cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disease phenotype and genotype are associated with shifts in intestinal-associated microbiota in inflammatory bowel diseases

Background: Abnormal host–microbe interactions are implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases. Previous 16S rRNA sequence analysis of intestinal tissues demonstrated that a subset of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) samples exhibited altered intestinal-associated microbial compositions characterized by depletion of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes (particularly Clostridium taxa). We hypothesize that NOD2 and ATG16L1 risk alleles may be associated with these alterations. Methods: To test this hypothesis, we genotyped 178 specimens collected from 35 CD, 35 UC, and 54 control patients for the three major NOD2 risk alleles (Leu 1007fs, R702W, and G908R) and the ATG16L1T300A risk allele, that had undergone previous 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Our statistical models incorporated the following independent variables: 1) disease phenotype (CD, UC, non-IBD control); 2) NOD2 composite genotype (NOD2R = at least one risk allele, NOD2NR = no risk alleles); 3) ATG16L1T300A genotype (ATG16L1R/R, ATG16L1R/NR, ATG16L1NR/NR); 4) patient age at time of surgery and all first-order interactions. The dependent variable(s) were the relative frequencies of bacterial taxa classified by applying the RDP 2.1 classifier to previously reported 16S rRNA sequence data. Results: Disease phenotype, NOD2 composite genotype and ATG16L1 genotype were significantly associated with shifts in microbial compositions by nonparametric multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Shifts in the relative frequencies of Faecalibacterium and Escherichia taxa were significantly associated with disease phenotype by nonparametric ANCOVA. Conclusions: These results support the concept that disease phenotype and genotype are associated with compositional changes in intestinal-associated microbiota. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
Selective complexity and adaptive mortuary behavior

Trends in human history are increased cultural complexity and social differentiation and marked beginnings, endings, reversals, and turns and twists at different scales (1). Within these trends, the creation of social groups and communities is an active process that involves cultural pluralism, ideology, negotiated identity, economy, the built environment, and mortuary expression. In most societies, death implies passage from a visible, living state to an invisible, buried one. This is not the case with the ancient Chinchorro society of the coastal Atacama Desert of north Chile and south Peru. In PNAS, the observations reported by Marquet et al. (2) on the mortuary practices of this society allow us to better understand the cultural processes and environmental conditions that connected human history, cognition, and ideology to reproduce small-scale maritime communities through repeated encounters with the artificially mummified cadavers of the dead. Organic matter such as the human body is naturally well preserved in the extremely arid environment of the desert. As presented by the authors (2), mummified remains were deliberately placed in shallow, visible graves with few offerings, and continuously removed and manipulated for interaction with the living. The Chinchorro society practiced two types of mummification: natural and artificial. Natural preservation involved burial in the ground, where the body was desiccated and preserved. Cadavers were artificially mummified and evidently socially distinguished by painting them red and black, coating them with mud, or bandaging and cording them with plant material. For practical purposes, natural desiccation was sufficed to preserve bodies: artificial treatment was preservation overkill. Marquet et al. (2) argue that the artificial treatment appeared in times of increased marine resources and fresh groundwater between approximately 7,500 and 4,500 y ago. This abundance led to a growth in the human population and thus the increase in the dead, as well as the appearance of new technologies, including mummification and tools for resource procurement. Throughout this period, visible burial sites built up across the coastal landscape, which led to more interactions between the living the dead. These increased encounters formed part of the cognitive map of people’s daily lives and played a central role in the making of the Chinchorro culture and the emergence of social complexity.
Transdermal photopolymerization for minimally invasive implantation.

Photopolymerizations are widely used in medicine to create polymer networks for use in applications such as bone restorations and coatings for artificial implants. These photopolymerizations occur by directly exposing materials to light in “open” environments such as the oral cavity or during invasive procedures such as surgery. We hypothesized that light, which penetrates tissue including skin, could cause a photopolymerization indirectly. Liquid materials then could be injected s.c. and solidified by exposing the exterior surface of the skin to light. To test this hypothesis, the penetration of UVA and visible light through skin was studied. Modeling predicted the feasibility of transdermal polymerization with only 2 min of light exposure required to photopolymerize an implant underneath human skin. To establish the validity of these modeling studies, transdermal photopolymerization first was applied to tissue engineering by using “injectable” cartilage as a model system. Polymer/chondrocyte constructs were injected s.c. and transdermally photopolymerized. Implants harvested at 2, 4, and 7 weeks demonstrated collagen and proteoglycan production and histology with tissue structure comparable to native neocartilage. To further examine this phenomenon and test the applicability of transdermal photopolymerization for drug release devices, albumin, a model protein, was released for 1 week from photopolymerized hydrogels. With further study, transdermal photpolymerization potentially could be used to create a variety of new, minimally invasive surgical procedures in applications ranging from plastic and orthopedic surgery to tissue engineering and drug delivery.
Superplastic behavior of PbSn eutectic alloy

Abstract The superplastic behavior of PbSn eutectic alloy was investigated for grain sizes from 2.2 to 6.1 μm over a range of temperatures from 298 to 373 K and with strain rates from 10−7 to about 10−2 s−1. The results showed that the stress-strain rate relation can be divided into two distinct regions: (a) at strain rates lower than approximately 10−3 or 10−4 s−1 the stress exponent was 2.4, the inverse grain size dependence exponent was 1.6 and the true activation energy was 10.5 kcal mol−1; (b) at higher strain rates the stress exponent was 5.7, the strain rate was independent of grain size and the true activation energy was 20.8 kcal mol−1. At low strain rates an apparently distinct region characterized by a stress exponent equal to unity was observed when datum points were taken at strains between 0.2% and 3.5%. When datum points were taken at strains larger than 5% this region was not observed.
Translocation, homing behavior and habitat use of groundfishes associated with oil platforms in the East Santa Barbara Channel, California

Abstract All offshore oil and gas platforms have finite economic life spans. One of the decommissioning options for these platforms is complete removal, requiring the use of explosives to dislodge the support structure from below the seafloor. Off California, this decommissioning option would kill large numbers of platform-associated and commercially important groundfishes that inhabit the bases of the platforms, and may potentially affect regional fish populations. Capturing and translocating fishes before removing a platform might mitigate the effects of platform removal. In this study, we acoustically tagged 79 rockfishes and lingcod from three oil platforms in the east Santa Barbara Channel and translocated them to a natural reef inside a state marine reserve at Anacapa Island to determine whether individuals would home back to their platforms of capture, or take up residency at their new location. Movements between natural and platform habitats were monitored over a two-year period. Twenty-five perce...
Pharmacy students' retention of knowledge of drug-drug interactions

Objectives. To evaluate pharmacy students' drug-drug interaction (DDI) knowledge retention over 1 year and to determine whether presenting DDI vignettes increased knowledge retention. Methods. A knowledge assessment tool was distributed to fourth-year pharmacy students before and after completing a DDI educational session. The questionnaire was re-administered after 1 year to assess knowledge retention. During the intervening year, students had the option of presenting DDI case vignettes to preceptors and other health professionals as part of their advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs). Results. Thirty-four of 78 pharmacy students completed both the post-intervention and 1-year follow-up assessments. Students’ knowledge of 4 DDI pairs improved, knowledge of 3 DDI pairs did not change, and knowledge of the remainder of DDI pairs decreased. Average scores of the 18 students who completed all tests and presented at least 1 vignette during their APPEs were higher on the 1-year follow-up assessment than students who did not, suggesting greater DDI knowledge retention (p = 0.04). Conclusion. Although pharmacy students’ overall DDI knowledge decreased in the year following an educational session, those who presented vignettes to health professionals retained more DDI knowledge, particularly on those DDIs for which they gave presentations. Other methods to enhance pharmacy students’ retention of DDI knowledge of clinically important DDIs are needed.
Creatine phophoryl tranferase and phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase in iodoacetate poisoned muscle

Abstract By extraction of iodoacetate poisoned muscles and subsequent fractionation and assay for enzymic activity, it has been shown that in such muscles phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase is completely inhibited, while creating phosphoryltransferase is not affected at all, even though in vitrol the latter enzymme is nearly as susceptible to such inhibitions as is the former. This result is explained by the finding that several substances can protect creatine phosphoryltransferase against the action of iodoacetate. In decreasing order of effectiveness, these are: PC, ATP > ADP, PP > AMP > P, while arsenate and creatine to give no protection. These findings eliminate the doubts that have recently been expressed as to the explanation of the phosphocreatine splitting in iodoacetate poisoned muscle, and thereby against the physiological significance of the Lohmann-reaction and against the customary views on phosphocreatine as a phosphagen.
Increased spontaneous morphological blast transformation in patients with Crohn's disease

Using morphological criteria, patients with Crohn's disease have higher in vitro spontaneous peripheral blood lymphocyte blast transformation than control subjects (P < 0.01). The rate of spontaneous thymidine uptake did not differ between the two groups. The immune mechanism responsible for this phenomenon is unknown.
Synchronous mitochondrial division in Neurospora crassa.

Samples of mycelium of Neurospora crassa of known age were harvested from agar plates and examined with the electron microscope. The relative volume of the mitochondria was determined for mycelium of different ages. The volume measurements indicated that the mitochondria were dividing synchronously in fronts 6, 13, and 22½ hr behind the growing hyphal tips. The sequence of mitochondrial division is hypothesized to include mitochondrial cupping followed by division which results in closely associated daughter mitochondria. On the basis of percentages of mitochondrial cupping and association, mitochondrial division was postulated to be occurring at 6, 14, and 26 hr. Close agreement between the mycelial mass doubling time and the calculated mitochondrial mass doubling time indicates that synchronous mitochondrial division is sufficient to maintain growth. The possibility that mitochondrial division is due to intercellular regulation of a mitochondrial genetic system is advanced.
Transversal oscillations of a fluid in a long cylindrical container with membrane or elastic plate on the free surface

We propose approximate solutions of two-dimensional hydroelastic problems that describe free oscillations of an ideal fluid in a horizontal long cylindrical container with arbitrary symmetric cross section. The free surface of the fluid is covered by a plane membrane or an elastic plate. Using specific examples, we analyze the obtained solutions and the results of computation of frequencies and forms of oscillations of the mechanical system under consideration.
Storage and retrieval of e-mail in a business environment: An exploratory guide

Executives recognize the value of maintaining access to information. More managers filter their own e-mail rather than have assistants do this task. Organizing and storing data for future use are left to the personal preference of the individual manager. Is this in the best interest of the organization? Are data being stored in a manner causing them to be irretrievable in the future? Are irrelevant data being stored? This study investigates the strategies used to store and retrieve e-mail. The results revealed that the primary search strategy was a reliance on memory. The labels assigned to the e-mail folders triggered the user's memory. Although, in the short term, memory is sufficient for organizing and retrieving information, the lack of transferability and preservation of this information poses a danger. The association between the electronic file label and the stored information is unique to the manager and may lead to inaccessibility of relevant corporate knowledge in the future.
Stratum corneum evaluation methods: overview

Background/purpose The stratum corneum serves as a main barrier for the skin, minimizing water loss and regulating absorption of substances. Because of its surface location, it is readily available for analysis. Consequently, many techniques are amenable to investigating its content and function. Here, we review the methods employed to evaluate the stratum corneum and its function. Methods We reviewed Pubmed and Embase search results for ‘stratum corneum, ‘method,’ methods,’ ‘technique,’ and ‘evaluation’ and extracted pertinent articles that discussed ways to examine the stratum corneum and its constituents. Results Traditional and novel methods vary by accuracy, ease of use, time requirements, cost, invasiveness, and equipment requirements. Conclusion The methods reviewed all contribute to our current picture of the stratum corneum. Tape stripping continues to be the most widely used, but variations in the use of the corneocytes obtained further contribute to the diversity in evaluation methods.
Incoming and outgoing waves

On etudie des espaces de solutions de l'equation d'onde u tt +Lu=0 ou Lf=-f xx +qf qui apparait dans la theorie de la diffusion de Lax Phillips
Direct electromagnetic generation of ultrasound in potassium

The direct electromagnetic generation of ultrasound has been studied in high-purity, single-crystal potassium. Electromagnetic acoustic transducers were used for both the generation and the detection of ultrasound, and a coherent phase-sensitive detection technique was used to measure the generated signals. The slow shear mode corresponding to the elastic constant ${C}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ was studied. The observed zero-field generation amplitude is three times greater than that predicted by the free-electron model which assumes specular scattering of electrons at the metal surface. A nonmonotonic variation of the generation amplitude for magnetic fields below the absorption edge has also been observed. The experimental results are compared with previous measurements and with a recent extension of the free-electron theory which assumes diffuse scattering of electrons at the metal surface.
Scanning the Horizon

In addition to reducing the time it took to pay for purchases, bar codes and scanners provided a system that would track inventory, reduce theft, and provide data to help merchants understand how their goods were purchased.
A regional comparison of the impact of changes in input prices on input demand for U.S. manufacturing

Abstract Variations in regional institutional factors lead to differences among regional production structures. This implies that manufacturers' response to input price changes will vary from region to region. This paper quantifies these responses by estimating Marshallian input demand functions using a non-homothetic indirect production function. The model allows us to incorporate both the substitution effect and output effect of an input price change. Previous studies quantify the comparative-static effect of a change in input prices on regional input demand by estimating output-constant demand functions which indicate only the substitution effect. Our estimated model is used to simulate the effect of a change in the interest rate and the unionization rate on the relative magnitude of regional input utilization. The study concludes that a given change in an input price will have a greater impact on southern manufacturers than on the northern manufacturers. We also find that the output effect in the North accounts for a larger fraction of the total effect of an input price change. The simulations show that capital formation in the South is more sensitive to changes in the interest rate.
A comparison of laboratory, greenhouse, and field indicators of nitrogen availability

Abstract In the past, greenhouse and field results have been used individually to test the predictive capacity of laboratory indexes of soil nitrogen availability. The field results are the most reliable measure of field available N, but greenhouse experiments can be conducted more easily and over the whole year. A comparison of the laboratory, greenhouse and field indicators of N availability was therefore needed to determine if greenhouse data could be substituted for field results in this capacity. In a study of ten Pennsylvania soils there was no significant correlation between field relative N uptake and greenhouse relative N uptake which suggested that greenhouse results could not be substituted for field results in testing the reliability of laboratory indexes. There was no significant correlation between the field results and the five laboratory indexes tested (total N, total organic matter, Fox‐Piekielek Test, MacLean Test, and Keeney‐Bremner Test). However, the latter three tests did correlate w...
Laser absorption flow diagnostics for use in hypersonic ground-based and flight experiments

Consideration is given to laboratory ground-based scale systems for measuring OH and NO and diode laser systems for measuring O2 and H2O. Several diagnostic instruments which are currently being used in a scramjet combustor test rig of the Ames 16-inch shock tunnel are described. Data on mole fraction, temperature, density, pressure, and velocity is obtained using specific data reduction techniques. These measurements provide critical data for evaluation of the propulsion system performance which include mass capture for quantification of fuel equivalence ratio (O2), flow contamination and emission levels (NO), combustion progress (OH), and injector mixing and combustion efficiency (H2O).
THE CHANGING FACE OF INFANTS OF DIABETIC MOTHERS

Improved neonatal diagnostic methodology and therapy have significantly lowered the mortality of infants of diabetic mothers. The small for date or small for gestational age (SGA) infant was unrecognized or of rare occurrence prior to the 1960's. Comparable improvements in obstetric or perinatal care over the past 10 years has altered Farquhar's classic description of infants of diabetic mothers. Also, Pedersen's observation of normal appearing infants of well controlled diabetics is confirmed by our most recent experience with such infants. Fifteen per-cent were SGA, thirty-nine per-cent were appropriate for gestational age (AGA), and forty-six per-cent were large for gestational age (LGA). Pictures of infants with determination of gestational age and birth weight and maternal classification of disease will be presented. The favorable change in appearance (increased SGA infants) has accompanied a decreasing perinatal mortality. The occurrence of an increased number of SGA infants provides a new focus of attention.
Establishing a Prevention-Focused Integrative Approach to Social Work Practice:

Establishing a prevention-focused integrative approach to practice is of critical importance for social work. The Affordable Care Act promotes a shift from fragmented health care delivery toward integrated models of service delivery that emphasize prevention. This shift prompts the need for practitioners who understand the interrelationship among mental health, substance use, and physical health care, and who are prepared to address these needs through a collaborative prevention-focused approach. This article describes such an approach to practice in which social workers integrate micro, mezzo, and macro practice efforts across service systems and, along with allied health and social service professionals, effectively and efficiently address major problems of living within the environmental context. Suggestions regarding curriculum implementation and policy advocacy are discussed.
Does bran produce intestinal obstruction

1. In a review of the world’s literature on bran impaction in the bowel, only four actual eases of this kind could be discovered. In three of these the impaction was preceded by gross intestinal pathology. The fourth case (Davis) is not sufficiently well described to permit of analysis as to its nature; but predisposing cause was probably present. 2. Bran is obviously not prone to produce intestinal obstruction unless an organic predisposing cause is present. 3. In the presence of intestinal ulceration, stenosis, or disabling adhesions, the administration of bran is contraindicated.
Phase Determination Of An Amplitude Modulated Complex Wavefront

An electronic–optical method is described for obtaining the phase of an arbitrary complex 2-D wavefront. The method consists of intensity detection, limiting, pulse width normalization, differentiation, dc filtering, and integration. Theoretical analyses and experimental confirmation are included. Applications of this scheme that are discussed include space variant processing, adaptive optics, data transmission, kinoforms, holography, and optical data processing.
Role of the surface electrocardiogram in developing countries

The surface electrocardiogram (ECG) is a basic cardiac investigation delivering information not only regarding heart rhythm but also regarding ischemic disease, effects of hypertension, congenital syndromes, and cardiomyopathies. These may determine decisions regarding follow-up investigations or treatment. The ECG fulfils several characteristics of a good screening test: it is rapid, is noninvasive, requires minimal technical expertise to perform, and is inexpensive. However, its interpretation requires highly trained physicians. In industrialized nations, the test is performed routinely in outpatient clinics and hospitals frequently in conjunction with further cardiac imaging. Developing nations confront a different situation. Urbanized segments may access ECG testing similarly to industrialized countries. However, in a country such as India, 80% of population is rural and poor. Less than 30% of physicians are rurally located, and most are primary care physicians. Access to medical care is limited by sparse and underresourced medical facilities and personnel, poorer socioeconomic status, ignorance of disease, and lack of motivation to seek health care. The ECG may be the only affordable cardiac test for this population, but poor communications (transport, telephone) hamper access. Initiatives to overcome these obstacles are being undertaken in some model situations. For example in Bangalore, India, use of mobile vans equipped with satellite terminals (aided by the Indian Space Research Organization) permits transmission of ECGs from rural points to central urban hospitals for physician interpretation. The physician community has responsibilities of improving the diagnostic yield from the ECG. Rural communities have a different spectrum of diseases with lesser coronary artery disease and greater incidence of valvular disease. The ECG has different roles in these diseases. (In contrast, urban communities in the same country experience diseases of industrialized nations.) Electrocardiogram interpretation also needs to account for different "normal" values in different ethnic groups: there is a surprising dearth of such data in groups other than African Americans. This is essential for interpretation of abnormality. Development of additional sophisticated analyses from ECG data may guide more selective use of expensive and invasive therapies. For example, risk stratification for defibrillator implant may be enhanced by use of T-wave alternans and heart rate variability. In China, ischemia monitoring with 12-lead Holters is performed due to lack of availability of a chest pain clinic. Innovative measures in electrocardiography are required for improving health care delivery in developing nations.
The History of the Thalamus

Sir Wilfrid Le Gros Clark relates in his autobiography (1968) that reference to him as one who had “put in some good work on the thalamus,” once led to considerable amusement in an Oxford senior common room. With their classical background those dining that evening appreciated that the Greek word thalamos not only referred to an inner room, but commonly also to a bridal chamber or bridal couch. Used in reference to marriage, consummation, and the continuity of the tribe, the word appears commonly in Virgil,* and this sense has come down to us in the poetic, epithalamion. The connotation of sexual behavior was rendered very explicitly in the works of the Roman poets Ovid, Horace, Pro-pertius, and Petronius.† Rabelais,‡ writing in the 16th century, calls the flagship of the Pantagruelists on their voyage to seek advice from the Oracle of the Holy Bottle regarding the virtue of Panurge’s future wife, the “Thalamege.” There can be no doubt about his meaning either. The old meaning of thalamus survives in the French synonym couche optique and was no doubt in Burdach’s mind when he named a posterior protrusion of the human thalamus, the pulvinar or pillow.
Biophysical properties and functional consequences of reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐induced ROS release in intact myocardium

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced ROS release (RIRR) is a fundamental mechanism by which cardiac mitochondria respond to elevated ROS levels by stimulating endogenous ROS production in a regenerative, autocatalytic process that ultimately results in global oxidative stress (OS), cellular dysfunction and death. Despite elegant studies describing the phenomenon of RIRR under artificial conditions such as photo-induced oxidation of discrete regions within cardiomyocytes, the existence, biophysical properties and functional consequences of RIRR in intact myocardium remain unclear. Here, we used a semi-quantitative approach of optical superoxide (O(2)(-)) mapping using dihydroethidium (DHE) fluorescence to explore RIRR, its arrhythmic consequences and underlying mechanisms in intact myocardium. Initially, perfusion of rat hearts with 200 μM H(2)O(2) for 40 min (n = 4) elicited two distinct O(2)(-) peaks that were readily distinguished by their timing and amplitude. The first peak (P1), which was generated rapidly (within 5-8 min of H(2)O(2) perfusion) was associated with a relatively limited (10 ± 2%) rise in normalized O(2)(-) levels relative to baseline. In contrast, the second peak (P2) occurred 19-26 min following onset of H(2)O(2) perfusion and was associated with a significantly greater amplitude compared to P1. Spatio-temporal ROS mapping during P2 revealed active O(2)(-) propagation across the myocardium at a velocity of ~20 μm s(-1). Exposure of hearts (n = 18) to a short (10 min) episode of H(2)O(2) perfusion revealed consistent generation of P2 by high (≥200 μM, 8/8) but not lower (≤100 μM, 3/8) H(2)O(2) concentrations (P < 0.03). In these hearts, onset of P2 occurred following, not during, the 10 min OS protocol, consistent with RIRR. Importantly, P2 (+) hearts exhibited a markedly greater (by 3.8-fold, P < 0.001) arrhythmia score compared to P2 (-) hearts. To explore the mechanism underlying RIRR in intact myocardium, hearts were perfused with either cyclosporin A (CsA) or 4-chlorodiazepam (4-Cl-DZP) to inhibit the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) or the inner membrane anion channel (IMAC), respectively. Surprisingly, perfusion with CsA failed to suppress (P = 0.75, n.s.) or even delay H(2)O(2)-induced P2 or the incidence of arrhythmias compared to untreated hearts. In sharp contrast, perfusion with 4-Cl-DZP markedly blunted O(2)(-) levels during P2, and suppressed the incidence of sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF). Finally, perfusion of hearts with the synthetic superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetic EUK-134 completely abolished the H(2)O(2)-mediated RIRR response as well as the incidence of arrhythmias. These findings extend the concept of RIRR to the level of the intact heart, establish regenerative O(2)(-) production as the mediator of RIRR-related arrhythmias and reveal their strong dependence on IMAC and not the mPTP in this acute model of OS.
Potential neural mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder

Although evidence supports the efficacy of early intervention for improving outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the mechanisms underlying their effectiveness remain poorly understood. This paper reviews the research literature on the neural bases of the early core deficits in ASD and proposes three key features of early intervention related to the neural mechanisms that may contribute to its effectiveness in improving deficit areas. These features include (1) the early onset of intensive intervention which capitalizes on the experience-expectant plasticity of the immature brain, (2) the use of treatment strategies that address core deficits in social motivation through an emphasis on positive social engagement and arousal modulation, and (3) promotion of complex neural networks and connectivity through thematic, multi-sensory and multi-domain teaching approaches. Understanding the mechanisms of effective early intervention will enable us to identify common or foundational active ingredients for promoting optimal outcomes in children with ASD.
Dual DNA unwinding activities of the Rothmund–Thomson syndrome protein, RECQ4

Human RECQ helicases have been linked to distinct clinical diseases with increased cancer rates and premature ageing. All RECQ proteins, except RECQ4, have been shown to be functional helicases. Mutations in RECQ4 lead to Rothmund–Thomson syndrome (RTS), and mouse models reveal that the conserved helicase motifs are required for avoidance of RTS. Furthermore, the amino (N) terminus of RECQ4 shares homology with yeast DNA replication initiation factor, Sld2, and is vital for embryonic development. Here, in contrast to previous reports, we show that RECQ4 exhibits DNA helicase activity. Importantly, two distinct regions of the protein, the conserved helicase motifs and the Sld2-like N-terminal domain, each independently promote ATP-dependent DNA unwinding. Taken together, our data provide the first biochemical clues underlying the molecular function of RECQ4 in DNA replication and genome maintenance.
The inverse of the generalized vandermonde matrix through the partial fraction expansion

A simple method for finding the inverse Vandermonde matrix is presented. The technique involves determination of the partial fraction expansion of rational functions. Only synthetic division and longhand division are required, which make the process very suitable for hand calculation. Alternatively, simple recurrent relations are also developed for computer use.
Talking to Daddy’s Little Girl About Sex: Daughters’ Reports of Sexual Communication and Support From Fathers

Although mothers are widely acknowledged as the primary in-home sexual educators of children, fathers also play an important role in sexual socialization. Paternal involvement is linked to positive social and psychological outcomes; an increased father—daughter communication can delay sexual debut and decrease frequency of engagement in intercourse. This study examined late-adolescent females’ reports of their fathers’ contributions to their sexual socialization. Four open-ended questions were included in a larger study examining family influences of adolescent sexual risk. Daughters described how their fathers prepared them for sexuality and dating and how they could have done better. A thematic content analysis was conducted. Most daughters reported receiving little sexual information from their fathers but identified unique contributions that their fathers made or could have made to their sexual socialization. Future interventions should assist fathers to increase their comfort with sexual communicatio...
Nonlinear robust control of Buck DC converter systems via smooth sliding mode with backstepping design

A controller is designed to drive buck DC power converter systems based on smooth sliding mode control and backstepping design method. The controller can limitly track the reference output voltage trajectory and make the tracking error arbitrarily small, at the same time considering the parameter uncertainty of load resistance and the attenuation of electrical source. It belongs to practice tracking. The method makes the best of the systematization and structurization in the backstepping design, the application of smooth sliding mode makes the controlled system have good robustness. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is verified by the simulation and the controller fully satisfies the demand of engineering.
Impact of the NICU environment on language deprivation in preterm infants.

It is unclear whether the atypical language development commonly seen in preterm infants is a consequence of language deficiency experienced during their prolonged NICU stay. This review provides a novel viewpoint, which highlights the potential impact of the NICU design on the developmental origin of language disabilities in preterm infants. Conclusion: Further research is needed to identify evidence-based design solutions for providing preterm infants with a healthier linguistic hospital environment that aids growth and development.
Quantitative research as an interpretive enterprise: The mostly unacknowledged role of interpretation in research efforts and suggestions for explicitly interpretive quantitative investigations

Many critics of positivism in psychology oppose the use of quantitative research methods. The author first argues that a premise accepted by both critics and supporters of quantitative research is mistaken. Contrary to what many critics and supporters alike believe, interpretation plays key, unacknowledged roles in how quantitative methods are actually employed. The author then argues that a hermeneutic perspective based on practices leads to the view that our understanding of psychological phenomena is irreducibly interpretive and also leads to recognizing that quantitative research can make a unique contribution to inquiry. In the final section of the article, the author offers suggestions about how to conduct explicitly interpretive quantitative investigations. These suggestions are based on the view that although the influence of positivism is not all-constraining (and, therefore, interpretation typically does enter into quantitative methods as they are actually employed), commitments to positivism do constrain how quantitative researchers pursue their work. As part of marking out a different critical viewpoint on positivism, the author attempts to identify what is really involved in going beyond a modernist approach.
Right Aortic Arch

A right aortic arch usually produces several abnormal shadows on a standard frontal film of the chest. The aortic knob protrudes from the right side of the mediastinum, the trachea is deviated to the left, and the descending aorta can be identified along the right side of the spine. A more conclusive diagnosis can be made from the indentation produced by the arch on the barium-filled esophagus. This also serves to distinguish the two types of right aortic arch. The presence of a large indentation on the posterior aspect of the esophagus is characteristic of the type of arch most frequently associated with a vascular ring. A right arch without a posterior component is commonly associated with significant congenital heart disease.
The oviduct musculature of the horsefly, Tabanus sulcifrons, and its response to 5‐hydroxytryptamine and proctolin

. A delicate lace-like membrane covers the ovaries of Tabanus sulcifrons. These membranes were found to contain muscle fibres that provide the organs with motile properties. The lateral oviducts consist of a single layer of longitudinal muscles that form a structural syncytium by means of an extensive anastomosis of the fibres comprising it. The common oviduct is composed of two muscle layers, an outer sheath of circular muscle and an inner substratum of longitudinal muscle. Both of these layers showed evidence of a structural syncytium. When isolated in saline, the oviduct was spontaneously active and gave a simple phasic pattern of contraction. Such muscle preparations were sensitive to both 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) and the insect myotropic peptide, proctolin. Excitation was generally indicated by a rise in muscle tonus or an increase in the frequency and amplitude of individual phasic contractions, or all three characteristics. The threshold for activation with 5HT was variable, ranging from as low as 4 × 10-9M to 1 × 10-7M. Proctolin evoked a noticeable increase in the tonus of most oviducts at 10-10M. However, several preparations responded to as little as 3 × 10-11M proctolin.
Applications of molecular marker analysis to mosquito vector competence

A rapidly expanding cadre of molecular biology techniques is being developed for human and plant genetics, including development of the technology to identify large numbers of genetic markers and to evaluate these markers relative to phenotypic observations. In this review, David Severson discusses applications of these techniques for the analysis of mosquito vector competence.
Prenatal characteristics of congenital nephrosis: results of a survey.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prenatal characteristics of congenital nephrosis of the Finnish type (CNF). Patients presenting with elevated maternal serum and/or amniotic fluid α-fetoprotein levels, normal ultrasound examinations and normal fetal karyotypes were included. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using questionnaires sent to all board certified clinical geneticists. Perinatal outcome, including histologic verification of CNF, was obtained. Forty index cases met the above criteria. Ten cases ultimately did not have the diagnosis of CNF, with a median MSAFP level of 7.59 MoM (range 2.7–27.64 MoM) and a median AFAFP level of 10.99 MoM (range 1.47–128.6 MoM). In the affected cohort of index pregnancies, the initial median MSAFP level was 14.49 MoM (range 3.1–38.0 MoM); the median AFAFP level was 40.0 MoM (range 2.4–80.9). MSAFP and AFAFP levels may be lower than previously recognized in patients carrying fetuses with CNF. There is significant overlap between the affected and unaffected patients. J. Matern.-Fetal Med. 6:164–167, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Diffusion Transport in a Liquid Solution With a Moving, Semipermeable Boundary

A one-dimensional model has been developed for diffusion transport in a binary liquid solution with a moving semipermeable boundary. The governing equations are basically Fick’s First and Second Laws in which the solute concentrations are replaced by the logarithms of the solute volume fractions. In the limit of negligible solute volume fraction, the analysis reduces to the classical one-dimensional diffusion equation. The complete form has been employed to describe the concentration polarization of solutes within human erythrocytes during freezing. The results show that the water transport process across the cell membrane is significantly affected by both the water permeation characteristics of the membrane and the diffusion of water within the intracellular medium. These results are consistent with experimental observations of red cell survival during freezing.
A Population-Based Study of Job Stress in Mexican Americans, non-Hispanic Blacks, and non-Hispanic Whites

There is little known about the association between socioeconomic status and job stress in Mexican Americans. To address this issue, data were originated on a community level using personal interviews from working Mexican Americans using a multistage probability sample. In this study we described the population’s sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, and job stress measures in Mexican Americans, non-Hispanic Whites, and non-Hispanic Blacks. Regression models were used to examine the associations of sociodemographic characteristics and health conditions for each job stress measure among 937 individuals. Our results indicate an association between low socioeconomic status and the perception of less job control, less job security, and less social support. Mexican Americans demonstrated more job security and social support in comparison to non-Hispanic Whites of similar socioeconomic status. We were able to define potential factors that may contribute to an individual’s perception of job stress.
The Relative Impact Of Public Information In Shaping Investor Expectations

Empirical studies at the individual level (event studies) and those using more general measures of information and/or aggregate price movements often yield somewhat conflicting results regarding the relative importance of public information. Employing a more focused methodology that begins with no prior limitations on the number and types of public news announcements that may affect the underlying risk-return relationship, we are able to offer additional insight regarding the relative impact of public information. We find that approximately two-thirds of the changes can be associated with the arrival of public information. While, in general, this is a stronger link than previously found, it is a weaker link than expected; leading us to conclude that factors other than public information clearly play an important role. We also provide new results on the relative importance of different information types, and on correlates (such as firm size) of the effect of information.
The ethics of biosafety considerations in gain-of-function research resulting in the creation of potential pandemic pathogens

This paper proposes an ethical framework for evaluating biosafety risks of gain-of-function (GOF) experiments that create novel strains of influenza expected to be virulent and transmissible in humans, so-called potential pandemic pathogens (PPPs). Such research raises ethical concerns because of the risk that accidental release from a laboratory could lead to extensive or even global spread of a virulent pathogen. Biomedical research ethics has focused largely on human subjects research, while biosafety concerns about accidental infections, seen largely as a problem of occupational health, have been ignored. GOF/PPP research is an example of a small but important class of research where biosafety risks threaten public health, well beyond the small number of persons conducting the research.We argue that bioethical principles that ordinarily apply only to human subjects research should also apply to research that threatens public health, even if, as in GOF/PPP studies, the research involves no human subjects. Specifically we highlight the Nuremberg Code's requirements of 'fruitful results for the good of society, unprocurable by other methods', and proportionality of risk and humanitarian benefit, as broad ethical principles that recur in later documents on research ethics and should also apply to certain types of research not involving human subjects. We address several potential objections to this view, and conclude with recommendations for bringing these ethical considerations into policy development.
Assessing the Relationships Among Wisdom, Humility, and Life Satisfaction

The purpose of this study was to test two hypotheses that specify different ways of configuring the interface between wisdom and humility. The first hypothesis specifies that greater wisdom is associated with greater humility. This hypothesis is based on the notion that wisdom is needed in order to know when to activate the virtue of humility. The second hypothesis specifies that the relationship between humility and life satisfaction will vary according to the level of wisdom that is possessed by study participants. This hypothesis is based on the notion that wisdom is needed to successfully implement and regulate humility once it has been activated. The data come from a nationwide survey of middle-aged and older adults (N = 1535). The data support both hypotheses. First greater wisdom is associated with greater humility. Second, the results suggest that the relationship between humility and life satisfaction varies across levels of wisdom. The findings help ground the study of wisdom more firmly in the literature on virtues.
Process based life-cycle assessment of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale

The Marcellus Shale (MS) represents a large potential source of energy in the form of tightly trapped natural gas (NG). Producing this NG requires the use of energy and water, and has varying environmental impacts, including greenhouse gases. One well-established tool for quantifying these impacts is life-cycle assessment (LCA). This study collected information from current operating companies to perform a process LCA of production for MS NG in three areas—greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy consumption, and water consumption—under both present (2011–2012) and past (2007–2010) operating practices. Energy return on investment (EROI) was also calculated. Information was collected from current well development operators and public databases, and combined with process LCA data to calculate per-well and per-MJ delivered impacts, and with literature data on combustion for calculation of impacts on a per-kWh basis during electricity generation. Results show that GHG emissions through combustion are similar to...
Regulation of Alveolar Formation

Postnatal formation of alveoli and their capillaries is essential to overall development. It enables pulmonary gas exchange to keep pace with the body's metabolism. Hormones, nutrition, and oxygen tension appear to regulate alveolar formation, perturbations of which may lead to normal variations in lung function or contribute to lung disease.