cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low Dose Carbon Monoxide Exposure in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Produces a CO Signature Comprised of Oxidative Phosphorylation Genes

Compelling preclinical studies indicate that low-dose carbon monoxide (CO) abrogates experimental lung fibrosis. We recently reported the results of a multicenter, double-blinded, clinical trial of inhaled CO in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Identifying no significantly changes in metalloproteinase-7 (MMP7) serum concentration, or secondary endpoints of physiologic measurements, hospitalization, death, or patient-reported outcomes. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of low dose CO exposure (100–200 ppm) for 12 weeks on genome-wide gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) derived from these IPF study subjects. We conducted transcriptome profiling on 38 IPF subjects with time points available at 0, 12, and 24 weeks. Total RNA isolated from PBMCs was hybridized onto the Affymetrix Human Gene 2.0 ST Array. We identified 621 genes significantly upregulated in the 24-week CO exposed group compared with the 12-week. Pathway analysis demonstrated association with Oxidative Phosphorylation (adjusted P < 0.05). We identified a clear CO signature dominated with 23 oxidative phosphorylation-related genes (FDR <10%). We confirmed the expression of nine selected gene products using Nanostring’s nCounter analysis system. These findings suggest this signature may serve as a potential genomic biomarker for CO exposure and for potential titration of dosage to allow precision testing of therapies in future low dose CO therapeutic studies in IPF.
Childhood Lung Disease

From neonates to adolescents, radiology plays an integral role in the diagnosis of pediatric conditions. There is considerable overlap in the clinical presentation of diseases in the pediatric population, and a fundamental understanding of radiographic findings is essential toward narrowing the differential diagnosis. This chapter will review the common causes of respiratory distress in pediatric patients, as well as key anatomic structures in the neck that may contribute to pathology.
Cognitive work of hypothesis exploration during anomaly response

Four incidents from web-based software companies reveal important aspects of anomaly response processes when incidents arise in web operations, two of which are discussed in this article. One parti...
Apocalyptic Witness: Johann Baptist Metz (1928–2019)

In the first week of this Advent season, on December 2nd, 2019, Johann Baptist Metz became one of “the dead” of whom he so lovingly and insistently spoke. Upon hearing this sad news, I was immediat...
PROSPECTIVE MEASURES OF INTRA-REGION BRAIN REGULARITY DIFFERENTIATES ACL INJURED AND UNINJURED ATHLETES:

Background:Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are debilitating for athletes. While numerous motor and biomechanical deficits contribute to the inciting ACL injury mechanism, the limited know...
Local Sales Taxes and Spending Patterns in U.S. County Governments

The fiscal effects of local (option) sales taxes (LOSTs) have remained an open question. This paper assembles a county-level dataset of all the U.S. states from 1970 to 2006, and employs two empirical methods to obtain more convincing and generalizable results. The main goal of this study is to consider the different purposes of LOSTs for county governments and examine the effects of each purpose on local spending patterns. The empirical results confirm that LOSTs help counties expand their total revenue, ownsource revenue, and total expenditure, as well as their operating and capital spending. Further findings reveal that the effects of general-purpose LOSTs (GLOSTs) differ from those of special- purpose LOSTs (SPLOSTs) on the spending patterns in county governments. SPLOSTs expand a county’s capital spending and reduce its operating spending, while GLOSTs are more helpful for expanding a county’s operating spending. The empirical findings imply that local policy-makers should consider whether it should specify a purpose before they make a decision on LOST adoption.
An Evaluation of Kiosks for Direct-to-Consumer Telemedicine Using the National Quality Forum Assessment Framework.

Background: Evaluation of direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine programs has focused on care delivery via personal electronic devices. Telemedicine kiosks for the delivery of virtual urgent care se...
Outpatient Versus Inpatient Posterior Lumbar Fusion for Low-Risk Patients: An Analysis of Thirty-Day Outcomes From the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

Background Outpatient spine surgery has been increasingly used recently owing to its perceived cost benefits and its ability to offset the volume from the inpatient setting. However, the 30-day outcomes of outpatient posterior lumbar fusion (PLF) for low-risk patients have not been extensively studied. In the present study, we assessed the 30-day outcomes of outpatient PLF surgery for low-risk patients using a national surgical quality registry. Methods For the present study, we queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program for patients who had undergone PLF from 2009 to 2016. Only patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists grade of 1–2 were included. The 30-day outcomes, including any complications, readmissions, and reoperations, were studied using multivariable logistic regression after adjustment for an array of patient-specific factors. Results A total of 29,830 cases were identified. Of these 29,830 cases, 1016 (3.4%) had been performed as outpatient cases and 28,814 (96.6%) as inpatient. After adjusting for an array of patient-specific factors, we did not find any significant association between the procedure setting and complication rate (odds ratio [OR], 0.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6–1.1; P = 0.15) or 30-day readmission rate (OR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.6–1.4; P = 0.76). Patients undergoing outpatient PLF were more likely to have required a 30-day reoperation (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1–2.4; P = 0.02). Conclusion Our results have demonstrated that the 30-day outcomes of patients who have undergone outpatient PLF might be comparable to those of patients who have undergone PLF in an inpatient setting. However, outpatient surgery might be associated with a greater overall reoperation rate.
Abstract 14520: Differences in Left Atrial Size and Function and Supraventricular Arrhythmias Between Blacks and Whites in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study: Implications for AF Pathogenesis

Introduction: Black Americans have more atrial fibrillation (AF) risk factors but lower AF risk than whites. Left atrial (LA) enlargement, impaired LA function, frequent premature atrial contractio...
Portable CRISPR-Cas9N System for Flexible Genome Engineering in Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Lactobacillus paracasei

ABSTRACT Diverse Lactobacillus strains are widely used as probiotic cultures in the dairy and dietary supplement industries, and specific strains, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, have been engineered for the development of biotherapeutics. To expand the Lactobacillus manipulation toolbox with enhanced efficiency and ease, we present here a CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats)-SpyCas9D10A nickase (Cas9N)-based system for programmable engineering of L. acidophilus NCFM, a model probiotic bacterium. Successful single-plasmid delivery system was achieved with the engineered pLbCas9N vector harboring cas9N under the regulation of a Lactobacillus promoter and a cloning region for a customized single guide RNA (sgRNA) and editing template. The functionality of the pLbCas9N system was validated in NCFM with targeted chromosomal deletions ranging between 300 bp and 1.9 kb at various loci (rafE, lacS, and ltaS), yielding 35 to 100% mutant recovery rates. Genome analysis of the mutants confirmed precision and specificity of the pLbCas9N system. To showcase the versatility of this system, we also inserted an mCherry fluorescent-protein gene downstream of the pgm gene to create a polycistronic transcript. The pLbCas9N system was further deployed in other species to generate a concurrent single-base substitution and gene deletion in Lactobacillus gasseri ATCC 33323 and an in-frame gene deletion in Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37, highlighting the portability of the system in phylogenetically distant Lactobacillus species, where its targeting activity was not interfered with by endogenous CRISPR-Cas systems. Collectively, these editing outcomes illustrate the robustness and versatility of the pLbCas9N system for genome manipulations in diverse lactobacilli and open new avenues for the engineering of health-promoting lactic acid bacteria. IMPORTANCE This work describes the development of a lactobacillus CRISPR-based editing system for genome manipulations in three Lactobacillus species belonging to the lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are commonly known for their long history of use in food fermentations and as indigenous members of healthy microbiotas and for their emerging roles in human and animal commercial health-promoting applications. We exploited the established CRISPR-SpyCas9 nickase for flexible and precise genome editing applications in Lactobacillus acidophilus and further demonstrated the efficacy of this universal system in two distantly related Lactobacillus species. This versatile Cas9-based system facilitates genome engineering compared to conventional gene replacement systems and represents a valuable gene editing modality in species that do not possess native CRISPR-Cas systems. Overall, this portable tool contributes to expanding the genome editing toolbox of LAB for studying their health-promoting mechanisms and engineering of these beneficial microbes as next-generation vaccines and designer probiotics.
Hourly Dispatching Utility-Scale Solar PV Power with Megawatt Multilevel Grid Inverter

This study demonstrates a dispatching scheme of solar PV power utilizing two different types of energy storage components, namely, lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery and supercapacitors (SC). The cost optimization of the energy storage system, considering both cycling and calendar aging expenses, is assessed based on its usage of depth of discharge. It is found that the Li-ion battery is a better solution than the SC in terms of economic assessment for hourly dispatching PV power. Also, multilevel inverters, T-type and I-type neutral point clamped (NPC) inverters, are investigated due to their superior attributes: high efficiency, low total harmonic distortion, and reduced common-mode voltage. The power losses between the three-level T-type and I-type NPC inverters are compared, to identify the superior grid inverter topology for this application. The inverter loss analysis is conducted using the parameter values of the switching devices in the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment, and the T-type NPC inverter was found to exhibit better performance than the I-type NPC inverter for megawatt-scale grid connected PV arrays. Furthermore, an LCL filter has been designed for higher efficiency and better harmonic attenuation to interface the inverter with the utility grid.
Urgent Care Center Use and Pediatric Asthma Outcomes

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Preventative outpatient asthma care improves patient outcomes. The use of Urgent Care Centers (UCC) has grown. Asthma outcomes related to UCC use are unknown. Purpose: To evaluate outcomes of children with asthma receiving care at UCCs as compared to traditional outpatient care, including rates of hospitalizations, preventative medication and oral steroid prescriptions; and hospitalization and primary care follow-up after UCC care. Methods: Using the Military Health …
Prior Acoustic Trauma Alters Type II Afferent Activity in the Mouse Cochlea.

Auditory stimuli travel from the cochlea to the brainstem through type I and type II cochlear afferents. While type I afferents convey information about the frequency, intensity, and timing of sounds, the role of type II afferents remains unresolved. Limited recordings of type II afferents from cochlear apex of pre-hearing rats reveal they are activated by widespread outer hair cell stimulation, ATP, and by the rupture of nearby outer hair cells. Altogether, these lines of evidence suggest that type II afferents sense loud, potentially damaging levels of sound. To explore this hypothesis further, calcium imaging was used to determine the impact of acoustic trauma on the activity of type II cochlear afferents of young adult mice of both sexes. Two known marker genes (Th, Drd2) and one new marker gene (Tac1), expressed in type II afferents and some other cochlear cell types, drove GCaMP6f expression to reveal calcium transients in response to focal damage in the organ of Corti in all turns of the cochlea. Mature type II afferents responded to acute photoablation damage less often but at greater length compared to pre-hearing neurons. In addition, days after acoustic trauma, acute photoablation triggered a novel response pattern in type II afferents and surrounding epithelial cells, delayed bursts of activity occurring minutes after the initial response subsided. Overall, calcium imaging can report type II afferent responses to damage even in mature and noise-exposed animals and reveals previously unknown tissue hyperactivity subsequent to acoustic trauma. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The function of type II cochlear afferents is currently unknown. The prevailing hypothesis is that these neurons detect excessively loud sound and tissue damage within the cochlea. However, this hypothesis has not been directly investigated in fully hearing, mature animals. To this end, we show that type II afferents in mature mice experience prolonged calcium transients in response to focal tissue damage as compared to young, pre-hearing mice. Previous traumatic noise exposure caused novel delayed response patterns. Together, our data support the role of type II cochlear afferents as tissue damage detectors in the cochlea and suggest that changes in type II afferent activity may contribute to pathologies resulting from traumatic noise exposure.
Fracture Behavior of Interphase-Modified Metal/Ceramic Interfaces

The use of interfacial precipitation to control the fracture resistance of metal/ceramic interfaces was explored in the Al2O3/Al-CU system. The bi-material interfaces were formed by bonding high-purity Al2O3 with molten Al-5%Cu alloy under pressure. The specimens were then heat-treated so that the Al-Cu alloy reached peak-aged and extended-overaged conditions. The fracture resistance curve was measured for the two interfaces using flexural peel specimens. While the steady-state fracture toughness of the interface scaled with the yield strength of the metal, the initiation toughness was related to the size and spacing of interfacial precipitates. Implication of the weakening effect of the interfacial precipitation to the fracture behavior of metal/ceramic laminates is demonstrated.
Realizations of Volume Frameworks

A volume framework is a (d+1)-uniform hypergraph together with real numbers associated to its edges. A realization is a labeled point set in R d for which the volumes of the d-dimensional simplices corresponding to the hypergraph edges have the pre-assigned values. A framework realization (shortly, a framework) is rigid if its underlying point set is determined locally up to affine volume-preserving transformations. If it ceases to be rigid when any volume constraint is removed, it is called minimally rigid.
Understanding the temporal bone and its internal pathways through an animated diagrammatic approach (721.3)

Understanding the topography of the cranial nerves within the temporal bone is a challenge for both medical students and residents. Unlike most other areas of anatomy, this small, confined boney sp...
Nonlinear Estimators and Tail Bounds for Dimension Reduction in l 1 Using Cauchy Random Projections

For dimension reduction in the l1 norm, the method of Cauchy random projections multiplies the original data matrix A ∈ ℝn×D with a random matrix R ∈ ℝD×k (k≪D) whose entries are i.i.d. samples of the standard Cauchy C(0,1). Because of the impossibility result, one can not hope to recover the pairwise l1 distances in A from B=A×R∈ ℝn×k, using linear estimators without incurring large errors. However, nonlinear estimators are still useful for certain applications in data stream computations, information retrieval, learning, and data mining. We study three types of nonlinear estimators: the sample median estimators, the geometric mean estimators, and the maximum likelihood estimators (MLE). We derive tail bounds for the geometric mean estimators and establish that k = O(log n / e2) suffices with the constants explicitly given. Asymptotically (as k→∞), both the sample median and the geometric mean estimators are about 80% efficient compared to the MLE. We analyze the moments of the MLE and propose approximating its distribution of by an inverse Gaussian.
Time-frequency complexity of EEG following hypoxic-ischemic brain injury

The complexity of EEG signal has been extensively studied in different domains such as time, frequency and chaotic index. In this study we define a novel measure, time frequency complexity (TFC), based on the matching pursuit (MP) algorithm. It describes the structural complexity of EEG signals from the joint time-frequency distribution of the signals. The MP algorithm, introduced by Mallat and Zhang, describes a general procedure to compute adaptive signal representations by decomposing a signal into a linear expansion with redundant basis functions, called atoms. We define the TFC of EEG with the Shannon entropy in the time-frequency plane computed by the MP algorithm. TFC is shown to be sensitive to the structural change (such as spiky/bursting activity) in the EEG signal following brain injury and its recovery. We studied the EEG of 5 min of hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury. The preliminary results show that TFC could be useful for indicating different stages of brain injury and the recovery.
Quasiperiodic phenomena in accreting binary stars.

The discovery of quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs) and low-frequency noise (LFN) in the light curves of low-mass x-ray binaries has led to the formation of a “unified model” which successfully, but not uniquely, accounts for the average Fourier power spectra of most x-ray binaries showing QPOs. It also makes specific predictions on the short time scale correlations and behavior of the QPOs and LFN. Because the flux from QPO sources is too low to detect individual QPO cycles, measurements of QPOs and LFN on short time scales have large uncertainties. Several statistical algorithms are employed in attempts to explore short time scale relationships between the power spectral components, and to characterize QPO attributes and moments of the intensity distribution. Narrow band frequency filter algorithms can be used to search for evidence of QPO amplitude variability and to search for evidence of short time scale correlations between QPO and LFN strengths and source intensity. The envelopes of QPO and LFN waveforms may be constrained from the moments of the light curves, especially the skewness. We briefly describe each of these tests, and others, warn about the systematic biases present, and show how tests of this type can constrain the standard model for QPOs.
Streamline Basal Application of Herbicide for Small-Stem Hardwood Control

The effectiveness of low- volume basal application of herbicide-'Qreamline" a#&cation- was evaluated on 25 hardwood species and lob- 1011~ pine. Test mixtures were step-wise rates of Garlon 4 mixed in diesel fuel with a pen&ant added. Most comparisons tested IO%, 2076, and 30% mixtures of Garlon 4, while tests with saplings and small trees used 20%, 30%, and 40%. Target stems ranged from 2 ft tall to 6 in. dbh. Applica- tions were made in February, using pres- sure-regulated handguns equipped with straight stream nozzles attached to backpack sprayers. Two bands of the herbicide mix- ture were applied to two sides of all stems. After I8 months, susceptible hardwood species with greater than 80% average control at all three Garlon rates were water oak (Quercus nigra), am. hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), boxeider (Acer negundo), huckleberry (Vaccinium el- liottii), sunzacs (Rhus spp.), southern bay- berry (Myrica cerifera), and mountain- laurel (Kalmia latifolia). Tolerant species with less than 40% control were souwood
Deletion and linkage mapping of eight markers from the proximal short arm of chromosome 6.

Abstract Eight chromosome 6p markers (MUT, D6S4, D6S5, D6S19, D6S29, PIM, HLA, and F13A) were regionally mapped using somatic cell hybrid deletion cell lines that retained different regions of chromosome 6p. New restriction fragment length polymorphisms were identified at the D6S5 and PIM loci using newly isolated genomic clones at these loci. Genetic linkage among the eight loci was determined using the 40 CEPH reference families. Linkage analyses showed that these loci are in one linkage group spanning 48 cM in males and 128 cM in females. Using both the deletion mapping data and multipoint linkage analyses, chromosomal order for these loci was determined as centromere-(MUT, D6S4)-(D6S5, D6S19)-(D6S29, PIM)-HLA-F13A-telomere. Analyses of sex-specific recombination frequencies revealed a higher rate of recombination in females in the region between D6S4 and D6S29, while the recombination rate in males was higher for the interval between D6S29 and the HLA loci.
A166: Evaluation of Quality Indicators and Disease Damage in Childhood‐Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

The aim of this study was to describe compliance with select quality indicators and assess organ-specific dysfunction in a childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus population by using a validated damage index and to evaluate associations between compliance with quality indicators and disease damage. A retrospective chart review was performed on patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus prior to age 18 followed at a single center in the USA from 1999 to 2012 (n = 75). Data regarding quality indicators and outcome variables, including the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index, were collected. The median disease duration was 3.8 years. The proportion of patients or patient–years in which care complied with the proposed quality measures was 94.4% for hydroxychloroquine use, 84.3% for vitamin D recommendation,75.8% for influenza vaccination (patient–years), 67.2% for meningococcal vaccination, 49.0% for ophthalmologic examination (patient–years), 31.7% for pneumococcal vaccination, and 28.6% for bone mineral density evaluation. Disease damage was present in 41.3% of patients at last follow-up, with an average damage index score of 0.81. Disease damage at last follow-up was associated with minority race/ethnicity (p = 0.008), bone mineral density evaluation (p = 0.035), and vitamin D recommendation (p = 0.018). Adherence to quality indicators in a childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus population is varied, and disease damage is prevalent. This study highlights the importance of quality improvement initiatives aimed at optimizing care delivery to reduce disease damage in pediatric lupus patients.
Hospitalist and Nonhospitalist Adherence to Evidence-Based Quality Metrics for Bronchiolitis

Objectives: Hospitalists are a new subgroup of pediatricians. However, data comparing quality of care between hospitalists and nonhospitalists are limited. Bronchiolitis, a common cause of pediatric hospital admission, is an appropriate condition for evaluating inpatient quality of care. The goal of this study was to identify quality indicators for the evaluation and treatment of children hospitalized with bronchiolitis based on the 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines and to assess differences in adherence rates to these indicators between hospitalist and nonhospitalist pediatricians. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of children admitted to 2 academic centers in 2007 and 2008. Reviewers selected charts with a discharge diagnosis of bronchiolitis and collected data on evaluation, treatment, length of stay, readmission, and adverse outcomes. Results: Reviewers analyzed 713 charts. In children without objective response to bronchodilator therapy, hospitalists and nonhospitalists discontinued albuterol and racemic epinephrine similarly. Hospitalists discontinued unnecessary systemic corticosteroid therapy (75.0% vs 42.4%; P = .001) and antibiotic therapy (71.0% vs 48.6%; P = .007) more frequently than nonhospitalists. Conclusions: These data suggest hospitalists better adhere to selected portions of the American Academy of Pediatrics bronchiolitis guidelines, thus providing higher quality of care. Quality indicators used in this study can distinguish physician performance in the inpatient management of bronchiolitis.
Variational Analysis and the Slow Manifold

Abstract The principles of variational analysis are reviewed in a symbolic manner, with emphasis on the error introduced by a failure to use an exact constraint. A technique to approximate a nonlinear exact constraint is suggested, with the object of avoiding error magnification in regions of good data, in the process of analyzing slow mode amplitudes for nonlinear mode initialization. The technique amounts to subtractingall fast modes from the data fields that form the input to the variational analysis. The analysis procedure is then focused on only the analysis of slow mode fields. These general considerations are demonstrated by computations with the vortex model of Tribbia, and show how nonlinear mode techniques can improve initial analyses in a more significant way than the mere elimination of noise. A review of the relative merits and weaknesses of optimum interpolation and variational analysis suggests a logical way to use both techniques in an operational analysis system.
Study of a three component lattice system

There are lattice solutions of different character in the no integrability Aesthetic Field Theory. In this paper we study an example of a three component lattice system which is of three dimensional character. When an integration path is specified we find that the lattice particles behave like solitons. These solitons undergo sinusoidal motion in both x and y directions. When we introduce a four dimensional e^@a"i, to make the system four dimensional we find the lattice is made up of what appears to be an infinite number of loop particles. The summation over path degree of freedom is introduced using the commutator method. The program is to study how the summation over path degree of fredom affects the lattice solution. We find that the additional degree of freedom affects the three dimensional system markedly. We still have evidence for an infinite number of planar maxima and minima but the zero contour lines are now bent into closed curves resembling circles. The solution appears to have a regular pattern although it is not as symmetric as the lattice itself. A conclusion we can reach is that the summation over path degree of freedom affects different lattice solutions in different ways. Although a five component lattice is not studied in this paper we remark that the summation over paths leads to a more disordered system in this case.
Mutations in genes encoding inner arm dynein heavy chains in Tetrahymena thermophila lead to axonemal hypersensitivity to Ca2

Calcium-dependent ciliary reversals are seen in ciliated protozoans such as Tetrahymena in response to depolarizing stimuli, but the axonemal mechanisms responsible for this response are not well understood. The model is that the outer arm dyneins (OADs) control the beating frequency while the inner arm dyneins (IADs) regulate ciliary waveform. Since ciliary reversal is a type of waveform change, the model would predict that IAD mutations could affect ciliary reversal. We have used gene disruption techniques to generate several behavioral mutants of Tetrahymena with functional disruptions of various IADs. One such mutant, called KO-6, is missing I1 (the two-headed IAD) and is unable to show ciliary reversals in response to any stimuli due to a loss of axonemal Ca2+ sensitivity [Eur J Cell Biol 80 (2001) 486–497; Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 53 (2002) 281–288.]. In contrast, disruption of 3 one-headed IADs [Liu et al., Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 59 (2004), 201–214] produced mutants, which showed over-responsiveness in bioassays measuring either their depolarization-induced avoiding reactions (AR) in Na+ and Ba2+ solutions or their duration of backward swimming (continuous ciliary reversal or CCR) in K+ solutions. Detergent-extracted and reactivated mutants also showed increased probabilities of CCR at lower Ca2+ concentrations suggesting that the behavioral over-responsiveness of these three mutants in vivo is due to increased axonemal Ca2+ sensitivity. Our data suggest the possibility that the one-headed IADs and the two-headed IAD act antagonistically in vivo and that loss of any one of the one-headed IADs leads to behavioral over-responsiveness due to less resistance to I1-induced reversals. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 62:133–140, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Site-specific oral absorption of didanosine: in situ characterization and correlation with extent of absorption in vivo

Abstract Didanosine is a purine nucleoside analogue approved for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The permeability of didanosine was characterized in three intestinal regions, the proximal jejunum, mid-small intestine and distal ileum, in rats using an in situ steady-state single pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) technique. Intestinal perfusions were performed with didanosine (0.01 mM) at pH 6.5 using an iso-osmotic Mes buffer. Permeability results were calculated using a modified boundary layer analysis and the mean, dimensionless wall permeabilities (P ∗ w ) of didanosine were 0.26 ± 0.03, 0.17 ± 0.01 and 0.09 ± 0.01 (mean ± SE) in the proximal jejunal, mid-small intestinal and distal ileal regions, respectively. The net water flux was −0.38%/cm in all three intestinal locations, indicating water absorption. The regional differences in permeability were significant whereas the differences in water transport were not. Based on the water transport and permeability results, it appears that intestinal permeability differences were not due to solvent drag suggesting that differences in the absorptive surface area or paracellular pore size and density may account for the decrease in the lower small intestinal permeability of didanosine. The mean P ∗ w was then used in a previously developed theoretical model that correlates intestinal permeability and scaling factors with extent of absorption results in vivo. The experimental data correlated well with the extent of didanosine absorption reported in dogs and humans after the administration of immediate- and delayed-release didanosine dosage forms. The results of the correlation further support the experimental results and suggest that the oral absorption of didanosine is permeability-limited and intestinal site-dependent with absorption decreasing down the small intestine.
On the vibration modes of three-dimensional micropolar elastic plates

Abstract This paper presents the analysis on the natural frequency types and the corresponding vibration mode classes in three-dimensional, simply supported rectangular micropolar elastic plates by using a general solution for the linear theory of micropolar elasticity. It is shown that there exist four types of natural frequencies in micropolar elastic plates. The corresponding vibration modes are symmetric thickness-shear vibration, antisymmetric thickness-shear vibration, symmetric flexural vibration and antisymmetric flexural vibration. Numerical evaluation of the free vibration frequency was performed and compared in detail with the corresponding results of classical elastic plate vibration. On the basis of the numerical analysis, some observations have been made on the influence of various micropolar material constants on the vibration behavior of micropolar plates.
Natural Frequencies in Pipes With Orifice Terminations

Acoustic resonance frequencies help identify which pipe segments in a complex piping system are likely to undergo forced vibration. This study focuses on a pipe with a sinusoidal pressure disturbance imposed at one end on an otherwise steady flow, with the other end of the pipe terminating at an orifice. In order to determine the natural acoustic frequencies of this scenario, it is not obvious whether to model the boundary condition at the orifice as an open or closed pipe, or somewhere in between. The results of this study show how the natural frequencies in a pipe segment are related to the loss coefficient K in three different categories. First, when K is less than C/V , where C is the speed of sound and V is the mean fluid velocity, the natural acoustic frequency resembles that of an open pipe, with the amplitude that grows to a limiting value. Second, when K is greater than C/V , the natural frequency corresponds to a closed pipe, and the amplitude also grows to a limiting value. Lastly, when K is equal to C/V , disturbance will propagate to the orifice without exciting a resonance as if pipe were infinitely long.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Computer simulation of magnetic resonance images using fractal-grown brain slices

In Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) selective enhanceitient of different features can be achieved by emphasizing the contrast of tissues with either long spin-spin relaxation time (T2) or short spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) . The contrast level is affected by the repetition tune (TR) and the echo time (TE) used in multiple spin-echo (MSE) iaethod. In this study anatomical structures of brain tissues are simulated by fractal geometry techniques and these images are then used to simulate MR images with different contrast levels. It is shown that the fractal grown brain slice gives a much closer resenthlance than a geoiaetric phantom and provides greater flexibility in simulating complicated structures. The fractal grown brain slice provides a computer generated phantom which is more suitable for simulating selective contrast enhancement in MRI. 1.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Classification of childhood asthma phenotypes and long-term clinical responses to inhaled anti-inflammatory medications

Background Although recent studies have identified the presence of phenotypic clusters in asthmatic patients, the clinical significance and temporal stability of these clusters have not been explored. Objective Our aim was to examine the clinical relevance and temporal stability of phenotypic clusters in children with asthma. Methods We applied spectral clustering to clinical data from 1041 children with asthma participating in the Childhood Asthma Management Program. Posttreatment randomization follow-up data collected over 48 months were used to determine the effect of these clusters on pulmonary function and treatment response to inhaled anti-inflammatory medication. Results We found 5 reproducible patient clusters that could be differentiated on the basis of 3 groups of features: atopic burden, degree of airway obstruction, and history of exacerbation. Cluster grouping predicted long-term asthma control, as measured by the need for oral prednisone ( P P = .001), as well as longitudinal differences in pulmonary function ( P P = .02) and nedocromil ( P = .01) compared with placebo, whereas the other cluster demonstrated minimal responses to both budesonide ( P = .12) and nedocromil ( P = .56) compared with placebo. Conclusion Phenotypic clustering can be used to identify longitudinally consistent and clinically relevant patient subgroups, with implications for targeted therapeutic strategies and clinical trials design.
Baboon model of generalized epilepsy: Continuous intracranial video-EEG monitoring with subdural electrodes

The baboon provides a natural non-human primate model for photosensitive, generalized epilepsy. This study describes an implantation procedure for the placement of subdural grid and strip electrodes for continuous video-EEG monitoring in the epileptic baboon to evaluate the generation and propagation of ictal and interictal epileptic discharges. Subdural grid, strip and depth electrodes were implanted in six baboons, targeting brain regions that were activated in functional neuroimaging studies during photoparoxysmal responses. The baboons were monitored with continuous video-EEG monitoring for 2-21 (mean 9) days. Although the animals were tethered, the EEG signal was transmitted wirelessly to optimize their mobility. Spontaneous seizures, interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs), and responses to intermittent light stimulation (ILS) were assessed. Due to cortical injuries related to the electrode implantation and their displacement, the procedure was modified. Habitual myoclonic and generalized tonic-clonic seizures were recorded in three baboons, all associated with a generalized ictal discharge, but were triggered multiregionally, in the frontal, parietal and occipital cortices. IEDs were similarly expressed multiregionally, and responsible for triggering most generalized spike-and-wave discharges. Generalized photoparoxysmal responses were activated only in one baboon, while driving responses recorded in all three photosensitive baboons were 2.5 times the stimulus rate. In contrast to previous intracranial investigations in this model, generalized ictal and interictal epileptic discharges were triggered by parietal and occipital, in addition to the frontocentral cortices. Furthermore, targeted visual areas responded differently to ILS in photosensitive than nonphotosensitive baboons, but further studies are required before mechanisms can be implicated for ILS-induced activation of the epileptic networks.
AlPO4−ZrO2 catalysts, IV. Cyclohexene skeletal isomerization activity of systems obtained in ethylene oxide

The use of AlPO4−ZrO2 (weight ratio AlPO4/ZrO2=3) as catalyst systems obtained with ethylene oxide and subjected to different stages of heat treatments has been studied through their catalytic activity in the skeletal isomerization of cyclohexene to 1- and 3-methylcyclopentenes (1- and 3MCP). The apparent rate constants and selectivity to 1-MCP are used for an evaluation of the presence and amount of strong acid sites, the only ones capable of giving rise to skeletal isomerization. The decrease in catalytic activity as calcination increases is consistent with not only the decrease in the amount of acid sites measured vs. weaker organic bases but also with the decrease in Bronsted acidity, as shown by the decrease in O−H band intensity.
Environmental tobacco smoke and interleukin 4 polymorphism (C-589T) gene: environment interaction increases risk of wheezing in African-American infants.

Objectives To determine whether infants exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) having the interleukin 4 (IL-4) or interleukin 13 (IL-13) gene polymorphisms were at increased risk of wheezing. Study design A birth cohort of 758 infants was evaluated annually by a questionnaire, physical examination, and skin prick testing. DNA samples from 560 children were genotyped for IL-4 C-589T and IL-13 C-1112T. The relationship of ETS exposure and genotype with the outcome of wheezing was analyzed. Results At the time of evaluation, mean age was 13.4 ± 2.2 months. The prevalence of sensitization was 29%, and wheezing without a cold was 26.2%. The interaction of ETS exposure and the CT/TT genotypes for IL-4 C-589T showed a significant association with wheezing (odds ratio: 10.84; 95% confidence interval: 1.12-104.64, P = .04) in African-American infants. Conclusions In African-American infants with a family history of atopy, the interaction of ETS and IL-4 C-589T demonstrated a 10-fold risk associated with wheezing without a cold.
Christian Theology and the Newtonian Science: The Rise of the Concept of the Laws of Nature

R. G. Collingwood has suggested that the basic contrast between the Greek view of nature and what he calls the Renaissance view, springs from the difference between their respective analogical approaches to nature. Whereas, he argues, the Greek view of nature as an intelligent organism was based on an analogy between the world of nature and the individual human being, the Renaissance view conceived the world analogically as a machine. Instead of being regarded as capable of ordering its own movements in a rational manner, and, it might be added, according to its immanent laws, the world, to such a view, is devoid both of intelligence and life, the movements which it exhibits are imposed from without, and “their regularity due to 'laws of nature' likewise imposed from without.” Coiling- wood concludes, therefore, that this view presupposed both the human experience of designing and constructing machines, and the Christian idea of a creative and omnipotent God.
Assay of IgE antibodies against June and Timothy grasses by an immunoperoxidase technique

Summary The results of eighty assays for serum IgE antibodies against June and Timothy grass antigens with a solid-phase immunoperoxidase technique are correlated with those obtained with the RAST procedure. The allergens were insolubilized in polystyrene microtitre plates. After allowing the allergen-specific IgE antibodies in the test serum t o bind the allergen, the plates were incubated with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated rabbit antihuman IgE. The enzyme bound to the plates was assayed spectrophoto-metrically using o-phenylene diamine as the substrate. The coefficients of variation for within-batch reproducibility ranged from 4.57 to 11.97%, and those for between-batch variance from 8.25 to 13.7%. The slope of absorbance values of the immunoperoxidase assay is shallower than that of the bound radioactivity in the RAST technique. Notwithstanding, the immunoperoxidase method allows separation of non-atopic controls from the sera containing specific IgE antibodies and categorization of positive sera into weakly, moderately, and strongly positive results. Free of the disadvantages inherent in the use of radioactive material, this assay offers an alternative to the RAST test for the assay of allergen-specific IgE antibodies.
Se adlattices formed on Au(100), studies by LEED, AES, STM and electrochemistry

Abstract Ordered selenium atomic layers have been formed electrochemically on Au(100) at a series of coverages. Cyclic voltammetry and coulometry were used to study the deposition process, and to determine the corresponding coverages of a number of Se structures. Structures, with Se coverages of 0.25, 0.33, 0.5, and 0.89 monolayers, were identified using ultra high vacuum — electrochemical techniques as well as scanning tunneling microscopy. The corresponding unit cells of those structures were: p(2 × 2), (2 × √10), c(2 × 2), and a mostly (3 × √10), composed of close-packed Se 8 rings. Pit formation, associated with the formation of the densely packed Se 8 ring structure, was observed. They are reminiscent of pits observed in self-assembled monolayers of alkane thiols on Au surfaces. The pits disappeared as the structure, composed of Se rings, was converted to lower coverage structures, such as the 0.25 monolayer p(2 × 2), via anodic stripping. Se atomic layers were formed electrochemically in three ways: direct reduction from a HSeO − 3 solution; anodic stripping of previously formed bulk Se; or cathodic stripping of previously formed bulk Se. All three methods resulted in equivalent atomic layer structures on the Au(100) surface, but with some variation in the homogeneity and distribution of particular structures.
Diiso­thio­cyanato­[di(2‐pyridyl)­methanediol]copper(II) bis(di­methyl sulfoxide), [Cu(NCS)2(dpydiol)]·2DMSO

The crystal and molecular structure of green [Cu(NCS)2(C11H10N2O2)]·2(CH3)2SO, which forms a distinct dimer in the crystalline state, was determined. The stereochemistry of the monomer is a distorted five-coordinate square pyramidal arrangement of four N atoms and a displaced fifth ligand position occupied by an oxy­gen of a hydroxy group of the gem-diol ligand. Two of the nitro­gen ligands are N-bonded thio­cyanates and the other two N atoms are furnished by the di(2-pyridyl)­methanediol ligand. The copper to nitro­gen distances are 1.935 (4), 1.942 (4) A for the two thio­cyanates and 2.025 (3), 2.032 (3) A for the di(2-pyridyl)­methanediol ligand. The copper to oxy­gen distance is 2.475 (3) A and the copper to sulfur distance in the dimer is 3.1394 (17) A.
Invocation of the Theatrical Frame in Bamana Drama Performance

This article argues that an anthropology of art can only be valid as it integrates the art form and the socio-cultural context, using data from Bamana (peoples from the region of Bamako in Mali) drama performances. It is shown how cultural knowledge and social activity is situationally used to contextualize aesthetic experience.
Motion planning for cooperative manipulators folding flexible planar objects

In this paper we consider the problem of folding deformable objects like cloth or towels. Embracing a simple object model, we present a new algorithm capable of generating collision-free folding motions for two cooperating manipulators. The algorithm encompasses the essential properties of manipulator-independence, parameterized fold quality, and speed. Numerous experiments executed on a real and simulated dual-manipulator robotic torso demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented method.
Missing Omo L338y-6 occipital-marginal sinus drainage pattern: ground sectioning, computer tomography scanning, and the original fossil fail to show it.

The Omo L338y-6 occipital region has been recently studied by White and Falk (1999), who claim that it shows a readily identifiable enlarged left occipital-marginal sinus (O/M). These observations are contrary to the direct observations of previous investigators (Rak and Howell, 1978; Kimbel, 1984; Holloway, 1981; Holloway, 1988). White and Falk (1999) further argue that the presence of this enlarged O/M strongly suggests that the Omo L338y-6 hominid was indeed a "robust" Australopithecus. We used direct sectioning and CT scanning to analyze magnified sections of a high-quality first-generation cast of the newly cleaned original fossil. These methods fail to show any evidence of a morphological landmark that can be interpreted as an enlarged O/M, either as an eminence or a sulcus. In contrast, the same techniques used with both SK 1585 and OH5 ("robust" Australopithecus with an enlarged O/M) show extremely visible and palpable enlarged O/M's. Examination of the original Omo fossil confirms that it lacks an O/M. This evidence clearly shows that an enlarged O/M cannot be identified on either the original fossil or a first-generation cast, although this does not rule out the possibility that the Omo L338y-6 hominid was a "robust" Australopithecus. We believe that the differences between observers regarding this feature are most probably due to displacement caused by a crack and the different source materials employed, i.e., the difference between a first-generation cast of the original fossil and a third- or fourth-generation cast of the endocast made two decades ago.
THERMAL STRESSES IN PARTIALLY ABSORBING FLAT PLATE DUE TO SUDDEN INTERRUPTION OF STEADY-STATE ASYMMETRIC RADIATION, I: CONVECTIVE COOLING AT REAR SURFACE

Abstract An analysis is presented of the thermal stresses in a partially absorbing flat plate due to sudden interruption of steady-state asymmetric thermal radiation on the front face with convection cooling at the rear face. Maximum transient tensile stresses occur in the rear surface and are almost independent of the heat transfer coefficient, h. For optical thicknesses of ≥ 0.5 μa, the maximum tensile stress initially rises to reach a peak and then decreases with time. In contrast, for thicknesses ≤ 0.5 μa, the stresses decrease monotonically. It is shown that a plot of nondimensional stress as a function of nondimensional time for a given value of pa and h does not result in a universal plot from which thermal stresses can be obtained for any value of plate thickness.