cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fate of the message-ribosome complex upon translation of termination signals

Abstract A technique has been developed by which the translation of an f2 RNA molecule by a single ribosome can be monitored in an Escherichia coli S-30 extract. The extract is prepared by first incubating it with purified l -asparaginase II to remove all free asparagine and then with small amounts of sus 3 RNA to remove asparaginyl-tRNA. Addition of labeled phage RNA to a protein-synthesizing system containing the treated extract results in the formation of a rather stable phage RNA-ribosome-peptidyl-tRNA complex stopped at a site coding for an early asparagine residue in the coat protein. The addition of asparagine and other amino acids allows translation of the coat cistron to resume. Any further binding of ribosomes to the labeled RNA is prevented by either adding an excess of unlabeled phage RNA or making the reaction 70 μ m in aurintricarboxylic acid at the time of adding asparagine. Under these conditions, it is shown that aurintricarboxylic acid only prevents chain initiation and not chain propagation or termination of protein synthesis. Using this technique, it is shown that: (1) the rate of in vitro translation of the f2 phage coat cistron is 25 to 30 amino acids per minute; (2) translating the amber codon specifying site 6 of the coat protein as chain termination results in the complete release of the labeled phage RNA from the message-ribosome complex in not more than 0.75 minute; (3) translating the amber codon specifying site 70 of the coat protein as chain termination results in essentially the same rapid release of the RNA as for site 6; and (4) there is a rapid, but only a partial, release of the message when the natural chain terminating signal at the end of the coat cistron is translated. These results are discussed in terms of the mechanism of polarity and of the reading of intercistronic punctuation.
THE EFFECTS OF DELAYED PICKING AND HIGH‐TEMPERATURE CONDITIONING ON THE TEXTURE OF HOT‐ AND COLD‐BONED BROILER BREAST MEAT

Four trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of delayed picking for 30 min versus normal picking, high temperature conditioning at 32°C versus low temperature conditioning at 0°C, and hot boning versus cold boning on broiler breast meat tenderness, pH, sarcomere length and R-values. None of the treatments affected cold-boned shear values. Within the hot-boned group, delayed picking significantly increased shear value (14.5 kg) compared with normally picked samples (12.5 kg). Conditioning at 32°C significantly lowered shear values (12.5 kg) compared with 0°C (14.6 kg). High-temperature conditioning lowered muscle pH immediately after evisceration, but delayed picking had no effect. Following 24 h aging, treatments had no effect on muscle pH or R-value. These results indicate that 32°C conditioning temperature and early picking significantly reduced meat toughness, but not to a commercially practical degree.
Equilibrium and Thermodynamic Properties of Grey, White, and Liquid Tin

The thermodynamic properties of various phases of tin are calculated employing the method of adiabatic switching with modified embedded atom method (MEAM) potentials. The experimental $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\beta}$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{liquid}$ transition temperatures are reproduced within an 11% accuracy. Good agreement with experiments is also obtained for other thermodynamic quantities. We demonstrate the versatility and accuracy of MEAM by how well it reproduces both metallic and covalent phases of tin over a wide temperature range and over a wide range of densities.
Characterization of Genome Integrity for Oversized Recombinant AAV Vector

Application of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) in gene therapy has been limited by its packaging capacity. Recent studies suggested that rAAV could achieve persistent transgene expression beyond 4.7-kb packaging limit. To clarify the mechanism leading to transgene expression from oversized rAAV vector, we constructed a series of rAAV vectors with genomes ranging from 2.9 to 7.2 kb. A plasmid replication origin and an ampicillin-resistant marker were included in the vector to facilitate the recovery of circularized, post-transduction AAV genome. Southern dot-blot analysis and silver staining confirmed that rAAVs could be produced at varying vector size. However, the vector yields decreased approximately tenfold for oversized vectors as compared to regular ones. Alkaline Southern blot hybridization suggested that the packaged genomes for oversized vectors were truncated. In the cells transduced by the above vectors, circularized rAAV monomers could be rescued at 24 hours after infection. Few recovered AAV genomes were >5 kb regardless of the initial vector size. In mice receiving the above vectors, larger circularized rAAV genomes could be recovered for oversized vectors at day 21 after vector administration. Our studies suggested that the partially packaged rAAV sequences may complement each other to restore full expression cassette.
Design of a new medium for volume holographic information processing.

An optical analog of the neural networks involved in sensory processing consists of a dispersive medium with gain in a narrow band of wave numbers, cubic saturation, and a memory nonlinearity that may imprint multiplexed volume holographic gratings. Coupled-mode equations are derived for the time evolution of a wave scattered off these gratings; eigenmodes of the coupling matrix κ saturate preferentially, implementing stable reconstruction of a stored memory from partial input and associative reconstruction of a set of stored memories. Multiple scattering in the volume reconstructs cycles of associations that compete for saturation. Input of a new pattern switches all the energy into the cycle containing a representative of that pattern; the system thus acts as an abstract categorizer with multiple basins of stability. The advantages that an imprintable medium with gain biased near the critical point has over either the holographic or the adaptive matrix associative paradigms are (1) images may be input as noncoherent distributions which nucleate long-range critical modes within the medium, and (2) the interaction matrix κ of critical modes is full, thus implementing the sort of full connectivity needed for associative reconstruction in a physical medium that is only locally connected, such as a nonlinear crystal.
Cardiac assessment in pediatric mice: strain analysis as a diagnostic measurement.

Echocardiography is a robust tool for assessing cardiac function in both humans and laboratory animals. Conventional echocardiographic measurements, including chamber dimensions, wall thickness, and ejection fraction are routinely obtained to assess cardiac function in mice. Recently, myocardial strain and strain rate measurements have been added to functional assessments to provide additional details on regional abnormalities that are not evident using conventional measurements. To date, all studies of strain and strain rate in mice or rats have involved adult animals. This study serves to outline methods for acquiring echocardiographic images in pediatric mice and to provide myocardial strain and strain rate values for healthy C57BL/6J mice between 3 and 11 weeks old. Between weeks 3 and 11, left ventricular radial strain ranged from 32 to 43% and longitudinal strain ranged from −15 to −19%, with analysis over time showing no significant changes with aging (radial strain, P = 0.192 and longitudinal strain, P = 0.264; n = 4 for each time point evaluated). In conclusion, myocardial strain analysis in pediatric mice is technically feasible and has potential application in studying the pathophysiology of pediatric cardiovascular disease.
Simulation-based training for irregular warfare

Although the allied military remains committed to maintaining its capacity for traditional warfare, military leaders recognize that irregular approaches have become the prevailing mode of conflict. Contrasted against more traditional struggles where two relatively-equal military powers approach battle in similar ways, opponents in irregular conflicts employ "unconventional" methods to counter the traditional advantages of stronger opponents. These unconventional methods require the allied militaries to adapt, engaging in novel operations---and consequently creating training needs for new skill domains. During this special session, presenters will discuss some of these unique training requirements, including IED defeat strategies, human terrain issues, and team competency assessment.
Anemia Management in Adult Chronic Hemodialysis Patients Using Darbepoetin Alfa Protocol

BACKGROUND Data on darbepoetin alfa for anemia management in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is scarce when compared with epoetin alfa. Clinical experiences of using darbepoetin alfa, dosing guide, and average weekly requirements are discussed in this article. METHODS A retrospective data analysis of 150 adult chronic hemodialysis patients was conducted for the period January 2005–May 2006. Darbepoetin alfa administration used convenient pre-filled syringes. Dose was titrated up or down in small increments to target hemoglobin (Hgb) levels of at least 11 and less than 13 g/dL. Hgb levels were measured twice monthly with the goal of maintaining 80% of patients at the target of 11 g/dL or greater. Intravenous iron was administered to maintain serum ferritin levels between 100 and 600 ng/mL and transferrin saturation between 20% and 45%. Other parameters monitored included average weekly darbepoetin alfa dose. RESULTS The average percentage of patients maintained at an Hgb level of 11 g/dL or greater was: January–June 2005, 76.5% (95% CI, ± 2.56); July–December 2005, 82% (95% CI, ± 2.12); and 2006, 78.6% (95% CI, ± 2.96). The percentage of patients with an Hgb > 12 g/dL was 21%–46%. The average weekly darbepoetin alfa doses decreased from 70 ± 3 µg (January–June 2005) to 62 ± 2 µg (June–December 2005) and further decreased to 55 µg (95% CI, mean ± 1.12) in 2006. CONCLUSIONS Darbepoetin alfa is effective for anemia management in CKD patients. The average weekly darbepoetin alfa requirement for anemia management to target an Hgb level of 11 g/dL or greater for most adult chronic hemodialysis patients is 55 µg or less.
Women with Turner's Syndrome: helping them reach their full potential

ABSTRACT The physical and psychological effects of Turner's Syndrome, a female sex chromosome abnormality, briefly are described. Principles for helping women master the special challenges posed by the disorder are discussed. The authors argue that women with TS must take control of defining their identities and potential in order to attain full status within society.
An unusual case of stroke

New imaging techniques have allowed for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of stroke. In this case, we present a 58-year-old woman with multiple large vessel strokes on magnetic resonance imaging. The initial diagnostic workup centered on a rapidly progressive central nervous system vasculitis. Subsequent workup revealed an unusual infectious etiology--cryptococcal meningitis. Although fungal infections can cause vasculitis, this is the first report of a patient with multiple anterior and posterior circulation strokes secondary to Cryptococcus. The diagnosis in cases presenting with encepalopathy and without fever is often delayed.
Limiting critical speed response on the SSME Alternate High Pressure Fuel Turbopump (ATD HPFTP) with bearing deadband

Yammamoto (1954) described the influence of bearing deadband on the critical speed response of a rotor-bearing system. Practical application of these concepts to limit critical speed response of turbopump rotors is described. Nonlinear rotordynamic analyses are used to define the effect of bearing deadband and rotor unbalance on the Space Shuttle Main Engine Alternate High Pressure Fuel Turbopump. Analysis results are used with hot fire test data to verify the presence of a lightly damped critical speed within the operating speed range. With the proper control of rotor unbalance and bearing deadband, the response of this critical speed is reduced to acceptable levels without major design modifications or additional sources of damping.
Maturation of evoked response of the visual cortex in the postnatal rabbit

Abstract 1. 1. The response of the visual cortex to electrical stimulation of the optic nerve in rabbits is evident at birth (when the visual path to the cortex is still unmyelinated), although at long latency and with marked fatigability. The cortical light response does not appear until the 7th postnatal day. 2. 2. A progressive change in form of the response to electrical stimulation occurs between 1 and 21 days. The response first contains all elements of its adult' from at days. Thereafter the amplitude of the initial surface-positive phase continues to increase and the following negative and later phases appear to diminish until the adult form is achieved at 21 days. After the 10th day cortical light and electrical responses follow a parallel course of maturation. 3. 3. Collicular responses are surface-negative from birth and reverse in polarity as a probe electrode is thrust into the colliculus. Thus they approximate those characteristics of the form of the adult response. Collicular latency shortens much less than cortical latency as maturation progresses. 4. 4. In two relationships myelination may play a significant role in the maturation of the responses. The optic nerve commences to myelinate as the light response a ppear int eh cortex, and the appearance of the intial posituive phase of the response relates chronologically to the period of most rapid myelination in the internal capsule and external sagittal stratum. 5. 5. Even though differentiation of cortical elements appears to commence in the lower layers and to proceed upwards during the period when the response polarity is principally negative, there is insufficient evidence to establish what change in cortical differentiation relates to the appearance at 11 to 12 days of the initial positive phase of the cortical response.
Aortic enlargement and late reoperation after repair of acute type A aortic dissection.

Background The natural history of the residual aorta after repair of acute type A aortic dissection is incompletely understood. Methods During a 22-year period, 201 patients underwent repair of acute type A dissection by 25 surgeons. For 168 operative survivors, mean late follow-up for reoperation or death was 6.5 ± 5.5 years and was 100% complete. Late blood pressure and medication history were available for 136 patients. Overall, 412 computed tomography scans were analyzed for segmental diameter and false lumen patency from 69 patients who underwent multiple follow-up imaging studies at our institution. Results Freedom from reoperation at 10 years (range, 1 to 170 months) was 74% ± 5% (28 reoperations in 26 patients). A nonresected primary tear ( p = 0.05), Marfan syndrome ( p p = 0.008), and absence of β-blocker therapy ( p = 0.02) were independent predictors of late reoperation. Aortic growth between consecutive imaging studies was detected in 18% of intervals (62/343) affecting 49% patients (34/69), with mean yearly growth rate of 5.3 ± 4.5 mm. Onset of enlargement was unpredictable and occurred 59 ± 45 months postoperatively (range, 1 to 167 months). Risk factors for growth included aortic diameter ( p p = 0.04), and presence of a patent false lumen ( p = 0.05). Maximum aortic diameter of less than 35 mm predicted growth in 11% of intervals, 35 to 49 mm in 22%, and more than 49 mm in 37% ( p p > 0.17). Conclusions Optimal long-term outcome of patients with acute type A dissection demands rigorous antihypertensive therapy and lifelong radiographic follow-up because aortic enlargement can begin more than a decade postoperatively.
Delayed Presentation of a Tracheoesophageal Fistula After Blunt Chest Trauma

Traumatic tracheoesophageal fistula is an uncommon injury after blunt chest injury. Rapid deceleration against the steering wheel during a high-speed motor vehicle crash is the usual mechanism of injury. Previous reports document few cases of delayed diagnosis and repair of tracheoesophageal fistula. We report a case of delayed diagnosis of tracheoesophageal fistula more than 20 years after the original trauma and describe the subsequent operative repair.
The resistance of maxillofacial reconstruction plates to biofilm formation in vitro.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Bacterial biofilms, bacteria surrounded by a protective glycocalyx, have been demonstrated on bioimplants placed within and outside of the head and neck region. The presence of the biofilm often makes decontamination of an infected implant impossible, requiring removal of the implant. Infections attributable to biofilm formation within the facial skeleton after reconstruction with implants may result in delayed union, fibrous union, malunion, nonunion, and malocclusion. These complications often require removal of the implant and secondary surgery. Although the incidence of infections necessitating implant removal is relatively low, the increased numbers of implants being placed make this a growing problem. Previous work in the authors laboratory has demonstrated a resistance to biofilm formation on different types of pressure-equalizing tubes. The hypothesis evaluated in the study is that such resistance to biofilm formation is due to the inability of bacteria to adhere to the tubes because of the material's smoothness or surface charge. Study Design: A controlled observational study. Methods: Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the formation of biofilms in vitro for a common strain of Staphylococcus aureus on four implantable materials. The implantable materials included titanium and polylactide resorbable plates. Results: Consistent with the authors' prior findings, they were able to produce bacterial biofilm reliably on a silicone pressure equalizing tube but were unable to demonstrate biofilm formation on the titanium or resorbable implants. Conclusion: The absence of biofilm formation on these implants can best be explained by the surface charge or polarity properties of these materials. These findings are consistent with the relatively low incidence of infections among patients receiving these implants in maxillofacial applications.
Prevalence and distribution of latent simian varicella virus DNA in monkey ganglia.

Abstract We used polymerase chain reaction to analyze the prevalence and distribution of latent simian varicella virus (SVV) in ganglionic and nonganglionic tissues from nine African green monkeys experimentally infected with SVV. Primers specific for three different regions of the SVV genome were used for amplification. SVV DNA sequences were detected in trigeminal ganglia from seven of nine monkeys and in thoracic ganglia from seven of nine monkeys. Analysis of DNA from nonneuronal tissues of three monkeys and from adrenal glands of nine monkeys revealed the presence of SVV-specific sequences in the adrenal gland of one monkey. The results indicate that, like human varicella, SVV becomes latent primarily in ganglia at multiple levels of the neuraxis, and more than one region of the SVV genome is present in latently infected ganglia. SVV latency in primates maybe a useful model for varicella latency in humans.
Layered NdBaCo2-xNixO5+δ perovskite oxides as cathodes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract The effect of Ni substitution on the crystal chemistry, thermal and electrochemical properties, and catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction of the layered NdBaCo 2− x Ni x O 5+ δ perovskite oxides has been investigated for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6. The oxygen content (5 + δ ) and oxidation state of the (Co, Ni) ions in the air-synthesized NdBaCo 2− x Ni x O 5+ δ samples decrease with increasing Ni content, accompanied by a structural transition from tetragonal (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) to orthorhombic ( x = 0.6). Similarly, the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) and electrical conductivity also decrease with increasing Ni content. The x = 0.2 and 0.4 samples exhibit slightly improved performance as cathodes in single cell solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) compared to the x = 0 sample, which is in accordance with the ac-impedance data. Among the samples studied, the x = 0.4 sample exhibits a combination of low thermal expansion and high catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction in SOFC.
Spectroscopic and calorimetric analyses of invasion plasmid antigen D (IpaD) from Shigella flexneri reveal the presence of two structural domains.

Shigella flexneri is a facultative intracellular pathogen that causes severe gastroenteritis in humans. Invasion plasmid antigen D (IpaD) is an essential participant in Shigella invasion of intestinal cells, but no detailed structural information is available to help understand the proposed role of IpaD in invasion or its interaction with other invasion proteins. Therefore, the secondary and tertiary structure and thermal stability of IpaD as well as selected IpaD deletion mutants were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), circular dichroism (CD), and both intrinsic and extrinsic fluorescence spectroscopies. The energetics of thermal unfolding were also evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Secondary-structure analysis by CD and FTIR suggests that that IpaD is primarily α-helical with characteristics of a intramolecular coiled coil. Thermal studies revealed that the unfolding of IpaD is a complex process consisting of two transitions centered near 59 and 80 °C. A comparison...
Dispersal and recruitment of a canopy-forming intertidal alga: the relative roles of propagule availability and post-settlement processes.

The daily settlement of eggs and zygotes of the monoecious brown alga Pelvetia compressa (J. Agardh) De Toni was measured on artificial substrata in areas inside and outside patches of adults in the high intertidal zone of central California. Settlement was generally 1-2 orders of magnitude higher under the adult canopy. This pattern seems to be due to the synchronous release of gametes during the daytime low tide. The release of gametes also appears periodic over longer time scales (e.g., 3- and 14-day cycles). In spite of the high availability of propagules under the adult canopy, juveniles were most abundant outside patches, where propagule availability was lower. In both areas, juveniles were disproportionately associated with patches of a red algal turf [primarily Endocladia muricata (Postels & Ruprecht) J. Agardh and Masticarpus papillata (C. Agardh) Kutzing]. The turf, which is less common under the P. compressa canopy, may offer protection from dislodgment, grazing, and/or desiccation and thus facilitate recruitment at this site. Overall, post-settlement processes appear more important in determining population structure than does the availability of propagules in areas in and around patches of adults. However, the apparent small range of dispersal of P. compressa may make propagule availability an important limitation to the establishment of new populations and may restrict gene flow between populations.
Cyclic analogs of galanin and neuropeptide Y by hydrocarbon stapling.

Abstract Hydrocarbon stapling is an effective strategy to stabilize the helical conformation of bioactive peptides. Here we describe application of stapling to anticonvulsant neuropeptides, galanin (GAL) and neuropeptide Y (NPY), that are implicated in modulating seizures in the brain. Dicarba bridges were rationally introduced into minimized analogs of GAL and NPY resulting in increased α-helical content, in vitro metabolic stability and n -octanol/water partitioning coefficient (log D ). The stapled analogs retained agonist activities towards their respective receptors and suppressed seizures in a mouse model of epilepsy.
Ionium/thorium geochronologies

Abstract Rates of sedimentation in the Pacific, Indian and Arctic oceans as determined by magnetic reversal studies appear to be in accord with those based upon ionium/thorium geochronologies when comparisons are made on a regional basis. The correction factors of Ku et al. applied to ionium/thorium measurements on the assumption of open-barrel core shortening lack justification in view of recent stratigraphic studies. Finally, the assumption of the Lamont workers of a constant rate of accumulation for the last several hundred years in these pelagic deposits disregards the coherent fine structure in the ionium/thorium depth profiles.
Nonlinear Turbo Codes for Higher-Order Modulations

Parallel concatenated trellis coded modulation (PC- TCM) has been traditionally designed using parallel concatenated convolutional codes with a bits-to-symbol mapper. However, this paper shows that for higher-order modulations using linear codes is too restrictive. Parallel Concatenated Nonlinear Trellis Coded Modulation (PC-NLTCM) that directly assigns constellation points as output-labels to the branches of the trellis can outperform PC-TCM. Simulation results are shown for a 2 bits/s/Hz 16-state nonlinear turbo code with 8PSK. This code is less than 0.43 dB away from the Shannon limit at a BER = 10 5 with an interleaver length of 10000 bits, and outperforms previous published linear turbo code by around 0.2 dB. This paper also provides an extension of Benedetto's uniform interleaver analysis for nonlinear constituent codes, which accurately predicts the BER of the PC-NLTCM at high SNR.
On the effectiveness of fuzzy clustering as a data discretization technique for large-scale classification of solar images

This paper presents experimental results on the utilization of fuzzy clustering as a discretization technique for purpose of solar images recognition. By extracting texture features from our solar images, and consequently applying fuzzy clustering techniques on these features, we were able to determine what clustering algorithm and what algorithm's initialization parameters produced the best data discretization. Based on these results we discretized some of our texture features and ran them on two different classifiers comparing how well the classifiers performed on our original data versus the discretized data. Our experimental results demonstrate that discretization of our data via fuzzy clustering carries significant potential since on our classifiers produced similar results on the original and the discretized data, and the reduction of storage space achieved through cluster-based discretization has been very significant.
Isolated acquired primary gusto-lacrimal reflex from a brainstem glioma

The gusto-lacrimal reflex, also known as Bogorad syndrome, is an autonomic synkinesia in which patients tear excessively in response to salivary stimuli.1,2 It most often results from aberrant reinnervation following acute idiopathic or traumatic facial nerve palsy. In rare cases, it occurs as a primary phenomenon in the setting of a slow-growing lesion that compresses or infiltrates the nerve, such as a vestibular schwannoma or meningioma in the internal auditory canal.3,4 We describe a patient with gusto-lacrimal reflex without other evidence of facial nerve dysfunction from a low-grade glioma infiltrating the brainstem and cerebellum.
Getting to zero: an emerging policy framework for the elimination of hospital-associated infections.

From the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia. Received October 17, 2008; accepted October 20, 2008; electronically published December 2, 2008. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2009; 30:71–73 2008 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved. 0899-823X/2009/3001-0013$15.00. DOI: 10.1086/595858 This article is one of three in this issue (see also the articles by Fraser and by Edmond) adapted from a joint plenary address entitled “Can We Really Get to Zero?” given at the 18th Annual Meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (Orlando, Florida; April 5–8, 2008). The plenary session was structured as a formal debate, and each speaker was assigned a point of view to represent. The positions presented may or may not represent the actual opinions of the authors.—The Editor
Calculation of zonal winds using accelerometer and rate data from Mars global surveyor

‡§ The Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft was initially placed into a high eccentricity, nearly polar orbit about Mars with a 45-hour period. To accomplish the science objectives of the mission, a 2-hour, circular orbit was required. Using a method known as aerobraking, numerous passes through the upper atmosphere slowed the spacecraft, thereby reducing the orbital period and eccentricity. To successfully perform aerobraking, the spacecraft was designed to be longitudinally, aerodynamically stable in pitch and yaw. Since the orbit is nearly polar, the yaw orientation of the spacecraft was sensitive to disturbances caused by the zonal components of wind (east-to-west or west-to-east) acting on the spacecraft at aerobraking altitudes. Zonal wind velocities were computed by equating the aerodynamic and inertia-related torques acting on the spacecraft. Comparisons of calculated zonal winds with those computed from the Mars Thermospheric Global Circulation Model are discussed.
Probable Association of an Attack of Bilateral Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma With Duloxetine

Objective: To report a patient who had an attack of bilateral acute angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) probably associated with the use of duloxetine. Case Summary: The case reported here involves an 81-year-old Caucasian woman whose past ocular history was unremarkable except for high hyperopia and cataract. The patient developed ocular symptoms 2 days after starting duloxetine, a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and was diagnosed with acute ACG. The elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) was successfully lowered with medical treatment, and the patient was advised to discontinue duloxetine. She subsequently underwent laser iridotomy in both eyes, and her IOP remained adequately controlled. A score of 6 was obtained using the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale, suggesting duloxetine as the probable cause of the attack of ACG in this patient. Discussion: There are a few previous reports of acute ACG associated with venlafaxine, another member of the class of SNRIs. In addition, there ...
The development of contrast constancy.

The mature visual system possesses mechanisms that enable invariant perception of the contrast of an object and its features as the object undergoes changes in distance. This phenomenon, which has been called contrast constancy, obtains at suprathreshold contrasts only. Some models of contrast constancy assume the presence of narrowband spatial-frequency channels. An implication of M.S. Banks, B.R. Stephens, and E.E. Hartmann (1985, Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 40, 501-527) is that contrast constancy should not be observed at 6 weeks but may be observed at 12 weeks. We examined this implication by investigating the development of contrast constancy in 6- and 12-week-old infants. Two sine wave gratings, differing in spatial frequency by a factor of 3, were presented side-by-side. The contrast of one grating was varied in order to estimate the contrast at which preference for the two gratings was equal. The equal preference points for 6-week-olds were predictable from their contrast thresholds. The 12-week-olds' equal preference points for low-contrast stimuli were predictable from their contrast thresholds, but those for intermediate and high-contrast stimuli were not. Thus, if one accepts the assumption that equal preference in infants is analogous to apparent contrast matches in adults, these data imply that contrast constancy is observed at 12 weeks but not 6 weeks. The perceptual consequences of this developmental transition are discussed.
Chord length (motivated) parameterization of marching cubes isosurfaces

We describe a new technique for the parameterization of isosurfaces which result from the marching cubes (mc) algorithm. The motivation for the methods is based upon the method of chord length parameterization for curves. The method of extending the concept of curve parameterization to isosurface parameterization is based upon a relatively simple but very useful observation about a subset of the edge topology of a mc produced isosurface called the 4*-network. This is a collection of three mutually orthogonal planar polygons lying on and intersecting at the vertices of the isosurface. We illustrate the potential usefulness of this new parameterization method with examples from geometric modeling and medical imaging analysis.
An empirical test of partner choice mechanisms in a wild legume–rhizobium interaction

Mutualisms can be viewed as biological markets in which partners of different species exchange goods and services to their mutual benefit. Trade between partners with conflicting interests requires mechanisms to prevent exploitation. Partner choice theory proposes that individuals might foil exploiters by preferentially directing benefits to cooperative partners. Here, we test this theory in a wild legume– rhizobium symbiosis. Rhizobial bacteria inhabit legume root nodules and convert atmospheric dinitrogen (N2) to a plant available form in exchange for photosynthates. Biological market theory suits this interaction because individual plants exchange resources with multiple rhizobia. Several authors have argued that microbial cooperation could be maintained if plants preferentially allocated resources to nodules harbouring cooperative rhizobial strains. It is well known that crop legumes nodulate non-fixing rhizobia, but allocate few resources to those nodules. However, this hypothesis has not been tested in wild legumes which encounter partners exhibiting natural, continuous variation in symbiotic benefit. Our greenhouse experiment with a wild legume, Lupinus arboreus, showed that although plants frequently hosted less cooperative strains, the nodules occupied by these strains were smaller. Our survey of wild-grown plants showed that larger nodules house more Bradyrhizobia, indicating that plants may prevent the spread of exploitation by favouring better cooperators.
Age and Gender Differences in the Effectiveness of Map-like Learning Aids in Memory for Routes

Young (ages 25-40 yrs) and older (ages 60-75 yrs) adults viewed a series of slides depicting a route through a neighborhood and were tested on their ability to remember the route. Subjects either received no learning aid, a sketch of the route labeled as a "map," or the same aid labeled a "diagram." Aids either did or did not include route landmarks. Relative to younger men, older men's performance was significantly poorer only when they had no learning aid. In contrast, age differences for women were obtained only when the aid had been labeled a "map." The presence of landmarks eliminated age-related decrements in scene memory for men but increased them for women. In addition, results were consistent with the hypothesis that memory for large-scale environments is composed of "layout" (i.e., configural) and "scene" components.
Heuristic minimization of multiple-valued relations

An approach to minimization that is based on a state-of-the-art paradigm for the two-level minimization of functions is presented. Some special properties of relations, in contrast to functions, which must be carefully considered in realizing a high-quality procedure for solving the minimization problem are clarified. An efficient heuristic method to find an optimal sum-of-products representation for a multiple-valued relation is proposed and implemented in the program GYOCRO. It uses multiple-valued decision diagrams (MDDs) to represent the characteristic functions for the relations. Experimental results are presented and compared with previous exact and heuristic Boolean relation minimizers to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. >
BANKING THE POOR VIA SAVINGS ACCOUNTS: EVIDENCE FROM A FIELD EXPERIMENT ∗

Abstract In a setting with low penetration of bank accounts, I randomly gave access to bank accounts with zero fees at local bank-branches to a large sample of female household heads in Nepal. The zero fees and physical proximity of the bank led to high take-up and usage rates compared to similar studies in other settings. However, impact on income, aggregate expenditures, and assets are too imprecisely estimated to draw a conclusion. I do find reallocation of expenditures across categories (e.g. more spending on education and meat and fish, and less on health and dowries), and higher ability to cope with shocks. On qualitative outcomes, I find households report that their overall financial situation has improved. The lack of a clear story on mechanisms, yet strong result on aggregate self-perception of financial wellbeing, is consistent with access to quality savings accounts leading to household improvements via multiple mechanisms.
Quorum Sensing in the Dimorphic Fungus Candida albicans Is Mediated by Farnesol

The inoculum size effect in the dimorphic fungus Candida albicans results from production of an extracellular quorum-sensing molecule (QSM). This molecule prevents mycelial development in both a growth morphology assay and a differentiation assay using three chemically distinct triggers for germ tube formation (GTF): L-proline, N-acetylglucosamine, and serum (either pig or fetal bovine). In all cases, the presence of QSM prevents the yeast-to-mycelium conversion, resulting in actively budding yeasts without influencing cellular growth rates. QSM exhibits general cross-reactivity within C. albicans in that supernatants from strain A72 are active on five other strains of C. albicans and vice versa. The QSM excreted by C. albicans is farnesol (C(15)H(26)O; molecular weight, 222.37). QSM is extracellular, and is produced continuously during growth and over a temperature range from 23 to 43 degrees C, in amounts roughly proportional to the CFU/milliliter. Production is not dependent on the type of carbon source nor nitrogen source or on the chemical nature of the growth medium. Both commercial mixed isomer and (E,E)-farnesol exhibited QSM activity (the ability to prevent GTF) at a level sufficient to account for all the QSM activity present in C. albicans supernatants, i.e., 50% GTF at ca. 30 to 35 microM. Nerolidol was ca. two times less active than farnesol. Neither geraniol (C(10)), geranylgeraniol (C(20)), nor farnesyl pyrophosphate had any QSM activity.
Ultrafast Photooxidation of Mn(II)−Terpyridine Complexes Covalently Attached to TiO2 Nanoparticles

This paper reports visible-light sensitization of TiO2 nanoparticles by surface modification with Mn(II)−terpyridine complexes, as evidenced by UV−vis spectroscopy of colloidal thin films and aqueous suspensions. Photoexcitation of the [MnII(H2O)3(catechol-terpy)]2+/TiO2 (terpy = 2,2‘:6,2‘ ‘-terpyridine) complex, attached to the TiO2 surface, leads to interfacial electron transfer within 300 fs as indicated by ultrafast optical pump−terahertz probe transient measurements and computational simulations. Photoinduced interfacial electron transfer is accompanied by Mn(II) → Mn(III) photooxidation. The half-time for regeneration of the Mn(II) complex is ca. 23 s (at 6 K), as monitored by time-resolved measurements of the Mn(II) EPR signal.
The replicative capacity of rhesus macaque peripheral blood mononuclear cells for simian immunodeficiency virus in vitro is predictive of the rate of progression to AIDS in vivo.

Survival of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) experimentally infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) varies significantly from animal to animal. Some animals die within 2 months while others survive for more than 5 years, even when identical inocula are used. This diversity in survival creates a significant problem in the design of therapeutic and vaccine trials using the SIV–macaque model because the use of small numbers of animals may provide results that are misleading. Identifying an in vitro assay that could determine the survival of monkeys prior to infection would prove extremely useful for stratifying experimental groups. Analysis of the survival of a cohort of 59 control animals obtained from over a decade of vaccine and therapeutic trials has demonstrated that the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a naive animal to produce virus in vitro was highly predictive of disease progression in vivo following experimental inoculation. Animals classified in vitro as high producers of virus progressed to disease significantly more rapidly than animals classified as either low (P=0·002) or intermediate (P=0·013) producers of virus. The hierarchy of high and low virus production was maintained in purified CD4+ T cell cultures, indicating that this phenotype is an intrinsic property of the CD4+ T cell itself. These findings should significantly aid in the design of vaccine and therapeutic trials using the SIV–macaque model. Furthermore, since these studies suggest that the rate of virus replication is controlled by innate characteristics of the individual, they provide new insight into the pathogenesis of AIDS.
Influence of DNA Sequence on the Positioning of RecA Monomers in RecA-DNA Cofilaments

We show that certain DNA sequences have the ability to influence the positioning of RecA monomers in RecA-DNA complexes. A tendency for RecA monomers to be phased was observed in RecA protein complexes with several oligonucleotides containing a recombinational hotspot sequence, the chi-site from Escherichia coli. This influence was observed in both the 5' to 3' and 3' to 5' directions with respect to chi. A 5'-end phosphate group and probably some other features in DNA also influence the phasing of RecA monomers. We conclude that natural DNAs contain a number of features that influence the positioning of RecA monomers. The ability of specific DNA sequences to influence the positioning of RecA monomers demonstrates some specificity in the binding of individual bases at different sites within a RecA monomer and, most likely, reflects the stereochemical non-equivalence of these sites. The possible biological implications of the phasing of RecA monomers in presynaptic DNA-protein cofilaments are discussed.
Prediction of Soil Composition from CPT Data using General Regression Neural Network

Soil type is typically inferred from the information collected during a cone penetration test (CPT) using one of the many available soil classification methods. In this study, a general regression neural network (GRNN) was developed for predicting soil composition from CPT data. Measured values of cone resistance and sleeve friction obtained from CPT soundings, together with grain-size distribution results of soil samples retrieved from adjacent standard penetration test boreholes, were used to train and test the network. The trained GRNN model was tested by presenting it with new, previously unseen CPT data, and the model predictions were compared with the reference particle-size distribution and the results of two existing CPT soil classification methods. The profiles of soil composition estimated by the GRNN generally compare very well with the actual grain-size distribution profiles, and overall the neural network had an 86% success rate at classifying soils as coarse grained or fine grained.
Citation Count Analysis of Behavioral Science Journals in Influential Management Literature

The article looks at a survey which examined the influence of behavioral science journals on academicians and personnel managers in the U.S. A survey of academicians and practitioners was conducted...
Knowledge and Luck

Analyse de la connaissance empirique fondee sur la notion de chance epistemique. L'A. montre que l'abime entre la justification faillibiliste et la verite de la croyance du sujet ne peut etre reduit que par une condition non-aleatoire qui depend du developpement d'une theorie complete de la justification
Renal tumor quantification and classification in triple-phase contrast-enhanced abdominal CT

It is estimated that a quarter of a million people in the USA are living with kidney cancer. In clinical practice, the response to treatment is monitored by manual measurements of tumor size, which are time consuming and show high intra- and inter-operator variability. We propose a computer-assisted radiology tool to assess renal tumors in contrast-enhanced CT for the management of tumor diagnoses and treatments. The algorithm employs anisotropic diffusion, a combination of fast-marching and geodesic level-sets, and a novel statistical refinement step to adapt to the shape of the lesions. It also quantifies the 3D size, volume and enhancement of the lesion and allows serial management of tumors. The comparison between manual and semi-automated quantifications shows disparity within the limits of inter-observer variability. The automated tumor classification shows great separation between cysts, von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL) lesions and hereditary papillary renal carcinomas (HPRC) (p ≪ 0.004).
Processing queries in a large peer-to-peer system

While current search engines seem to easily handle the size of the data available on the Internet, they cannot provide fresh results. The most up-to-date data always resides on the data sources. Efficiently interconnecting data providers, however, is not an easy problem. Peer-to-peer computing is the latest technology to address this problem. However, efficient query processing in peer-to-peer networks remains an open research area. In this paper, we present a performance study of a system that facilitates efficient searches of large numbers of independent data providers on the Internet. In our scenario, each data provider becomes an autonomous node in a large peer-to-peer system. Using small indices on each node, we can efficiently direct queries submitted on any node to the relevant sources. Experiments with a large peer-to-peer network demonstrate the feasibility of our approach.
"Marigolds:" an evolutionary algorithm simulation

A novel evolutionary algorithm was developed to simulate plant growth in a 3D environment with and without mortality. After adaptation the populations exhibit characteristics resembling natural strategies: dividing into unique types, promoting seed dispersal through flower placement, and maximizing energy production. The distance between branches decreased when mortality was enabled.
Familial perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage: two case reports

Non-aneurysmal spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage is characterized by an accumulation of a limited amount of subarachnoid hemorrhage, predominantly around the midbrain, and a lack of blood in the brain parenchyma or ventricular system. It represents 5% of all spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage cases. In spite of extensive investigation, understanding of the mechanisms leading to perimesencephalic non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage remains incompletely defined. A growing body of evidence has supported a familial predisposition for non-aneurysmal spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. A 39-year-old Caucasian man presented with sudden onset headache associated with diplopia. His computed tomography scan revealed perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage. A cerebral angiogram showed no apparent source of bleeding. He was treated conservatively and discharged after 1 week without any neurological deficits. The older brother of the first case, a 44-year-old Caucasian man, presented 1.5 years later with acute onset of headache and his computed tomography scan also showed perimesencephalic non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. He was discharged home with normal neurological examination 1 week later. Follow-up angiograms did not reveal any source of bleeding in either patient. We report the cases of two siblings with perimesencephalic non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, which may further suggest a familial predisposition of non-aneurysmal spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage and may also point out the possible higher risk of perimesencephalic non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in the first-degree relatives of patients with perimesencephalic non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.