cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epigenomic mapping and effect sizes of noncoding variants associated with psychotropic drug response

Aim: To provide insight into potential regulatory mechanisms of gene expression underlying addiction, analgesia, psychotropic drug response and adverse drug events, genome-wide association studies searching for variants associated with these phenotypes has been undertaken with limited success. We undertook analysis of these results with the aim of applying epigenetic knowledge to aid variant discovery and interpretation. Methods: We applied conditional imputation to results from 26 genome-wide association studies and three candidate gene-association studies. The analysis workflow included data from chromatin conformation capture, chromatin state annotation, DNase I hypersensitivity, hypomethylation, anatomical localization and biochronicity. We also made use of chromatin state data from the epigenome roadmap, transcription factor-binding data, spatial maps from published Hi-C datasets and ‘guilt by association’ methods. Results: We identified 31 pharmacoepigenomic SNPs from a total of 2024 variants in lin...
A projected Newton algorithm for the dual convex program of elastoplasticity

SUMMARY In this paper, we study a dual optimization problem that arises when taking a mathematical programming approach to incremental state update in nonlinear problems. The mathematical programming approach stems from energy-based descriptions of constitutive models. We describe a projected Newton algorithm to solve the dual optimization problem. This algorithm requires solution of an unconstrained optimization problem at the integration point level, rather than a constrained one as carried out by classical return-mapping schemes. Especially, implementation of multi-surface plasticity models is no more involved than that of single-surface models. We explore characteristics and performance of the projected Newton algorithm through numerical examples. Insights gained from such a further exploration of mathematical programming algorithms are likely to aid in development of successive convex programming approaches to geometric nonlinear and other non-convex problems such as non-associated flow models. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Discovery of the Ceruloplasmin Homologue Hephaestin: New Insight into the Copper/Iron Connection

Approximately 75 years ago Hart and colleagues discovered that copper deficiency impaired mammalian iron metabolism. Discovery of hephaestin identifies a critical new component of the copper and iron connection in mammals. Hephaestin appears to be a multicopper oxidase required for efficient export of iron from the intestine.
Sport and race relations in American society

This paper examines contemporary patterns of American race relations as they are mirrored in the social institution of sport. Specifically, the National Football League is used as a case example to illustrate how subtle, systemic, and institutional barriers continue to block equal employment opportunities for Blacks, even in sectors of society which are putatively free of racial discrimination. This paper is comprised of three parts. Part one reviews the accumulated evidence on racial discrimination in sports and reveals that although Black players’ performances have in the last two decades become increasingly pre‐eminent in baseball, basketball and football, they have made few inroads into professional sports management either on or off the playing fields. Part two uses multiple regression and path analysis to compute estimates of (1) the relative influence of race versus other relevant characteristics‐education, leadership ability, professional accomplishments—on the player to coach transition; and (2) ...
Rhetorical Style: The Uses of Language in Persuasion

Cara A. Finnegan, EditorJeanne Fahnestock, Rhetorical Style: The Uses of Language in Persuasion (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011), 464 pp. $99.00 (cloth), $39.95 (paper). Twelve years have pa...
Ahmadinejad’s letter to Bush opens dialogue in Middle Eastern rhetorical style

Understanding how Middle Eastern rhetoric differs from Western communication can aid in deciphering diplomatic correspondence like the 2006 letter from President Ahmadinejad of Iran. Failure to understand such communications and respond appropriately may result in missed opportunities to avert hostilities or establish effective rapport with other nations. Success in grasping the intent of Iran’s diplomatic overture can provide a basis for creating a response that expresses American sentiments in a way that can be seen as intelligent and appropriate by Middle Eastern recipients. Such correspondence could entail establishing a respectable ethos, arranging content as expected, and emphasizing common values. Knowledge of the Middle Eastern rhetorical tradition can inform a viable understanding for diplomatic correspondence.
Finite particle number effects in high-energy nuclear collisions: Implications on pion spectra

Abstract We study pion production from high-energy nuclear collisions by means of a simple statistical model. The shapes of the observed spectra exclude that all pions result from freely decaying delta resonances. Rather, they have to participate in kinetic equilibration processes. Finite particle number effects are found to be very important: equilibration does not occur globally but rather in groups of only a few particles. The pion production rates cannot be explained in terms of a chemical equilibrium.
Chemical shift anisotropy of the anomeric protons in α‐ and β‐D‐glucose

Values for the chemical shift anisotropies of the α- and β-anomeric protons in [1-13C]-D-glucose were measured by ortho-ROESY and SLOESY experiments using non-selective and selective 1H spin-locking by DANTE pulse trains, respectively. The experiments were performed under the condition ωHτo ≈ 1, in order to enhance cross-correlated cross-relaxation due to interference between 1H chemical shift anisotropy and 1H-13C dipolar interactions. Assuming axial symmetry for the 1H chemical shift tensor, chemical shift anisotropy values of ΔσH-1(α) ≈ −6.1 ppm and ΔσH-1(β) ≈ −2.4 ppm were obtained.
Oscillator strengths of the a, w, and C bands of N2

Band oscillator strengths for the transitions a1Πg ← X1Σ+g, w1Δu ← X1Σ+ g, and C3Πu ← X1 Σ+g of N2 were measured from the absorption spectrum in the 1050–1450 A region. The spectrum was observed photoelectrically at pressures up to 40 atm using the argon continuum as a background light source. The f-value for the electronic transition a ← X is 3·1 x 10-5.
Development of surgical lighting for enhanced color contrast

The National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Institutes of Health have started a collaborative study on the development of lighting that will provide enhanced, tissue-specific contrast with respect to its surroundings. In this paper we describe existing NIST technologies utilized for this project such as a computational model for color rendering and a new spectrally tunable lighting technology. We will also describe the calibration and validation procedure of a hyperspectral camera system. Finally, we show examples of imaged tissues under various lighting conditions.
Heavy metals in livers and kidneys of goats in Alabama

The popularity of goat farming is increasing in the southeastern region of the United States. Baseline values of Hg, Pb, and Cd are not available in goat tissues in the United States. These values are needed when monitoring food for heavy metal contamination which may be associated with urbanization and industrialization. Due to human activities or anthropogenic sources of metals in the environment, high concentrations of these metals have been observed in herbage and animal tissues. It has also been reported that toxic heavy metals are concentrated mostly in kidneys and livers of animals. The risk of exposure of humans to heavy metals contained in edible organs of animals has received widespread concern. The objectives of this study were to (i) measure the levels of Hg,Pb, and Cd in livers and kidneys of goats; and (ii) determine whether accumulation of these metals is related to age and/or sex. 20 refs., 3 tabs.
Development and Calibration of an Earthquake Fatality Function

Abstract Structures present a risk during seismic events from partial or full collapse that can cause death and injury to the occupants. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has collated data on deaths from and magnitudes of earthquakes. These data have not previously been analyzed to establish any relationships between fatality tolls or fatality rates in different earthquakes. An investigation of the fatality catalogue establishes a bounding function for the twentieth-century fatality data using the USGS assigned earthquake magnitude as the dependent variable. A simple equation was established and calibrated to relate the fatalities in earthquakes having tolls lower than the bounding function to the bounding function. This equation and the calibration data, essentially for unreinforced masonry and timber-framed buildings, provides a procedure for estimating fatality counts in future theoretical events with a specific combination of circumstances. Potential uses of the fatality function with further...
Unsuitability of TBA test as a lipid peroxidation marker due to prostaglandin synthesis in the aging kidney

The Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA) test for malondialdehyde (MDA) determination is the most frequently used method in the assessment of lipid peroxidation and free radical damage. Among the advantages are its sensitivity and relatively simple procedure, but it lacks chemical specificity as reported by others. In this report, we attempt to show another situation in which the TBA test on lipid peroxidation may lead to spurious results because of MDA production by prostaglandin (PG) synthetic activity in the kidney. The present study concludes that it is necessary to use indomethacin or other PG inhibitors for the measurement of lipid peroxidation in the aging tissues with the TBA test.
Monte Carlo simulations of epitaxial growth: comparison of pulsed laser deposition and molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract The influence of epitaxial growth method on surface morphology was explored using a solid-on-solid, rate equation, Monte Carlo simulation whose parameters were chosen to approximate (1×1) Si (001). In simulations corresponding to molecular beam epitaxy, films of 10 monolayer thickness were deposited with a steady-state flux of 0.25 monolayers/s and an adatom energy of 0.3 eV. In simulations corresponding to pulsed laser deposition, films of 10 monolayer thickness were deposited with a pulsed flux of 0.5 monolayers/pulse and 0.5 pulses/s and adatom energies ranging from 10 to 135 eV. Surface morphology was characterized using surface images, surface height standard deviations, and height–height correlation functions. In comparison to molecular beam epitaxy, pulsed laser deposition was found to result in smaller surface roughness at substrate temperatures below approximately 400°C and larger surface roughness at higher temperatures. This behavior is attributed to a balance between roughening associated with pulsed deposition and smoothening associated with energetic deposition.
Willingness to Use HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Opiate Users

Few studies of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection have focused on drug users. Between February to September 2013, we asked 351 opiate injectors entering detoxification treatment about HIV risk, knowledge about PrEP, and willingness to use a once daily PrEP pill under one of two randomly assigned effectiveness scenarios-40 % (low) or 90 % (high) effective in reducing HIV risk. Participants were 70 % male and 87 % non-Hispanic White. Only 7 % had heard of a drug to reduce HIV risk, yet once informed, 47 % would be willing to take such a pill [35 % of those in the low effectiveness scenario and 58 % in the high group (p < 0.001)]. Higher perceived HIV risk was associated with greater willingness to take medication. Increasing knowledge of PrEP and the rate of HIV reduction-effectiveness promised will influence its use among targeted high-risk drug users.
Analytic-Holistic Two-Segment Model of Quadruped Back-Bending in the Sagittal Plane

Back-bending in the sagittal plane is common in many animals during legged locomotion and could be useful for robots. However, to our knowledge, there exists no analytical mechanistic model of sagittal-plane back bending legged locomotion of quadrupeds. Such a mechanistic model and knowledge derived from it is expected to enable direct analysis and insight into back bending locomotion and can be applied to the study of biomechanics or the design of robots. Here a whole-body mechanistic model is developed and governing equations of motion are derived to provide insight into the mathematical structure of the system dynamics. The model is energy conserving, consisting of massless elastic legs pinned to two body segments. The two body segments are pin-joined together with a rotational spring. The massless legs are returned to a resting angle relative to the body during swing phase. We discover: 1) Whole-body configuration variables simplify the resulting equations of motion. 2) The sagittal-plane back-bending two-segment model of legged locomotion yields stable periodic gaits.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Implementing a scalable XML publish/subscribe system using relational database systems

An XML publish/subscribe system needs to match many XPath queries (subscriptions) over published XML documents. The performance and scalability of the matching algorithm is essential for the system when the number of XPath subscriptions is large. Earlier solutions to this problem usually built large finite state automata for all the XPath subscriptions in memory. The scalability of this approach is limited by the amount of available physical memory. In this paper, we propose an implementation that uses a relational database as the matching engine. The heavy lifting part of evaluating a large number of subscriptions is done inside a relational database using indices and joins. We described several different implementation strategies and presented a performance evaluation. The system shows very good performance and scalability in our experiments, handling millions of subscriptions with moderate amount of physical memory.
The Rational Synthesis of Pt/Pd Bimetallic Catalysts by Electrostatic Adsorption

Abstract To improve the often poor metal dispersion and poor metal1–metal2 contact of bimetallic catalysts prepared by dry impregnation (incipient wetness), we demonstrate several ways to employ strong electrostatic adsorption using Pt and Pd over silica, alumina, carbon, and oxidized carbon. Metal uptake versus pH was monitored for single metal solutions and mixtures of metal precursors. Catalysts were characterized by powder XRD, aberration-corrected STEM imaging, and EDXS line scans and mapping of individual nanoparticles. Electrostatic adsorption of mixed metal precursors (co-SEA) results in well dispersed, homogeneously alloyed nanoparticles, while sequential SEA gives well dispersed nanoparticles with core–shell morphologies. Shell metal loading can be increased by additional cycles of SEA, which gives some flexibility at catalyst composition in exchange for more synthesis steps. Dry impregnation yields larger, agglomerated, inhomogeneously alloyed particles.
Rapid detection of ribosome inactivating protein toxins by mass-spectrometry-based functional assays

A family of structurally related protein toxins extracted from bacteria or plants have a similar mechanism of action, namely, blocking protein synthesis by ribosome inactivation. Members of this family of ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP), classified simultaneously as chemical and biological threat agents, include ricin, abrin, and shiga toxins. We have adapted and streamlined mass spectrometry based functional assays, described by others, to develop a rapid, robust, broad-band and fieldable protocol with the primary goal of RIP toxin detection in unknown powder materials. Complementary to intact protein detection and proteomics methods, this protocol involves monitoring the depurination of selected DNA substrates by mass spectrometry. It is being implemented on the CB-TOF system for rapid detection of bio-threats by MALDI MS. Here we illustrate its performance on the example of a plant (ricin) and a bacterial (shiga) RIP toxin.
Compression Treatment of Chronic Venous Ulceration: A Review

Objective:To review the recent medical literature with regard to the use of compressive therapy in healing and preventing the recurrence of venous ulceration.Methods:Searches of Medline and Embase medical literature databases. Appropriate non-indexed journals and textbooks were also reviewed.Synthesis:Elastic compression therapy is regarded as the ‘gold standard’ treatment for venous ulceration. The benefits of elastic compression therapy in the treatment of venous ulceration may be mediated through favourable alterations in venous haemodynamics, micro-circulatory haemodynamics and/or improvement in subcutaneous Starling forces. Available data indicate compressive therapy is highly effective in healing of the large majority of venous ulcers. Elastic compression stockings, Unna boots, as well as multi-layer elastic wraps, have all been noted to achieve excellent healing rates for venous ulcers. In compliant patients it appears that approximately 75% of venous ulcers can be healed by 6 months, and up to 90%...
GILL BLOOD FLOW AND AMMONIA EXCRETION IN THE MARINE TELEOST, MYOXOCEPHALUS SCORPIUS.

Abstract 1. 1. A method was developed to measure gill blood flow while quantitative evaluations of branchial ammonia excretion were being made. Gill blood flow was determined with oxygen by application of the Fick Principle, and the average flow was found to be 1665 ml/kg hr (95 per cent confidence limits = 1283–2047 ml/kg hr). This value was used to estimate the contribution of ammonia preformed in the blood to total ammonia excreted by the gills. 2. 2. Extraction of ammonia from blood passing through the gills could account for approximately 60 per cent of the excreted ammonia. The remaining 40 per cent could be accounted for by the extraction of plasma α-amino acid-N. These results indicate that both blood ammonia and plasma amino acids are sources of ammonia excreted by the gills of the marine teleost, Myoxocephalus scorpius.
Normalization of the triple-Pomeron coupling

Various papers on the Gribov Reggeon calculus use various normalization conventions for the triple-Pomeron coupling constant. These normalizations are compared, and some errors are corrected.
Improved exponential time series approximation of unsteady aerodynamic operators

A procedure has been developed for approximating unsteady aerodynamic operators as truncated exponential series in the time domain. The approximation is accomplished using a least squares minimization fit to aerodynamic data in the frequency domain. The procedure extends previous methods by including the pole locations as unknown parameters of the least squares minimization. In addition, the error associated with both the real and imaginary parts of the Fourier transform of the approximation is minimized. A Newton-Raphson search algorithm is used to find the minimum of the weighted square error in the parameter space of the approximation while constraining the poles to be in the left half-plane. By freely varying the poles of the approximation during the numerical least squares minimization, the representation of the unsteady aerodynamics is improved and is comparable to existing higher-order Fade approximations. Hence, the method offers the aeroelastic designer a more direct method of finding approximate aerodynamic states. However, because the minima of the square error in the cost function found are not necessarily global and depend on the number of poles in the approximation, the initial trial minimum, and the details of the cost minimization algorithm, the poles found in the search do not necessarily correspond to the theoretical poles of the aerodynamic transfer function. Example exponential time series approximations of the Theodorsen function are presented and compared with a Fade approximation and other exponential time series approximations. Nomenclature A = curvature matrix of the cost function J A =true aerodynamic impulse response spectrum A' — approximate aerodynamic impulse response spectrum a - coefficient defined in Eq. (14) an = coefficients of the approximation bn - pole locations of the approximation c = cost minimization step length C = Theodorsen circulation function d - cost minimization search direction vector F = real part of A F' = real part of A' g = gradient of the cost function / G = imaginary part of A G' = imaginary part of A' J = weighted square error cost function k = reduced frequency ^max - frequency corresponding to the peak in IGI M = number of data points to be fitted N — number of terms in the series t = npndimensional time s — Laplace domain variable x — parameter vector of the coefficients and poles am = weighting factors for the real part of the approximation error 0m = weighting factors for the imaginary part of the approximation error = true step response ' = approximate step response
Optical effects of multipole interaction in aggregated structures: Rigorous scattering solution for a periodic chain of cylinders.

Recent experimental studies on the optical properties of gold colloidal aggregates have found interesting characteristics, such as double absorption peaks and enhanced depolarized scattering, that are not explainable in terms of traditional mean-field theories. Based on the observation that the aggregate clusters have a locally chainlike structure of touching spheres, a simple model for the calculation of their absorption and scattering characteristics is proposed that consists of a randomly oriented chain of cylindrical particles under the excitation of an electromagnetic field. The consideration of cylindrical geometry considerably simplifies the mathematics while retaining the essential physics of capacitive coupling between the particles. In the optical frequency regime, a rigorous scattering solution for the model shows that, besides the single-particle Mie resonance, there exists a low-frequency collective excitation arising from the anisotropic, high-multipole interactions between the metal particles. It results in a second absorption peak whose peak position is controlled by the capacitive coupling between the adjacent particles. Both the polarized and the depolarized scattering also show accompanying increases at the collective excitation frequency. Good agreement is found between the calculated results and the experimental observations.
Phenotypic and Molecular Evaluation of a Chromosome 1q Region with Linkage and Association to Type 2 Diabetes in Humans

Objective: Linkage to type 2 diabetes (T2D) is well replicated on chromosome 1q21-q23. Within this region, T2D was associated with common single nucleotide polymorphisms that marked an extended linkage disequilibrium block, including the liver pyruvate kinase gene (PKLR), in several European-derived populations. In this study we sought to determine the molecular basis for the association and the phenotypic consequences of the risk haplotype. Research Design and Methods: Genes surrounding PKLR were resequenced in European-American and African-American cases and controls, and association with T2D was tested. Copy number variants (CNVs) were tested for four regions with real-time PCR. Expression of genes in the region was tested in adipose and muscle from nondiabetic subjects with each genotype. Insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, and hepatic glucose production were tested in nondiabetic individuals with each haplotype combination. Results: No coding variant in the region was associated with T2D. CNVs we...
Fairness and optimality in congestion games

We study two problems, that of computing social optimum and that of finding fair allocations, in the congestion game model of Milchtaich[8] Although we show that the general problem is hard to approximate to any factor, we give simple algorithms for natural simplifications. We also consider these problems in the symmetric network congestion game model [11, 4], and show hardness results and approximate solutions.
Empirical calibration of time series monitoring methods using receiver operating characteristic curves

Abstract Time series monitoring methods, such as the Brown and Trigg methods, have the purpose of detecting pattern breaks (or “signals”) in time series data reliably and in a timely fashion. Traditionally, researchers have used the average run length (ARL) statistic on results from generated signal occurrences in simulated time series data to calibrate and evaluate these methods, with a focus on timeliness of signal detection. This paper investigates the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) framework, well-known in the diagnostic decision making literature, as an alternative to ARL analysis for time series monitoring methods. ROC analysis traditionally uses real data to address the inherent tradeoff in signal detection between the true and false positive rates when varying control limits. We illustrate ROC analysis using time series data on crime at the patrol district level in two cities, and use the concept of Pareto frontier ROC curves and reverse functions for methods such as Brown’s and Trigg’s that have parameters affecting signal-detection performance. We compare the Brown and Trigg methods to three benchmark methods, including one commonly used in practice. The Brown and Trigg methods collapse to the same simple method on the Pareto frontier and dominate the benchmark methods under most conditions. The worst method is the one commonly used in practice.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Concentrations of Somatostatin and Biogenic Amines in Grown Primates Reared by Mothers Exposed to Manipulated Foraging Conditions

Background: In an earlier study, infant primates were nursed by mothers randomly assigned to variable foraging demand (VFD) or nonvariable foraging conditions (non-VFD). A group of grown VFD-reared subjects demonstrated elevations of cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) corticotropin-releasing factor concentrations and decreased CSF cortisol levels vs non-VFD counterparts. To further characterize neurobiological sequelae of disturbed early rearing, CSF concentrations of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine metabolites (5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, homovanillic acid, and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenethyleneglycol [MHPG], respectively) and of somatostatin were determined. Methods: Second CSF taps were obtained from the previously studied cohort of 30 subjects and from 28 agematched ad libitum‐reared control subjects. Relevant assays were performed. Results: All neurochemicals assayed except MHPG were elevated in the VFD-reared compared with non-VFD subjects. In the VFD group, statistically significant positive correlations between corticotropin-releasing factor and each neurochemical was found, except for MHPG. In the non-VFD subjects, no significant correlations with corticotropin-releasing factor were observed. No effect of age was evident. Conclusions: Reducing the predictability of maternal foraging demand during early rearing was associated with elevations of cisternal somatostatin and of serotonin and dopamine metabolite concentrations in grown offspring. The corticotropin-releasing factor elevations reported previously were positively correlated with all the elevated CSF parameters of the current study. The findings support the notion that adverse early rearing experiences in primates have longstanding and complex effects on a range of neurochemicals relevant to emotional regulation. Replication in prospective age-controlled studies is warranted. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1998;55:473-477
Novel water-dispersible glycidyl carbamate (GC) resins and waterborne amine-cured coatings

Water-dispersible glycidyl carbamate (GC) functional resins were synthesized and crosslinked using a water-dispersible amine to form coatings. GC functional resins are synthesized by the reaction of an isocyanate functional compound with glycidol to yield a carbamate (urethane) linkage (–NHCO–) and reactive epoxy group. The combination of both functionalities in a single resin structure imparts excellent mechanical and chemical properties to the coatings. Previous studies on the development of GC coatings have focused on solvent-borne coating systems. In this study, GC resins were modified by incorporating nonionic hydrophilic groups to produce water-dispersible resins. To determine the influence of the content of hydrophilic groups on dispersion stability, aqueous dispersions were made from a series of hydrophilically modified GC resins and characterized for particle size and dispersion stability. The composition of a typical, dispersed GC resin particle was predicted using Monte Carlo simulations. Stable GC dispersions were used to prepare amine-cured coatings. The coatings were characterized for solvent resistance, water resistance, hardness, flexibility, adhesion, and surface morphology. It was observed that GC resins were able to be dispersed in water without using any surfactant and by minimal mixing force (hand mixing) and produced coating films with good properties when crosslinked with a compatible waterborne amine crosslinker.
CHANGES IN LIPID COMPOSITION OF COOKED MINCED CARP (Cyprinus carpio) DURING FROZEN STORAGE

Minced carp tissue was cooked by baking and deep-fat frying and stored at -18°C for periods up to 8 wk. Phospholipid (PL) levels decreased whereas free fatty acids (FFA) increased during frozen storage of all samples. Samples treated with antioxidants gave significantly (P < 0.05) higher values for FFA compared to the controls Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values were higher in the cooked samples compared to the raw samples. Samples without antioxidants had considerably higher TBA values than those containing antioxidants. The carbonyl content of the samples fluctuated during storage. There was no significant change in the composition of the fatty acids during storage.
Sequential antagonism of early and late Wnt-signaling by zebrafish colgate promotes dorsal and anterior fates

Abstract The establishment of the vertebrate body plan involves patterning of the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm along the dorsoventral and antero-posterior axes. Interactions among numerous signaling molecules from several multigene families, including Wnts, have been implicated in regulating these processes. Here we provide evidence that the zebrafish colgate b382 ( col ) mutation results in increased Wnt signaling that leads to defects in dorsal and anterior development. col mutants display early defects in dorsoventral patterning manifested by a decrease in the expression of dorsal shield-specific markers and ectopic expression of ventrolaterally expressed genes during gastrulation. In addition to these early patterning defects, col mutants display a striking regional posteriorization within the neuroectoderm, resulting in a reduction in anterior fates and an expansion of posterior fates within the forebrain and midbrain–hindbrain regions. We are able to correlate these phenotypes to the overactivation of Wnt signaling in col mutants. The early dorsal and anterior patterning phenotypes of the col mutant embryos are selectively rescued by inactivation of Wnt8 function by morpholino translational interference. In contrast, the regionalized neuroectoderm posterioriorization phenotype is selectively rescued by morpholino-mediated inactivation of Wnt8b. These results suggest that col -mediated antagonism of early and late Wnt-signaling activity during gastrulation is normally required sequentially for both early dorsoventral patterning and the specification and patterning of regional fates within the anterior neuroectoderm.
The Dendritic Tree of Spinal Neurons

The size of the dendritic tree was determined from the number, length and diameter of primary dendrites and number and length of their branches in 360 unselected neurons from all areas of the spinal gray of L7 segment in Golgi-Kopsch preparations (dog). A direct proportionality was demonstrated between the size of the dendritic tree of a neuron and the number of its primary dendrites; a basic dependence of the entire dendritic complex upon the number of initial dendrite extensions from cell body. The existence of two dendrite parameter levels, and consequently two size levels of the whole dendritic tree, was also established; one for the large neurons and one for the small ones. The parameter and tree size differences between the two classes of neurons, the latter distinguished by different cell body-size ranges, were all statistically highly significant. Very little of the variability of the parameters or of the whole tree could be accounted for by the variability of the specific cell body-size within each of the two groups of neurons or within the entire sample. The morphological distinction is between two classes of neurons. The mean dendrite surface area for the entire population sample of large neurons was some five times greater than the mean for the small ones. With commensurate cell body-size differences, and thus total receptive surface area, this implies a 5-fold difference in mean number of synaptic contacts/neuron. The evidence, in addition, strongly pointed to motoneurons as having larger dendritic trees, on the average, than interneurons with comparably-sized cell bodies. It was previously estimated that only 2% of interneurons in L7 segment, which outnumber motoneurons 30:1, are large cells.
A STUDY OF BACILLUS BOVISEPTICUS.

It has been possible to study the cultural characters and certain of the immunological relationships of sixteen strains of Bacillus bovisepticus . The organisms have fallen into three distinct cultural groups. The largest group comprises eight strains, four of them obtained in pure cultures from cases of pneumonia in cows, two others were pure infections in calves, the others were associated with other organisms. This group may be characterized as short, non-motile, Gram-negative, encapsulated rods which fail to produce indole but produce clear zones about the deep colonies in horse blood agar plate cultures. Members of this group produce acid in media containing dextrose, lactose, saccharose, maltose, and mannitol. The final hydrogen ion concentration in dextrose broth lies between pH 6.3 and 6.1. The next largest aggregation comprises six strains. These organisms ferment dextrose and saccharose, but do not attack lactose, maltose, or mannitol. All produce indole. All are soluble in ox and guinea pig bile but none are hemolytic. The other two strains resemble the preceding but attack mannitol in addition to dextrose and saccharose. They produce indole but are not bile-soluble. In the main the immunological relationship has been found to follow cultural grouping. All of Group I are agglutinated by a serum prepared by immunizing a rabbit with a single Group I strain. This serum fails to agglutinate members of other groups. The same holds true with Group II and III sera. In no instance has cross-agglutination between groups taken place.
Repressor Activity of CCAAT Displacement Protein in HL-60 Myeloid Leukemia Cells

CCAAT displacement protein (CDP)/cut is implicated in several systems as a transcriptional repressor of developmentally regulated genes. In myeloid leukemia cells, CDP/cut binding activity as assayed on the promoter of the phagocyte-specific cytochrome heavy chain gene gp91-phox varies inversely with expression of gp91-phox mRNA. We used two approaches to ascertain whether CDP/cut serves as a repressor of gp91-phox gene expression. First, we used transient transfection assays in 3T3 cells to demonstrate that the CDP/cut binding site from the gp91-phox promoter acts as a negative regulatory element in artificial promoter constructs. Second, we isolated a stable transformant of HL-60 myeloid cells constitutively expressing transfected CDP/cut cDNA. Stable transformants carrying expression vector alone or expressing CDP/cut mRNA were induced to differentiate along the macrophage lineage with phorbol ester or along the neutrophil lineage with dimethyl sulfoxide or retinoic acid/dimethylformamide. Northern blot analysis was used to assess induction of mRNAs encoding gp91-phox, and the myeloid oxidase cytosolic components, p47 and p67. In the stable transformant expressing transfected CDP/cut cDNA, gp91-phox induction was selectively reduced, whereas morphologic differentiation and induction of mRNA for myeloid oxidase components p47 and p67 were unaffected. These data provide persuasive evidence that CDP/cut acts to repress the gp91-phox gene.
Diffusion Abnormalities in Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Pediatric mild traumatic brain injury (pmTBI) is the most prevalent neurological insult in children and is associated with both acute and chronic neurobehavioral sequelae. However, little is known about underlying pathophysiology and how injuries change as a function of recovery. Fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity were examined in 15 semi-acute pmTBI patients and 15 well-matched controls, with a subset of participants returning for a second visit. A novel analytic strategy was applied to capture spatially heterogeneous white matter injuries (lesions) in addition to standard analyses. Evidence of cognitive dysfunction after pmTBI was observed in the domains of attention ( p = 0.02, d = −0.92) and processing speed ( p = 0.05, d = −0.73) semi-acutely. Region of interest (ROI) and voxelwise analyses indicated increased anisotropic diffusion for pmTBI patients, with an elevated number of clusters with high anisotropy. Metrics of increased anisotropy were able to objectively classify pmTBI from healthy controls at 90% accuracy but were not associated with neuropsychological deficits. Little evidence of recovery in white matter abnormalities was observed over a 4-month interval in returning patients, indicating that physiological recovery may lag behind subjective reports of normality. Increased anisotropic diffusion has been previously linked with cytotoxic edema after TBI, and the magnitude and duration of these abnormalities appear to be greater in pediatric patients. Current findings suggest that developing white matter may be more susceptible to initial mechanical injury forces and that anisotropic diffusion provides an objective biomarker of pmTBI.
Effectiveness of Culturally Tailored Diabetes Interventions for Asian Immigrants to the United States: A Systematic Review

PurposeThe purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness of tailoring community-based diabetes intervention to Asian immigrant cultures.MethodsThe Cochrane processes and Prefer...
A quantitative and qualitative defect in the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the hereditary cardiomyopathy of the Syrian hamster.

Abstract In the Syrian Hamster with a cardiomyopathy characterized by ventricular dilitation, compensatory hypertrophy and congestive failure, the fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) has been isolated.In normal (N) and myopathic (CM) hamsters SR has been studied relative to rate of ATP dependent calcium trapping, calcium capacity per unit SR, and SR quantity per unit of myocardium. The ATP dependent Ca ++ oxalate pumping of the SR was not different from N in CM at 10 days, reduced 22.4% at 200 days, 30.5% at 300 days with moderate failure, and 77.5% at 300 days with severe failure.The quantity of SR in the tissue as judged by the Ca++oxalate capacity of homogenate was unchanged at 10 days but significantly reduced at 200–300 days. Nevertheless the Ca ++ oxalate capacity per unit SR was unchanged at all ages studied, suggesting a dilution of the SR by the resultant hypertrophy.
Temporal variation in diabetic macular edema measured by optical coherence tomography.

Abstract Purpose To determine, by optical coherence tomography (OCT), whether there is a quantitative decrease in macular edema in diabetic subjects over the course of a day. Study design Observational case series. Participants Ten subjects with diabetic macular edema in 1 or both eyes. Methods Subjects were admitted to the hospital the evening before the study so that they would remain in the recumbent position until immediately before study measurements began. They then underwent 4 OCT measurements of macular thickness in both eyes, at 8:00 am, 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 5:00 pm. At each of these times, they also had refractions and visual acuity measurements using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocol. Macular thickness measurements determined by the Zeiss-Humphrey (Dublin, CA) optical coherence tomograph for each eye of each subject were plotted as a function of time. Main outcome measures Temporal changes in retinal thickness in each of the 9 macular sectors defined by the OCT protocol and in the entire macula of each eye, averaged from all 9 sectors; temporal changes in refractive error and visual acuity. Results Four of the 10 subjects showed consistent decreases in macular thickness over the course of the day in 1 or more of the retinal sectors in 1 or both eyes. When macular thickness values were averaged over all 9 sectors for all subjects, both eyes showed consistent declines in mean thickness throughout the day. By t test, the 8 am value in each eye was significantly higher ( P Conclusions This study, using quantitative OCT determinations, seems to confirm the much earlier report by Sternberg et al, which used more subjective methods, that macular edema might vary over the day. That the 8 am value, obtained just after waking, was higher than the 3 later values (highly significant by 1 test) suggests that the decrease in macular thickness is most likely due to the shift from recumbent to upright body position, although our study protocol did not exclude other possible mechanisms. Although changes in macular thickness over the course of the day did not occur in all subjects, therapeutic studies for macular edema that use OCT as an outcome measure should control for time of day when these measurements are carried out.
Theoretical Considerations for Understanding "Understanding" by Adults With Right Hemisphere Brain Damage

Abstract This article reviews and evaluates leading accounts of narrative comprehension deficits in adults with focal damage to the right cerebral hemisphere (RHD). It begins with a discussion of m...
Cytoplasmic condensation is both necessary and sufficient to induce apoptotic cell death.

Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is important in tissue maintenance. Hallmarks of apoptosis include caspase activation, DNA fragmentation and an overall reduction in cell volume. Whether this apoptotic volume decrease (AVD) is a mere response to initiators of apoptosis or whether it is functionally significant is not clear. In this study, we sought to answer this question using human malignant glioma cells as a model system. In vivo, high grade gliomas demonstrate an increased percentage of apoptotic cells as well as upregulation of death ligand receptors. By dynamically monitoring cell volume, we show that the induction of apoptosis, via activation of either the intrinsic or extrinsic pathways with staurosporine or TRAIL, respectively, resulted in a rapid AVD in D54-MG human glioma cells. This decrease in cell volume could be prevented by inhibiting the efflux of Cl– through channels. Such suppression of AVD also reduced the activation of caspases 3, 8 and 9 and suppressed DNA fragmentation. Importantly, experimental manipulations that reduce the cell volume to 70% of the original volume for periods of at least 3 hours were sufficient to initiate apoptosis even in the absence of death ligands. Hence, this data suggests that cell condensation is both necessary and sufficient for the induction of apoptosis.
Design of an inchworm-type linear piezomotor

This paper details the design and development of an inchworm-type linear piezomotor that consists of three piezoelectric actuators, a monolithic flexure frame, and a guideway. The design is accomplished using the finite element methods to optimize the stiffness of elastic hinges and to calculate the stress-strain field of the flexure frame. The buckling of the bolted joints and interface stiffness of the quideway, and jerking of the linear piezomotor motion, are discussed. The linear piezomotor is capable of traveling speed of 1.6 mm/s over a travel range of 300 mm with a positioning resolution of 5 nm. It also provides a stiffness of 90 N/micrometers and an output force of 200 N.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hospital registration waiting time reduction through process redesign

The registration process is the first process that patients interact with hospitals. The quality of experience in registration will form the perceptions for hospitals. The waiting time is an important performance metric for the registration process. In this paper, a rigorous Lean Six Sigma approach is used to analyse an existing registration process and the root causes for the long average waiting time are identified. Lean operation principles are used to redesign the registration process. After the implementation, a drastic reduction in the average waiting time is achieved and sustained.
The Plasticity of a Translation Arrest Motif Yields Insights into Nascent Polypeptide Recognition inside the Ribosome Tunnel

The recognition of a C-terminal motif in E. coli SecM ((150)FXXXXWIXXXXGIRAGP(166)) inside the ribosome tunnel causes translation arrest, but the mechanism of recognition is unknown. Whereas single mutations in this motif impair recognition, we demonstrate that new arrest-inducing peptides can be created through remodeling of the SecM C terminus. We found that R163 is indispensable but that flanking residues that vary in number and position play an important secondary role in translation arrest. The observation that individual SecM variants showed a distinct pattern of crosslinking to ribosomal proteins suggests that each peptide adopts a unique conformation inside the tunnel. Based on the results, we propose that translation arrest occurs when the peptide conformation specified by flanking residues moves R163 into a precise intratunnel location. Our data indicate that translation arrest results from extensive communication between SecM and the tunnel and help to explain the striking diversity of arrest-inducing peptides found throughout nature.
Witt and Virasoro algebras as lie bialgebras

Abstract We give a countably infinite number of Lie coalgebra structures on the Witt algebra W = Der k [ x ] over a field k , and on the Virasoro algebras W 1 =Der k [ x , x −1 ] and V = W 1 ⊕ kc with central charge c . These come from certain solutions of the classical Yang-Baxter equation, and yield Lie bialgebra structures in each case. For k of characteristic 0, we show that these Lie coalgebra structures on W are mutually non-isomorphic, using an analysis of the locally finite part of W . We also discuss the Lie bialgebra duals of each of these constructions, which can be identified with linearly recursive sequences (one-sided or two-sided).