cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Safety and efficacy of immunomodulators and biologics during pregnancy and lactation for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Introduction: The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic, idiopathic, inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, that peak in incidence during the reproductive years. Therefore, the safety of IBD medications during pregnancy and lactation is of significant interest to patients. Unfortunately, the current pregnancy labeling used by the United States Food and Drug Association (FDA) is often misinterpreted and may mislead healthcare providers and their patients to believe that risk increases from Category A to B to C to D to X, which in fact, is not the case. In addition, the FDA categories do not always distinguish between risks based on human versus animal data, or between differences in frequency, severity, and type of fetal developmental toxicities. Areas covered: This article provides an in-depth review of the available safety data during pregnancy and lactation for the more potent immunosuppressants used to treat IBD: the immunomodulators and biologics. It also includes the authors' ...
Stabilizing spatiotemporal patterns in a convectively unstable open flow system via kink-antikink pairs

Abstract A variety of spatial patterns embedded within an underlying spatiotemporally chaotic state is stabilized via various methods of boundary control. Results are presented for an experimental system consisting of unidirectionally coupled diode resonator circuits as well as for a coupled map lattice. Spatiotemporal chaos is eliminated either by locking the first resonator onto selected temporal periods or by utilizing periodic boundary conditions. We give experimental evidence that the resulting stable waveforms are related to moving phase-kink-antikink pairs.
Synthesis and design of heterogeneous separation systems with recycle streams

Abstract Geometric methods are one of the most valuable tools for distillation process synthesis and design. The graphical representation of azeotropes, residue curves, distillation regions, and distillation boundaries provide designers with intuition, a wealth of knowledge about the entire composition space and quantitative results. In this paper we show how residue curve maps and geometric methods can be used in the synthesis and design of sequences of complex heterogeneous azeotropic distillation columns. A new algorithm for the design of heterogeneous azeotropic distillation column with top decanter is presented and applied in two design case studies of column sequences with recycle streams and top decanters. In both the cases, a feasible structure has been quickly found based on information obtained by examining the entire composition space.
Jewish Resources in Computer Networking

Why ignore the potential for networking all major Jewish library collections' catalogs? for making Bar Ilan's responsa database available to any scholar [or] Halachist writing a tshuvah? Can't find genealogical information? Telnet to Beit Hatfutsot's database server and look up your heritage! Suppose we started a forum for "Jewish" recipes, putting them into a database for anyone to access? I think that the potential is there for Jews to make use of the network in many aspects of Jewish life. Remember, during the Russian coup, some of the only information smuggled out of the country was through Amateur Radio and computer networks . . . when all official communications channels, especially news and phones, were cut off. If the Jews had had such a network at the time of the Holocaust, the entire world would have heard what was going on very quickly, and the war might have been over much sooner.
Characterization of in vivo ablation zones following percutaneous microwave ablation of the liver with two commercially available devices: are manufacturer published reference values useful?

Abstract Purpose To analyze in vivo ablation properties of microwave ablation antennae in tumor-bearing human livers by performing retrospective analysis of ablation zones following treatment with two microwave ablation systems. Materials and Methods Percutaneous microwave ablations performed in the liver between February 2011 and February 2013 with use of the AMICA and Certus PR ablation antennae were included. Immediate postablation computed tomography images were evaluated retrospectively for ablation length, diameter, and volume. Ablation length, diameter, and volume indices were calculated and compared between in vivo results and references provided from each device manufacturer. The two microwave antenna models were then also compared versus each other. Results Twenty-five ablations were performed in 20 patients with the AMICA antenna, and 11 ablations were performed in eight patients with the Certus PR antenna. The AMICA and Certus PR antennae showed significant differences in ablation length ( P = .013 and P = .009), diameter ( P = .001 and P = .009), and volume ( P = .003 and P = .009). The AMICA ablation indices were significantly higher than the Certus PR ablation indices in length ( P = .026) and volume ( P = .002), but there was no significant difference in ablation diameter indices ( P = .110). Conclusions In vivo ablation indices of human tumors are significantly smaller than reference ex vivo ablation indices, and there are significant differences in ablation indices and sphericity between devices.
Hypertension and hematologic parameters in a community near a uranium processing facility.

Background Environmental uranium exposure originating as a byproduct of uranium processing can impact human health. The Fernald Feed Materials Production Center functioned as a uranium processing facility from 1951 to 1989, and potential health effects among residents living near this plant were investigated via the Fernald Medical Monitoring Program (FMMP).
Pyelonephritis in adult women: inpatient versus outpatient therapy.

Purpose: The traditional treatment of acute pyelonephritis has been hospitalization and parenteral administration of antibiotics. No previous study, however, has attempted to differentiate between those patients with pyelonephritis who might be safely managed as outpatients and those in whom hospitalization is required. We therefore decided to determine whether women with pyelonephritis can be effectively and safely managed outside the hospital. Patients and Methods: The medical records of 94 female outpatients and 100 hospitalized women treated for acute pyelonephritis at San Francisco General Hospital were reviewed. Utilizing baseline clinical and laboratory data, we compared outcome in the two groups, and computed the cost-benefit of managing pyelonephritis on an outpatient basis. Results: We observed a similarity in the frequency of successful outcomes (approximately 90 percent in each group) and absence of serious adverse outcome in any outpatient. Results of urine culture were comparable in inpatients and outpatients, with Escherichia coli identified as the most common urinary pathogen in both groups. The frequency of resistance to ampicillin of E. coli and other urinary pathogens was nearly 30 percent. A cost analysis demonstrated a 7.5-fold difference between the inpatient and outpatient groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that treatment of pyelonephritis with oral antibiotics poses a safe and effective method of therapy in immunocompetent women without underlying illness. The use of ampicillin as a single agent for the treatment of pyelonephritis, however, is inadvisable. Our study also demonstrates the potential savings in managing selected patients with pyelonephritis as outpatients.
Rapid identification of and assessment of damage by inhaled volatile substances in the clinical laboratory.

Summary 1. A protocol is presented by which inhaled volatile substances may be identified from breath samples. Further, the use of clinical laboratory data to assess the damage done by the inhaled substance is illustrated. 2. Experiments using dogs as subjects were performed to test the usefulness of the protocol. The dogs were required to inhale trichloroethane. Breath and serum chemistry analyses were obtained and evaluated. 3. A plausible theory for the source of the abnormal blood chemistry data is given based on autopsy data.
Memory, History, and Nostalgia in Berlin’s Jewish Museum

The Jewish Museum in Berlin is devoted to telling the 2,000-year history of Jews in Germany in a stunning building designed by Daniel Libeskind. It is Germany’s premier museum devoted to Jewish history and memory, but it is expressly not a Holocaust museum and most reference to the Holocaust is architectural. In its interactive and sophisticated exhibitions, the Jewish Museum represents contemporary international trends in museology and in many ways resembles the many Holocaust and other memorial museums around the world, one of the most prominent and striking international museological trends. However, in rejecting the categorization as a memorial museum and in focusing on a celebration of German–Jewish culture and history rather than the tragedy of the Holocaust, the Jewish Museum is what we might call a countermemorial museum. As such, it challenges the new norms around the creation of memorial museums and other sites of memory to be self-reflexive meditations on the negative past and its trauma. If memorial museums emerge from a particular orientation toward the past that Jeffrey Olick calls the “politics of regret” and claims is a major characteristic of our age, then the Jewish Museum might represent a parallel trend that we can call a “politics of nostalgia.” The museum serves, in many ways, as a screen upon which present-day Germany can project an idealized image of its past, masking some of the present tensions around German national identity and ideas of German multiculturalism. At the same time, the museum often seems to be in conflict with Libeskind’s building, which is infused with Holocaust symbolism and meaning.
Central neural control of esophageal motility: A review

We review recent studies on the central neural control of esophageal motility, emphasizing the anatomy and chemical coding of esophageal pathways in the spinal cord and medulla. Sympathetic innervation of the proximal esophagus is derived primarily from cervical and upper thoracic paravertebral ganglia, whereas that of the lower esophageal sphincter and proximal stomach is derived from the celiac ganglion. In addition to noradrenaline, many sympathetic fibers in the esophagus contain neuropeptide Y (NPY), and both noradrenaline and NPY appear to decrease blood flow and motility. Preganglionic neurons innervating the cervical and upper thoracic ganglia are located at lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal levels. The preganglionic innervation of the celiac ganglion arises from lower thoracic spinal levels. Both acetylcholine (ACh) and enkephalin (ENK) have been localized in sympathetic preganglionic neurons, and it has been suggested that ENK acts to pre-synaptically inhibit ganglionic transmission. Spinal afferents from the esophagus are few, but have been described in lower cervical and thoracic dorsal root ganglia. A significant percentage contain calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP). The central distribution of spinal afferents, as well as their subsequent processing within the spinal cord, have not been addressed.
Epidemiological aspects of Paget's disease: family history and relationship to other medical conditions

Some epidemiological aspects of Paget's disease were examined using questionnaires completed by 864 patients with physician-diagnosed Paget's disease and 500 controls of similar ages. Specifically studied were issues of familial aggregation of the disorder, history of exposure to certain infectious diseases, other medical disorders, and calcium intake (as assessed by milk consumption) in childhood. A history of Paget's disease in a first-degree relative was noted in 12% of patients and 2% of controls. Among patients, those with a positive family history had an earlier mean age at diagnosis and a greater prevalence of bone deformity than patients with a negative family history. The risk of a first-degree relative of a pagetic patient developing Paget's disease was 7 times greater than the risk of an individual without such a relative, and the cumulative risk to age 90 for a first-degree relative of a patient was 9%, compared with a 2% risk in a person without affected relatives. The risk to the relative was greatest if the patient had an age at diagnosis of less than 55 years and had deforming bone disease. There was no difference between patients and controls for a variety of viral infections, including measles, and no difference in ownership of dogs and possible exposure to canine viruses. Diabetes was more common in controls than in patients, but arthritis, skeletal fractures, primary hyperparathyroidism, osteoporosis, and thyroid disease (in women) and renal stones (in men) were reported more commonly by patients. Milk consumption during childhood and adolescence was lower in patients than in controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Methylation at CPT1A locus is associated with lipoprotein subfraction profiles

Lipoprotein subfractions help discriminate cardiometabolic disease risk. Genetic loci validated as associating with lipoprotein measures do not account for a large proportion of the individual variation in lipoprotein measures. We hypothesized that DNA methylation levels across the genome contribute to interindividual variation in lipoprotein measures. Using data from participants of the Genetics of Lipid Lowering Drugs and Diet Network (n = 663 for discovery and n = 331 for replication stages, respectively), we conducted the first systematic screen of the genome to determine associations between methylation status at ∼470,000 cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) sites in CD4(+) T cells and 14 lipoprotein subfraction measures. We modeled associations between methylation at each CpG site and each lipoprotein measure separately using linear mixed models, adjusted for age, sex, study site, cell purity, and family structure. We identified two CpGs, both in the carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1A (CPT1A) gene, which reached significant levels of association with VLDL and LDL subfraction parameters in both discovery and replication phases (P < 1.1 × 10(-7) in the discovery phase, P < .004 in the replication phase, and P < 1.1 × 10(-12) in the full sample). CPT1A is regulated by PPARα, a ligand for drugs used to reduce CVD. Our associations between methylation in CPT1A and lipoprotein measures highlight the epigenetic role of this gene in metabolic dysfunction.
Image quality assessment for iris biometric

Iris recognition, the ability to recognize and distinguish individuals by their iris pattern, is the most reliable biometric in terms of recognition and identification performance. However, performance of these systems is affected by poor quality imaging. In this work, we extend previous research efforts on iris quality assessment by analyzing the effect of seven quality factors: defocus blur, motion blur, off-angle, occlusion, specular reflection, lighting, and pixel-counts on the performance of traditional iris recognition system. We have concluded that defocus blur, motion blur, and off-angle are the factors that affect recognition performance the most. We further designed a fully automated iris image quality evaluation block that operates in two steps. First each factor is estimated individually, then the second step involves fusing the estimated factors by using Dempster-Shafer theory approach to evidential reasoning. The designed block is tested on two datasets, CASIA 1.0 and a dataset collected at WVU. Considerable improvement in recognition performance is demonstrated when removing poor quality images evaluated by our quality metric. The upper bound on processing complexity required to evaluate quality of a single image is O(n2 log n), that of a 2D-Fast Fourier Transform.
Fundus white spots and acquired night blindness due to vitamin A deficiency

To report a successfully treated case of acquired night blindness associated with fundus white spots secondary to vitamin A deficiency. An ocular examination, electrophysiologic testing, as well as visual field and OCT examinations were obtained on a 61-year-old man with vitamin A deficiency who had previously undergone gastric bypass surgery. The patient had a re-evaluation after treatment with high doses of oral vitamin A. The patient was observed to have numerous white spots in the retina of each eye. Best-corrected visual acuity was initially 20/80 in each eye, which improved to 20/40-1 OU after oral vitamin A therapy for 2 months. Full field electroretinogram (ERG) testing, showed non-detectable rod function and a 34 and 41% reduction for 32-Hz flicker and single flash cone responses, respectively, below the lower limits of normal. Both rod and cone functions markedly improved after initiation of vitamin A therapy. Vitamin A deficiency needs to be considered in a patient with white spots of the retina in the presence of poor night vision.
Thermal degradation of ethylene bis(N-phenylcarbamate)†

The pyrolysis of ethylene bis(N-phenolcarbamate) was studied as the simplest model of a polyurethane. The degradation occurs by a double process of decomposition involving the simultaneous formation of 3-phenyl-2-oxazolidone, carbon dioxide, and aniline and a partial dissociation into monocarbamate and phenyl isocyanate. Further reaction produces ethylene oxide, N,N′-diphenylethylenediamine, N,N′-diphenyl-2-imidazolidone, and N,N′-diphenylurea.
Utility of Three‐Dimensional Echocardiography in Percutaneous Closure of Paravalvular Leak

The images and videos presented in this case report demonstrate the utility of live three-dimensional (3D) transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in guiding the percutaneous closure of paravalvular leak (PVL). This method provides high-quality real time assistance for transseptal puncture and deployment of the closure device through the PVL.
Application of intracoronary ultrasonography in the study of coronary artery pathophysiology.

Coronary endothelial function, arterial distensibility, and elastic recoil were assessed in various groups of patients using intracoronary ultrasonic (ICUS) imaging. We found evidence of endothelial dysfunction in patients with risk factors for coronary artery disease even before atherosclerosis could be detected angiographically or with sensitive ICUS imaging. There was marked reduction of arterial distensibility in atherosclerotic arterial segments even with minor disease. Distensibility was partially restored in lesions following coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA) or directional atherectomy (DCA). We also noted significantly greater elastic recoil following PTCA in soft lesions compared with hard lesions. We conclude that the use of ICUS imaging in cardiac catheterization laboratory provides useful information regarding various physiologic parameters. This capability will add new dimensions to the evaluation and management of patients with coronary artery disease. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Abstract 2446: Targeting pancreatic cancer stem cells via the tumor microenvironment

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a highly aggressive disease with a propensity for metastasis early in its course. Pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been thought to play a key role in this process. We previously found that pancreatic CSCs express increased levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and at the time of diagnosis the presence of ALDH+ cells in primary tumors is associated with worse overall survival. The development of CSC-targeting strategies have largely focused on intrinsic signaling pathways, but normal stem cells are primarily regulated by the extracellular stem cell niche that consists of non-malignant cells and specific extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. The densely fibrotic desmoplastic reaction (DR) is a common feature of pancreatic tumors, thus we examined the role of the ECM on pancreatic CSCs. We initially studied the distribution of ALDH+ cells in primary pancreatic tumors by immunohistochemistry and found that they were more frequently located at the invasive edge of tumors adjacent to the DR compared to the rest of the tumor ( Our data suggest that the interaction between pancreatic CSCs and the DR results in enhanced tumorigenicity and metastatic potential. Furthermore, the disruption of FAK signaling can inhibit pancreatic CSC function and may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2446. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2446
The effect of guest molecular architecture and host crystallinity upon the mechanism of the intercalation reaction

Abstract The intercalation process of α -zirconium phosphate ( α -ZrP) was investigated by using two α -ZrP samples with different levels of crystallinity and two structurally different intercalating molecules, i.e., linear hexylamine and non-planar cyclohexylamine. The results show that the intercalation energy barrier, which is affected by both host α -ZrP and guest intercalating molecules, has a significant effect on the intercalation process. When the intercalation energy barrier is relatively low, the interlayer distance of α -ZrP expands continuously with increasing amount of intercalating molecules. When the energy barrier reaches a certain level, the interlayer distance expansion becomes stepwise. The observed differences in the intercalation process correspond well with the geometric arrangement of the intercalated molecules inside the gallery of α -ZrP.
Strain pulse propagation in composite elastic rods

Abstract A double transform method is used to investigate the strain pulse propagation in semi-infinite composite elastic rods under impulse stress loading at one end. The exact solution is given as a sum of Fourier integrals which cannot be evaluated by simple means. Asymptotic solutions using the saddle point method of integration are obtained, valid at large distances from the stressed end of the composite rod. Two different physical rods are analyzed, the first one having a large soft core surrounded by thin stiff casing and the second one having a small stiff core with a large soft casing. The numerical results of the strain produced at the outer lateral surface of the rods, ontained by IBM 360 system computer, are presented. Comparison of the results of the two rods is also presented.
Neuronal activity moves protein palmitoylation into the synapse

Many neuronal proteins undergo lipid modification that regulates their function and subcellular localization. One such modification is palmitoylation, which is mediated by a large class of protein palmitoyl acyltransferases (PATs). Now, a paper in this issue (Noritake et al. 2009. J. Cell Biol. doi:10.1083/jcb.200903101) demonstrates that the localization of the PAT DHHC2 is regulated by neuronal activity and thereby selectively controls the palmitoylation and subsequent accumulation of specific proteins in the synapse.
Some results on relay strategies for memoryless two-way relay channels

We consider relaying strategies for memoryless two-way relay channels, where the signal transmitted by a relay depends only on its previously received signal. For binary antipodal signaling under the general case of different SNRs on the terminal-relay channels, we consider two classes of relay strategies: abs-based strategies in which the processing at the relay is solely based on the absolute value of the received signal, and non-abs-based strategies. We analyze and optimize the performance of existing and new schemes for two-way relay channels under an average power constraint, including abs-based and non-abs-based versions of amplify and forward (AF), decode and forward (DF), and estimate and forward (EF). Additionally, we optimize the relay function via functional analysis such that the average probability of error is minimized in the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime. Finally, we show that all these results can also be generalized to higher order constellations.
Shoot Regeneration from Leaf Tißues of Phlox paniculata L.

Summary A highly efficient shoot regeneration system from greenhouse-grown leaf tisues of Phlox paniculata cvs. Franz Schubert and Prospero was developed. In a preliminary experiment, both TDZ and BA (at 5 μmol/L each) along with 2.5 μmol/L IAA, induced almost a 100 % regeneration frequency for both genotypes, especially when explants were grown without any dark treatment. Moreover, significant differences were observed in regenerability of explants collected from first, second, and third nodes. In a factorial experiment with four BA or four TDZ levels (0.25, 1, 3, and 5 μmol/L) along with three IAA levels (0, 0.5 and 1.0 μmol/L), Franz Schubert, leaf explants exhibited significant differences in shoot organogenesis (mean number of sites of organogenesis/explant, callus development, % explants with>6 shoots/explant) and overall quality of shoot regenerants (mean length of longest shoot, hyperhydration). Results of a principal component analysis indicated that, overall, BA was more effective than TDZ in inducing more shoots and more regeneration sites per explant, and with les callus development. However, hyperhydration (vitrification) of shoot regenerants on media containing 1 μmol/L BA and 0 or 0.5 μmol/L IAA prevented further elongation of these shoots. In another factorial experiment, low levels of both BA (0.5 to 1.5 μmol/L) and IAA (0 to 1 μmol/L) were also investigated. It was observed that all shoot organogenesis occurred along the cut margins of leaf segments and without an intervening callus stage when explants were grown on an MS medium supplemented with 0.5 μmol/L BA and 0.5 μmol/L IAA. Elongation of shoot regenerants was achieved when these were transferred to an MS medium without growth regulators.
Injectable Collagen-Genipin Gel for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury: In Vitro Studies

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in a cavitary lesion, contained within the dura, which involves only a portion of the cord. Injectable biopolymers are an attractive treatment option for SCI to re-establish cell migratory pathways within the lesion while minimizing the collateral damage attendant to an open surgical procedure. In this study we evaluate a thermoresponsive soluble collagen gel incorporating genipin, an amine reactive covalent cross-linker with low cytotoxicity and fluorogenic attributes. Unlike previous studies, genipin is being investigated as an in situ covalent cross-linker that will continue to act on the gel after injection. Physical characterization studies show that the addition of genipin provides control over the mechanical and degradative behavior of the gel, to meet design specifications of an injectable material for neural tissues. Additionally, an improved in situ assay to predict the extent of cross-linking reaction is investigated. Encapsulation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in collagen–genipin gels show the gels support cell viability and proliferation, and thus serve as a cell delivery vehicle. Neural stem cells are found to be more sensitive to genipin, with respect to toxicity, as compared to MSCs. From our studies, 0.25-0.5 mM is an appropriate genipin concentration to use for an in situ forming scaffold capable of delivering cells and therapeutic agents.
Are Farm Size Distributions Bimodal? Evidence from Kernel Density Estimates of Dairy Farm Size Distributions

One often hears and sees reference to bimodal distributions of farm size. This notion seems to have become one of the stylized facts about American agriculture. Dairy farm size distributions are prime candidates to exhibit a bimodal size distribution. Older dairy farms tend to be significantly smaller than new dairy farms and there are well known regional size differences. Nonetheless, our analysis of 1989 and 1993 U.S. dairy farm size distributions, using nonparametric density estimation techniques, reveals that U.S. dairy farm size distributions are not bimodal. This result holds across years for herd size, total farm sales, and acres operated. Copyright 2001, Oxford University Press.
Absolute Rate Constant and Product Branching Fractions for the Reaction between F and C2H4 at T = 202−298 K

The discharge-flow kinetic technique coupled to mass-spectrometric detection has been used to determine the variable-temperature dependence of the rate constant and product branching fractions for the reaction between F(2P) and C2H4 at P = 1 Torr nominal pressure (He). The reaction was studied at T = 202 and 236 K by monitoring the decay of C2H4 in the presence of a large excess of F(2P). The overall rate coefficients were determined to be k1(202 K) = (1.7 ± 0.4) × 10-10 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 and k1(236 K) = (2.1 ± 0.5) × 10-10 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 with the quoted uncertainty representing total errors. Further, the branching fractions for the two observed reaction channels F + C2H4 → C2H3 + HF (1a) and F + C2H4 → C2H3F + H (1b) were determined by quantitatively measuring the yield of C2H3F under conditions of excess C2H4. The stabilized adduct, C2H4F, was not detected at T = 202 K. The derived branching fractions were Γ1a(202 K) = 0.25 ± 0.09, Γ1b (202 K) = 0.75 ± 0.16, and Γ1a(236 K) = 0.27 ± 0.13, and Γ1b (2...
The A∼–X∼ electronic absorption of cyclopentadienyl peroxy radical (c-C5H5OO): A cavity ringdown spectroscopic and computational study

Abstract The electronic absorption spectrum of cyclopentadienyl peroxy radical, c-C5H5OO , has been recorded over the range 7000–8700 cm−1 by cavity ringdown spectroscopy. Using electronic structure calculations, the observed features are assigned to the G conformer, with a band origin at 7479 cm−1. A second form, the C conformer, is predicted to absorb weakly in a region obscured by signals arising from HO2 radical and cannot be definitively identified. Simulations of the sequence band structure based on computed OOCH torsional potentials suggests that the barrier separating the enantiomeric G/G′ minima is ca. 600 cm −1, significantly larger than values predicted by B3LYP/cc-pVDZ (138 cm−1) and G2 (314 cm−1) calculations.
Blood Pressure and Renal Hemodynamic Effects of Acute Blockade of the Vascular Actions of Arginine Vasopressin in Normal Pregnancy in the Rat

Virgin and pregnant rats were studied to determine whether blood pressure and/or renal hemodynamics are influenced by the vascular actions of arginine vasopressin (AVP) via the V1 receptor. Blockade of the AVP-V1 receptor with receptor antagonist d(CH2)5VDAVP in anesthetized, volume-depleted rats produced similar falls in blood pressure in both virgin and late-pregnant rats even though the late-pregnant rats already exhibited gestational hypotension. In the conscious, normovolemic condition, AVP-V1 antagonism had no effect on blood pressure or renal hemodynamics in virgin or pregnant rats. These studies suggest that in nomal pregnancy the V1 vascular receptor of AVP does not maintain blood pressure or renal function. When the animal is stressed, AVP-V1 control of blood pressure is activated similarly in virgin and pregnant rats.
Stigmata of congenital syphilis in the deciduous dentition

Abstract The occurrence of defects in the prenatally formed enamel of the deciduous incisor teeth of a congenitally syphilitic child is reported and correlated with the fact that the mother reacted unfavorably to antisyphilitic drugs, and that her Wassermann reaction was positive during the period when the affected parts of the involved teeth were forming. Striking abnormalities in the roots of the deciduous teeth are also described and correlated with the postnatal clinical history. Characteristic Hutchinsonian incisor teeth were demonstrated by roentgenray examination of the unerupted maxillary permanent central incisor teeth.
U.S. State Government policies and entrepreneurship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test the effects of government policies on entrepreneurial activity within the 50 US states. Design/methodology/approach – Using panel data and a fixed-effects model, the authors examine the determinants of the nominal establishment entry rate, the nominal establishment exit rate, and the net establishment entry rate. To measure government policy, the authors use the Economic Freedom of North America (EFNA) index published by the Fraser Institute. The authors use both the overall index and its components. The authors also use the state and local tax burden published by the Tax Foundation. Findings – The authors find that a smaller government is associated with a net increase in business establishments. A freer labor market is also associated with a net increase in business establishments. However, the relationship between the tax burden and entrepreneurship is more complex. Using a measurement of the tax burden from the Fraser Institute, the authors find that an i...
An extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. inhibits ubiquitin-proteasome activity and preserves skeletal muscle mass in a murine model of diabetes.

Impaired insulin signaling is a key feature of type 2 diabetes and is associated with increased ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent protein degradation in skeletal muscle. An extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. (termed PMI5011) improves insulin action by increasing insulin signaling in skeletal muscle. We sought to determine if the effect of PMI5011 on insulin signaling extends to regulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. C2C12 myotubes and the KK-Ay murine model of type 2 diabetes were used to evaluate the effect of PMI5011 on steady-state levels of ubiquitylation, proteasome activity and expression of Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1, muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases that are upregulated with impaired insulin signaling. Our results show that PMI5011 inhibits proteasome activity and steady-state ubiquitylation levels in vitro and in vivo. The effect of PMI5011 is mediated by PI3K/Akt signaling and correlates with decreased expression of Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1. Under in vitro conditions of hormonal or fatty acid-induced insulin resistance, PMI5011 improves insulin signaling and reduces Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 protein levels. In the KK-Ay murine model of type 2 diabetes, skeletal muscle ubiquitylation and proteasome activity is inhibited and Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 expression is decreased by PMI5011. PMI5011-mediated changes in the ubiquitin-proteasome system in vivo correlate with increased phosphorylation of Akt and FoxO3a and increased myofiber size. The changes in Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 expression, ubiquitin-proteasome activity and myofiber size modulated by PMI5011 in the presence of insulin resistance indicate the botanical extract PMI5011 may have therapeutic potential in the preservation of muscle mass in type 2 diabetes.
Isolation of Nuclei from a Marine Dinoflagellate

By means of a medium containing dextran, nuclei were isolated in high yield from cells of Gymnodinium nelsoni, a marine dinoflagellate. Most of the DNA, but less than onetenth of the RNA, of the original cells was recovered in the purified nuclei. The nuclei appeared substantially intact as observed by light or electron microscopy. The isolated nuclei were capable of incorporating tritiated uridine triphosphate into material insoluble in cold acid. The general procedure was found to be applicable also to two species of diatoms.
From Open Door to Dutch Door: An Analysis of U.S. Immigration Policy Since 1820

Preface An Overview of U.S. Immigration Policy Introduction: The Importance of Immigration The Waves of Immigration The Four Phases of U.S. Immigration Policy: The Open-Door Era The Door-Ajar Era The Pet-Door Era The Dutch-door Era Current and Future Trends Chapter Endnotes The Open Door Era, 1820-1880 Introduction The Old-Immigration Wave Nativist Political Reaction The Civil and Post-Civil War Years The Recessions of the 1870s: New Calls for Restrictionism Chapter Endnotes The Door-Ajar Era Introduction: The Change in Immigrant Waves The New Immigrants' Pattern The Immigration Acts of the 1880s: The First Restrictionist Laws The Depression of the 1890s and Subsequent Laws The 1900s and Further Attempts at Restrictionism The Pre-World War I Years The Post-World War I Years Chapter Endnotes The Pet-Door Era Introduction: The Immigration Act of 1917 The Quota Act of 1921 The Immigration Act of 1924 The National Origins Act of 1929 The Great Depression Decade The World War II Years Chapter Endnotes The Dutch-Door Era The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1952 The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1956 The 1976 Amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act and the 1980 Refugee Act Chapter Endnotes Current Law and Future Trends Introduction Recent Trends in Immigration Asian Immigration Hispanic-Americans Some Major Problems Current Proposals to Revise Immigration Laws Passage of the 1986 Act Conclusion Chapter Endnotes Bibliography Index
Design considerations for a SASE X-ray FEL $

Abstract The well developed theory of short wavelength SASE-FELs is now being used to design two X-ray lasers, LCLS and Tesla-FEL. However, the physics and technology of these projects present some unique challenges, related to the very high peak current of the electron beam, the very long undulator needed to reach saturation, and the importance of preserving the beam phase-space density even in the presence of large wake-field effects. In the first part of this paper, we review the basic elements of the theory, the scaling laws for an X-ray SASE-FEL, and the status of the experimental verification of the theory. We then discuss some of the most important issues for the design of these systems, including wake-field effects in the undulator, and the choice of undulator type and beam parameters.
Rapid, nonradioactive, and quantitative method to analyze zona pellucida modifications in single mouse eggs.

A rapid, nonradioactive method to monitor the ZP2 to ZP2f conversion in the zona pellucida of single mouse eggs has been developed. This assay is based on the chemiluminescent detection of biotinylated ZP2 and ZP2f following electrophoresis under reducing conditions and electrophoretic transfer to Immobilon P. This method is about 10 times faster and detects similar extents of ZP2 to ZP2f conversion following A23187-induced egg activation, when compared to the commonly used radioiodination procedures. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Real time charge efficiency monitoring for nickel electrodes in nickel—cadmium and nickel—hydrogen cells

Abstract This work demonstrates that the charging efficiency of both Ni/Cd and Ni/H 2 cells can be determined by cell voltage monitoring. This will allow better charge control in flight.
Bridging in vivo and in vitro data from Japanese Toxicogenomics Project using network analyses

Since experiments involving animal models are labor and time intensive, there is an attempt to replace these measurements on animal models with in vitro assays which has higher acceptance in the population concerning ethical issues. In this work, we explore to what extend animal models can be replaced by in vitro assays in the context of a toxicogenomics study. The data from the Japanese Toxicogenomics Project are gene expression profiles measured by microarrays from both in vitro and animal samples. We apply a comprehensive genomic association network analysis in order to study the comparative behavior of the genomic networks for the in vivo vs. in vitro data. The genomic networks are computed based on association scores of gene-gene pairs using a partial least squares modeling of gene expression values adjusted for sacrifice time and dosage. We apply permutation based statistical tests to compare the connectivity of a given gene, as well as a class of genes in the two networks which may be affected by a...
Music Majors' Attitudes Toward Private Lesson Teaching After Graduation A Replication and Extension

The purpose of this study was to survey current music students across degree programs and levels on their attitudes toward teaching private music lessons. Results showed few differences between und...
The real rate of interest from 1800–1990

Abstract Spurred by the work of Mehra and Prescott (M-P), economists have been attempting to explain the surprisingly low levels of real interest rates in light of the behavior of aggregate consumption. This paper constructs a continuous ‘risk-free’ interest rate series for the United States and the United Kingdom from the beginning of the nineteenth century, extending the period analyzed by M-P, 1889–1978, both backward and forward. It is found that the real rate of return on both long- and short-term bonds was over 400 basis points lower during the M-P period than outside that period and that this result holds for the U.K. as well as the U.S. In contrast, equities show almost identical real returns over the whole sample so that the equity premium is only about one-third as large outside the M-P period as within the period. These new data help reconcile the behavior of consumption and the real rate and suggest that the data from 1889–1978 may not be characteristic of returns on fixed income investments in the future.
“Thermochemical mimicry” of phenyl and vinyl groups: can it be extended to charged species? ☆

Abstract By examination of a set of recently evaluated proton affinities, the thermochemical mimicry of phenyl and vinyl derivatives is shown not to apply to charged species.
Tuning the activity of glutathione peroxidase mimics through intramolecular Se⋯N,O interactions: A DFT study incorporating solvent-assisted proton exchange (SAPE)

Diaryl diselenide mimics of the antioxidant selenoprotein glutathione peroxidase (GPx) often incorporate intramolecular Se⋯N,O interactions to enhance their GPx-like activity. Although the strength of the interaction is defined by the Lewis basicity of the donating group and the strength of the Se–X bond, there is not a clear relationship between the interaction and the GPx-like activity. Density-functional theory and natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations are used to show the range of Se⋯N,O interactions for various functional groups. The strongest interactions are found for groups which stabilize the donor–acceptor interaction through aromatic stabilization. The activation barriers for the GPx-like mechanism of activity of several substituted areneselenols are calculated using DFT and solvent-assisted proton exchange (SAPE), a technique that incorporates networks of solvent molecules into the theoretical model to facilitate proton transfer between sites in the reactant and product. DFT-SAPE models show that, in addition to decreasing the barrier to oxidation of the selenol, Se⋯N,O interactions generally increase the barriers for selenenic acid reduction and selenol regeneration because the Se⋯N,O interaction must be broken for the reaction to proceed. Calculated activation barriers for the rate-determining step are consistent with the relative experimental GPx-like activities of a series of diaryl diselenides.
Ethnic differences in the treatment of depression in patients with ischemic heart disease

Objective The aim of this study is to examine ethnic differences in depressive symptoms and antidepressant treatment in a cohort of patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. Background Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of mortality in the United States, with an excess of mortality in African Americans. Traditional risk factors occur more frequently among African Americans but do not fully account for this increased risk. Elevated depressive symptoms have been shown to be associated with higher morbidity and mortality in patients with CHD. Methods A consecutive series of 864 patients (727 whites, 137 African Americans) completed the Beck Depression Inventory to assess depressive symptoms. Data describing cardiovascular risk factors and type of medications including antidepressants were obtained from chart review at the time of study enrollment. Results There was no difference in the severity of depressive symptoms between whites ( P = .50); the prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms also was similar for African Americans (35%) and whites (27%) ( P = .20). However, the rate of antidepressant use was 21% for whites but only 11.7% for African Americans ( P = .016). The odds ratio for ethnicity (African American vs whites) in predicting antidepressant use was 0.43 (95% confidence interval 0.24-0.76, P = .004) after adjustment for Beck Depression Inventory scores. Conclusions African Americans with CHD are less likely to be treated with antidepressant medications compared with whites despite having similar levels of depression. The ethnic differences in the psychopharmacological management of depression suggests that more careful assessment of depression, especially in African Americans, is necessary to optimize care of patients with CHD.
Ecophysiological adaptations exist in nutrient requirements of fish: True or false?

Abstract 1. 1. Differentiation of digestive tract morphology in fish manifested by the lack or presence of a stomach, an extended intestine or enlarged intestinal surface frequently do not match feeding habits. 2. 2. There is contradictory information regarding the effect of dietary substrates as potentiating the production of enzymes in fish digestive tract. 3. 3. Quantitative requirements of essential nutrients seem consistent between fish species across various taxa and of varying feeding habits. 4. 4. A concept of nutrient requirement being related to adaptation in the food characteristics as a consequence of feeding habits has a limited use.
Lie Transforms and the Hamiltonization of Non-Hamiltonian Systems

To develop the perturbation solution of the non-Hamiltonian system of differential equationsy=g(y, t; e), it is sufficient to obtain the perturbation solution of a Hamiltonian system represented by the HamiltonianK=Y·g(y, t; ɛ) which is linear in the adjoint vectorY. This Hamiltonization allows the direct use of the perturbation methods already established for Hamiltonian systems. To demonstrate this fact, a Hamiltonian algorithm developed by this author and based on the Lie-Deprit transform is applied to the Hamiltonized system and is shown to be equivalent to the application of the non-Hamiltonian form of this same algorithm to the original non-Hamiltonian system.
Insulin improves contractile function during moderate ischemia in canine left ventricle

This study determined the effects of insulin on myocardial contractile function and glucose metabolism during moderate coronary hypoperfusion. Coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) was lowered from 100...
Balancing the developmental niches within the lung

The capacity to perform gas exchange with the environment is an evolutionary milestone of terrestrial development. The lung has undergone extensive alterations during evolution to acquire a large surface area to efficiently perform gas exchange between the oxygen-rich environment and the cardiovascular system. A process called branching morphogenesis has been used by the respiratory system to elaborate a simple endoderm tube into an extensive arborized organ that interacts closely with the vasculature to generate the proper amount of surface area to efficiently exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide with the cardiovascular system. The molecular mechanisms that regulate branching morphogenesis during lung development have been extensively investigated in the past decade. Many studies have highlighted the distinct morphological and molecular mechanisms that distinguish the structural conducting airways and the distal alveolar airspaces where gas exchange occurs. Despite this, there are still many remaining questions regarding how these distinct spatial units within the lung develop in a coordinated fashion. In the paper by Chang et al. (1), the authors provide a model where the main branching program of the lung airways antagonizes the development of the alveolar unit. Using an elegant series of genetic models in mice, the authors show that a Kras-Sox9 molecular axis provides the necessary spatial information to allow for alveolar development to progress and establish the critical airspaces for gas exchange to occur in the postnatal respiratory system. Such information provides critical insight into congenital lung anomalies that likely involve disruptions in branching and early patterning, including cystic lung diseases.