disk

We describe the results of numerical simulations of the dynamics of the boundary layer (BL) between the accretion disk and the surface of a nonmagnetic white dwarf (WD) for different viscosities that correspond to different stages for dwarf novae burst cycles. The simulations cover the inner part of the accretion disk, the BL, and the upper atmosphere of the star. The high-viscosity case, which corresponds to a dwarf nova in outburst, shows an optically thick BL that after 1 Keplerian rotation period (tK = 19 s) extends more than 30° to either side of the disk plane. The BL is optically thick and thus occludes part of the star. The low-viscosity case, which corresponds to a dwarf nova in quiescence, also shows a BL, but it is optically thin.
Shame, selves, and morality

Krista Thomason’s Naked: The Dark Side of Shame and Moral Life (Thomason, 2018), develops a novel account of shame – one that advances our understanding of the emotion and its moral significance. O...
Current evidence for the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for children undergoing medical procedures.

BACKGROUND Because more than three million children are hospitalized every year in the United States, psychosocial and emotional impacts of hospitalization on children cannot be overlooked. As such, a variety of psychosocial support services are offered in pediatric facilities to reduce the negative effects often associated with hospitalization. This review examines current evidence for the effectiveness of common psychosocial interventions for children and youth undergoing medical procedures. METHODS A total of 34 studies that met selection guidelines, as outlined in Section 2, were included and coded based on study characteristics, intervention type, and study outcomes. RESULTS Findings from this literature review indicate that most studies examining the efficacy of psychosocial interventions reported at least positive outcomes for children. Although the review highlighted an overall pattern for improved outcomes following psychosocial intervention, there were some differences in outcomes based on type of intervention. In general, procedural support, preparation, and coping strategies were associated with reduced child anxiety/fear and distress. Procedural support was commonly associated with reduced pain, although many types of interventions demonstrated reduction in child pain. Procedural support was associated with improved procedural success. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review illustrates the benefits of offering psychosocial interventions, such as procedural support, preparation, teaching coping strategies, and medical play, that support children undergoing medical procedures. There is a need for additional studies that examine psychosocial interventions, including studies that examine long-term outcomes post-procedure or hospitalization. Furthermore, more studies need to collect cost-analysis information specific to the use of psychosocial interventions.
Understanding religious attachment among christians seeking spiritually integrated psychotherapies: A mixed methods study

OBJECTIVE This mixed methods study aimed to understand ways of viewing and experiencing religious attachment among Christians in spiritually integrated psychotherapies. METHOD In total, 190 Christian-affiliated clients completed narrative responses about religious and parental attachment along with validated measures of spiritual and psychological functioning toward the start of treatment. RESULTS An inductive content analysis revealed ten ways in which clients were viewing and experiencing God. Although painful themes were expressed, clients more frequently discussed comforting themes related to religious attachment. Additional analyses demonstrated convergence with parental attachment and quantitative measures of spirituality and mental health. CONCLUSION Religious attachment appears to primarily provide a sense of strength and comfort for Christians seeking care. Findings also indicate clients view and experience God in similar ways as their parents or caregivers. As such, assessing and affirming clients' faith may facilitate positive changes in how they view and experience themselves and others in treatment.
Show and Sell: Studying the Effects of Branded Cigarette Product Placement in TV Shows on Cigarette Sales

We evaluate whether and how branded TV product placement affects sales for cigarette brands. We use data on product placement from TV shows and data on retail sales of cigarettes to estimate a demand model that incorporates the level of product placement exposure for each cigarette brand. We find that product placement has a small yet positive and statistically significant effect on both own-brand sales and competitor-brand sales: both of these elasticities are roughly 0.02. These results indicate that cigarette product placement affects demand for individual cigarette brands and that it also leads to greater overall cigarette use. This issue is of particular importance to policymakers because product placement is one of the few remaining ways that cigarette brands can reach a mass audience. To illustrate how these results could be used by policymakers, we use our model estimates to evaluate how cigarette sales would be affected by two hypothetical kinds of regulations. Limiting brands’ ability to be displayed on TV and forcing TV networks to instead use generic, unbranded cigarettes on screen would only reduce cigarette sales by about 2 percent, while forcing TV networks to eliminate all on-screen smoking activity would reduce cigarette sales by about 7 percent.
Large-scale spectral clustering on graphs

Graph clustering has received growing attention in recent years as an important analytical technique, both due to the prevalence of graph data, and the usefulness of graph structures for exploiting intrinsic data characteristics. However, as graph data grows in scale, it becomes increasingly more challenging to identify clusters. In this paper we propose an efficient clustering algorithm for large-scale graph data using spectral methods. The key idea is to repeatedly generate a small number of "supernodes" connected to the regular nodes, in order to compress the original graph into a sparse bipartite graph. By clustering the bipartite graph using spectral methods, we are able to greatly improve efficiency without losing considerable clustering power. Extensive experiments show the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach.
Mechanisms and models of endoplasmic reticulum stress in chondrodysplasia

Chondrodysplasias are a group of genetic disorders that affect the development and growth of cartilage. These disorders can result in extreme short stature, craniofacial defects, joint malformation, and early osteoarthritis; severely impacting quality of life for affected individuals. Many chondrodysplasias are caused by mutations in genes encoding cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. These mutations typically result in synthesis of abnormal proteins that are improperly folded, and hence inappropriately retained within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the cell, activating ER stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR), an adaptive cellular response to minimize production of the mutant protein and/or to enhance protein folding, degradation or export. If prolonged, activation of the UPR causes apoptotic cell death. Many human disorders have an underlying mechanism in UPR activation, and targeting ER stress pathways is showing promise for development of therapeutics for these conditions. Understanding and modeling the UPR in chondrodysplasia will be essential to advance such targeted approaches for the benefit of chondrodysplasia patients. The focus of this review is to compare the mechanistic sequelae of ECM protein mutations in chondrodysplasia that may cause chondrocyte ER stress and UPR activation, and to present current and future directions in chondrodysplasia disease modeling and therapeutic intervention.
The U.S. agricultural sector and the macroeconomy.

The effects of the exchange rate, the U.S. agricultural price, the domestic income, and the interest rate on the U.S. net farm income are investigated in a cointegration framework. For this purpose, the Phillips-Hansen fully-modified cointegration (FM-OLS) procedure is applied to annual data for the period 1957-2008. Results suggest that there exists the long-run equilibrium relationship between the U.S. net farm income and the selected macroeconomic variables. We also find that the exchange rate and U.S. agricultural price are more important than other variables in determining the U.S. net farm income.
Abstract T P221: Anti-amyloid Immunotherapy Results in Exacerbation of Cerebrovascular Disease Through Activation of Matrix Metalloproteinases

Cerebrovascular disease is frequently co-morbid with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and we hypothesize this co-morbidity could complicate the development of disease-modifying therapies. The amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide has been the intense focus of therapeutic development for the treatment of AD. One therapeutic approach uses passive immunization against Aβ using anti-Aβ antibodies. We further hypothesize that inflammation mediated activation of MMP9 and MMP2 lead to the exacerbation of cerebrovascular pathologies following immunotherapy. To test our hypothesis we took aged 21 month old APP transgenic mice (PDAPP mice) that have cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and disruptions of the blood-brain barrier and administered anti-Aβ antibody or control IgG2a for 8 weeks at a dose of 12.5mg/kg. Expression of the MMP2 and MMP9 families were measured by qPCR and Western blot, total Aβ, CAA and albumin for vasogenic edema were measured using immunohistochemistry, and finally, microhemorrhages were assessed with Prussian b...
What is post TBI fatigue

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is among the most common sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI). OBJECTIVES: To summarize the empirical and theoretical literature on Post TBI fatigue (PTBIF) and identify some of the challenges that continue to confront clinicians, researchers and individuals with TBI. METHODS: Qualitative literature review. The epidemiology, characteristics, and correlates of PTBIF are described. Challenges in the operational definition and measurement of fatigue are discussed and the empirical literature on measurement of PTBIF and theoretical models of the potential etiology of PTBIF is summarized. Existing treatments of PTBIF and the research supporting them are reviewed. Future directions for clinical research are presented. RESULTS: Although PTBIF is a high incidence condition after TBI that is related to significant suffering and reduced quality of life, it remains inadequately measured and treated. Its etiology and precipitants are poorly understood and intervention research is inadequate. CONCLUSION: Further research is necessary to develop psychometrically-sound objective and subjective measures of PTBIF and examine the efficacy of treatments for fatigue. Interventions shown to improve fatigue in other populations should be considered in treating PTBIF. Language: en
The ‘‘one size fits all’’ approach to trauma treatment: should we be satisfied?

There have been significant advances in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in the last two decades. Further improvements in outcomes will be supported by recognition of the heterogeneity of symptoms in trauma populations and the development of treatments that promote the tailoring of interventions according to patient needs. Collaboration with patients regarding preferences about treatment structure, process, and outcomes is critical and will benefit the effectiveness and quality of treatments as well as the speed of their dissemination. New research methodologies are required that can incorporate important variables such as patient preferences and symptom heterogeneity without necessarily extending already lengthy study times or further complicating study designs. An example of alternative methodology is proposed. Keywords: PTSD; complex PTSD; patient preferences (Published: 19 May 2015) Citation: European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2015, 6 : 27344 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v6.27344 This paper is part of the Special Issue: Trauma and PTSD: setting the research agenda. More papers from this issue can be found at www.ejpt.net For the abstract or full text in other languages, please see Supplementary files under ‘Article Tools’
Not All Threats Are Equal

School leaders must be fully prepared to respond to all types of threats that occur. In order to respond to threats most appropriately, the school needs to have a systematic approach that combines education, prevention, intervention, discipline, security, and crisis preparedness measures. All threats must be assessed carefully and swiftly, balancing the First Amendment rights of the student making the threat and the safety of the school. All threats are not equal but all must be dealt with.
Feature-based lung nodule classification

Model-based detection and classification of nodules are two major steps in CAD systems design and evaluation. This paper examines feature-based nodule description for the purpose of classification in low dose CT scanning. After candidate nodules are detected, a process of classification of these nodules into types is needed. The SURF and the LBP descriptors are used to generate the features that describe the texture of common lung nodules. These features were optimized and the resultant set was used for classification of lung nodules into four categories: juxta-pleural, well-circumscribed, vascularized and pleural-tail, based on the extracted information. Experimental results illustrate the efficiency of using multi-resolution feature descriptors, such as the SURF and LBP algorithms, in lung nodule classification.
Local irregularity effects on quantifying mechanical response of adherent cells to fluid flow stimuli

The local irregularity at cellular level around adherent cells was examined using the finite element method by simulating a laboratory rotational flow apparatus. An axisymmetric flow was assumed for the fluid flow and the Navier–Stokes equation in cylindrical coordinate was used to study the fluid behavior under rotational velocity. A modified hyperelastic constitutive model that incorporates the effect of the interaction between cytoplasmic motion and cytoskeleton stretching within a cell was used to describe the mechanical response of adherent cells to the external forces of fluid flow. It was found that the flow pattern around the cells deviates significantly from the laminar flow assumption for the laboratory apparatus. The local irregularities alter the behavior of fluid flow near the cell and induce nonlinearity in velocity and vorticity, which play an important role in quantifying the detachment stresses of cells. A group of curves of the detachment stress versus the radial location of cells was de...
Characterization of a regulatory network that controls sigma B expression in Bacillus subtilis.

The sigB operon of Bacillus subtilis encodes sigma B and three additional open reading frames (orfV, orfW, and orfX). Having previously mapped several mutations that alter the induction pattern of a sigma B-dependent promoter (ctc) to regions of cloned B. subtilis DNA which contain these three open reading frames, we directly tested the regulatory potential of orfV, orfW, and orfX by creating null alleles of each of these genes and examining the effects of the mutations, either singly or in pairs, on transcription of ctc and the sigB operon. Using lacZ reporter gene fusions and Northern (RNA) blot analyses, we have determined that all three genes modulate the activation of the sigma B-dependent promoters at both the sigB operon and ctc. Our data are consistent with the three gene products participating in a single pathway of negative control. orfW and orfX single-mutant strains have high levels of sigB and ctc transcription. sigB and ctc transcription in an orfV strain is similar to that found in mutant strains which lack sigma B itself. The orfV mutation is dominant to orfX but recessive to orfW. These results suggest that OrfW is the primary inhibitor of sigma B-dependent transcription and that OrfV is capable of counteracting the negative control of OrfW but is prevented from doing this by the orfX gene product. Images
Cholesterolgenesis in vitro from ethanol.

Abstract Ethanol is a precursor for cholesterolgenesis. The reaction route of ethanol's conversion to cholesterol is through acetate and thence to cholesterol. The rate of cholesterolgenesis from ethanol is equal to the rate of cholesterolgenesis from acetate. However, ethanol at 3.44 × 10−1 M is a noncompetitive inhibitor of cholesterolgenesis from acetate; but ethanol at 1.0 × 10−3 M decreases the specific activity of 14C-acetate and thus decreases the incorporation of 14C-acetate substrate into cholesterol. Injection of ethanol into rats 1 hr before the animals were sacrificed resulted in a decreased incorporation in vitro of 14C-acetate and 14C-ethanol into cholesterol, which is a resultant of decreasing the specific activities of the 14C-acetate and 14C-ethanoI substrates used to study cholesterolgenesis in vitro. 14C-mevalonate incorporation into cholesterol is not affected by ethanol administration in vivo. Disulfiram increases the rate of cholesterolgenesis in vitro from 14C-acetate. Acetaldehyde decreases 14C-acetate incorporation into cholesterol.4
Advantages and Disadvantages of Multigenerational Family Households: Views of Three Generations:

Knowledge of advantages and disadvantages identified by each generation in multigenerational households (MGHs) composed of three generations helps to guide decision making by families and policymakers as well as assist professionals who provide clinical services to these families. As part of an exploratory study, survey data were collected from 171 respondents, representing 43 families and three generations. Using a panel of experts and content analysis techniques, categories were developed to sort the data for further analysis. Advantages outweighed disad vantages, particularly for the oldest generation. Family closeness and increased tangible resources were the most frequent advantages given. Intrahousehold family relationship stress and issues of privacy were the most frequent disadvantages identified. Statistically significant generational differences in responses were identified and explained by individual and family life stage theory. Implications for future research on the MGH are presented.
Consistency of cardiologists' prognostic judgments in cases of myocardial infarction

Abstract The basic goal of this research was to determine if cardiologists′ prognostic judgments could be reliably measured by use of a scaling technic. Prognostic judgments were studied in 20 cases of myocardial infarction. To determine what information should be presented to those making the judgments, a series of interviews were conducted with cardiologists and internists. They were asked what information they would like to have in order to make an immediate prognostic judgment. On the basis of the information obtained, case histories of myocardial infarction were reviewed in four hospitals. Twenty histories were selected. On the basis of the amount of information contained in the history, those histories were selected that came closest to having that information that the interviewees had said they wanted. The information on each patient was summarized on a sheet of paper. In the testing phase, 20 cardiologists were asked to place the 20 case histories in rank order in terms of favorability of immediate prognosis. Numerical scales were constructed from these rankings, and the reliability of the scale values was 0.97. Cardiologists are able to make extremely consistent prognostic judgments in a disease of their speciality. The implications for this type of research in medical education seem quite direct. Thus, it would be interesting to compare the reliability of the cardiologist's judgments to those with less specialized training or with medical students in their various stages of education. Perhaps this is a technic for measuring the development of clinical judgment.
Structural determination of a 1/1 rational approximant to the icosahedral phase in Ti-Cr-Si alloys

We report the discovery and structural refinement of a large unit cell bcc crystalline phase in a Ti-Cr-Si alloy that is a 1/1 rational approximant to the icosahedral phase in that system. The crystal structure was determined from a Rietveld analysis of x-ray and neutron powder diffraction data. Our results demonstrate that this phase is closely related to the \ensuremath{\alpha}(Al-Mn-Si) phase, which in turn, is closely related to the structure of the icosahedral phase in the Al-transition-metal alloys. The neutron data indicate that the structure contains a significant amount of oxygen located in the Mackay clusters. Partial ordering of this oxygen may provide an explanation for the localized diffuse scattering often observed in the i phase and related crystalline phases in Ti-transitional-metal alloys.
Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and evaluation of urinary incontinence and overactive bladder.

Abstract Objectives. To present an overview of current knowledge regarding the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and evaluation of urinary incontinence (UI) with a focus on the problem of the overactive bladder. Methods. The most recent data on the epidemiology of UI are presented. The literature on the pathophysiology of urinary urge incontinence (UUI) is reviewed, and key concepts related to patient evaluation are summarized. Results. The prevalence of UI depends on the population being surveyed. The overactive bladder constitutes a substantial percentage of the overall problem, ranging from >50% of incontinent men to only 10% to 15% of incontinent younger women. Few data are available on the incidence of the disorder or on racial/ethnic trends. Overactive bladder or urge incontinence is called detrusor hyperreflexia when a neurologic cause is known and detrusor instability when there is no neurologic abnormality. Although the pathophysiology of idiopathic instability is not well understood, some evidence suggests that this condition may result from subclinical neurologic disease or primary smooth muscle disease. Most patients with UUI can be adequately evaluated with a history, physical examination, determination of postvoid residual volume, and urinalysis. When neurologic disease or other complicating factors are present, or if initial treatment fails, sophisticated urodynamic testing is appropriate. Conclusions. Urinary incontinence is prevalent in all strata of the population, although it affects women and the elderly disproportionately. With the exception of cases in which a neurologic lesion can be demonstrated. the etiology of UUI remains elusive. A thorough history, physical examination, determination of postvoid residual, and urinalysis will be adequate to classify and treat the majority of patients.
X-chromosome heteromorphism and appearance of meiosis in the rat fetal ovary

Abstract Fetal rat oogenesis was examined attempting to test the hypothesis that two functional X chromosomes are required for the onset of meiosis. The presence of a Barr body in germ cells was considered to be evidence for one inactive X chromosome and the detection of leptotene oocytes as the criterion for the establishment of meiotic prophase. It was found that on Day 16 of gestation, 3.9% of the germ cells were leptotene oocytes, but the incidence of Barr body-positive oogonia persisted at 9.9%. On Day 17, the leptotene oocytes had increased to 26.6% and the Barr body-positive oogonia had decreased to 3.5%. It was concluded that X-chromosome reactivation, though occurring at some time during the onset of meiosis, was not the initiating event.
MICROSPOROGENESIS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MALE GAMETES IN PORTULACA OLERACEA

Dahlgren (I9I6), Rocen (I927), and Tjebbes (I928) have described the development of the anther and microsporogenesis in Portulaca; grandflora. Rocen also examined material of P. oleracea and found that it does lnot differ materially from P. grandiflora. in the development of the floral structures. The haploid chromosomne number is reported by Tjebbes as 9 in P. graudiflora and by Hagerup (1932) as 27 in P. oleracea. Buds of various ages were collected during the early summer of 1932 from plants growing along the roadsides near the campus of the University of Wisconsin and fixed in Licent's solution, La Cour's chrom-acetic-osmic solution, and Karpechenko's modification of Nawaschin's solution. The material was imbedded in paraffin, and sections io to I2y in thickness. were cut, mounted serially, and stained in Ehrlich's and in Delafield's haematoxylin. For stages in pollen-grain development, Ehrlich's haematoxylin was particularly useful because of the transparency of the stain.
The journal of pidgin and creole languages and the society for pidgin and creole linguistics, in retrospect

L'A. retrace la creation du Journal des langues pidgin et creoles en 1986 - a la suite d'un colloque organise a Amsterdam en 1985 sur la genese des creoles - et de la Societe pour la linguistique pidgin et creole en 1988. Il decrit son propre role dans le developpement des etudes sur les langues pidgins et creoles
Behavioral and physiological sex differences observed in an animal model of fulminant hepatic encephalopathy in the rat

Hepatic encephalopathy is characterized by a number of neuropsychiatric and motor disturbances observed in patients with liver dysfunction. The purpose of this study is to fully characterize behavioral and physiological sex differences in an animal model of fulminant hepatic encephalopathy (FHE). Male and female rats were administered thioacetamide (600 mg/kg) via i.p. (intraperitoneal) injection at Hours 0 and 24 and allowed to progress into the four stages of FHE. Male rats reached all four stages of FHE significantly earlier than female rats (p < 0.05). The performance of the male rats deteriorated more quickly (p < 0.05) than that of the females in all of the sensory and motor behavioral tests. Sex differences were observed in the liver enzymes of the FHE rats. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in male rats in all four stages of FHE. Significant increases were also observed in the levels of direct and total bilirubin (p < 0.05). Neuronal damage was observed in the CA1 and CA2 regions of the hippocampus. In the CA1 region, male rats displayed greater pathological changes in Stages III and IV (p < 0.05) than female rats. The damage in the CA2 region was only observed in Stage IV male rats. Our data indicate that observable behavioral and physiological sex differences occur in thioacetamide-induced FHE in the rat.
Coherent Spontaneous Emission

Coherent spontaneous emission from a system of $N$ two-level atoms interacting with a quantized radiation field is treated for the case in which Dicke's "cooperation number" $r$ is macroscopically large. It is shown how to modify the quasiclassical approach to this problem to incorporate quantum effects that are lost in the self-consistent-field approximation. The statistics of the emitted radiation are found to vary markedly with the initial state of the system of atoms. The photon statistics tend to that typical of blackbody radiation when the initial state of the atomic system is that which would result from incoherent pumping ($m\ensuremath{\sim}r$). When, on the other hand, the atoms are initially in a superradiant state ($m\ensuremath{\ll}r$), the emitted radiation may be represented approximately by a coherent state.
The Checklist of Unit Behaviors (CUB): psychometric properties of a measure of patient milieu engagement on an acute inpatient psychiatric unit

ObjectiveThis paper presents the psychometric properties, including factor structure, internal reliability and relative validity of a 16-item questionnaire measuring patients’ relative activation with milieu activities while hospitalised in an acute psychiatric inpatient unit.Method24 hours after admission, and before discharge, psychiatric inpatients (N = 132) completed a set of validated self-reports and the pilot questionnaire, the Checklist of Unit Behaviors (CUB). The CUB outlines items that reflect the extent to which the patient avoided or engaged with the treatment milieu within the previous 24 hours. Factor analysis, bivariate correlations and repeated-measures t-tests were used to analyse the data.ResultsFactor analysis identified two factors for the CUB: (1) Behavioural Approach; and (2) Behavioural Avoidance. Psychometric properties were satisfactory (Approach, Cronbach's α = 0.93; Avoidance, Cronbach's α = 0.79). Over the course of treatment, CUB-Approach increased (p < 0.001) and CUB-Avoidance decreased (p < 0.001). The construct validity of the CUB was supported through correlations with measures of positive and negative affect.ConclusionsThe CUB demonstrates strong psychometric properties, quantifying patients’ behavioural activation in the treatment milieu. Daily use of the CUB provides clinically useful information that has the potential to improve patient care and treatment planning.
Clomiphene citrate ovulation induction in combination with a timed intrauterine insemination: the value of urinary luteinizing hormone versus human chorionic gonadotropin timing.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical pregnancy rates (PRs) in anovulatory, male factor, and unexplained infertility using clomiphene citrate (CC) with an IUI and to evaluate the difference in PRs between urinary LH testing and hCG administration for timing of the IUI. Design: Retrospective clinical study. Setting: Academic, tertiary care fertility center. Patient(s): One hundred thirty-eight couples (432 cycles) undergoing IUI with CC ovulation induction as a treatment for unexplained, anovulatory, or male factor infertility were selected. Intervention(s): All women with unexplained or male factor infertility received CC at a dose of 50 mg/d, and those with anovulation received CC at a dose ranging from 50 to 200 mg/d. All women in the study received a single IUI either the morning after a urinary LH surge or 36 to 38 hours after an evening hCG injection. Main Outcome Measure(s): Clinical PR. Result(s): There were no differences in the clinical PRs between LH testing or hCG administration in any of the three groups. Clinical PRs were extremely low in the male factor infertility group regardless of the timing used. Conclusion(s): These data suggest that the success of IUI with CC is not dependent on the method used to establish the timing for the IUI. In couples undergoing IUI with CC, the use of urinary LH testing may result in lower costs by reducing patient visits and the midcycle ultrasound.
Rapid ultrastructural examination of FNAs in the diagnosis of intrathoracic tumors.

By coupling radiologic imaging procedures with a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) technique, superficial and deep-seated tumors of the thorax may be sampled for cytopathologic evaluation with relative ease, minimal trauma to the patient, and may avert unnecessary or contraindicated surgery. However, the cytodiagnostic limitations that apply to FNA specimens from other sites also obtain for tumors of the thoracic cavity. Although application of histo- and immunohistochemistry offers some expansion of cytodiagnostic limits, their inherent problems of technical failure and biological capriciousness demand a highly critical if not outright skeptical appraisal of the result when applied to cytology specimens. By extending the basic morphologic principles of cytodiagnosis to include fine structure, its limitations can be largely eliminated. Journals of pathology and specialized atlases contain detailed fine structural descriptions of essentially all recognized neoplasms, and the features that discriminate one neoplasm from another are now well recognized. In most instances, a few well-preserved cells or cell groups obtained from an FNA can provide a morphological diagnosis that rivals or surpasses that of conventional paraffin sections of surgically biopsied material, when evaluated in concert with the cytology preparation. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The incorporation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and isopentenyl pyrophosphate into ubiquinone precursors by cell-free preparations of rat tissues

Abstract Cell-free preparations of rat kidney, liver and brain supplemented with an extract of Micrococcus lysodeikticus and IPP incorporate p-hydroxybenzoic acid-U-14C into a single lipid component which is shown to be identical with 3-polyprenyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid. MLE and IPP are essential. These preparations lack the decarboxylase which converts PPHB to PPP. The PHB-polyprenyltransferase activity appears to be located in the membranous components of the mitochondria and is susceptible to inhibition by sulfhydryl reagents, diphenylamine and other agents.
Carrier Properties of Porphyrinic Molecular Metals

Abstract A series of quasi one-dimensional molecular metals based on metallomacrocycle building blocks is compared. The group of compounds Ni(L)I, where L = dian-ion of phthalocyanine (PC), tetrabenzporphyrin (TBP), or triazatetrabenzporphyrin (TATBP), are isoionic and isostructural but the nature of the charge carrier is quite different in each material. Oxidation in Ni(PC)l is exclusively from ligand π-orbitals so that conduction is associated with delocalized π-orbitals. Ni(TBP)I and Ni(TATBP)I display epr spectra that demonstrate that oxidation has occurred from both ligand ir-orbitals and Ni d-orbitals so that these compounds display a novel, doubly mixed-valence state. The compounds Ni(PC)I, Ni(TMP)I, and Ni(OMTBP)I (TMP = tetramethylporphyrin, OMTBP = octamethyltetrabenzporphyrin) form an isoionic series where Coulomb correlations are of progressively greater importance.
Defining the Domain of Binding of F1 Subunit ε with the Polar Loop of F0 Subunit c in theEscherichia coli ATP Synthase

We have previously shown that the E31C-substituted e subunit of F1 can be cross-linked by disulfide bond formation to the Q42C-substitutedc subunit of F0 in the Escherichia coli F1F0-ATP synthase complex (Zhang, Y., and Fillingame, R. H. (1995) J. Biol. Chem.270, 24609–24614). The interactions of subunits e and care thought to be central to the coupling of H+ transport through F0 to ATP synthesis in F1. To further define the domains of interaction, we have introduced additional Cys into subunit e and subunit c and tested for cross-link formation following sulfhydryl oxidation. The results show that Cys, in a continuous stretch of residues 26–33 in subunit e, can be cross-linked to Cys at positions 40, 42, and 44 in the polar loop region of subunit c. The results are interpreted, and the subunit interaction is modeled using the NMR and x-ray diffraction structures of the monomeric subunits together with information on the packing arrangement of subunit c in a ring of 12 subunits. In the model, residues 26–33 form a turn of antiparallel β-sheet which packs between the polar loop regions of adjacent subunitc at the cytoplasmic surface of thec 12 oligomer.
The social skills intake interview: Reliability and convergent validity assessment

Interview data on 77 hospitalized male psychiatric patients were compared to professional staffs' in vivo evaluations, trained judges' evaluations of video-taped role-plays, as well as patients' self-report evaluations of their social skill. The results on overall skill ratings showed good reliability between two senior research staff members who conducted the interviews (r = 0.66) and between the video judges (r = 0.92). While the convergent ratings of professionals corresponded significantly with the interview ratings, the self-report ratings did not. Agreement between raters and correspondence among rating sources are discussed in the context of the amount of structure in each observational setting.
Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumor: An Immunohistochemical Study

Malignant mixed Mullerian tumor (MMMT) is an uncommon aggressive neoplasm composed of both malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components. In this study, immunohistochemical stains of germ cell markers, including SALL4, OCT3/4, glypican-3, and alpha-fetal protein (AFP), and CDX2 were performed in a series of MMMTs. SALL4 nuclear immunoreactivity was detected in 6 out of 19 cases (33%). The staining extent ranged from focal to extensive. The staining intensity was usually intermediate to strong (the score ranged from 1.5 to 3, and average score was 2.3 ± 0.5 in the positive cases). In addition, glypican-3 cytoplasmic reactivity was detected in 14 out of 16 cases (88%) with a mean score of 1.8 ± 0.7 (score ranging from 1 to 3). In contrast, OCT3/4 was only positive in 1 out of 19 cases and AFP in 2 out of 18 cases (11%). In summary, SALL4 and glypican-3 were frequently expressed in a subset of MMMTs. Their roles in the pathogenesis and biology of MMMT are yet to be determined. MMMT should be included in the differential diagnosis when a tumor is positive for SALL4 and/or glypican-3.
Periodic evaluation of the occlusal vertical dimension of maxillary dentures from the wax trial denture through 48 hours after polymerization.

Purpose This study measured the effects of commercial resin type on maxillary complete dentures with monoplane teeth by periodically comparing the occlusal vertical dimension of the polymerized dentures with the baseline, wax trial denture fiducial measurements. Materials and methods Commercially available compression-molded, injection-molded, and fluid poly(methyl methacrylate) resins, as well as one compression-molded methyl acrylate ester copolymer, were evaluated. Ten dentures were fabricated from each resin using monoplane teeth. The occlusal vertical dimension at the articulator pin was measured at the wax denture stage for each specimen, and changes in occlusal vertical dimension for each denture were evaluated at a simulated laboratory remount, and at 0, 3, 6, 24, and 48 hours after a simulated clinical remount. Repeated measures analysis of variance (alpha = 0.05) and post hoc one-way factorial analysis of variance and Scheffe's F-Tests for each resin group were performed using ranks of raw data. Results Changes in the maxillary denture mean occlusal vertical dimensions were recognized throughout the evaluation periods compared with the wax-denture baseline, and time was a significant influence on displacement (p = .0001). Only the compression-molded poly(methyl methacrylate) dentures exhibited a mean laboratory remount occlusal vertical dimension that was significantly greater than the mean wax denture measurement, and all resin systems exhibited occlusal error that was significantly less than the laboratory remount measurements at 48 hours. At 48 hours, all resin groups exhibited mean occlusal vertical dimension changes that were less than 1 mm compared with the wax denture. Only compression-molded poly(methyl methacrylate) dentures exhibited a mean 48-hour clinical remount measurement that was statistically similar to the mean wax denture occlusal vertical dimension. Conclusions Individual maxillary dentures from all resin types and at all intervals exhibited dimensional change. At the last evaluation period, the compression-molded poly(methyl methacrylate) showed no change in mean occlusal vertical dimension from baseline, whereas remaining groups exhibited occlusal vertical dimensions significantly less than baseline.
Transient Effects In The Acrylamide Quenching Of Single Tryptophan Proteins, Observed Using Frequency-Domain Fluorometry

We used GHz frequency-domain fluorometry to examine the tryptophan intensity decays of NATA (M-acetyl-L-tryptophanamide), gly-trp-gly, and the single tryptophan proteins ACTH, E. nuclease and ribonuclease T, (Rhase 1%). In all cases the intensity decays became more heterogeneous in the presence of quenching, which we attribute to a time-dependent rate constant for quenching (transient effects). The frequency-domain data were analyzed using the Smoluchowski model (exp(-t/t 2b/T)) and the radiation boundary condition (RBC) model. In contrast to the IT model, the RBC model does not assume the fluorophore-quencher pair is immediately deactivated, but rather assumes a rate constant for deactivation of the pair (K) as well as a mutual diffusion coefficient (D). The RBC model provides dramatically improved fits to the data. The values of both D and decreases progressively in the order listed above, which is with decreasing exposure to the aqueous phase. Because the RBC model may not be strictly correct in homogeneous solution, and probably less so in the hindered anisotropic environment of the proteins, the recovered values of D and IC should be regarded as apparent values. The recovered intensity decays can be compared with molecular dynamic calculations of quencher trajectories in proteins.
Will cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibition succeed primarily by lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol? Insights from human genetics and clinical trials.

Developing new medicines to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the leading cause of death in the United States and in Europe, has never been more challenging ([1][1]). The number of new drug approvals is down, whereas the cost of developing a new medicine is increasing. Many new
Computer Controlled System for Study of Pulsed Hollow Cathode Lamps

A system for complete computer control of the important current waveform variables in the operation of pulsed hollow cathode lamps is described and characterized. The system is shown to provide a highly flexible approach for the rapid accumulation of data on lamp operating characteristics. By implementing a simplex optimization technique with the system, it is shown that a selected lamp response (average peak intensity or integrated peak intensity) can be observed as a function of one variable, while all other variables are at values which result in an optimized response. This procedure, which probably could not be carried out without a closed loop system such as that described, avoids the potential difficulties of the one-factor-at-a-time approach. Results are reported for optimization studies of two iron hollow cathode lamps, for a response surface mapping experiment, and for examination of the pulse shapes of iron, calcium, vanadium, and aluminum hollow cathode lamps.
Simultaneous Multi-Scale Diffusion Estimation and Tractography Guided by Entropy Spectrum Pathways

We have developed a method for the simultaneous estimation of local diffusion and the global fiber tracts based upon the information entropy flow that computes the maximum entropy trajectories between locations and depends upon the global structure of the multi-dimensional and multi-modal diffusion field. Computation of the entropy spectrum pathways requires only solving a simple eigenvector problem for the probability distribution for which efficient numerical routines exist, and a straight forward integration of the probability conservation through ray tracing of the convective modes guided by a global structure of the entropy spectrum coupled with a small scale local diffusion. The intervoxel diffusion is sampled by multi b-shell multi q-angle diffusion weighted imaging data expanded in spherical waves. This novel approach to fiber tracking incorporates global information about multiple fiber crossings in every individual voxel and ranks it in the most scientifically rigorous way. This method has potential significance for a wide range of applications, including studies of brain connectivity.
Rspo1/Wnt signaling promotes angiogenesis via Vegfc/Vegfr3

Here, we show that a novel Rspo1-Wnt-Vegfc-Vegfr3 signaling pathway plays an essential role in developmental angiogenesis. A mutation in R-spondin1 (rspo1), a Wnt signaling regulator, was uncovered during a forward-genetic screen for angiogenesis-deficient mutants in the zebrafish. Embryos lacking rspo1 or the proposed rspo1 receptor kremen form primary vessels by vasculogenesis, but are defective in subsequent angiogenesis. Endothelial cell-autonomous inhibition of canonical Wnt signaling also blocks angiogenesis in vivo. The pro-angiogenic effects of Rspo1/Wnt signaling are mediated by Vegfc/Vegfr3(Flt4) signaling. Vegfc expression is dependent on Rspo1 and Wnt, and Vegfc and Vegfr3 are necessary to promote angiogenesis downstream from Rspo1-Wnt. As all of these molecules are expressed by the endothelium during sprouting stages, these results suggest that Rspo1-Wnt-VegfC-Vegfr3 signaling plays a crucial role as an endothelial-autonomous permissive cue for developmental angiogenesis.
The century beyond the gene

In an increasing number of biological laboratories, the focus of research is shifting from sequence data to the functional meaning of that data. No longer content with structural mappings, there is a renewed interest abroad in what the United States Department of Energy calls, ’Bringing Genomes to Life’. For many, this means a movement beyond ’reductionism’ to a ’systems biology’. The question is, what does this mean?
Use of Sepharose 4B for preparative scale fractionation of eukaryotic messenger RNA's.

Abstract A new technique using Sepharose 4B column chromatography for the partial purification of the total messenger RNA population of several animal tissues is described. The column when eluted with 0.1M sodium acetate, pH 5.0, containing. 001M EDTA, resolves a total nucleic acid extract into four major peaks. DNA is eluted at the void volume, followed successively by peaks of 18S ribosomal RNA, 4S transfer RNA and 28S ribosomal RNA. Ribonucleic acid containing mRNA activities is eluted after the DNA peak but immediately before the 18S rRNA peak. Hence the column enables quantitative removal of DNA, 5S RNA, tRNA and 28S rRNA from the majority of total cellular mRNA's. Partial segregation of mRNA's in the column is also demonstrated. The method does not require the isolation of polysomes as the initial procedure in mRNA isolation and is readily adaptable to large scale preparations. One hundred mg of total nucleic acid extracted from whole tissues can be fractionated on a 5 × 100 cm Sepharose 4B column. ...