cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Violence, pregnancy and birth outcome in Appalachia

Few studies have followed pregnant women prospectively to examine the impact of violence on birth outcome. We included such an assessment in a prospective study of pregnancy among low-income women. Nurses and social workers interviewed pregnant women (n = 364) and asked if they had been the object of violence since they became pregnant. These prenatal interviews were linked with information from perinatal records and with birth and death information. In total, 15.9% of women in the study indicated they had been abused since they became pregnant. Abused women were more likely to be teenagers and to have partners who were teenagers. Abused women were more likely to be primiparous, to smoke during pregnancy and to have physical problems related to stress. Women battered during pregnancy were more likely to suffer fetal distress or fetal death Odds Ratio (OR) 3.68; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.36, 9.94., even after adjusting for maternal age and smoking status. Finally the infants of abused women were more likely to remain in hospital after their mother's discharge (OR: 3.75; 95% CI: 1.38, 10.23). Our findings suggest that fetuses may be compromised in utero, as shown by higher rates of fetal distress and fetal death found among women physically abused during pregnancy. Language: en
Quantifying Spatial Distribution of Snow Depth Errors from LiDAR Using Random Forest

Abstract There is increasing need to characterize the distribution of snow in complex terrain using remote sensing approaches, especially in isolated mountainous regions that are often water-limited, the principal source of terrestrial freshwater, and sensitive to climatic shifts and variations. We apply intensive topographic surveys, multi-temporal LiDAR, and Random Forest modeling to quantify snow volume and characterize associated errors across seven land cover types in a semi-arid mountainous catchment at a 1 and 4 m spatial resolution. The LiDAR-based estimates of both snow-off surface topology and snow depths were validated against ground-based measurements across the catchment. LiDAR-derived snow depths estimates were most accurate in areas of low lying vegetation such as meadow and shrub vegetation (RMSE = 0.14 m) as compared to areas consisting of tree cover (RMSE = 0.20–0.35 m). The highest errors were found along the edge of conifer forests (RMSE = 0.35 m), however a second conifer transect outside the catchment had much lower errors (RMSE = 0.21 m). This difference is attributed to the wind exposure of the first site that led to highly variable snow depths at short spatial distances. The Random Forest modeled errors deviated from the field measured errors with a RMSE of 0.09–0.34 m across the different cover types. The modeling was used to calculate a theoretical lower and upper bound of catchment snow volume error of 21–30%. Results show that snow drifts, which are important for maintaining spring and summer stream flows and establishing and sustaining water-limited plant species, contained 30 ± 5–6% of the snow volume while only occupying 10% of the catchment area similar to findings by prior physically-based modeling approaches. This study demonstrates the potential utility of combining multi-temporal LiDAR with Random Forest modeling to quantify the distribution of snow depth with a reasonable degree of accuracy.
The first amendment as a sword: The positive liberty doctrine and cable must‐carry provisions

In 1994, the U.S. Supreme Court considered the constitutionality of Congress’ 1992 must‐carry provisions. The divided Court's opinion was inconclusive, but the reasoning of the justices highlights a broader theme. That theme, the notion of positive liberty, suggests that the proper role for government under the First Amendment is to become an active regulator in order to advance certain social interests. This study analyzes how the concept of positive liberty affected the differing constitutional visions expressed by the justices.
Academic Physicians' Opinions on Preliminary Reporting of Echocardiographic Data

Preliminary reporting of echocardiographic data by cardiac sonographers has become a key issue in the echocardiography community. A survey on this issue was sent to 248 academic physicians and 89 (35.8%) were returned. In response to a question in the survey, 76 physicians stated that they had at least a limited amount of knowledge in echocardiography. For the group, 62% wanted a written or verbal preliminary report and 52% concluded that this report should be a part of the cardiac sonographer's position. If cardiac abnormalities are suspected, 65% wanted the results before the cardiologist reviewed the study, but only 42% of the physicians wanted a diagnostic versus a descriptive type of report. About 49% stated that if necessary they would attempt to influence the cardiac sonographer to give them a preliminary report, whereas 67% of the physicians would possibly use this information to medically manage the patient. Fifty percent believed that it was legal for a cardiac sonographer to give a preliminary report. Another 70% said that the cardiac sonographer would NOT be "practicing medicine without a license" and 66% concluded that they would NOT be "aiding and abetting the unauthorized practice of medicine" if given this information. These data have important potential ramifications for both cardiac sonographers as well as for the practice of cardiology regarding the issue of preliminary echocardiographic reports.
An Eco‐hydro‐geomorphic Perspective to Modeling the Role of Climate in Catchment Evolution

Climate is the energizer of the landscape system. Geomorphic response of a catchment integrates a wide range of climate-driven coupled biotic-abiotic processes along topographic flow paths. As such, modeling the impacts of climate in landscape evolution requires a holistic approach, involving basin ecological and hydrological states, primitive in existing numerical models. To facilitate future model developments, a conceptual diagram of a holistic approach for modeling the role of climate in landscape evolution is presented. We identify hydrology and vegetation dynamics as critical components of future landscape evolution models and discuss how different runoff generation and simple vegetation growth-death processes impact modeled catchment morphology and sediment yields. We illustrate fundamental differences observed in eco-hydro-geomorphic processes across climates using examples from the literature, and emphasize the importance of these differences on catchment evolution. The article concludes with the opinion that simplistic modeling approaches that capture the salient aspects of dominant climate-soil-vegetation-erosion interactions observed in different climates should be adopted in landscape evolution models. This dominant-process approach would also stimulate extensive process-based field research, necessary for the merger of field and modeling perspectives in geomorphology.
Two-region analysis of pulsing data in fast critical systems

Abstract Pulsed neutron die-way experiments were performed in three fast critical systems assembled in the Argonne Zero Power Reactor-III (ZPR-III). These experiments were part of a comprehensive study of the mockups of the proposed fast reactors FARET (Fast Reactor Test) and SEFOR (Southwest Experimental Fast Oxide Reactor). The two FARET systems pulsed were Assembly 46-B, a 68 1 plutonium-uranium carbide core with stainless steel and sodium reflector; and Assembly 46-C, an 87 1 plutonium-uranium oxide core with the same reflector materials. The SEFOR mockup was a 528 1 plutonium-depleted uranium oxide core with a reflector of stainless steel, sodium and nickel. In all three cases, an acceptable analysis of the die-way curves required two exponentials plus background. From this data, we were able by a two-region transfer function analysis to assign a prompt neutron lifetime to core neutrons and to the system as a whole. Further, the transfer function model used predicts that the die-away curves in the reflector will contain two exponential terms having the same two exponential decay constants as were found in the core, and that the coefficient of the faster decay will be negative. This was found to be the case within experimental uncertainty.
INVOLVEMENT OF SRC-HOMOLOGY-2-DOMAIN-CONTAINING PROTEIN-TYROSINE PHOSPHATASE 2 IN T CELL ACTIVATION

Activation of resting T lymphocytes by ligands to the complex of T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and CD3 is initiated by a series of critical tyrosine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation events. Protein-tyrosine kinases of the Syk, Src and Csk families and the CD45 protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) are known to be involved in these early biochemical reactions. We have found that one of the two T-cell-expressed SH2-domain-containing PTPases, SHPTP2, is rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine upon addition of anti-CD3 mAbs. This response was absent in cells lacking the Src family kinase Lck. Concomitantly with tyrosine phosphorylation, SHPTP2 co-immunoprecipitated with two unphosphorylated cellular proteins: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p85 and Grb2. Binding of SHPTP2 to Grb2 occurred through the SH2 domain of Grb2, while the association between SHPTP2 and p85 seemed to be mediated through Grb2 as an intermediate. In addition, many other molecules associate with Grb2 and may thereby become juxtaposed to SHPTP2. Our results indicate that SHPTP2 participates actively at an early stage in TCR signaling and that its phosphorylation on tyrosine may direct a Grb2-dependent association with selected substrates.
Scintillation measurements of broadband 980-nm laser light in clear air turbulence

Free-space atmospheric direct detection optical communication at 980 nm with multiple quantum well retro-reflectors is attractive because of the availability of high power, good beam quality 980 nm laser diodes as transmitters and very low noise silicon avalanche photodiodes for use in the receivers. The paper will report the results of measurements of intensity fading statistics for broadband, low coherence volume 980 nm laser sources. In addition, results of measurement of both intensity spatial correlation lengths and optical field spatial correlation lengths will be described. The former determines receiver performance and the latter the optimal positioning of arrays of MQW retro-reflectors to make best use of the spatial diversity of the atmospheric channel.
Clinical benefit in recurrent glioblastoma from adjuvant NovoTTF-100A and TCCC after temozolomide and bevacizumab failure: a preliminary observation

The NovoTTF-100A is a device that emits alternating electric fields and it is approved for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma. It works by perturbing tumor cells during mitosis as they enter anaphase leading to aneuploidy, asymmetric chromosome segregation and cell death with evidence of increased immunogenicity. Clinical trial data have shown equivalent efficacy when compared to salvage chemotherapies in recurrent disease. Responders were found to have had a lower dexamethasone usage and a higher rate of prior low-grade histology. We treated a series of patients with NovoTTF-100A and bevacizumab alone (n = 34) or in combination with a regimen consisting of 6-thioguanine, lomustine, capecitabine, and celecoxib (TCCC) (n = 3). Compared to the former cohort, the latter cohort exhibited a trend for prolonged overall survival, median 4.1 (0.3-22.7) months versus 10.3 (7.7-13.6) months respectively (P = 0.0951), with one experiencing an objective response with a 50% reduction in tumor size on magnetic resonance imaging despite possessing a larger tumor size at baseline and more severe neurologic dysfunction than the median for either group. These observations illustrate the possibility of improving survival and achieving a response in patients with end-stage recurrent glioblastoma by biasing the tumor toward anti-tumor immunologic response with a combination of NovoTTF-100A and TCCC, as well as the continuation of bevacizumab in order to limit dexamethasone use due to its global immunosuppressive effect on the patient.
An evolutionary view of the male reproductive tract and sperm maturation in a monotreme mammal ‐ the echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus

In exploring the evolution and adaptive significance of epididymal function, we have studied the male excurrent duct and spermatozoa of a monotreme mammal--the echidna. Sperm maturation in the echidna excurrent duct appears simpler than that in most therians examined. Furthermore, neither the duct nor the spermatozoa of the echidna display specific therian characteristics; they bear a much closer resemblance to those of non-passerine birds. The echidna spermatozoon is filiform, the sperm tail has no distinctive features, and the anterior seventh of the undulating nucleus is covered by a modest acrosome. Immediately behind this a restricted apposition between plasma membrane and nuclear envelope constitutes a post-acrosomal ring. This is evident also in some reptiles and marsupials, whereas in Eutheria such a membrane association appears as the posterior ring at the base of the sperm nucleus. Maturation of spermatozoa in the Wolffian duct of the echidna appears to be expressed only in a changing capacity for motility and in loss of the cytoplasmic droplet. Neither surface, structural nor acrosomal changes that characterize sperm maturation in therian mammals have been detected in maturing echidna spermatozoa. The echidna duct displays little of the regional complexity of the epithelium that typifies this duct in the Theria. Of five regions distinguishable on the basis of epithelial morphology, the first two appear to be counterparts of efferent ducts by virtue of a low columnar, partially ciliated epithelium. The tall pseudo-stratified Golgi-rich epithelium of the major portion of the duct broadly resembles that of the therian epididymis, but it displays only two structurally distinguishable regions, the more distal being the site of a dense luminal secretion. The foamy epithelial cells of the fifth and terminal region, characterized by a mass of supra-nuclear vesicles and rough ER, suggest a secretory function that may in some way contribute significantly to the ejaculate, for accessory glands are poorly developed in monotremes. The possibility is considered that the relative complexity of epididymal function and sperm structure in therian mammals could have been determined by evolutionary change in the milieu of the female tract, and/or in the character of the egg vestments that the fertilizing spermatozoon must penetrate.
Gingivoperiosteoplasty as well as early palatal cleft closure is unproductive.

Abstract A review of the cleft palate presurgical orthopedic appliance literature reveals that the appliance's use in neonatal treatment is limited to the molding of neonatal palatal segments. When coupled with primary bone grafting and/or gingivoperiosteoplasty, the long-term effects on facial aesthetics and dental occlusion are compromised, requiring extensive surgical-orthodontic corrective treatment. To avoid the bad effects, the surgeon/orthodontist should take into consideration the extent of palatal osteogenic deficiency, the presence or absence of teeth, the nature of the pharyngeal architecture, and the facial growth pattern. Gingivoperiosteoplasty and early palate surgery should not be performed before 12 months. The best time to close the palate cleft is between 18 and 24 months in most cases when the velocity of palate growth has leveled off. Secondary alveolar bone grafting of the alveolar cleft is the most physiologically attuned procedure that can be used to replace missing alveolar bone.
Effect of an imaging-based streamlined electronic healthcare process on quality and costs1

Abstract Rationale and Objectives. A streamlined process of care supported by technology and imaging may be effective in managing the overall healthcare process and costs. This study examined the effect of an imaging-based electronic process of care on costs and rates of hospitalization, emergency room (ER) visits, specialist diagnostic referrals, and patient satisfaction. Materials and Methods. A healthcare process was implemented for an employer group, highlighting improved patient access to primary care plus routine use of imaging and teleconsultation with diagnostic specialists. An electronic infrastructure supported patient access to physicians and communication among healthcare providers. The employer group, a self-insured company, manages a healthcare plan for its employees and their dependents: 4,072 employees were enrolled in the test group, and 7,639 in the control group. Outcome measures for expenses and frequency of hospitalizations, ER visits, traditional specialist referrals, primary care visits, and imaging utilization rates were measured using claims data over 1 year. Homogeneity tests of proportions were performed with a chi-square statistic, mean differences were tested by two-sample t -tests. Patient satisfaction with access to healthcare was gauged using results from an independent firm. Results. Overall per member/per month costs post-implementation were lower in the enrolled population ($126 vs $160), even though occurrence of chronic/expensive diseases was higher in the enrolled group (18.8% vs 12.2%). Lower per member/per month costs were seen for inpatient ($33.29 vs $35.59); specialist referrals ($21.36 vs $26.84); and ER visits ($3.68 vs $5.22). Moreover, the utilization rate for hospital admissions, ER visits, and traditional specialist referrals were significantly lower in the enrolled group, although primary care and imaging utilization were higher. Comparison to similar employer groups showed that the company’s costs were lower than national averages ($119.24 vs $146.32), indicating that the observed result was not attributable to normalization effects. Patient satisfaction with access to healthcare ranked in the top 21st percentile. Conclusion. A streamlined healthcare process supported by technology resulted in higher patient satisfaction and cost savings despite improved access to primary care and higher utilization of imaging.
The methylbenzenes—I. Vapor-phase vibrational fundamentals, internal rotations and a modified valence force field

Abstract Vapor-phase Raman and i.r. spectra have been obtained for all methylbenzenes. Consistent vibrational assignments are reported from a molecular vibrational analysis of benzene, its isotopic analogs and methyl derivatives. A 46-parameter modified valence force field is determined; the average error between the 736 observed and calculated wavenumbers is 6.59 cm −1 or 0.90%.
Determining the effect of temperature on microinverter inversion efficiency

Sandia National Laboratories is working to develop a set of test procedures and characterization models which may be used to describe the performance of AC modules and serve as a basis of product comparison. However, in measuring the module/microinverter system output, it is difficult to determine the effects of correlated parameters on system performance. In particular, we have found that the module temperature and the inverter temperature are highly correlated when the system is operating, and thus it is difficult to separate their effects on system power output. In 2014, we have conducted temperature testing on microinverters and we will show that the effect of temperature on microinverter performance is sufficiently small to justify omitting it from the final characterization model for AC modules.
An analogue and propositional hybrid model for the perception of computer generated graphical images

Abstract This research investigated two alternative models, analogue and propositional, which describe how three-dimensional (3-D) graphical images are represented and stored in human memory. In order to differentiate between the two models, three separate experiments were performed using a variation of the Shepard-Metzler mental rotation paradigm (Shepard and Metzler 1971). For each experiment, the effects of three independent variables on the performance of a ‘mental rotation’ task were examined: (a) three levels of figure complexity, ( b) three axes of rotation and (c) four angles of rotation. The subjects' task was to compare specific angle, axis or depth versus picture plane rotations for pairs (rotated and non-rotated versions) of 3-D graphic figures displayed on a CRT. The results indicated that response times varied depending on level of figure complexity, axis or angle of rotation. A new hybrid model integrating components of both the analogue and propositional positions is proposed to explain th...
Proton-decoupled, Overhauser-enhanced, spatially localized carbon-13 spectroscopy in humans.

Spatially localized, natural abundance, carbon (13C) NMR spectroscopy has been combined with proton (1H) decoupling and nuclear Overhauser enhancement to improve I3C sensitivity up to five-fold in the human leg, liver, and heart. Broadband-decoupled 13C spectra were acquired in 1 s to 17 min with a conventional 1.5-T imaging/ spectroscopy system, an auxiliary 1H decoupler, an air-cooled dual-coil coplanar surface probe, and both depth-resolved surface coil spectroscopy (DRESS) and one-dimensional phase-encoding gradient NMR pulse sequences. The surface coil probe comprised circular and figure-eight-shaped coils to eliminate problems with mutual coupling of coils at high decoupling power levels applied during I3C reception. Peak decoupler RF power deposition in tissue was computed numerically from electromagnetic theory assuming a semi-infinite plane of uniform biological conductor. Peak values at the surface were calculated at 4 to 6 W/kg in any gram of tissue for each watt of decoupler power input excluding all coil and cable losses, warning of potential local RF heating problems in these and related experiments. The average power deposition was about 9 mW/kg per watt input, which should present no systemic hazard. At 3 W input, human 13C spectra were decoupled to a depth of about 5 cm while some Overhauser enhancement was sustained up to about 3 cm depth, without ill effect. The observation of glycogen in localized natural abundance 13C spectra of heart and muscle suggests that metabolites in the citric acid cycle should be observable noninvasively using 13C-labeled substrates. © 1989 Academic Press, Inc.
Dipeptide Transport Across the Intestinal Brush Border

Recent observations suggest that some oligopeptides are hydrolyzed within the mucosal cells and not in the lumen. The possibility that ther are specific transport processes for dipeptides in the brush border was explored in rabbitileum. The unidirectional influx across the brush border of 14C-glycyl-L-proline (GlyPro), 3H-glycine (Gly) or 3H-proline (Pro) was determined by measuring tissue radioactivity following 30–60 see exposure of the mucosal surface to a solution containing the substrate [SCHULTZ et al., J.gen.Physiol. 50: 1241, …]. GlyPro influx, measured over the concentration range 0.1 to 32 mM, displays an easily saturated component with Km = 10. mM and Vmax = 0.7 μmoles/cm2h and a difficult to saturate component which may represent simple diffusion. Influx of 0.5 mM GlyPro was 40%±5.1 (1 SE) less in Na-free, choline Ringer than in Na-Ringer (n = 4). Percent inhibition (±1 SE) of the influx of 0.5 mM GlyPro was determined in the presence of 20 mM concentrations of the following amino acids and peptides: Gly (4±0.5 p>0.5), Pro (10.5±3.5 p<0.05). L-leucine (23±4.2 p<0.01), glycylglycing (52±2.8 p<0.01), L-leucil-L-leucine (85±2.5 p<0.01) and L-phenylalanylglycine (63±2.9 p<0.01). 20 mM GlyPro did not inhibit the influx of 2 mM Gly (n = 8) or 2 mM Pro (n = 8). It is concluded that (1) GlyPro is transported across the brush border of rabbit ileum by a Na-stimulated, saturable process which is shared by other dipeptides and for which amino acids have a low affinity, and (2) GlyPro has no measurable affinity for the Gly and Pro transport processes.
Age at death in the hypoplastic left heart syndrome: Multivariate analysis and importance of the coronary arteries

Survival analysis of 63 fatal cases of the hypoplastic left heart syndrome was undertaken to determine whether morphologic measurements related to coronary blood flow would predict the length of postnatal survival. Cross-sectional areas of the ascending aorta and proximal left and right coronary arteries, left and right ventricular mass, coronary artery dominance pattern, and the presence of discrete coarctation were determined from autopsy specimens. These values were used to construct survival functions using Cox regression. Survival was significantly prolonged in cases with larger cross-sectional areas of the left (p less than 0.005) and right (p less than 0.05) coronary arteries, right ventricular mass (p less than 0.005), and combined ventricular mass (p less than 0.005). A multivariate model was developed that included combined left and right coronary artery cross-sectional areas, right ventricular mass, and the ratio of combined coronary artery area-to-combined ventricular mass. This model also significantly (p less than 0.001) predicted instantaneous risk of death, and again larger covariate values were associated with longer survival. These results suggest that myocardial perfusion is an important determinant of survival in these infants.
Experiments on the abiotic amplification of optical activity

Experiments concerning the physical mechanisms for the abiotic generation and chemical mechanisms for the amplification of optical activity in biological compounds are reviewed. Attention is given to experiments involving the determination of the differential adsorption of racemic amino acids on d- and l-quartz, the asymmetric photolysis of racemic amino acids by circularly polarized light, and the asymmetric radiolysis of solid amino acids by longitudinally polarized electrons, and the enantiomeric enrichments thus obtained are noted. Further experiments on the amplification of the chirality in the polymerization of D, L-amino acid mixtures and the hydrolysis of D-, L-, and D, L-polypeptides are discussed. It is suggested that a repetitive cycle of partial polymerization-hydrolyses may account for the abiotic genesis of optically enriched polypeptides on the primitive earth.
Comparison of lethalities in mouse versus goldfish for clinical and food isolates of Aeromonas hydrophila

The lethality of 16 clinical or food isolates ofAeromonas hydrophila was assessed by determination of LD50 (i.p.) in mice and goldfish. In mice LD50 values for the variousA. hydrophila strains were similar, ranging from 1.2–21.0×108 cells/animal. A wider range of LD50 values, 0.03–11.8×108 cells/animal, was observed with goldfish. Lethality was not correlated between the two test animals. Further, cytotoxic response in Y-1 adrenal cells did not correlate with lethality in either test animal. It appears that lethality is not a good measure of potential enterotoxigenicity, but may be useful in assessing the invasive character of isolates causing systemic infections in immunocompromised hosts.
Use of gas-liquid and thin-layer chromatography in characterising air pollutants by fluorometry

Abstract Relatively large amounts of alkylated derivatives of the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are present in some urban atmospheres. These compounds are believed to be derived from industrial sources. Because alkylation of the tetracyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can confer carcinogenic activity on the derivatives, the presence of substantial amounts of these alkylated compounds in the air needs thorough study. The RF value and the retention time, by themselves, are inadequate for characterisation of the polynuclear compounds. Gasliquid chromatography followed by fluorometric examination of the eluent bands, and mixed-adsorbent two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography followed by direct fluorometric examination are very useful in characterising all types of organic compound in the organic fractions of airborne particulates and effluents from air pollution sources.
Measurement of Thermal Conductivity Function of Unsaturated Soil Using a Transient Water Release and Imbibition Method

Thermal conductivity of unsaturated soil depends on soil water content and soil type. A transient water release and imbibition method (TRIM) is modified to include measurement of the thermal conductivity function (TCF) in conjunction with concurrent measurement of the soil water retention curve (SWRC) and hydraulic conductivity function (HCF). Two pairs of dielectric and thermal needle sensors are embedded in the soil specimen to monitor spatial and temporal variation of water content, thermal conductivity, and thermal diffusivity during drying and wetting processes. Three different soils, including pure sand, silt, and clayey sand are used to examine the effectiveness and validity of the new technique. The thermal conductivity data from the modified TRIM technique accords well with other independent measurements. The results show that the modified TRIM technique provides a fast and accurate way of obtaining thermal properties of different types of soils under both drying and wetting states. The typical testing time for a soil going through a full saturation variation is less than 3 weeks. We observe that the hysteresis in thermal conductivity during a wetting and drying cycle is much less pronounced than that of the hydraulic hysteresis.
A queueing model and a set of orthogonal polynomials

A single serving queueing model is studied where potential customers are discouraged at the rate λn = λqn, 0 < q < 1, n is the queue length. The serving rate is μn = μ(1 − qn), n = 0, 1,…. The spectral function is computed and the corresponding set of orthogonal polynomials is studied in detail. The slightly more general model with λn = λqn(1 + bqn), μn = μ(1 − qn)(1 + bqn) and the analogous orthogonal polynomials are also investigated. In both cases a method developed by Pollaczek is used which has been used very successfully to study new sets of orthogonal polynomials by Askey and Ismail.
Hemoglobin Production in Human Bone Marrow Cultures Is Inhibited by Lyophilized Coagulation Factor Concentrates

ABSTRACT Transfusion of blood products may be followed by viral hepatitis and aplastic anemia despite improved techniques for prevention. In view of the need for intensive therapy of hemophilia with blood products, the authors investigated the capacity of these concentrates to influence cultures of human bone marrow cells. Factor VIII concentrates contained a heatstable dialyzable substance(s) that drastically impaired 59 Fe incorporation in normal human bone marrow. Factor IX concentrates had less and cryoprecipitate had no such inhibitory activity. These studies may offer information regarding the effects of various blood products on bone marrow function.
Natural gas market expansion and delivery infrastructure costs: The case of New England

Abstract A methodology is developed to assess the size of potential regional markets for natural gas and the resulting gas delivery infrastructure costs to be incurred in serving these markets, including distribution, transmission, storage and other operating costs. Its application to the New England region suggests that the optimal penetration strategy must involve new customers located in metropolitan areas endowed with distribution lines, and particularly large industrial and electric utility customers. However, connecting communities in remote, low-density rural areas, is, in mot cases, economically unfeasible. The results also suggest that price discrimination favoring residential customers is widespread, pointing to the need for changes in cost allocation and pricing practices.
Radiation damage in dry and frozen hydrated organic material

SUMMARY Electron-induced radiation damage can cause errors in interpreting electron micrographs. Radiation damage is distinguished from contamination (polymerization of hydrocarbons) and etching (radiolysis in the presence of water), both of which can be controlled by a proper specimen environment in the microscope. While temperature has little effect on the primary interactions of fast electrons with matter, most secondary radiation-damage processes are temperature dependent. Because damage mechanisms differ so greatly among materials, there is no simple factor by which specimen stability is improved as a function of temperature (some cases improve fivefold, others improve 100-fold). While some specimens are stable to almost arbitrarily high doses, some tests reveal damage at 1 e/nm2. This paper surveys damage rates and temperature dependencies of various materials as a guide for future electron microscopic studies of organic specimens.
Crystal structures of the glycopeptide sulfotransferase Teg12 in a complex with the teicoplanin aglycone.

The TEG gene cluster, a glycopeptide biosynthetic gene cluster that is predicted to encode the biosynthesis of a polysulfated glycopeptide congener, was recently cloned from DNA extracted directly from desert soil. This predicted glycopeptide gene cluster contains three closely related sulfotransferases (Teg12, -13, and -14) that sulfate teicoplanin-like glycopeptides at three unique sites. Here we report a series of structures: an apo structure of Teg12, Teg12 bound to the desulfated cosubstrate 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphate, and Teg12 bound to the teicoplanin aglycone. Teg12 appears to undergo a series of significant conformational rearrangements during glycopeptide recruitment, binding, and catalysis. Loop regions that exhibit the most conformational flexibility show the least sequence conservation between TEG sulfotransferases. Site-directed mutagenesis guided by our structural studies confirmed the importance of key catalytic residues as well as the importance of residues found throughout the conf...
Reframing HIV and AIDS

Last month WHO declared the HIV/AIDS epidemic a global health emergency. Should governments go one step further and treat it as a disaster? Over the past 20 years, the public health community has learnt a tremendous amount about the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Yet, despite widespread discussion about the epidemic and some measurable progress, the overall response has been insufficient: globally 42 million people are already infected with HIV, prevalence continues to rise, and less than 5% of those affected have access to lifesaving medicines.1 In the face of this growing crisis, the World Health Organization has made scaling up treatment a key priority of the new administration.2 We argue that not only is the HIV/AIDS epidemic an emergency, but its devastating effects on societies may qualify it as one of the most serious disasters to have affected humankind. As such, this crisis warrants a full disaster management response. According to the United Nations, a disaster is any “serious disruption of the functioning of a society, causing widespread human, material or environmental losses which exceed the ability of a society to cope using only its own resources.”3 In just over two decades, the epidemic has already killed over 23 million people.4 Although other diseases may have cumulatively resulted in more deaths, HIV and AIDS are unique because they attack young adults in their peak productive years. These are the people who are essential to a society's current stability, potential economic growth, and functioning in the next generation.5 Unless more effort is put into saving lives and remedying the loss of human resource capacities in vulnerable countries with high prevalence or increasing incidence rates, the devastating effects may exceed these societies' ability to cope and could lead to their eventual disintegration. This potential can already be seen in …
Disease Resistance and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice Are Inversely Modulated by an Abscisic Acid–Inducible Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play an important role in mediating stress responses in eukaryotic organisms. However, little is known about the role of MAPKs in modulating the interaction of defense pathways activated by biotic and abiotic factors. In this study, we have isolated and functionally characterized a stress-responsive MAPK gene (OsMAPK5) from rice. OsMAPK5 is a single-copy gene but can generate at least two differentially spliced transcripts. The OsMAPK5 gene, its protein, and kinase activity were inducible by abscisic acid as well as various biotic (pathogen infection) and abiotic (wounding, drought, salt, and cold) stresses. To determine its biological function, we generated and analyzed transgenic rice plants with overexpression (using the 35S promoter of Cauliflower mosaic virus) or suppression (using double-stranded RNA interference [dsRNAi]) of OsMAPK5. Interestingly, suppression of OsMAPK5 expression and its kinase activity resulted in the constitutive expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes such as PR1 and PR10 in the dsRNAi transgenic plants and significantly enhanced resistance to fungal (Magnaporthe grisea) and bacterial (Burkholderia glumae) pathogens. However, these same dsRNAi lines had significant reductions in drought, salt, and cold tolerance. By contrast, overexpression lines exhibited increased OsMAPK5 kinase activity and increased tolerance to drought, salt, and cold stresses. These results strongly suggest that OsMAPK5 can positively regulate drought, salt, and cold tolerance and negatively modulate PR gene expression and broad-spectrum disease resistance.
Utilization of a standardized tracheostomy capping and decannulation protocol to improve patient safety.

Objectives/Hypothesis To develop and assess the feasibility of a new standardized protocol to guide tracheostomy decannulation. Study Design Descriptive review of quality improvement project. Methods A quality improvement project was conducted in the inpatient setting of a tertiary urban academic hospital. Adult patients who had received a tracheostomy and for whom the indication for tracheostomy had resolved were included. A multidisciplinary task force reviewed input from clinicians caring for tracheostomy patients and developed a protocol for screening, capping, and decannulation. The primary outcome measured was successful decannulation. Results Fifty-seven patients were screened for a capping trial over a 12-month period; 54 were capped. Six patients were lost to follow-up. Fifty patients passed the capping trial, and all 50 were decannulated successfully. When decannulation was pursued in one patient who had twice failed the screening criteria and subsequent capping trials, the patient failed decannulation and ultimately required reintubation for the management of secretions. The screening tool had high sensitivity (90%) and positive predictive value (100%) for successful decannulation. Additionally, the number of reported patient safety concerns decreased from seven in the 6 months preceding implementation of the program to one report in the 6 months after implementation. Conclusion The new tracheostomy capping and decannulation protocol assisted in predicting both successful and failed decannulation. Although several patients failed certain capping criteria initially, the protocol stipulated modifications of care that enabled successful decannulation. The screening tool had high sensitivity and promoted communication, standardization of practice, and patient safety. Level of Evidence 2b. Laryngoscope, 124:1794–1800, 2014
Belgian Family Allowances and the challenge of origin-based discrimination

The first significant GATT case regarding the principle of trade discrimination was ‘Belgian Family Allowances,’ a complaint by Denmark and Norway against Belgium. This 1952 decision expounding the meaning of the unconditional ‘most-favoured-nation’ principle is often cited for the proposition that origin-based conditions are inconsistent with that core principle. This article reconsiders ‘Family Allowances’ through the window of Professor Hudec's classic case study written in 1975. In particular, the article considers whether the panel and Professor Hudec correctly interpreted the term ‘unconditionally,’ in light of the pre-1947 international trade law practices. In addition, the article explores the status of ‘Family Allowances’ as the first GATT case holding that a governmental social program violated trade rules. Although Belgium did not invoke GATT Article XX as a defense, this paper assesses how current WTO jurisprudence would be applied to the facts in ‘Family Allowances,’ and concludes that Belgium would still lose the case.
Effect of Chronic Oral Administration of Sodium Cobaltinitrite and Sodium Nitrite on the Minimal Carcinogenic Dose50 of Methylcholanthrene in Albino Mice

Chronic hypoxia induced by the oral ingestion of nitrites yielded significant reductions in the tumor incidence of animals exposed to the minimal carcinogenic dose 50 of methylcholanthrene. Sodium cobaltinitrite was a more effective antitumorigenic agent than sodium nitrite, although both agents produced comparable methemoglobin levels.
Chk-ing in and Chk-ing out: kinase compartmentalization comes to checkpoint control.

Checkpoints are the sentinels of cell-cycle progression. In this issue of Molecular Cell, Yaffe and colleagues (Reinhardt et al., 2010) show that spatial and temporal resolution of Chk1 and MK2, checkpoint kinases with identical substrate specificity, are necessary to signal different aspects of DNA damage signaling.
Carbon nanotube electronics

The potentials of carbon nanotubes as building blocks for future electronics are explored. They are found to perform favorably in terms of ON state current density as compared to the conventional Si technology, owing to their superb electron transport properties and compatibility with high-K gate dielectrics.
Sp1 and Egr1 Regulate Transcription of the Dmrt1 Gene in Sertoli Cells

Dmrt1 is a recently described gene that is specifically expressed in the gonads and is required for postnatal testis differentiation. Here, we describe the transcriptional mechanisms regulating the Dmrt1 proximal promoter in testicular Sertoli cells. A genomic clone containing exon 1 of the rat Dmrt1 gene and more than 9 kilobases of 5' flanking sequence was isolated and characterized. Several prominent transcriptional start sites were identified, with the major site located 102 bases from the translational start. The Dmrt1 5' flanking region from -5000 to +74 was transcriptionally active in primary Sertoli cells, and deletion analysis of this fragment identified 2 major regions needed for full Dmrt1 promoter function. These regions were located between -3200 and -2000 base pairs (bp) and downstream of -150 bp relative to the major transcriptional start site. DNase I footprint analysis of the region downstream of -150 bp revealed 3 regions that are bound by proteins from Sertoli cell nuclear extracts. Site-directed mutagenesis of these regions identified 2 elements that activate the Dmrt1 promoter and 2 that repress it. The positive elements bind the transcription factors Sp1, Sp3, and Egr1, suggesting that these transcription factors play a critical role in Dmrt1 regulation in the testis.
Pilot Study of the 5-HT2AR Agonist Psilocybin in the Treatment of Tobacco Addiction

Despite suggestive early findings on the therapeutic use of hallucinogens in the treatment of substance use disorders, rigorous follow-up has not been conducted. To determine the safety and feasibility of psilocybin as an adjunct to tobacco smoking cessation treatment we conducted an open-label pilot study administering moderate (20 mg/70 kg) and high (30 mg/70 kg) doses of psilocybin within a structured 15-week smoking cessation treatment protocol. Participants were 15 psychiatrically healthy nicotine-dependent smokers (10 males; mean age of 51 years), with a mean of six previous lifetime quit attempts, and smoking a mean of 19 cigarettes per day for a mean of 31 years at intake. Biomarkers assessing smoking status, and self-report measures of smoking behavior demonstrated that 12 of 15 participants (80%) showed seven-day point prevalence abstinence at 6-month follow-up. The observed smoking cessation rate substantially exceeds rates commonly reported for other behavioral and/or pharmacological therapies...
The evolution of embryonic gene expression in sea urchins

Synopsis Many evolutionary modifications in development and life history derive from changes in embryonic gene expression. However, the genetic variation affecting gene expression in natural populations is not well understood, nor are the evolutionary mechanisms that operate on that variation. The early embryonic gene network of the purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) has been studied in considerable detail, providing an informative basis for analyzing the developmental and evolutionary mechanisms that alter gene expression. Comparative functional analyses have been carried out for several genes. These case studies indicate a complex relationship between sequence divergence and gene expression: in some cases, gene expression is conserved despite extensive divergence in cis-regulatory sequences, while in others the basis for a change in gene expression does not reside locally but rather in the expression or activity of transcription factors that regulate its expression. Diverse evolutionary mechanisms apparently operate on cis-regulatory regions, including negative, balancing, and stabilizing selection.
Affinity of antigen encounter and other early B-cell signals determine B-cell fate.

Three possible effector fates await the naive follicular B cell following antigen stimulation in thymus-dependent reactions. Short-lived plasma cells produce an initial burst of germline-encoded protective antibodies, and long-lived plasma cells and memory B cells arise from the germinal center and function to enhance and sustain the humoral immune response. The inherent B-cell receptor affinity of naive follicular B cells and the contribution of other early B-cell signals pre-determines the pattern of transcription factor expression and the differentiation path taken by these cells. High initial B-cell receptor affinity shunts naive follicular B-cell clones towards the short-lived plasma cell fate, whereas modest-affinity clones are skewed towards a plasma cell fate and low-affinity clones are recruited into the germinal center and are selected for both long-lived plasma cells and memory B cell pathways. In the germinal center reaction, increased levels of the transcription factor interferon regulatory factor-4 drive the molecular program that dictates differentiation into the long-lived plasma cell phenotype but has no impact on the memory B cell compartment. We hypothesize that graded interferon regulatory factor-4 levels driven by signals to B cells, including B-cell receptor signal strength, are responsible for this branch point in the B-cell terminal differentiation pathway.
Clinal variation at aspartate aminotransferase-2 in spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier), inhabiting the north-western Gulf of Mexico

Summary Clinal variation was observed at the aspartate aminotransferase-2 (AAT-2) locus in the marine fish Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier) inhabiting the bays and estuaries of the Texas and northern Mexico Gulf coasts. Frequency of the AAT-2(80) allele increased from 0.9% at Sabine Lake, Texas to 17.1% at Rio Soto La Marina, Mexico. A statistically significant correlation existed in the frequency of this allele with degrees north latitude and west longitude. This information, if properly incorporated into a comprehensive enhancement programme, could facilitate supplemental stocking success.