cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of partial area under the curve in bioequivalence studies using destructive sampling design

Product blood-level in vivo bioequivalence (BE) studies typically involve complete blood concentration-time profiles generated for each subject. Accordingly, each subject provides the estimates of the rate and extent of drug absorption. However, repeated blood draws are not always feasible for studies using small animals because of handling or blood volume (e.g., fish or in toxicokinetic studies when only single samples can be taken per animal). Although several proposals have been published for comparing the product extent of absorption, the issue of comparative absorption rates remains unresolved. In this paper, we propose to apply the Bailer-Satterthwaite-Fieller confidence interval for estimating the ratio of partial area under the curve in studies that use a destructive sampling design (one blood sample per subject). To characterize the behavior of this alternative approach, we examine the impact of partial area cutoff time, blood sampling schedule, and the number of subjects included at each sampling time. Using simulated situations reflective of the issues encountered with immediate-release veterinary formulations, we compare BE conclusions resulting from the use of this approach with simulated results that assuming repeated blood draws from each study subject.
Free Flap Reconstruction of Traumatic Pediatric Foot and Ankle Defects: An Analysis of Clinical and Functional Outcomes

Background Traumatic lower extremity injuries involving the foot and ankle can have devastating consequences and represent a complex reconstructive challenge. To date, there are limited reports on microsurgical reconstruction for foot and ankle defects in children. This study aims to evaluate clinical and functional outcomes of free flaps for pediatric foot and ankle injuries. Methods This is a retrospective review of patients undergoing free flaps for traumatic foot and ankle defects at a pediatric trauma center between 2000 and 2015. Patients with less than 5-year follow-up were excluded. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. Results Thirty patients undergoing 30 flaps were analyzed. The mean age was 11.9 years (range: 2 to 17 years). Muscle flaps (n = 21, 70%) were more common than fasciocutaneous flaps (n = 9, 30%). Limb salvage with functional ambulation was achieved in 96.7% of patients (n = 29). The complication rate was 33.3% (n = 10), with wound breakdown (n = 6, 20.0%) as most common feature. There were no significant differences in limb salvage, total or partial flap loss, fracture union, and donor-site complications based on flap type. Fasciocutaneous flaps were more likely to require revision procedures for contour compared with muscle flaps (55.6 vs. 9.5%, p = 0.013). Mean follow-up was 8.5 years. Conclusion Microsurgical reconstruction of pediatric foot and ankle defects results in high rates of limb salvage. A defect- and patient-centered approach to reconstruction, emphasizing durable coverage and contour, is critical to facilitating ambulation and ensuring favorable long-term functional outcomes.
Trumped by Trump? Public Support for Mail Voting in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

How much is support for vote by mail (VBM) impacted by partisan considerations and personal considerations related to the COVID-19 pandemic? Using surveys of registered voters conducted in April an...
Optimizing Post-Cesarean Opioid Prescription Practices at Mayo Clinic: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

OBJECTIVE Optimal prescriptions practices of opioids in the post-cesarean period remain controversial. The primary aim of this initiative was to minimize unused prescription narcotic medication, with a goal of ≤4 leftover pills of 5-mg oxycodone at postoperative day (POD) 14 without affecting pain or satisfaction measures. STUDY DESIGN This was a prospective longitudinal quality improvement (QI) initiative starting in 2017 utilizing the DMAIC methodology. The measurement phase consisted of validated surveys over 3 months, along with chart review to determine current institutional prescription practices and predictors of outpatient opioid use. Resulting recommendations were adopted, and 1 year later, all patients undergoing cesarean were surveyed for 3 months to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. The study was approved by the Department's QI Committee. RESULTS The response rate was 48%, with 50 of 101 patients completing surveys pre-intervention and 52 of 111 post-intervention. Pre-intervention, surplus medication was predicted (p <0.05) only by the quantity of the opioid prescription. In addition, patients who required ≤37.5 morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) during the inpatient postoperative stay did not require outpatient narcotic prescriptions. Thereafter, a strategy of matching inpatient use to outpatient prescription 1:1 in a linear regression model (p <0.001, R2 0.55) optimally matched patient needs up to 200 MME. In the post-intervention survey, mean (SD) prescription decreased from 17.6 (13.7) MME to 8.4 (8.3) MME (p <0.01); 39% compared with 16% of women were discharged without a prescription (p <0.01); and amongst all patients 82.7% compared with 59.6% (p <0.01) had ≤4 pills remaining without differences in patient satisfaction or pain perception. CONCLUSION This initiative highlights a practical approach to QI utilizing industry techniques in health care. This approach resulted in significant reductions in over-prescription and unused medication, without impacting pain or satisfaction scores. KEY POINTS · 20% of patients may manage pain at home without opioids.. · In-hospital opioid use is reflective of outpatient need.. · Customize prescriptions to reduce leftover narcotics..
Acriflavine Induction of Different Kinds of “Petite” Mitochondrial Populations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract Avers, Charlotte J. (Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, N. J.), Cynthia R. Pfeffer, and Martha W. Rancourt. Acriflavine induction of different kinds of “petite” mitochondrial populations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J. Bacteriol. 90:481–494. 1965.—Mutant frequencies induced by 1 or 2 hr in 16 and 64 μg/ml of acriflavine were significantly higher during acceleration and log-phase exposures than during lag or stationary phases. From these induced petites, 59 colonies were selected at random and established in pure culture. All strains were analyzed histochemically for mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) reactions. On the basis of counts of stained mitochondria per cell obtained by light microscopy, four different cell phenotypes were recognized among the mutant strains: (i) reduced cytochrome oxidase, wild-type SDH; (ii) reduced cytochrome oxidase, high SDH; (iii) absent cytochrome oxidase, high SDH; and (iv) absent cytochrome oxidase, wild-type SDH. The last group was the most common, characterizing 43 of the 59 strains. Electron microscopy showed differences in mitochondrial ultrastructure for the various cell phenotype classes. Electron histochemical localizations showed cytochrome oxidase reaction product only on mitochondrial membranes of respiration-competent cells. Both reactive and unreactive mitochondria occurred in the same cell in mutants with partial respiratory competence. Different mitochondrial subpopulation mixtures characterized the mutant strains, many of which had at least two kinds of respiratory-competent types per chondriome. The diverse chondriomes comprised a stable feature of the mutants, since they have been maintained unchanged during serial transfer for more than 1 year in culture. Together with earlier reports of at least two kinds of mitochondria in wild-type cells, the evidence indicated that mitochondria were capable of regulating some portion of their phenotype. The recognition of mitochondrial phenotypes was proposed as an initial step in a formal analysis of organelle heredity.
Performance evaluation in 1: 1 biometric engines

Performance of a biometric system is characterized by its speed, accuracy, and cost This paper presents fundamentals of 1 : 1 biometric match engine accuracy performance metrics and its evaluation Here, we explain the basic terminology, performance metrics and related system issues We also discuss practical methods used for evaluating 1 : 1 biometric match engine accuracy performance and provide a summary of the state-of-art of biometric identifier accuracies.
Foreclosure Contagion and REO versus non- REO Sales

Using ZIP code-level data on foreclosure rates, distressed and non-distressed sales in Chicago, Illinois we examine the REO discount. We find significant differences in the difference in price between distressed and non-distressed properties in high- versus low-foreclosure rate neighborhoods. We expand this analysis to determine if trends in the REO discount can be explained by trends in foreclosure rates and if this correlation can be used to identify a ‘tipping point’ in foreclosure rates. We identify key relationships between trends in the REO discount, the proportion of REO sales to total sales and sales volume.
Recent Results on Charm Semileptonic Decays

We review the recent results on D and D_s meson semileptonic decays from CLEO-c, BABAR, and Belle. Comparisons with lattice quantum chromodynamics (LQCD) calculations and implications for B physics are also discussed.
Beyond Ockham's Razor: Redefining Problem-Solving in Clinical Sleep Medicine using a “Five-Finger” Approach

The rule of diagnostic parsimony—otherwise known as “Ockham's Razor”—teaches students of medicine to find a single unifying diagnosis to explain a given patient's symptoms. While this approach has merits in some settings, a more comprehensive approach is often needed for patients with chronic, nonspecific presentations for which there is a broad differential diagnosis. The cardinal manifestations of sleep disorders—daytime neurocognitive impairment and subjective sleep disturbances—are examples of such presentations. Successful sleep medicine clinicians therefore approach every patient with the knowledge that multiple diagnoses—rather than simply one—are likely to be found. Teaching an integrated and comprehensive approach to other clinicians in an organized and reproducible fashion is challenging, and the evaluation of effectiveness of such teaching is even more so. As a practical aid for teaching the approach to—and evaluation of—a comprehensive sleep medicine encounter, five functional domains of sleep medicine clinical problem-solving are presented as potential sources for sleep/wake disruption: (1) circadian misalignment, (2) pharmacologic factors, (3) medical factors, (4) psychiatric/psychosocial factors, and (5) primary sleep medicine diagnoses. These domains are presented and explained in an easy-to-remember “five finger” format. The five finger format can be used in real time to evaluate the completeness of a clinical encounter, or can be used in the design of standardized patients to identify areas of strength and potential weakness. A score sheet based upon this approach is offered as an alternative to commonly used Likert scales as a potentially more objective and practical measure of clinical problem-solving competence, making it useful for training programs striving to achieve or maintain fellowship accreditation. Citation: McCarty DE. Beyond Ockham's Razor: redefining problem-solving in clinical sleep medicine using a “five-finger” approach. J Clin Sleep Med 2010;6(3):292-269.
Ethics and Newborn Genetic Screening: New Technologies, New Challenges

Immunology: Clinical Case Studies and Disease Pathophysiology is a well-written transcript that underscores the importance of understanding basic immunology to translational modern medicine. Using 26 in-depth case studies, the reader is familiarized with immunodeficiency diseases, autoimmunity disorders, malignancies and immediate hypersensitivity, and mast cell disorders. Each case study is presented in a detailed immunological background supported by real data and handy references. The problem set at the end of each chapter, plus full-color photographs and illustrations, facilitate understanding of the complex diseases being discussed. The authors also include a chapter on laboratory tests used in the diagnosis of immunological disorders, thereby allowing the reader to appreciate the importance of laboratory medicine in clinical outcomes. The authors execute their case studies well in the larger context of disease occurrence in the general population, providing a complete overview of the disease process from manifestation diagnosis through treatment. This book is a great study aid and reference guide for all immunologists. It would make an ideal text for anyone interested in understanding immunological disease from both diagnosis and treatment standpoints.
“No Weapon Save Argument”: Strategic Frame Amplification in the U.S. Woman Suffrage Movements

U.S. woman suffragists routinely utilized two types of arguments in their demands for voting rights: justice and reform. The former argument held that women should vote because they were men's equa...
Conservation in the Anthropocene

IT HAS BECOME COMMONPLACE to remark that humans are now the dominant environmental force on the Earth. The indications are strong and diverse. They range from paleontologists reaching a consensus that humans contributed to megafaunal extinctions on at least two continents, North America and Australia;1 recognition that formerly intact marine ecosystems have changed enormously;2 suggestions that climate has changed sufficiently that no ecosystem is immune from alterations in species composition;3 remarks that pollution is widespread even in Antarctica;4 and arguments that human predation on mammals is pernicious and the principal driver of changes in phenotypic traits of exploited species in many areas.5 Some scientists use geographic data to show that human activities affect almost every terrestrial system (e.g., the human footprint6). Indeed, the current epoch is now being referred to as “the Anthropocene,”7 which has led geologists to formally debate stratigraphic evidence for this new phenomenon and to argue over not if but when it began.8 With the catchword Anthropocene in ascendancy, one might easily come away with the impression that nowhere on Earth is natural, in one of the word’s specific meanings of ecosystems being untouched by humans,9 and indeed it is common to hear the phrase “humans have altered everything.”
Functional and molecular responses of human intestinal Caco-2 cells to iron treatment

Background: Divalent metal transporter I (DMT1), HFE, and stimulator of iron transport (SFT) are transmembrane proteins that have been implicated in the regulation of iron homeostasis. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether absorption and transepithelial movement of iron correlated with gene expression of DMT1, HFE, and SFT in an experimental model of human absorptive enterocytes. Design: Caco-2 cells were exposed to iron-supplemented media in either the presence or the absence of serum for 24, 72, and 168 h. At each time point, the uptake and transepithelial movement of iron were examined and gene expression of DMT HFE, and SFT was measured. Manganese and zinc absorption was also examined at 168 h. Results: Iron treatment in the presence or absence of serum reduced the uptake and transepithelial movement of iron by 50% after 72 and 168 h. No effect was observed at 24 h. The uptake and transepithelial movement of manganese were similar to those of iron at 168 h, whereas the effects on zinc were less pronounced. In the absence of serum, iron treatment was associated with a reduction of DMT1 expression by 50% at 72 and 168 h. HFE expression was dependent on serum, but iron treatment did not alter HFE expression. SFT expression was not affected by iron. Conclusions: Iron treatment decreased cellular uptake of iron, manganese, and zinc, suggesting that these metals may utilize the same apical transporter. The transepithelial movement of iron and manganese, but not of zinc, was reduced across iron-treated Caco-2 cells, suggesting that iron and manganese are regulated by the same mechanism at the basolateral membrane. The gene expression of DMT 1, HFE, and SFT did not fully correlate with the functional responses of Caco-2 cells. This may have been a result of posttranscriptional regulation of these genes or regulation of other genes involved in the uptake and transepithelial movement of iron in Caco-2 cells.
Total Pancreaticoduodenectomy and Segmental Resection of Superior Mesenteric Vein-Portal Vein Confluence with Autologous Splenic Vein Graft in Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma of the Pancreas

Context Mucinous cystic tumors occur almost exclusively in middle-aged women and in the body or tail of the pancreas. Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, a malignant sub-type of mucinous cystic tumors, in the head of the pancreas and in a middle-aged man is extraordinary, and the prognosis and proper management of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma has not been well documented. Case report A 52-year-old male patient with a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma approximately 5.5 cm in size in the head of the pancreas underwent a total pancreaticoduodenectomy and segmental resection of the superior mesenteric vein-portal vein confluence with an autologous splenic vein graft due to tumor invasion. His postoperative course was uneventful and he received adjuvant chemotherapy. He has been followed-up periodically for more than 30 months after surgery without evidence of recurrence. Conclusion Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma in the head of the pancreas in a middle-aged man is an extremely rare case. Because mucinous cystadenocarcinomas have a relatively good prognosis, an aggressive approach with major vascular resection is warranted in well-selected patients. Splenic vein interposition grafting could be used in cases which undergo total pancreaticoduodenectomy with segmental resection of the superior mesenteric vein-portal vein confluence if the splenic vein is healthy. Image: Preoperative studies.
The turbidimetric evaluation of platelet aggregation caused by bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

Die Aggregation von Blutplattchen durchEscherichia coli Endotoxin wurde untersucht: Die Blutplattchenanhaufung erweist sich anfanglich als langsam, dann aber als sehr schnelle Abnahme der optischen Dichte eines blutplattchenreichen Plasmas. Die schnelle Abnahme der optischen Dichte konnte durch Heparin, und zwar nur in grosserer Menge, unterdruckt werden. Der Beginn der schnellen Ansammlung wurde durch Adenosin verzogert, wobei aber Adenosin keine Wirkung auf den Grad der Anhaufung durch das Endotoxin hatte. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass in vitro Thrombin und Adenosindiphosphat die Thrombozytenaggregation durch Endotoxin unterstutzen.
Recording and processing of silver-halide color holograms

Color holograms recorded in panchromatic, single-layer ultra-high-resolution silver-halide emulsions have been previously reported. Color reflection holography presents no problems as regards the geometry of the recording setup, but the final result is highly dependent on the recording material used. The processing of such emulsions is critical in order to obtain high diffraction efficiency and good color rendering. In particular, preventing emulsion shrinkage is extremely important. The recording procedure and the processing steps will be described.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Space-charge effects in low-energy proton synchrotrons

We have studied space-charge effects in low-energy proton synchrotrons using a simulation code developed specifically for supercomputers. The tracking of the beam with a few thousand macro particles is completely self-consistent, thus making it possible to follow the charge distribution as well as the beam size as a function of time. A proper substitution of the kick for the continuous space-charge force has been considered. The simulation is performed for a model lattice (similar to the SSC low energy booster) with and without half-integer resonances. In the lattice with the resonances, the rms emittance growth often observed in experiments occurs and the phase space density limit appears. The limiting value is, however, not directly related to the Laslett formula as expected. If we look at individual particles, there is a bare tune region where the real tune of some particles modified by space charge is within the resonance width. In the lattice without half-integer resonances, the rms emittance growth also occurs. It is associated with higher-order resonances driven by the beam itself. Only the tail of the beam is affected by the resonance, and the phase space density at the core remains almost unchanged.
Centennial Trend and Decadal-to-Interdecadal Variability of Atmospheric Angular Momentum in CMIP3 and CMIP5 Simulations

AbstractThe climatology and trend of atmospheric angular momentum from the phase 3 and the phase 5 Climate Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3 and CMIP5, respectively) simulations are diagnosed and validated with the Twentieth Century Reanalysis (20CR). It is found that CMIP5 models produced a significantly smaller bias in the twentieth-century climatology of the relative MR and omega MΩ angular momentum compared to CMIP3. The CMIP5 models also produced a narrower ensemble spread of the climatology and trend of MR and MΩ. Both CMIP3 and CMIP5 simulations consistently produced a positive trend in MR and MΩ for the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The trend for the twenty-first century is much greater, reflecting the role of greenhouse gas (GHG) forcing in inducing the trend. The simulated increase in MR for the twentieth century is consistent with reanalysis. Both CMIP3 and CMIP5 models produced a wide range of magnitudes of decadal and interdecadal variability of MR compared to 20CR. The ratio of th...
The effect of systemic PTEN antagonist peptides on axon growth and functional recovery after spinal cord injury

Knockout studies suggest that PTEN limits the regenerative capacities of CNS axons as a dominant antagonist of PI3 kinase, but the transgenic approach is not feasible for treating patients. Although application of bisperoxovanadium may block PTEN function, it is a general inhibitor of phosphotyrosine phosphatases and may target enzymes other than PTEN, causing side effects and preventing firm conclusions about PTEN inhibition on regulating neuronal growth. A pharmacological method to selectively suppress PTEN post-injury could be a valuable strategy for promoting CNS axon regeneration. We identified PTEN antagonist peptides (PAPs) by targeting PTEN critical functional domains and evaluated their efficacy for promoting axon growth. Four PAPs (PAP 1–4) bound to PTEN protein expressed in COS7 cells and blocked PTEN signaling in vivo. Subcutaneous administration of PAPs initiated two days after dorsal over-hemisection injury significantly stimulated growth of descending serotonergic fibers in the caudal spinal cord of adult mice. Systemic PAPs induce significant sprouting of corticospinal fibers in the rostral spinal cord and limited growth of corticospinal axons in the caudal spinal cord. More importantly, PAP treatment enhanced recovery of locomotor function in adult rodents with spinal cord injury. This study may facilitate development of effective therapeutic agents for CNS injuries.
Molecular Architecture and Evolution of a Modular Spider Silk Protein Gene

Spider flagelliform silk is one of the most elastic natural materials known. Extensive sequencing of spider silk genes has shown that the exons and introns of the flagelliform gene underwent intragenic concerted evolution. The intron sequences are more homogenized within a species than are the exons. This pattern can be explained by extreme mutation and recombination pressures on the internally repetitive exons. The iterated sequences within exons encode protein structures that are critical to the function of silks. Therefore, attributes that make silks exceptional biomaterials may also hinder the fixation of optimally adapted protein sequences.
An Update on Fibromyalgia Syndrome: The Multimodal Therapeutic Approach

Fibromyalgia is a chronic, musculoskeletal, noninflammatory pain disorder. Patients frequently suffer from sleep disturbances, headaches, anxiety, morning stiffness, and a poor sense of well-being. It is estimated that approximately 6 million Americans live with this condition. Fibromyalgia is characterized by the presence of at least 11 tender points, as well as widespread bilateral pain for at least 3 months. If left untreated, it may lead to a significant impairment in patients' quality of life or even disability. Although the exact pathophysiology of fibromyalgia remains a source of speculation, several treatment modalities are available to patients with this condition. Among nonpharmacological options, cognitive-behavioral therapy, patient education, exercise, physical therapy, and diet have all been found effective in reducing the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Pregabalin, a second-generation anticonvulsant, and duloxetine (a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) are the only pharmac...
Attenuation of hyperalgesia by LY235959, a competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist.

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists may be of value in the management of hyperalgesia. LY235959, a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, at doses of 0.001 and 0.003 nmol, intrathecally (i.t.) blocked the hyperalgesia induced by 11.1 nmol of NMDA in rats prepared with a chronic i.t. cannula. However, LY235959 does not block the hyperalgesia produced by kainic acid (a non-NMDA glutamate receptor agonist) providing evidence of its selectivity for the NMDA receptor. Using the formalin nociceptive test, 0.001 nmol LY235959 (i.t.) significantly reduced the number of Phase 2 flinches by about 80%. LY235959 can also reduce the flinching in Phase 2 by 30% when given subcutaneously (s.c.) at the lowest dose which does not produce motor deficits (20 mmol/kg). Thus, LY235959 (i.t. or s.c.) has NMDA receptor antagonist activity as defined by its ability to prevent hyperalgesia and formalin-induced central sensitization. Moreover, it is a much more potent antihyperalgesic after i.t. as compared to s.c. administration.
Interfacial polar ordering and anomalous tilt angles at isotropic-nematic interfaces.

We employ phenomenological methods to discuss the way that interfacial polar ordering of liquid crystals may affect the orientation (tilt angle) of a bulk nematic phase near an isotropic-nematic interface. The theory invokes the up-down asymmetry of the molecules to account for the anomalous behavior of substances (e.g., the n-alkyl cyanobiphenyls) that exhibit tilt angles other than 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} or 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. In the absence of this asymmetry, the molecules in the bulk nematic phase must lie either parallel or perpendicular to a diffuse isotropic-nematic interface. We rule out several other ostensibly reasonable mechanisms by which a nematic phase might tilt at an isotropic-nematic interface.
Sensorimotor Locus of the Buildup Activity in Monkey Lateral Intraparietal Area Neurons

A study in 2002 using a random-dot motion-discrimination paradigm showed that an information accumulation model with a threshold-crossing mechanism can account for activity of the lateral intrapari...
The stereoselective inhibition of lipolysis by nonphenolic phenethylamines.

Abstract Inhibition of norepinephrine-induced lipolysis by the steroisomers of ephedrine and phenyl-2-piperidyl carbinol and the diastereomers of 8-hydroxy-6,7-benzomorphan was investigated in rat adipose tissue, in vitro. Relative inhibitory actions of stereoisomers were observed to be 1R,2S > 1S,2R = 1R,2R = 1S,2S. In each series, the erythro-configuration or 1R,2S enantiomer was best accomodated by the adrenergic adipose tissue receptor system.
Determination of Energies and Lifetimes of the Metastable Auto-Ionizing ( 1 s 2 s 2 p ) P 4 States of Li 6 and Li 7 by a Zeeman-Quenching Technique

A Zeeman-quenching atomic-beam method has been utilized for the determination of the fine- and hyperfine-structure energies and auto-ionization lifetimes of the metastable $(1s2s2p)^{4}P_{J}$ states of ${\mathrm{Li}}^{6}$ and ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}$. Both the fine-structure intervals and the lifetimes of the $J=\frac{3}{2}$ and $J=\frac{1}{2}$ states are found to be in disagreement with existing theoretical calculations. The quenching of metastable lithium atoms in a nonuniform magnetic field can be satisfactorily described with the aid of the "adiabatic criterion." The present results also permit a quantitative evaluation of a proposal for producing polarized lithium nuclei.
On the least K-th power non-residue

LetC k (p) denote the group of thek-th powers (modp)p a prime with (k, p −1)>1. A new elementary result for the leastk-th power non-residue is given and the result is applied to finding a new elementary bound for the maximum number of consecutuve integers in any coset ofC k (p).
Children's Accounts of Sibling Jealousy and Their Implicit Theories about Relationships

In two studies, fifth- and sixth-grade children's descriptive accounts of sibling jealousy were related to their implicit theories about relationships. Children's jealousy accounts were collected via structured interviews; their implicit theories were assessed by questionnaire. In both studies, children reported experiencing mild to moderate jealousy with diverted attention and favoritism as primary causes. In Study 1 (N = 63; M age = 11 years, 9 months), children who endorsed malleable (incremental) theories about relationships reported longer and more intense jealousy than children who reported fixed (entity) theories about relationships. Findings from Study 2 (N = 42; M age = 10 years, 9 months) replicated Study 1 and additionally demonstrated that malleable theorists' time being jealous was spent generating more mastery-oriented ways to deal with the situation as compared to fixed theorists.
Direct Sulfonation of Methane to Methanesulfonic Acid by Sulfur Trioxide Catalyzed by Cerium(IV) Sulfate in the Presence of Molecular Oxygen

Direct sulfonation of methane with SO3 to methanesulfonic acid (MSA) is accomplished in sul- furic acid with almost 100% selectivity in the pres- ence of a catalyst, namely, Ce and Rh salts and mo- lecular oxygen as the catalyst regenerator. In the ab- sence of O2, the catalyst remains effective but the se- lectivity to MSA decreases to 53% and byproducts, principally CH3OSO3H, are formed. The effects of O2 pressure, catalyst concentration, temperature, SO3 concentration, and methane pressure have been examined on the rate of SO3 conversion to MSA. The conversion of SO3 to MSA was the same when CF3SO3H was used as the solvent instead of H2SO4.
Aging, estradiol and time of day differentially affect serotonin transporter binding in the central nervous system of female rats

Estrogen-related changes in serotonergic neuronal transmission, including changes in the number of serotonin transporter (SERT) binding sites, have been cited as a possible cause for changes in mood, memory and sleep that occur during the menopausal transition. However, both aging and estradiol regulate SERT binding sites in the brain. The goal of this experiment was to determine how aging and estrogen interact to regulate SERT levels in the forebrain of young and reproductively senescent female Sprague-Dawley rats using [3H]paroxetine. The density of specific [3H]paroxetine binding in various brain regions was compared in young (2-4 months) and reproductively senescent (10-12 months) female rats at three times of day. In most brain regions examined, estrogen and aging independently increased the number of [3H]paroxetine binding sites. The only region that displayed a reduction in [3H]paroxetine binding with age was the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Time of day influenced [3H]paroxetine binding in the SCN and the paraventricular thalamus (PVT), two regions known to be involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms. Aging and/or estrogen also altered the pattern of binding in these regions. Thus, based on the results of this study, we conclude that aging and estrogen both act to regulate SERT binding sites in the forebrain of female rats, and that this regulation is region specific.
Success of ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access with skin marking.

Objectives: The most effective technique for ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access (USGPIVA) is unknown. In the traditional short-axis technique (locate, align, puncture [LAP]), the target vessel is aligned in short axis with the center of the transducer. The needle is then directed toward the target under real-time ultrasound (US) guidance. Locate, align, mark, puncture (LAMP) requires the extra step of marking the skin at two points over the path of the vein and proceeding with direct visualization as in LAP. The difference in success between these two techniques was compared among variably experienced emergency physician and emergency nurse operators. Methods: Subjects in an urban academic emergency department (ED) were randomized to obtain intravenous (IV) access using either LAP or LAMP after two failed blind attempts. Primary outcomes were success of the procedure and time to complete the procedure in variably experienced operators. Results: A total of 101 patients were enrolled. There was no difference in success between LAP and LAMP, even among the least experienced operators. Of successful attempts, LAMP took longer than LAP (median 4 minutes, interquartile range [IQR] 4–10.5 vs. median 2.9 minutes, IQR 1.6–7; p = 0.004). Only the most experienced operators were associated with higher levels of success (first attempt odds ratio [OR] 6.64; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2 to 22). Overall success with up to two attempts was 73%. Complications included a 2.8% arterial puncture rate and 12% infiltration rate. Conclusions: LAMP did not improve success of USGPIVA in variably experienced operators. Experience was associated with higher rates of success for USGPIVA.
A disintegrin and metalloproteinase-12 (ADAM12): function, roles in disease progression, and clinical implications.

Abstract Background A disintegrin and metalloproteinase-12 (ADAM12) is a member of the greater ADAM family of enzymes: these are multifunctional, generally membrane-bound, zinc proteases for which there are forty genes known (21 of these appearing in humans). ADAM12 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various cancers, liver fibrogenesis, hypertension, and asthma, and its elevation or decrease in human serum has been linked to these and other physiological/pathological conditions. Scope In this review, we begin with a brief overview of the ADAM family of enzymes and protein structure. We then discuss the role of ADAM12 in the progression and/or diagnosis of various disease conditions, and we will conclude with an exploration of currently known natural and synthetic inhibitors. Major conclusion ADAM12 has potential to emerge as a successful drug target, although targeting the metalloproteinase domain with any specificity will be difficult to achieve due to structural similarity between the members of the ADAM and MMP family of enzymes. Overall, more research is required to establish ADAM12 being as a highly desirable biomarker and drug target of different diseases, and their selective inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents. General significance Given the appearance of elevated levels of ADAM12 in various diseases, particularly breast cancer, our understanding of this enzyme both as a biomarker and a potential drug target could help make significant inroads into both early diagnosis and treatment of disease.
A formal characterization of PIVOT/UNPIVOT

PIVOT is an important relational operation that allows data in rows to be exchanged for columns. Although most current relational database management systems support PIVOT-type operations, to date a purely formal, algebraic characterization of PIVOT has been lacking. In this paper, we present a characterization in terms of extended relational algebra operators τ (transpose), Π (drop projection), and μ (unique optimal tuple merge). This enables us to (1) draw parallels with PIVOT and existing operators employed in Dynamic Data Mapping Systems (DDMS), (2) formally characterize invertible PIVOT instances, and (3) provide complexity results for PIVOT-type operations. These contributions are an important part of ongoing work on formal models for relational OLAP.
“Fluffing up the evidence and covering your ASS:” Some conceptual notes on police lying

There are numerous circumstances in which police officers lie. They lie to complainants, victims and criminal suspects. Officers even lie in court, on official reports and to supervisors. The officer may be effecting an act of corruption, getting a problem suspect off the street, or convicting the guilty. However, the two most common instances of police lying occur under more mundane or “normal” circumstances. The officer may have some evidence and feel the need to “fluff it up” to make a more convincing case or he/she may feel additional points are needed to establish probable cause or avoid constitutional or other legal restrictions. The second most common instance occurs when the officer feels he/she must lie to avoid organizational discipline or criminal and/or civil liability.
Conformational differences in bacterial ribosomal RNAs in non-denaturing conditions

THE conservative nature of bacterial ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is clear from the narrow range of its guanosine–cytosine (GC) content compared with the base composition of whole cell DNA. The majority of bacterial DNAs contain from 35 to 75 % GC, whereas the GC content of rRNA is restricted to a narrow range of 50–53% (ref. 1). Indeed, the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of many bacterial species can be isolated from sheared preparations of whole cell DNA solely on the basis of its GC content. Furthermore, nucleic acid hybridisation has indicated considerable homology between the rRNAs of diverse bacterial species2–4 and helped provide phylogenetic support for taxo-nomic relationships. In an investigation of 22 different bacteria Pace and Campbell found that organisms whose rRNA showed closer homology to Escherichia coli rRNA, showed less rRNA homology to Bacillus stearothermophilus rRNA and vice versa2. Both sedimentation and gel electrophoresis studies in non-denaturing conditions have shown very small, if any, migratory differences between either the 23S or 16S rRNA species of different bacterial species5,6. By using a modified buffer system coupled with double labelling, we have found that both the large and small species of rRNA from Streptococcus faecalis, B. subtilis, and E. coli can be all distinguished on the basis of significant differences in their mobility in both composite polyacrylamide–Agarose gels and polyacrylamide gels.
Transistor input distortion and emitter degeneration

In the design of class A transistor amplifiers it is desirable to be able to predict and control the amount of distortion produced by the nonlinearity of the transistor input characteristic. This note presents an extension of a previously published method, to include the effects of emitter degeneration. The result provides a convenient means of determining the degenerations required to reduce the second-harmonic distortion to a given level.
Energy Balance Models Incorporating Transport of Thermal and Latent Energy

Abstract Standard latitudinally resolved energy balance models describe conservation of energy on a sphere subject to solar heating, cooling by infrared radiation and diffusive redistribution of energy according to a Fourier type heat flow with flux proportional to the gradient of temperature. The model determines the distribution of temperature with latitude T(x). Here we consider a similar model, the two phase model, in which we allow for transport of both thermal energy of air and latent heat associated with water vapor. We use the two phase model to calculate climate change, i.e., ΔT(x), as a function of varying insolation and changing concentration of atmospheric CO2 under the assumption that relative humidity does not change. We compare the results with calculations from standard energy balance models and general circulation models. The distribution of warming with latitude for doubled atmospheric CO2 found with the two phase model agrees far better with the pattern of warming found in GCM studies t...
Uric acid in childhood essential hypertension.

Serum uric acid concentrations and the fractional excretion of uric acid were determined in 31 children from 3 1/2 to 18 years of age with essential hypertension. While on an unrestricted sodium intake, elevated serum values of uric acid were found in 13 of 31 (42%) of the children. After ingesting a low-sodium diet (200 mg/day) for three days, mean serum uric acid values increased by 0.7 mg/dl ( P
Dopamine transporter-dependent and -independent actions of trace amine β-phenylethylamine

Beta-phenylethylamine (beta-PEA) is an endogenous amine that is found in trace amounts in the brain. It is believed that the locomotor-stimulating action of beta-PEA, much like amphetamine, depends on its ability to increase extracellular dopamine (DA) concentrations owing to reversal of the direction of dopamine transporter (DAT)-mediated DA transport. beta-PEA can also bind directly to the recently identified G protein-coupled receptors, but the physiological significance of this interaction is unclear. To assess the mechanism by which beta-PEA mediates its effects, we compared the neurochemical and behavioral effects of this amine in wild type (WT), heterozygous and 'null' DAT mutant mice. In microdialysis studies, beta-PEA, administered either systemically or locally via intrastriatal infusion, produced a pronounced outflow of striatal DA in WT mice whereas no increase was detected in mice lacking the DAT (DAT-KO mice). Similarly, in fast-scan voltammetry studies beta-PEA did not alter DA release and clearance rate in striatal slices from DAT-KO mice. In behavioral studies beta-PEA produced a robust but transient increase in locomotor activity in WT and heterozygous mice. In DAT-KO mice, whose locomotor activity and stereotypy are increased in a novel environment, beta-PEA (10-100 mg/kg) exerted a potent inhibitory action. At high doses, beta-PEA induced stereotypies in WT and heterozygous mice; some manifestations of stereotypy were also observed in the DAT-KO mice. These data demonstrate that the DAT is required for the striatal DA-releasing and hyperlocomotor actions of beta-PEA. The inhibitory action on hyperactivity and certain stereotypies induced by beta-PEA in DAT-KO mice indicate that targets other than the DAT are responsible for these effects.
Interferon Stimulation by a Double Stranded RNA of a Mycophage in Statolon Preparations

PREPARATIONS of statolon derived from fermentation broths of Penicillium stoloniferum are capable of inducing interferon and contain particles with viral morphology1–2. Interferon inducing activity is separable into a small molecular and a particulate fraction by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Electron microscopy showed that particles are present only in the particulate fraction. Although earlier results suggested that the activity was associated with a polysaccharide3, this theory was no longer tenable after our discovery and description of virus particles and interferon activity associated primarily with the particles1–2. Lampson et al.4 reported that the active component of helenine, obtained from fermentation broths of Penicillium funiculosum and an inducer of interferon, is a double stranded RNA. Because double stranded RNAs have so far been found only in viruses or in cells infected with RNA virus, we undertook to determine whether the statolon particle contains double stranded RNA. The nature of the small molecular fraction was also examined.
Introducing RapidHDL: A New Library to Design FPGA Hardware in Microsoft. Net and Automatically Generate Verilog Netlists

RapidHDL is introduced as a new object oriented hardware description library for C# developers. RapidHDL seeks to speed up FPGA development by applying best practices used in software engineering to increase productivity. Logic is rapidly defined in component classes using a structure of truth-table definitions, sink nodes, source nodes, and pass-through nodes. Hardware simulation co-runs with C# programs, and a linked-list of clock events simulates propagation delays. A standardized testing framework allows the developer to write test benches, hardware, and software in a single language. Algorithms are presented to automatically transform RapidHDL objects to Verilog netlist that can be synthesized by calling 3rd party tools
Restriction endonuclease inhibitor IPI* of bacteriophage T4: a novel structure for a dedicated target.

Abstract Phage T4 protects its DNA from the two-gene-encoded gmrS/gmrD (glucose-modified hydroxymethylcytosine restriction endonuclease) CT of pathogenic Escherichia coli, CT596, by injecting several hundred copies of the 76-amino-acid-residue nuclease inhibitor, IPI*, into the infected host. Here, the three-dimensional solution structure of mature IPI* is reported as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance techniques using 1290 experimental nuclear Overhauser effect and dipolar coupling constraints (∼ 17 constraints per residue). Close examination of this oblate-shaped protein structure reveals a novel fold consisting of two small β-sheets (β1: B1 and B2; β2: B3–B5) flanked at the N- and C-termini by α-helices (H1 and H2). Such a fold is very compact in shape and allows ejection of IPI* through the narrow 30-A portal and tail tube apertures of the virion without unfolding. Structural and dynamic measurements identify an exposed hydrophobic knob that is a putative gmrS/gmrD-binding site. A single gene from the uropathogenic E. coli UT189, which codes for a gmrS/gmrD-like UT fusion enzyme (with ∼ 90% identity to the heterodimeric CT enzyme), has evolved IPI* inhibitor immunity. Analysis of the gmrS/gmrD restriction endonuclease enzyme family and its IPI* family phage antagonists reveals an evolutionary pathway that has elaborated a surprisingly diverse and specifically fitted set of coevolving attack and defense structures.
A technique for encoding lines and regions in engineering drawings

Abstract An improvement to a method of extracting line and region information from technical drawings is presented. A scheme for compressing this information as it is being found is also given. The encoding scheme is based on a combination of run-length codes, direction chain codes, and Huffman codes. It is efficient, requires minimal storage, and achieves favorable compression ratios. Experimental results from four typical line drawings are presented.
Coordinated heat removal from the equatorial Pacific during the 1986–87 El Niño

Utilizing radiation data from Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE), circulation statistics from NCEP reanalysis, and assimilated ocean data for the tropical Pacific basin, we show that the surface ocean warming during the 1986-87 El Nino is not only accompanied by significant increases in the cloud reflection of the solar radiation, but also by marked increases in the poleward energy transport in both the atmosphere and ocean. Measured over the equatorial region, the feedback from the ocean dynamics is twice as large as from the atmospheric dynamics which in turn is twice as large as the feedback from the cloud albedo. The three feedbacks constitute a strong regulatory effect upon the equatorial SST. The results reveal a prominent role of El Nino in the heat removal from the equatorial Pacific.
Multiple Gene Loci for the Monomeric Hemoglobin of the Hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii)

The fact that members of the subclass Cyclotomata possess monomeric hemoglobin molecules has been known for some time. Electrophoresis of hemolysates from 12 hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii) revealed five hemoglobin phenotypes with four to six distinct zones of hemoglobin. Each zone is believed to represent a monomer containing one heme group on a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of approximately 18,000. It is postulated that these monomers are controlled by genes at four loci.