cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beyond allergen avoidance: update on developing therapies for peanut allergy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Food allergy has emerged as a significant health problem. Peanut allergy is a major cause of food-induced fatal and near fatal anaphylactic reactions, and the incidence in children is increasing. Attempts to manage peanut allergy by strict avoidance are often unsuccessful. The purpose of this review is to highlight the most promising novel approaches for treating peanut allergy beyond allergen avoidance. RECENT FINDINGS: In the past 5 years much effort has been devoted to developing a treatment for peanut allergy. A recent clinical trial showed that monthly injections of humanized recombinant anti-IgE antibodies increased the threshold for allergic responses of peanut-sensitive individuals, at least to small amounts of peanut protein. However, this treatment cannot cure peanut allergy, and continuous monthly injections are necessary to maintain protection. Developing new therapies for the treatment of peanut allergy is essential. In reviewing publications between 2003 and 2005, several novel therapeutic approaches, tested in the murine model of peanut anaphylaxis appeared promising. Immunotherapy with engineered recombinant peanut protein and bacterial adjuvant significantly protected peanut allergic mice from anaphylaxis. It was also found that a Chinese herbal medicine formula called Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2 completely blocked anaphylaxis up to 5 weeks following therapy. These potent therapeutic effects are associated with immunoregulation of Th1 and Th2 responses. SUMMARY: Although there is no effective and safe therapy for food allergy, many novel approaches are under investigation. Some of these approaches may provide allergists with effective treatments in the near future.
Transcription-associated mutational asymmetry in mammalian evolution

Although mutation is commonly thought of as a random process, evolutionary studies show that different types of nucleotide substitution occur with widely varying rates that presumably reflect biases intrinsic to mutation and repair mechanisms1,2,3,4. A strand asymmetry5,6, the occurrence of particular substitution types at higher rates than their complementary types, that is associated with DNA replication has been found in bacteria7 and mitochondria8. A strand asymmetry that is associated with transcription and attributable to higher rates of cytosine deamination on the coding strand has been observed in enterobacteria9,10,11. Here, we describe a qualitatively different transcription-associated strand asymmetry in mammals, which may be a byproduct of transcription-coupled repair12 in germline cells. This mutational asymmetry has acted over long periods of time to produce a compositional asymmetry, an excess of G+T over A+C on the coding strand, in most genes. The mutational and compositional asymmetries can be used to detect the orientations and approximate extents of transcribed regions.
An automatic and stable clustering algorithm

Abstract A new non-hierarchical and non-conventional clustering algorithm has been developed to remove the effect of the initial guess (seed points) on the performance and convergence of the “Moving Centroid Method”. The classification is also least affected on the ordering of the data presented for clustering. The most appropriate cluster centres are obtained by studying the class strings of the initial partitions, which are generated with the help of random integers. These stable cluster centres lead to the stable partitions in a unsupervised manner.
The Symmetric Spherical Oscillator, and the Rotational Motion of Homopolar Molecules in Crystals

In a recent paper, L. Pauling has discussed the motion of molecules in crystals. By the use of approximate methods, criteria are deduced in that paper for determining when the motion of molecules in crystals is “rotational,” and when it is “oscillational” about positions of equilibrium. While it served Pauling’s purpose, the investigation did not go deep enough to satisfy the needs of the present author, who desired information about the statistical weights of the lowest quantum states of molecules in crystals, more certain and definite than that provided by Pauling’s analysis. The present more rigorous investigation was accordingly undertaken. The results go somewhat beyond the author’s needs, but they are perhaps interesting in themselves. The investigation involves a problem in quantum mechanics which is capable of exact treatment, without the use of perturbation methods. We imagine a homopolar molecule of type X2 free to rotate in a field of force of axial symmetry. Symmetry considerations show that if a certain orientation is one of equilibrium, then the orientation obtained by reversing the molecule end for end will also be one of equilibrium; and we see also, if the orientation of the molecule is specified by the co-ordinates θ, ϕ (the axis of θ being the axis of equilibrium), that the potential function V(θ) of the homopolar molecule must be symmetric about the equatorial circle θ = π/2. We suppose that our molecule is tree from axial spin. If V(θ) can be expanded in a Fourier series, then it can be expanded in a Fourier series made up of cosines of even multiples of θ. A good first approximation will be obtained by taking only the first two terms of this series; higher terms can be taken account of later, if desired, by a perturbation method. We therefore consider, with Pauling, the potential function (1) V = V (1 - cos 2θ).
Ethnic variation of gastroschisis and omphalocele in the United States of America.

AbstractObjective: Gastroschisis and omphalocele are the most common fetal abdominal wall defects (AWDs). Ethnic factors have been implicated in the incidence data from some states in the United States. Our aim was to examine ethnic variation in the prevalence of gastroschisis and omphalocele in the US live birth population between 2006 and 2010.Methods: AWDs were identified through gastroschisis and omphalocele checkboxes from publicly available US Natality data (2006 to 2010). Ethnicity was evaluated by individual category using National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) definitions. Adjusted multinomial logistic regression (SPSS v.19) was used to generate odds ratios (OR) in order to quantify the disparities.Results: In the US, 7867 live births were identified with AWD. All ethnic groups showed a significantly higher OR when compared with women of East/South Asian descent, which experienced the lowest prevalence. Women of indigenous ethnicity had the highest individual OR while their adjusted OR rema...
FROM COOLIE TO MODEL MINORITY

I examine how and why the social construction of Asian Americans has changed from coolie to model minority over the last century. I examine the role of the U.S. government in creating policies that systematically select particular types of entrants to the United States. Federal immigration policy privileges high-skilled workers, and a disproportionately large number of Asian immigrants are granted the status of lawful permanent resident by the federal government on the basis of employment preferences. U.S. immigration policy thus creates a selection bias, favoring Asian immigrants with high levels of formal education and social standing. I also consider the consequences of this selection bias for the construction of racial tropes and Asian American identity, and argue that the normative content of the dominant tropes of racial identity is critical in establishing the incentives and costs of identifying with racial and ethnic groups. Immigration policy, and the selection biases it may engender, is an important factor in how those tropes are constructed and experienced. Racial identity should, and does, vary as a function of the unique histories of migration, labor market demands, and shared experiences for people classified by race.
Guided cognitive reframing of adolescent-father conflict: who Mexican American and European American adolescents seek and why.

Conflict between adolescents and their parents is an important predictor of adolescent adjustment (Gonzales, Deardorff, Formoso, Barr, & Barrera, 2006), and seeking social support to cope with conflict is healthy for adolescents (Nomaguchi, 2008). However, little is known about the psychological experience that social support plays in the lives of adolescents and what explains whether adolescents seek different sources of support. The choice to seek out others for support, the information sources provide, and the emotional consequences of those interactions are important to adolescents as they attempt to understand conflict interactions in their lives. We term this process guided cognitive reframing. In this chapter, we first offer a behavioral-cognitive-affective conceptual model for guided cognitive reframing that links seeking out a source of support, engaging in cognitive reframing of the conflict, and the affective experiences that result from reframing. Next, we review the literature on the confidants that adolescents seek (and the relative advantage of seeking each source). Finally, because the majority of the extant research has focused on adolescents in European American families, we examine cultural context, family, and individual factors that explain who is sought out to discuss family conflict among a diverse sample of Mexican American and European American 7th graders.
Disability, more than multimorbidity, was predictive of mortality among older persons aged 80 years and older

Abstract Objective In this study, we evaluate the impact of disability and multimorbidity on the risk of all-cause death in a population of frail older persons living in community. Study Design and Setting We analyzed data from the Aging and Longevity Study in the Sirente geographic area, a prospective cohort study that collected data on all subjects aged 80 years and older (n = 364). The main outcome measure was all-cause mortality over 4-year follow-up. Results A total of 150 deaths occurred. Sixty-seven subjects (44.6%) died in the nondisabled group compared with 83 subjects (55.3%) in the disabled group (P Conclusion Our results show that disability exerts an important influence on mortality, independently of age and other clinical and functional variables.
Rapid recovery from spinal cord injury after subcutaneously administered polyethylene glycol.

Arguably a seminal event in most trauma and disease is the breakdown of the cell membrane. In most cells, this is first observed as a collapse of the axolemmas barrier properties allowing a derangement of ions to occur, leading to a progressive dissolution of the cell or its process. We have shown that an artificial sealing of mechanically damaged membranes by topical application of hydrophilic polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) immediately restores variable levels of nerve impulse conduction through the lesion. This was documented by a rapid recovery of somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) conduction, and by recovery of the cutaneous trunchi muscle (CTM) reflex in PEG-treated animals. The CTM reflex is a sensorimotor behavior dependent on an intact (and identified) white matter tract within the ventrolateral funiculus of the spinal cord, and is thus an excellent index of white matter integrity. We show that PEG can be safely introduced into the bloodstream by several routes of administration. Using a fluorescein decorated PEG, we demonstrate that the polymer specifically targets the hemorrhagic contusion of the adult guinea pig spinal cord when administered through the vasculature, but not intact regions of the spinal cord. A single subcutaneous injection (30% weight by weight in sterile saline) made 6 hr after a standardized spinal cord contusion in adult guinea pigs was sufficient to produce a rapid recovery of SSEP propagation through the lesion in only PEG-treated animals, accompanied by a statistically significant recovery of the CTM reflex. These data suggest that parenterally administered PEG may be a novel treatment for not only spinal injury, but head injury and stroke as well. J Neurosci. Res. 66:1179–1186, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Object-based image retrieval using the statistical structure of images

We propose a new Bayesian approach to object-based image retrieval with relevance feedback. Although estimating the object posterior probability density from few examples seems infeasible, we are able to approximate this density by exploiting statistics of the image database domain. Unlike previous approaches that assume an arbitrary distribution for the unconditional density of the feature vector (the density of the features taken over the entire image domain), we learn both the structure and the parameters of this density. These density estimates enable us to construct a Bayesian classifier. Using this Bayesian classifier, we perform a windowed scan over images for objects of interest and employ the user's feedback on the search results to train a second classifier that focuses on eliminating difficult false positives. We have incorporated this algorithm into an object-based image retrieval system. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach with experiments using a set of categories from the Corel database.
Multiple sclerosis: a short review of the disease and its differences between men and women

Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the CNS that is characterized by a demyelination of axons in inflammatory plaques which leads to a deficiency or complete loss in the transmission of nerve impulses. The majority of patients have either relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) or secondary progressive MS (SPMS). Both forms affect women more than men; the female to male ratio is about 2:1. This difference in the susceptibility to these forms of MS is probably due to sex hormones. Animal studies have shown that testosterones are protective against the disease. Patients with MS can experience partial or complete loss of any function that is controlled by the CNS. Depending on which areas of the CNS are affected and how badly they are damaged, the type and severity of symptoms can vary greatly. The diagnosis of MS is based on long-established clinical parameters and the exclusion of any other disease that might cause similar symptoms. Over the last 10 years magnetic resonance...
Neurons in rat medial prefrontal cortex show anticipatory rate changes to predictable differential rewards in a spatial memory task

The present study electrophysiologically examined the contribution of prelimbic and infralimbic neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) to integration of reward and spatial information while rats performed multiple memory trials on a differentially rewarded eight arm radial maze. Alternate arms consistently held one of two different reward amounts. Similar to previous examinations of the rat mPFC, few cells showed discrete place fields or altered firing during a delay period. The most common behavioral correlate was a change in neuronal firing rate prior to reward acquisition at arm ends. A small number of reward-related cells differentiated between high and low reward arms. The presence of neurons that anticipate expected reward consequences based on information about the spatial environment is consistent with the hypothesis that the mPFC is part of a neural system which merges spatial information with its motivational significance.
Immersion Cooling of Light Emitting Diodes

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) historically have been used for indicators and produced low amounts of heat. The introduction of high brightness LEDs with white light and monochromatic colors has allowed them to penetrate specialty and general illumination applications. The increased electrical currents used to drive the LEDs have resulted in higher heat fluxes than those for average silicon CPUs. This has created a need to focus more attention on the thermal engineering of LED power packages. The output of a typical commercial high brightness 1mm2 LED has exceeded 100 lumens at drives levels exceeding 300 W/cm2.
Formation of the Periodontal Ligament

Since the report by Fischer, a number of varying and often conflicting descriptions have appeared on periodontal ligament formation. These reports tend to be fragmentary and do not record the detailed morphological changes in various stages of the developmental sequence. Some investigators suggest that the principal fiber bundles develop from the dental fol l ic le 2 , 9 , 1 0 while others disagree. Some reports describe the "intermediate p lexus" 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 while others deny its existence. Faced with both incomplete evidence and controversy, a rather general view of the development of the periodontal ligament has been postulated. Ten Cate states: "There is general agreement that the fiber bundles of the periodontal ligament develop in relation to alveolar bone and cementum. Ultimately these fiber bundles meet in the forming ligament and it is in part this union of separate fiber bundles which has generated the concept of an 'intermediate plexus' " . 1 7
A Field Guide to Social Construction

A wide range of discussions throughout the humanities and social sciences include claims that various phenomena are “socially constructed.” Many academics associate “social constructionism” with the so-called “science wars” in which social constructionism is identified with some sort of radical anti-realism about reality in general, or the findings of science in particular. But the move to radical anti-realism is only one way to develop the central idea of constructionism – that human decision and human culture exert profound and often unnoticed influence – and much of this work remains interesting and provocative within a broadly naturalist and realist framework. Here the author reviews and explores a variety of constructionist claims, including the plausible suggestion that social constructionist hypotheses have special purchase in discussions of human kinds.
Rediscovery of the Mattawa Anorthosite Massif, Grenville Province, Quebec

We present new field observations and laboratory data confirming the presence of the Mattawa Anorthosite Massif (MAT), whose existence in south-central Quebec was hinted at more than 35 years ago. MAT thus represents a newly recognized member of the late- to post-tectonic ~10601010 Ma andesine anorthosite belt that includes the Château-Richer, St. Urbain, and Labrieville massifs. The dominant rock type at MAT is foliated andesine anorthosite or leuconorite, and orientations of foliations indicate that the pluton has the shape of a dome. MAT contains separate core and border zones, which are distinguished on the basis of plagioclase composition and concentrations of Ga, Rb, Sr, and Ba. Xenoliths of labradorite anorthosite having Ga, Sr, and Ba concentrations different from those of the host andesine anorthosites occur sporadically throughout the pluton as well. Lastly, rocks enriched in Fe, Ti, and P (jotunite, oxideapatite gabbronorite, nelsonite, ilmenitite) also occur at MAT, primarily near the coreb...
Derivation of rules for comparative protein modeling from a database of protein structure alignments

We describe a database of protein structure alignments as well as methods and tools that use this database to improve comparative protein modeling. The current version of the database contains 105 alignments of similar proteins or protein segments. The database comprises 416 entries, 78,495 residues, 1,233 equivalent entry pairs, and 230,396 pairs of equivalent alignment positions. At present, the main application of the database is to improve comparative modeling by satisfaction of spatial restraints implemented in the program MODELLER (Sali A, Blundell TL, 1993, J Mol Biol 234:779-815). To illustrate the usefulness of the database, the restraints on the conformation of a disulfide bridge provided by an equivalent disulfide bridge in a related structure are derived from the alignments; the prediction success of the disulfide dihedral angle classes is increased to approximately 80%, compared to approximately 55% for modeling that relies on the stereochemistry of disulfide bridges alone. The second example of the use of the database is the derivation of the probability density function for comparative modeling of the cis/trans isomerism of the proline residues; the prediction success is increased from 0% to 82.9% for cis-proline and from 93.3% to 96.2% for trans-proline. The database is available via electronic mail.
Cloning, sequencing, and mutation of a gene for azurin in Methylobacillus flagellatum KT

The gene cluster for methylamine utilization (mau genes) has been cloned from the obligate methylotrophic bacterium Methylobacillus flagellatum KT. Partial sequence data showed that the organization of these genes was similar to that found in Methylophilus methylotrophus W3A1-NS, including the lack of a gene for amicyanin, which had been thought to be the electron acceptor for methylamine dehydrogenase in M. flagellatum KT. However, a gene encoding azurin was discovered at the 3' end of the mau gene cluster, transcribed in the opposite orientation. A mutant with a defect in this gene showed impaired growth on methylamine, suggesting that azurin is involved in methylamine oxidation in M. flagellatum KT.
Noctilucent clouds and thermospheric dust: Their diffusion and height distribution

Rocket sampling in latitude 66°N has shown that at heights around that of the mesopause, dust nuclei are far more abundant there when noctilucent clouds (hereinafter abbreviated to NLC) are present than when they are absent. The dust particles appear to be nickel-based micrometeorites, and many of them, when NLC are present, appear to be ice-coated. Hence the occurrence of NLC seems to require an adequate density of both water vapour and dust. The water vapour is supposed to rise to the mesopause by convection (in summer in latitudes above 45°); thence it diffuses into the thermosphere, where its upward penetration is limited by dissociation by ultra-violet light, so that its effective scale height is estimated to be less than 2 km. Assuming that the air just above the mesopause is non-turbulent, the scale height of the uncoated dust passing steadily downwards there is the same as that of the air, about 4.5 km. The estimated scale height of the NLC particles is about 1.5 km. Eddy diffusion below the mesopause causes the number density of both NLC and uncoated dust particles to decrease sharply just below the mesopause. Thus both the thinness and the location of NLC are explained. The diffusion problems considered refer to both the dust and the water vapour; the recent study of dust diffusion by Yu and Klein (1964) is extended. Also the influence of upward dust convection is considered. Conclusions are drawn as to the form of the NLC particles from their estimated rate of descent. The appearance of NLC is ascribed to the simultaneous occurrence (mainly, if not exclusively in the higher latitudes in summer) of a descent of the turbopause to the mesopause, a low mesopause temperature, and humid air below the mesopause.
Effective Cyclic Energy as a Measure of Seismic Demand

Structural damage during strong ground shaking is associated with both the seismic input energy and the ability of structural components to dissipate energy through viscous damping and inelastic cyclic response. The correlation of the damage potential of ground motions with seismic energy demand is an important element in developing energy-based design methodologies. This article proposes a new measure of the severity of ground motions by introducing the concept of effective cyclic energy (ECE) defined as the peak-to-peak energy demand (sum of hysteretic and damping energies) imposed on a structure over an effective duration that is equivalent to the time between two zero-crossings of the “effective velocity pulse.” The proposed energy measure, which is dependent on the characteristics of the ground motion, is shown to be well correlated with peak seismic demand for a range of system parameters. The development of ECE also provides a basis for defining a non dimensional response index (γ eff ) to quantify...
Ventilatory responses to acute and chronic hypoxia in mice: effects of dopamine D2 receptors

We used genetically engineered D2 receptor-deficient [D2-(−/−)] and wild-type [D2-(+/+)] mice to test the hypothesis that dopamine D2 receptors modulate the ventilatory response to acute hypoxia [h...
Bariatric Surgery Outcomes In Patients With Prior Fundoplication

quate fundus reduction were treated with stapled revision. Esophagrams that showed mild pouch and/or anastomotic dilatation were selected to undergo a revision in which a LAGB would be placed. We collected information on age, weights, follow-up times, and any complications, including removal of the band. Finally, we performed a phone interview with any patient that had not been seen in the office within the past year to inquire about their current condition. Results: We reviewed 2094 LAGB cases performed since 2001. A total of 139 LAGBs were placed around a RYGB. All bands were placed laparoscopically with no conversions to open or peri-operative complications. 31 patients had previous open bypasses and 108 patients had laparoscopic bypasses. Patients have been followed for a mean of 2.5 years, with 16 patients having been followed for greater than 5 years, the longest being 10 years. The average pre-RYGB BMI was 54.4 (SE 1⁄4 0.90), which decreased to 32.1 (0.62) post RYGB. At the time of band, the pre-BaB BMI was 42.2 (0.63), which decreased to 35.7 (0.68) at the present time (p o 0.05). Patients who have been followed for more than 5 years (16) have an average BMI of 31.4, and more than 10 years (2) an average BMI of 31.3. Of the 139 bands, 11 (7.9%) have been removed: four due to erosion (2.9%), four due to clinical intolerance (2.9%), two due to slippage (1.4%), and one due to an unrelated illness. Complications requiring removal occurred on average of 2.25 years after band placement (SE 1⁄4 0.41). There were no records of any additional nutritional deficiencies after band placement. Conclusion: This study shows that LAGB is not only a safe alternative to complex revisional surgery in patients failing gastric bypass, but also one that yields long-term weight loss success. It can be performed safely, often as a same day procedure. Longterm follow-up demonstrates that the band removal rate is in the lower-end of the literature reported rates for primary LAGB. Because of its safety profile and weight loss result, LAGB around prior RYGB should be considered a long-term solution for patients who have continued to struggle with their weights after a RYGB. A141
From 3He@C60 to 3H@C60: Hot-Atom Incorporation of Tritium in C60

The introduction of tritium into the cavity of C60 using hot-atom chemistry was studied. Neutron irradiation of 3He in 3He@C60 produced tritium ions and atoms which enter the C60. 3H@C60 was detected with a scintillation counter. The Bingel reaction was carried out on this material under conditions so that the monoadduct formed predominantly, and the products were probed for tritium activity. Analysis with 3He NMR gave a peak with the characteristic 3He shift for the malonate product. The product fractions gave only 33% of the original activity; most was recovered in the unreacted C60 portion. No reaction was observed between C60 and the stable radical di-tert-butylnitroxide; all tritium activity was recovered in the C60 peak. These results suggest similarities in properties between 3H@C60 and pure C60, implying that the tritium exists as a free atom inside the molecule.
Ion-Transporting ATPases

ATP-hydrolyzing enzymes, which couple the free energy of hydrolysis of ATP to the transport of monovalent or divalent cations, are ubiquitous constituents of biological membranes. In our laboratory, we have been involved in a characterization of three of these transport systems, including the Na+/K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase from kidney plasma membrane and the Ca2+-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum. A specific transport function has not yet been assigned to the Mg2+-ATPase, but the other two enzymes have become model systems for the study of structure-function relationships and energy coupling in membranes.
Abstract: Automated Fitting of MIRT Models by a Simultaneous Perturbation Algorithm.

Item factor analysis (IFA) is a useful technique for studying the structure of latent variables measured by psychological tests. Cai (2010) introduced the Metropolis-Hastings Robbins-Monro (MH-RM) ...
WHY THE HORIZON IS IMPORTANT FOR AIRBORNE SENSE AND AVOID APPLICATIONS

Abstract. The utility of the horizon for airborne sense-and-avoid (ABSAA) applications is explored in this work. The horizon is a feature boundary across which an airborne scene can be separated into surface and sky and serves as a salient, heading-independent feature that may be mapped into an electro-optical sensor. The virtual horizon as established in this paper represents the horizon that would be seen assuming a featureless earth model and infinite visibility and is distinct from the apparent horizon in an imaging sensor or the pilot’s eye. For level flight, non-maneuvering collision course trajectories, it is expected that targets of interest will appear in close proximity to this virtual horizon. This paper presents a model for establishing the virtual horizon and its projection into a camera reference plane as part of the sensing element in an ABSAA system. Evaluation of the model was performed on a benchmark dataset of airborne collision geometries flown at the National Research Council (NRC) using the Cerberus camera array. The model was compared against ground truth flight test data collected using high accuracy inertial navigation systems aboard aircraft on several ’near-miss’ intercepts. The paper establishes the concept of ’virtual horizon proximity’ (VHP), the minimum distance from a detected target and the virtual horizon, and investigates the utility of using this metric as a means of rejecting false positive detections, and increasing range at first detection through the use of a region of interest (ROI) mask centred on the virtual horizon. The use of this horizon-centred ROI was shown to increase the range at first detection by an average factor of two, and was shown to reduce false positives for six popular feature detector algorithms applied across the suite of flight test imagery.
Effect of an aortic proteoglycan on platelet aggregation and thrombin time: plasma requirement and active moieties (39898).

SummaryA highly purified bovine aortic proteoglycan (PG) prolongs thrombin-in-duced clotting and inhibits thrombin-in-duced platelet aggregation, but has no appreciable effect on platelet aggregation induced by ADP, epinephrine, or collagen. Inhibition of thrombin-induced aggregation requires the presence of plasma factors. Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) isolated from the PG contained all the antithrombic activity. Hydrolysis of GAG by treating the PG with chondroitinase abolishes the activity. The antithrombic action of the PG was compared with that of a commercial heparin. Twice as much protamine sulfate was required to neutralize the antithrombic effect of the PG as to neutralize that of heparin. The location of the PG in the arterial wall and its antithrombic activity suggest it plays a role in regulating the response of the circulating blood to vascular injury.We thank Miss Cassandra Smith and Miss Rose Lo for excellent technical assistance. Miss Ellen Rohde typed the manuscript.
Empirical Bayes Estimation for Logistic Regression and Extended Parametric Regression Models

Parametric empirical Bayes methods are discussed for estimating the mean proportion response from generalized linear regression models (GLiM's) based on the binomial distribution, including the well-known case of logistic regression. The GLiM's are extended via parametric families of link functions that embed specific links-such as the logit-within their parametric structure. The models may be viewed as members of a larger class of conditionally independent hierarchical models. An example from environmental mutagenesis, wherein a hierarchical effect is induced by similarities among responding units, motivates consideration of the hierarchical GLiM. Empirical Bayes estimation of the mean proportion response is addressed for this example, with emphasis directed at extensions of the logit model.
Prevalence and Predictors of Ischemia and Outcomes in Outpatients With Diabetes Mellitus Referred for Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Background- The prevalence of ischemia and its prediction of events are unclear in outpatients with diabetes mellitus in the modern era of intensive medical management. We sought to identify the prevalence of ischemia, subsequent cardiac events, and impact of sex, stress type, and symptom status on these findings in a cohort of stable outpatients with diabetes mellitus referred for single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). Methods and Results- The study cohort included 575 consecutive outpatients with diabetes mellitus who underwent quantitative, gated single-photon emission computed tomography MPI. Clinical information, stress MPI variables, and cardiac events were prospectively collected and analyzed. The study population was at intermediate risk of coronary artery disease or had known coronary artery disease (40.3%); 29% of patients were asymptomatic at the time of stress testing. Scintigraphic ischemia and significant (≥10%) left ventricular ischemia were present in 126 patients (21.9%) and 29 patients (5.0%), respectively, and 2-fold by male sex (P<0.001), but was not impacted by pharmacological stress (P=0.15) or presence of symptoms (P=0.89). During a median 4.4 years follow-up, the rate of cardiac death/nonfatal myocardial infarction was moderate at 2.6%/y (cardiac death 0.8%/y) in the total cohort, but was 5.7%/y in those with ischemia (P<0.001). Pharmacological stress predicted a higher cardiac event rate (P<0.001) but symptoms did not (P=0.55). Conclusions- This cohort of stable outpatients with diabetes mellitus referred for single-photon emission computed tomography had low rates of significant ischemia and early revascularization; an initially low cardiac event rate increased after 2 years. Independent predictors of cardiac death/nonfatal myocardial infarction were known coronary artery disease, pharmacological stress, and MPI ischemia. Nearly one third of those with events had a normal MPI, indicating a need for improved risk stratification.
Population propagation characteristics and water improving effect of large-scale cultivated water hyacinth( Eichhornia crassipes) in Dianchi Lake

Large-scale cultivated water hyacinth( Eichhornia crassipes) has achieved initial positive effects in restoration of the eutrophic Dianchi Lake. To study population propagation charateristics and water improving effect of water hyacinth,controlled cultivation of water hyacinth was conducted inside fence facilities in Caohai and Waihai of Dianchi Lake,and the per unit area biomass and population cover area of water hyacinth,plant total nitrogen content and total phosphorus content and water quality of the experimental water area were monitored every month in 2011- 2012. The results showed water hyacinth grew quickly from May to September in Dianchi Lake,and its biomass growth rate began to fall afterwards. Therefore,in order to obtain the highest biomass,as well as to achieve the greatest reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus,the harvest of water hyacinth should be done at the end of September. In Caohai,the average biomass growth rate of water hyacinth was up to 330. 1 g /( m2·d) and the per unit area biomass accumulation reached 63. 4 kg/m2in 2011. In the north of Waihai,where cyanobacteria easily accumulated,the per unit area biomass accumulation reached 56. 2 kg / m2in2012. Through water hyacinth bioremediation,the concentrations of total nitrogen and total phosphrus of Caohai and Waihai had fallen,and the water quality of the two water area had been improved.
Radiosensitization by DNA, Binding Pyrrole, Imidazole Polyamides

Pyrrole (Py) - Imidazole (Im) polyamides are a class of non-genotoxic DNA-binding small molecules with modular sequence recognition and high affinity. A polyamide targeted to the sequence 5’-WGWWCW-3’, corresponding to the Androgen Receptor (AR) Response Element (ARE) half-site, suppresses AR positive prostate tumor xenografts. Evidence for inhibition of DNA dependent processes including allosteric inhibition of AR-DNA interactions and RNA Polymerase II transcription are observed in vitro. It is hypothesized that polyamides may displace DNA repair elements recruited after genotoxic insult and thereby sensitize cells to ionizing radiation.
Parks, People, and Property Values: The Changing Role of Green Spaces in Antebellum Manhattan

The role that parks played in Manhattan changed dramatically during the antebellum period. Originally dismissed as unnecessary on an island embraced by rivers, parks became a tool for real estate d...
On the V-DE Construction in Mandarin Chinese

The paper proposes a novel classification and analysis of the V-DE construction in Mandarin Chinese. On this proposal, the V-DE construction is divided into two types, predicative and non-predicative. The predicative type can be further divided into entity-predicative V-DE constructions and eventuality-predicative V-DE constructions. With respect to the analysis of the V-DE construction, the paper identifies four different structures. It points out that the de-part (i.e. the part after and marked by 得 -de) in most V-DE constructions is a clause with or without an overt subject. Moreover, with respect to the cases where the de-part has an overt NP that can be interpreted as the Patient argument of the verb before -de and at the same time is semantically compatible with the VP or AP in the de-part, the paper proposes that the overt NP in such cases is syntactically the subject of the de-clause and syntactically is not the direct object of V-DE or the verb before -de. Finally, when the de-part of an entity-predicative V-DE construction has an overt NP between -de and the predicate of the de-clause, the AP or VP of the de-part generally needs to be predicated of the overt NP in the de-part. This constraint, however, can be occasionally relaxed to allow for a pragmatically-inducted interpretation when both of the following conditions are met: (i) the de-part is a well-formed clause in both form and meaning and (ii) the pragmatically-induced interpretation is pragmatically plausible.
No Association between Mycotoxin Exposure and Autism: A Pilot Case-Control Study in School-Aged Children

Evaluation of environmental risk factors in the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is needed for a more complete understanding of disease etiology and best approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. A pilot experiment in 54 children (n = 25 ASD, n = 29 controls; aged 12.4 ± 3.9 years) screened for 87 urinary mycotoxins via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to assess current exposure. Zearalenone, zearalenone-4-glucoside, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, and altenuene were detected in 9/54 (20%) samples, most near the limit of detection. No mycotoxin/group of mycotoxins was associated with ASD-diagnosed children. To identify potential correlates of mycotoxin presence in urine, we further compared the nine subjects where a urinary mycotoxin was confirmed to the remaining 45 participants and found no difference based on the presence or absence of mycotoxin for age (t-test; p = 0.322), gender (Fisher’s exact test; p = 0.456), exposure or not to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Fisher’s exact test; p = 0.367), or to other medications (Fisher’s exact test; p = 1.00). While no positive association was found, more sophisticated sample preparation techniques and instrumentation, coupled with selectivity for a smaller group of mycotoxins, could improve sensitivity and detection. Further, broadening sampling to in utero (mothers) and newborn-toddler years would cover additional exposure windows.
Microbes as Intein Havens: These microbial, intron-like polypeptides are self-splicing elements that remove themselves posttranslationally from their host proteins

Inteins are polypeptide escape artists, with an extraordinary ability to excise themselves from fully folded proteins without leaving a trace. Inteins are best described as protein introns, self-splicing elements that remove themselves posttranslationally from their host proteins. They occur in all three domains of life—archaea, bacteria, and single-celled eukaryotes (Fig. 1A). Even so, inteins are rarely discussed among microbiologists, but this relative silence is about to be broken.
Exploring advantages in the waiting list for organ donations

The waiting list for organ transplants is a complex system that affects the lives of thousands of Americans. The current policies in the United States allow patients to register at multiple Donor Service Areas (DSAs) provided they have physician approval and can cover the costs of any additional testing through insurance or personal means. This practice gives rise to ethical concerns, especially among those who believe it allows the wealthy to take unfair advantage of the system. We develop an agent-based, discrete event model that simulates the practice of multiple listings in transplant waiting list queues to explore the effects on the overall transplant system. Our analysis shows that although there are no major impacts at the national or global level, there are potential consequences at the local DSA level depending on the heterogeneity of the DSAs involved.
CPI-17 Contributes to Calcium-Independent ADP-Induced Platelet Shape Change through P2Y1-Gq-PKC Pathways.

Abstract The initial event in platelet activation is the reorganization of the cytoskeleton causing the platelets to change from a discoid to a spiculated spheroid shape. Platelet shape change is primarily regulated by the phosphorylation of myosin light chain kinase. We have shown that this process is mediated through both calcium-dependent and calcium-independent Rho kinase pathways. CPI-17, a Protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylated inhibitory protein of myosin light chain phosphatase, has been shown to have a role in platelet shape change downstream of thrombin-induced platelet activation. CPI-17 is a 17 kDa protein expressed in human platelets shown to inhibit myosin light chain phosphotase activity via PKCs. In this study we examined the role of CPI-17 in ADP-induced shape change and phosphorylation of CPI-17, downstream of the Gq coupled, P2Y1, and the Gi coupled, P2Y12 receptors. CPI-17 phosphorylation occurred upon activation of platelets with 2MeSADP. This phosphorylation was abolished in the presence of the P2Y1 receptor antagonist, MRS-2179. These results indicated that Gq signaling is important for platelet shape change and phosphorylation of CPI-17. In the presence of the calcium chelator, BAPTA, platelets changed shape in response to 2MeSADP; CPI-17 phosphorylation, however, was unaffected by BAPTA treatment under these conditions. However, CPI-17 phosphorylation was inhibited in the presence of the pan PKC inhibitors. These results indicate that CPI-17 phosphorylation occurs downstream of PKC activation. In the presence of BAPTA, treatment with PKC inhibitors decreased platelet shape change possibly due to reduced CPI-17 phosphorylation. The shape change caused by p160ROCK downstream of G12/13 pathways was unaffected by pan PKC inhibitors, but abolished by p160ROCK inhibitors H1152 or Y27632. Platelets incubated with BAPTA, pan PKC inhibitors, and p160ROCK inhibitor H1152, abolished ADP-induced platelet shape change and CPI-17 phosphorylation. In conclusion, ADP-induced platelet shape change occurs through a Gq-mediated, calcium-independent signaling pathway regulated by CPI-17 phosphorylation via PKC activation.
Size-Dependent Biexciton Quantum Yields and Carrier Dynamics of Quasi-Two-Dimensional Core/Shell Nanoplatelets

Quasi-two-dimensional nanoplatelets (NPLs) possess fundamentally different excitonic properties from zero-dimensional quantum dots. We study lateral size-dependent photon emission statistics and carrier dynamics of individual NPLs using second-order photon correlation (g(2)(τ)) spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) intensity-dependent lifetime analysis. Room-temperature radiative lifetimes of NPLs can be derived from maximum PL intensity periods in PL time traces. It first decreases with NPL lateral size and then stays constant, deviating from the electric dipole approximation. Analysis of the PL time traces further reveals that the single exciton quantum yield in NPLs decreases with NPL lateral size and increases with protecting shell thickness, indicating the importance of surface passivation on NPL emission quality. Second-order photon correlation (g(2)(τ)) studies of single NPLs show that the biexciton quantum yield is strongly dependent on the lateral size and single exciton quantum yield of the NP...
14C mean residence time and its relationship with thermal stability and molecular composition of soil organic matter: A case study of deciduous and coniferous forest types

Soil organic matter (SOM) plays a critical role in the global terrestrial carbon cycle, and a better understanding of soil processes involved in SOM stability is essential to determine how projected climate-driven changes in soil processes will influence carbon dynamics. We used 14C signature, analytical thermal analysis, and ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry to determine the influence of deciduous and coniferous forest vegetation type and soil depth on the stability of soil C. The 14C mean residence time (MRT) of the illuvial B horizon soils averaged 1350 years for the deciduous soils and 795 years for the coniferous soils. The difference of MRT between mineral soils by forest type may be due to the saturation of extractable Fe and Al minerals binding sites by SOM in the coniferous soils, allowing greater transport of modern SOM from the O horizon down the soil profile, as compared with the non-saturated minerals in the deciduous soil profile. The molecular mass distribution of the deciduous water-extractable aromatic SOM fraction was shifted to a lower mass range in the lower portion of B horizon soil compared with the upper portion, indicating preferential sorption of the higher mass aromatic fraction. The shift in the mass distribution of the aromatic fraction in the coniferous soil was much less than in the deciduous soil, which supports the view that the extractable metal minerals had reached saturation. We conclude that greater transport of modern O horizon SOM to the lower mineral B horizons in the coniferous soil profile resulted in its radiocarbon enrichment and shorter estimated MRT. Our findings highlight the importance of forest vegetation type, soil depth and transport mechanisms on SOM stability, and suggest important ecological implications for changes in forest composition on the terrestrial C cycle.