cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pediatric emergencies in the family practice clinic

Case: A 9-month-old girl is brought by her mother because she is having difficulty breathing. Her mother states that the child is somewhat sleepy this morning after coughing all day yesterday and last night. She will no longer play or take a bottle and has not had a wet diaper this morning. You see a sleepy baby with obvious tachypnea, suprasternal and subcostal retractions, and nasal flaring. Difficulty breathing is a frequent complaint in the office setting with a broad differential and a wide range of severity. When addressing respiratory distress in children, it is important to define the location of pathology along the respiratory tract. The most common complaint involves congestion of the nose and upper respiratory tract. There is no effective means to address this complaint in babies other than mechanical suctioning of the upper airway after the application of saline drops. Reassurance and education is the role of the provider in this setting. When the pathology is found lower in the respiratory tract it can be more concerning.
Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nano-plant-like electrodes

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have received considerable attention as a cost-effective alternative to conventional inorganic solar cells. These cells operate on a process similar to photosynthesis, the process by which green plants generate chemical energy from sunlight. A thick semiconductor nanoparticle film provides a large surface area for the adsorption of energy by light harvesting organic dye molecules which then "inject" electrons into the nanostructured semiconductor electrode. This process is accompanied by a charge transfer to the dye from an electron donor mediator supplied by an electrolyte, resetting the cycle. A significant increase in the long-term stability and the efficiency of DSSCs has been realized during the last few years. However, still the current nanoparticle-based DSSCs suffer from the trap-limited diffusion transport mechanism of electrons, a slow mechanism that limits the device efficiency, especially at longer wavelengths. Recently we have developed a new version of the dye-sensitized cells in which the traditional electrode (sintered nanoparticle film) is replaced by a specially designed ZnO electrode possessing an exotic 'nanoplant-like' morphology. This advance fixes a major efficiency limiting factor in current nanoparticle-based DSSCs. The direct electrical pathway, provided by the interconnected nanoplants, provides rapid collection of carriers generated throughout the device, and significantly enhances the conversion efficiency of the system over that of sintered nanoparticle based solar cells.
The Search for Mode-Specific Effects of Cognitive and Other Therapies: A Methodological Suggestion

The hypothesis that the unique mechanism of action of cognitive therapy (CT) for depression involves change in underlying cognitions (schema) has not been supported by empirical studies; instead, many therapies seem to produce cognitive change. Likewise, evidence fails to support the hypothesis, drawn from the cognitive theory, that change in underlying cognitions protects patients from relapse. We argue that methodological problems may explain these empirical disconfirmations of the cognitive theory. In particular, the failure to activate latent underlying cognitions before assessing them prevents investigators from adequately testing mode-specific hypotheses about the mechanism of action of CT. A similar difficulty may plague tests of mode-specific hypotheses about the mechanisms of action of other therapies.
Phenotypic plasticity in Scenedesmus communis hegew. (Chlorophyceae). II: Examples of algal cyclo- and noncyclomorphosis

A new dimension to the well-known phenotypic plasticity in Scenedesmus is presented. Large colony type Scenedesmus communis Hegew. reproduced in a typical fashion in batch culture in standard media but produced small colonies (SCT) resembling S. komarekii Hegew. and S. subspicatus Chod. at low cell densities in dilute media. Highest frequency of production occurred after cells had been pretreated in a concentrated (inorganic nutrients) medium. Examples of both cyclic and noncyclic behavior in the life history of Scenedesmus are presented. The noncyclic behavior resembles previous reports on induced heritable changes in flax and tobacco due to different treatment applications of fertilizers. An analysis of gross morphological features using scanning electron microscopy showed that isolated strain SCT1 was similar to S. komarekii (strain UTEX 1236) and isolated strain SCT2 was similar to S. subspicatus (strain UTEX 1358). Growth and morphological expression of the induced SCT strains were highly similar to those of the respective UTEX species. The current state of taxonomy and the implications of phenotypic plasticity on taxonomy in Scenedesmus are discussed.
The Legacy of Adolf Meyer's Comparative Approach: Worcester Rats and the Strange Birth of the Animal Model

The breeding of albino rats had an enormous impact on experimental psychology in the twentieth century. Rats were, and for many questions still remain, the "standard animal" for laboratory research in neurology, psychology, and physiology. Albert Meyer was one of the figures most responsible for developing the albino rat as an experimental model. Despite Meyer's pioneering work with albino rats, his rat research has received only sparse attention. Little is known about the way in which the animal served Meyer's more famous psychiatric program. In this article, the author discusses the role that albino rats played in Meyer's animal research. He then turn to the contrast between the way in which Meyer viewed the animal's role in research and the way rats were later used as a laboratory "standard" to assure scientific generality. This comparison highlights the changes that occurred in comparative psychology in the twentieth century, and it further clarifies some of the concerns associated with the use of animal models today.
Wave Propagation and Dispersion in Sandwich Plates Subjected to Blast Loads

This paper investigates through-thickness propagation of compression waves induced by blast loads on the facesheet of a sandwich plate and how it is affected by the underlying material properties. A conventional sandwich design, which utilizes a closed cell foam core, is considered together with a modified design, which includes a thin polyurea interlayer between the outer (loaded side) facesheet and the foam core. The latter design is known to perform exceptionally well under impulse loads due to the significant stiffening of polyurea under high strain rates. This property reduces the amplitude and velocity of compression waves traveling into the foam core and prevents its sudden, excessive crushing. The problem was modeled with the explicit LS-Dyna finite element code. The results compare the short term behavior of the conventional and modified sandwich designs using a one-dimensional model for through-thickness wave propagation, and illustrate the long term effects on a multi-span sandwich plate subjec...
Amino acid biophysical properties in the statistical prediction of peptide-MHC class I binding

Background: A key step in the development of an adaptive immune response to pathogens or vaccines is the binding of short peptides to molecules of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) for presentation to T lymphocytes, which are thereby activated and differentiate into effector and memory cells. The rational design of vaccines consists in part in the identification of appropriate peptides to effect this process. There are several algorithms currently in use for making such predictions, but these are limited to a small number of MHC molecules and have good but imperfect prediction power. Results: We have undertaken an exploration of the power gained by taking advantage of a natural representation of the amino acids in terms of their biophysical properties. We used several wellknown statistical classifiers using either a naive encoding of amino acids by name or an encoding by biophysical properties. In all cases, the encoding by biophysical properties leads to substantially lower misclassification error. Conclusion: Representation of amino acids using a few important bio-physio-chemical property provide a natural basis for representing peptides and greatly improves peptide-MHC class I binding prediction.
Topical antacid therapy for capsaicin-induced dermal pain: a poison center telephone-directed study

Abstract Purpose The study aimed to assess the effects of topical antacids for treatment of capsaicin-induced dermal pain after exposure to capsaicin containing hot peppers, personal protection sprays, or topical creams. Procedures Participants of the study were California Poison Control System (CPCS) hotline callers 12 years or older with dermal pain from exposure to capsaicin-containing products or plants. Participants were instructed to apply a topical antacid and assessed for perceived pain (using a 0-10 scale) pre- and posttreatment. A positive response was defined as a sustained reduction of pain 33% or more within 30 minutes or achieving a pain score of 0 to 1. Main findings Of 93 eligible patients, 64 applied antacids and had outcome data available. Patients contacted the CPCS a median of 1 hour postexposure with a median initial pain score of 7.5/10. Thirty-six (56%) were exposed to unrefined (natural) peppers and 28 (44%) to refined capsaicin (eg, capsaicin-containing cream). Before calling the CPCS, 57 (89%) attempted at least one treatment. Forty-five (70%) reported positive response to antacid treatment as a 33% reduction in pain in 30 minutes (n = 17), a reduction in pain to a score of 0 to 1 (n = 3), or both (n = 25). A 33% reduction in pain within 30 minutes was associated with exposure to refined capsaicin (odds ratio, 3.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-11.66). Concomitant refined capsaicin exposure and early treatment ( Conclusion Topical application of antacids for capsaicin-induced pain is effective, particularly in early treatment of exposure to refined capsaicin.
A layout technique for millimeter-wave PA transistors

The distributed interconnect parasitics within large transistors markedly degrade the output power and efficiency at millimeter-wave frequencies. This paper develops a model for such structures and proposes a layout technique to reduce the effect of source terminal parasitics. The technique is applied to a 60-GHz prototype in 65-nm CMOS technology, raising the output power from 5 to 10 dBm and the drain efficiency from 3.7% to 10.7%.
Growth and sporulation of Phytophthora ramorum in vitro in response to temperature and light

Phytophthora ramorum, recently found in the US, is causing concern for hardwood forests and the nursery industry. In an effort to identify some of the environmental limitations to growth and sporulation we undertook a laboratory study of four US and three European (EU) isolates. On V8 media, isolates grew when incubated at 2-28 C and produced chlamydospores at 8-28 C. Sporangia were produced at all temperatures tested: 10-30 C for US isolates and 6-26 C for EU isolates. Optimal temperatures were 16-26 C for growth, 14-26 C for chlamydospore production and 16-22 C for sporangia production. US isolates grew less and produced fewer spores when exposed to increasing doses of near-UV radiation (50-300 microW/cm(2)) and visible radiation (250-1500 microW/cm(2)). EU isolates were exposed to 300 microW/cm(2) near-UV only, which significantly reduced growth of one of three isolates and had no significant effect on spore production. In our studies P. ramorum tolerated a broad range of temperature and light conditions, which suggests that it is capable of establishment in a wide geographic area.
Anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and the ground-state hyperfine splitting of muonium

This paper describes the status of experiments to determine the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and the ground-state hyperfine splitting of muonium. A muon precision storage ring superconducting magnet system is being constructed for our experiment to determine the muon g-2 value to 0.35 ppm. This experiment will be sensitive to the weak interaction contribution, thus providing a sensitive test of the standard model concerning the renormalizability of the electroweak theory. The data collection has begun for the new precision experiment to study the muonium hyperfine structure in its ground state. The resonance line narrowing by a factor of 2 has been observed in the magnetic field of 1.7 T using the old muonium method. A standard NMR probe has been constructed to obtain the NMR frequency for free protons to better than 0.05 ppm. >
An optimization-based approach to dynamic visual context management

We are building an intelligent multimodal conversation system to aid users in exploring large and complex data sets. To tailor to diverse user queries introduced during a conversation, we automate the generation of system responses, including both spoken and visual outputs. In this paper, we focus on the problem of visual context management, a process that dynamically updates an existing visual display to effectively incorporate new information requested by subsequent user queries. Specifically, we develop an optimization based approach to visual context management. Compared to existing approaches, which normally handle predictable visual context updates, our work offers two unique contributions. First, we provide a general computational framework that can effectively manage a visual context for diverse, unanticipated situations encountered in a user system conversation. Moreover, we optimize the satisfaction of both semantic and visual constraints, which otherwise are difficult to balance using simple heuristics. Second, we present an extensible representation model that uses feature based metrics to uniformly define all constraints. We have applied our work to two different applications and our evaluation has shown the promise of this work.
Range Resolution of Targets Using Automatic Detectors

When two targets are closely separated in range, automatic detectors will declare the presence of only one target. To increase the-probability of resolving targets in range, log video should be used and the threshold should be of the form T = ? + F, where the mean ? is the smaller of the two means calculated from reference cells on either the greater range side or the lesser range side of the test cell and F is a fixed number. When the adjacent-detection merging algorithm is used, the probability of resolving targets does not rise above 0.9 until the targets are separated in range by 2.5lse-pulsewidths.
Senate Confirmation of Appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court

tutional and statutory law. This study assumes that the impact of interest groups on the selection of Supreme Court Justices can be divided into two stages: the Presi? dent's selection of a nominee and the Senate's acceptance or rejection of the nominee. The first component is impossible to quantify because the method of selecting nominees has changed with almost every President, as have the vehicles used by interest groups to influence the decision. Presidents have based their nominations upon subjective and arbitrary criteria: they have nominated complete strangers and intimate friends, law school deans and men without law degrees, established jurists and persons with little legal experience, savvy politicians and political nov? ices. Some Presidents have delegated substantial responsibility for find? ing nominees while others have made their selections with little advice. Some nominations were widely anticipated while others were complete surprises to everyone ? including the nominee.2 There is, in fact, only one consistent element in the criteria for nomination: each President's hope that his nominee will interpret the law to the advantage of those whose interests the nomination was intended to satisfy. Therefore, this paper takes the President's selection of a nominee as given and analyzes the second component ? the Senate's action ? using those relation
FUNDAMENTAL STUDY OF CLAY: III, CASTING AS A BASE-EXCHANGE PHENOMENON*

Specimens of commercial casting slip were cast in plaster molds, porous bisque molds, and porous bisque molds treated with calcium and aluminum chloride. A qualitative determination of the ion serving in the exchange position is possible by the evaluation of the yield value of the cast specimen. The results on a series of tests indicate that casting clayware may be carried out by one of two processes, namely, mechanical water removal by the porous mold or by an exchange reaction between the ions of the slip and those of the mold; combinations of both processes may also occur. A detailed description of both methods, including practical applications, is given.
Viscous motion of disk-shaped particles through parallel-sided channels with near-minimal widths

The motion of a rigid disk-shaped particle with rounded edges, which fits closely in the space between two parallel flat plates, and which is suspended in a viscous fluid subject to an imposed pressure gradient, is analysed. This problem is relevant to the squeezing of red blood cells through narrow slot-like channels which are found in certain tissues. Mammalian red cells, although highly flexible, conserve volume and surface area as they deform. Consequently, a red cell cannot pass intact through a channel which is narrower than some minimum width. In channels that are just wide enough to permit cell passage, the cell is deformed into its ‘critical’ shape: a disk with rounded edges. In this paper, the fluid mechanical aspects of such motions are considered, and the particle is assumed to be rigid with the critical shape. The channel cross-section is assumed to be rectangular. The flow of the suspending fluid is described using lubrication theory. Use of lubrication theory is justified by considering the motion of a circular cylinder between parallel plates. For disk-shaped particles, approximate solutions are obtained by applying lubrication equations throughout the flow domain. In the region beyond the particle, this is equivalent to assuming a Hele-Shaw flow. More accurate solutions are obtained by including effects of boundary layers around the particle and at the sides of the channel. Pressure distributions and particle velocities are computed as functions of geometrical parameters, and it is shown that the particle may move faster or slower than the mean velocity of the surrounding fluid, depending on the channel dimensions.
A refinement of Hoeffding's inequality

In this paper, we present a refinement of Hoeffding's inequality which is of closed form and which significantly improves on this inequality in many cases. Some numerical comparisons are also presented.
DRIFT study of functional group interconversions on modified silica surfaces

Treatment of surface-activated silica gel with 4-(chloromethyl)phenyltrimethoxysilane leads to the formation of a modified silica with pendant benzyl chloride surface functionality. Oxidation of this substrate leads to the formation of surface-attached benzaldehyde functional groups, whereas reaction with sodium ethanethiolate generates a silica gel modified with surface thioether functionalities. Oxidation of the surface thioether groups produces substrates with pendant sulfoxide or sulfone functional groups, depending upon the reaction conditions. Silica gels with surface thioether or sulfoxide functionalities act as heterogeneous supports for transition metals and both substrates exhibit reactivity in bridge cleavage reactions of [Pt2 (μCl)2Cl2(PPh3)2]. All surface-modified silica gels were characterized by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy, in conjunction with other techniques. The DRIFT method is shown to be a powerful tool for the characterization of low volume concentration, surface-modified, insoluble substrates.
Neurobehavioral test methods for environmental health studies of adults

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry convened a workshop in Atlanta, GA, that evaluated approaches and methods to ascertain whether there are neurobehavioral sequelae to children and adults exposed to hazardous substances in the environment. This article, developed from that Workshop, recommends testing methods [to identify neurotoxic insult] for immediate use in environmental health field studies of adults. A list of broad functional domains or modalities affected by chemicals was identified from the occupational and related literature (learning and memory, coding, sustained attention, higher intellectual function, strength, coordination, speed, vision, somatosensory, and affect). A core set of tests was selected that should assess those functions with the greatest demonstrated sensitivity to established neurotoxic chemicals, and a secondary set was selected to assess a broader group of functions. The core tests should be used in all investigations where neurotoxic effects would be targeted for identification; secondary tests would be used where suggested by questionnaire or symptom data or by knowledge of the effects of chemicals at the hazardous waste site.
Physiological stress responsivity and perceived stress among subjects with irritable bowel syndrome

This study sought to evaluate perceived and physiological stress responsivity among subjects with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Nineteen females with IBS symptoms and 19 nonsymptomatic female comparison participants participated in the experiment. Participants completed a series of personality and mood questionnaires, as well as a laboratory procedure measuring cardiovascular responses and perceived stress while performing laboratory tasks (i.e., the Stroop Color Naming Test and a Serial 7s subtraction task). Although participants did not significantly differ in blood pressure during the laboratory procedures, IBS participants had significantly lower pulse rates during the procedure. IBS participants perceived the laboratory tasks as being more stressful than comparison participants, which was measured by self-report. Results suggest that IBS sufferers may be more sensitive to perceived stress than others.
Tectonic Framework of Southwestern United States, and Possible Continental Rifting: ABSTRACT

Major structural features in southwestern United States mostly trend northerly, but a study of the seismic, gravity, and geologic maps of the region suggests there may be four or more southeast-trending structures obliquely crossing and largely obscured by the northerly ones. The most southwesterly of these, the San Andreas rift, is conspicuous enough. Displacement on this fault system is right lateral and has been estimated as great as 350 miles. Another structure parallel to the San Andreas rift is 150 miles to the northeast. In part, it coincides with the front of the Sierra Nevada, but the gravity and seismic maps suggest it may continue northwestward across the center of northern California and southeastward across the southwest corner of Arizona. A third parallel structure is about 100 miles farther to the northeast and in part coincides with the southwest edge of the Colorado Plateau. The seismic, gravity, and geologic maps show it extending northwestward across Nevada. It is lost in southwestern New Mexico, but the structurally disturbed Trans-Pecos Texas area is aligned with it, as are a few scattered epicenters. The fourth southeast-trending structure is represented by the well-known late Paleozoic troughs and highlands that extend diagonally across the Rocky Mountains. This alignment extends southeastward across the Panhandle of Texas to the Wichita Mountains in southwestern Oklahoma. If these structures have right-lateral displacement comparable to that along the San Andreas rift, an aggregate displacement of 1,200 to 1,500 miles is indicated. It is suggested that the southeast-trending structures may be at the base and in the lower part of the crust, and may have controlled the shallower and more obvious ones at the surface. This perhaps could be tested by determining whether the foci of deep-seated earthquakes (± 65 kms) under the Rocky Mountains have a different distribution pattern from the shallow ones (± 45 kms). If similar structures can be identified elsewhere in the northern hemisphere, and if a counter set of northeast-trending structures with left-lateral displacement could be found in the southern hemisphere, this would be compelling structural evidence that the crust is drifting eastward on top of the mantle and that the Mohorovicic discontinuity is a shear plane, or rather a float plane. The merit in this hypothesis of continental rifting is chiefly in the possibility it provides of explaining the forces required to form geosynclines and to form folded mountains and overthrusts. Too, it offers a mechanism for generating magmas, whether basalt derived from the base of the crust or silicic magmas derived by palingenesis of higher parts of the crust.
Quantum Fluctuations in the Stimulated Raman Scattering Spectrum

In this talk we will give physical arguments as to why shot-to-shot fluctuations in the Stokes frequency spectrum occur1. We will present the experimental evidence of these fluctuations first, and then argue that most shots will be near transform limited if the Fourier transform of the Stokes temporal envelope has approximately the same frequency spread as the gain narrowed linewidth. Finally we will explain how we modeled this problem numerically and show that the results of these calculations support our conjecture.
Expression of Human NSAID Activated Gene 1 in Mice Leads to Altered Mammary Gland Differentiation and Impaired Lactation

Transgenic mice expressing human non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug activated gene 1 (NAG-1) have less adipose tissue, improved insulin sensitivity, lower insulin levels and are resistant to dietary induced obesity. The hNAG-1 expressing mice are more metabolically active with a higher energy expenditure. This study investigates female reproduction in the hNAG-1 transgenic mice and finds the female mice are fertile but have reduced pup survival after birth. Examination of the mammary glands in these mice suggests that hNAG-1 expressing mice have altered mammary epithelial development during pregnancy, including reduced occupancy of the fat pad and increased apoptosis via TUNEL positive cells on lactation day 2. Pups nursing from hNAG-1 expressing dams have reduced milk spots compared to pups nursing from WT dams. When CD-1 pups were cross-fostered with hNAG-1 or WT dams; reduced milk volume was observed in pups nursing from hNAG-1 dams compared to pups nursing from WT dams in a lactation challenge study. Milk was isolated from WT and hNAG-1 dams, and the milk was found to have secreted NAG-1 protein (approximately 25 ng/mL) from hNAG-1 dams. The WT dams had no detectable hNAG-1 in the milk. A decrease in non-esterified free fatty acids in the milk of hNAG-1 dams was observed. Altered milk composition suggests that the pups were receiving inadequate nutrients during perinatal development. To examine this hypothesis serum was isolated from pups and clinical chemistry points were measured. Male and female pups nursing from hNAG-1 dams had reduced serum triglyceride concentrations. Microarray analysis revealed that genes involved in lipid metabolism are differentially expressed in hNAG-1 mammary glands. Furthermore, the expression of Cidea/CIDEA that has been shown to regulate milk lipid secretion in the mammary gland was reduced in hNAG-1 mammary glands. This study suggests that expression of hNAG-1 in mice leads to impaired lactation and reduces pup survival due to altered milk quality and quantity.
Flexible Serial Lines With Setups: Analysis, Improvement, and Application

Setup times commonly exist in many flexible manufacturing lines to adjust tools and carry out safety and quality check during product changeovers. In this paper, a Markov chain model is introduced to study flexible manufacturing lines with setups. An aggregation-based recursive procedure is introduced to evaluate system performance. The convergence of the procedure is proved analytically and the accuracy is justified numerically. Using such a method, the impact of setups is analyzed and the effectiveness of downtime and setup time reduction is investigated. Indicators are derived to identify the setup bottlenecks with respect to machine and product type, whose setup time reduction can lead to the largest improvement in line production rate. Finally, an application study at a furniture manufacturing plant is introduced.
Inside Debt and Recoveries in Bankruptcy

I examine the theoretical prediction that executive inside debt results in higher recoveries in bankruptcy. Using a sample of bankrupt firms, I find that supplemental executive retirement plans are positively associated with recoveries to unsecured debt in bankruptcy. Firms where CEOs have inside debt at the sample mean experience $0.053 greater recoveries per dollar of debt in the event of bankruptcy relative to firms where the CEO does not have inside debt. Consistent with theory, I also document that inside debt is positively related to efforts to preserve liquidity as bankruptcy approaches (e.g., cuts to R&D expenditures).
A case of neonatal lupus erythematosus

A case of neonatal lupus erythematosus is reported. A 24-day-old female infant presented with annular erythema on her head, trunk, vulva and limbs for more than ten days. Hepatomegaly with an elevated transaminase level was observed. Anti-La/SSB antibody was positive in the infant and her mother.
Size-Dependent Phase Map and Phase Transformation Kinetics for Nanometric Iron(III) Oxides (γ → ε → α Pathway)

Nanometric iron(III) oxide has been of great interest in a wide range of fields due to its magnetic properties, eminent biochemical characteristics, and potential for technological applications. Among iron oxides, e-Fe2O3 is considered as a remarkable phase due to its giant coercive field at room temperature and ferromagnetic resonance capability. Here we present the first size-dependent phase map for e-Fe2O3 via a γ → e → α pathway together with the activation energies for the phase transformations, based on X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). HRTEM images of e-Fe2O3 nanocrystals show both inversion and pseudohexagonal twins, which are fundamentally important for understanding the correlation between its nanostructure and magnetic properties. Two activation energies for γ-Fe2O3 → α-Fe2O3 phase transformations are 186.37 ± 9.89 and 174.58 ± 2.24 kJ mol–1, respectively. The results provide useful information about the size, crystal structure, and tra...
What Direction for National Health Insurance

That some form of national health insurance is on the way is conceded in almost all quarters—if only because health expenditures are now so high: currently more than $60 billion a year, almost 7% of the G N P. What issues require resolution before decisions are made? What new approaches are available to raise the money, improve the system of delivery? The floor is opened for discussion.
Expression and purification of a truncated recombinant streptococcal protein G.

The gene for Protein G from Streptococcus strain G148 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The regions on the gene corresponding to the albumin-binding domains and the Fab-binding region were then deleted by site-directed mutagenesis. The translation of regions corresponding to the cell-wall- and membrane-binding domains was prevented by introduction of stop codons upstream of these domains. This recombinant DNA sequence codes for a protein (G′) that contains repetitive regions and that binds only the Fc portion of IgG, analogously to Protein A. Translation of the sequence produces a protein with an Mr of about 20,000. The nucleotide sequence differs from those published previously [Guss, Eliasson, Olsson, Uhlen, Frej, Jornvall, Flock & Lindberg (1986) EMBO J. 5, 1567-1575; Olsson, Eliasson, Guss, Nilsson, Hellman, Lindberg & Uhlen (1987) Eur. J. Biochem. 168, 319-324]. The protein can be substantially purified on a large scale by chromatography on IgG-Sepharose 4B. Homogeneous Protein G′ can be prepared by anion-exchange f.p.l.c. on Mono Q HR. This Protein G‘ has a pI of 4.19 and SDS/PAGE gives an apparent anomalous Mr of 35,000.
Two Measures for One: Brecht'sDie Rund Köpfe Und Die Spitzköpfe and Its Shakespearean Model

(1968). Two Measures for One: Brecht'sDie Rund Kopfe Und Die Spitzkopfe and Its Shakespearean Model. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 24-39.
Pragmatic communication abilities in children and adults: implications for rehabilitation professionals.

AbstractPurpose: The purpose of this study is to provide a review of pragmatic communication ability and its disorders, as a resource for rehabilitation team members. This review is a product of the Joint Committee on Interprofessional Relations Between the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and Division 40: Society for Clinical Neuropsychology of the American Psychological Association.Method: Review of the literature and expert opinion.Results: We summarize key theoretical frameworks that guide assessment of pragmatic communication ability, describe the developmental progression of pragmatic skills and expectations for children and adults, provide an overview of pragmatic communication disorders, and discuss current assessment approaches.Conclusions: An understanding of pragmatic communication disorders may assist all rehabilitation team members, as impairments in this domain may have significant effects on rehabilitation progress and outcomes.Implications for RehabilitationPragmatic communicat...
Controlled Chain Walking for the Synthesis of Thermoplastic Polyolefin Elastomers: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties

Thermoplastic elastomers are attractive materials because of their ability to be melt-processed, reused, and recycled, unlike chemically cross-linked elastomers such as rubber. We report the synthesis and mechanical properties of polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomer block copolymers. A simple one-pot procedure is employed, using a living arylnaphthyl-α-diimine Ni(II) “sandwich” complex to generate high crystallinity hard blocks from 1-decene and low crystallinity soft blocks from ethylene. Various block structures are accessed, ranging from a diblock up to a heptablock copolymer. Statistical copolymers of 1-decene and ethylene are also synthesized for comparison. All resulting polymers behave as elastomers, with properties that modulate with hard and soft block composition, block architecture, and polymerization solvent. Triblock copolymers demonstrate strain at break values up to 750%, with elastic strain recoveries up to 85%. Interestingly, statistical copolymers demonstrate strain at break values u...
Research Ethics, Cross-cultural Dimensions of

After identifying the distinctiveness of ethical issues in a cross-cultural setting, as opposed to other social and behavioral science venues, the essay briefly situates these issues within changing historical circumstances of research. Thus, early survey research under colonial conditions gave way to intensive, ‘participant observation’ procedures, which, because they entailed prolonged, intimate contact between the researcher and members of the culture under examination, greatly expanded the ethical implications of the encounter. This process of increasing intimacy and attendant ethical risk continues to the present. As ethical consciousness has risen, new responsibilities have emerged concerning the preservation and repatriation of research findings to the host countries. In addition, regulations have been instituted for the protection of human subjects, an initiative originating in the biomedical sciences, but with special applications to social and behavioral fields of study. The essay ends with a brief examination of the proper role of the cross-cultural scientist in relation to ethical issues, along with the prospects of even greater ethical complexity in the future.
Current challenges of metastatic breast cancer

Metastasis is one of the most characteristic yet problematic behaviors of cancer cells. Stage IV breast cancer accounts for a large portion of breast cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Despite early detection and improvement in survival owing to advancements in biomedical research and overall improvement of the health system, 6–10% of patients present with stage IV disease in the developed world, with a higher incidence noted elsewhere. Despite advances in biomedical research into cancer, up to 70–80% of patients with stage IV breast cancer die of cancer in 5 years, a disproportionally higher mortality compared with non-metastatic breast cancer. In this article, we review the incidence, survival, heterogeneity, current practice, and challenges in stage IV breast cancer, and we finish by noting new research initiatives to improve poor survival and suggesting future directions. By doing so, we hope to set the basis of future directions for both treating physicians and translational researchers to relieve the suffering of patients with stage IV breast cancer and improve the survival of patients with this dismal disease.
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in HIV: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Abstract Background: Patients infected with HIV are more likely to have positive direct antiglobulin tests (Toy, Am J of Hem 1985) but there have only been a few reports of HIV-related AIHA (autoimmune hemolytic anemia) in the literature. Here we report three new cases of AIHA in HIV infected patients diagnosed from July 2003 to September 2005 at UCSD. Methods: Patients were identified by clinical presentation to the HIV service. All cases were considered highly likely by hematologists to have AIHA (lab data table 1). Results: Patient #1 was a 43 yo Caucasian male with CD4 Conclusions: AIHA in HIV patients has been described mainly in single case reports and abstracts (Koduri, Am Jo Hematology 2002). Only a few reports include long-term follow-up and fewer have included precipitants for AIHA. Within 2 years, we have three HIV patients with documented AIHA under different clinical manifestations and responses to treatment. One patient had a recent diagnosis of KS, the 2nd had received penicillin for syphilis and the 3rd had no recent medical complications. All 3 patients tolerated transfusion which resulted in symptomatic improvement and responded successfully to pred. Patient #3 who had a high CD4, was the only one with recurrence of hemolysis upon pred taper; perhaps a higher CD4 count may be associated with more persistent AIHA. In the literature, there are 14 other cases of idiopathic AIHA in adults with HIV (summary table to be presented at meeting). Of the 6 cases with reported CD4 counts, all were less than 200. 4/14 cases had inadequate reticulocyte response demonstrating existence of additional factors contributing to anemia. Most cases (10/14) responded to standard AIHA treatments including GC, IVIG and splenectomy. Overall 5/14 had died at the time of the reports; 2 of these deaths were related to PCP after remission of AIHA. 2/8 cases receiving PRBC died of DIC that occurred after transfusion. Table 1 . Case Hb gm/dl Retic % LDH IU/L Hapto mg/dl IBili mg/dl CD4 #/ml 1 5.2 13.9 459 0.9 82 2 5.4 8.1 366 1.2 86 3 5.7 8.1 317 2.1 424
Radical Chain Reduction of CCl4 Initiated by Illumination of SPEEK Solutions.

Efficient reduction of CCl4 took place upon exposure to 350-nm photons of aqueous solutions containing sulfonated poly(ether etherketone) (SPEEK) as a sensitizer and either poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) or HCO2H/HCO2– buffer. The photoreaction formed chloride ions whose concentration increased linearly with time in solutions free of O2, whereas slower reductions occurred in the presence of air. Utilization of formate buffer as the H-atom donor yielded photoreactions at least 10 times faster than those in the presence of PVA and generated CHCl3 as another reaction product. The quantum yield of chloride ion formation, o(Cl–), was found to be a function of both the SPEEK concentration and concentration of formate buffer. Whereas the quantum efficiency increased steadily with decreasing solution acidity, a drastic surge in the reaction rate occurred in neutral solutions. o(Cl–) first increased rapidly to a maximum value exceeding 1 at pH 7.3 and then decreased thereafter. The dependence of r(Cl–) on (I0)1/2, wher...
Characterization of thrombosis in patients with Proteus syndrome

Patients with overgrowth and complex vascular malformation syndromes, including Proteus syndrome have an increased risk of thromboembolism. Proteus syndrome is a mosaic, progressive overgrowth disorder involving vasculature, skin, and skeleton, and caused by a somatic activating mutation in AKT1. We conducted a comprehensive review of the medical histories and hematologic evaluations of 57 patients with Proteus syndrome to identify potential risk factors for thrombosis. We found that six of ten patients, who were deceased, died secondary to deep venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism. Of the remaining 47 living patients, six had thromboembolic events that all occurred postoperatively and in an affected limb. Eleven of 21 patients had an abnormal hypercoagulable panel including Factor V Leiden heterozygotes, antithrombin III deficiency, positive lupus anticoagulant, or Protein C or S deficiencies. We observed that eight of 17 patients had an abnormal D-dimer level >0.5 mcg/dl, but deep venous thromboses occurred in only four of those with D-dimer >1.0 mcg/dl. We conclude that the predisposition to thrombosis is likely to be multifaceted with risk factors including vascular malformations, immobility, surgery, additional prothrombotic factors, and possible pathophysiologic effects of the somatic AKT1 mutation on platelet function or the vascular endothelium. The D-dimer test is useful as a screen for thromboembolism, although the screening threshold may need to be adjusted for patients with this disorder. We propose developing a registry to collect D-dimer and outcome data to facilitate adjustment of the D-dimer threshold for Proteus syndrome and related disorders, including PIK3CA-Related Overgrowth Spectrum.
A Survey of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residents

This study attempted to discover how child and adolescent psychiatry residents chose their training programs, what they intended to do with their careers, and how they perceived their educational experiences. The survey was distributed to all psychiatry residents in the United States through their training directors in 1990. The authors received 310 responses. Significant differences were noted between male and female residents. Most residents expressed an intention to go into private practice after training. There were significant differences in residents interested in private practice vs. academic careers. The residents had applied to comparatively few programs and made training decisions early. The study generated objective information that may yield more specific recruitment strategies for child and adolescent psychiatry.
Intravenous synthetic platelet (SynthoPlate) nanoconstructs reduce bleeding and improve ‘golden hour’ survival in a porcine model of traumatic arterial hemorrhage

Traumatic non-compressible hemorrhage is a leading cause of civilian and military mortality and its treatment requires massive transfusion of blood components, especially platelets. However, in austere civilian and battlefield locations, access to platelets is highly challenging due to limited supply and portability, high risk of bacterial contamination and short shelf-life. To resolve this, we have developed an I.V.-administrable 'synthetic platelet' nanoconstruct (SynthoPlate), that can mimic and amplify body's natural hemostatic mechanisms specifically at the bleeding site while maintaining systemic safety. Previously we have reported the detailed biochemical and hemostatic characterization of SynthoPlate in a non-trauma tail-bleeding model in mice. Building on this, here we sought to evaluate the hemostatic ability of SynthoPlate in emergency administration within the 'golden hour' following traumatic hemorrhagic injury in the femoral artery, in a pig model. We first characterized the storage stability and post-sterilization biofunctionality of SynthoPlate in vitro. The nanoconstructs were then I.V.-administered to pigs and their systemic safety and biodistribution were characterized. Subsequently we demonstrated that, following femoral artery injury, bolus administration of SynthoPlate could reduce blood loss, stabilize blood pressure and significantly improve survival. Our results indicate substantial promise of SynthoPlate as a viable platelet surrogate for emergency management of traumatic bleeding.
All Lambda-Designs With \lambda = 2 p areType-1

A \lambda-design is a family B_1,B_2,\ldots,B_v of subsets of X=\{ 1,2,\ldots,v \} such that | B_i \cap B_j | = \lambda for all i \neq j and not all B_i are of the same size. Ryser's and Woodall's \lambda-design conjecture states that each \lambda-design can be obtained from a symmetric block design by a certain complementation procedure. Our main result is that the conjecture is true when \lambda is twice a prime number.
Causal Structure of the Early Universe

The standard big bang model has always had a couple of fundamental problems: the universe’s matter excess and the isotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation. Recent developments in particle physics now point to answers to these problems and lead to new models for the causal structure of the early universe. One interesting possibility is the formation of multiple bubble universes. In such models there exist event horizons and the thermal background radiation can be produced by the Hawking mechanism.
Development of a methodology to combine fMRI and EMG to measure emotional responses in patients with anorexia nervosa

OBJECTIVE Individuals with eating disorders are theorized to have basic impairments in affective appraisal and social-emotional processing that contribute to pathogenesis of the disease. We aimed to determine if facial electromyography could be used to discriminate between happy and disgust emotions during simultaneous acquisition of an fMRI BOLD sequence in efforts to establish a novel tool for investigating emotion-driven hypotheses about eating pathology. In line with standards for rigor and reproducibility, we provide detailed protocols and code to support each step of this project. METHOD Sixteen adolescents with low-weight eating disorders viewed emotional faces (Happy or Disgust) and were asked to mimic their facial expression during simultaneous BOLD and EMG (Corrugator supercilli, Lavator lavii, Zygomaticus major) acquisition. Trials were repeated with the scanner off and again with scanner on (i.e., fatigue). RESULTS The Levator and Zygomaticus activation patterns discriminated disgust and happy faces successfully. The pattern held between scanner on and off conditions, but muscle activation attenuated in the Fatigue condition, especially for the Zygomaticus. DISCUSSION Simultaneous fMRI-EMG is a new tool capable of discriminating specific emotions based on muscle activation patterns and can be leveraged to answer emotion-driven hypotheses about clinical populations characterized by difficulty labeling or processing emotions.