cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pediatric Obstructive Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common in children. It ranges from mild airflow limitation, to frank obstructive sleep apnea. SDB disrupts the normal sleep stages with an array of insults such as gas exchange abnormalities, sleep fragmentation (multiple arousals during sleep), and frequent awakenings. SDB can lead to consequences such as cardiovascular risk, and behavioral and cognitive deficits. Early diagnosis and treatment may improve a child's long-term health outcomes.
PERSISTENCE OF SCE-INDUCING LESIONS AFTER GO EXPOSURE OF HUMAN LYMPHOCYTES TO DIFFERING CLASSES OF DNA-DAMAGING CHEMICALS

We conducted studies to determine whether cycling human lympho cytes are equally efficient in repairing sister chromatid exchange (SCE)-producing lesions induced by differing classes of DNA-damaging chemicals. Lymphocytes were pulse-treated during GO with mitomycin C (MMC), N,N′,N″-triethylenethiophosphoramide (ThioTEPA), ethyl-methanesulfonate (EMS), or cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (cis-DDP). Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) was added to the 72 hr cultures at 0 hr or at 48 hr after phytohemmagglutinin stimulation. The concentrations of chemicals employed induced a greater than 2-fold increase in SCEs in second-division metaphases from lymphocytes cultured in the presence of BrdUrd for the entire 72 hr. The analysis of SCEs in uniformly harlequinized metaphases from GO-treated lymphocytes cultured in BrdUrd for the terminal 24 hr showed no increase above baseline after exposure to MMC, and intermediate increases above baseline after exposures to ThioTEPA and cis-DDP. However, after GO treatment with EMS, the observed SCE frequency was consistent with that expected had all DNA lesions persisted and continued to give rise to SCEs during 3 cell cycles. These findings suggest that cycling human lymphocytes are not equally efficient in eliminating SCE-producing lesions after exposure to differing classes of DNA-damaging chemicals.
Study Questions and Research Methods

The questions addressed in this study are presented below along with the research methods employed in an effort to answer them.
Forensic dental identifications in the greater Houston area.

In order to confirm the identity of the deceased, 1.7% of the deaths (162 cases) evaluated at the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office during the time period of this study required a forensic dental evaluation. Data were collected and analyzed. The manner of death was ranked in order as follows: 30% homicide; 20% accident of various types other than motor vehicle accidents; 18% motor vehicle accidents; 16% remain undetermined; 9% natural causes; and 7% suicide. The cause of death was: 24% asphyxia, smoke inhalation, or thermal burn injuries; 23% blunt-force trauma; 18% miscellaneous causes of death; 15% undetermined; 13% gun shot wounds; and 7% asphyxia. The condition of the remains were: 38% charred or incinerated; 31% decomposing; 18% skeletal remains; 6% "fresh" or recently deceased; 4% fragmented; and 3% severely beaten or mangled with displacement of the maxillomandibular region, complicating the dental identification procedure. The gender was: 62% male; 34% female; and 4% undetermined. The race was: 55% Caucasian; 19% Hispanic; 14% black; 1% Asian; and 11% undetermined. The age was: 2% from 0 to 10 years of age; 9% from 11 to 20; 21% from 21 to 30; 18% from 31 to 40; 13% from 41 to 50; 8% from 51 to 60; 5% from 61 to 70; 4% from 71 to 80; 1% from 81 to 90; and 19% undetermined. Further evaluation of these and future dental identification cases will provide valuable data to help prepare the forensic dentist for the wide variety of cases that must be evaluated in the course of their careers. Language: en
Distinguishing rheumatoid arthritis from psoriatic arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have key differences in clinical presentation, radiographic findings, comorbidities and pathogenesis to distinguish between these common forms of chronic inflammatory arthritis. Joint involvement is typically, but not always, asymmetric in PsA, while it is predominantly symmetric in RA. Bone erosions, without new bone growth, and cervical spine involvement are distinctive of RA, while axial spine involvement, psoriasis and nail dystrophy are distinctive of PsA. Patients with PsA typically have seronegative test findings for rheumatoid factor (RF) and cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies, while approximately 80% of patients with RA have positive findings for RF and CCP antibodies. Although there is overlap in the pathogenesis of PsA and RA, differences are also present that affect the efficacy of treatment. In PsA, levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-22, IL-23, interferon-γ and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are elevated, and in RA, levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-22, IL-33, TNF-α, chemokine ligand 11 and chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 13 are elevated. Differences in the pathogenesis of RA and PsA translate into some variances in the specificity and efficacy of therapies.
Impacts of increasing penetration of renewable energy on the operation of the power sector

Abstract In this paper we consider 38 forward-looking scenarios of the U.S. electricity system and analyze the impacts of increased variable renewable energy on system operation. We find increased demand for flexibility, which is provided by a wide range of technologies. We also observe changes in the timing of the highest and lowest electricity prices, as well as an increase in the number of very low energy price hours.
Computerized control system and interface for flexible micromanipulator control

A GUI for commercial micro- and nanomanipulators was developed.Multiple control options include point-and-click movement and mouse following.Tip detection using image processing corrects for the manipulator's error.The GUI provides faster and more accurate control even for inexperienced users. Micro- and nanomanipulators are essential for a broad range of applications requiring precise micro- and nanoscopic spatial control such as those in micromanufacturing and single cell analysis. These manipulators are often manually controlled using an attached joystick and can be difficult for operators to use efficiently. This paper describes a system developed in MATLAB to control a well-known, commercial micromanipulator in a user friendly and versatile manner through a graphical user interface (GUI). The control system and interface allows several types of flexible movement controls in three-axis, Cartesian space, including single movements, multiple queued movements, and mouse-following continuous movements. The system uses image processing for closed loop feedback to ensure precise and accurate control over the movement of the manipulator's end effector. The system can be used on any electronic device capable of running the free MATLAB Runtime Environment (MRE) and the system is extensible to simultaneously control other instruments capable of serial communication.
Annotating Gene Ontology terms for protein sequences with the Transformer model

Abstract Predicting functions for novel amino acid sequences is a long-standing research problem. The Uniprot database which contains protein sequences annotated with Gene Ontology (GO) terms, is one commonly used training dataset for this problem. Predicting protein functions can then be viewed as a multi-label classification problem where the input is an amino acid sequence and the output is a set of GO terms. Recently, deep convolutional neural network (CNN) models have been introduced to annotate GO terms for protein sequences. However, the CNN architecture can only model close-range interactions between amino acids in a sequence. In this paper, first, we build a novel GO annotation model based on the Transformer neural network. Unlike the CNN architecture, the Transformer models all pairwise interactions for the amino acids within a sequence, and so can capture more relevant information from the sequences. Indeed, we show that our adaptation of Transformer yields higher classification accuracy when compared to the recent CNN-based method DeepGO. Second, we modify our model to take motifs in the protein sequences found by BLAST as additional input features. Our strategy is different from other ensemble approaches that average the outcomes of BLAST-based and machine learning predictors. Third, we integrate into our Transformer the metadata about the protein sequences such as 3D structure and protein-protein interaction (PPI) data. We show that such information can greatly improve the prediction accuracy, especially for rare GO labels.
Using Virtual Simulations to Assess Situational Awareness and Communication in Medical and Nursing Education: A Technical Feasibility Study

Communication and situational awareness, among other “human factors,” are critical skills needed within high-reliability organizations (HROs). HROs are challenged to develop an effective methodolog...
Self-authenticity and the Michelangelo Phenomenon

This chapter reviews research examining how close relationships have the capacity to facilitate self-authenticity, an experience of genuinely being and feeling like one’s real self. Often conceptualized as an intrapersonal pursuit, the drive toward authenticity may be better cast as an interpersonal process, given the potential role of romantic partners to promote this type of self-growth. This chapter begins by situating self-authenticity within the broader context of the field, discussing its conceptualization as both an individual-difference variable and a state, and presenting its links to personal and relational well-being. The chapter then provides a theoretical and empirical overview of the Michelangelo phenomenon, a dynamic in which individuals offer positive perceptual and behavioral affirmation of their romantic partners, who in turn experience greater proximity to their ideal self. Conceptual and evidence-based links between the ideal self and self-authenticity provide a backdrop for the enhanced self-authenticity hypothesis, which contends that the Michelangelo phenomenon benefits partners not only by facilitating movement toward their ideal selves, but also by promoting self-authenticity. Potential personal and relationship consequences are discussed as well as directions for future study of interpersonally-facilitated self-authenticity.
Abstract 1737: Nanotherapeutic targeting of drug resistant multiple myeloma cells through VLA4-contact facilitated drug-delivery of camptothecin prodrug

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a recurring-relapsing plasma cell malignancy, which invariably develops drug resistance. Acquired resistance often involves mutation of drug targets or activation of compensatory pathways, making new targets in high demand. Physical contact of MM cells (MMC) with the bone microenvironment further protects MMC, via cell adhesion mediated-drug resistance (CAM-DR). Integrin α4β1 (Very Late Antigen 4; VLA4), mediates adhesion of MMC both to fibronectin in the matrix and to stromal cells expressing VCAM1, providing survival signals and protection from cell death upon drug treatment.Aiming to treat resistant cells, we proposed to utilize nanotechnology to safely deliver a drug whose target would not be lost in refractory MMC and to exploit, rather than bypassing, CAM-DR by introducing selective pressure for VLA4 overexpression then targeting it with drug-carrying nanoparticles (VLA4-NP). In particular, we hypothesized that, in combination treatments, VLA4-NP carrying a camptothecin prodrug (CPT-PD) would target drug-resistant MMC, reducing tumor burden and prolonging survival. Camptothecin (CPT) is a potent but poorly bioavailable topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) inhibitor. In vitro, CPT reduced proliferation and induced apoptosis in a panel of MM cell lines, including sub-lines resistant to other agents. RNAseq showed that MM cells from patients with relapsing or refractory MM had high levels of TOP1 expression. We modified CPT into an inactive lipase-sensitive prodrug (CPT-PD) that stabilizes the compound in micellar nanoparticles until enzymatically liberated in the MM cytosol (VLA4-CPT-PD-NP, 20 nm). In vitro and in vivo fluorescence tracking experiments showed that VLA4-NP binding increased in drug-resistant MM cells with minimal off-target delivery. In vitro, VLA4-CPT-PD-NP reduced MM cell proliferation and enhanced the effects of free drugs (melphalan, dexamethasone, lenalidomide). When MMC were co-cultured with primary bone marrow stroma from MM donors, MMC adhering to stroma survived free drug treatment, while VLA4-CPT-PD-NP had strong toxic effects on the myeloma cells and spared the stroma. In the KaLwRij/5TGM1 mouse model, melphalan resistant MMC are adherent to the bone. In these mice, uptake of fluorescently labeled VLA4-NP by MMC increased after melphalan treatment, while co-treatment with VLA4-CPT-PD-NP and free melphalan reduced tumor burden at multiple skeletal sites (p Citation Format: Francesca Fontana, Michael J. Scott, John S. Allen, Grace Cui, Xiaoxia Yang, Julie O9Neal, Steven Fletcher, Noriko Yanaba, Anne H. Schmieder, Michael P. Rettig, Julie Ritchey, Mark A. Fiala, Ravi Vij, Gregory M. Lanza. Nanotherapeutic targeting of drug resistant multiple myeloma cells through VLA4-contact facilitated drug-delivery of camptothecin prodrug [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1737.
Equivalent Circuits for Electric Dipoles

A 3-element equivalent circuit proposed by Chu [1] is used to simulate regions of the time-harmonic impedance spectrum of an electric dipole (monopole) antenna near 1st and 3rd (short-circuit) resonant frequencies. As an intermediate step toward the creation of an accurate broadband equivalent circuit, a 6-element circuit is created by combining the two 3-element sub-circuits in parallel; the final step is to insert a capacitance at the input to simulate the spectral region near 2nd (open-circuit) resonance. This completes a broadband equivalent circuit. This method of circuit development is illustrated by applying it to a thin, center-driven, electric dipole. Extension of this technique to more practical antennas having significant ohmic loss and near-base capacitance is suggested for future work.
Introduction to Analog Testing of Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM) Devices Towards Scalable Analog Compute Technology for Deep Learning

In this paper we demonstrate a novel methodology to electrically test and characterize resistive random-access memory (RRAM) single bit devices for deep learning application. We extract critical device performance metrics for validating and optimizing fabrication processes which feed into yield learning. We adopt the algorithm-based bias condition search methodology and extract forming and switching voltage parameters without overdriving the devices. This test methodology can be used for Technology Development Learning Cycle in a research and development environment.
Higher Readmission Rates After Hip Fracture Among Patients With Vestibular Disorders.

OBJECTIVE Falls in older adults are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Patients with vestibular disorders may have an increased risk. The purpose of this study was to examine the outcomes among patients with underlying vestibular disorders who have hip fractures and identify predictors of increased morbidity and mortality. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Tertiary care academic medical center. PATIENTS Two hundred one adults diagnosed with a vestibular disorder and hip fracture due to a ground-level fall were compared to 327 age- and sex-matched controls with fractures due to ground-level falls without vestibular diagnoses. Patients were treated between 2013 and 2019. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Length of hospital stay, 30-day readmission rate, and 30-day mortality rate. RESULTS Thirty-day readmission rate after hip fracture was significantly increased in patients with vestibular disorders compared to matched controls (p < 0.001), odds ratio 3.12 (95% confidence interval 1.84-5.39). Reasons for readmission in the vestibular patient group included higher rates of repeat falls, infections, and recurrent vestibular symptoms. Use of medication classes associated with falls or hip fractures was not significantly different between groups, except for lower rates of antihypertensive use in the vestibular group (54.0% vs. 67.7%, p = 0.002). No significant difference was found for length of hospital stay (7.34 ± 4.95 vs. 8.14 ± 20.50 days, p = 0.51) or 30-day mortality rate (5.0% vs. 4.6%, p = 0.99). No significant differences were found between groups for age, sex, race, rate of surgical treatment for hip fracture, or disposition at discharge. CONCLUSIONS Patients with vestibular disorders are at a significantly higher risk of hospital readmission within 30 days after discharge for treatment for hip fracture.
Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation in Anterior Cingulate Cortex Impairs Information Sampling and Learning in Loss Contexts

Neuronal subgroups in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the anterior striatum (STR) encode the reward structure of a given environment. But whether or how this reward information is used to guide information sampling, optimize decision making, or motivate behavior in cognitively challenging situations has remained elusive. Here, we causally tested these scenarios by transiently disrupting ACC and STR of rhesus monkeys with transcranial ultrasound with a learning task that independently varied cognitive and motivational demands. We found that disrupting the ACC, but not the STR, prolonged information sampling and reduced learning efficiency whenever the motivational payoff was low. These impairments were most pronounced at high cognitive demands and based on an inability to use loss experiences to improve performance. These results provide causal evidence that the ACC is necessary for motivation, to overcome anticipated costs from negative (loss) outcomes, and for cognition, to enhance visual information sampling during adaptive behavior.
Big data – small school

Die Verbindung von Konzepten der elementaren linearen Algebra (small school) mit Computational Thinking ermoglicht realistische Einblicke in die Arbeitsweise von Daten-Unternehmen im Internet und daruber hinaus (big data). Zentral ist die mathematische Beurteilung von Ahnlichkeit auf deren Basis Klassifikationen durchgefuhrt werden konnen.
Navigating the canyon to redefine belonging as a metric for inclusion

It is a sweltering June day when we drive through the Bears Ears National Monument. The dry desert scrub oak of the western slope gives way to ponderosa, grassland, and aspen groves. Flowers line the curving dirt road and the car thermometer shows a 10 °F dip. We begin our backpacking trip at the top of Woodenshoe Canyon and will end near the bottom of Dark Canyon. Accompanied by five of our student athletes and my sister, my partner and I begin our trek in the deep shade of hundred-year-old aspens and ponderosas. The cicadas sing and, with their transparent wings, alight on our backpacks.
Constraining the contribution of aerobic nitrite oxidation to oxygen consumption in oceanic oxygen minimum zones

Abstract Oceanic oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) are globally significant sites of biogeochemical cycling where microorganisms deplete dissolved oxygen (DO) to concentrations
Infectious Diseases of the Spine and Spinal Cord

The wide variety of presentations together with improvements in imaging techniques make this area one of the most exciting topies in neuroimaging.
Applications of Scaling Ideas to Dynamics

Hydrodynamical systems often show an extremely complicated and apparently erratic flow pattern (Fig. 1). These turbulent flows are so highly time-dependent that local measurements, say of one component of the velocity, would show a very chaotic appearance like that in Fig. 2e. However, there is also an underlying regularity in which the notion can be analyzed (see Fig. 1 again) as a series of large swirls containing smaller swirls, and so forth.
Atypical epithelial proliferations in the fallopian tube

Between the years 1950 and 1979, thirty-nine diagnoses of "atypical epithelial proliferation in the fallopian tube" were made in the Gynecologic Pathology Laboratory at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. In this discussion, the criteria for histopathologic diagnosis of such alterations are described. This series demonstrated an association of the tubal proliferations with malignancy in the upper genital canal and exogenous or endogenous estrogen stimulation. However, progression of these proliferative conditions to invasive tubal cancer was not documented.
Whose Minerals, Whose Development? Rhetoric and Reality in Post‐Conflict Sierra Leone

Despite boosts in mineral exports, popular post-conflict minerals-for-development reforms in Sierra Leone have failed to significantly reduce poverty. This article uses power as an analytical lens to explore the reasons for this failure, with empirical material from the diamond sector's mining cooperatives scheme (2005), the Diamond Areas Community Development Fund (DACDF), and Kono District. The study shows that there was no significant improvement along four dimensions: material deprivation, education and health, vulnerability, and powerlessness. The authors argue that understanding the impact of these reforms requires a nuanced multi-scalar examination of power relations, actors, and the social, political, economic and historical context within which mining is embedded. Their findings point to: 1) limits to mineral-led poverty reduction and the need for realistic expectations and diversification of livelihood opportunities; and 2) the need for interventions that balance power asymmetries and the way that power is exercised among diverse actors, wherein decentralization offers early hope.
Automatic dynamic run-time optical network reservations

Optical networking may dramatically change high performance distributed computing. One reason is that optical networks can support provisioning dynamically configurable lightpaths, a form of circuit switching, through reservations. However, to use it (and all other network reservation mechanisms), the user or developer must modify the application. We present a system, VRESERVE, that automatically and dynamically creates network reservation requests based on the inferred network demands of running distributed and/or parallel applications with no modification to the application or operating system, and no input from the user or developer. Our execution model is a collection of virtual machines interconnected by an overlay network. The overlay network infers application demands, providing a dynamic run-time assessment of the application's topology and traffic load matrix. We then reserve lightpaths corresponding to the topology and use the overlay to forward virtual network traffic over them. We evaluate our system on the OMNInet network.
Identity continuity and loss after death, divorce, and job loss

AbstractThis paper examined the relationship of constructs identified by identity continuity and attachment theories of grief to adjustment to loss from the framework of identity theory. Connections between loss salience, identity construal, and balance of identity construal on grief intensity via their association with post-loss identity disruption were examined across three types of self-relevant losses; death of a family member, job loss, or divorce. We hypothesized that lower salience, higher endorsement of identity attributes represented by relational and individualistic self-construals, and an overall balance across identity attributes would be related to decreased grief severity across all types of loss. Results supported hypotheses with the exception that the hypothesized ameliorative effect of increases in relational self-construal was only seen in the bereaved group.
A fast and precise interconnect capacitive coupling noise model

This paper presents an accurate and fast method for calculating the time domain crosstalk noise for finite length on-chip distributed RC interconnect line. We begin with T. Sakurai's crosstalk noise model and develop the new model by fitting the equation to HSPICE simulation data. The developed model was applied to long wires ranging from 1000 /spl mu/m to 8000 /spl mu/m, and the experiments in realistic environment demonstrate that the error between HSPICE simulation and the analysis using the proposed model is within /spl plusmn/10 percent for an 0.12 /spl mu/m CMOS technology.
Acute heart failure syndromes in the elderly

In the United States, persons 75 years of age or older comprise just 6.2% of the general population, yet they account for well over half of all emergency department visits for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF),1 and the median age of patients enrolled in the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry (ADHERE) is 75.3 years.2 Moreover, these patients differ substantially from patients typically enrolled in HF clinical trials; not only are they older, but they are more likely to be women, more likely to have preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, more likely to have hypertension rather than coronary artery disease as the primary etiology, and more likely to have multiple coexisting medical conditions (especially renal insufficiency) that complicate management.3 Furthermore, hospital mortality rates for ADHF are higher by a factor of three among patients 75 years of age or older compared to patients younger than age 75.4
θ-index of imagebase

In this paper, we study the possibility of using θ-index for retrieval of imagebase. Image retrieval is related to partition in an image space. If there exists a mapping from an image space to a feature space, the partition in the image space can be converted into a partition in the feature space. To retrieve an image, some features of the image must be identified. Feature identification can be considered as optimal assignment of some indices to images. This is equivalent to an optimal partition of image space into mutual exclusive regions, each corresponding to particular values of a set of indices. In our system, the feature extraction is implemented by a two-dimensional θ-transformation. The time complexity for a θ-transformation is very low. Therefore, for a certain class of images, θ- transformation is a very efficient algorithm for image indexing.
Single-Class Classification with Mapping Convergence

Single-Class Classification (SCC) seeks to distinguish one class of data from universal set of multiple classes. We call the target class positive and the complement set of samples negative. In SCC problems, it is assumed that a reasonable sample of the negative data is not available. SCC problems are prevalent in the real world where positive and unlabeled data are widely available but negative data are hard or expensive to acquire. We present an SCC algorithm called Mapping Convergence (MC) that computes an accurate boundary of the target class from positive and unlabeled data (without labeled negative data). The basic idea of MC is to exploit the natural "gap" between positive and negative data by incrementally labeling negative data from the unlabeled data using the margin maximization property of SVM. We also present Support Vector Mapping Convergence (SVMC) which optimizes the MC algorithm for fast training. Our analyses show that MC and SVMC without labeled negative data significantly outperform other SCC methods. They generate as accurate boundaries as standard SVM with fully labeled data when the positive data is not very under-sampled and there exist gaps between positive and negative classes in the feature space. Our results also show that SVMC trains much faster than MC with very close accuracy.
An evidence based systematic review of remifentanil associated opioid-induced hyperalgesia.

Introduction: Therapeutic opioid use continues to grow, with greater than a fivefold increase in usage of fentanyl-based products over a 10-year period. Opioids are known for their side-effect profile, including bradycardia and respiratory depression; questions remain, however, regarding lesser known side effects such as opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). Areas covered: A systematic review of published literature addressing remifentanil OIH in the surgical setting was completed. A search was conducted of PubMed, Embase and Ovid from 1946 until June 2013. Inclusion criteria consisted of age ≥ 18 years, humans, full-text articles and English language. A total of 35 unique articles were included. Sixteen articles reported outcomes that supported remifentanil OIH and 6 that refuted and 22 were focused on prevention. Expert opinion: There is conflicting evidence regarding the existence of remifentanil OIH. Outcomes evaluating measures of hyperalgesia frequently conclude that remifentanil OIH exists, while thos...
Separation and measurement of plant alkaloid enantiomers by RP-HPLC analysis of their Fmoc-Alanine analogs.

Introduction. Ammodendrine (1), anabasine (2) and coniine (3) can cause congenital malformations in livestock. They appear naturally in both enantiomeric forms, and can cause variable physiological responses. A method to measure the enantiomeric ratio of these natural toxins is needed. Objective. To develop a simple and economical method in order to determine the enantiomeric ratios of piperidine and pyrrolidine alkaloids in small samples of plant material. Methodology. Mixtures of isolated or purified plant alkaloids were converted to their Fmoc-l-Ala-alkaloid analogues forming diastereomeric mixtures, which were then analysed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with mass spectrometry (MS) and ultraviolet (UV) detection to determine enantiomeric ratios. Results. The diastereomeric analogs for ammodendrine, anabasine and nornicotine could be separated and the enantiomeric ratios determined. The Fmoc-l-Ala-coniine analogue was not resolved under the HPLC conditions studied. The enantiomeric ratios of the selected plant alkaloids were measured and found to differ between both location within a species and location between species. Conclusion. A low-cost HPLC method to analyse the enantiomeric ratio of plant alkaloids containing primary or secondary amine nitrogens via conversion to their respective diastereomeric analogues has been developed. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons.
Cisplatin−DNA Binding Specificity of Calf High-Mobility Group 1 Protein†

We have identified a series of proteins with an affinity for cisplatin-damaged DNA using damaged DNA affinity chromatography. We have purified one of these proteins to homogeneity on the basis of a mobility shift assay detecting binding to cisplatin-damaged DNA. The protein was identified as high-mobility group 1 protein (HMG-1) by N-terminal protein sequence analysis. Analysis of a variety of DNA structures revealed that fully duplex DNAs were the best substrates for HMG-1 binding, while partial duplexes were less avidly bound. The decreased levels of binding are attributed to the length of the duplex region of the DNA substrates. A 3-fold increase in binding was observed when a cisplatin-damaged DNA substrate containing a single break in the phosphodiester backbone was joined by DNA ligase. The strict DNA size dependence of binding was also assessed, and a 10-fold increase in binding was observed when the length of the DNA duplex was increased from 44 to 180 base pairs (bp) at the same level of cisplati...
The Human Brain: An Introduction To Its Functional Anatomy

The Human Brain: An Introduction To Its Functional Anatomy, 4th edition, by John Nolte, 606 pp, St. Louis, MO: Mosby, 1999. $43.95.
Compatibilizing effects of block copolymer mixed with immiscible polymer blends by solid-state shear pulverization: stabilizing the dispersed phase to static coarsening

Abstract A continuous, industrially scalable process called solid-state shear pulverization (SSSP) leads to compatibilization of polystyrene (PS)/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blends by addition of a commercially available styrene/ethylene–butylene/styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer. Partial or full compatibilization is characterized by a reduction or elimination of coarsening of the dispersed-phase domains during high-temperature (190 °C), static annealing. In the case of a 90/10 wt% PS/HDPE blend, processing with 3.5 wt% SEBS block copolymer by SSSP yields a coarsening rate that is reduced by a factor of 10 (six) relative to a melt-mixed blend without copolymer (with 3.5 wt% SEBS block copolymer). Addition of 5.0 wt% SEBS block copolymer to the 90/10 wt% PS/HDPE blend during SSSP yields a reduction in coarsening rate by a factor of thirty relative to a melt-mixed blend without copolymer. With an 80/20 wt% PS/HDPE blend, pulverization with 10 wt% SEBS block copolymer yields cessation of coarsening when the average dispersed-phase domain diameter reaches 1.6–1.7 μm. The implications of these results for developing a new, technologically attractive method for achieving compatibilization of immiscible polymer blends are discussed.
Cortical 5-hydroxytryptamine2A-receptor mediated excitatory synaptic currents in the rat following repeated daily fluoxetine administration.

Abstract Down-regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT 2A ) receptors has been a consistent effect induced by most antidepressant drugs. The evidence for down-regulation of 5-HT 2A receptor binding following subchronic treatment with fluoxetine and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is mixed. The question of 5-HT 2A receptor sensitivity during chronic administration of antidepressants is important since activation of 5-HT 2A receptors is associated with impulsivity. Continued activation of 5-HT 2A receptors may functionally oppose activation of other non-5-HT 2A receptors in the prefrontal cortex associated with the clinical efficacy of SSRI treatment. Therefore, the effects of repeated daily administration of fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p. ×3 weeks) on pharmacologically characterized electrophysiological response mediated by 5-HT 2A receptor activation, 5-HT-induced excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs), in rat prefrontal cortical slices was examined. The concentration–response curve for 5-HT-induced EPSCs was unchanged following subchronic fluoxetine treatment. This subchronic fluoxetine treatment failed to modify electrophysiological responses to AMPA in layer V pyramidal cells as well. These findings would be consistent with the hypothesis that blockade of 5-HT 2A receptors may enhance the effects of SSRIs or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
Differential role of transforming growth factor‐α in two human colon‐carcinoma cell lines

Antibodies to epidermal-growth-factor receptor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) were used to determine the role of endogenous TGF-alpha in the growth of 2 human colon-carcinoma cell lines. Both the GEO and HCT 116 colon-carcinoma cell lines secrete similar levels of TGF-alpha and have similar numbers of low-affinity binding sites for EGF. However, the HCT 116 cells lack the high-affinity EGF binding site present on the GEO cells. The anti-EGF receptor antibodies effectively blocked the binding of 125I-EGF to the GEO and HCT 116 cell lines. Growth of the GEO cell line was inhibited 50-80% by the anti-EGF receptor and anti-TGF-alpha antibodies. When the same antibodies, in sufficient amounts to block binding of TGF-alpha to the cells, were added to the HCT 116 cell line, no effect on growth was seen. These results suggest that while the GEO cell line utilizes TGF-alpha in an autocrine manner, the TGF-alpha secreted by the HCT 116 cells apparently does not play a role in the growth of these cells.
Expression of atrial natriuretic factor in the human ventricle is independent of chamber dilation

Abstract This study investigated the presence of atrial natriuretic factor in ventricular tissue obtained from humans with dilated or restrictive heart disease. In 17 patients with ventricular dilation and impaired systolic function and in 8 patients with restrictive heart disease and preserved systolic function, the presence of ventricular atrial natriuretic factor was investigated in tissue obtained by ventricular endomyocardial biopsy. The objective of the study was to determine if the ventricular presence of atrial natriuretic factor is dependent on ventricular dilation. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index was greater in the group with dilated cardiomyopathy than in the group with restrictive cardiomyopathy (134 ± 13 versus 78 ± 5 ml/m2, p This study demonstrates (he high prevalence of ventricular atrial natriuretic factor in living patients with either systolic or diastolic dysfunction. Whereas in the atria, stretch or dilation may be an important stimulus, atrial natriuretic factor in the ventricular chamber occurs independent of dilation.
Rapid fluctuations in extracellular brain glucose levels induced by natural arousing stimuli and intravenous cocaine: fueling the brain during neural activation.

Glucose, a primary energetic substrate for neural activity, is continuously influenced by two opposing forces that tend to either decrease its extracellular levels due to enhanced utilization in ne...
Biomechanical analysis of the camelid cervical intervertebral disc

Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent global problem, which is often correlated with degenerative disc disease. The development and use of good, relevant animal models of the spine may improve treatment options for this condition. While no animal model is capable of reproducing the exact biology, anatomy, and biomechanics of the human spine, the quality of a particular animal model increases with the number of shared characteristics that are relevant to the human condition. The purpose of this study was to investigate the camelid (specifically, alpaca and llama) cervical spine as a model of the human lumbar spine. Cervical spines were obtained from four alpacas and four llamas and individual segments were used for segmental flexibility/biomechanics and/or morphology/anatomy studies. Qualitative and quantitative data were compared for the alpaca and llama cervical spines, and human lumbar specimens in addition to other published large animal data. Results indicate that a camelid cervical intervertebral disc (IVD) closely approximates the human lumbar disc with regard to size, spinal posture, and biomechanical flexibility. Specifically, compared with the human lumbar disc, the alpaca and llama cervical disc size are approximately 62%, 83%, and 75% with regard to area, depth, and width, respectively, and the disc flexibility is approximately 133%, 173%, and 254%, with regard to range of motion (ROM) in axial-rotation, flexion-extension, and lateral-bending, respectively. These results, combined with the clinical report of disc degeneration in the llama lower cervical spine, suggest that the camelid cervical spine is potentially well suited for use as an animal model in biomechanical studies of the human lumbar spine.
Temperature effects on conduction through a molecular junction

The measured effect of temperature on charge transport through individual chemisorbed 1-nitro-2,5-di(phenylethynyl--mercapto)benzene molecules spanning a gold electrode gap is reported for the range of 10–300 K. Conduction is dominated by coherent superexchange at low temperatures and shifts to an incoherent hopping process above bias-dependent temperature thresholds. The results are consistent with proposed theoretical mechanisms in which bias-dependent heat dissipation from inelastic vibrational scattering within the molecule raises the temperature of the junction above that of the surrounding system, which in turn leads to the shift in the prevailing conduction process with increasing bias.
Reviewing the Literature on Sequential/Dynamic Foreign Policy Decision Making

Most, if not all, foreign policy problems continue over an extended period of time and are revisited numerous times before finally being resolved. In fact, foreign policymakers “often find themselves returning again and again to the task of coping with an issue they have addressed before” (Billings and Hermann 1998:53) because a foreign policy problem of any consequence is likely to be “ill-structured” (Steinbruner 1974) and rarely disappears from the scene easily. Turkey's accession negotiations with the European Union, for example, have taken more than four decades. Since Turkey's first application for full membership to the Union in 1959, both European Union and Turkish foreign policymakers have had to deal with the issue of Turkey's membership on numerous occasions. As this example shows, foreign policy concerns cannot usually be dealt with by a single decision. Rather, policymaking involves a series of decisions that entail differing priorities at different times as well as different decision-making bodies (Hermann 2001). As a result, foreign policy decision making needs to be examined sequentially (Stern 1999), taking into account the past and prior actions as well as the future (Billings and Hermann 1998). This thinking is in line with the major argument Ranan Kuperman has just made in the previous pages. However, even though Kuperman's suggestion that we should be exploring “dynamic foreign policy decision making” is valuable and on target, it is rather misleading to suggest that studies on dynamic foreign policymaking have been absent from the fields of international relations (IR) and foreign policy analysis (FPA). Indeed, very different strands of research have made some important contributions to our understanding of how sequential foreign policymaking takes place, and “thoughtful scholars have long acknowledged that policymaking is itself an ongoing process in which decisions (and nondecisions) generate responses that create new opportunities …
Microencapsulation by Spray Drying Ethyl Caprylate in Whey Protein and Carbohydrate Wall Systems

Ethyl caprylate was microencapsulated by spray drying in wall systems consisting of whey protein in combination with maltodextrin (DE 5–15) or corn syrup solids (DE 24). Ester particle-size distribution in the infeed emulsion was adversely affected by high proportions of low DE maltodextrin. Ester retention during drying was affected (P < 0.05) by type of carbohydrate used and its proportion and ranged from 70 to 91%. The proportion of solvent extractable core was reduced with increasing DE value of carbohydrate. Combinations of whey proteins and high DE mal-todextrins or corn syrup solids are effective wall systems for microencapsulation of volatiles.
Parental narratives of genetic testing for hearing loss: audiologic implications for clinical work with children and families.

Purpose Few studies have examined how parents personalize the possibility of genetic hearing loss in their children and whether they actually intend to pursue testing for their child. This article ...
Nitrative thioredoxin inactivation as a cause of enhanced myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in the aging heart

Several recent studies have demonstrated that thioredoxin (Trx) is an important antiapoptotic/cytoprotective molecule. The present study was designed to determine whether Trx activity is altered in the aging heart in a way that may contribute to increased susceptibility to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R). Compared to young animals, MI/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and infarct size were increased in aging animals (p<0.01). Trx activity was decreased in the aging heart before MI/R, and this difference was further amplified after MI/R. Trx expression was moderately increased and Trx nitration, a posttranslational modification that inhibits Trx activity, was increased in the aging heart. Moreover, Trx-aptosis-regulating kinase-1 (Trx-ASK1) complex formation was reduced and activity of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was increased. Treatment with FP15 (a peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst) reduced Trx nitration, increased Trx activity, restored Trx-ASK1 interaction, reduced P38 MAPK activity, attenuated caspase 3 activation, and reduced infarct size in aging animals (p<0.01). Our results demonstrated that Trx activity is decreased in the aging heart by posttranslational nitrative modification. Interventions that restore Trx activity in the aging heart may be novel therapies to attenuate MI/R injury in aging patients.
Making connections: Partner quality, identity, and community

Abstract The study of equine companion ship and horse ownership provides an opportunity to explore the constructs of partner quality, identity projects, and consumer community.
Models and theories

Economic theories are systems of beliefs about the world. Models formalize parts or aspects of theories but leave much of their content out. An example of a component of theories not contained in models are the instructions for how to proceed when a model fails (in Lakatos’ terms the ‘positive heuristic’). Mathematization gives precision of statement but not of empirical reference. The emphasis on explicit models as the main vehicle for journal communication among economists is questioned. The tendency for top talent to cluster in a few universities is much stronger in economics than in most other fields. The reason is the need to talk and listen and not just write and read.
A DNA Integrity Network in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A network governing DNA integrity was identified in yeast by a global genetic analysis of synthetic fitness or lethality defect (SFL) interactions. Within this network, 16 functional modules or minipathways were defined based on patterns of global SFL interactions. Modules or genes involved in DNA replication, DNA-replication checkpoint (DRC) signaling, and oxidative stress response were identified as the major guardians against lethal spontaneous DNA damage, efficient repair of which requires the functions of the DNA-damage checkpoint signaling and multiple DNA-repair pathways. This genome-wide genetic interaction network also identified novel components (DIA2, NPT1, HST3, HST4, and the CSM1 module) that potentially contribute to mitotic DNA replication and genomic stability and revealed novel functions of well-studied genes (the CTF18 module) in DRC signaling. This network will guide more detailed characterization of mechanisms governing DNA integrity in yeast and other organisms.
Negative‐ and positive‐ion chemical ionization mass spectra of aromatic amines: Surface‐assisted reactions involving oxygen

The O2–N2 and O2–Ar negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectra of aromatic amines show a series of unusual ions dominated by an addition appearing at [M + 14]−˙. Other ions are observed at [M – 12]−˙, [M + 5]−˙, [M + 12]−˙, [M + 28]−˙ and [M + 30]−˙. Ion formation was studied using a quadrupole instrument equipped with a conventional chemical ionization source and a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer. These studies, which included the examination of ion chromatograms, measurement of positive-ion chemical ionization mass spectra, variation of ion source temperature and pressure and experiments with 18O2, indicate that the [M + 14]−˙ ion is formed by the electron-capture ionization of analytes altered by surfaceassisted reactions involving oxygen. This conversion is also observed under low-pressure conditions following source pretreatment with O2. Experiments with [15N]aniline, [2,3,4,5,6-2H5] aniline and [13C6]aniline show that the [M + 14]−˙ ion corresponds to [M + O − 2H]−˙, resulting from conversion of the amino group to a nitroso group. Additional ions in the spectra of aromatic amines also result from surface-assisted oxidation reactions, including oxidation of the amino group to a nitro group, oxidation and cleavage of the aromatic ring and, at higher analyte concentrations, intermolecular oxidation reactions.