cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insights into Pathogen Immune Evasion Mechanisms: Anaplasma phagocytophilum Fails to Induce an Apoptosis Differentiation Program in Human Neutrophils

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs or neutrophils) are essential to human innate host defense. However, some bacterial pathogens circumvent destruction by PMNs and thereby cause disease. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, survives within PMNs in part by altering normal host cell processes, such as production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis. To investigate the molecular basis of A. phagocytophilum survival within neutrophils, we used Affymetrix microarrays to measure global changes in human PMN gene expression following infection with A. phagocytophilum. Notably, A. phagocytophilum uptake induced fewer perturbations in host cell gene regulation compared with phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus. Although ingestion of A. phagocytophilum did not elicit significant PMN ROS, proinflammatory genes were gradually up-regulated, indicating delayed PMN activation rather than loss of proinflammatory capacity normally observed during phagocytosis-induced apoptosis. Importantly, ingestion of A. phagocytophilum failed to trigger the neutrophil apoptosis differentiation program that typically follows phagocytosis and ROS production. Heat-killed A. phagocytophilum caused some similar initial alterations in neutrophil gene expression and function, which included delaying normal PMN apoptosis and blocking Fas-induced programmed cell death. However, at 24 h, down-regulation of PMN gene transcription may be more reliant on active infection. Taken together, these findings suggest two separate antiapoptotic processes may work concomitantly to promote bacterial survival: 1) uptake of A. phagocytophilum fails to trigger the apoptosis differentiation program usually induced by bacteria, and 2) a protein or molecule on the pathogen surface can mediate an early delay in spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis.
Optimizing the detection of subclinical inguinal hernias in men undergoing open radical retropubic prostatectomy

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort) Level of Evidence 2b OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and up-standing ultrasonography (USUS) for the detection of inguinal hernias (IHs) before open radical retropubic prostatectomy (ORRP) and to assess factors associated with the presence of IHs in these men. PATIENTS AND METHODS From 1 July 2007 to 1 February 2009, 164 men underwent preoperative evaluation for ORRP by one surgeon. Of these men 113 (69%) were evaluated for IHs by physical examination (PE), USUS and MRI. In all 226 groins were examined. Any IH diagnosed by any method was considered a true positive. The sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), and concordance were calculated for the three diagnostic methods. Possible predictive factors of IHs were evaluated. RESULTS Of the 226 groins evaluated, 72 (32%) IHs were diagnosed. USUS had the greatest sensitivity (69.4%) and the highest NPV (87.5%). MRI had fair agreement with PE and USUS, while USUS and PE had moderate agreement with each other. No factor was associated with an increased likelihood of preoperative diagnosis of IH. CONCLUSIONS This study was limited by the lack of a reference standard to diagnose IH. USUS was the most sensitive method for the detection of IH. We recommend that all men undergoing ORRP should be evaluated for IHs by PE and at least one imaging method and that IHs be repaired at the time of ORRP, obviating the need for a second surgical procedure.
Anterior access to the lumbar spine: laparoscopic versus open.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential advantages and complications of a minimally invasive laparoscopic approach for anterior spinal exposure as compared with the open technique and to quantify differences in operative time, blood loss, transfusion requirements, analgesia, and morbidity. A retrospective review was performed on all patients undergoing access for anterior spinal procedures. Demographics, operation-related variables, complications, and estimated cost were analyzed. Categorical data were analyzed using the Fisher's exact test and continuous variables were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test. We performed a total of 65 anterior spinal access procedures between February 1997 and April 2001 at our institution. Forty-five operations were performed at the L 5 -S 1 level: 31 using transperitoneal laparoscopic techniques and 14 using an open minilaparotomy. Mean follow-up was 12 months (range 1-50). No significant differences between the groups were found when comparing analgesia requirements, time to resumption of oral intake, length of hospitalization, and complication rates. Statistical analysis showed that laparoscopic procedures were associated with shorter operating room times (P = 0.08) and less intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.029). The laparoscopic approach was estimated to cost $1,374 more than the open technique. Transperitoneal laparoscopic techniques for anterior spinal exposure are comparable to the standard open approach and offer no substantive advantages. The overall cost of laparoscopic spinal surgery is higher compared with conventional open procedures.
Dual-energy mammography: a detector analysis.

Dual-energy mammography acquisition scenarios employing single-shot techniques are examined using computer simulation. A figure of merit of the signal-to-noise ratio squared over the glandular dose was chosen for the optimization task due to its exposure independence. Doses were evaluated using Monte Carlo techniques. The effects of kilovoltage, prepatient filtration, front detector thickness, mid-detector filtration thickness and composition were studied. Of the six detector pairs studied (Y2O2S/Gd2O2S, SrFBr/BaFBr, Y2O2S/LaOBr, Y2O2S/CaWO4, Y2O2S/YTaO4, and Y2O2S/LuTaO4), Y2O2S/Gd2O2S and SrFBr/BaFBr were found to be the best combinations. The effects of scatter and signal quantization were also examined. An alternative display technique whereby the tissue-subtracted (i.e., calcium) image is colorized and overlaid onto the conventional mammogram is introduced.
Student Teaching in the Contact Zone: Learning to Teach Amid Multiple Interests in a Vocational English Class

This case study investigates the decision making of Joni, a high school English teacher, during her student teaching in an Applied Communications II teaching assignment, comprised of students in the lowest tier of a four-track senior English curriculum. This course served as a “contact zone” for a set of competing interests: Joni's stated beliefs about effective teaching based on her experiences as a student, the Applied Communications curriculum, the student-centered pedagogy advocated by her university professors and supervisor, and the students' beliefs about the Applied Communications curriculum. The analysis finds that Joni's student teaching was complicated by the different values of the various stakeholders who converged in her classroom, producing disagreement about the motive of the activity setting of her student teaching. The study concludes with a consideration of both the purpose of vocational English classes and the preparation that novice teachers receive to teach them.
A Theory of Social Agentivity and its Integration into the Descriptive Ontology for Linguistic and Cognitive Engineering

The agentivity of social entities has posed problems for ontologies of social phenomena, especially in the Descriptive Ontology for Linguistic and Cognitive Engineering DOLCE designed for use in the semantic web. This article elucidates a theory by which physical and social objects can take action, but that also recognizes the different ways in which they act. It introduces the "carry" relationship, through which social actions can occur when a physical action is taken in the correct circumstances. For example, the physical action of a wave of a hand may carry the social action of saying hello when entering a room. This article shows how a system can simultaneously and in a noncontradictory manner handle statements and queries in which both nonphysical social agents and physical agents take action by the carry relationship and the use of representatives. A revision of DOLCE's taxonomic structure of perdurants is also proposed. This revision divides perdurants into physical and nonphysical varieties at the same ontological level at which endurants are so divided.
Flexible InGaP/(In)GaAs tandem solar cells with very high specific power

In this work, we demonstrate a new scheme for realizing flexible double-junction InGaP/(In)GaAs tandem solar cells with very high specific power of ~2000W/kg at one sun intensity. The controlled spalling technique is employed because of its simplicity to separate the solar cell structure from the growth substrate. Furthermore, the entirety of the elements used for the layer transfer process is incorporated in the final device structure. The combination of our new integration scheme with the possibility of the substrate reuse offers a viable pathway to further reducing the processing cost associated with the fabrication of III-V solar cell devices. Furthermore, the strikingly high specific power of our devices makes them suitable for portable applications with stringent requirements on the size and weight of the photovoltaic solar cells.
Response to Letters Regarding Article, “Drug Resistance and Pseudoresistance: An Unintended Consequence of Enteric Coating Aspirin”

We thank the authors of the letters for their interest in our publication.1 True aspirin drug resistance would be expected to be (1) specific for aspirin, (2) reflected by incomplete inhibition of the molecular target of aspirin, and (3) a relatively stable phenotype that is reproducible when assessed on multiple occasions. It is this last point …
Stable Expression of hrGFP by Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells: Promoter Activity in the Undifferentiated State and During Dopaminergic Neural Differentiation

Three promoters, cellular polypeptide chain elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) were examined for stable transgene expression in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and their progeny during dopaminergic neural differentiation. In undifferentiated ES cells the EF1 promoter was highly effective, while CMV had moderate activity. After 3 months in culture, expression of humanized renilla green fluorescent protein (hrGFP) was unchanged for the EF1 promoter and decreased for CMV. At the nestin-positive stage of differentiation, hrGFP and nestin were colocalized in about 20% of cells for EF1, in contrast to 80% of cells for the CMV promoter. In tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons neither the EF1 nor CMV promoter were effective. The RSV promoter was inactive in undifferentiated, nestin-positive, and TH-positive cells. Thus, EF1 and CMV are effective promoters for transgene expression in undifferentiated ES cells and nestin-positive neural precursors.
The Same Xenobiotic Response Element Is Required for Constitutive and Inducible Expression of the Mammalian Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-3 Gene

The mammalian aldehyde dehydrogenase-3 gene (ALDH3) exhibits several aspects of tissue-specific expression. Certain normal tissues, such as the cornea, constitutively express ALDH3 at very high levels. Other tissues, such as normal liver, do not express ALDH3. In liver, ALDH3 is inducible by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon xenobiotics by an Ah-receptor (AhR)-mediated pathway in which a liganded AhR complexes with nuclear ARNT protein, and the complex binds to a xenobiotic response element (XRE) sequence located near -3.0 kb in the ALDH3 5' flanking region and initiates transcription. We used our recently developed rat corneal epithelium culture model (Boesch et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271, 5150-5157, 1996) to study the molecular basis of constitutive ALDH3 expression. Transient transfection assays of corneal epithelium using a battery of ALDH3 5' flanking region-CAT reporter gene constructs indicate that high constitutive ALDH3 expression involves the same cis-acting elements as xenobiotic-induced ALDH3 expression in liver. These elements include a strong basal promoter region and the XRE located near -3.0 kb. Western analysis confirms the presence of AhR and ARNT proteins in 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rat liver, as well as ARNT protein in rat corneal epithelium. No AhR protein is found in rat cornea. The -3.0-kb ALDH3 XRE region contains multiple overlapping transcription factor binding sequences, including consensus sites for AhR, ARNT, HNF1, HNF4, and C/ebp. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) indicate that constitutive expression of ALDH3 in cornea involves binding of ARNT, HNF1, and HNF4 to the ALDH3-XRE in an Ah-receptor-independent, ARNT-requiring manner. Transient transfection of ALDH3-CAT reporter gene constructs possessing a mutation in either the ARNT- or HNF4-DNA binding sites of the XRE confirms the functional importance of these sequence motifs in constitutive ALDH3 expression.
Population dynamics of arthropods associated with early-season tomato plants as influenced by soil surface microenvironment

Abstract Two field studies were conducted in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California in order to describe the association of arthropods and possible virus diseases with the plant canopy of early-season, bush-trained, fresh-market tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Shady Lady) over three soil surface microenvironments. The experimental treatments were based on alterations to planting bed surfaces, as follow: 1) soil covered with silver metalized, light-reflective plastic mulch; 2) soil covered with biological mulch consisting of killed, chopped, cool-season cover crop residues [mixture of triticale ( X Triticosecale Wittm.), rye ( Secale cereale L. cv. Merced), and common vetch ( Vicia sativa L.)]; or 3) bare soil (not covered) – the SJV standard tomato production practice. In both studies, the predominant arthropods encountered in all treatments were the aphid species Aphis craccivora Koch, Macrosiphum euphorbiae Thomas, and Myzus persicae Sulzer; the western flower thrips ( Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande), and the false chinch bug ( Nysius raphanus Howard). These are all considered to be pests of cultivated tomato plants. Spiders were the most prevalent arthropod predator group recovered from foliage samples. All monitored arthropods, except spiders, were most abundant in tomato plants grown over the conventional, bare soil surface, and least abundant (P N. raphanus . In both experiments, tomato fruits grown over the reflective plastic mulch had significantly less (69.5% and 39.7%, respectively) damage due to this pest than those over bare soil. The biological mulch gave inconsistent, intermediate damage reductions. Results from these two field studies showed that reflective plastic bed mulch suppressed populations of a variety of tomato canopy-associated arthropod taxa in early-season plantings, as compared to conventional, bare-soil beds. The biological bed mulch results were more inconsistent, but gave indications that killed cover crop residues, as well as the light-reflective plastic, may be of value in integrated pest management programs for fresh-market tomato production.
Effects of feeding fish oil on the properties of lipoproteins isolated from rhesus monkeys consuming an atherogenic diet

This study examined plasma lipids and lipoproteins of rhesus monkeys fed fish oil incorporated into a highly atherogenic diet containing saturated fat and cholesterol. The animals were fed diets containing 2% cholesterol and either 25% coconut oil (group I), 25% fish oil/coconut oil (1:1; group II), or 25% fish oil/coconut oil (3:1; group III) for 12 months (n = 8/group). Adding menhaden fish oil to the diet increased plasma eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid and decreased plasma linoleic acid in animals fed the fish oil containing diets. Plasma concentrations of all lipoprotein fractions were decreased in the fish oil groups. VLDL isolated from group I animals exhibited beta-mobility on agarose gels but the VLDL from groups II and III animals did not. The group I VLDL was more highly enriched in cholesteryl ester than was VLDL from groups II and III. Group I LDL had a small but significant increase in cholesteryl ester content compared to group III LDL. No differences in HDL composition were observed in the 3 groups. At least 6 times less apo E was recovered in VLDL, IDL, and LDL from group III animals than from group I animals. Assuming 1 molecule of apo B per lipoprotein particle, there were 50% fewer VLDL, IDL, and LDL particles in group III than in group I animals. Group III also had significantly lower molar ratios of apo E/apo B in VLDL, IDL, and LDL than did group I animals. When VLDL from all 3 groups were incubated with J774 macrophages at equal protein concentrations, only the VLDL from the group I animals stimulated cholesterol esterification. Thus, introducing fish oil into an atherogenic diet reduced the number of VLDL, IDL and LDL particles in plasma by as much as 50%, reduced the cholesteryl ester content of the circulating lipoprotein, and reduced the ability of the VLDL to stimulate cholesterol esterification in macrophages.
Gonadotropin Output and Response to LRH Administration in Congenital Virilizing Adrenal Hyperplasia

Three premenarchial, 2 primary amenorrheic, and 5 post-menarchial patients with congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) were examined, utilizing frequent blood sampling techniques and the administration of synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) to determine whether a normal pattern of gonadotropin output occurs in CAH. Pulsatile gonadotropin output was not observed in premenarchial patients, but was seen in all who had had spontaneous menses. Bone age did not correlate with baseline or episodic gonadotropin output, or with response to LRH, but did reflect the past or present therapeutic control. The normal developmental progression of gonadotropin output was only documented in those patients who had been maintained at doses of suppressive glucocorticoids appropriate for body surface.
The diagnostic value of phosphate metabolism in experimental rickets

These results are based on a study of 150 rats, taken from the mothers at the age of three weeks when they weighed about 30 gm. and placed on experimental diets in small separate cages shielded from ultraviolet rays of sunlight. They were not given cod-liver oil or butter fat, but they had sufficient vitamine-A for varying degrees of growth. All of them were x-rayed at the end of this period and turned over to Dr. C. M. Jackson for morphological study. His observations have confirmed my diagnoses.In order to diagnose rickets in rats the average P metabolism and growth per day were determined (weights being expressed in milligrams) and the following empirical formula was used. Rachitic index = RI.RI = increase in body weight × 0.0022 − (P retention − 2).If RI is positive the rat has rickets and if negative the rat is normal. For example, if a rat increases in weight 2,000 mg. per day, 2,000 × 0.0022 = 4.4. If its P retention is 4 mg. per day, 4 − 2 = 2 and RI = 4.4 − 2 = 2.4, therefore, this rat has ricket...
Determination of oxygen uptake by tissue grown in an all glass differential microrespirometer

An all-glass differential microrespirometer is described, which is designed to measure the respiration of actively growing cellsin vitro. The actual growing of the cells was carried outin situ in the respirometer to avoid injury by a transfer of the living cells.
Comment on "Superlubricity: a paradox about confined fluids resolved".

A Comment on the Letter by Yingxi Zhu and Steve Granick, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 096101 (2004). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply.
Hydrophobic interaction of retroviral DNA polymerases with alkyl-agarose matrices.

Abstract The chromatographic behavior of DNA polymerase activity in solubilized preparations of Rauscher murine leukemia virus (R-MuLV), murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV), Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MP-MV), and avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV) was examined on agarose derivatives containing hydrocarbon arms of various lengths. Ethyl-(C 2 )- and hexylimino-(C 6 )-agarose failed to bind significant quantitites of DNA polymerase activity. R-MuLV DNA polymerase bound to octylimino-(C 8 )- and decylimino-(C 10 )-agarose, and could be quantitatively recovered from these matrices by elution with buffers containing ethylene glycol alone and in the presence of detergents, respectively. The other viral polymerases demonstrated equal or greater affinities for these matrices. The potential for hydrophobic interaction by viral DNA polymerases revealed by our studies provides a mechanism whereby the specific complexing of reverse transcriptase with retroviral structural proteins in the absence of RNA may be explained.
Interleukin-1α induces corticotropin-releasing factor secretion and synthesis from NPLC-KC cells through various second messenger pathways

Interleukin-1 (IL1) is a key messenger implicated in endocrine and immune systems that interact to mediate the stress response. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) secretion and synthesis in the NPLC-KC human hepatoma cell line has been shown to respond to IL1 stimulation. We have studied how various inhibitors of second messenger pathways alter this IL1 effect. NPLC-KC cells were grown in six-well Costar plates and treated for 12 or 24 h with or without 500 pM IL1 (a form) in the presence of various inhibitors of second messenger pathways. Inhibitors included the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, H-7; the protein kinase A inhibitor, IP20; or the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (IND). Both cell extracts and secretion media were assayed for CRF-like immunoreactivity by radioimmunoassay. IP20, H-7, and IND all reduced basal CRF secretion at 24 h but not at 12 h. No effects were seen on basal CRF synthesis with these inhibitors. The three inhibitors also reduced IL1 effects on CRF secretion at 12 and 24 h. The reduction seen with all three inhibitors was statistically significant (P < 0.05) at 12 h. Although a reduction was seen with all three inhibitors at 24 h, a statistically significant reduction (I' < 0.05) was demonstrable only for H-7. IL1 stimulated CRF synthesis in the NPLC-KC cells appears to only involve PKC pathways. Only the PKC inhibitor H-7 reduced the augmentation that IL1 produces on CRF synthesis. This effect was statistically significant at 12 and 24 h (P < 0.05). o 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Category Coherence in Cross-Cultural Perspective

Abstract Cognitive psychologists and cognitive anthropologists alike have been concerned with how the human mind divides entities in the world into categories. Cognitive psychologists have recently begun approaching this issue by asking a question long of interest to anthropologists: To what extent are the categories given by structure in the environment, and to what extent are they created through constructive processes on the part of the human categorizer? Despite this shared question, relatively little of the data available in the anthropological literature has become familiar to psychologists. Psychologists stand to benefit from greater acquaintance with this literature, since the cross-cultural studies have often addressed the relative roles of structure in the environment vs constructive processes by the observer more directly than psychological studies have. Furthermore, cross-cultural data provide a unique opportunity to separate culture-specific from universal aspects of categorization. This paper sketches positions on the nature of category formation that have been put forth in the psychological literature. It then reviews in detail four areas of anthropological research that are relevant to evaluating the psychological perspectives. The cross- cultural data provide substantial constraints for theories of category coherence.
Glial cell adhesion and protein adsorption on SAM coated semiconductor and glass surfaces of a microfluidic structure

The development of microsystems that merge biological materials with microfabricated structures is highly dependent on the successful interfacial interactions between these innately incompatible materials. Surface passivation of semiconductor and glass surfaces with thin organic films can attenuate the adhesion of proteins and cells that lead to biofilm formation and biofouling of fluidic structures. We have examined the adhesion of glial cells and serum albumin proteins to microfabricated glass and semiconductor surfaces coated with self-assembled monolayers of octadecyltrimethoxysilane and N-(triethoxysilylpropyl)-O- polyethylene oxide urethane, to evaluate the biocompatibility and surface passivation those coatings provide.
Gentransfers zwischen Parasit und Wirt

Bakterien tauschen auch ohne Manipulation durch Biologen haufig Gene untereinander aus und teilen so ihren Kollegen wichtige Informationen wie Resistenzen gegen Antibiotika mit. Innerhalb von Zellen hoherer Organismen sind naturliche Wanderungen von Genen zwischen den verschiedenen Zellteilen Kern, Mitochondrien und Plastiden bereits seit einigen Jahren bekannt. Jetzt belegen mehrere Beispiele, dass genetische Information auch zwischen verschiedenen hoheren Organismen wandern kann, besonders haufig scheinen sowohl im Tier- als auch im Pflanzenreich Genubertragungen zwischen Parasiten und ihren Wirten vorzukommen.
On the Neutron-Proton Scattering Cross Section

The sensitivity of the theoretical neutron-proton scattering cross section to possible variations in the quantities defining the potential has been investigated in the energy range from 0 to 6 Mev. It is found that in this energy range the variations in exchange or tensor character and range of the potential which are consistent with what is known about the interaction do not result in so large a modification of the predicted cross section as do variations in shape.A well resembling a Yukawa potential ($A \mathrm{exp}\frac{(\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\alpha}r)}{r}$) is found to yield a cross section at 6 Mev which is 10 percent lower than that given by a square well fitted to the epithermal neutron cross section and the binding energy of the deuteron. The Yukawa well is in better agreement with experiment than is the square well. One of the constants entering into the determination of the potential is the epithermal neutron scattering cross section in hydrogen. We have determined this by extrapolating the data of Frisch with the aid of the theory, and obtained a value of 20.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}24}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$.
Measuring accomplishments: pseudoipsativity, quantity versus quality, and dimensionality

Abstract This study examined three psychometric questions about measures of accomplishments — notable attainments that have been publicly recognized: are the measures “pseudoipsative”, do quantity and quality scores assess the same thing, and what is the dimensionality of these measures? Comparable samples of graduate students reported their accomplishments on a questionnaire or judged the similarity of the same accomplishments. Accomplishments in the same field were positively correlated in the self-report data, while accomplishments in different fields varied in their correlations, some being positive and others being negative; these results are inconsistent with the predominantly negative correlations that would occur with ipsative measures. Measures of the quantity and quality (importance, rarity) of accomplishments correlated highly in the self-report data, after correction for attenuation, and appeared to assess the same thing. A number of factors emerged in analyses of the self-report data, many of which represented factors previously identified in biographical, interest, and leisure-time activities measures; few factors were found in the judgment data and they differed from the factors in the self-report data and in the other kinds of measures.
Chemically selective imaging of subcellular structure in human hepatocytes with coherent anti-stokes raman scattering (CARS) near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM)

We demonstrate the combination of coherent anti-Stoke Raman scattering (CARS) with near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) for chemically selective imaging via intrinsic vibrational resonances with spatial resolution below the diffraction limit. Femtosecond, near-IR pulses are used to produce CARS signals from human hepatocytes, and by tuning the CARS signal to be resonant with C−H stretching frequencies, image contrast is observed with an optical spatial resolution of ∼128 nm.
Ion-π interactions in ligand design for anions and main group cations.

Interactions between ions and aromatic rings are now a mainstay in the field of supramolecular chemistry. The prototypical cation−π interaction, first characterized in the gas phase, is now well-known as an important contributor to protein structure and enzyme function and as a noncovalent force found in many synthetic systems. The complementary “anion−π interaction”—defined as an electrostatic attraction between an anion positioned over the centroid of an aromatic ring—has recently emerged as another reversible ion−π interaction in supramolecular systems. This type of interaction could offer new selectivity in binding poorly basic, strongly solvated anions and may also affect structure, biological function, and anion transport.This Account describes our group’s efforts in ion−π interactions in two areas. We first describe a series of self-assembled Group 15 (pnictogen)–thiolate complexes, all featuring prominent cation−π interactions between the trivalent pnictogen and an aromatic ring of the ligand. Thi...
Quantitative assessment of myocardial edema using a breath-hold T2 mapping pulse sequence

Introduction An inflammatory response to various diseases, including acute myocardial ischemia, cardiac transplantation rejection and acute myocarditis, results in water accumulation in the myocardium. Excess water accumulation results in myocardial edema, which can lead to various conditions including myocardial stiffness, diastolic dysfunction, and tissue swelling [1]. Conventional T2-weighted (T2w) MRI can be used to qualitatively detect myocardial edema, but often yield non-uniform signal due to surface coil effects [2]. We propose to quantitatively detect myocardial edema using a breath-hold T2 mapping pulse sequence based on multi-echo, spin-echo (ME-SE) imaging [3].
544 EVALUATION OF FOUR DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES FOR CHILDREN WITH SUSPECTED GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX (GER)

No systematic evaluation of one (1 hr. pH) and twenty-four hour (24 hr. pH) esophageal pH probe tests, barium esophagrams and esophageal manometrics (EM) has been made in pediatric age patients. We therefore studied twenty-two children without gastrointestinal disease (WNL) and twenty-seven with symptoms of GER. The former differed from the latter in thirteen of seventeen parameters analyzed on the 24 hr. pH studies (F = 10.40; p 0.5). Motility patterns were also similar. GER was seen on esophagrams in eighteen symptomatic children (sensitivity = 50%) and thirteen (WNL) ones (specificity = 18%). Conclusions: 1. 24 hr. pH studies are the most sensitive and specific method for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux in children. 2. One hr. pH probe studies are very specific but lack some sensitivity. 3. Esophageal manometrics are not useful for diagnosing GER during the pediatric years. 4. Barium esophagrams are neither sensitive nor specific in diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux among pediatric age patients.
Mobility of Skeletal Phosphorus in a Mature Dairy Cow as Determined with Radioactive Phosphorus.

Summary1. Radioactive P32 was injected intravenously to measure the “labile” phosphorus pool in the skeleton of a mature, lac-tating dairy cow. This pool contains about 15% of the total skeletal phosphorus which was 15 times as large as the total circulating phosphorus pool in the plasma. 2. Autoradiograms and radioassays indicated that this labile pool extended throughout the skeleton but its distribution was determined by the type of bone involved. Cortical bone contains only one-third as much phosphorus in the labile state as does trabecular bone. 3. About 12% of the injected phosphorus-32 was present in the skeleton at the time of slaughter of the animal, 3 days after the injection.
Dispersion surfaces for photonic crystals composed of anisotropic materials

We demonstrate numerically the dispersion surfaces of anisotropic, optically biaxial dielectric composites by using plane wave expansion method . We find that by varying the anisotropy it changes the shape of the dispersion surfaces.
Vibrational--rotational excitation in atom--diatomic-molecule collisions

Differential and total cross sections are calculated for elastic scattering and also for rotational and vibrational excitation when an atom and a diatomic molescule collide at keV energies. Explicit calculations for vibrational excitation are here limited to the first vibration state only, although the method can easily be extended to higher vibrational states. Thc results are valid for small-angle scattering at keV energies, for which the motion of the nuclei can be treated in the Born approximation, while the electronic motion is treated in the adiabatic approximation. The cross sections are obtained as analytic expressions, thc exact solutions which follow from a realistic potential form with several adjustable parameters. These parameters can be adjusted to fit the proposed potential form to the potential appropriate to the desired collision reactants. The potential fomn includes the long-range R/ sup -6/ van der Waals intersection as well as the steep repulsive potential at short ranges and is a function also of the orientation angle between the molecular axis and the incident direction. Hydrogen-atom-hydrogen-molecule scattering is presented as an example. The potcntial for three hydrogen atoms is obtained by adjusting the parameters in the analytical expression for the potential to the ab initio calculationmore » of the H/sub 3/ energy surface of Shavitt et al., and numerical values for the differential and total cross sections are obtained. In the case of other collision reactants, for which no ab initio energy-surface calculations are avaliable, the results of the present work conversely permit the parameters (and, therefore, the energy surface) to be determined by experimental cross-section measurements at keV energies.(auth)« less
Rotational barriers of a nitrophenylene ethynylene trimer

The rotational barriers for a nitrophenylene ethynylene trimer have been computed using density-functional theory. The local minima previously reported and used to explain the negative differential resistance (NDR) for this class of molecules appear to be an artifact due to basis set superposition error. While there is a local minimum for highly tilted molecules, the tilt angle required to produce the correct barrier height is at the upper limit of the reported experimental values. We believe that it is premature to explain the experimentally observed NDR in terms of a rotational barrier of a monolayer with a parallel slipped commensurate structure.
Meta-analysis of Single-Case Research on Teaching Functional Living Skills to Individuals with ASD

A meta-analysis of 52 studies teaching functional living skills to individuals with autism spectrum disorder was conducted. Using the Tau effect size with the Dunn and the Kruskal–Wallis post-hoc analyses, the following categories were analyzed: age, diagnosis, intervention type, dependent variable, setting, and implementer. Analyses for age yielded statistically significant findings supporting greatest outcomes for elementary-aged individuals compared to secondary-aged individuals as well as adolescents and adults in comparison with preschool- and secondary-aged individuals. Moderate to strong effect sizes were noted across categories for diagnosis, intervention, and dependent variable. Outcomes indicated strong effects across categories for setting and implementer. Convergent validity of Tau effect sizes with visually analyzed ratings of evidence was evaluated, which largely resulted in correspondence.
THE IMPRINT OF THE UPPER AND LOWER SOUTH ON MID-NINETEENTH-CENTURY TEXAS†

ABSTRACT Within the ante-bellum South were two distinct economic regions 1) the Lower South, composed of states fronting on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, an area dominated by the slave-cotton system, and 2) the Upper South, represented by inland states like Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Missouri, where slaveless yeoman farmers were dominant and cotton was scarce. The position of Texas in this southern dichotomy has never been adequately investigated, a deficiency which prompted the present study. It was found that the state of Texas, by 1860, was divided, like the South as a whole, into two clearly defined areas, one of which was typically lower southern in its economy and society, the other of which bore the unmistakable imprint of the Upper South. The recognition of this fundamental division is a major aid to the understanding of the geography of nineteenth-century Texas.
Pattern variation in isogenic frogs

The pigment patterns of groups of genetically identical individuals (clones) obtained by nuclear transfers were compared with individuals arising from normally fertilized eggs in order to ascertain the various factors involved in the formation of the wild-type pigmentation phenotype of Rana pipiens. Thirteen experiments were performed. The froglets were killed and photographed and each picture was subjected to a number of examinations and analyses. A thorough visual examination did not reveal any clear differences between the experimental and control groups. The results of the statistical analyses were almost uniform — there was no significant difference in variability with regard to spot number, average spot size, spot location and shape, between the clones and controls. However, the individuals within the clones were more uniform in regard to the percentage area covered by the spots. In transfers involving the nuclei of few-spotted parents into enucleated ova of few- and many-spotted females, the progeny were of the nuclear type. Rank correlation analyses between parents and offspring indicated that there is a closer resemblance to the mothers than to the fathers. The results can be explained by the assumption that the genotype, environment, and chance events during development are all implicated in the production of the pigment pattern.
Do targeted efforts for the rural underserved help kill comprehensive reform

: There has been a shift during the past 60 years from a broad notion of the entire nation as underserved to a more focused effort to identify particular areas (often rural) thought to be underserved. This approach was formalized with the advent of the war on poverty. This focused approach has been cemented during the past 30 years, in part by the success of various federal health center programs that have remained funded during this period in spite of opposition. This paper concludes that the consensus view that rural underserved areas represent an “exception” phenomenon that is properly addressed with special responses (organizations or physicians) has had two major effects: (1) the political survivability of focused programmatic responses (such as Community Health Centers) has been enhanced; and (2) the existence of an “elastic net” policy network to advocate for the expansion of such remedial efforts may play a contributory role in helping to defeat comprehensive health reform.
Cell populations associated with interdental gingival bleeding

The purpose of this study was to characterize the cell populations of the mid-interproximal gingival tissue related to the presence or absence of bleeding. 15 bleeding and 15 non-bleeding interproximal gingival biopsies were obtained from 30 patients and processed for light microscopic evaluation. Morphometric analysis of tissue components revealed that bleeding was associated with an inflammatory lesion located in the mid-interproximal connective tissue. The inflammatory infiltrate was dominated by mononuclear cells of the lymphocyte/macrophage/monocyte group, and the proportions of plasma cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were relatively small. The results of this study indicated that interproximal bleeding can be associated with an inflammatory infiltrate not dominated by plasma cells. The role of gingival bleeding in the diagnosis of periodontal disease activity is discussed.
P01-28 - Behavioural addictions in bipolar disorder patients: role of impulsivity and personality dimensions

Objectives Behavioural addictions (BAs) can be understood as disorders characterized by repetitive occurrence of impulsive and uncontrolled behaviours. Very few studies have investigated their association with mood disorders. The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of the main behavioural addictions in a sample of bipolar outpatients in euthymic phase or stabilised by medications and to investigate the role of impulsivity and temperamental and character dimensions. Methods One-hundred-fifty-eight Bipolar Disorder (BD) (DSM-IV) outpatients were assessed with tests designed to screen the main behavioural addictions: pathological gambling (SOGS), compulsive shopping (CBS), sexual (SAST), internet (IAD), work (WART) and physical exercise (EAI) addictions. TCI-R and BIS-11 were administered to investigate impulsivity and personality dimensions mainly associated with BAs. The clinical sample has been compared with 200 matched healthy control subjects. Results In bipolar patients, 33% presented at least one BA respect to the 13% of controls. Significantly higher scores at the scales for pathological gambling (p Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the prevalence of behavioural addictions in BD showing a significant association of these disorders. BAs are more frequent in bipolar patients than in healthy controls and are related to higher impulsivity levels and character immaturity.
Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patient With Triple Negative Breast Cancer After Paclitaxel Infusion: A Case Report

A 47 -year-old woman with breast cancer suffered progressive chest pain and flushing within 5 minutes of her second exposure to paclitaxel. Her symptoms progressed and she became pulseless. Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) was initiated, and after a series of chest compressions the cardiac monitor revealed ventricular fibrillation. With ongoing ACLS she was transferred to the emergency department where she regained a pulse. Review of electrocardiogram revealed prominent ST elevation in leads V1, V2 and V3 with reciprocal ST depression. She was transferred urgently to the catheterization laboratory. Angiography revealed a high-grade stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) , and drug-eluting stents were placed without complications. She was then transferred to the floor and shortly thereafter suffered pulseless electrical activity and died despite prolonged attempts at resuscitation. Herein, we describe the development of acute myocardial infarction after paclitaxel administration, discuss potential etiologies and review evidence for an allergic component. Cardiol Res. 2014;5(3-4):108-111 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/cr325w
RESEARCH: Assessment of Nonpoint Source Pollution from Inactive Mines Using a Watershed-Based Approach

/ A watershed-based approach for screening-level assessment of nonpoint source pollution from inactive and abandoned metal mines was developed and illustrated. The methodology was designed to use limited stream discharge and chemical data from synoptic surveys to derive key information required for targeting impaired waterbodies and critical source areas for detailed investigation and remediation. The approach was formulated based on the required attributes of an assessment methodology, information goals for targeting, attributes of data that are typical of basins with inactive mines, and data analysis methods that were useful for the case study. The methodology is presented as steps in a framework including evaluation of existing data/information and identification of data gaps; definition of assessment information goals for targeting and monitoring design; data collection, management, and analysis; and information reporting and use for targeting. Information generated includes the type and extent of and critical conditions for water-quality impairment, concentrations in and loadings to streams, differences between concentrations in and loadings to streams, and risks of exceeding target concentrations and loadings. Data from the Cement Creek Basin, located in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, USA, were used to help develop and illustrate application of the methodology. The required information was derived for Cement Creek and used for preliminary targeting of locations for detailed investigation and remediation. Application of the approach to Cement Creek was successful in terms of cost-effective generation of information and use for targeting.KEY WORDS: Water quality assessment; Nonpoint source pollution; Inactive mines; Watershed
First approximations of soil moisture retention curves using the filter‐paper method

Relationships between gravimetric soil moisture content (w) and matric potential (ϕ), and between volumetric soil moisture content (θv) and pressure head (h) were approximated for the unsaturated zone on Long Island, New York. Soil samples were collected from two sites using a hand auger. The soil moisture content was determined using the filter-paper (wf) and gravimetric (w) methods, respectively. The wf was then used in an empirical equation to estimate ϕm. Each set of ϕm and w was combined with a straight-line empirical model to obtain a w(ϕm) relationship. Soil ϕm was converted to h, and w to the volumetric moisture content θv, in order to produce a θv(h) curve. Graphical and statistical comparison showed that the resulting θv(h) curves fell within one order of magnitude of similar curves generated by a more sophisticated non-linear model developed previously. The simplicity and low cost of the filter-paper approach described in this study recommends it for preliminary studies of hydraulic properties in the unsaturated zone. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Type-safe convariant specialization with generalized matching

Matching is a relation between object types originally designed to support type-safe subclassing with binary methods. In this paper we generalize it to deal with general covariance by allowing field and method parameter types to change covariantly in matching types. In addition, object types may explicitly contain virtual types which can also change covariantly. The result is a significant increase in the flexibility of subclassing. The new definition is accompanied by appropriate machinery, allowing the loss of subsumption to be compensated by match-bounded parameterization and hash types. We define a language LGM supporting generalized matching, its typing rules, and its operational semantics and establish a subject reduction theorem showing the soundness of the system.
Asymptotic efficiency in semi-parametric models with censoring

Abstract We consider a regression model subject to bivariate censoring in which the errors are independent of the explanatory variables. Our objective is to drop the assumption of bivaraite normality and obtain an information bound on asymptotic efficiency when the error distribution is unrestricted except for smoothness and regularity conditions. This bound has simple form; if there are no exclusion restrictions on the selection equation, then positive information requires a restriction on the regression slope parameters and a continuous distribution for a component of the explanatory variables. We also consider a binary choice model under the weak assumption that the error distribution has zero median conditional on the explanatory variables. Here the semi-parametric information bound is zero. Hence, although a consistent estimator exists, it is not possible to attain covergence at rate 1 n .