cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paliperidone extended-release tablets for the acute and maintenance treatment of schizophrenia.

Abstract Background: Paliperidone, which is available in extended-release (ER) tablets, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2007 for the acute and maintenance treatment of schizophrenia. It is the seventh second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) to be introduced to the US market. Paliperidone is the major active metabolite of risperidone, an established anti-psychotic agent. Objective: This article reviews the available literature on the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and tolerability of paliperidone. Methods: A comprehensive search of MEDLINE using the terms paliperidone, 9-hydroxy-risperidone , and Invega was performed for the years 1950 through December 2007. Articles that discussed the efficacy and tolerability of 9-hydroxy-risperidone formed as a metabolite of risperidone were excluded; all others were included. Abstracts and posters presented at recent national and international scientific meetings were also included in the review. Results: At therapeutic doses (3–12 mg), paliperidone ER follows linear pharmacokinetics. Like that of its parent drug, paliperidone's mechanism of action is thought to be through antagonistic actions at dopamine D 2 and serotonin-2A receptors. In vivo studies suggest that the cytochrome P450 enzyme system plays a minimal role in paliperidone metabolism, with none of the metabolites accounting for >10% of a dose. The majority (59%) of paliperidone is eliminated through the kidneys as unchanged drug. The results of three 6-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trials indicated the efficacy of paliperidone ER compared with placebo in the treatment of acute exacerbations of schizophrenia, with response rates ranging from 39.8% to 61.0% for paliperidone ER, compared with 18.3% to 34.0% for placebo. During a 52-week, double-blind, relapse-prevention trial, the time to 25% of patients experiencing a recurrence was 83 days for paliperidone ER, compared with 23 days for placebo. The proportions of patients in the 6-week trials who reported at least 1 extrapyramidal symptom-related adverse event were 13%, 10%, 25%, 26%, and 24% for paliperidone ER 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 mg/d, respectively; the pooled incidence rate was not statistically different from that with placebo (11%). Headache and insomnia were the most common adverse events in patients treated with paliperidone ER in the 6-week trials (pooled data: 11%–18% and 4%–14%, respectively). In the relapse-prevention trial, the incidence of prolactin-related adverse events was 4% for paliperidone ER and 0% for placebo. Conclusions: Current evidence supports the efficacy and tolerability of paliperidone ER in the acute and long-term treatment of schizophrenia. Randomized, head-to-head comparisons with other SGAs, particularly risperidone, are needed to define the role of paliperidone ER in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Public Watchdogs or Imperial Pitbulls: An Evaluation of Special Prosecutor Investigations of Executive Branch Misconduct

The independent counsel investigation process was created to provide a politically neutral and independent avenue for investigating executive misconduct. Twenty investigations of high-ranking department and White House officials occurred during the independent counsel era. During this time, the process was criticized for a lack of accountability, for politicization, and for ineffectiveness in terms of investigatory outcomes. This research provides an empirical evaluation of the primary criticisms of the investigatory process by utilizing data concerning the investigations conducted during the independent counsel era (1978–1999), as well as information from more recent investigations conducted by special counsels appointed directly by the attorney general (1999 to the present). Specifically, I analyze the charge of lack of accountability by measuring the cost, duration, and expansion of jurisdiction for each independent and special counsel investigation. To analyze politicization of the process, I evaluate...
CARDIAC OUTPUT DURING DIVING IN AN UNRESTRAINED SEA LION.

AQUATIC mammals and birds experience abrupt and profound cardiovascular changes during water immersion. In seals, for example, a diving bradycardia of one-tenth the normal rate without change in pressure has commonly been observed1,2. The evidence suggests that this is accompanied by a reduction in cardiac output and widespread vasoconstriction in skeletal muscle1,3, skin1 and kidneys4. Even in man, a relatively poor diver, the flow of blood in the limbs has been shown to decrease during breath-holding dives5. A single determination of cardiac output has been made in a seal during non-diving asphyxia6, but direct blood flow measurements are lacking.
Ultraminiaturized WLAN RF Receiver Module in Thin Organic Substrate

This paper presents the design, analysis, and demonstration of an ultra-thin wireless local area network (WLAN) RF receiver module with chip-last embedded actives and embedded passives in a low-loss organic substrate using system-on-package approach. The overall thickness of the module, including the embedded dies, is 160 μm- more than 3× thickness reduction compared to current wire-bond and flip-chip packages. The receiver module consists of gallium arsenide low-noise amplifier (LNA) dies, chip-last embedded in an ultrathin, low-loss organic substrate, and connected to a substrate-embedded three-metal-layer band-pass filter (BPF) in close proximity. Full-wave electromagnetic simulation was performed on a 3-D model of the designed receiver module to obtain its two-port scattering parameters (S-parameters) and to study noise coupling between the power-supply network and the signal path. The receiver module was then fabricated, tested for yield of the BPF, assembled and characterized, and the measured results were correlated with simulation. The BPF dimensions in the package were 1.5 mm × 2.9 mm × 0.15 mm, and its measured pass-band insertion loss was 2.3 dB with more than 15 dB return loss. The receiver module (LNA + BPF) dimensions were 5.5 mm ×2 mm ×0.16 mm, and it had a measured peak gain of 11 dB with more than 30 dB attenuation in the adjacent-band, indicating excellent performance in a miniaturized form-factor.
Is the estrogen receptor of mammary glands a metallo-protein?

Abstract The cytoplasmic estrogen binding proteins (EBP) of mammary glands were characterized using sucrose gradient centrifugation and Sephadex G-200 gel chromatography. The EBP obtained with ammonium sulfate precipitation tends to aggregate in both low and high ionic strength buffers in the presence of EDTA. If the ammonium sulfate precipitate is redissolved in buffers without EDTA, the EBP sediments as a discrete 8S molecule under low ionic conditions and as a 4S EBP with 0.4 M KCl. In addition to EDTA, the aggregation of EBP is caused by various structurally different metal chelators and this effect can be reversed by the addition of Zn++ or Mn++. It is proposed that the cytoplasmic EBP of mammary glands may contain a bound metal ion which may be crucial for the confirmation of the protein favorable to the binding of the steroid.
THE PROPAGATION OF Lyα IN EVOLVING PROTOPLANETARY DISKS

We study the role resonant scattering plays in the transport of Lyα photons in accreting protoplanetary disk systems subject to varying degrees of dust settling. While the intrinsic stellar far-UV (FUV) spectrum of accreting T Tauri systems may already be dominated by a strong, broad Lyα line (∼80% of the FUV luminosity), we find that resonant scattering further enhances the Lyα density in the deep molecular layers of the disk. Lyα is scattered downward efficiently by the photodissociated atomic hydrogen layer that exists above the molecular disk. In contrast, FUV-continuum photons pass unimpeded through the photodissociation layer and (forward-)scatter inefficiently off dust grains. Using detailed, adaptive grid Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulations we show that the resulting Lyα/FUV-continuum photon density ratio is strongly stratified; FUV-continuum-dominated in the photodissociation layer and Lyα-dominated field in the molecular disk. The enhancement is greatest in the interior of the disk (r ∼ 1 AU) but is also observed in the outer disk (r ∼ 100 AU). The majority of the total disk mass is shown to be increasingly Lyα dominated as dust settles toward the midplane.
The New Scramble for the African Countryside

There is in Africa, as in other parts of the third world, a desire for environmental management that simultaneously incorporates and benefits all stakeholders, including private businesses and villagers. While these partnerships continue to displace the failed state-centric management of the African landscape, research to document their local-level impact is still formative and developing. This article is an attempt to examine the new environmental management partnerships emerging in southern Africa's countryside. It argues that these new interventions not only fail to deliver benefits to villagers: more importantly, they curtail the long-established rights to land and other natural resources of indigenous communities. While villagers may engage in a battle to recover these rights, it is a struggle in which the odds are stacked against them, and which the private sector and its partners are set to win.
Association between proportion of provider clinical effort in nursing homes and potentially avoidable hospitalizations and medical costs of nursing home residents

Objectives: To assess potential avoidable hospitalizations of nursing home (NH) residents as a function of the percentage of clinical effort their primary care provider (PCP) devotes to NH practice. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: NHs in Texas. Participants: Residents newly admitted to long-term NHs in 2006 to 2008 were identified by linking the Minimum Data Set to 100% Texas Medicare claims data (N = 12,249). Measurements: The care that residents received over successive 6-month periods was measured as a time-dependent covariate. Potentially avoidable hospitalizations and Medicare costs were assessed over 6 to 48 months. Results: Seventy percent of NH residents had a physician as their major PCP, 25% had an advance practice nurse (APN), and 5% had a physician assistant (PA). Physician PCPs who derived less than 20% of their Medicare billings from NH residents cared for 36% of all NH residents. Most NH residents with APN or PA PCPs had providers with 85% or more of Medicare billings generated in NHs. Residents with PCPs who devoted less than 5% of their clinical effort to NH care were at 52% higher risk of potentially avoidable hospitalization than those whose PCPs devoted 85% or more of their clinical effort to NHs (hazard ratio = 1.52, 95% confidence interval = 1.25�1.83) and had $2,179 higher annual Medicare spending, controlling for PCP discipline. Conclusion: The percentage of clinical effort that providers devote to NHs is associated with risk of avoidable hospitalization.
ASYMMETRIC MEMORY AT LABILE, STEREOGENIC BORON : ENOLATE ALKYLATION OF OXAZABOROLIDINONES

Oxazaborolidinones 3, 25, 32, 42, 49, and 53 can be obtained as single diastereomers by crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation (AT). Asymmetric memory is maintained in the derived enolates because the stereogenic boron resists equilibration with achiral, trivalent boron-containing species on the time scale of enolate alkylation with methyl iodide, allyl bromide, or benzyl bromide. Conditions were found for alkylating oxazaborolidinone enolates derived from phenylalanine (5, 33), alanine (18, 26), phenylglycine (43), and valine (54) without significant loss of boron configuration. The phenylglycine-derived oxazaborolidinone alkylation products 44 and 45 slowly undergo boron epimerization at room temperature, and the C-allyl product 44b partially racemizes during hydrolytic cleavage, apparently by a 2-aza-Cope rearrangement. These complications were not encountered with phenylalanine derivatives. Preparatively useful results were obtained with oxazaborolidinones 3 and 32, derived from phenylalani...
Secondary Trajectories and the Saturation of Finite-Energy Sum Rules

A study is made of the constraints placed upon the couplings and resonance spectrum required to saturate finite-energy sum rules consistently in the region around t=0 . It is argued that the probable existence of crossing trajectories and cuts places a fundamental limit on the usefulness of finite-energy sum rules. The demand that the spin of the resonances increase monotonically with mass implies that an infinite number of asymptotically parallel daughter trajectories in the resonance region are required for consistency. This result is independent of any statement about the energy dependence of the leading trajectory.
Reversible solvent swelling in pigment gallstones

Abstract The reversibility of solvent swelling and the existence of an equilibrium swelling ratio, qeq, has been established for pigment gallstone particles. A simple technique was devised to demonstrate that solvent imbibition in pigment gallstone particles is reversible. This finding confirms unequivocally that the molecular makeup of pigment gallstones involves polymer networks. In addition, this new method permits serial direct observation of the interactions between pigment gallstone particles and the solvent. Application of the technique to other network polymers should be readily possible.
Purification and characterization of recombinant human alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase secreted by Chinese hamster ovary cells.

alpha-N-Acetylglucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.50) is a lysosomal enzyme that is deficient in the genetic disorder Sanfilippo syndrome type B. To study the human enzyme, we expressed its cDNA in Lec1 mutant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, which do not synthesize complex oligosaccharides. The enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity from culture medium by chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose, Poros 20-heparin, and aminooctyl-agarose. The purified enzyme migrated as a single band of 83 kDa on SDS-PAGE and as two peaks corresponding to monomeric and dimeric forms on Sephacryl-300. It had an apparent K(m) of 0.22 mM toward 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-N-acetylglucosaminide and was competitively inhibited by two potential transition analogs, 2-acetamido-1,2-dideoxynojirimycin (K(i) = 0.45 microM) and 6-acetamido-6-deoxycastanospermine (K(i) = 0.087 microM). Activity was also inhibited by mercurials but not by N-ethylmaleimide or iodoacetamide, suggesting the presence of essential sulfhydryl residues that are buried. The purified enzyme preparation corrected the abnormal [(35)S]glycosaminoglycan catabolism of Sanfilippo B fibroblasts in a mannose 6-phosphate-inhibitable manner, but its effectiveness was surprisingly low. Metabolic labeling experiments showed that the recombinant alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase secreted by CHO cells had only a trace of mannose 6-phosphate, probably derived from contaminating endogenous CHO enzyme. This contrasts with the presence of mannose 6-phosphate on naturally occurring alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase secreted by diploid human fibroblasts and on recombinant human alpha-l-iduronidase secreted by the same CHO cells. Thus contrary to current belief, overexpressing CHO cells do not necessarily secrete recombinant lysosomal enzyme with the mannose 6-phosphate-targeting signal; this finding has implications for the preparation of such enzymes for therapeutic purposes.
Influence of pH and Oxidation State on the Interaction of Arsenic with Struvite During Mineral Formation

Struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) precipitated from animal and human wastes may be a sustainable source of fertilizer. However, arsenic, present in some wastes, may be removed with struvite. Here the sorption of As with struvite during mineral formation at pH 8–11 was assessed. The yield of struvite increased with pH, and was highest at pH 10. For recovered struvite, XRD indicated reduced crystallinity and particle size, and FT-IR suggested less distortion of phosphate tetrahedra with increased pH. The As impurity did not affect the crystallinity or particle size, but did contribute to phosphate distortion. Sorption of As(V) was observed at all pH values, and was highest at pH 10. As(III) sorption was consistently lower than that of As(V), but increased with pH. XAFS suggested coprecipitation of As(V), and adsorption of As(III) as the potential sorption mechanisms. Solids derived from As(III) solutions exhibited dual mechanisms due to the partial oxidation of As(III) to As(V) in solution prior to sorption. For str...
Reaction of [Mn 12 O 12 (O 2 CR) 16 (H 2 O) 4 ] single-molecule magnets with non-carboxylate ligands

Abstract New derivatives of the [Mn12O12(O2CR)16(H2O)4] family of single-molecule magnets (SMMs) have been obtained through the use of the non-carboxylate ligand benzenesulfonate. The reaction of [Mn12O12(O2CMe)16(H2O)4] with eight equivalents of benzenesulfonic acid gives [Mn12O12(O2CMe)8(O3SPh)8(H2O)4]. The cluster possesses an S=10 ground state and exhibits out-of-phase ac susceptibility signals characteristic of a SMM. The reaction of [Mn12O12(O2CMe)8(O3SPh)8(H2O)4] with diphenylphosphinic acid gives [Mn4O4(O2PPh2)6], containing a manganese-oxo cubane core structure.
`Dealing emotional blows': realism and verbal `terror' at the Russian state theatrical academy

Abstract In October 2002, Chechen rebels took hostages at a performance of the first Russian `musical'. During this time, the author was conducting fieldwork at the institute where the actors in this performance had been trained, in the directing department, in a new program combining musical theater with Stanislavsky's realism. In tracing social and ideological associations across these sites, the author outlines a resonance between terrorist and realist ideologies about communication. Muscovites producing metadiscourse about events and processes in both sites seemed to presume that communicative acts, if they are to performatively alter the social world, must stimulate emotion by orchestrating particular social differences. This article will explore, in contexts of theatrical pedagogy, relations between `difference', `conflict', and `feeling' within ideologies of communication that drive both theatrical realism and readings of terror. I do not argue that all forms of making `difference' constitute terror, but rather that realism and terror can both use difference similarly to draw or to focus attention.
The Toledo heavy ion accelerator

Abstract The recently installed 330 kV electrostatic positive ion accelerator at the University of Toledo is described. Experiments have been performed using ions ranging from H + to Hg 2+ and exotic molecules such as HeH + . Most of these experiments involve the beam-foil studies of the lifetimes of excited atomic states and the apparatus used for these experiments is also described. Another beamline is available for ion-implantation. The Toledo heavy ion accelerator facility welcomes outside users.
Immediate Seeding of Enzymatically Derived Endothelium in Dacron Vascular Grafts: Early Experimental Studies With Autologous Canine Cells

• Twenty-eight adult dogs underwent thoracoabdominal bypass with 6-mm double-velour Dacron grafts. The experimental grafts were seeded immediately prior to implantation with enzymatically harvested endothelial cells. Endothelial cells were procured from autologous external jugular vein segments using 0.1% trypsin and 0.5% collagenase solutions. Unseeded grafts served as controls. The grafts were studied from one to 28 days after implantation. The seeded grafts exhibited greater than 80% uniform luminal coverage with endothelial cells at day 28. Immunofluorescent microscopy was used to confirm the presence of endothelium. The experimental grafts studied at the two time periods of one to seven days and 14 to 28 days had 94.6% and 88.5% clot-free surfaces, respectively. The control grafts studied during similar periods had 81.0% and 40.1% clot-free surfaces. These differences were significant at the 14- to 28–day period. ( Arch Surg 115:1289-1294, 1980)
QUANTUM DEVICES BASED ON MODERN BAND STRUCTURE ENGINEERING AND EPITAXIAL TECHNOLOGY

Modern band structure engineering is based both on the important discoveries of the past century and modern epitaxial technology. The general goal is to control the behavior of charge carriers on an atomic scale, which affects how they interact with each other and their environment. Starting from the basic semiconductor heterostructure, band structure engineering has evolved into a powerful discipline, employing lower dimensionality to demonstrate new material properties. Several modern technologies under development are used as examples of how this discipline is enabling new types of devices and new functionality in areas with immediate application.
The whys and hows of thermal management

As the computational capabilities of integrated systems grow, they become increasingly power-hungry. This dissipated power is converted to heat that must be removed from the system, and a failure to do so can result in excessive temperatures. The trends for thermal problems are severe enough along the Moore's law curve, but become even worse with the advent of 3D ICs, where the power density per unit footprint increases. Therefore, in future systems, it is a virtual certainty that thermal bottlenecks will gain centerstage, and the problem of thermal management must be tackled aggressively at all levels of design. At the chip level, the focus of thermally-aware design has moved from merely package-level considerations to include on-chip thermal management. Thermal variations during the operation of a circuit can result in changes or unpredictability in its performance and reliability. It is essential to solve the problem of thermally-aware design at all levels, developing techniques that range from presilicon analysis and optimization to postsilicon mitigation, taking into account all of the effects associated with elevated temperatures. This talk will provide an overview of challenges and opportunities in this domain.
Demand-driven frequent itemset mining using pattern structures

Frequent itemset mining aims at discovering patterns the supports of which are beyond a given threshold. In many applications, including network event management systems, which motivated this work, patterns are composed of items each described by a subset of attributes of a relational table. As it involves an exponential mining space, the efficient implementation of user preferences and mining constraints becomes the first priority for a mining algorithm. User preferences and mining constraints are often expressed using patterns’ attribute structures. Unlike traditional methods that mine all frequent patterns indiscriminately, we regard frequent itemset mining as a two-step process: the mining of the pattern structures and the mining of patterns within each pattern structure. In this paper, we present a novel architecture that uses pattern structures to organize the mining space. In comparison with the previous techniques, the advantage of our approach is two-fold: (i) by exploiting the interrelationships among pattern structures, execution times for mining can be reduced significantly; and (ii) more importantly, it enables us to incorporate high-level simple user preferences and mining constraints into the mining process efficiently. These advantages are demonstrated by our experiments using both synthetic and real-life datasets.
Conformational analysis from low-frequency vibrational data and ab initio calculations for 3-chloropropene☆

Abstract The asymmetric torsion of 3-chloropropene, CH 2 CHCH 2 Cl, has been investigated by far-infrared and Raman spectra of the gas and the low-frequency Raman spectrum of the liquid at various temperatures. Both the gauche and cis (halogen to double bond) conformers are present in the fluid phases at ambient temperature and the gauche isomer is the predominant form in the liquid. The asymmetric torsion of the cis rotamer is observed in the far-infrared spectrum of the gas at 147.28 cm −1 with four accompanying “hot bands” and the corresponding fundamental of the gauche conformer is observed at 101.97 cm −1 also with four “hot bands”. From these data, a potential function governing the internal rotation of the asymmetric top has been determined with potential constants of: V 1 = −47±19, V 2 = 145±17, V 3 = 862±8, V 4 = 14±6, V 6 = −50±4 cm −1 . This potential function is consistent with the cis form being thermodynamically preferred by 81 cm −1 (0.23 kcal mol −1 ), and a torsional dihedral angle of 122° for the gauche conformer away from the cis form. The calculated cis to gauche, gauche to gauche, and gauche to cis barriers are 969 cm −1 (2.77 kcal mol −1 ), 734 cm −1 (2.10 kcal mol −1 ) and 888 cm −1 (2.54 kcal mol −1 ), respectively. From relative intensities of the Raman lines of the liquid at 245 ( cis ) and 289 ( gauche ) cm −1 as a function of temperature, the enthalpy difference was found to be 178±11 cm −1 (509±31 cal mol −1 ) with the gauche form being more stable. The normal vibrations for both the cis and gauche rotamers have been calculated by ab initio Hartree-Fock gradient calculations employing the 3-21G* basis set. The calculated frequencies and force constants are compared to those previously reported. Potential surface calculations and structural determinations have been carried out employing both the 3-21G* and 6-31G* basis sets and compared to those obtained experimentally. These results are compared to similar quantities in some related molecules.
Sickle red cells induce adhesion of lymphocytes and monocytes to endothelium

Infusion of epinephrine-activated human sickle erythrocytes (SS RBCs) into nude mice promotes both SS RBC and murine leukocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium in vivo. We hypothesized that interaction of epinephrine-stimulated SS RBCs with leukocytes leads to activation of leukocytes, which then adhere to endothelial cells (ECs). In exploring the underlying molecular mechanisms, we have found that coincubation in vitro of epinephrine-treated SS RBCs with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) results in robust adhesion of PBMCs to ECs. Sham-treated SS RBCs had a similar but less pronounced effect, whereas neither sham- nor epinephrine-treated normal RBCs activated PBMC adhesion. PBMC activation was induced via at least 2 RBC adhesion receptors, LW and CD44. In response to SS RBCs, leukocyte CD44 and beta2 integrins mediated PBMC adhesion to ECs, a process that involved endothelial E-selectin and fibronectin. SS RBCs activated adhesion of both PBMC populations, lymphocytes and monocytes. Thus, our findings reveal a novel mechanism that may contribute to the pathogenesis of vaso-occlusion in sickle cell disease, in which SS RBCs act via LW and CD44 to stimulate leukocyte adhesion to endothelium, and suggest that RBC LW and CD44 may serve as potential targets for antiadhesive therapy designed to prevent vaso-occlusion.
CT scanogram for limb length discrepancy in comminuted femoral shaft fractures following IM nailing

Abstract Introduction Leg length discrepancy (LLD) following intramedullary nailing of femoral fractures is not uncommon. We designed a prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of routine postoperative computed tomography (CT) scanograms for evaluation of limb length discrepancy in patients with comminuted Winquist III or IV femoral shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nailing. Methods The study consisted of 15 patients with Winquist III and 13 with a Winquist IV femoral shaft fracture pattern with an average age of 37 years. The mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle collision (13), gunshot wound (12) and falls (three). All patients were treated with a statically locked intramedullary femoral nail (18 antegrade and 10 retrograde). A CT scanogram evaluated limb length in all patients. A discrepancy of greater than 20 mm was considered for correction during the same admission. An LLD of 15–20 mm was discussed with the patient extensively for correction. Results In the 28 patients included in our study, the average limb length discrepancy was 9.1 mm with a range of −43.5 mm short to 10.3 mm long. The LLD was less than 10 mm in 18 patients (64%), 10–15 mm in four patients (14%), 15–20 mm in three patients (11%) and more than 20 mm in three patients (11%). Measurement of discrepancy as small as 0.5 mm showed that 18 patients were fixed with shortening and in 10 patients the operated femur was longer. Tibia lengths were also evaluated separately. Though none of the tibiae had a previous fracture, only three patients (10%) had tibiae of equal length. In 13 patients, an unequal tibia partially corrected the LLD whilst in 12 it added to the discrepancy. Five patients with LLD of greater than 15 mm underwent correction. Conclusions A postoperative scanogram in patients with comminuted femoral shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nailing is useful to evaluate LLD and allows for early intervention. The ideal length where correction is necessary remains unclear.
Polar surfaces of wurtzite and zincblende lattices

Abstract Madelung potentials are calculated at lattice sites along the [0001] wurtzite and [111] zincblende axes, both in the bulk and at the polar surfaces. The potentials are then used to compute the electrostatic surface energies of various (0001) wurtzite and (111) zincblende surface arrangements. All arrangements considered satisfy the ionic stability criterion, which requires a net charge at the polar surface. The surface energy results predict reconstructed and faceted surface structures that agree well with experimental low energy electron diffraction work reported in the literature.
The influence of light and nutrients on benthic filamentous algal growth: A case study of Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

Abstract The benthic filamentous green algal (FGA) community of Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, has not been extensively examined, despite its apparent link to shoreline fouling. The objective of this study was to elucidate factors, including light, nutrients, and substrate, expected to affect growth of FGA. We examined the FGA community in the southwest region of the bay, which started ~ 5 km northwest from the Saginaw River, a known source of nutrients and sediment. Cellular nutrient quotas and photosynthetic parameters were measured in FGA over a range of water column depths and distances from the Saginaw River and then compared to published thresholds of limitation. Our results suggest that light limitation sets the maximum depth of growth and prevents growth near the Saginaw River. Our data also indicate that a light gradient extends from the Saginaw River into our study area, but we did not observe direct evidence for the existence of a parallel nutrient gradient. Most of the FGA community experienced both light and P stress, with the exception of 20% of the sampled FGA, which experienced saturating levels of midday light. Nitrogen deficiency was never observed. Our results suggest that post-dreissenid invasion increases in water clarity extended the maximum depth limit for FGA from ~ 3.3 to ~ 5 m, greatly increasing the area of FGA growth. One quarter of sampled FGA were strictly P-limited and 87–100% of sampled FGA were P-deficient, suggesting that phosphorus-based management approaches could successfully reduce FGA growth in inner Saginaw Bay.
Relationship between Vegetation Biophysical Properties and Surface Temperature Using Multisensor Satellite Data

Vegetation is an important factor in global climatic variability and plays a key role in the complex interactions between the land surface and the atmosphere. This study focuses on the spatial and temporal variability of vegetation and its relationship with land–atmosphere interactions. The authors have analyzed the vegetation water content (VegWC) from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E), the leaf area index (LAI), the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), the land surface temperature (Ts), and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Three regions, which have climatically differing characteristics, have been selected: the North America Monsoon System (NAMS) region, the Southern Great Plains (SGP) region, and the Little River Watershed in Tifton, Georgia. Temporal analyses were performed by comparing satellite observations from 2003 and 2004. The
Inhibition of Assembly of Bacterial Cell Division Protein FtsZ by the Hydrophobic Dye 5,5′-Bis-(8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate)

To gain further insight into the structural relatedness of tubulin and FtsZ, the tubulin-like prokaryotic cell division protein, we tested the effect of tubulin assembly inhibitors on FtsZ assembly. Common tubulin inhibitors, such as colchicine, colcemid, benomyl, and vinblastine, had no effect on Ca2+-promoted GTP-dependent assembly of FtsZ into polymers. However, the hydrophobic probe 5, 5'-bis-(8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate) (bis-ANS) inhibited FtsZ assembly. The potential mechanisms for inhibition are discussed. Titrations of FtsZ with bis-ANS indicated that FtsZ has one high affinity binding site and multiple low affinity binding sites. ANS (8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate), a hydrophobic probe similar to bis-ANS, had no inhibitory effect on FtsZ assembly. Because tubulin assembly has also been shown to be inhibited by bis-ANS but not by ANS, it supports the idea that FtsZ and tubulin share similar conformational properties. Ca2+, which promotes GTP-dependent FtsZ assembly, stimulated binding of bis-ANS or ANS to FtsZ, suggesting that Ca2+ binding induces changes in the hydrophobic conformation of the protein. Interestingly, depletion of bound Ca2+ with EGTA further enhanced bis-ANS fluorescence. These findings suggest that both binding and dissociation of Ca2+ are capable of inducing FtsZ conformational changes, and these changes could promote the GTP-dependent assembly of FtsZ.
The wave of activation current in the Xenopus egg

Abstract A ring-shaped wave of inward current, the activation current, propagates across the Xenopus egg from the site of activation during the positive phase of the activation or fertilization potential. This activation current wave is due to an increased chloride conductance and reflects the propagated opening of the ionic channels responsible for the fertilization potential. These channels are present in the animal and vegetal hemispheres; however, the magnitude of the activation current is 6–7 times greater in the animal hemisphere. Outward current of a smaller magnitude and spread out over a larger area precedes and follows the inward current except at the point of activation where the current is first inward. The inward current wave is detected in all eggs activated by sperm and in eggs activated by pricking with a sharp needle, by application of the Ca 2+ ionophore, A23187, and by intracellular iontophoresis of Ca 2+ or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Reduction of the inward current by TMB-8, which blocks intracellular calcium release in some cells, suggests that the activation current channels are calcium sensitive and that the current wave is concomitant with a wave of increased intracellular calcium initiated by sperm-egg interaction. The wave of cortical granule exocytosis and two or more contraction waves follow the current wave.
Aberrant functional connectivity of cortico-basal ganglia circuits in major depression.

Abstract There is considerable evidence of functional abnormalities of the cortico-basal ganglia circuitry in affective disorders. However, it has been unknown whether this represented primary pathology within these circuits or altered activation as a result of aberrant input from other brain regions. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that cortico-basal ganglia circuit dysfunction represents primary pathology in unipolar depression. Eighteen male subjects with recurrent unipolar depression and eighteen controls without psychiatric illness were studied using functional MRI and functional connectivity analyses. All unipolar subjects were unmedicated and without current psychiatric comorbidity. Compared to controls, unipolar subjects exhibited altered connectivity between bilateral subcortical components of the circuitry (putamen–thalamus) and left hemisphere input and output components. Results provided evidence that functional abnormalities of these circuits represent primary pathology. Further, we found that age of onset but not duration of illness impacts circuit function. These findings suggest that the cortico-basal ganglia circuitry is likely one of several loci of primary pathology in major depression. Additionally, early age of onset is associated with greater circuit abnormality and as such may impact clinical characteristics and/or treatment response through a mechanism of decreasing functional connectivity of some circuit segments. Finally, altered cortico-basal ganglia circuit connectivity with cortical regions (anterior cingulate, inferior frontal gyrus and sensorimotor) may contribute to the emotional dysregulation, impaired emotional recognition and psychomotor symptoms associated with unipolar illness.
Genome-wide transcriptional profiling of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) peripheral blood identifies systemic alterations relevant to the skin manifestation.

Abstract Major gaps remain regarding pathogenetic mechanisms underlying clinical heterogeneity in lupus erythematosus (LE). As systemic changes are likely to underlie skin specific manifestation, we analyzed global gene expression in peripheral blood of a small cohort of chronic cutaneous LE (CCLE) patients and healthy individuals. Unbiased hierarchical clustering distinguished patients from controls revealing a “disease” based signature. Functional annotation of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) highlight enrichment of interferon related immune response and apoptosis signatures, along with other key pathways. There is a 26% overlap of the blood and lesional skin transcriptional profile from a previous analysis by our group. We identified four transcriptional “hot spots” at chromosomal regions harboring statistically increased numbers of DEGs which offer prioritized potential loci for downstream fine mapping studies in the search for CCLE specific susceptibility loci. Additionally, we uncover evidence to support both shared and distinct mechanisms for cutaneous and systemic manifestations of lupus.
Self-Cleaning Transparent Dust Shields for Protecting Solar Panels and Other Devices

The development of transparent flexible dust shields using both single- and three-phase electrodynamic shields is reported here for possible application on Mars and Earth to minimize obscuration of solar panels from the deposition of dust. The electrodynamic screens (EDS) are made of transparent plastic sheets, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for its UV radiation resistance, and a set of parallel conducting electrodes made of transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) embedded under a thin transparent film. The basic principle of EDS operation, a simplified mathematical model of particle trajectories, the experimental setup used for testing the screens, and their dust removal efficiencies (DRE) are described. Results of our measurements on dust removal efficiency of EDS as a function of the particle size and electrostatic charge distributions of Mars simulant dust are reported. The results show that the EDS technology has a strong potential for protecting solar panels against dust hazards with DRE higher...
Dietary vitamin D and risk of heart failure in the Physicians' Health Study.

Summary Background Experimental studies have demonstrated the role of vitamin D in key pathways related to cardiovascular health. While several studies have investigated the impact of vitamin D therapy on outcomes in subjects with prevalent heart failure, limited research exists on the relationship of dietary vitamin D consumption with the risk of heart failure. Thus, we sought to investigate whether dietary vitamin D consumption was associated with a lower risk of incident heart failure in a large prospective cohort of male physicians. Methods and results We prospectively studied 19,635 males from the Physicians' Health Study. Dietary vitamin D information was obtained from a baseline food frequency questionnaire, and heart failure information was obtained by questionnaire and validated in a subsample. Mean age was 66.4 years. Median dietary vitamin D consumption was 200.4 IU and only 2.3% of the subjects used vitamin D supplements. After an average follow-up of 9.3 years, there were 858 new cases of heart failure identified. Higher intake of dietary vitamin D was not associated with incident heart failure in a multivariable adjusted model: hazard ratios (95% CI) of incident heart failure were 1.0 (reference), 1.29 (1.04–1.60), 1.17 (0.94–1.46), 1.22 (0.98–1.53), and 1.16 (0.92–1.46) from lowest to highest age- and energy-adjusted vitamin D quintile, respectively, after adjusting for age, BMI, race, exercise, alcohol use, smoking, calories, and prevalent atrial fibrillation ( p for linear trend = 0.64). Conclusions These data are consistent with a lack of an association between dietary vitamin D and incident heart failure in this population of professionally-employed middle-aged males.
Study of Phonon Dispersion in Silicon and Germanium at Long Wavelengths Using Picosecond Ultrasonics

We have studied the dispersion of long wavelength longitudinal phonons in silicon and germanium using ultrasonic techniques. For long wavelengths, the acoustic phonon dispersion relation is of the form omega(k) approximately ck-gammak(3), where c is the speed of sound and gamma measures the lowest-order phonon dispersion. By sending an ultrasonic pulse of length a few hundred angstroms into a crystal and measuring the change of the pulse shape with propagation distance, we are able to determine the parameter gamma. The results are compared with lattice dynamics models.
Quality reference service in law school depository libraries: A cause for action

Abstract This article measures and evaluates the quality of reference service in selected law school depository libraries in the greater Los Angeles, California area. Specifically, the educational backgrounds of those persons providing answers were correlated with the quality of answers given. Results revealed a 65 percent accuracy rate, which is comparable to prior studies of public and academic libraries. Although no statistically significant difference existed between librarians having MLS, and/or MLS/JD, degrees, and their non-degreed counterparts, it is shown that MLS/JD librarians provided accurate answers more often than MLS librarians, who in turn performed accurately more often than non-professional personnel in the same setting.
Transient response of shells with internally attached structures

Abstract Equations of motion are derived for the transient response, to a shock wave, of a submerged shell with internal structures. A substructuring procedure, which does not require calculation of a system stiffness matrix, is employed to obtain these equations in a general manner for arbitrary internal structures approximated by finite elements.
Impact of the extent of parametrial involvement in patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Purpose: A scoring system is proposed to measure the extent of parametrial involvement and predict treatment outcome in patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Methods and Materials: 244 patients with FIGO Stage IIB (n = 146) or IIIB (n = 98) carcinoma of the uterine cervix were treated by radical radiotherapy from October 1987 to June 1992. Impact of the extent of parametrial involvement on outcome was studied. All patients were scored by the newly introduced scoring system described as follows: score 1, tumor extending 1/2 the distance to the pelvic side wall but not to pelvic side wall; score 3, tumor extending to the pelvic side wall. The score in each patient was defined as the sum of the scores of both the left and right parametrial tumor extent. Results: There were 53, 47, 61, 34, 25, and 24 patients in score 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. All 244 patients were subdivided into three groups described as follows: score 1 and 2, group I; score 3 and 4, group II; score 5 and 6, group III. In univariate analysis, lower score groups had better overall survival rate (OS), disease-free survival rate (DFS), local control rate (LC), and distant metastasis-free rate (DMF) than higher score groups including groups I vs. II, II vs. III, or I vs. III. The differences were all statistically significant except for the difference of the DMF in group I vs. II. In multivariate analysis, score (range 1-6) was also statistically significant in OS (p < 0.0001), DFS (p = 0.0015), LC (p = 0.0032), and DMF (p = 0.0141). Conclusions: The data suggested that the new scoring system defined by pelvic examination is a convenient, simple, and reliable method of measuring the degree of parametrial extension and predicting the outcome of patients with parametrial disease.
Comparisons of the relative effects of polyhydroxyl compounds on local versus long-range motions in the mitochondrial inner membrane. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, fluorescence lifetime, and fluorescence anisotropy studies

This laboratory has been interested in understanding the relationship between molecular motion and electron transport rates in the mitochondrial inner membrane. We have previously noted a sucrose-induced decrease in both multicomponent electron transport rates and lateral diffusion of redox components. The decreases in lateral diffusion and the related mobile fraction of redox components were greater than expected from hydrodynamic theory. In this report we sought to understand how the presence of increasing aqueous concentrations of polyhydroxyl agents affect short-range motions in different regions of the inner membrane bilayer, frequently expressed in terms of 'viscosity' and order, compared to lateral diffusion. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching was used to monitor long-range phospholipid and integral protein diffusion. Multifrequency fluorescence lifetime and steady-state fluorescence anisotropy techniques were used to monitor local dynamics of diphenylhexatriene (DPH) and trimethylaminodiphenylhexatriene (TMA-DPH). Light scattering corrections were found to be essential for inner membrane measurements by the latter two techniques. DPH and TMA-DPH each exhibited two-lifetime components. Generally, increasing the aqueous concentration of polyhydroxyl agents decreased the average DPH lifetime and increased the average TMA-DPH lifetime. In general, under the same conditions fluorescence anisotropies increased. Our results indicated that changes in the rotational diffusion coefficient, microviscosity and order were being induced at both the phospholipid headgroup and in the acyl chain regions of the membrane bilayer. Our results suggest that these changes may be due in part to induced changes in the interaction and distribution of water with membranes. Long-range lateral diffusion was found to be significantly retarded by increasing concentrations of polyhydroxyl agents. We conclude that the discrepancies between bulk viscosity predicted decreases in long-range diffusion may result, in part, from the aforementioned membrane/water interactions. We also note an apparent qualitative relationship between long-range lateral diffusion reported diffusion coefficient with local TMA-DPH reported rotational diffusion coefficient and apparent microviscosities.