cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Pathophysiology of L5-S1 Loss of Lordosis and Retrolisthesis: An EOS Study of Lumbopelvic Movement Between Standing and Slump Sitting Postures.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To understand the pathophysiology of L5/S1 loss of lordosis and retrolisthesis by comparing two commonly assumed physiological weight-bearing postures. METHODS This is a prospective comparative study of whole-body standing and slump sitting EOS radiographs in clinic patients presenting with back pain or lower limb radicular pain. Patients with prior spinal intervention, malignancy, trauma, inflammatory diseases, transitional lumbosacral vertebra, pregnancy, and L5/S1 retro- or spondylolisthesis from non-degenerative causes were excluded. C7-sagittal vertical axis, global cervical angle, global thoracic angle, global lumbar angle, thoracolumbar angle, T1-slope, pelvic incidence, pelvic tilt, sacral slope (SS), L5/S1 angle, L5/S1 vertebral translation, L5/S1 disc height and presence of L4/5 vertebral translation were measured. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors of L5/S1 lordosis loss and retrolisthesis. RESULTS L5/S1 loss of lumbar lordosis (7.02±9.90°, p Taller L5/S1 disc height (OR2.57, p=0.04), larger lumbar range of motion (ROM) change (OR3.82, p=0.012), lower SS on sitting (OR2.50, p=0.043), and presence of L4/5 spondylolisthesis (OR2.75, p=0.032) are predictive of larger L5/S1 lordosis loss (>7°) on multivariate analysis, while larger lumbar ROM change (OR2.21, p=0.050) and presence of L4/5 spondylolisthesis (OR3.08, p=0.023) are predictive of greater L5/S1 retrolisthesis (>0.07cm). CONCLUSION Degenerative L5/S1 loss of lordosis and retrolisthesis likely result from long-standing lower lumbar spine bending forces against the posterior ligamentous complex with slump sitting, predisposed by a negatively-sloped sacrum and increased lumbar flexibility.
Social Change and the Contexts of Justice Motivation

In this chapter, our aim is to develop an understanding of justice and social change by locating this understanding in the context of an emerging, alternative model of social psychology. We open by examining the major thrust of the recent critiques of contemporary social psychology. The writings of Mead and Vygotsky on mind, Mills on motivation, and Sullivan on personality are then introduced as offering a distinctly alternative version of social-psychological inquiry. These serve as the basis for introducing a concept, address frame, that is responsive to the critiques and offers a useful new perspective for understanding social behavior, including justice motivation. We examine justice motivation reconceptualized in terms of the concept of address frame. Finally, we turn to how changing sociohistorical factors have constituted different contexts of justice and what some of the future issues might be.
Curriculum sequencing using quizzes and statistics

Distance education is experiencing a paradigm shift, because of the change from industrial era to information era. It is now possible for courseware to be delivered online, in a very efficient yet appealing manner. To that end, it becomes imperative to address a number of pedagogical issues that crop up in the design of a dynamic web-based system for the delivery of courseware. In order to have an effective Learning Management System (LMS), it should enhance the advantages and at the same time alleviate the issues that exist in traditional learning environments. The primary issue related to traditional learning is that the learning process involved is serial and static. All the students of a class are presented with the same material and same assessment approaches, even though the knowledge and understanding of any individual student is different from that of others. Hence every student's progress needs to be monitored and they should be provided with tailored course content and assessments. The best way to do this is to get constant feedback on the performance and learning style of the student, via student status monitoring. Quizzes and click statistics act as good pointers in displaying the performance of a student. The Student Status Monitoring tool (SSM) was developed using these components and presents the student with tailored content, depending on his pre-requisite knowledge and his interest. This approach makes the learning parallel ("Choose your own adventure"), and also reduces the redundancies that exist in traditional environments.
Modeling of NBTI degradation and its impact on electric field dependence of the lifetime

Negative Bias Temperature Instability of p-MOSFETs is investigated under various stress gate voltages and temperatures. It is shown that degradation tends to saturate and the dependence of lifetime on electric field (Eox) is expressed as a power-law of Eox. We propose new empirical and kinetic models. The Eox dependence of the lifetime described by the power-law is derived from our empirical model describing the saturation of degradation. Moreover, our kinetic model explains the saturation behavior.
Detection of clonal IGH gene rearrangements: summary of molecular oncology surveys of the College of American Pathologists.

Abstract Context.—The diagnosis of B-cell lymphoid malignancy can frequently be substantiated by detecting clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) gene rearrangements, which is typically done by po...
Degree of Rate Control: How Much the Energies of Intermediates and Transition States Control Rates

For many decades, the concept of a “rate-determining step” has been of central importance in understanding chemical kinetics in multistep reaction mechanisms and using that understanding to advantage. Yet a rigorous method for identifying the rate-determining step in a reaction mechanism was only recently introduced, via the “degree of rate control” of elementary steps. By extending that idea, we argue that even more useful than identifying the rate-determining step is identifying the rate-controlling transition states and the rate-controlling intermediates. These identify a few distinct chemical species whose relative energies we could adjust to achieve a faster or slower net reaction rate. Their relative energies could be adjusted by a variety of practical approaches, such as adding or modifying a catalyst, modifying the solvent, or simply modifying a reactant’s molecular structure to affect electronic or steric control on the relative energies of the key species. Since these key species are the ones wh...
Women's Work and Child Nutrition in the Third World

Abstract Recent trends in women's work and child survival and development in developing countries raise concerns about the relationship between these two key elements of development. This paper reviews and analyzes the methodology and findings of 50 studies of both women's work and infant feeding practices, and women's work and child nutritional status. Although the pattern of findings is complex and occasionally contradictory, the paper concludes that overall there is little evidence of a negative effect of maternal employment on child nutrition, and therefore no justification for limiting women's labor force participation on the grounds of promoting child welfare.
B Sen via distributions on weight space

We introduce a certain ring of rigid-analytic distributions on p-adic weight space (modulo torsion) and show that it is canonically isomorphic to Colmez’s ring BSen.
Impurities in ion plated chromium films

Abstract Oxygen, carbon and argon concentrations in chromium films produced by triode ion plating were studied as a function of substrate bias and cathode current density (or ion flux). The results reveal the following. (1) Ion plating with low bias and high ion flux can produce films with low oxygen and carbon concentrations. (2) At high bias, the effect of energetic particle bombardment on decreasing oxygen and carbon concentrations is not as effective as in low bias ion plating. (3) The amount of argon entrapped in the films increases with the increase in bias voltage and bombarding particle flux. A qualitative model based on the theory of energetic particle bombardment is used to explain the results.
Rare Cause of Knee Pain after Martial Arts Demonstration: A Case Report

Abstract Background Patellar dislocations are a commonly treated injury in the Emergency Department (ED), with a majority of cases involving lateral subluxation of the patella outside of the joint space. Intra-condylar dislocations of the patella are rare. Of the two types of axis rotation, vertical and horizontal, the vertical occurs five times less frequently. These injuries most often undergo open reduction or, at best, closed reduction under general anesthesia. Objectives To remind Emergency Physicians to consider this injury in any patient with severe knee pain and limited mobility, even with a history that is lacking significant trauma. Case Report We present a case of intra-condylar patellar dislocation with vertical axis rotation. Conclusion This injury is no longer primarily attributed to the young and, barring fracture, closed reduction in the ED should be considered.
Preferential sampling near solutes in monte carlo calculations on dilute solutions

Abstract A Monte Carlo algorithm is described which concentrates sampling in the neighborhood of the solute molecule in calculations on dilute solutions. This improves the computational efficiency in the determination of many solution properties.
Pathophysiology of Cardiac Tamponade

C ardiac tamponade is always life threatening and nearly always requires urgent and precise therapeutic intervention. It is perhaps unique in that appreciation of its pathophysiologic state is essential to precise diagnosis and rational treatment. Since the 19th century, investigations in experimental animals provided a basic understanding that has been continually refined by recent investigators to the point where an integrated picture of its macrophysiologic condition emerges. This review covers the resultant concepts. Procedural details of investigations can be found in the references (thus, for example, the text omits the relative merits of catheters vs flat balloons for intrapericardial pressure determination).
An application of estimating structural vector autoregression models with long-run restrictions

This paper estimates the contribution of aggregate demand and supply shocks to economic fluctuations. Following Blanchard and Quah we estimate a vector autoregression with long-run restrictions to identify structural demand and supply shocks. We investigate the effects of temporal aggregation on the contribution of these shocks to business cycle fluctuations. Using the industrial production index which is a more cyclically volatile measure of output than GNP, we find results qualitatively similar to theirs. Quantitatively, however, our results differ in that we find a larger fraction of output variation is explained by supply shocks and a larger fraction of unemployment variation is explained by demand shocks.
Effect of molecular angular momentum on the thermal conductivity of a multicomponent gas mixture

The effects of molecular angular momentum (spin polarization) on the thermal conductivity of a multicomponent gas mixture are considered. The Wang Chang–Uhlenbeck approach to the kinetic theory of gases with internal states is used. Formal results are obtained for the thermal conductivity of a gas mixture of uniform composition. These results are given in terms of the quantum mechanical degeneracy‐averaged cross section.
Simultaneous Surgical Management of Achalasia and Morbid Obesity

Achalasia presenting in the context of morbid obesity is rare. The case is presented of a woman with achalasia and morbid obesity who was treated with simultaneous laparoscopic esophageal myotomy and gastric bypass. The sparse literature addressing these rare patients is reviewed and management considerations discussed. Simultaneous laparoscopic esophageal myotomy and gastric bypass is safe, feasible and provides good results.
Use of salinity mixing models to estimate the contribution of creek water fecal indicator bacteria to an estuarine environment: Newport Bay, California

The contribution of freshwater discharge to fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) impairment of an estuarine environment can be approximated from simple, two end-member mixing models using salinity as a tracer. We conducted a yearlong time series investigation of Newport Bay, a regionally important estuarine embayment in southern California, assessing the concentrations of FIB, specifically Escherichia coli and enterococci bacteria, and salinity. In total, eight within-bay stations and one offshore control site were sampled nearly once per week and the three tributaries draining into Newport Bay were sampled approximately daily. Using salinity as a conservative tracer for water mass mixing and determining the end-member values of FIB in both the creek sites and the offshore site, we created a linear, two end-member mixing model of FIB within Newport Bay. Deviations from the mixing model suggest either an additional source of FIB to the bay (e.g. bird feces, storm drain discharge) or regrowth and/or die-off of FIB within the bay. Our results indicate that salinity mixing models can be useful in predicting changes in FIB concentrations in the estuarine environments and can help narrow the search for sources of FIB to the bay and enhance our understanding of the fate of FIB within the bay.
Large-scale, protection-free synthesis of Se-adenosyl-L-selenomethionine analogues and their application as cofactor surrogates of methyltransferases.

S-Adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) analogues have previously demonstrated their utility as chemical reporters of methyltransferases. Here we describe the facile, large-scale synthesis of Se-alkyl Se-adenosyl-l-selenomethionine (SeAM) analogues and their precursor, Se-adenosyl-l-selenohomocysteine (SeAH). Comparison of SeAM analogues with their equivalent SAM analogues suggests that sulfonium-to-selenonium substitution can enhance their compatibility with certain protein methyltransferases, favoring otherwise less reactive SAM analogues. Ready access to SeAH therefore enables further application of SeAM analogues as chemical reporters of diverse methyltransferases.
Sulfur‐Functionalized Mesoporous Carbon

A simple synthesis route to mesoporous carbons that contain heteroaromatic functionality is described. The sulfur-functionalized mesoporous carbon (S-FMC) materials that have been prepared show excellent thermal stability, as well as excellent hydrothermal stability, and stability over a wide range of pH values. These materials also show excellent mercury sorption performance over a broad range of pH, much broader than is possible with thiol-based functionality or most silica-based sorbents. The superior performance of these mesoporous heterocarbons as heavy-metal sorbent material is demonstrated. These materials are shown to be stable at elevated temperatures and extreme pHs, making them ideally suited as a new class of absorbent material.
Beneficial action of a new opiate antagonist (Win 44,441-3) in hemorrhagic shock.

Abstract The new opiate antagonist Win 44,441-3 (−)-isomer was infused intravenously in cats at a rate of 2 mg·kg−1·h− to determine its effect in hemorrhagic shock. Hemorrhaged cats treated with Win 44,441-3 maintained post reinfusion mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) at a higher value compared to cats receiving only the vehicle. Final MABP was 70±11 mm Hg for cats receiving vehicle compared to 103±7 mm Hg for cats receiving Win 44,441-3. These values represent 60±9% and 85±6% of initial MABP for the vehicle- and Win 44,441-3-treated cats respectively. Win 44,441-2 (+)-isomer, the inactive steroiisomer of Win 44,441-3, was also infused at 2 mg·kg−·h−1 in cats subjected to hemorrhagic shock. The final pressure in this group was 72±8 mm Hg which is 61±8% of the initial pressure for this group. Win 44,441-3 and Win 44,441-2 were both ineffective in moderating increases in circulating lysosomal hydrolase activity in shocked cats. Neither isomer stabilized lysosomal membranes or retarded proteolysis in vitro. Plasma myocardial depressant factor was significantly reduced by the opiate antagonist, Win 44,441-3 during shock. Our results show that the systemic infusion of an opiate antagonist improves the hemodynamic state of cats subjected to hemorrhagic shock while the (+)-isomer which lacks opiate antagonist activity produces no such improvement.
Estimation, by remote sensing, of deforestation in central Rondônia, Brazil

Abstract Rondonia, Brazil has been the focus of extensive immigration, colonization, and deforestation since the early 1970s. We have documented the land-clearing activities in Rondonia through the use of remotely sensed data from the Landsat and the NOAA AVHRR series of satellites, with the objectives of defining the rates and area of forest loss. We found that the total area cleared in the common area of the Landsat scenes increased 3160 km 2 from 230 km 2 of clearing in 1980 to a total of 3390 km 2 of clearing in 1986, that the majority of new clearings were in the 10–100-and 100–1000-ha range. The largest individual forest clearings, however, which ranged up to 28 km 2 , had been established since 1980. We also found that the total road length in the region has increased from 110 km in 1973 to at least 4660 km in 1986. Although the majority of clearing was to pasture and not for roads, road building allows access to new areas and virtually guarantees future clearing by legal settlers or by squatters. We estimated that the total area of forest cleared in Rondonia by 14 July 1988 was between 37 200 and 37 900 km 2 based on two classifications of NOAA9 AVHRR satellite data.
Cerebral ischemia in the gerbil: transmission electron microscopic and immunoelectron microscopic investigation.

Abstract Progression of cerebral ischemia from 5 min to 3 h after occlusion of a common carotid artery was investigated in the subiculum-CA1 region of the hippocampus of the gerbil by transmission electron microscopic and immunoelectron microscopic technique. The earliest change was found after 5 min in the periphery of the apical dendrites in the striatum moleculare, where mitochondrial swelling and disintegration of microtubules were clearly seen inside swollen dendritic processes. After ischemia for 10 min, similar abnormalities were observed in the more proximal part of the apical dendrites, and the basal dendrites also became similarly affected. After ischemia for 30 min to 1 h, the pyramidal cell bodies showed mitochondrial swelling, distension of endoplasmic reticulum and disaggregation of polyribosomes. The immunoelectron microscopic procedure for tubulin revealed irregularity of reaction products associated with microtubules after ischemia for 5 min in the dendritic terminals in the striatum moleculare and in the radiatum after ischemia for 10 min. Reaction products in the pyrimidal cell bodies became sparse after ischemia for 30 min to 1 h. The present investigation revealed early onset of ischemic damage in the dendritic terminals and subsequent proximal extension, with disintegration of microtubules and mitochondrial swelling.
A study of the ability of H-2Kk-Iak containing subcellular fractions to elicit primary anti-H-2 cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Abstract In order to identify an antigen required for elicitation of anti-H-2 cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), we have purified the H-2-Kk glycoprotein, incorporated it into a lipid vesicle, and tested it for its ability to elicit anti-H-2Kk CTLs. The results indicate that a lipid vesicle containing purified H-2Kk can elicit specific secondary anti-H-2Kk CTLs. In addition it was shown that in association with a partially purified Iak fraction the primary anti-H-2Kk CTL response was enhanced. It was also shown that Iak antigens alone could elicit an anti-H-2k CTL response. Although a low primary response was found with purified H-2Kk, it was observed that lipid vesicles containing both H-2Kk and Iak glycoproteins could elicit a significantly enhanced primary anti-H-2Kk CTL response. Lipid vesicles containing H-2Kk-Iak were tested for their enhanced capacity to elicit anti-H-2 CTLs as well as for their ability to elicit anti-H-2Kk CTLs in the presence of supernatants from concanavalin A-stimulated spleen cells.
Effect of transition zone on the elastic behavior of cement-based composites

Abstract The elastic behavior of mortar and concrete as a composite material and the influence of the transition zone on the elastic modulus is studied. The theoretical bounds of Hashin-Shtrikman for the modulus of elasticity of two-phase composite material are used as a criteria in the analysis. Available experimental results with variable W C ratio, aggregate volume and variable E-modulus of the matrix and the aggregate are considered. A notable influence of the transition zone on the elastic behavior of the composite is detected. It is demonstrated as a divergence of the experimental data from the general trend of the theoretical bounds with the increase of the aggregate volume. The influence of the transition zone on the overall elastic properties of the composite is strongly related to the water content and with the reduction of W C ratio it changes from negative into positive.
Conscripting the breast : lactation, slavery and salvation in the realms of Aragon and kingdom of Majorca, c. 1250-1300

Abstract This essay examines the ideals and practices surrounding motherhood and wet nursing in the realms of Aragon and kingdom of Majorca c. 1250–1300. Despite powerful messages — from ecclesiastical pronouncements to lay devotional manuals to artwork in churches — that linked maternal breastfeeding to an educative and caring ideal of mothering, social and economic pressures on wealthy urban and knightly women to remain as sexually available and as fecund as possible caused a shift to increased use of wet nurses, many of whom were of Muslim origin. Although the latter would have been nominally baptized, in practice, if not normative legal ideal, they maintained their enslaved status no matter how many children they bore. Indeed, it is possible that such women's bodies were doubly exploited: first, as sexual chattel available to their masters and other men, and then, having been made pregnant, as nursing mothers whose own children could be put away in favour of their mistresses'. Only fragmentary examples of such women ‘conversing’ with one another have been found, but the observations offered here open up to the historian's view a social scenario in which we know many conversations among women must have taken place.
Electrodiagnostic services in the United States.

addressed inter-esting issues, but alternative explanations can be given forsome of the data. I am referring to the finding that non-physician providers of electrodiagnostic services-espe-cially physical therapists-e-pcrformcd fewer studies, that is,had fewer procedure-claims per encounter, than did phy-si c i anproviders. T ble
Quality of life in multiple sclerosis is associated with lesion burden and brain volume measures

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is reduced in multiple sclerosis (MS). It is unclear whether HRQOL is associated with white matter lesion burden or measures of brain atrophy. Methods: A cross-sectional baseline analysis of 507 patients with MS in a prospective cohort study at the University of California, San Francisco was performed. Multivariate linear regression models were used to determine whether MRI measures were associated with the Emotional Well-Being and Thinking/Fatigue subscale scores of the Functional Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis, a validated HRQOL measure in MS. The difference in each MRI metric associated with a minimal clinically important difference in each HRQOL subscale was calculated. Results: Higher T1 lesion load (15 mL; p = 0.024), normalized T1 lesion volume (20 mL; p = 0.016), or T2 lesion load (25 mL; p = 0.028) was associated with worse scores for Emotional Well-Being. Meaningfully lower scores on this subscale were correlated with lower normalized gray matter volume (118 mL; p = 0.037). Reduced Thinking/Fatigue scores were associated with higher normalized T1 lesion volume (21 mL; p = 0.024), or T2 lesion load (22 mL; p = 0.010) and with lower normalized gray matter (87 mL; p = 0.004), white matter (85 mL; p = 0.025), or brain parenchymal (98 mL; p = 0.001) volume. Conclusions: Aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in multiple sclerosis are associated with MRI evidence of white matter lesions and brain atrophy. These findings strengthen the argument for the use of HRQOL outcome measures in trials and suggest that lesion burden on conventional MRI is important for HRQOL.
Religious images in dreams.

In the tradition of Jung's analytical psychology, specimen dreams are given to illustrate: 1) traditional religious images modified by the personal context; 2) dreams in which material appears that has traditional religious meaning, but not in the conscious religious tradition of the dreamer (“archetypal images” in dreams); and 3) dreams that seem to carry a numinous religious meaning, but have not been shown to use traditional religious images. An understanding of the possible religious meaning of dreams should be a specialized but necessary aspect of counseling in depth, whether done by secular professionals or by pastoral counselors identified with traditional collective religious organizations.
The tumor suppressor parafibromin is required for posttranscriptional processing of histone mRNA

Parafibromin, encoded by the gene HRPT2, is a tumor suppressor protein associated with the RNA polymerase II-associated complex, Paf1 complex. HRPT2 mutations were first identified in patients with the multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome, hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor (HPT-JT) syndrome, and have also been found in sporadic parathyroid and renal tumors. However, the mechanisms by which parafibromin suppresses tumor formation remain unknown. In this study, we identify a novel role of parafibromin in the regulation of replication-dependent histones. Both in vitro and in vivo analyses reveal a posttranscriptional role of parafibromin in histone mRNA processing. Downregulation of parafibromin through RNA interference or in vivo mutations lead to uncleaved histone mRNA with polyadenylated tails. These results indicate that parafibromin regulates the 3′ processing of histone RNA, an essential component of the cell cycle. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Patterns of Stability and Change in Health Service Use among Elderly People Do Service Systems Leave an Imprint on Behavior

Stability and change in patterns of health service use over a 3-year period were determined for a sample of elderly people in an urban area who claimed one of five types of health service provider as a primary source of health care—a hospital, a private physician, a network model health maintenance organization (HMO), a hospital-based group practice program (G-HMO), or a preferred provider organization (PPO). Despite certain differences in use rates for individual services, the total volume of ambulatory service use was equivalent for all five groups as was the relative rank order of use of specific ambulatory services for four of the five groups. People who claimed a hospital as their primary care source had the most unique use patterns over a full range of health care services, characterized by extremely low rates of physician visits and the highest rates of visits to hospital outpatient clinics across three time periods. G-HMO members used health-related services more frequently than did all others. PP...
Synthesis of frog virus 3 proteins occurs on intermediate filament-bound polyribosomes.

Immunogold labeling and biochemical methods were used to localize the site of viral protein synthesis in frog virus 3 (FV3)-infected baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells. Immunogold labeling studies of Triton-extracted (cytoskeletons), FV3-infected BHK cells with antivimentin antibodies showed that the major components of the detergent-resistant residue are the intermediate filaments (IF) and polyribosomes. Double immunogold labeling studies with anti-FV3 and antivimentin antibodies revealed that FV3 proteins are associated with polyribosomes that are bound to the If network. Biochemical studies of the cytoskeletons prepared from FV3-infected cells showed that a substantial fraction of all newly synthesized FV3 proteins associate with the cytoskeleton and that the association is not disrupted by colchicine (microtubule-disrupting drug) or cytochalasin B (microfilament-disrupting drug). Together the above studies suggest that IF may provide the scaffold for the attachment of polyribosomes that are active in viral protein synthesis.
Search for Long-Lived 1,3-carbodications and Preparation of the Persistent 1,1,3,3-tetracyclopropyl-1,3-propanediyl Dication

Several substituted versions of 1,3-propanediol were ionized under a variety of superacidic conditions, and the product carbocations and carboxonium species were characterized by 13C NMR spectroscopy at low temperatures. 1,1,3-Triphenyl-1,3-propanediol (19), and 1,1,3,3-tetraphenyl-1,3-propanediol (20), upon ionization in FSO3H/SO2ClF or SbF5−FSO3H/SO2ClF solution at −78 °C gave the disproportionated cationic species, 1,1-diphenylethyl cation (24) and protonated benzaldehyde (25) or protonated benzophenone (26). At lower temperatures (−130 °C) they yielded the allyl cations, 29 and 30, as the only products. Diol 23 was also ionized at −78 °C to give a 1:1 mixture of tricyclopropylmethyl cation (27) and O-protonated dicyclopropyl ketone (28). The ionization of 1,1,3,3-tetracyclopropyl-1,3-propanediol (21) in SbF5/SO2ClF, on the other hand, gave the stable 1,3-carbodication, that is, 1,1,3,3-tetracyclopropyl-1,3-propanediyl dication (33). The structures and the 13C NMR chemical shifts for the carbodication ...
18O-assisted dynamic metabolomics for individualized diagnostics and treatment of human diseases.

Technological innovations and translation of basic discoveries to clinical practice drive advances in medicine. Today's innovative technologies enable comprehensive screening of the genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome. The detailed knowledge, converged in the integrated “omics” (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics), holds an immense potential for understanding mechanism of diseases, facilitating their early diagnostics, selecting personalized therapeutic strategies, and assessing their effectiveness. Metabolomics is the newest “omics” approach aimed to analyze large metabolite pools. The next generation of metabolomic screening requires technologies for high throughput and robust monitoring of metabolite levels and their fluxes. In this regard, stable isotope 18O-based metabolite tagging technology expands quantitative measurements of metabolite levels and turnover rates to all metabolites that include water as a reactant, most notably phosphometabolites. The obtained profiles and turnover rates are sensitive indicators of energy and metabolic imbalances like the ones created by genetic deficiencies, myocardial ischemia, heart failure, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Here we describe and discuss briefly the potential use of dynamic phosphometabolomic platform for disease diagnostics currently under development at Mayo Clinic.
The N-ras oncogene is activated in a human medulloblastoma cell line.

Abstract Medulloblastoma is a malignant brain tumor of early childhood whose cells resemble the primitive neuroepithelial cells found normally in the developing nervous system. Medulloblastoma may be caused by mutational events affecting primitive neuroepithelial cells and preventing their differentiation into postmitotic neurons. The human ras genes, H-ras, K-ras and N-ras, are members of a family of proto-oncogenes that are targets for mutational changes that convert these normal genes into active, transforming oncogenes. Here we report than the N-ras oncogene is activated in the human medulloblastoma cell line TE 671 by a mutation at the third position of codon 61. A point mutation at this location corresponds to a substitution of histidine for glutamine in the N-ras gene product, p21. The oncogenic activation was shown by focus-formation in NIH 3T3 cell transfection assays. The location of the mutation was established using oligonucleotide hybridization assays enhanced through in vitro amplification of N-ras coding sequences using the Taq polymerase chain reaction. N-ras activation may be one of the mutational events that subvert normal neuroectodermal differentiation and lead to medulloblastoma in children.
Vibrational spectra, conformational stabilities, and barriers to internal rotation of the difluoroacetyl halides

Abstract From a combination of infrared and Raman spectral data and ab initio calculations, the conformational stabilities have been determined for the difluoroacetyl halides in vapor, liquid and solid phases.
Digital control of local sound fields in an aircraft passenger compartment

Active noise control has been shown to be a promising solution for reducing noise levels in turboprop aircraft. The first part of this paper shows the performance of a broadband active noise control system based upon an off-line frequency domain model obtained from response measurements. A laboratory test in an 18 passenger airplane fuselage resulted in 10-20 dB reduction of broadband deterministic noise over a substantial frequency range
Nature of the Transmission of Energy in the Retinal Receptors

Waveguide modal patterns have been observed in retinal receptors of rat, monkey, and human eyes. Phenomena characteristically occurring in dielectric waveguides have been noted. That aspect considered here is the appearance of different (or combinations of different) hues when the retina is irradiated with white light of a xenon arc and the receptor outer segments are viewed. The distribution varies to some degree with angle of incidence of the radiant energy, and the phenomenon is present in both rods and cones. It is demonstrated in freshly obtained normal human and monkey central foveal areas and in some peripheral retinal receptors. Some implications of these findings are discussed.
Antiwindup analysis and design approaches for MIMO systems

Performance degradation of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) control systems having limited actuators is often handled by augmenting the controller with an antiwindup mechanism, which attempts to maintain system performance when limits are encountered. The goals of this paper are: (1) To develop a method to analyze antiwindup systems to determine precisely what stability and performance degradation is incurred under limited conditions. It is shown that by reformulating limited actuator commands as resulting from multiplicative perturbations to the corresponding controller requests, mu-analysis tools can be utilized to obtain quantitative measures of stability and performance degradation. (2) To propose a linear, time invariant (LTI) criterion on which to base the antiwindup design. These analysis and design methods are illustrated through the evaluation of two competing antiwindup schemes augmenting the controller of a Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft in transition flight.
INTEGRAL TRANSFORM FUNCTIONS: A SIMPLE NON-EXPONENTIAL ORBITAL FOR THE He SERIES.

Abstract Calculations were carried out on the He isoelectronic series with a simple, two-parameter Laplace transform kernel which has a non-exponential transform. Close to Hartree-Fock accuracy was obtained. A physically plausible criterion for selecting kernels is given.
The level and trend of poverty in the United States, 1939-1979.

A detailed record of the number and characteristics of persons in poverty is available since 1959. This paper provides measures for 1939 and 1949 that correspond as closely as possible to the official poverty statistics. Poverty as officially measured fell from 40.5 percent of all persons in 1949 to 13.1 percent in 1979 declining most among the elderly and least among female-headed households. We estimate the effects on the aggregate poverty rate of changes between 1940 and 1980 in the distribution of the population by selected demographic characteristics of household heads and by the employment status of head and spouse. Some changes such as the increasing proportion of two-earner families were poverty reducing whereas others were poverty increasing. (EXCERPT)
Structure and functional relationships of archaeal and eukaryal histones and nucleosomes.

A decade after the discovery of histones in Archaea, there is now also a biochemical description of the archaeal nucleosome. A tetrameric core of archaeal histones is encircled by ~80 bp of DNA, and nuclease digestions indicate that adjacent archaeal nucleosomes exist in vivo compacting archaeal genomic DNA. Most Eukarya employ a similar structure to organize their chromosomal DNA, the eukaryal nucleosome, with a histone octamer and 146 bp of DNA. Here we compare the properties of both nucleosomes in terms of DNA packaging and the accessibility of the packaged DNA for transcription.
Analysis of Bloch’s Method and the Propagation Technique in Periodic Structures

Bloch analysis was originally developed by Bloch to study the electron behavior in crystalline solids. His method has been adapted to study the elastic wave propagation in periodic structures. The absence of a rigorous mathematical analysis of the approach, as applied to periodic structures, has resulted in mistreatment of internal forces and misapplication to nonlinear media. In a previous article (Farzbod and Leamy, 2009, "The Treatment of Forces in Bloch Analysis, " J. Sound Vib., 325(3), pp. 545―551), we clarified the treatment of internal forces. In this article, we borrow the insight from the previous work to detail a mathematical basis for Bloch analysis and thereby shed important light on the proper application of the technique. For example, we conclusively show that translational invariance is not a proper justification for invoking the existence of a "propagation constant, " and that in nonlinear media, this results in a flawed analysis. We also provide a simple, two-dimensional example, illustrating what the role stiffness symmetry has on the search for a band gap behavior along the edges of the irreducible Brillouin zone. This complements other treatments that have recently appeared addressing the same issue.
Segregation analysis in reciprocal translocation carriers

Segregation analysis of the offspring of balanced translocation carriers was performed on 327 pedigrees collated from published sources and personal communications. Correction was made for bias of ascertainment. Translocations studied involved chromosome arms 1p, 4q, 6p, 6q, 7p, 8p, 10p, 10q, 11q, 14q, 16q, and 17p. Findings included similar rates of occurrence of abnormal liveborn offspring in male and female carriers except for a reduction of risk in male carriers of translocations segregating by 3:1 mode; an elevated risk of fetal loss (spontaneous abortions and stillbirths) in female carriers of 6q, 11q, and 16q translocations compared to male carriers of these translocations; a fetal loss rate exceeding general population estimates in female carriers of 6q and 10q translocations and in male carriers of 6p, 8p, 10q, and 14q translocations including a rate of nearly 50% among female 6q translocation carriers; a higher than expected number of balanced carriers among liveborn offspring; and a low risk of abnormal liveborn children among carriers ascertained by means other than through unbalanced probands. We propose that some translocation carriers may be helped by consideration of more specific empiric risk figures than have traditionally been used.
Noninvasive of adenovirus tumor retargeting in living subjects by a soluble adenovirus receptor-epidermal growth factor (sCAR-EGF) fusion protein.

Purpose To demonstrate that non-invasive bioluminescent imaging can monitor restricted expression from a nonreplicating adenovirus in which the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) promoter drives firefly luciferase. Procedures Adenovirus in which the COX-2 promoter drives the firefly luciferase imaging gene was injected intratumorally into xenografts that express relatively low and relatively high levels of COX-2. Adenovirus that expresses Renilla Luciferase from the cytomegalovirus early promoter was co-injected, to normalize for injection, leakage, vascularization, etc. COX-2 restricted firefly luciferase and global Renilla Luciferase activities were measured by optical imaging techniques both in vivo and in isolated tissues. Results Dramatic reduction in hepatic luciferase expression after intravenous viral injection can be imaged non-invasively in living animals. Following intratumoral injection, luciferase levels in tumor xenografts that express differing endogenous COX-2 levels reflect the luciferase levels observed when these cells are infected in cell culture. Essentially no luciferase expression is observed in liver following intratumoral injection. Conclusion Both tissue restricted expression and transcriptional redirection to tumors expressing COX-2 can be imaged non-invasively following injection of Adenovirus expressing firefly luciferase from the COX-2 promoter.
Soybean crushing margins and risk

The effect of output price risk on soybean crushing margins is determined. The results show crushing margins increase as risk increases indicating soybean processors are risk averse. Thus, soybean processors with better risk management strategies may have a competitive advantage. Policy implications are that the increased margin from risk should be incorporated in evaluating benefits of price stabilization programs.
Biventricular pacing reduces the induction of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia: a potential mechanism for arrhythmia suppression.

Objectives The aim of the present study was to evaluate in a prospective randomized fashion the electrophysiologic effects of acute biventricular (BV) pacing. We hypothesized that (1) the local coupling interval in the left ventricle in response to right-sided ventricular premature beats is prolonged when BV pacing is applied during the drive train compared with right ventricular (RV) pacing, and (2) BV programmed electrical stimulation (PES) decreases the induction of ventricular arrhythmias compared with standard RV-PES, regardless of the presence of intraventricular conduction delay. Background Previous studies have suggested that BV pacing might decrease the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias; however, the mechanism of arrhythmia suppression remains unclear. Methods Eighteen patients with coronary artery disease were randomized to RV-PES or BV-PES with a repeat study using the other pacing mode. The RV effective refractory periods were measured during RV-PES and BV-PES. In addition, the local LV S 1 -S 2 coupling interval was measured at 600/450 ms and 400/350 ms during RV-PES and BV-PES. Results BV-PES had no effect on RV effective refractory periods. On the other hand, the local LV S 1 -S 2 coupling intervals increased significantly during BV-PES compared with RV-PES ( P P = .01). No difference was observed in the induction of ventricular fibrillation. Conclusions BV-PES significantly reduced the induction of ventricular tachycardia compared to RV-PES, with no significant effect on ventricular fibrillation induction. Our findings may help explain the reduced incidence of ventricular arrhythmias noted with chronic BV pacing.
Defect structures and hardening mechanisms in high dose helium ion implanted Cu and Cu/Nb multilayer thin films

Abstract Helium (He) exerts a significant influence on the mechanical behavior of irradiated materials. The microstructural evolutions and hardening mechanisms of pure 1 μm thick Cu film and Cu/Nb multilayers of individual layer thickness of 70 nm, 5 nm and 2.5 nm were investigated after 1 at.% and 7 at.% He ion implants at room temperature. Implantation of 7 at.% He produces a uniform dispersion of bubbles throughout the film in all samples and bubble pressure increases and volume fraction decreases with reducing layer thickness. For 5 nm layer thickness approximately 32% He atoms are trapped at Cu–Nb interface, grain boundaries or dislocations in the form of He-vacancy clusters, which cannot be detected by electron microscopy. For a 1 at.% He implantation, He bubbles are barely detectable in Cu/Nb multilayers with 5 nm individual layer thickness or less, suggesting the extraordinary capability of the Cu–Nb interface in absorbing and annihilating point defects. Hardness measurement indicates for coarse multilayers (h ≥ 70 nm) and pure Cu, the hardening from He bubbles is significant and increases with increasing He content, which can be described by Orowan hardening mechanism. However, when h is small (h ≤ 5 nm), the hardening is significantly mitigated, regardless of He concentration. The strengthening mechanism is dependent upon the resistance of the defect loaded interface to the transmission of single dislocation.
A quantitative study of Michigan's criminal HIV exposure law

The objectives of the project were (1) to determine the extent to which HIV-positive persons living in Michigan were aware of and understood Michigan's criminal HIV exposure law, (2) to examine whether awareness of the law was associated with seropositive status disclosure to prospective sex partners, and, (3) to examine whether awareness of the law was associated with potential negative effects of the law on persons living with HIV (PLWH) including heightened HIV-related stigma, perceived societal hostility toward PLWH, and perceived need to conceal one's HIV infection. The study design was cross-sectional. A statewide sample of 384 PLWH in Michigan completed anonymous pen and paper surveys in 1 of 25 data collection sessions. A majority of participants were aware of Michigan's HIV exposure law. Awareness of the law was not associated with increased seropositive status disclosure to all prospective sex partners, decreased HIV transmission risk behavior, or increased perceived responsibility for HIV transmission prevention. However, awareness of the law was significantly associated with disclosure to a greater proportion of sex partners prior to respondents' first sexual interaction with that partner. Awareness of the law was not associated with increased HIV-related stigma, perceived societal hostility toward PLWH, or decreased comfort with seropositive status disclosure. Evidence of an effect of Michigan's HIV exposure law on seropositive status disclosure was mixed. Further research is needed to examine the various forms of HIV exposure laws among diverse groups of persons living with or at increased risk of acquiring HIV.
Revisiting Stage IIIB and IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Data

Background The purpose of this population-based study is to provide a detailed analysis of survival outcome of patients with stage IIIB and IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) enrolled in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program. Methods We retrieved, from the SEER database, data on demographics, disease extension (size, extent of primary tumor, and nodal status), histology, primary treatment modality, and survival time of NSCLC cases diagnosed between 1998 and 2003 (n = 138,063). Cases were reclassified into separate T4 (satellite, invasive, or pleural effusion) and M1 (ipsilateral, contralateral, or distant) categories based on the extent of the primary tumor and the location of metastatic disease. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the effects of each variable on survival. Results For stage IIIB NSCLC, T4 satellite had the best prognosis (comparable to T2 lesions), followed by T4 invasive and T4 pleural effusion. For stage IV, M1 ipsilateral had the best prognosis, followed by M1 contralateral and M1 distant. Nodal status remained a powerful determinant of survival, particularly for patients with T4 satellite, T4 invasive, M1 ipsilateral, and, to a less extent, M1 contralateral. Other prognostic variables were identified within each subgroup. Conclusions In this report, we present the most comprehensive analysis performed to date of patients with stage IIIB and IV NSCLC enrolled in the SEER program. The survival trends observed here suggest that T4 satellite lung cancer cases should be redefined as T2b, and not T3 as recently proposed for the upcoming TNM classification, seventh edition.