cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and predictors of hepatitis B virus coinfection in a United States cohort of hepatitis C virus-infected patients.

There are sparse epidemiologic data on coinfection of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) in the United States. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of HBV coinfection in a large U.S. population of HCV patients. We used the National Veterans Affairs HCV Clinical Case Registry to identify patients tested for HCV during 1997-2005. Patients were categorized based on HCV exposure (any two +HCV tests or one test with a diagnostic code), HCV infection (+RNA or genotype), HBV exposure (any +HBV test, excluding +HBsAb only), and HBV infection (+HBsAg, HBV DNA, or HBeAg). The prevalence of HBV exposure among patients with HCV exposure and that of HBV infection among patients with HCV infection were determined. Multivariate logistic regression evaluated potential demographic and clinical predictors of HBV coinfection. Among 168,239 patients with HCV exposure, 58,415 patients had HBV exposure for a prevalence of 34.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 34.5-35.0). Among 102,971 patients with HCV infection, 1,431 patients had HBV coinfection for a prevalence of 1.4% (95% CI 1.3-1.5). Independent associations with HBV coinfection compared with HCV monoinfection were age ≤50 years, male sex, positive HIV status, history of hemophilia, sickle cell anemia or thalassemia, history of blood transfusion, cocaine and other drug use; there was decreased risk in patients of Hispanic ethnicity. Conclusion: This is the largest cohort study in the U.S. on the prevalence of HBV coinfection in HCV patients. Among veterans with HCV, exposure to HBV is common (∼35%), but HBV coinfection is relatively low (1.4%). Several possible risk factors were identified. (Hepatology 2013;58:538–545)
Topochemical reduction of the high temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7: The structure of YBa2Cu3O6 by neutron diffraction

Abstract Superconducting orthorhombic YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6.8 has been reduced to tetragonal YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6 without structural collapse by heating under a nitrogen atmosphere at 900°C. Further reduction above ∼950°C results in destruction of the perovskite-related structure. Neutron powder diffraction data were fitted by the Rietveld profile refinement method to obtain the structure of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6 . The reduced material is viewed as containing isolated linear Cu 1+ O 2 units and square pyramidal Cu 2+ O 5 units that share oxygen atoms to form a two-dimensional copper-oxygen network. Semiconducting behavior is observed for YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6 from 4.2 K to 300 K consistent with such a localized-electron model. The structural refinement of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6 shows that the linear (Cu − 0) n chains present in YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 are now completely absent.
The ultrastructure of granulosa cells in the newborn rabbit ovary

In the first two weeks of life the pregranulosa cells located in the sex cords of the rabbit ovary become increasingly flattened and elongated to isolate and encircle individual oocytes. During this period there is a marked increase in the amount of intracytoplasmic lipid in the pregranulosa cells. The lipid is associated in clusters with adjacent mitochondria. The accumulation of lipid deposits within the pregranulosa cells suggests that the newborn rabbit ovary may be capable of steroid synthesis.
HISTOLOGIC, NEUROLOGIC, AND IMMUNOLOGIC EFFECTS OF METHYLMERCURY IN CAPTIVE GREAT EGRETS

Captive great egret (Ardea albus) nestlings were maintained as controls or were dosed with methylmercury chloride at low (0.5), and high doses (5 mg/kg, wet weight) in fish. Low dosed birds were given methylmercury at concentrations comparable to current exposure of wild birds in the Everglades (Florida, USA). When compared with controls, low dosed birds had lower packed cell volumes, dingy feathers, increased lymphocytic cuffing in a skin test, increased bone marrow cellularity, decreased bursal wall thickness, decreased thymic lobule size, fewer lymphoid aggregates in lung, increased perivascular edema in lung, and decreased phagocytized carbon in lung. High dosed birds became severely ataxic and had severe hematologic, neurologic, and histologic changes. The most severe lesions were in immune and nervous system tissues. By comparing responses in captive and wild birds, we found that sublethal effects of mercury were detected at lower levels in captive than in wild birds, probably due to the reduced sources of variation characteristic of the highly controlled laboratory study. Conversely, thresholds for more severe changes (death, disease) occurred at lower concentrations in wild birds than in captive birds, probably because wild birds were exposed to multiple stressors. Thus caution should be used in applying lowest observed effect levels between captive and wild studies.
Fever and reduced iron: their interaction as a host defense response to bacterial infection

When rabbits are infected with Pasteurella multocida, the concentration of iron in their plasma decreases and their rectal temperature rises. To determine whether the rise in body temperature (fever) and the fall in plasma iron may be a coordinated host defense response, Pasteurella multocida were grown in vitro at various temperatures and iron concentrations. At afebrile temperatures the bacteria grew equally well at low or high concentrations of iron. However, when the temperature of the bath was raised to a febrile temperature the growth of the bacteria was inhibited by the low, but not the high, iron concentrations. These data support the hypothesis that one of the mechanisms behind the adaptive (or beneficial) role of fever is the reduced ability of pathogenic bacteria to grow well at elevated temperatures in an iron-poor medium.
A frequent, GxxxG-mediated, transmembrane association motif is optimized for the formation of interhelical Cα-H hydrogen bonds.

Carbon hydrogen bonds between Cα–H donors and carbonyl acceptors are frequently observed between transmembrane helices (Cα–H···O=C). Networks of these interactions occur often at helix−helix interfaces mediated by GxxxG and similar patterns. Cα–H hydrogen bonds have been hypothesized to be important in membrane protein folding and association, but evidence that they are major determinants of helix association is still lacking. Here we present a comprehensive geometric analysis of homodimeric helices that demonstrates the existence of a single region in conformational space with high propensity for Cα–H···O=C hydrogen bond formation. This region corresponds to the most frequent motif for parallel dimers, GASright, whose best-known example is glycophorin A. The finding suggests a causal link between the high frequency of occurrence of GASright and its propensity for carbon hydrogen bond formation. Investigation of the sequence dependency of the motif determined that Gly residues are required at specific positions where only Gly can act as a donor with its “side chain” Hα. Gly also reduces the steric barrier for non-Gly amino acids at other positions to act as Cα donors, promoting the formation of cooperative hydrogen bonding networks. These findings offer a structural rationale for the occurrence of GxxxG patterns at the GASright interface. The analysis identified the conformational space and the sequence requirement of Cα–H···O=C mediated motifs; we took advantage of these results to develop a structural prediction method. The resulting program, CATM, predicts ab initio the known high-resolution structures of homodimeric GASright motifs at near-atomic level.
Bilateral lesions of the amygdala attenuate analgesia induced by diverse environmental challenges

Abstract This study was designed to evaluate the role of the amygdala, particularly its central nucleus, in the induction of analgesia elicited by environmental challenges. Rats with large, radiofrequency lesions centered in the central nucleus were found to display significantly attenuated analgesic responses to three different challenges: cat exposure, acute footshock, and re-exposure to an environment associated with footshock. These findings show that the amygdala plays an important role in the elicitation of analgesia by each of the environmental challenges tested. Since the amygdala has been shown to play a critical role in fear, these findings suggest that the analgesia elicited by these challenges involves a substantial fear component. Moreover, the finding that amygdala lesions significantly reduced the analgesia elicited by a non-noxious unconditional stimulus (cat exposure) strongly suggests that these lesions disrupt the expression of analgesia rather than producing a learning impairment. And finally, the findings of this study support the suggestion that fear-elicited analgesia is triggered by activation of a projection from amygdala to periaqueductal gray which forms one component of an integrated ‘defensive behavioral system’.
Finite element modeling of rolling contact

Abstract A new static/rolling contact element will be developed in this paper. The element is capable of obtaining the contact fields of rolling/moving type structure such as tires, train wheels, roller bearings, etc. wherein steadily moving mechanical surface fields are involved. The contact algorithm is general in the sense that it can be applied to both linear and nonlinear problems wherin the full complement of inertial fields may be of importance. It can also handle the slip and non-slip conditions which may exist in the contact zone. Based on the algorithm developed, the results of several numerical experiments will be presented.
Lewis base adducts derived from transfer hydrogenation catalysts: Scope and selectivity

The coordination tendencies of the unsaturated 16e Lewis acid [Cp*Ir(TsDPEN)]+ ([1H]+), where TsDPEN is H2NCHPhCHPhNTs−, are surveyed, together with parallel studies on analogous complexes such TsDACH (TsDACH = H2NC6H10NTs−) and Tsen (Tsen = H2NC2H4NTs−) derivatives as well as Rh analogues. Crystallographic analyses of the adducts of [Cp*IrL(TsDPEN)]+, where L = NCMe, NH3, PPh3, and CO, and [Cp*Ir(CO)(R,R-TsDACH)]+ are described. In the TsDPEN system, the Lewis base adducts contain an absolute configuration that is opposite that for the TsDPEN ligand and feature equatorial phenyl groups. In the case of [Cp*Ir(CO)(R,R-TsDACH)]+, both R and S metal centers cocrystallize. Isomerization of the R to the S metal center was first order in [Cp*(R-Ir)(CO)(R,R-TsDACH)]+ with minimal solvent effects. The pKa of the amine of the Lewis base adducts correlated linearly with the pKa of the free ligand in MeCN and the pKa of the amine (H2NCHPhCHPhNTs) of the Lewis base adduct in MeCN. Amines with pKa < 16 (MeCN scale), i...
Water Levels in Carbonate Rock Terranesa

Many subtle aspects of water levels in carbonate rocks need to be put in perspective even though hydrologists have recognized the fundamental value of characteristics of ground-water levels. The depth to the water table in carbonate rocks is controlled by local factors such as permeability and topography and by the regional factor of climate; both permeability and topography are dynamically developed according to the degree of preferential circulation of subsurface water and of solution of the rock, and the water table responds by lying deep beneath hilly permeable karstlands and shallow beneath flat and poorly permeable carbonate rocks. The uneven distribution of permeability and of topographic conditions is responsible for the intriguing karst phenomena of disappearing and reappearing surface streams. Great infiltration capacities of some karst regions result in large local fluctuations of the water table and in some cases to local reversals in direction of ground-water flow between wet and dry seasons. Water-level behavior in space and time is a primary consideration for interpreting the hydrology of carbonate terranes.
A Conference Training Model for Learning Disabilities Resource Teachers

The consultative functions of the learning disabilities resource teacher are emphasized in the professional literature. Yet, the delivery of these services is currently less than adequate to meet the mainstreaming needs of regular education personnel. Insufficient training has been targeted as an area contributing to this deficit. Consequently, the present model was designed to train educators for future roles in mainstreaming programs. The development of teaching strategies, communication and conferencing skills through microteaching and simulation are emphasized. Feedback is provided at several interaction points. The design for university training parallels the resource/consultant teacher program implemented in many schools.
Feedback Inhibition of Tyrosine Hydroxylase from Five Regions of Rat Brain by 2-Hydroxyestradiol and Dihy droxy pheny lalanine

: Inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase from five regions of rat brain by a model catecholamine, DOPA and a model catecholestrogen, 2-hydroxyestradiol, was examined. Tyrosine hydroxylase preparations from amygdala, preoptic, hypothalamic, striatal and hippocampal regions were freed of small molecules by gel filtration before use. The feedback inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase by the two model catechols was studied using a spectrum of reduced pterin cofactors, including tetrahydrobiopterin, 6-methyl-tetrahydropterin and 6, 7-dimethyltetrahydropterin. Micromolar levels of either inhibitor produced marked inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase from all regions when subsaturating levels of the endogenous cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin, were used.
Changes in nuclear magnetic resonance (T2) relaxation of limb tissue with bed rest

Bed rest is used to simulate the effects of weightlessness on human physiology. A spinecho procedure was used to image the lower leg of 15 normal male volunteers before and after 5 weeks of horizontal bedrest. In addition to noninvasively measuring muscle size changes, accurate T2 images were produced to investigate possible relaxation time changes immediately (2–4 h) and 1–2 days after bed rest. Subcutaneous fat showed no change in T2, bone marrow showed a decrease, and muscle showed no change immediately after bed rest but increased 1–2 days following reambulation. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.
Kant's Reception in France: Theories of the Categories in Academic Philosophy, Psychology, and Social Science

It has been said that Kant's critical philosophy made it impossible to pursue either the Cartesian rationalist or the Lockean empiricist program of providing a foundation for the sciences (e.g., Guyer 1992). This claim does not hold true for much of nineteenth century French philosophy, especially the eclectic spiritualist tradition that begins with Victor Cousin (1792–1867) and Pierre Maine de Biran (1766–1824) and continues through Paul Janet (1823–99). This tradition assimilated Kant's transcendental apperception of the unity of experience to Descartes's cogito. They then took this to be the method of a philosophical psychology that reveals the active self as substance or cause and thus provides the epistemological grounding for these categories. However, to dismiss these philosophers as simply confused or mistaken would be to overlook the historical role that their interpretations of Kant played in the subsequent development of philosophy and the social sciences in France. Specifically, Emile Durkheim...
Dynamics of nuclear fluid. II. Normal sound, spin sound, isospin sound, and spin-isospin sound

Starting with the time-dependent Hartree-Fock equation in density matrix form, we investigate the macroscopic description of the dynamics of the nuclear fluid involving the spin and isospin degrees of freedom, in conjunction with the presence of only central exchange interactions. The time-dependent Hartree-Fock equation can be cast into a set of conservation laws of the classical type coupling spin and isospin densities. With simple zero-range interactions, we obtain the normal modes of density propagations and the corresponding speeds of sound waves. In addition to the normal sound waves in which the total density varies with space and time, there are the spin sound waves in which the difference of the spin-up and the spin-down densities varies with space and time, the isospin sound waves in which the difference of neutron and proton densities varies with space and time, and finally, the spin-isospin sound waves in which the difference of the "parallel" spin and isospin densities and the "antiparallel" spin and isospin densities varies with space and time. It is found that for a zero-range interaction whose density dependence is of the type ${t}_{3}(1+{\mathcal{P}}^{B})\frac{n\ensuremath{\delta}({\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{r}}}_{1}\ensuremath{-}{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{r}}}_{2})}{6}$, the speeds of spin sound ${a}_{2}$, isospin sound ${a}_{3}$ and spin-isospin sound ${a}_{4}$ satisfy ${{a}_{2}}^{2}+{{a}_{3}}^{2}=2{{a}_{4}}^{2}$. With the parameters of Golin and Zamick and Vautherin and Brink, we have in addition ${a}_{3}g{a}_{4}g{a}_{2}$, the numerical values of ${a}_{2}$, ${a}_{3}$, and ${a}_{4}$ being in the range of 0.17 to 0.27c.NUCLEAR STRUCTURE Dynamics of nuclear fluid, normal sound wave, spin sound wave, isospin sound wave, and spin-isospin sound wave. Time-dependent Hartree-Fock theory. Estimate speeds of different sound waves.
Endogenous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is essential for the regulation of granulopoiesis. A deficiency of endogenously produced G-CSF may account for the relative neutropenia, impaired neutrophil function, and other neutrophil-related responses to infection observed in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In the present study, heparin-anticoagulated whole blood was obtained from 10 patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a diagnosis of AIDS and 9 healthy volunteers. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated by density-gradient centrifugation, stimulated with lipopolysaccharide at various concentrations, and kept in culture. G-CSF concentrations in culture supernatants were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after 24 hours. The PBMCs from patients with HIV showed decreased G-CSF production at baseline and at all concentrations of endotoxin, reaching significance at 10,000 ng/mL. The mean peak G-CSF level attained by PBMCs from patients with AIDS at 1000 ng/mL endotoxin was less than the level attained by PBMCs obtained from volunteers at an endotoxin concentration of 50 ng/mL. This decreased G-CSF production in response to endotoxin may explain attenuated neutrophil responses to acute bacterial infections.
Effect of test specimen cross-sectional shape on the in vitro fatigue life of acrylic bone cement

Constant-amplitude uniaxial tension-compression fatigue tests were conducted on specimens fabricated from 12 sets of acrylic bone cements, covering cement formulations with three different viscosities (so-called "high-", "medium-" and "low-viscosity" varieties), two different methods of mixing the cement constituents (so-called "hand-" and "vacuum-mixed" methods) and two test specimen shapes (rectangular-cross-sectioned or "flat" and circular-cross-sectioned or "round"). The test results-namely, the number of fatigue stress cycles, N(f)-were analyzed using the linearized transformation of the three-parameter Weibull relationship, allowing the values of the Weibull mean, N(WM), to be determined for each set. Values ranged from 14,300 to 1,284,331 for the round specimen sets and from 2898 to 72,960 for the flat specimen sets. Statistical analysis of the ln N(f) data, together with an examination of the N(WM) values, showed that, for any combination of cement formulation and mixing method, round specimens had significantly longer fatigue lives compared to flat ones. These results are explained in terms of two factors. The first is the smaller surface area of the waisted zone in the round specimens compared to that in the flat specimens (nominal value of 157mm(2) versus nominal value of 185mm(2)), leading to the possibility of fewer crack initiation sites on the round specimens compared to the flat ones. Secondly, it is postulated that the crystallinity of the round specimens was higher than that of the flat ones, a consequence of the significantly lower measured residual liquid monomer contents of the former compared to the latter (3.40+/-1.28wt%/wt compared to 3.81+/-1.48wt%/wt). The significance of the present finding is that it indicates that, for a set of bone cement formulation and experimental conditions, discriminating fatigue test results are more likely to be obtained if flat, rather than round, test specimens are used.
End stage juvenile nephronophthisis on MRI—reply to Simms and Sayer

Sir, I read with interest the letter from Simms et al. [1] regarding our clinical image presentation depicting the radiological manifestations of nephronophthisis on MRI [2]. I am grateful to the authors of this letter for taking the opportunity to further highlight the importance of this pathology, its implications and the multiple associations. In this particular case, given the described clinical presentation and the neurological associations of the radiological findings in the kidneys as outlined [1, 2], an MRI of the brain was performed on initial admission and was normal.
On the total heights of random rooted binary trees

Abstract Denote by S n the set of all distinct rooted binary trees with n unlabeled vertices. Define σ n as a total height of a tree chosen at random in the set S(n), assuming that all the possible choices are equally probable. The total height of a tree is defined as the sum of the heights of its vertices. The height of a vertex in a rooted tree is the distance from the vertex to the root of the tree, that is, the number of edges in the path from the vertex to the root. This paper is concerned with the distribution and the moments of σ n and their asymptotic behavior as n → ∞).
Relationship of Mental Health and Illness in Substance Abuse Patients

This study examined the latent structure of a number of measures of mental health (MH) and mental illness (MI) in substance use disorder outpatients to determine whether they represent two independent dimensions, as Keyes (2005) found in a community sample. Seven aspects of MI assessed were assessed - optimism, personal meaning, spirituality/religiosity, social support, positive mood, hope, and vitality. MI was assessed with two measures of negative psychological moods/states, a measure of antisociality, and the Addiction Severity Index's recent psychiatric and family-social problem scores. Correlational and exploratory factor analyses revealed that MH and MI appear to reflect two independent, but correlated, constructs. However, optimism and social support had relatively high loadings on both factors. Antisociality and the family-social problem score failed to load significantly on the MI factor. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the existence of two obliquely related, negatively correlated dimensions. Study findings, although generally supporting the independence of MH and MI, suggest that the specific answers to this question may be influenced by the constructs and assessments used to measure them.
Top-Down Proteomics for Rapid Identification of Intact Microorganisms

We apply MALDI−TOF/TOF mass spectrometry for the rapid and high-confidence identification of intact Bacillus spore species. In this method, fragment ion spectra of whole (undigested) protein biomarkers are obtained without the need for biomarker prefractionation, digestion, separation, and cleanup. Laser-induced dissociation (unimolecular decay) of higher mass (>5 kDa) precursor ions in the first TOF analyzer is followed by reacceleration and subsequent high-resolution mass analysis of the resulting sequence-specific fragments in a reflectron TOF analyzer. In-house-developed software compares an experimental MS/MS spectrum with in silico-generated tandem mass spectra from all protein sequences, contained in a proteome database, with masses within a preset range around the precursor ion mass. A p-value, the probability that the observed matches between experimental and in silico-generated fragments occur by chance, is computed and used to rank the database proteins to identify the most plausible precursor ...
Nonlinear H /spl infin/ missile longitudinal autopilot design with thetas-D method

In this paper, a new nonlinear Hinfin control technique, called thetas-D Hinfin method, is employed to design a missile longitudinal autopilot. The thetas-D Hinfin design has the same structure as that of linear Hinfin, except that the two Riccati equations that are part of the solution process are state dependent. The thetas-D technique yields suboptimal solutions to nonlinear optimal control problems in the sense that it provides an approximate solution to the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation. It is also shown that this method can be used to provide an approximate closed-form solution to the state dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) and consequently reduce the on-line computations associated with the nonlinear Hinfin implementation. A missile longitudinal autopilot design demonstrates the capabilities of thetas-D method. This new nonlinear Hinfin design also shows favorable results as compared with the linear H design based on the linearized model.
Developing PC-based expert systems: promises fulfilled and lessons learned

In the development of PC-based expert systems for "niche" applications, a conflict exists between maximizing the value delivered to the customer and minimizing the development cost. Good expert systems must have an effective human-machine interface, be highly integrated within their operating environment, and have user credibility. Considerable engineering effort is required to provide this functionality on a PC within cost and schedule constraints. We illustrate our approach to resolving the value vs. cost dilemma by describing our development of a system called LESTER. Results achieved via the implementation of LESTER are discussed, as well as the areas in which we encountered development difficulties. From our experiences, we argue that the need exists for an implementation environment that simplifies the building of expert systems and thus lowers their cost. Tools for efficient prototyping, knowledge acquisition and code development are conceptualized. These tools address some of the more troublesome aspects of expert system development. Creating the right tools for an environment is an evolutionary process, one that will allow developers (and their customers) to ultimately achieve a high return from their investment.
Stimulus chromatic properties affect period doubling in the human cone flicker ERG

Period doubling in the full-field cone flicker electroretinogram (ERG) refers to an alternation in waveform amplitude and/or shape from cycle to cycle, presumably owing to the operation of a nonlinear gain control mechanism. This study examined the influence of stimulus chromatic properties on the characteristics of period doubling in order to better understand the underlying mechanism. ERGs were acquired from 5 visually normal subjects in response to sinusoidally modulated flicker presented at frequencies from 25 to 100 Hz. The test stimuli and the pre-stimulus adaptation were either long wavelength (R), middle wavelength (G), or an equal combination of long and middle wavelengths (Y), all equated for photopic luminance. Fourier analysis was used to obtain the response amplitude at the stimulus frequency F and at a harmonic frequency of 3F/2, which was used as the index of period doubling. The frequency–response function for 3F/2 typically showed two peaks, occurring at approximately 33.3 and 50 Hz. However, the magnitude of period doubling within these frequency regions was dependent on the chromatic properties of both the test stimulus and the pre-stimulus adaptation. Period doubling was generally smallest when an R test was used, even though the stimuli were luminance-equated and the amplitude of F did not differ between the various conditions. The pattern of results indicates that the mechanism that generates period doubling is influenced by chromatic signals from both the test stimulus and the pre-stimulus adaptation, even though the high stimulus frequencies presumably favor the achromatic luminance system.
Molecular and biochemical characterization of human galactokinase and its small molecule inhibitors

Human galactokinase (GALK) is the first enzyme in the Leloir pathway, converting α-d-galactose into galactose-1-phosphate (Gal-1-P). Recently, there is increasing interest in targeting GALK as a novel therapy to ameliorate the disease manifestations in patients with Classic Galactosemia as it would, in combination with (ga-)lactose restriction reduce accumulation of Gal-1-P, a cytotoxic agent. Previously, we identified 34 small molecule compounds that inhibited GALK in vitro using experimental high-throughput screening. In order to isolate useful lead compounds, we characterized these hits with regards to their kinase selectivity profiles, potency and capability to reduce Gal-1-P accumulation in patient cell lines, and their modes of action. We found that the majority of these compounds had IC(50)s ranging from 0.7μM to 33.3μM. When tested against other members of the GHMP kinase family, three compounds (1, 4, and 24) selectively inhibited GALK with high potency. Through alignment of GALK and mevalonate kinase (MVK) crystal structures, we identified that eight amino acid residues and an L1 loop were different within the ATP-binding pockets of these two closely related kinases. By site-directed mutagenesis experiments, we identified one amino acid residue required for the inhibitory function of two of the three selective compounds. Based on these results, we generated binding models of these two compounds using a high-precision docking program. Compounds 4 and 24 inhibited GALK in a mixed model, while compound 1 exhibited parabolic competitive inhibition. Most importantly, using cells from galactosemic patients we found that selected compounds lowered Gal-1-P concentrations.
Reliability of the “immersion technique” during routine upper endoscopy for detection of abnormalities of duodenal villi in patients with dyspepsia

Background Upper endoscopy is not routinely performed to directly detect abnormalities of the duodenal villi. The reliability of the immersion technique for assessment of duodenal villi was evaluated in a series of patients with dyspepsia. Methods A total of 396 patients who were to undergo standard EGD for dyspeptic symptoms were enrolled. Patients with suspected malabsorption were excluded. By performing a "modified immersion technique," duodenal villi were scored as the following: definitely present, partially present, or definitely absent. Three duodenal biopsy specimens were obtained from each patient, and villi also were scored histologically as the following: normal, partial villous pattern, or total villous atrophy. Results Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the modified immersion technique for detection of total villous atrophy were 100%, 99.7%, 85.7%, and 100%, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of modified immersion technique for detection of partial villous patterns were 75%, 99.5%, 60%, and 99.7%, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for modified immersion technique detection of any villous abnormality (partial or total villous atrophy) were 90.9%, 99.5%, 83.3%, and 99.7%, respectively. Conclusions During standard EGD, duodenal evaluation by modified immersion technique can reliably detect abnormalities of duodenal villi. This simple diagnostic technique may be performed routinely during endoscopic exploration of duodenum.
Sodium and Potassium in Supraspinatus Muscle from Hypervitaminotic A Holstein Calves

Abstract Since enlarged adrenal glands and kidneys as well as internal edema have been observed in calves fed toxic vitamin A intakes, concentrations of sodium and potassium were determined in the supraspinatus muscle of 23 calves 21 weeks old. Ten control calves were fed vitamin A acetate equivalent to 54 or 108 micrograms retinol per kilogram live weight per day for 12 weeks prior to obtaining the muscle, six mildly toxic fed 8,800 micrograms, and seven severely toxic fed 17,600 micrograms. Supraspinatus muscles of the hypervitaminotic A calves contained less dry matter; greater ash per unit of dry matter; and greater sodium per unit of fresh tissue, dry matter, and ash than controls. Potassium concentration was essentially unaffected. Because of lack of difference in potassium content but less dry matter and greater sodium in muscle of the hypervitaminotic A calf, these alterations were considered to be of multiple origin, involving a number of glands and organs affected by toxicity.
Pelger–Huët Anomaly in a cat

A 14-year-old, spayed female Domestic Shorthair cat was referred to the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (PUVTH) for iodine 131 treatment of hyperthyroidism. Upon arrival, a biochemistry profile and a CBC were performed. Approximately 50% of the neutrophils and all the eosinophils observed were hyposegmented with a mature, condensed chromatin pattern. Nuclei had a band to "dumbbell" shape, and rarely a round shape, suggesting a Pelger-Huet anomaly or a pseudo Pelger-Huet. Based on both a negative FeLV and FIV tests, the absence of any clinical signs to support an inflammatory process, and the persistence of this granulocytic morphology 6 months after its previous admission to the PUVTH, a diagnosis of Pelger-Huet anomaly was established in this cat.
Atrial fibrillation correction surgery: lessons from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Cardiac Database.

Background We used The Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Cardiac Database to document the utilization of surgical atrial fibrillation (AF) correction procedures in North America. We also examined the subset of patients having mitral valve surgery to determine whether concurrent surgical AF correction procedures were associated with an increased risk of morbidity or mortality. Methods Retrospective review of outcomes for 67,389 patients with AF having cardiac surgery between January 2004 and December 2006 was conducted. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess whether concomitant AF correction procedures increased risk in the mitral valve surgery cohort. Results Overall, 38% (25,718 of 67,389) of patients with AF undergoing cardiac surgery had an AF correction procedure, increasing from 28.1% in 2004 to 40.2% in 2006. Surgical AF correction was performed in 52% (6,415 of 12,235) of mitral valve surgery patients, 28% (2,965 of 10,590) of those having aortic valve surgery, and 24% (5,438 of 22,388) of those having isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. After adjusting for differences in preoperative characteristics, mitral valve surgery patients with a surgical AF correction procedure did not have a significantly higher risk of mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.83 to 1.20) or major morbidity. The risk for new permanent pacemaker implantation was higher (adjusted odds ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.07 to 1.49) in the AF correction with mitral valve surgery group. Conclusions Although a growing number of patients with AF are treated with concurrent AF correction procedures during cardiac surgery, nearly 60% of patients are left untreated. Among patients with AF and mitral valve disease, the addition of an AF correction procedure does not increase perioperative morbidity or mortality.
Independent and combined effects of eating rate and energy density on energy intake, appetite, and gut hormones.

Objective: Energy density (ED) and eating rate (ER) influence energy intake; their combined effects on intake and on postprandial pancreatic and gut hormone responses are undetermined. To determine the combined effects of ED and ER manipulation on voluntary food intake, subjective appetite, and postprandial pancreatic and gut hormone responses. Design and Methods: Twenty nonobese volunteers each consumed high (1.6 kcal g−1; HED) and low (1.2 kcal g−1; LED) ED breakfasts slowly (20 g min−1; SR) and quickly (80 g min−1; FR) ad libitum to satiation. Appetite, and pancreatic and gut hormone concentrations were measured periodically over 3 h. Ad libitum energy intake during the subsequent lunch was then measured. Results: Main effects of ED and ER on energy intake and a main effect of ER, but not ED, on mass of food consumed were observed, FR and HED being associated with increased intake (P < 0.05). Across all conditions, energy intake was highest during FR-HED (P ≤ 0.01). Area under the curve (AUC) of appetite ratings was not different between meals. Main effects of ED and ER on insulin, peptide-YY, and glucagon-like peptide-1 AUC (P < 0.05) were observed, FR and HED being associated with larger AUC. No effects on active or total ghrelin AUC were documented. Total energy intake over both meals was highest during the FR-HED trial with the greatest difference between FR-HED and SR-LED trials (P ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: Consuming an energy dense meal quickly compounds independent effects of ER and ED on energy intake. Energy compensation at the following meal may not occur despite altered gut hormone responses.
Measurement of the non-common vertex error of a double corner cube

The Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) requires the control of the optical path of each interferometer with picometer accuracy. Laser metrology gauges are used to measure the path lengths to the fiiducial corner cubes at the siderostats. Due to the geometry of SIM a single corner cube does not have sufficient acceptance angle to work with all the gauges. Therefore SIM employs a double corner cube. Current fabrication methods are in fact not capable of producing such a double corner cube with vertices having sufficient commonality. The plan for SIM is to measure the non-commonalty of the vertices and correct for the error in orbit. SIM requires that the non-common vertex error (NCVE) of the double corner cube to be less than 6 (mu)m. The required accuracy for the knowledge of the NCVE is less than 1 (mu)m. This paper explains a method of measuring non-common vertices of a brassboard double corner cube with sub-micron accuracy. The results of such a measurement will be presented.
Internally consistent predictions of surface structural relaxations

Using density functional theory, we have performed structural relaxations of Rh(111) and Cu(100). To obtain accurate results, these calculations must be converged with respect to all computational approximations. In particular, it is vital to treat Brillouin zone integration with care, taking into account the effect of finite k-point sampling on surface and bulk structural properties. A new method is described and demonstrated for minimizing the error of finite k-point sampling in predicting surface relaxations accurately.
A simple model of nonisothermal coextrusion

A numerical method has been developed that takes the streamline finite difference method for modeling fully developed multilayer polymer flows and adds to it a simple means of accounting for nonisothermal conditions. In industrial practice, temperature control is often used to match material viscosities and, thereby, to avoid flow instabilities. By numerically calculating both viscosity ratios and normal stress difference ratios, the numerical method allows one to judge the relative stability of different flows and to choose an intelligent set of experiments when designing a coextrusion process. The algorithm has been successfully tested for a number of polymer melt constitutive equations in flows where the viscosity jumps no more than two orders of magnitude between fluids. Results for a rheologically well characterized polystyrene low-density polyethylene system and for an industrially interesting high-density polyethylene/Ultem system show that the common practice of matching zero-shear viscosities is overly simplistic when interface shear rate, conduction, normal stress, and flow rate effects are taken into account.
QUANTITATIVE EVIDENCE FOR ENZYMATICALLY‐INDUCED DNA DOUBLE‐STRAND BREAKS AS LETHAL LESIONS IN UV IRRADIATED pol+ AND polAl STRAINS OF E. COLI K‐12

— We have recently reported that DNA double-strand breaks arise enzymatically during the course of excision repair in uvr+ strains of Escherichia coli K-12. Survival curves for ultraviolet (UV) irradiated E. coli K-12 pol+ (JG139) and polA1 (JG138) strains have a pronounced shoulder region. The regions of the survival curves at which killing approaches exponential correspond to the fiuences at which DNA double-strand breaks (assumed to be lethal events) accumulate linearly. Reducing the number of UV photoproducts either by photoreactivation or fluence fractionation results in an increase in survival and a decrease in the yield of DNA double-strand breaks in both strains. These data support the hypothesis that enzymatically-induced DNA double-strand breaks may be the lesion ultimately responsible for UV-induced cell killing in the pol+ strain of E. coli K-12. and perhaps also in the polA1 strain.
A simple, low cost hydraulic pressure device for making microinjections in the brain.

Abstract A device for making small (⩾10 nl) injections of pathway tracing compounds through glass micropipettes into the CNS is described. The device is rugged, reliable and fabricated entirely of commercially available parts. Its construction requires no machining and its use requires little practice.
The inheritance of days to flowering in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

Crosses between an early flowering inbred broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) HS140 and four later maturing inbred lines, S301, S310, s318, and S258, were studied to determine the inheritance of earliness as expressed by days to first open flower. Mean days to first flower for F1 and F2 were almost identical, and were close to the mean of the two parents in three crosses, indicating additive inheritance. In the cross HS140×S258, for which no F1 plants were available, the F2 mean was closer to the mean of the early parent, but this was likely due to a distortion of the data caused by the very late maturation of S258, the latest maturing parent in the study. Frequency distribution for parents and progenies supported the conclusions from parent and progeny mean values and indicated that days to maturity is a quantitative character, with mostly additive inheritance.
Genomic occupancy of Runx2 with global expression profiling identifies a novel dimension to control of osteoblastogenesis

Background: Osteogenesis is a highly regulated developmental process and continues during the turnover and repair of mature bone. Runx2, the master regulator of osteoblastogenesis, directs a transcriptional program essential for bone formation through genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. While individual Runx2 gene targets have been identified, further insights into the broad spectrum of Runx2 functions required for osteogenesis are needed. Results: By performing genome-wide characterization of Runx2 binding at the three major stages of osteoblast differentiation - proliferation, matrix deposition and mineralization - we identify Runx2-dependent regulatory networks driving bone formation. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing over the course of these stages, we identify approximately 80,000 significantly enriched regions of Runx2 binding throughout the mouse genome. These binding events exhibit distinct patterns during osteogenesis, and are associated with proximal promoters and also non-promoter regions: upstream, introns, exons, transcription termination site regions, and intergenic regions. These peaks were partitioned into clusters that are associated with genes in complex biological processes that support bone formation. Using Affymetrix expression profiling of differentiating osteoblasts depleted of Runx2, we identify novel Runx2 targets including Ezh2, a critical epigenetic regulator; Crabp2, a retinoic acid signaling component; Adamts4 and Tnfrsf19, two remodelers of the extracellular matrix. We demonstrate by luciferase assays that these novel biological targets are regulated by Runx2 occupancy at non-promoter regions. Conclusions: Our data establish that Runx2 interactions with chromatin across the genome reveal novel genes, pathways and transcriptional mechanisms that contribute to the regulation of osteoblastogenesis. Background The development of bone tissue, new bone formation in the adult, mineral homeostasis and maintenance of bone mass are mediated by cells of the osteoblast lineage. These bone forming cells progress through a highly regulated differentiation program, with each subpopulation of cells acquiring stage-specific phenotypes that are characterized by distinct profiles of expressed genes [1]. Osteoblast com
Indications for use of ketoconazolein management of metastatic prostate cancer

Abstract Newer methods of androgen ablation for the treatment of metastatic prostatic carcinomahave been developed as alternatives to the standard forms of therapy, oral estrogens and surgical castration. The purpose of this review is to elucidate the indications and to determine the role of ketoconazole in the management of metastatic prostatic cancer. Eighteen patients have been treated with ketoconazole. The indications for usage have included: prompt therapeutic response, when orchiectomy is contraindicated, when estrogens are contraindicated, initial empirical therapy, and hormonally refractory disease. It can also be used in conjunction with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogues. Ketoconazole is excellent for short-term usage prior to bilateral orchiectomy and when prompt therapeutic response is needed but orchiectomy cannot be performed. However, it is not particularly useful for long-term hormonal therapy.
A conditionally stable system with variable structure in a work of A.M. Letov

In this short note I would like to draw your attention to a paper by A.M. Letov published in Automation and Remote Control back in 1957 [1]. The idea of constructing a controller proposed by Letov was in many ways similar to, and possibly anticipated the basic principle of constructing systems with variable structure. This has been noted in the preface to the book Theory of Systems with Variable Structure [2]: “These studies in the theory of systems with variable structure were predated by publications of Letov, I. Flugge-Lotz, and other authors.” Letov illustrated the synthesis procedure with the example of a linear system with integral controller [1] (in what follows we preserve the form of the equations and terminology from the original paper):
The Reaction of Cp*ReH6, Cp* = C5Me5, with Monoborane to Yield a Novel Rhenaborane. Synthesis and Characterization of arachno-Cp*ReH3B3H8

The rhenaborane Cp*ReH 3 B 3 H 8 , which is generated by the reaction of Cp*ReH 6 with BH 3 ·THF, has been characterized spectroscopically in solution and by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study in the solid state as a hydrogen-rich arachno -metallatetraborane.