cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of Membrane Protein Crystallization

In spite of the importance of membrane proteins (MPs) in many essential biochemical pathways, there are limited high-resolution structures of this class of proteins in the Protein Data Bank. This is mostly due to the difficulties in obtaining well-diffracting crystals, as crystallization phenomena are not well-understood and crystals are obtained largely by trial-and-error. Our approach for improving in surfo MP crystallization is focused on the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactant monomers and their interaction with common precipitating agents, including poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) and 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol (MPD). The phenomena were investigated using two model MPs - reaction center from Rhodobacter sphaeroides and outer membrane protein X expressed in Escherichia coli. Protein-detergent complexes (PDCs) of these proteins were studied at molecular and nanoscopic length scales using multiple techniques, including NMR, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and small-angle scattering (i.e., SANS and SAXS) under crystallization conditions. We found that surfactant microstructure changes significantly in the presence of precipitating agents, and the CMC of surfactant monomers increases due to the favorable interaction with precipitants and additives. ITC dilution measurements showed an increase in the CMC over a broad range of crystallization conditions reported in the literature, indicating that precipitants act as co-solvents of monomeric surfactants. Additionally, NMR and scattering results suggest the formation of a complex between precipitant and surfactant molecules and shrinkage in the detergent micelle dimensions, respectively. Our crystallization trials with model MPs indicate that optimal crystallization conditions were closely correlated to the detergent concentrations at or slightly below the measured detergent CMC in a protein-free environment; excess surfactant conditions (> CMC) tend to inhibit crystal formation, while lower surfactant conditions (< CMC) promote aggregation. We propose a rational design of crystallization trials can be made based on a priori knowledge of surfactant CMCs under crystallization conditions.
Cost Comparison between Heart Transplantation and Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Background: The increasing number of end-stage heart failure patients along with improvements in technology and a relative donor organ shortage have led to an increased use of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) as bridge-to-transplants (BTT). Given the current economic emphasis on cost versus patient benefit and outcome, we sought to compare the financial effectiveness of heart transplant (HTX) and LVAD surgeries. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed our prospectively maintained HTX and LVAD databases from 1/1/2009 to 6/30/ 2013. The patient’s records were cross referenced with institutional financial data. We limited our LVAD cohort to durable (i.e., not temporary) LVADs. We evaluated overall charges, payments received; direct fixed and variable costs as well as LVAD pump charges. We did not analyze indirect costs as to keep our findings applicable to other institutions. Standard statistical methods were utilized. Results: We identified 141 LVAD and 63 HTX surgeries which met the inclusion criteria. Of those, 20 had both surgeries giving final cohorts of 121 LVAD alone, 43 HTX alone, and 20 LVAD followed by heart transplant (LVAD/HTX). Mean charge for LVAD along was $881,586 +/348,975 and for HTX alone was $686,289 +/400,764. For both surgeries in the LVAD/HTX cohort, the mean charge was $1,496,977 +/806,313. There were differences in cost and payment between groups (Table) and these were demonstrable when adjusted for length of stay. There were similar rates of readmissions with a mean of 4.65 per HTX patient and 4.53 per LVAD patient. 1-year survival for HTX was 87.8% and for LVAD, 78%. 3-year survival for HTX was 72.7% and for LVAD 55%. No differences were found between HTX surgery costs or payments. No LVAD cost or charge differences were found between LVAD and LVAD/HTX groups and LVAD cost was $79,581. Mean LVAD net was $74,320 with HTX net of $124,759. Conclusion: In an analysis of the cost effectiveness of HTX and LVAD surgeries, HTX alone appears to be more cost effective even when adjusting for length of stay. BTT patients have less costly implant operations with actual LVAD pump costs accounting for a portion of the decreased revenue. From a fiscal perspective, primary heart transplantation may be the most cost effective approach to managing patients with advanced heart failure. However, the lack of suitable donors for many of these patients clearly highlights the value of LVADs in the armamentarium of advanced heart failure surgical options.
[v]at is going on? Local and global ideologies about Indian English

This article examines local and global language ideologies surrounding a particular phonetic feature in Indian English, the pronunciation of /v/ as [w]. By focusing on how local and global participants – both individuals and institutions – imagine language variation through disparate framings of “neutral” and “standard,” it highlights how processes of globalization and localization are interconnected, dialogic, and symbiotic. Compared are (i) sociolinguistic constructions of Indian cartoon characters, (ii) American “accent training” institutes, (iii) Indian call center and language improvement books, (iv) American speakers’ interpretations of merged IE speech, and, (v) IE speakers’ attitudes about IE, “neutral,” and ”standard” language. The relative social capital of these populations mediates both how each constructs its respective ideology about language variation, and how these ideologies dialogically interact with each other. (Language variation, language ideologies, dialogic, standard language)1
Enhancing border security: Mutual information analysis to identify suspect vehicles

In recent years border safety has been identified as a critical part of homeland security. The Department of Homeland Security searches vehicles entering the country for drugs and other contraband. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents believe that such vehicles operate in groups and if the criminal links of one vehicle are known then their border crossing patterns can be used to identify other partner vehicles. We perform this association analysis by using mutual information (MI) to identify pairs of vehicles that may be involved in criminal activity. CBP agents also suggest that criminal vehicles may cross at certain times or ports to try and evade inspection. We propose to modify the MI formulation to include these heuristics by using law enforcement data from border-area jurisdictions. Statistical tests and selected cases judged by domain experts show that modified MI performs significantly better than classical MI in identifying potentially criminal vehicles.
Declining hemoglobin during chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer is significant

Abstract Background and purpose : Tumor hypoxia and anemia have been linked to poor overall survival and local control in carcinomas of both the uterine cervix and the head and neck for patients undergoing radiotherapy. Little is known about the effect of these factors on the outcome of NSCLC patients with locally advanced disease undergoing chemoradiation therapy. Materials and methods : To examine the impact of anemia in stage III NSCLC patients undergoing combined modality therapy, we reviewed our database from three sequential trials of concurrent weekly paclitaxel +/− carboplatin and radiation therapy. 115 pts from 17 institutions were enrolled from 4/94 to 5/97. In this series, hemoglobin values were collected before treatment and weekly during radiotherapy. We correlated baseline Hb and Hb changes during chemoradiation treatment with overall survival. Results: Although pretreatment anemia was common (30% Hb=110–130 g/l, 16% Hb Conclusions : These analyses reveal that a decline in hemoglobin during chemoradiation for stage III NSCLC has a statistically significant correlation with overall survival. Strategies maximizing hemoglobin during combined modality therapy need further exploration in well-planned randomized trials.
Measurement of soil-water δ18O values by direct equilibration with CO2

Abstract Isotopic analysis of soil water requires complete extraction of water from the soil matrix to ensure against isotopic fractionation. A variant of the standard CO 2 –water equilibration technique avoids distillation of soil water that can cause isotopic fractionation. Reproducibility of direct equilibration is between 0.3‰ and 0.4‰. Longer equilibration times are necessary for soil with a fine particle size distribution and/or low water content than for standard CO 2 –water equilibrations. Differences in the δ 18 O value between unsterilized and sterilized (by γ-radiation) sample pairs suggests that respiration can contribute to changing the δ 18 O value of soil water. Measured δ 18 O values of samples prepared by adding water with a known δ 18 O value to dry soil increase with increasing water content and are always more negative than the δ 18 O value of the added water, especially at low water contents. The combination of contamination by residual water, heterogeneities due to difficulty with physical mixing of the sample, possible kinetic fractionations when small amounts of water are added to dry soil, contribute to these trends. These tests suggest that direct equilibration is a quick and relatively easy approach for measuring the δ 18 O value of soil water.
APPLICATION OF THE STRAIN ENERGY DAMAGE DETECTION METHOD TO PLATE-LIKE STRUCTURES

In this paper the problem of using measured modal parameters to detect and locate damage in plate-like structures is investigated. Many methods exist for locating damage in a structure given the modal properties before and after damage. Unfortunately, many of these methods require a correlated finite element model or mass normalized mode shapes. If the modal properties are obtained using ambient excitation then the mode shapes will not be mass normalized. In this paper a method based on the changes in the strain energy of the structure will be discussed. This method was originally developed for beam-like structures, that is, structures characterized by one-dimensional curvature. In this paper the method will be generalized to plate-like structures that are characterized by two-dimensional curvature. This method only requires the mode shapes of the structure before and after damage. To evaluate the effectiveness of the method it will be applied to both simulated and experimental data.
Dystonia following administration of intravenous radiographic contrast material.

We describe a patient who experienced dystonia coincident with the administration of an i.v. contrast agent. Dystonic reactions are not well known outside of the fields of Emergency Medicine, Neurology, and Psychiatry. They have not been previously reported as a reaction to i.v. contrast material. Prompt consideration and treatment of this condition may prevent unnecessary patient discomfort and interventions.
A wideband linear array with reduced number of antenna elements

An X-band linear array antenna with reduced number of elements is presented. To suppress the sidelobe level using fewer array elements, the synthesis of a nonuniform antenna array has been implemented with the matrix pencil method (MPM) that can provide the excitation and location distribution to miniaturize the array dimension. A comparison with the conventional array antennas with uniform and conventional distributions is conducted to demonstrate the performance of the proposed wideband array, which also experimentally verifies the feasibility of the MPM. The developed array antenna is suitable for portable devices, mini mobile platforms, and low-tier unmanned vehicles. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1846–1848, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26962
Supporting Families During Chronic Illness

lthough it is the individual who is diagnosed with chronic disease, the entire family experiences life with the illness. Chronic illness is a multidimensional experience; A the most efficacious support for families living with chronic illness will also be multidimensional. This paper summarizes what is known about support for individuals and families in which an adult member is living with chronic illness such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes and suggests propositions that relate the demands of illness to the nature, source, timing and outcomes of support for families living with chronic illness.
Sodium and Chlorine Ions as Part of the DNA Solvation Shell

The distribution of sodium and chlorine ions around DNA is presented from two molecular dynamics simulations of the DNA fragment d(C(5)T(5)). (A(5)G(5)) in explicit solvent with 0.8 M additional NaCl salt. One simulation was carried out for 10 ns with the CHARMM force field that keeps the DNA structure close to A-DNA, the other for 12 ns with the AMBER force field that preferentially stabilizes B-DNA conformations (, Biophys. J. 75:134-149). From radial distributions of sodium and chlorine ions a primary ion shell is defined. The ion counts and residence times of ions within this shell are compared between conformations and with experiment. Ordered sodium ion sites were found in minor and major grooves around both A and B-DNA conformations. Changes in the surrounding hydration structure are analyzed and implications for the stabilization of A-DNA and B-DNA conformations are discussed.
Decentralisation In Education, Institutional Culture And Teacher Autonomy In Indonesia

Indonesia has seen several recent attempts to devolve control over the curriculum to the local level. Rather than catalogue all of the problems encountered in the course of their implementation, the present contribution focuses on a single reform, the Local Content Curriculum (LCC). Analysis of local responses to this reform provides insights into the state’s influence on the actions and attitudes of Indonesian educators not previously detailed in research on educational decentralisation. These insights into the implementation of the LCC expand the understanding of the tangible effects of educational reform on actual learning institutions and pupils as well as inform about the central government’s real ability to effect change in schools. The study also shows how the lethargy of local actors is bound to deeply engrained views about the role of Indonesian teachers in school, in the society and in the state.
Multiobjective optimization of building design using TRNSYS simulations, genetic algorithm, and Artificial Neural Network

Building optimization involving multiple objectives is generally an extremely time-consuming process. The GAINN approach presented in this study first uses a simulation-based Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to characterize building behaviour, and then combines this ANN with a multiobjective Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) for optimization. The methodology has been used in the current study for the optimization of thermal comfort and energy consumption in a residential house. Results of ANN training and validation are first discussed. Two optimizations were then conducted taking variables from HVAC system settings, thermostat programming, and passive solar design. By integrating ANN into optimization the total simulation time was considerably reduced compared to classical optimization methodology. Results of the optimizations showed significant reduction in terms of energy consumption as well as improvement in thermal comfort. Finally, thanks to the multiobjective approach, dozens of potential designs were revealed, with a wide range of trade-offs between thermal comfort and energy consumption.
Generative Components for Hybrid Systems Tools

Generative techniques, while normally associated with programming languages or code generation, may also be used to produce non-executable artifacts (e.g., configuration or toolchain artifacts). Coupled with domain-specific modeling, generative techniques provide a way to consolidate toolchains and complex domains into a relatively compact space, by providing generators that produce artifacts in the appropriate semantic domain. This paper describes the motivation and usage of one such environment, in the domain of hybrid systems, as well as discussion and goals for future research.
Editorial Comment on: Training in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy—A Critical Review

[8] Watterson JD, Soon S, Jana K. Access related complications during percutaneous nephrolithotomy: urology versus radiology at a single academic institution. J Urol 2006;176:142–5 (3a/B). [9] Tanriverdi O, Boylu U, Kendirci M, Kadihasanoglu M, Horasanli K, Miroglu C. The learning curve in the training of percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Eur Urol 2007;52:206– 12 (3b/C). [10] Stern J, Zeltser IS, Pearle MS. Percutaneous renal access simulators. J Endourol 2007;21:270–3 (R). [11] Lee CL, Anderson JK, Monga M. Residency training in percutaneous renal access: does it affect urological practice? J Urol 2004;171:592–5 (3b/C). [12] Deane LA, Clayman RV. Advances in percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Urol Clin North Am 2007;34:383–95 (R). [13] Vickers AJ, Bianco FJ, Serio AM, et al. The surgical learning curve for prostate cancer control after radical prostatectomy. J Natl Cancer Inst 2007;99:1171–7 (R). [14] Jemni M, Bacha K, Ben Hassine L, Karray MS, Ayed M. Le resultat du traitement de la lithiase renale par nephrolithotomie percutanee: a propos de 115 cas. Prog Urol 1999;9:52–60 (3/C). [15] Allen D, O’Brien T, Tiptaft R, Glass J. Defining the learning curve for percutaneous nephrolithotomy. J Endourol 2005;19:279–82 (3b/C). [16] Bird VG, Fallon B, Winfield HN. Practice patterns in the treatment of large renal stones. J Endourol 2003;17:355–63 (3b/C). [17] Laguna MP, Hatzinger M, Rassweiler J. Simulators and endourological training. Curr Opin Urol 2002;12:209–15 (R). [18] Hacker A, Wendt-Nordahl G, Honeck P, Michel MS, Alken P, Knoll T. A biological model to teach percutaneous nephrolithotomy technique with ultrasoundand fluoroscopy-guided access. J Endourol 2007;21:545–50 (3b/C). [19] Chou DS, Abdelshehid C, Clayman RV, McDougall EM. Comparison of results of virtual-reality simulator and
Factors associated with work-family conflict stress among African American women.

Job demands and workplace culture variables associated with work–family conflict stress, in addition to workplace racial bias, were examined for a national sample of 607 African American women in 16 Fortune 1000 companies. Similar to other studies, women in this sample who had dependents were younger, had supervisory responsibilities, and experienced a less positive workplace culture, and those in professional job positions with high job demand were most likely to experience work–family stress. Married women who experienced a more subtle form of workplace racial bias reported more work–family conflict stress. Implications for social work policy, practice, and research are considered.
Restoration of images from an airborne unstabilized hyperspectral line scanner

An airborne hyperspectral line scanner is used to image the ground as the aircraft moves on a single trajectory. In reality, it may be difficult for the aircraft to maintain a perfectly steady course causing distortions in the imagery. So, special subsystems including stabilizers are used to maintain the hyperspectral line scanner on the proper course. If the subsystems of an airborne hyperspectral line scanner are malfunctioning or if the proper stabilizers are not available, then a technique is needed to restore the imagery. It no stabilizers are used on the airborne line scanner, but if aircraft navigation information is available including yaw, pitch and roll, then the restoration may be automated. However, if the stabilizers are malfunctioning or if the navigation information is corrupted or unavailable, then a technique is needed to restore the imagery. This paper introduces an automated technique for restoring hyperspectral images that was used on some images obtained for the Dynamic Data Base program sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The automated approach is based on image flow vectors obtained from the unstable image. The approach is introduced along with results that demonstrate how successful the restoration is at the feature level.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cephalometric and electromyographic study of patients of East African ethnicity with and without anterior open bite.

Introduction A review of the literature showed that there are disturbances of muscle activity and tongue function in patients with anterior open bite (AOB). However, most studies have had white subjects, even though open bite is more prevalent in black populations. In this pilot study, we examined jaw muscle activity and tongue pressure in East African black subjects. Methods Ten subjects (4 boys, 6 girls; ages, 10.1-13.2 years) were recruited. A cephalometric comparison of subjects with and without AOB was performed. Surface electrodes were placed on the bilateral anterior temporalis, superficial masseter, superior orbicularis oris, and anterior digastric muscles. Electromyograms were recorded at rest, maximal voluntary clenching, chewing, and swallowing. Tongue pressure during rest and swallowing, and maximal bite force were also measured. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in cephalometric measures (except in amount of open bite and overbite) and maximum bite force. During chewing, both groups showed similar coordinated activity patterns in the muscles, but the AOB subjects tended to show more electromyographic activity in the muscles of the balancing side. During clenching, the AOB subjects exhibited lower electromyographic activity compared with the controls. AOB subjects also had greater anterior tongue pressure during swallowing. Data from tongue pressure at rest were inconclusive. Conclusions East African blacks appear to have neuromuscular and skeletal predispositions to AOB, but their vertical incisor relationships are variable. Factors in addition to those investigated might be involved.
Biochemical aspects of the reaction of hemoglobin and NO: implications for Hb-based blood substitutes

The role of Hemoglobin (Hb) on nitric oxide (NO) biology has received much attention. Until recently, the reaction between erythrocytic Hb and NO was generally considered in the context of mechanisms that safely detoxify NO. However, recent insights suggest that properties associated with the red blood cell limit NO-Hb interactions under physiological conditions, and provide some resolution to the question of how NO functions in the presence of blood. Furthermore, Hb-dependent mechanisms that preserve, not destroy NO bioactivity in vivo have also been proposed. The emerging picture suggests that the interplay between NO and erythrocytic Hb is important in regulating the functions of both these molecules in vivo. However, Hb-dependent scavenging and loss of NO function is significant when this heme protein is present outside the red blood cell. This can occur during hemolysis or administration of Hb-based blood substitutes. Scavenging of NO is a significant problem that limits the use of Hb-based blood substitutes in the clinic, and development of Hb molecules that do not efficiently react with NO remains an important area of investigation. In this article, the reactions between NO and erythrocytic Hb or cell-free Hb are described and the effects on NO and Hb function in vivo and development of blood substitutes discussed.
Antimicrobial resveratrol tetramers from the stem bark of Vatica oblongifolia ssp. oblongifolia

Two new resveratrol tetramers, hopeaphenol A (1) and isohopeaphenol A (2), along with the known vaticaphenol A (3), were isolated from the stem bark of Vatica oblongifolia ssp. oblongifolia through bioassay-guided fractionation. The structures and their relative stereochemistry were determined by spectroscopic techniques. Compounds 1 and 3 demonstrated moderate activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium smegmatis.
Cascade-Decoupling Measurements of Excited S -State Hyperfine Structures of Potassium, Rubidium, and Cesium

A new cascade-decoupling technique has been used to measure hyperfine intervals (in MHz) of the following excited $S$ states of alkali-metal atoms: ${\mathrm{K}}^{39}(6^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}})46\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2$; ${\mathrm{K}}^{41}(6^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}})26\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2$; ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{85}(7^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}})270\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10$; ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{85}(8^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}})135\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15$; ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{87}(7^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}})565\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}60$; ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{87}(8^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}})290\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}20$; ${\mathrm{Cs}}^{133}(8^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}})680\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}120$; and ${\mathrm{Cs}}^{133}(9^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}})405\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}30$.
Use of photosynthetic bacteria for hydrogen sulfide removal from anaerobic waste treatment effluent

Abstract The feasibility of using photosynthetic bacteria to remove H 2 S from anaerobic waste treatment effluent was investigated by growing fixed films of photosynthetic bacteria in a packed column or in a submerged tube system (“phototube”). Growth and enrichment for these organisms depended on constant illumination, anaerobic conditions and a substratum for attachment of the bacteria. Both systems were operated as flow-through processes using effluent from anaerobic (upflow) filters. Results showed that photosynthetic bacteria in fixed films can be effectively used for H 2 S removal. Removal efficiencies of 81–95% were obtained on a 24-h retention time. Residual H 2 S remained in the process effluent. The submerged “phototube”, showed dramatic improvement over the column, yielding a final effluent completely devoid of H 2 S, at significantly shorter retention times and higher loading rates than the column. Performance appeared dependent on cell-H 2 S contact and adequate illumination. The green photosynthetic sulfide-oxidizing bacterium, Chlorobium , was identified as a common organism in this phototube. This biological sulfide removal process offers the following advantages over currently used physical-chemical techniques: simplicity, no need for aeration or chemical additives and odor-free. Much research in process design is necessary before pilot or full scale application of the technique is possible.
Playtime Prevents Obesity by Brain-Mediated Fat Browning

Laboratory animals usually become relatively insulin resistant and obese. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Cao et al. (2011) find that mice living in a complex environment are resistant to diet-induced obesity because they produce energy-dissipating brown fat cells within white fat depots, a process orchestrated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
Hospitalizations are increasing among minority patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Background: Rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) appear to be increasing among nonwhite populations outside the United States, but national data describing the incidence and prevalence of IBD are not available for minority patients. The aim of this study was to examine time trends of hospital discharge among minority patients with IBD. Methods: Nationally representative data describing hospital discharges were obtained from the National Hospital Discharge Survey for the years 1994 to 2006. Race-specific annual proportions of hospitalizations including a discharge diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease were calculated. Trends in proportions were assessed for statistical significance using the extended Mantel–Haenszel χ-square test for trend. Results: The proportion of hospitalizations including a discharge diagnosis of IBD increased significantly from 1994 to 2006 among the total population and among Asian, black, and white patients separately. Increases were statistically significant when analysis was performed for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis combined and separately. Marked increases were seen among Asians. Conclusions: The proportion of hospitalizations including a discharge diagnosis of IBD increased significantly among minority and nonminority patients from 1994 through 2006. The causes underlying these changes are not certain and should be further investigated. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2009
Flow of nuclear matter in 208Pb-emulsion interactions at 160A GeV

Abstract By using the transverse momentum technique, we investigated the nuclear collective flow from the projectile fragments of charge Z ≥ 2 produced in the interactions of a 208 Pb beam at 160A GeV in nuclear emulsion. Flow is observed in a 208 Pb beam at 160A GeV and these results are compared with a 197 Au beam at 10.6A GeV.
Added donepezil for stable schizophrenia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Schizophrenia is a disorder with cognitive deficits that could stem from cholinergic dysfunction. Our aim was to examine if donepezil administered to stable, medicated outpatients with schizophrenia improves cognition and psychopathology. We conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of donepezil up to 10 mg/day added for 8 weeks to ongoing antipsychotic treatment in 36 typical community-treated schizophrenia patients not selected for cognitive impairment. Donepezil did not improve measures of cognition or psychopathology. It was well tolerated. Consistent with other studies, addition of donepezil to stable patients with schizophrenia did not improve cognition or measures of psychopathology. This result does not support the hypothesis that residual symptoms and cognitive problems result from a cholinergic deficit that can be remedied by an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. A donepezil add-on strategy might make sense in selected schizophrenia cases where a pathological process is known to affect cholinergic neurons (e.g., history of head injury or comorbid dementia).
A Case of Educational Change: Improving Student Achievement Through a School—University Partnership

This article introduces Project PREPARE, a 5-year project that sought to develop a collaborative site of practice and inquiry among two universities, the primary and elementary schools in a poor rural town, and the district that served these schools. Three types of collaboration were undertaken over the life of the project: (a) providing consultative and material support to changes initiated by the district, (b) creating new collaborative structures that could serve as sites for advancing teacher and student learning, and (c) providing conceptual leadership to help the district develop a long-range systemic change initiative. During the course of the project, there were steady improvements in student achievement in reading and mathematics on multiple measures, including state-mandated criterion-referenced tests and curriculum-based measures. The combined reading and math increases were greater in the project school during the study period than were 9 of the 10 closest comparison schools in the state, thou...
The solubility of oxides in molten alloys

Solubility curves,xovs xM, representing the saturation of an alloy with a particular oxide phase, MmOn, may include both minimum and maximum points. In this brief communication, it is shown that such points may be predicted using simple empirical descriptions of solute interactions in alloys. A minimum-maximum solubility curve for iron saturated with AI2O3 is discussed.
Enteral Nutrition Support: Formula Preparation from Modular Ingredients

Many hospitalized patients are undernourished, and often this condition can be corrected by feeding one of a variety of commercial enteral formulas through a thin nasoenteral cannula. In a subset of tube feeding patients, nutritional requirements are unique, and needs cannot be met by a fixed composition formula. Modification, or de novo fabrication of the enteral formula is therefore required. Few reviews have adequately addressed some of the complexities of designing, mixing, and feeding these specialized diets. This report provides some of this information, and shows that considerably more education and research in this area is needed.
Single Dispersion to Polish both Bulk Cu and Residual Cu along with Barrier Layers

Integration of Cu/Ta/low-k dielectric structures requires that chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) of Cu lines and barrier layers be performed at low down pressures (~2 psi) to avoid damages to the underlying fragile dielectrics. At the same time, to avoid loss of throughput, the chemical activity of the slurry must be increased. We report an approach to slurry engineering that can help to achieve these goals in CMP of Cu/Ta/TaN over low-k dielectrics. These slurries employ silica abrasives in a single dispersion of oxalic and tartaric acids, with the objective of removing both Cu lines and Ta/TaN barrier layers simply by varying the operating slurry pH. In this approach, bulk Cu can be removed at high rates and residual Cu can be removed at lower rates (to minimize dishing) by adjusting the pH and the H2O2 content of the slurries. Ta/TaN can also be removed at good polish rates.
Interview Effects in an Environmental Valuation Telephone Survey

Because of the lack of markets for many environmental services, economists have turned to valuation surveys to estimate the value of these services. However, lack of market experience may cause respondents in valuation surveys to be more prone to interview effects than they would be with other opinion surveys. Without reference to market price or experience, respondents are less likely to have well-defined preferences, which may cause respondents to be more easily influenced by the interview process and characteristics of the interviewer. In this paper, we investigate interview effects in a random digit dial telephone survey of recycling valuation and behavior. Following previous research in both psychology and survey methodology, we test the direct effects of interviewer gender and race, as well as the interaction effects between interviewer and respondent characteristics. Using data from 130 interviewers and 1,786 interviewees, we apply a hierarchical regression model that accounts for the clustering of interviews and controls for a variety of other confounding variables. We confirm the existence of both direct and conditional interviewer effects. Respondents state higher willingness to pay when interviewed by white or female interviewers than by non-white or male interviewers. There were also significant interaction effects between interviewer and respondent characteristics. The directions of the interviewer effects are consistent with previous survey research and social psychology theories. We also identify some non-traditional interview process factors that have an influence on survey responses.
Endoscopic incision of a refractory esophageal stricture: novel management with an endoscopic scissors.

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Effects of disorder on the eigenstates of rings of hydrogen atoms

Abstract Reported are self-consistent field calculations on disordered rings of hydrogen atoms and studies of the spatial nature of the resulting localized eigenstates as a function of degree of disorder. This model represents the simplest hamiltonian having realistic electron-nucleus and electron-electron interactions, displaying both cellular and structural disorder.
Interspersed repetitive sequence polymerase chain reaction (IRS PCR) for generation of human DNA fragments from complex sources

Methods for the production and use of human DNA fragments using the polymerase chain reaction and oligonucleotide primers directed to repetitive sequences are described. Primers using the human Alu and L1Hs repeat elements, including a number of different Alu primers, are delineated and compared. Interpretation of patterns of amplification in somatic cell hybrids by ethidium bromide staining and hybridization analysis is discussed, with particular attention to use of repeat-containing DNA fragments as hybridization probes. The method can also be applied to DNAs cloned into Escherichia coli and yeast vector systems, and primer sequences from yeast artificial chromosome, λ, and cosmid vectors useful for these experiments are provided.
Elements in the N-terminal signaling sequence that determine cytosolic topology of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases. Studies with retinol dehydrogenase type 1 and cis-retinol/androgen dehydrogenase type 1.

High affinity, retinoid-specific binding proteins chaperone retinoids to manage their transport and metabolism. Proposing mechanisms of retinoid transfer between these binding proteins and membrane-associated retinoid-metabolizing enzymes requires insight into enzyme topology. We therefore determined the topology of mouse retinol dehydrogenase type 1 (Rdh1) and cis-retinoid androgen dehydrogenase type 1 (Crad1) in the endoplasmic reticulum of intact mammalian cells. The properties of Rdh1 were compared with a chimera with a luminal signaling sequence (11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD1)(1-41)/Rdh1(23-317); the green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins Rdh1(1-22)/GFP, Crad1(1-22)/GFP, and 11β-HSD1(1-41)/GFP; and signaling sequence charge difference mutants using confocal immunofluorescence, antibody access, proteinase K sensitivity, and deglycosylation assays. An N-terminal signaling sequence of 22 residues, consisting of a hydrophobic helix ending in a net positive charge, anchors Rdh1 and Crad1 in the endoplasmic reticulum facing the cytoplasm. Mutating arginine to glutamine in the signaling sequence did not affect topology. Inserting one or two arginine residues near the N terminus of the signaling sequence caused 28-95% inversion from cytoplasmic to luminal, depending on the net positive charge remaining at the C terminus of the signaling sequence; e.g. the mutant L3R,L5R,R16Q,R19Q,R21Q faced the lumen. Experiments with N- and C-terminal epitope-tagged Rdh1 and molecular modeling indicated that a hydrophobic helix-turn-helix near the C terminus of Rdh1 (residues 289-311) projects into the cytoplasm. These data provide insight into the features necessary to orient type III (reverse signal-anchor) proteins and demonstrate that Rdh1, Crad1, and other short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases, which share similar N-terminal signaling sequences such as human Rdh5 and mouse Rdh4, orient with their catalytic domains facing the cytoplasm.
Epigenetic mechanisms in systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune diseases

The pathogenic origin of autoimmune diseases can be traced to both genetic susceptibility and epigenetic modifications arising from exposure to the environment. Epigenetic modifications influence gene expression and alter cellular functions without modifying the genomic sequence. CpG-DNA methylation, histone tail modifications and microRNAs (miRNAs) are the main epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that are involved in the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases is essential for the introduction of effective, target-directed and tolerated therapies. In this review, we summarize recent findings that signify the importance of epigenetic modifications in autoimmune disorders while focusing on systemic lupus erythematosus. We also discuss future directions in basic research, autoimmune diagnostics and applied therapy.
Evolution of Diaschisis in a Focal Stroke Model

Background and Purpose— Stroke produces diaschisis in adjacent and connected regions. The sequential changes in diaschisis over time and the relationship of regions of diaschisis to functional cortical areas and regions of poststroke neuroplasticity have not been determined. Methods— Small cortical strokes were produced in the barrel cortex of rats. Relative glucose metabolism was determined in vivo over time with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose small-animal positron emission tomography. Cerebral blood flow was measured with [14C]iodoantipyrine. Regions of hypometabolism and hypoperfusion were compared with histological damage in the same animals. Results— Small cortical strokes produce an initial network of hypometabolism in a broad region of cortex adjacent to the stroke and in the striatum and thalamus on day 1. Cerebral blood flow is diminished only immediately around the cortical infarct on day 1. A substantial area of cortex adjacent to the stroke remains hypometabolic on day 8. This persistent cortical hyp...
Part orientation with one or two stable equilibria using programmable force fields

Programmable force fields are a representation of a class of devices for distributed, nonprehensile manipulation for applications in parts feeding, sorting, positioning, and assembly. They generate force vector fields in which the parts move until they reach a stable equilibrium pose. Research has yielded open-loop strategies to uniquely position, orient, and sort parts. These strategies typically consist of several fields employed in sequence to achieve a desired final pose. The length of the sequence depends on the complexity of the part. We show that unique part poses can be achieved with just one field. First, we exhibit a single field that positions and orients any part (except certain symmetric parts) into two stable equilibrium poses. Then, we show that for any part there exists a field in which the part reaches a unique stable equilibrium pose (again, except for symmetric parts). Besides giving an optimal upper bound for unique parts positioning and orientation, our work gives further evidence that programmable force fields are a powerful tool for parts manipulation. Our second result also leads to the design of "universal parts feeders", proving an earlier conjecture about their existence. We argue that universal parts feeders are relatively easy to build, and we report on extensive simulation results which indicate that these devices may work very well in practice. We believe that the results in this paper could be the basis for a new generation of efficient, open-loop, parallel parts feeders.
Multiple reactions in inductors

In this paper, the importance of the high-order nested (recursive) reactions that can take place in lossy inductors is investigated. The inquisitive student may ask, "What about the Faraday/Lenz reaction to the 'first' Faraday/Lenz reaction?"-a matter about which textbooks are generally silent. It is shown here that the sinusoidal steady-state results for the current in a lossy inductor normally obtained by solving differential equations or performing phasor calculations can be reproduced exactly using Faraday's/Lenz's laws recursively, to infinite order. Thus no knowledge of differential equations nor of phasors is required to find the current, and the result practically demonstrates the connection between Faraday's/Lenz laws and circuit analysis. The case of a single sinusoid is analyzed, which by Fourier's theorem and linear superposition can in principle be generalized to any excitation. Moreover, the dynamic equations developed can be used directly for any excitation without appeal to Fourier decomposition. A typical nonsinusoidal initial-value problem, involving both transient and driving-function components, is solved as a further demonstration of the technique.
Investigation of the applicability of a titration method to determine parameters related to porosity in pharmaceutical suspension dosage forms

Abstract The purpose of this study was to find a more efficient method for determining the porosity, or voids, using an insoluble powder in a pharmaceutical suspension. In a random arrangement of uniform spheres the only concern is with the limits of porosity existing within that collection. Theoretically, no equation can completely describe the physical properties of a sediment in a liquid medium without considering its particle size, size distribution, shape features, surface characteristics, etc. For the ideal case dealing with uniform spherical particles, it is expected that the plot of the weight of solid versus the volume of liquid used to fill the voids should be a straight line with zero intercept. A new titration method has been proposed to directly measure the immediate pore volume between particles in the suspension. Further investigation is required to determine its sensitivity such that it may provide a means of differentiating the nature of the particle–particle and particle–liquid attractive forces within a given pharmaceutical suspension system.
Progesterone Increases Rat Neural Progenitor Cell Cycle Gene Expression and Proliferation Via Extracellularly Regulated Kinase and Progesterone Receptor Membrane Components 1 and 2

Progesterone receptor (PR) expression and regulation of neural progenitor cell (NPC) proliferation was investigated using NPC derived from adult rat brain. RT-PCR revealed that PRA mRNA was not detected in rat NPCs, whereas membrane-associated PRs, PR membrane components (PGRMCs) 1 and 2, mRNA were expressed. Progesterone-induced increase in 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation was confirmed by fluorescent-activated cell sorting analysis, which indicated that progesterone promoted rat NPC exit of G(0)/G(1) phase at 5 h, followed by an increase in S-phase at 6 h and M-phase at 8 h, respectively. Microarray analysis of cell-cycle genes, real-time PCR, and Western blot validation revealed that progesterone increased expression of genes that promote mitosis and decreased expression of genes that repress cell proliferation. Progesterone-induced proliferation was not dependent on conversion to metabolites and was antagonized by the ERK(1/2) inhibitor UO126. Progesterone-induced proliferation was isomer and steroid specific. PGRMC1 small interfering RNA treatment, together with computational structural analysis of progesterone and its isomers, indicated that the proliferative effect of progesterone is mediated by PGRMC1/2. Progesterone mediated NPC proliferation and concomitant regulation of mitotic cell cycle genes via a PGRMC/ERK pathway mechanism is a potential novel therapeutic target for promoting neurogenesis in the mammalian brain.