cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA): a Systematic Review and Historical Perspective

To provide an updated literature review for the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). The diagnosis of ALCAPA has shifted away from coronary angiography to noninvasive imaging modalities. Newer imaging techniques such as speckle tracking echocardiography to evaluate myocardial strain demonstrate subclinical myocardial dysfunction years after restoration of a dual coronary system. The diagnosis of ALCAPA is primarily with echocardiography and computed tomography coronary angiography. Coronary reimplantation is the preferred surgical technique. Long-term outcomes are excellent, greater than 97% survival in the modern era, and most patients will have resolution of their systolic dysfunction, with the most common indication for reintervention being mitral valve regurgitation. Some patients with successful reestablishment of a dual coronary arterial system have subclinical myocardial dysfunction, detected by myocardial strain echocardiography, in the setting of normal systolic and diastolic parameters. Further research is needed to determine the impact and long-term outcomes of subclinical dysfunction on long-term survivors.
Can Joy Buy You Money? The Impact of the Strength, Duration, and Phases of an Entrepreneur’s Peak Displayed Joy on Funding Performance

Does displaying positive emotions (e.g., joy) during a funding pitch help an entrepreneur gain more financial support? Past research has approached this question mostly by treating emotional displa...
Hemopoietins for eosinophils. Glycoprotein hormones that regulate the development of inflammation in eosinophilia-associated disease.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and interleukin-5 (IL-5) are T lymphocyte-derived glycoproteins that stimulate the development of eosinophils from bone marrow precursors. These eosinophil hemopoietins also regulate functions of mature eosinophils, enhancing their ability to infiltrate tissues and to secrete biologically active substances at the tissue site. In these ways, the eosinophil hemopoietins have a major impact on the development of eosinophilia- associated disease.
Component Model Development for Ship-Level Impact of High Temperature Superconducting Power Cables

The need for ship system level models for assessing the benefits of high temperature superconducting (HTS) technology is articulated. The development of ship designs with HTS power cables using Smart Ship Systems Design (S3D) showed the need for new components such as the cable terminations that serve multiple HTS cables at the nodes. Conceptual designs of such multi-cable terminations are discussed. Results of the investigations of several alternative thermal insulation systems for HTS cables are discussed in the context of reducing the mass, size, and complexity as well as increasing the resiliency of the shipboard integrated power system. Design considerations for gaseous helium HTS power devices are discussed.
Investigate and Reduce Capacitive Couplings in a Flyback Adapter With a DC-Bus Filter to Reduce EMI

In consumer electronics, high power density power adapters are designed to minimize the adapter size. As a result, the components are getting very close and the near-field coupling issue tends to be severe. This compromises the performance of electromagnetic interference filters, especially at high frequencies. This article investigates near-field capacitive couplings and the reduction techniques in a high power-density power adapter with a dc-bus filter. The parasitic capacitive coupling theory is developed and parasitic coupling capacitances are experimentally extracted. The common-mode (CM) noise model with parasitic capacitive couplings is developed and the techniques to reduce the CM noise due to parasitic capacitive couplings are explored. Simulation and experiments were conducted to verify the analysis and the proposed techniques.
From heavy water to heavy aldehydes

Simple methods to incorporate deuterium into organic compounds are highly sought after as deuteration can enable mechanistic studies or improve the metabolic stability of pharmaceuticals. Now, a catalytic hydrogen–deuterium exchange reaction using deuterated water allows convenient access to deuterated aldehyde building blocks.
An Elemental Cinema Re-examined: Manbiki kazoku/Shoplifters, 2018

Set in a shitamachi (lower-class) section of Tokyo, Manbiki kazoku/Shoplifters (2018) paints a portrait of an unusual “extended family” who reflect the precarity in contemporary Japanese society. All of the elements (water, fire, earth, air) are called into play in this award-winning tale of abandonment and love among those who are often considered “invisible.”
Superradiant amplification in a chirped-tapered x-ray free-electron laser

The chirp-taper free-electron laser (FEL) scheme has been proposed to generate subfemtosecond broadband pulses using laser-modulated electron bunches in x-ray FELs. In this paper, we extend the chirp-taper concept to the postsaturation superradiant regime by combining an energy-modulated beam with a sinelike undulator taper. We show that subfemtosecond duration pulses with peak powers approaching a terawatt may be obtained with typical x-ray FEL parameters such as those at the Linac Coherent Light Source. The method shown here can produce a stable source of attosecond-scale, high-power x-ray pulses suitable for probing electronic dynamics within molecules.
QUANTITATIVE FLOW RATIO ACCORDING TO THREE-DIMENSIONAL QUANTITATIVE CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY DEFINED SEVERITY OF STENOSIS IN A COHORT OF WOMEN WITH STABLE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) is a recently developed technique to calculate fractional flow reserve (FFR) based on three-dimensional (3D) quantitative coronary angiography (QCA), obviating the need for induction of hyperemia and pressure-wire measurement. FFR values in women are reported to be
Glycolytic reprograming in Salmonella counters NOX2-mediated dissipation of ΔpH

The microbial adaptations to the respiratory burst remain poorly understood, and establishing how the NADPH oxidase (NOX2) kills microbes has proven elusive. Here we demonstrate that NOX2 collapses the ΔpH of intracellular Salmonella Typhimurium. The depolarization experienced by Salmonella undergoing oxidative stress impairs folding of periplasmic proteins. Depolarization in respiring Salmonella mediates intense bactericidal activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Salmonella adapts to the challenges oxidative stress imposes on membrane bioenergetics by shifting redox balance to glycolysis and fermentation, thereby diminishing electron flow through the membrane, meeting energetic requirements and anaplerotically generating tricarboxylic acid intermediates. By diverting electrons away from the respiratory chain, glycolysis also enables thiol/disulfide exchange-mediated folding of bacterial cell envelope proteins during periods of oxidative stress. Thus, primordial metabolic pathways, already present in bacteria before aerobic respiration evolved, offer a solution to the stress ROS exert on molecular targets at the bacterial cell envelope.
Role of Skew on Bridge Performance

Gravity load paths of high-skew bridges differ from the ones with no skew. High skew can also lead to stresses or displacements that adversely affect service performance. This paper demonstrates th...
Fluctuations in Subjective Tinnitus Ratings Over Time: Implications for Clinical Research.

Objective Patients with chronic, subjective tinnitus are often administered a battery of audiometric tests to characterize their tinnitus percept. Even a comprehensive battery, if applied just once, cannot capture fluctuations in tinnitus strength or quality over time. Moreover, subjects experience a learning curve when reporting the detailed characteristics of their tinnitus percept, such that a single assessment will reflect a lack of familiarity with test requirements. We addressed these challenges by programming an automated software platform for at-home tinnitus characterization over a 2-week period. Study design Prospective case series. Setting Tertiary referral center, patients' homes. Interventions Following an initial clinic visit, 25 subjects with chronic subjective tinnitus returned home with a tablet computer and calibrated headphones to complete questionnaires, hearing tests, and tinnitus psychoacoustic testing. We repeatedly characterized loudness discomfort levels and tinnitus matching over a 2-week period. Main outcome measures Primary outcomes included intrasubject variability in loudness discomfort levels, tinnitus intensity, and tinnitus acoustic matching over the course of testing. Results Within-subject variability for all outcome measures could be reduced by approximately 25 to 50% by excluding initial measurements and by focusing only on tinnitus matching attempts where subjects report high confidence in the accuracy of their ratings. Conclusions Tinnitus self-report is inherently variable but can converge on reliable values with extended testing. Repeated, self-directed tinnitus assessments may have implications for identifying malingerers. Further, these findings suggest that extending the baseline phase of tinnitus characterizations will increase the statistical power for future studies focused on tinnitus interventions.
Sonographer University: A Hands-On Training Course for Adult Sonographers Performing Pediatric Echocardiography

Objective:Children with critical congenital heart disease (CHD) often present in remote areas with life-threatening illness. Although performing complete pediatric echocardiograms requires signific...
The Effect of Mill Temper on the Mechanical and Magnetoresistive Properties of Oxygen-Free Copper in Liquid Helium

Accurate knowledge of the resistive, magnetoresistive, and mechanical properties of the oxygen-free copper used to stabilize practical superconductors is a necessity for optimum and dependable design of magnet systems. These properties are strongly influenced by: the source of the ore; the specific way in which the ore is processed; the definition used for soft temper by the producer, including the mill anneal method; subsequent mechanical processing by the producer and/or the wire manufacturer; and thermal treatments, both desired and inadvertent, that may occur anywhere along the way. In the program reported on here, we acquired samples of oxygen-free copper in various states of anneal and temper from a large number of suppliers. We then measured the transverse magnetoresistance and the mechanical properties (stress-strain) of these samples at 4 K. Selected samples were further cold worked and/or reannealed and then remeasured. In addition, special tests were performed on particular samples. The range of tests is shown by the block diagram of Fig. 1. Space allows presentation of only a few of the results here. Others have been published elsewhere,1 and a final report covering all of the work to date is now in press.2
Developing Interface Libraries for Reconfigurable Data Acquisition Boards

We describe our suite of design tools tailored for systems with reconfigurable hardware that are intended to be configured by the end user. The reconfigurable system will consist of one or more FPGAs and a number of fixed hardware devices, such as A/D converters and SRAM. We focus on the development of the hardware library functions needed to interface the FPGAs to such fixed hardware devices. We also describe a digital oscilloscope which was implemented with our tools.
Sb-surface segregation and the control of compositional abruptness at the {GaAsSb}/{GaAs} interface

Abstract Quantitative measurements of Sb surface segregation in pseudomorphic GaAs 0.8 Sb 0.2 layers grown on GaAs (001) using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) were performed in situ using the line-of-sight mass spectrometry (MS) technique. It was observed that substantial surface accumulation of Sb occurs under normal growth conditions, giving rise to compositional broadening of the GaAsSb on GaAs interface. This compositional grading is found to strongly depend on the growth temperature as well as the presence of Sb at the GaAs film surface prior to the initiation of GaAsSb layer growth. We report the effect to substrate temperature and shutter sequence on the evolution of Sb surface accumulation near the interface and demonstrate that a compositionally abrupt interface can be formed by populating the GaAs surface with an amount of Sb equivalent to that expected on the GaAsSb surface during growth at steady state. Additionally, compositional abruptness at the GaAs on GaAsSb interface can be achieved by a “chemical flashoff” of the surface Sb population during exposure to an incident As 2 flux.
Tracing the root of "rootable" processes

In most existing systems, the authorization check for system resource access is based on the user ID of the running processes. Such systems are vulnerable to password stealing/cracking attacks. Considering that remote attackers usually do not have physical access to local machines, we propose a security architecture called NPTrace (network-wide process tracing), which requires a user to know the root password and to prove that he is within some physical proximity in order to exercise the root privilege. More specifically, NPTrace attaches a privilege-level attribute to every process, and propagates this attribute across machines on demand. The privilege-level attribute of a process is set to rootable if the system can trace back its origin to a process started by a user that has physically logged on from a specific set of hosts on the network. Only a root process with this privilege-level attribute set to rootable, is allowed to perform privileged operations. The NPTrace architecture essentially exploits physical security to strengthen password-based security. This paper describes the design and implementation of the NPTrace prototype, which features a distributed mechanism to identify the entry point of a user into a network. The prototype is implemented under Linux and has been tested under many attack scenarios. The system shows correct behavior in these tests with negligible performance overhead.
Semi-mechanistic kidney model incorporating physiologically-relevant fluid reabsorption and transporter-mediated renal reabsorption: pharmacokinetics of γ-hydroxybutyric acid and l-lactate in rats

This study developed a semi-mechanistic kidney model incorporating physiologically-relevant fluid reabsorption and transporter-mediated active reabsorption. The model was applied to data for the drug of abuse γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), which exhibits monocarboxylate transporter (MCT1/SMCT1)-mediated renal reabsorption. The kidney model consists of various nephron segments--proximal tubules, Loop-of-Henle, distal tubules, and collecting ducts--where the segmental fluid flow rates, volumes, and sequential reabsorption were incorporated as functions of the glomerular filtration rate. The active renal reabsorption was modeled as vectorial transport across proximal tubule cells. In addition, the model included physiological blood, liver, and remainder compartments. The population pharmacokinetic modeling was performed using ADAPT5 for GHB blood concentration-time data and cumulative amount excreted unchanged into urine data (200-1000 mg/kg IV bolus doses) from rats [Felmlee et al (PMID: 20461486)]. Simulations assessed the effects of inhibition (R = [I]/KI = 0-100) of renal reabsorption on systemic exposure (AUC) and renal clearance of GHB. Visual predictive checks and other model diagnostic plots indicated that the model reasonably captured GHB concentrations. Simulations demonstrated that the inhibition of renal reabsorption significantly increased GHB renal clearance and decreased AUC. Model validation was performed using a separate dataset. Furthermore, our model successfully evaluated the pharmacokinetics of L-lactate using data obtained from Morse et al (PMID: 24854892). In conclusion, we developed a semi-mechanistic kidney model that can be used to evaluate transporter-mediated active renal reabsorption of drugs by the kidney.
Assaying protein phosphatases in sperm and flagella.

Publisher Summary Sperm and flagellar motility mechanism depends on protein phosphorylation. Dynein has been indicated as a potential site of convergence for regulation through phosphorylation/dephosphorylation by protein kinases and phosphatases. Phosphorylation of dynein has been correlated with increased ATPase activity and an increase in the velocity of dynein-mediated gliding of microtubules in vitro. An important role for protein phosphatases in motility regulation has been suggested by adding protein phosphatases or their inhibitors to flagellar models. A significant decrease in the gliding velocity of microtubules in vitro by dynein has been observed by preincubation of dynein with serinekhreonine protein phosphatase, SPP, recently purified from sea urchin sperm. The enzyme specifically dephosphorylates a single dynein-associated subunit phosphorylated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase. This chapter describes the assay for serine/threonine protein phosphatases using the dephosphorylation of type II regulatory subunit (RII) peptide phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase as substrate and the considerations when designing experiments to examine the effect of protein phosphatases and kinases on the gliding velocity of microtubules in vitro by dynein. The methods presented are purification of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, phosphorylation and purification of RII substrate, and protein phosphatase assay. The ability to assay dynein function by examining the propulsion of taxol-stabilized microtubules on glass surfaces offers a tool for examining the role of protein phosphorylation. All experiments examining effects on gliding of manipulation in solution are conducted in parallel with incubations using dynein that has been treated with [ 32 P]ATP and analyzed by sodium dodecyl phosphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and autoradiography, to confirm changes in protein phosphorylation that are associated with changes in gliding velocity. A peptide substrate radiolabeled to a high specific activity is essential for the high sensitivity and reproducibility of the protein phosphatase activity.
Infrared Speckle Interferometry: A Sensitive Technique for Physical Measurements of Unseen Companions to Nearby Stars

Infrared speckle interferometry combines the full resolving power of large telescopes with high photometric sensitivity over the wavelength range 2.2 to 12 microns. Despite improved atmospheric seeing at these wavelengths, seeing fluctuations limit measurement precision. Astrometric companions have been detected with angular separations ≥0.1 arcsec and magnitude differences ≤3.7 mag. Results illustrate seeing limitations and show how the usual position angle ambiguity can be overcome. These measurements yield masses and absolute magnitudes for calibrating the lower main sequence. In some cases, orbital motion is detected. A method of “shift-and-add” enables detection of substellar (0.04 to 0.08 M⊙) companions. Future improvements involving detector arrays and seeing monitors are discussed.
The Lysine-specific Demethylase 1 Is Required for Cell Proliferation in Both p53-dependent and -independent Manners *

The lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), a component of several histone deacetylase complexes, plays an important role in chromatin remodeling and transcriptional regulation. Here, we generated multiple cell lines in which LSD1 is inducibly expressed or knocked down and found that LSD1 is required for cell proliferation. In addition, we found that deficiency in LSD1 leads to a partial cell cycle arrest in G2/M and sensitizes cells to growth suppression induced by DNA damage or MDM2 inhibition in a p53-dependent manner. We also showed that LSD1 deficiency delays p53 stabilization induced by DNA damage, leading to a delayed induction of p21 and MDM2. Finally, we performed a microarray study and identified several novel LSD1 target genes, including S100A8, which encodes a calcium-binding protein, and DEK, a proto-oncogene. Taken together, we uncovered that LSD1 has a pro-oncogenic function by modulating pro-survival gene expression and p53 transcriptional activity.
Comprehensive Proteomic Analysis of Interphase and Mitotic 14-3-3-binding Proteins

14-3-3 proteins regulate the cell division cycle and play a pivotal role in blocking cell cycle advancement after activation of the DNA replication and DNA damage checkpoints. Here we describe a global proteomics analysis to identify proteins that bind to 14-3-3s during interphase and mitosis. 14-3-3-binding proteins were purified from extracts of interphase and mitotic HeLa cells using specific peptide elution from 14-3-3ζ affinity columns. Proteins that specifically bound and eluted from the affinity columns were identified by microcapillary high pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Several known and novel 14-3-3-interacting proteins were identified in this screen. Identified proteins are involved in cell cycle regulation, signaling, metabolism, protein synthesis, nucleic acid binding, chromatin structure, protein folding, proteolysis, nucleolar function, and nuclear transport as well as several other cellular processes. In some cases 14-3-3 binding was cell cycle-dependent, whereas in other cases the binding was shown to be cell cycle-independent. This study adds to the growing list of human 14-3-3-binding proteins and implicates a role for 14-3-3 proteins in a plethora of essential biological processes.
Two Cases of Horner Syndrome After Administration of an Epidural Test Dose That did not Recur With Subsequent Epidural Activation

Objective: We describe 2 cases of Horner syndrome after epidural test dose injections in thoracic surgery patients. The Horner syndrome was transient and did not recur with full epidural activation and infusion. Case Report: Two patients undergoing thoracic surgery procedures received preoperative midthoracic epidural catheters for postoperative analgesia. Following the 3-mL 1.5% lidocaine test dose, a unilateral Horner syndrome was observed. No other signs and symptoms of high epidural blockade were seen, and the Horner syndrome subsequently resolved. After epidurogram confirmation of proper catheter position and at the conclusion of surgery, the epidural was activated with an appropriate bolus and infusion dose without recurrence of the Horner syndrome. Conclusions: Two cases of Horner syndrome presenting after administration of an epidural test dose are reported. This uncommon initial finding could not be reproduced with subsequent epidural activation, perhaps suggesting that initial conditions within the epidural space had been altered. Successful utilization of neuraxial regional analgesia was achieved with careful postoperative monitoring of the patients.
Is the trophoblast an immune regulator? The role of Toll-like receptors during pregnancy.

In the early 1950s, Medawar recognized for the first time the unique immunology of the maternal/ fetal interface and its potential relevance for transplantation. In his original work, he described the "fetal allograft analogy" whereby the fetus may be viewed as a semi-allogeneic conceptus that has evaded rejection by the maternal immune system. Although numerous hypotheses have been proposed to prove this observation, none have demonstrated that the maternal immune system is antagonist to the invading trophoblast. In the present article, we have reviewed recent studies demonstrating the expression and function of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in trophoblast cells, and, based on these data, we propose an alternative view for maternal/fetal immune interactions.
Toward defining the accountant's role in the evaluation of social programs

Abstract Currently a conflict exists in the accounting literature concerning the propriety of extending the accountant's function to include the assessment of social programs. This paper attempts to clarify the issues of debate and evaluate the various points of view. The first two sections discuss the social science literature on evaluation and evaluation problems. The following two sections focus the discussion on the accountant's role in various evaluation activities. The concluding section of the paper offers a schema of the process that can be applied in the evaluation of social programs.
The reaction of amines with N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminato)(nitrato)-iron(III) and related complexes

Abstract The title compound, Fe(salen)NO 3 , was reacted with imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, piperidine, and morpholine in either chloroform or dichloromethane solution. The reactions were monitored with proton NMR and electronic spectra and conductance measurements. The imidazole bases appeared to react with the complex in a 2:1 fashion with displacement of the nitrate, producing a high-spin iron(III) complex. The secondary amines promoted hydrolysis with any trace water present to form [Fe(salen)] 2 O. The chloro complex, Fe(salen)Cl, did not react with the imidazole bases, but did form the μ-oxo complex when a large excess of piperidine was present. The N,N′-phenylenebis-(salicylideneimine) complex, Fe-(salphen)NO 3 , was found to precipitate from an imidazole (im) chloroform solution as the high-spin complex, Fe(salphen)NO 3 ·2im.
Elicited imitation of verb agreement in American Sign Language: Iconically or morphologically determined?

Abstract In American Sign Language (ASL), many verbs inflected for subject and object agreement are highly iconic. Two models of the acquisition of verb agreement are compared. The first assumes that children's acquisition of agreement is guided by the global iconic properties of such verbs and the second assumes that acquisition is sensitive to the internal morphological organization of these inflected verbs. The contrasting predictions of these two models were tested by an elicited imitation experiment. Deaf children who were native learners of ASL were asked to imitate sign utterances containing agreeing verbs. The results confirm the predictions of the morphological model.
The Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase Gene Glucocorticoid Response Unit: Identification of the Functional Domains of Accessory Factors HNF3β (Hepatic Nuclear Factor-3β) and HNF4 and the Necessity of Proper Alignment of Their Cognate Binding Sites

Complete induction of hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene transcription by glucocorticoids requires a complex glucocorticoid response unit (GRU). The GRU is comprised of two glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-binding sites (GR1 and GR2) and four accessory factor-binding sites [AF1, AF2, AF3, and cAMP response element (CRE)] that bind distinct transcription factors. Hepatic nuclear factor 4 (HNF4) and chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor (COUP-TF) bind to the AF1 element and account for AF1 activity. Members of the hepatic nuclear factor 3 (HNF3) family bind to the AF2 element and provide AF2 activity. In this report, we show that the functions of AF1 and AF2 are dependent on their positions in the promoter, since they cannot substitute for each other nor can they be exchanged without a reduction in the response to glucocorticoids. We also identified the domains of HNF4 and HNF3β that are required for the AF1 and AF2 activities, respectively. The carboxy-terminal transactiv...
Potential use of d-glucaric acid derivatives in cancer prevention

There is now growing evidence from animal models for the possible control of different stages of the carcinogenic process by the beta-glucuronidase inhibitor D-glucaro-1,4-lactone and its precursors such as D-glucaric acid salts, D-glucarates. D-Glucaric acid is a natural, non-toxic compound produced in small amounts by mammals, including humans. It was recently found in some vegetables and fruits. D-Glucaro-1,4-lactone and D-glucarate exhibit potent antiproliferative properties in vivo. Some human subpopulations could have reduced risk of cancer development by ingesting food rich in D-glucaric acid or self-medication with D-glucarates alone or in combination with other chemopreventive agents.
Inflammatory and Immune Cell Function in Psoriasis—A Subtle Disorder I. In Vivo and In Vitro Survey

Intradermal skin testing of normal and psoriatic subjects with common antigens, SKSD, Derm-O PPD, reveals psoriatic subjects of have a decrease in both the amount (not incidence) of erythema (p 3 H thymidine by mitogen stimulated lymphocytes from psoriatic subjects is suppressed at each point of the linear component of a dose response curve. The mitogen dose to produce peak responses in psoriatics was 125% greater than that for normal subjects. In one-way mixed lymphocytes, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from psoriatic subjects show suppression, the mean stimulation index was 55% of that of normal (p in vitro polymorponuclear leukocyte functions (chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and NBT reduction) appear to be within normal limits. When the foregoing parameters were compared with disease activity, there was no correlation.
The GABAA receptor α6 subunit gene (Gabra6) is tightly linked to the α1-γ2 subunit cluster on mouse chromosome 11

We have established that the GABAA receptor alpha 6 (Gabra6) and alpha 1 (Gabra 1) subunit genes are tightly linked on mouse chromosome 11 by analysing the strain distribution patterns of RFLPs for the two genes and microsatellite markers flanking these genes in 26 BXD recombinant inbred strains. These results further demonstrate clustering of the GABAA receptor subunit genes on mouse chromosomes and the synteny for these clusters between the mouse and human genomes.
Epigenetic regulation of killer immunoglobulin-like receptor expression in T cells.

With increasing age, T cells gain expression of killer immunoglobulin–like receptors (KIRs) that transmit negative signals and dampen the immune response. KIR expression is induced in CD4 and CD8 T cells by CpG DNA demethylation suggesting epigenetic control. To define the mechanisms that underlie the age-associated preferential KIR expression in CD8 T cells, we examined KIR2DL3 promoter methylation patterns. With age, CD8 T cells developed a patchy and stochastic promoter demethylation even in cells that did not express the KIR2DL3-encoded CD158b protein; complete demethylation of the minimal KIR2DL3 promoter was characteristic for CD158b-expressing cells. In contrast, the promoter in CD4 T cells was fully methylated irrespective of age. The selectivity for CD8 T cells correlated with lower DNMT1 recruitment to the KIR2DL3 promoter which further diminished with age. In contrast, binding of the polycomb protein EZH2 known to be involved in DNMT1 recruitment was not different. Our data suggest that CD8 T cells endure increasing displacement of DNMT1 from the KIR promoter with age, possibly because of an active histone signature. The ensuing partial demethylation lowers the threshold for transcriptional activation and renders CD8 T cells more susceptible to express KIR, thereby contributing to the immune defect in the elderly.
Extrahepatic replication of HCV: Insights into clinical manifestations and biological consequences

An estimated 170 million persons are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide. While hepatocytes are the major site of infection, a broad clinical spectrum of extrahepatic complications and diseases are associated with chronic HCV infection, highlighting the involvement of HCV in a variety of non-hepatic pathogenic processes. There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that HCV can replicate efficiently in extrahepatic tissues and cell types, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Nonetheless, laboratory confirmation of HCV replication in extrahepatic sites is fraught with technical challenges, and in vitro systems to investigate extrahepatic replication of HCV are severely limited. Thus, future studies of extrahepatic replication should combine innovative in vitro assays with a prospective cohort design to maximize our understanding of this important phenomenon to the pathogenesis and treatment response rates of HCV.
A two sample wilcoxon test for progressively censored data

A two sairmle Wilcoxon type statistic is proposed for analyzing data for which the pN(0 60. Monte clarlo experiments comparing this statistic with another Wilcoxon type statistic proposed by Halperin and Ware (1974) are presented.
Ankle and foot morphology of Cantius mckennai: adaptations and phylogenetic implications

Abstract The morphology of the ankle and foot of the early North American adapid Cantius mckennai is described. Significant euprimate traits include a rotated medial malleolus on the tibia, a posterior trochlear shelf on the talus, distal elongation of the calcaneus, a prominent process on the calcaneal articular facet of the cuboid, a large concavoconvex facet for the hallucial metatarsal on the medial cuneiform, a large concavoconvex facet for the medial cuneiform on the hallucial metatarsal, and dorsoplantarly flattened distal phalanges. Functional analysis of the preserved elements suggest that this animal had a mobile ankle, a transverse tarsal joint that allowed a great deal of inversion, an opposable big toe, and grasping digits. Such functional attributes strongly suggest an arboreal lifestyle for Cantius mckennai . The presence of a large posterior trochlear shelf on the talus and a strongly rotated medial malleolus are argued to be important indicators of the strepsirhine affinities of adapid primates.
Dynamic stress equilibration in split Hopkinson pressure bar tests on soft materials

The condition of dynamic stress equilibrium is not satisfied automatically when a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) is employed to determine the dynamic properties of soft materials. In order to develop guidelines for the proper design of SHPB experiments under valid testing conditions, an integrated experimental/analytical study has been conducted to examine the process of dynamic stress equilibrium in a soft rubber specimen. Dynamic compressive experiments on a RTV 630 and an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber with a SHPB modified for soft material testing were conducted to determine the effects of specimen thickness and loading rate on the stress equilibrating process. An analytical model was employed to analyze the equilibrating processes observed in experiments. It is found that the incident loading rate dominates the initial non-equilibrium stress state, and the specimen thickness mainly affects the dynamic stress equilibrium after the initial stage.
Vibrational CD of polypeptides. XII. Reevaluation of the Fourier transform vibrational CD of poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate).

Using a newly constructed Fourier transform ir (FTIR) based vibrational CD (VCD) instrument, we have found that elimination of the ellipsoidal collection mirror before the detector and its replacement by a lens leads to a significant improvement in the absorption artifact problem often seen previously in FTIR-VCD. Reduction in artifact level brings the FTIR-VCD band shape of the amide 1 band in poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) into better agreement with that found with dispersive instruments. These results indicate that the difference between the spectra obtained with the two methods is not primarily a factor of resolution but is more dependent on artifact level. Thus the previously reported deconvolution of the amide I VCD results and their subsequent interpretation in terms of the helical vs. exciton mechanisms overemphasize weak features in the spectrum. Results based on deconvolution of the absorption spectrum remain valid. Further new data on the amide II and several lower energy transitions that encompass the amide III region show broad single-signed features—but of the opposite sense—in the two regions, implying that their VCD arises through mutual coupling.
Some Physical Properties of Nickel-Iron Alloys

The specific heats, thermal conductivities, thermoelectric powers, and specific resistances have been determined for a series of iron-nickel alloys of exceptional purity and definitely known composition.The specific heat (25\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 100\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} C.) varies only slightly with change in composition, but gives, nevertheless, a well defined maximum at 35 per cent. nickel. The thermal conductivity (20\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 100\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} C.) on the other hand, shows a much larger variation. with a value for 35 per cent. nickel of only one fifth of that for either pure iron or pure nickel. The thermoelectric power (o\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 96\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} C.) against copper exhibits a marked minimum at 35 per cent. nickel with maxima at about 20 per cent. and 50 per cent. The specific resistance at o\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} C. shows a marked maximum at 35 per cent. nickel, more than five times the value for either pure iron or pure nickel. The relative increase is not so great as the temperature is raised to 700\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} C. The temperature coefficient of resistance, considering the whole range (o\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 700\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} C.). is a minimum for the 35 per cent. nickel.These facts are in general agreement with the anomalies in other properties shown by nickel-iron or nickel-steel of this composition and point to the formation of the definite compound ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$Ni.
Dynamic GOP size control for low-delay distributed video coding

Distributed video coding (DVC) is a video coding paradigm that aims at shifting the complexity from the encoder to the decoder. Most encoding schemes in DVC use a GOP size of 2 or 3 which is fixed and doesn't depend on the video characteristics. In this paper, we propose an architecture that has a unique and simple GOP size control module that results in greater rate-distortion (RD) performance. The proposed codec also has an efficient two-phase block classification scheme and a prioritized block classification scheme to further improve the efficiency. It also uses arithmetic coding instead of the iterative turbo or low density parity check accumulate (LD-PCA) codes used in most other DVC codecs, thus reducing system latency tremendously. Results show that the proposed codec outperforms a GOP size control algorithm from literature with a gain of almost 4dB at similar bitrates.
Notes from the Director National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: fostering the independence of new investigators.

As mentioned in my inaugural column ( Circulation . 2005;112:145–146), I am strongly committed to ensuring the continuing vigor of the research enterprise through training and career development of new investigators. The nurturing of young talent was a high priority during my tenure in academic medicine, particularly because it coincided with a time of constrained budgets that resulted in the virtual loss of a generation of promising young investigators. Thereafter, as Scientific Director of the NHLBI, I created an Office of Education to raise the visibility and stature of training and mentoring in our intramural research program. It is clear that much, if not most, of the momentum in this arena must continue to come from the scientists in our laboratories and clinics who are in a position to recruit and mentor young researchers and to show them the path to a rewarding career. Nonetheless, as we confront another spell of budget constraints, I believe that the NHLBI can and should look for innovative ways to spark this effort. Most particularly, we need to create a better springboard …
Hepatocellular carcinoma with intracavitary cardiac involvement: a case report and review of the literature

A 71-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presented with intracavitary cardiac involvement detected incidentally on surveillance computed tomography. Tumor with associated thrombus was found to extend from the liver through the inferior vena cava into the right atrium. This intracardiac mass prolapsed intermittently into the right ventricle, causing functional tricuspid stenosis. The mass was resected but recurred after 4 months, eventually causing refractory right-sided heart failure. This case illustrates how intracavitary cardiac involvement of HCC can develop insidiously and confer significant hemodynamic compromise. A review of the published research, including postmortem studies, demonstrates that the frequency of intracardiac mass lesions in HCC is not insignificant. In conclusion, early detection and diagnosis may have increasing importance in the advent of new therapies for treating advanced HCC.
Prevalence and ultrastructural morphology of axosomatic synapses on spiral ganglion cells in humans of different ages

Axosomatic synapses were found on human spiral ganglion cells (HSGCs). Ultrastructural characterization and calculation of the prevalence of these synapses were performed by electron microscopic semi-serial sections of both type I and type II HSGCs, in specimens from subjects of ages 1 day, 14 days, 21 years and 51 years. Synapses on type I HSGCs were extremely rare. In contrast, axosomatic synapses were present on approximately 50% of type II HSGCs of a young adult. This prevalence seemed to vary by age. Thus, no synapses were found in a 1-day old neonate, few in a 14-day old, and on approximately 15% of the type II SGCs from a 51-year old specimen. The origin of the nerve fibers synapsing on the type II HSGCs could not be determined. In view of the fact that some of the fibers projected from the intraganglionic spiral bundle, which is known to contain olivocochlear efferents, these fibers may represent an efferent pathway to the spiral ganglion. However, since there was morphological evidence of more than one type of nerve fiber synapsing on type II HSGCs, other neural origins must be considered. Although the physiological function of these synapses is unknown, they may mediate pre-synaptic neural modulation of the type II HSGCs at the level of the spiral ganglion.
Ligation of Nanoparticle Coated DNA Cleaved with Restriction Enzymes

In nature, DNA is a dynamic molecule regulated, reproduced, and destroyed using a host of enzymatic reactions. This report describes how templated DNA can be used as a dynamic material scaffold capable of being enzymatically reduced to smaller fragments and subsequently rejoined to become a long strand.
The accuracy of urinary cytology in daily practice.

BACKGROUND Most studies of urinary cytology have been research analyses designed to test the method itself, and many claim that the high diagnostic yields in these studies cannot be achieved in daily practice. The authors examined the clinical and pathologic records in three hospital pathology practice settings—academic, community, and cancer referral settings—to determine the diagnostic yield of urinary cytology under daily clinical conditions. METHODS Records of consecutive urinary cytology specimens from 1672 patients reported from the years 1990–1994 were reviewed and correlated with histologic and clinical information. Initial analyses were based on the records themselves, without review of pathologic specimens. Subsequently, a subset of specimens was reviewed to determine reasons for noncorrelations. RESULTS Results confirmed that the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of urinary cytology for high grade transitional cell neoplasms, as reported in the daily practice of pathology, are very high (79% and >95%, respectively). Disaggregated cells from low grade transitional cell neoplasms usually lack recognizable features of neoplasia, and attempts to classify such lesions cytologically result in low diagnostic yield, with an overall sensitivity of 26%. Of these 1672 patients, 707 had insufficient clinical information for analysis, despite diligent and persistent efforts to acquire it. CONCLUSIONS The diagnostic yield of consultations based on urinary cytology in the daily practice of pathology is high, regardless of whether the practice setting is referral-based or community-based. The available information indicates that in approximately 79% of patients with high grade transitional cell neoplasms, the neoplasms can be detected using urinary cytology. Conversely, a negative result is predictive of no cancer in more than 90% of cases. Sensitivity for detecting low grade urothelial lesions is low; however, most of these are easily detected cystoscopically. The authors' inability to acquire sufficient information to determine diagnostic yield in a large percentage of their cases was disturbing to them. Not only did this deficiency render their analyses incomplete, but lack of easily accessible follow-up and the apparent low priority for quality assurance activities among pathologists in all types of practice settings is likely to significantly reduce the feedback required for pathologists to acquire and maintain expertise in this very difficult area. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 1999;87:118–28. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
Sex Identity Conflict and Physical Violence: A Comparative Study

homicide' in six societies and to consider the differences in the light of the concept of "protest masculinity" and the status-envy hypothesis of identification. The ethnographic material used in the comparison is reported in Six Cultures: Studies of Child Rearing (B. Whiting, ed., 1963).2 Researchers in the field of delinquency and crime have, for the last 30 years, discussed the nature of the homes from which offenders have come. They have considered family composition and household structure as relevant antecedents of criminal behavior. Early on they discovered that a large number of the adults convicted of criminal offences had a history of delinquencies dating back to their childhood or adolescence (for a recent study see Robins and O'Neal 1958). Beginning around 1910, statistics were published indicating that "broken homes" might be an important predictor of delinquency (for summary of these studies see Monahan 1962). Of the early researchers, Healy and Bronner (1936) and Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck (1950) paid particular attention to family life and a boy's relationship to his father. In general, however, the description of "broken homes" was not specific and often did not indicate which parent was absent, why, at what stage in the child's life, and for how long. It would appear, however, that most often the home was "broken" by the absence of the father.
A new interpretation of average precision

We consider the question of whether Average Precision, as a measure of retrieval effectiveness, can be regarded as deriving from a model of user searching behaviour. It turns out that indeed it can be so regarded, under a very simple stochastic model of user behaviour.
Stalking, Monitoring and Profiling A Typology and Case Studies of Harmful Uses of Caller ID

The advent of caller identification (CID) services has brought additional complexity to the issue of telephone privacy. Federal hearings and other documents written between 1988 and 1996 are analyzed to create a typology of possible harms caused by CID, including the potential for CID to be used in the stalking of women by abusive men.Four examples of CID usage that led to a murder of a spouse or lover were located through NEXIS searches of electronic newspaper archives. Analysis of these cases suggest that: stalking has not been a common feature of murder cases involving CID; men have been equally likely to be victims as women; half of the cases have taken place in one of the two states with no restrictions on CID; in half the cases it was the misinterpretation of CID information, rather than the data itself, that led to the murders; and in half the cases the victim's CID device was used against them.