cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asthma and Epilepsy: Are They Related? A Retrospective Study

Numerous studies have suggested that epilepsy and asthma may be related conditions. There has, however, been little epidemiologic data published to support this association. We conducted a retrospective study to determine whether the prevalence of epilepsy is increased among children with asthma, and the prevalence of asthma is increased among children with epilepsy, in comparison with the general pediatric population. We reviewed the medical records, at a large city hospital, of two groups of pediatric outpatients: (1) 400 consecutive patients with asthma followed regularly at the asthma and allergy clinic; and (2) 201 consecutive patients with idiopathic epilepsy followed regularly at the pediatric neurology clinic. Patients with a history of birth prior to 36 weeks' gestational age were excluded. Among the 400 cases of asthma, there were three patients with idiopathic epilepsy (prevalence of 0.75%). The prevalence of epilepsy was similar in mild (0.79%) and moderate-to-severe (0.73%) asthma. Among the 201 cases of idiopathic epilepsy, there were 12 patients with asthma (prevalence of 5.97%). Similar percentages of epilepsy patients with and without asthma reported generalized tonic-clonic, complex partial, simple partial, and myoclonic seizures as their predominant type. The prevalence values in this study are consistent with the prevalence of epilepsy and asthma in the general pediatric population. Our findings therefore suggest that idiopathic epilepsy and asthma are not etiologically related or mutually predisposing conditions. Small samples, failure to exclude patients born prematurely, and the equation of electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities with epilepsy may account for the results of previous studies.
Spectroscopic constants and potential energy curves for Hg2

Received 8 April 1992; in final form 12 May 1992 We compute the spectroscopic constants and potential energy curves of Hg, using relativistic ab initio complete active space multi-configuration self-consistent field followed by first-, second-order configuration interaction and relativistic configuration interaction calculations. Our computed constants are compared with known experimental data for which the agreement is good. We have computed the properties of several excited states of Hg,, some of which are yet to be observed.
The poverty trap: The dual externality model and its policy implications

Abstract This paper analyzes poverty traps in a monopolistic competition general equilibrium model with aggregate demand externality. In our model, the central hypothesis is represented by the introduction of externalities in fixed costs that firms have to incur in order to industrialize as a spillover across sectors. By this we mean that the fixed cost incurred by a firm in order to start production can reduce the fixed cost that firms in other sectors of the economy must incur. With such an assumption, we can show the possibility for an economy to be locked in at different stages of development. We then proceed to discuss the policy implications and the possible role for government intervention. To this end we provide a potential framework of reference that, if properly developed, may be useful in policy design.
Factors Contributing to Bridge--Embankment Interaction

Seismic analyses typically neglect four important phenomena that contribute to the complex interaction between bridges and approach embankments: three-dimensional embankment response, nonlinear soil behavior, soil-structure interaction, and embankment scattering. To identify the importance of each phenomena, a modeling approach was adopted that can be implemented with commonly available soil and structure properties, and whose computational demands are sufficiently low to perform numerous dynamic analyses. The accuracy of the methodology was established by comparing measured and computed abutment acceleration response histories, response spectra, structural periods, damping ratios, and abutment stiffnesses for several bridges. Parametric studies indicated that, to maintain accuracy over a range of earthquake intensities, it is important to consider three-dimensional embankment effects and to specify soil properties accurately. In contrast, the computed response was nearly insensitive to the effects of embankment scattering and changes in embankment geometry, including the embankment height.
A hedonic price analysis of nutritionally labeled breakfast cereals: Implications for nutrient labeling

Abstract Hedonic price techniques are used to determine the effects of nutrition content on purchasing behavior, and from this, to infer the effect of nutrition labeling information on consumer purchasing decisions. The technique applies regression analysis to the price of a product as a function of the product characteristics in order to estimate implicit values of specific product characteristics. By comparing these values over time, over market segments, with reported consumer preferences or with price data on products with similar characteristics in the market, the use of nutrition information by consumers can be inferred. As an example, hedonic price functions for breakfast cereal are estimated using data from four supermarkets. The results show that consumers need not be offered a lower price for products containing preservatives, and they are willing to pay more for products with an increased sugar and vitamin content. These results support the hypothesis that some consumers are reading labels to obtain certain specific nutrient information, but may not be using or are not able to use nutrition labeling to evaluate other product characteristics. The advantages of the hedonic price technique are that the data are readily available, the method is inexpensive, and the results pertain to current consumer purchaing decisions in the market. The technique is especially useful for assessing the effect of new labeling regulations on consumer purchasing decisions.
Crystallization and microstructure in quenched slabs of various molecular weight polypropylenes

The purpose of this study was to accumulate material data for use in a simulation of morphology and crystallization in quenched slabs of isotactic polypropylenes (i-PP's). The molecular weight effect on the crystallization kinetics of various i-PP's were studied using isothermal and nonisothermal experiments. An experimental setup was constructed to measure the spherulite growth rate of i-PP's using isothermal and nonisothermal melt crystallization experiments. The molecular weight effect on spherulite growth rate of i-PP's was determined. Molecular weight effect on nuclei concentrations as a function of temperature was determined from growth and crystallization rate constants. The morphology and crystallization in quenched slabs of i-PP's were determined from experiments and compared to computer simulations. The molecular weight effect on the degree of crystallinity and morphology was determined for i-PP during quenching.
Structure based design of an in vivo active hydroxamic acid inhibitor of P. aeruginosa LpxC

Lipid A is an essential component of the Gram negative outer membrane, which protects the bacterium from attack of many antibiotics. The Lipid A biosynthesis pathway is essential for Gram negative bacterial growth and is unique to these bacteria. The first committed step in Lipid A biosynthesis is catalysis by LpxC, a zinc dependent deacetylase. We show the design of an LpxC inhibitor utilizing a robust model which directed efficient design of picomolar inhibitors. Analysis of physiochemical properties drove design to focus on an optimal lipophilicity profile. Further structure based design took advantage of a conserved water network over the active site, and with the optimal lipophilicity profile, led to an improved LpxC inhibitor with in vivo activity against wild type Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Structural and Functional Analysis of the Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Binding Motif in the Somatomedin B Domain of Vitronectin

Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) binds to the somatomedin B (SMB) domain of vitronectin (VN), a domain present in at least seven other proteins. In this study, we investigate the PAI-1 binding activity of these SMB homologs and attempt to more specifically localize the PAI-1 binding site within this domain. SMBVN and several of its homologs were expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and tested for PAI-1 binding activity in a competitive ligand binding assay. Although recombinant SMBVN was fully active in this assay, none of the homologs bound to PAI-1 or competed with VN for PAI-1 binding. These inactive homologs are structurally related to SMBVN, having 33-45% sequence identity and containing all 8 cysteines at conserved positions. Thus, homolog-scanning experiments were conducted by exchanging progressively larger portions of the NH2- or COOH-terminal regions of active SMBVN with the corresponding regions of the inactive homologs. These experiments revealed that the minimum PAI-1-binding sequence was present in the central region (residues 12-30) of SMBVN. Alanine scanning mutagenesis further demonstrated that each of the 8 cysteines as well as Gly12, Asp22, Leu24, Try27, Tyr28, and Asp34 were critical for PAI-1 binding and were required to stabilize PAI-1 activity. These results indicate that the PAI-1 binding motif is localized to residues 12-30 of SMBVN and suggest that this motif is anchored in the active conformation by disulfide bonds.
Underlying and multiple causes of death related to smoking

Although smoking has been linked to various causes of death, there is no systematic account of the underlying and multiple cause-of-death distributions associated with various smoking statuses. We analyze such patterns by age and gender for the USA in 1986. Our study is based on a one-percent random sample of decedents 25 and over in the USA for whom survey data from informants were linked to death certificate data. Smoking is related to several underlying causes of death, the most common being circulatory diseases. Lung cancer is less prevalent than circulatory diseases or other cancers among ever smokers. Multiple medical conditions are common for both smokers and nonsmokers, but particular combinations vary among persons with different smoking statuses. Former smokers who quit soon before death and were under frequent medical care are most likely to have had lung cancer. Amount of smoking is tied to variations in cause-of-death patterns. Differences by age and gender are not substantial, although other cancers appear frequently for both smokers and non-smokers among women. The distribution of medical causes of death for ever smokers is not radically different from that of never smokers. However, differences in cause patterns are seen when smoking statuses are detailed by amount of smoking and timing of quitting. These similarities and differences in cause patterns must be related to the fundamental fact that the average smoker will die earlier than the average nonsmoker. Such findings should especially influence programs for diseases whose links to smoking have been underestimated.
Higgs boson pair production from quark antiquark annihilation

The contribution to the cross section for the production of pairs of Higgs bosons from quark antiquark annihilation is determined. This contribution comes entirely from box graphs of vector bosons and is significantly smaller than the production of pairs of Higgs by gluon fusion or vector boson fusion.
THE RATIO DEI AND THE AMBIGUITIES OF HISTORY

The Radical Orthodoxy movement has revived postmodern theology’s interest in John Duns Scotus. This article reviews Catherine Pickstock’s substantial contribution to this discussion and the several articles that engage Pickstock in this same issue. The article notes two lines of engagement: the first, more analytical line considers the logic of “God-talk,” the ratio Dei, to consider whether Scotus’s doctrine of univocity is adequate to speak of divine transcendence. The second is more historical and asks whether Radical Orthodoxy’s historical genealogy offers a sufficiently generous account of the plurality and ambiguity of the history of the church.
Concurrent design and manufacturing of aircraft torque tubes

Abstract This paper presents an application of concurrent design and a manufacturing paradigm to aircraft torque tubes. The torque tubes are located inside the wing and push and pull the front leading flaps during landing. There are tubes on each side of the wing. The tubes are made up of magnesium through casting. The magnesium tubes are light but are poor in respect of corrosion-resistance. In addition, the casting process is extremely cost ineffective in supporting just-in-time manufacturing. Virtual prototyping and rapid prototyping techniques are employed to support both product and process re-engineering in a concurrent manner. The product re-engineering focuses on replacing magnesium with aluminum so as to eliminate the corrosion problems. A shape optimization technique was employed to reduce the weight of the tube whilst maintaining its strength A StereoLithography sample was fabricated using SLA 7000 to support design verification. In addition, the manufacturing process is re-engineered by replacing casting with machining. Significant savings in time and manufacturing cost have been realized through the use of the re-engineered tubes.
1,25(OH)2D levels in dihydrotachysterol-treated patients: influence on 1,25(OH)2D assays

Many clinicians continue to prefer dihydrotachysterol (DHT) as the initial vitamin D agent of choice in hypoparathyroidism and renal osteodystrophy because of its long history of efficacy and safety. Assessment of the factors influencing the clinical response to DHT treatment should include measurement of vitamin D metabolite profiles, but investigators have heretofore been unable to measure 1,25(OH)2D because levels have been found to be falsely elevated when employing the chick intestinal cytosol receptor assay. After converting from the chick cytosol receptor assay to the calf thymus receptor assay for measuring 1,25(OH)2D, we did not note falsely elevated levels of 1,25(OH)2D in DHT-treated patients. The design of this study, therefore, was aimed at determining whether or not the calf thymus receptor measured authentic 1,25(OH)2D in such patients. We controlled for the possibility that freezing and thawing or prolonged storage might have either lowered 1,25(OH)2D levels or degraded a metabolite(s) of DHT that would have otherwise been recognized as "1,25(OH)2D" by the calf receptor. Similarly, technical differences between the two assays, source of thymus, and potential interference by other cytosolic proteins were eliminated as causes for the difference between the 1,25(OH)2D levels in the two assays. Our experiments do not provide an explanation for why the thymus receptor does not "see" the interfering metabolite(s) of DHT. This could reflect either a tissue difference or perhaps a species difference. Our results do provide the first opportunity to expand the investigation of the metabolic effects of DHT therapy to include changes in intrinsic 1,25(OH)2D metabolism.
Current transport and emission mechanisms in high-brightness green InGaN/AlGaN/GaN single-quantum-well light-emitting diodes

We have studied electroluminescence and photoluminescence for Nichia single-quantum-well Al0.2Ga0.8N/In0.45Ga0.55N/GaN green light-emitting diodes over a broad range of temperatures and currents. The most striking behavior is an anomalous temperature shift of both photo- and electroluminescence, with the emission peak moving towards higher energies with increasing temperature. This blue shift is opposite to that of the energy gap of the active layer, which practically excludes standard interband transitions as responsible for the observed optical transitions. We have also observed a very large blue shift of the emission peak with the increased current. This shift is an order of magnitude larger than one might expect from calculations of the conduction band filling. We show that the observed anomaly can be accounted for within the framework of the band tail model. In addition, our measurements of temperature-dependent voltage-current characteristics show that electrical transport through the p-n junction in these devices is dominated by carrier tunneling, which seems to be omnipresent in GaN-based optoelectronic devices.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A rationale for comparison of plaque-retaining properties of crown systems

The sequence of the initiation, formation, development, and maturation of dental plaque was reviewed. The gingival response to plaque formation was identified to control plaque growth for prolonged gingival health. A strong implication has been established between rough, overcontoured metal ceramic restorations and periodontal disease. Unsightly soft tissue around crowns result from increased plaque accumulation. In comparing esthetic crowns, three critical variables are considered. The factors that mediate plaque accumulation and influence gingival health at the tissue-restoration interface are (1) surface roughness, (2) marginal fit, and (3) contour. Minimizing plaque accumulation is crucial for gingival health.
Electron beam‐enhanced oxynitridation of Si(100) by NO adsorption

The adsorption of NO on Si(100) and the electron irradiation effects of an NO-covered surface were studied by XPS, AES, high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy (HREELS), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and electron-stimulated desorption (ESD). Nitric oxide both molecularly and dissociatively adsorbs on Si(100) at 110 K. The molecular and dissociative adsorption occurred simultaneously, and reached saturation. The thermal desorption of molecularly adsorbed NO (NO(a)) peaks at -200 K. Thermal dissociation of NO(a) was not detected from heating. Electron irradiation of Si(100) in an NO environment gave a dramatic decrease in the elemental Si LVV signal at 92 eV in AES. This indicates the formation of a silicon oxynitride overlayer by electron-stimulated dissociation of NO(a). The overlayer thickness exhibited a linear dependence on the electron irradiation/NO exposure time. An oxynitride growth rate of 0.02 nm min -1 was obtained.
Structural model and spectroscopic characteristics of the FMO antenna protein from the aerobic chlorophototroph, Candidatus Chloracidobacterium thermophilum

The Fenna–Matthews–Olson protein (FMO) binds seven or eight bacteriochlorophyll a (BChl a) molecules and is an important model antenna system for understanding pigment-protein interactions and mechanistic aspects of photosynthetic light harvesting. FMO proteins of green sulfur bacteria (Chlorobiales) have been extensively studied using a wide range of spectroscopic and theoretical approaches because of their stability, the spectral resolution of their pigments, their water-soluble nature, and the availability of high-resolution structural data. We obtained new structural and spectroscopic insights by studying the FMO protein from the recently discovered, aerobic phototrophic acidobacterium, Candidatus Chloracidobacterium thermophilum. Native C. thermophilum FMO is a trimer according to both analytical gel filtration and native-electrospray mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the mass of intact FMO trimer is consistent with the presence of 21–24 BChl a in each. Homology modeling of the C. thermophilum FMO was performed by using the structure of the FMO protein from Chlorobaculum tepidum as a template. C. thermophilum FMO differs from C. tepidum FMO in two distinct regions: the baseplate, CsmA-binding region and a region that is proposed to bind the reaction center subunit, PscA. C. thermophilum FMO has two fluorescence emission peaks at room temperature but only one at 77 K. Temperature-dependent fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the two room-temperature emission peaks result from two excited-state BChl a populations that have identical fluorescence lifetimes. Modeling of the data suggests that the two populations contain 1–2 BChl and 5–6 BChl a molecules and that thermal equilibrium effects modulate the relative population of the two emitting states.
Managing Disasters: The Role of Local Government

In major disasters, local communities are often on their own for several hours or days. Local governments can play a key role in taking the initiative to protect their citizens. This essay compares the experience of New Orleans before, during, and after the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina with the performance of Qinglong County, China, during the Tangshan earthquake of 1976. Qinglong County exemplifies local government taking initiative in risk assessment, decision making, operations, information sharing, and communications.
New method to obtain small parameter power series expansions of Mathieu radial and angular functions

First published in Mathematics of Computation in Vol 78 Issue 265, published by the American Mathematical Society.
Generalized mixed-μ bounds for real and complex multiple-block uncertainty with internal matrix structure

New absolute stability results that unify and extend existing structured singular value bounds for mixed uncertainty are developed using frequency-domain arguments. These bounds generalize prior upper bounds for mixed-μ by permitting the treatment of non-diagonal real uncertain blocks, as well as accounting for internal matrix structure in the uncertainty. Several specializations to well known absolute stability criteria from the classical literature are given, which allow for a systematic comparison of these results in addressing the problem of robust stability for real parameter uncertainty.
Time course of changes in collateral blood flow and isolated vessel size and gene expression after femoral artery occlusion in rats.

The objectives of this study were to assess the time course of enlargement and gene expression of a collateral vessel that enlarges following occlusion of the femoral artery and to relate these res...
Mitral valvuloplasty with the Inoue balloon tracked over an arteriovenous wire.

Mitral stenosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty is a standard treatment option for severe mitral stenosis, and in some patients may be the only feasible option. In patients with suitable valve anatomy and morphology, and with requisite physician expertise the procedure has a high success rate and good long-term outcomes. Nonetheless, even in appropriately selected patients the procedure can pose significant technical challenges. The transeptal antegrade approach using the Inoue Balloon system may be associated with difficulty and rarely with failure to cross the stenotic mitral valve. We report a case of initial Inoue balloon failure to cross followed by successful Inoue mitral valvuloplasty tracked over an arteriovenous wire loop. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Politics against History: Temporal Distortions in the Study of Politics

While physicists have advanced theories that directly challenged unidimensional theories of history, the social sciences have held on to older, linear conceptions of historical time, but all this should change. Politics entails the making and remaking of the past, the making and remaking of the future, the inheritance of imagined futures, the recognition of the cyclic and the repetitive, reversals of linear causality, and other strategies and effects at odds with dominant historical conventions. If we are to study politics then we must attend to the broader, less disciplined, relation of politics to history, which is the purpose of the current article.
Focal adhesion kinase is expressed in acantholytic keratinocytes associated with pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus.

Summary Focal adhesion kinase is a protein-tyrosine kinase that is found in cellular contact sites and is phosphorylated in response to cell attachment. It is possible that the immunohistochemical detection of this enzyme might be increased in keratinocytes involved in an acantholytic process. Normal skin, pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus, Darier's disease, Hailey-Hailey disease, warty dyskeratoma. Grover's disease and spongiotic dermatitis were assayed for the immunohistochemical expression of focal adhesion kinase. Focal adhesion kinase was not observed in normal epidermis. This antigen was observed in keratinocytes adjacent to acantholytic spaces and in acantholytic cells in pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus. Focal adhesion kinase was not detected in keratinocytes involved in focal acantholytic dyskeratoses such as Darier's disease, Grover's disease and warty dyskeratoma but was weakly detected in Hailey-Hailey disease. One consequence of immunologically mediated acantholysis is the upregulation of focal adhesion kinase, possibly as a component of biochemical pathways that reconstruct the process of adhesion or respond to the process of acantholysis.
Mechanisms of MAdCAM-1 gene expression in human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells

Mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) is a homing receptor preferentially expressed on gut-associated endothelial cells that plays a central role in leukocyte traffic into the mucos...
Routing Overhead as A Function of Node Mobility: Modeling Framework and Implications on Proactive Routing

rdquoThe paper presents a mathematical framework for quantifying the overhead of proactive routing protocols in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). We focus on situations where the nodes are randomly moving around but the wireless transmissions can be decoded reliablely, when nodes are within communication range of each other. We explicitly present a framework to model the overhead as a function of stability of topology and analytically characterize the statistical distribution of topology evolutions. The OLSR protocol is further singled out for a detailed analysis, incorporating the proposed analytical model. Results are compared against Qualnet simulations for random movements, which corroborate the essential characteristics of the analytical results. The key insight that can be drawn from the analytical results of this paper is that nodal movements will drive up the overhead by a penalty factor, which is a function of the overall stability of the network.
Trends in Fall-Related Traumatic Brain Injury among Older Persons in Connecticut from 2000-2007

Background: Anecdotal evidence suggests a rising trend in the occurrence of fall-related traumatic brain injuries (FR-TBI) among persons ≥ 70 years. To document this apparent trend on a more substantive basis, this report longitudinally describes overall and age-stratified rates of three outcomes attributed to FR-TBI among persons ≥ 70 years: emergency department visits (ED), hospitalizations, and terminal hospitalizations. Methods: Eight years (2000-2007) of observational data from emergency departments and acute care hospitals serving a non-randomly selected, densely populated region in southern Connecticut, U.S. Results: From 2000-2007 among persons 70 years and older, overall rates of FR-TBI visits to emergency departments more than doubled while corresponding rates of hospitalization and terminal hospitalization rose 58% each. The point estimate of growth in the rate of ED in the oldest stratum was nearly triple that of the younger stratum whereas point estimates of growth in rates of hospitalization and terminal hospitalization were nearly four times higher. Total Medicare costs for ED visits increased nearly four-fold while corresponding costs for hospitalizations and terminal hospitalizations rose by 64% and 76%. The most common discharge diagnoses for ED and hospitalization were unspecified head injury and intracranial hemorrhage. Conclusions: The rapid rise in rates of FR-TBI and associated Medicare costs underscore the urgent need to prevent this burgeoning source of human suffering and health care utilization. We believe the rise in rates is at least partially due to a greater public awareness of the outcome that has been facilitated by increasing use of diagnostic imaging in the ED and hospital.
Semantic Network Array Processor as a massively parallel computing platform for high performance and large-scale natural language processing

This paper demonstrates the utility of the Semantic Network Array Processor (SNAP) as a massively parallel platform for high performance and large-scale natural language processing systems. SNAP is an experimental massively parallel machine which is dedicated to, but not limited to, the natural language processing using semantic networks. In designing the SNAP, we have investigated various natural language processing systems and theories to determine the scope of the hardware support and a set of micro-coded instructions to be provided. As a result, SNAP employs an extended marker-passing model and a dynamically modifiable network model. A set of primitive instructions is micro-coded to directly support a parallel marker-passing, bitoperations, numeric operations, network modifications, and other essential functions for natural language processing. This paper demonstrates the utility of SNAP for various paradigms of natural language processing. We have discovered that the SNAP provides milliseconds or microsectonds performance on several important applications such as the memory-based parsing and translation, classification-based parsing, and VLKB search. Also, we argue that there are numerous opportunities in the NLP community to take advantages of the computational power of the SNAP.
Orai1 Pore Mutations and Calcium-Dependent Inactivation

Ca2+ entry through CRAC channels causes rapid Ca2+-dependent inactivation (CDI) via interaction with a site located nanometers from the pore mouth. We previously found that mutations of W76 and Y80 in human Orai1 greatly alter the extent and kinetics of CDI (Mullins et al. 2009). Based on a recent crystal structure of a Drosophila Orai hexamer (Hou et al. 2012), the side chains of W76, Y80 and a ring of basic residues hypothesized to form a gate (R83, K87, R91) are all predicted to face the human Orai1 pore lumen. We mutated these residues to explore their contributions to CDI. STIM1 and variants of Orai1 were expressed in HEK cells, and the kinetics and extent of CDI were measured during 200-ms hyperpolarizations in 20 mM Ca2+. Ca2+-selectivity and magnitude of mutant currents were comparable to those of WT Orai1, indicating that observed changes in CDI were not likely due to changes in the local [Ca2+]i near the pore.At position 80, kinetics of CDI were affected by the size and charge of side chains: F was similar to Y (WT), while A, C, and S were significantly faster. Adding a positive charge (R or K) increased the speed further. These data suggest that Y80 limits the rate of inactivation by steric and/or hydrophobic interactions. The extent of inactivation was also influenced by substitutions: at position 80, Y(WT)≈F≈A≈C≈S > K≈R≈Q, while D, E, and W did not inactivate. Like W76E, Y80D, and Y80E, the R83E, K87E, and R91E mutations eliminated or markedly reduced CDI. Overall, CDI is disrupted by introduction of negatively charged side chains in the pore, but positive side chains permit or facilitate CDI. These effects suggest that CDI involves the interaction of an anionic species with basic pore-lining side chains in Orai1.
Anxiety Symptoms and Objectively Measured Sleep Quality in Older Women

Objectives: Few studies have examined the association between anxiety symptoms and objectively measured sleep quality in older adults. The authors determined this association in a large cohort of very old community-dwelling women. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Participants' homes, sites of the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. Participants: Three thousand forty women (mean age: 83.6 years) enrolled in a prospective study of aging. Measurements: Participants completed the Goldberg Anxiety Scale (ANX), the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and ≥3 nights of actigraphy—a method of measuring sleep by recording wrist movement with a device called an actigraph. Elevated anxiety symptoms were defined as ANX ≥6. Elevated depressive symptoms were defined as GDS ≥6. Results: Participants' mean ANX score was 1.4 (standard deviation: 2.2); 9.2% (N = 280) had ANX ≥6. Elevated anxiety symptoms were associated with greater odds of poor sleep efficiency (odds ratio [OR]: 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.34, 2.23) and time awake after sleep onset (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.27, 2.11). Associations remained after adjustment for GDS ≥6, antianxiety medications, and other potential confounders (sleep efficiency OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.15, 1.97; time awake after sleep onset OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.75). Anxiety symptoms were not associated with other sleep parameters. Conclusion: Findings suggest that elevated anxiety symptoms are independently associated with poor objectively measured sleep efficiency and elevated sleep fragmentation in very old women, after accounting for significant depressive symptoms, medical comorbidities, and use of antianxiety medications.
Using Angle of Arrival (Bearing) Information for Localization in Robot Networks

In this paper, we consider using angle of arrival information (bearing) for localization in robot networks. The essential property we require in this paper is that a node can infer heading information from its neighbors. We address the uniqueness of network localization solutions by the theory of globally rigid graphs. We show that while the parallel rigidity problem for formations with bearings is isomorphic to the distance case, the global rigidity of the formation is simpler (in fact identical to the simpler rigidity case) for a network with bearings, compared to formations with distances. We provide the conditions of localization for networks in which the neighbor relationship is not necessarily symmetric.
Verification Framework for Dynamic Collaborative Services in Service-Oriented Architecture

This paper introduces a dynamic verification framework for collaborative services in Service- Oriented Architecture (SOA). Collaboration plays a critical role in SOA, an effective verification framework for collaboration will greatly reduce the effort for rapid and adaptive service composition and evaluation of applications based on collaborative services. The verification framework provides a service-oriented infrastructure for completeness and consistency analyses, model-checking, simulation, and policy enforcement of process specification based on collaborative services in SOA. The paper presents the concepts, architecture, profiling techniques and illustrative examples that demonstrate the concepts and the techniques.
Flow‐through culture techniques for neanthes arenaceodentata (annelida: Polychaeta), including influence of diet on growth and survival

Neanthes arenaceodentata has been used frequently in saltwater toxicity tests. A flowing‒water system is described for the laboratory culturing of this polychaete. The system features the shallow, flat trays that are commonly used to culture shellfish. Three diet studies were conducted to determine the best diet to feed laboratory cultures to promote good growth (measured by dry weight) and survival. First, all diets (including commercially prepared diets, yeasts, whole‒grain and grain by‒products, algae, and animal tissue) were evaluated singly in a 28‒d test. Then, selected diets, alone and in combination, were evaluated in two tests (34 and 70 d) that simulated our culture conditions. In the first test, a commercially prepared diet, prawn flakes, produced the best growth; however, worms fed macroalgae had better survival (84% or more versus 60% for those fed prawn flakes). In the last two experiments, a combination of a macroalga and prawn flakes produced the best growth and survival. For example, after 34 d, prawn flakes alone and prawn flakes plus a macroalga produced a similar increase in dry weight of worms (18.8 and 18.7 mg, respectively), but survival was 26% higher with the combination diet.
Biomechanical effects of steroid injections used to treat pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis.

Background A recent study from our laboratory has demonstrated improved range of motion in the toes of broiler chickens afflicted with pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis when treated with local antibiotic and corticosteroid injections, without surgical drainage. However, the use of corticosteroids as an adjunct treatment raised peer concern, as steroids are thought to have deleterious effects on tendon strength. The purpose of this study was to compare the tensile strength of the aforementioned steroid treated tendons, to a group of tendons administered with the current standard treatment: systemic antibiotics, surgical drainage and no corticosteroids.
Calculation of rotationally mediated selective adsorption in molecule surface scattering: HD on Pt(111)☆

Abstract Rotationally mediated selective adsorption of HD on Pt(111) is examined theoretically using R -matrix scattering techniques. With a laterally averaged surface-molecule Morse potential interaction and for an anisotropic potential term transformed from H 2 , excellent agreement is obtained between the resonances and the first-order perturbed bound vibration-free rigid rotor energies.
The flume design — a methodology for evaluating material fluxes between a vegetated salt marsh and the adjacent tidal creek

An experimental flume is described which can be used as a tool to assess whether a vegetated marsh surface is a source or sink for nutrients via tidal inundation. An initial calibration study (two tidal cycles) was conducted to determine the optimum sampling design and aid in model development for flux calculations. A statistical analysis of the data showed a negligible concentration difference as a function of water depth for most of the constituents analyzed. This coupled with the low tidal velocities over the marsh surface (<1.5cm/s) suggested that a volumetric model was adequate for calculations of instantaneous discharge and nutrient flux through any station perpendicular to tidal flow. The resultant instantaneous mass flux calculations showed that water discharge was one of the dominant factors controlling the movement of material. A sine-cosine statistical model utilizing the main tidal periodicities was designed to: (1) model the instantaneous fluxes, (2) calculate the average net flux of suspended and dissolved materials, and (3) test the hypothesis that the average net flux equals zero versus a two-sided alternative using a standard regression t-test.
Refining behavioral phenotypes: personality-motivation in Williams and Prader-Willi syndromes.

Abstract Despite behavioral differences, individuals with Williams or Prader-Willi syndrome share a proneness to certain personality characteristics. We hypothesized that there are qualitative differences in these shared personality features. Personality–motivation (measured using the Reiss Profiles) was compared for equal numbers of age- and gender-matched individuals with Williams or Prader-Willi syndrome or mental retardation due to nonspecific causes. Each syndrome featured aberrant motivational profiles, and similarities were found across groups in various domains. Significant differences emerged in the specific stimuli that motivated behavior in several Reiss Profile domains. Implications are discussed for the “classic” sociable personality in Williams syndrome and for compulsivity in Prader-Willi syndrome. Recommendations are made for treatment and more refined phenotypic research.
Very Late Stent Thrombosis After Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Discontinuation in a Patient with a History of Acute Stent Thrombosis

Objective:To describe a case of very late stent thrombosis after dual antiplatelet discontinuation in a patient with a previous history of stent thrombosis.Case Summary:A 62-year-old man with a history of coronary artery disease, multiple acute coronary syndromes requiring percutaneous coronary interventions with multiple stent placements, and acute stent thrombosis resulting in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction presented to the hospital with chest pain. The chest pain was not relieved by 4 sublingual nitroglycerin tablets. Five days prior to his presentation, the patient had been instructed to discontinue both aspirin and clopidogrel in preparation for a left ankle fusion procedure. He was taken to the cardiac catheterization laboratory where he was found to have thrombosis in a sirolimus-eluting stent placed more than 3 years ago. Thrombectomy and balloon angioplasty were performed, and the patient completed his hospital course without complications.Discussion:Stent thrombosis associated with d...
Effects of Natural Selection on Interpopulation Divergence at Polymorphic Sites in Human Protein-Coding Loci

To develop new strategies for searching for genetic associations with complex human diseases, we analyzed 2784 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 396 protein-coding genes involved in biological processes relevant to cancer and other complex diseases, with respect to gene diversity within samples of individuals representing the three major historic human populations (African, European, and Asian) and with respect to interpopulation genetic distance. Reduced levels of both intrapopulation gene diversity and interpopulation genetic distance were seen in the case of SNPs located within the 5′-UTR and at nonsynonymous SNPs, causing radical changes to protein structure. Reduction of gene diversity at SNP loci in these categories was evidence of purifying selection acting at these sites, which in turn causes a reduction in interpopulation divergence. By contrast, a small number of SNP sites in these categories revealed unusually high genetic distances between the two most diverged populations (African and Asian); these loci may have historically been subject to divergent selection pressures.
Inhibition of Protein Kinase Cα Prevents Endothelial Cell Migration and Vascular Tube Formation In Vitro and Myocardial Neovascularization In Vivo

Although protein kinase C (PKC) activation is required for endothelial cell (EC) growth, migration, adhesion, and vessel formation, the role of individual PKC isoenzymes in these events is not defined. Because PKCα has been previously linked with enhanced EC migration and response to angiogenic growth factors, we characterized a specific phosphorothioate-modified 21-mer antisense PKCα (AS-PKCα). AS-PKCα (500 nmol/L) prevented the expression of PKCα protein by 90% in human ECs and did not reduce the expression of any other PKC isoenzyme. AS-PKCα reduced human EC migration by 64% compared with its control oligonucleotide in a “scratch” wounding assay, and AS-PKCα reduced human EC adhesion to the extracellular matrix protein vitronectin by 18%. Phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2) induced by vascular endothelial growth factor was inhibited by 30% in human ECs transfected with AS-PKCα. Compared with control, AS-PKCα also reduced the number of EC tubes formed in a 3D type I collagen gel assay by 37.5%. Finally, using an osmotic minipump, we infused AS-PKCα into mice in which myocardial infarction was induced by coronary ligation and found that the oligonucleotide was primarily taken up by intramyocardial blood vessels. Compared with the results with control oligonucleotide, AS-PKCα oligonucleotide inhibited the number of anti-PKCα–stained blood vessels by 48% and reduced the total vessel number by 72% as well. In conclusion, the expression of PKCα is required for full EC migration, adhesion to vitronectin, vascular endothelial growth factor–induced extracellular signal–regulated kinase activation, and tube formation and is likely to be of importance in myocardial angiogenesis in vivo after ischemia.
Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells are a major determinant of nascent tumor neovascularization

Tumors build vessels by cooption of pre-existing vasculature and de novo recruitment of bone marrow (BM)-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). However, the contribution and the functional role of EPCs in tumor neoangiogenesis are controversial. Therefore, by using genetically marked BM progenitor cells, we demonstrate the precise spatial and temporal contribution of EPCs to the neovascularization of three transplanted and one spontaneous breast tumor in vivo using high-resolution microscopy and flow cytometry. We show that early tumors recruit BM-derived EPCs that differentiate into mature BM-derived endothelial cells (ECs) and luminally incorporate into a subset of sprouting tumor neovessels. Notably, in later tumors, these BM-derived vessels are diluted with non-BM-derived vessels from the periphery, which accounts for purported differences in previously published reports. Furthermore, we show that specific ablation of BM-derived EPCs with α-particle-emitting anti-VE-cadherin antibody markedly impaired tumor growth associated with reduced vascularization. Our results demonstrate that BM-derived EPCs are critical components of the earliest phases of tumor neoangiogenesis.
Spectral estimation of segmented signal using deconvolution technique

In many instances received data have random missing parts (segmented time signals) or they appear at regular intervals, as with the collection of data only at a certain time of observation. The spiking filter deconvolution method is proposed to improve the spectral estimates of segmented time signals. Based on the theoretical approach that the spectrum of segmented signals is the convolution of the spectrum of the original signal and the spectrum of the missing pattern, the spiking filter deconvolution method is transplanted into the frequency domain. In this case, the missing pattern has to be known and the maximum entropy method should be performed to find the spectral estimate of the missing pattern and the spectral estimate of the segmented signals in order to deconvolve the spectrum of segmented signals, and thus to recover the spectrum of the original signals. >
Infrared radiative cooling in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere

Abstract This paper discusses the current status of calculating infrared cooling by CO2 in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. It is desirable to have fast but accurate procedures for use in dynamic models. The most difficult region is from 70 to 90 km, where cooling rates are strongly influenced or, in the case of the summer mesopause region, dominated by the absorption of radiation emitted by underlying layers, with the hot bands and isotopic bands playing a significant role. A three-energy-level model is derived for the excited population levels of a CO2 molecule. Vibrational-vibrational coupling between isotopes is also included as significant. Results from model calculations for cooling rates and NLTE source functions are presented. Global average infrared cooling rates appear to be in reasonable balance with solar heating rates, considering the uncertainties in calculating both these terms. Radiative cooling rates by CO2 above 100 km are strongly dependent on atomic oxygen concentrations and on the rate of energy exchange between atomic oxygen and CO2. Likewise, NO cooling, which is important above 120 km, is proportional to atomic oxygen concentrations. Since CO2, NO and O concentrations can all vary with motions, these dependencies suggest interesting feedbacks to atmospheric dynamics.