cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Associative rigidity in free and controlled association

The purpose of the study was to investigate the feasibility of repetitiveness of associations to the same stimulus words as a measure of associative rigidity and to determine the correlation between rigidity scores in free association and controlled association tasks. One hundred and twenty-seven subjects were given a free association task first, followed by a controlled association task with subordinate concepts as the required responses. In both tasks, each test word was presented five times in the entire list. The number of different responses to the same stimulus word were counted and summed over 12 test words. Higher response variability was indicative of lower associative rigidity level. The product-moment correlation between the two tasks was.626, signifying a common factor of rigidity in free and controlled association tasks. Repetitiveness of the same associative response to the same stimulus was interpreted as a sensible measure of associative rigidity or stereotypy.
A COMPONENT MODEL OF RELATIONAL COMPETENCE

A model of relational competence is elaborated and operationalized in which person A's motivation, knowledge, and skills in conversing with B in a given episode are expected to predict both participants' satisfaction with self, other, and the communication. Naturally occurring dyadic conversations were interrupted and questionnaires were distributed referencing the preceding dialogues (n = 180 dyads). The o verall model explained significant proportions of variance in participants' satisfaction with self (R2= 16), other (R2= .26), and the communication (R2= .27). Results were similar when predicting others' satisfaction with self (R2= .25), other (R2= .29) and the communication (R2= .60). Despite these results, the knowledge component fared poorly, relative to the other predictors. Reasons for this finding, along with other theoretical and methodological implications, are examined.
Combination varenicline and bupropion SR for tobacco-dependence treatment in cigarette smokers: a randomized trial

Importance Combining pharmacotherapies for tobacco-dependence treatment may increase smoking abstinence. Objective To determine efficacy and safety of varenicline and bupropion sustained-release (SR; combination therapy) compared with varenicline (monotherapy) in cigarette smokers. Design, Setting, and Participants Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial with a 12-week treatment period and follow-up through week 52 conducted between October 2009 and April 2013 at 3 midwestern clinical research sites. Five hundred six adult (≥18 years) cigarette smokers were randomly assigned and 315 (62%) completed the study. Interventions Twelve weeks of varenicline and bupropion SR or varenicline and placebo. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcome was abstinence rates at week 12, defined as prolonged (no smoking from 2 weeks after the target quit date) abstinence and 7-day point-prevalence (no smoking past 7 days) abstinence. Secondary outcomes were prolonged and point-prevalence smoking abstinence rates at weeks 26 and 52. Outcomes were biochemically confirmed. Results At 12 weeks, 53.0% of the combination therapy group achieved prolonged smoking abstinence and 56.2% achieved 7-day point-prevalence smoking abstinence compared with 43.2% and 48.6% in varenicline monotherapy (odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% CI, 1.05-2.12; P = .03 and OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.95-1.93; P = .09, respectively). At 26 weeks, 36.6% of the combination therapy group achieved prolonged and 38.2% achieved 7-day point-prevalence smoking abstinence compared with 27.6% and 31.9% in varenicline monotherapy (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.04-2.22; P = .03 and OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.91-1.91; P = .14, respectively). At 52 weeks, 30.9% of the combination therapy group achieved prolonged and 36.6% achieved 7-day point-prevalence smoking abstinence compared with 24.5% and 29.2% in varenicline monotherapy (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.93-2.07; P = .11 and OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 0.96-2.05; P = .08, respectively). Participants receiving combination therapy reported more anxiety (7.2% vs 3.1%; P = .04) and depressive symptoms (3.6% vs 0.8%; P = .03). Conclusions and Relevance Among cigarette smokers, combined use of varenicline and bupropion, compared with varenicline alone, increased prolonged abstinence but not 7-day point prevalence at 12 and 26 weeks. Neither outcome was significantly different at 52 weeks. Further research is required to determine the role of combination therapy in smoking cessation. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00935818
A simple polarizable continuum solvation model for electrolyte solutions

We propose a Debye-Huckel-like screening model (DESMO) that generalizes the familiar conductor-like screening model (COSMO) to solvents with non-zero ionic strength and furthermore provides a numerical generalization of the Debye-Huckel model that is applicable to non-spherical solute cavities. The numerical implementation of DESMO is based upon the switching/Gaussian (SWIG) method for smooth cavity discretization, which we have recently introduced in the context of polarizable continuum models (PCMs). This approach guarantees that the potential energy is a smooth function of the solute geometry and analytic gradients for DESMO are reported here. The SWIG formalism also facilitates analytic implementation of two other PCMs that are based on a screened Coulomb potential: the “integral equation formalism” (IEF-PCM) and the “surface and simulation of volume polarization for electrostatics” [SS(V)PE] method. Fully analytic implementations of these screened PCMs are reported here for the first time. Numerical results, for model systems where an exact solution of the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation is available, demonstrate that these screened PCMs are highly accurate. In realistic test cases, they are as accurate as the best available three-dimensional finite-difference methods. In polar solvents, DESMO is nearly as accurate as more sophisticated screened PCMs, but is significantly simpler and more efficient.
Adaptive speech enhancement using directional microphone in a 4‑T MRI scanner

process the abovementioned results. Additional reductions were achieved for the non-coherent MRI acoustic noises. Conclusion The results showed that combining the pro- posed ASE system along with the SS approach has a great potential for treating MRI acoustic noise to guarantee an effective communication from patient to MRI operators. Abstract Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive speech enhancement (ASE) system for the mag- netic resonance imaging (MRI) environment to reduce the loud scanning noise without disrupting the communication between patients and MRI operators. Materials and methods The developed system employed the idea of differential directional microphones for measur- ing and distinguishing the speech signals and MRI acoustic noises simultaneously. Two-stage adaptive filters with nor - malized least mean square algorithms were adopted. Two common MRI scanning sequences, echo planar imaging (EPI) and gradient echo multi-slice (GEMS), were tested using a 4T MRI scanner. Results A total of 1.4 and 3.3 dB speech enhance- ments quantified by the cepstral distance assessment were achieved for the speech signal contaminated with the EPI and GEMS noises, respectively. The speech signal was noticeably recovered, and a clear speech waveform was observed after treated with the ASE system. Furthermore, a non-adaptive post-processing approach (i.e. simply using spectral subtraction (SS) technique) was also adopted to
An Adaptive Inverse Heat Conduction Method With Automatic Control

An adaptive sequential method is presented for solving the one-dimensional inverse heat conduction problem. The step size, order of parameterization, and amount of the step retained are variable and chosen automatically for each sequence such that optimal, stable results are obtained. A statistical analysis accounting for the stochastic error contributions from both the measured and initial temperatures is derived. Results from the statistical analysis are used to predict stability or instability for a given selection of parameters controlling the inverse method. Simulated experimental applications using inexact data illustrate the practicality of the approach and the effectiveness of the automatic control criteria.
Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, and Cancer: An Update

There is evidence supporting that type 2 diabetes, either per se or through the concurrence of other factors and chronic conditions like obesity, confers a higher risk for some types of cancer. Association between type 1 diabetes and cancer seems to be weaker. It is a plausible hypothesis that some diabetes treatments modify the cancer risk that diabetes poses. The in vitro mitogenic properties of the insulin analogs have long been known. Metformin activates the AMP-activated protein kinase, thus interfering with metabolism of cancer cells. Randomized controlled trials including very large numbers of cases would be needed to definitely prove or discard these drugs specific cancer associations. In their absence, evidence comes from epidemiologic observational studies, which must include appropriate adjustments for confounding factors to avoid biases and misleading conclusions. This article presents an update of the last research on pathophysiology and on the association between diabetes and its treatments with cancer.
The seizure of journal bearings by thermoelastic mechanisms

Abstract Two models are presented that simulate the seizure of journal bearings with non-metallic liners. It is found that once the seizure process is established it proceeds rapidly. Comparatively thin layers of material are affected during the burn-out process, indicating that any warning transducers should have a rapid response and should be mounted close to the surface. The time to failure appears to vary (approximately) with the square root of the shaft size. It is suggested that there is a limiting PV factor at which bearings may be run to avoid ratchetting instability. This factor varies with clearance, and the parameter PV c r (where cr is the clearance ratio) may constitute a “seizure number” which should not be exceeded for safe operation.
ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake in brush border membranes of human term placenta

Abstract In this communication, an ATP-dependent Ca 2+ uptake was characterized in term human placental brush border membranes. Multiple freeze-thaw cycles greatly diminished uptake activity by 90 per cent, indicating an intravesicular accumulation of Ca 2+ . Kinetic studies indicate an apparent K m for Ca 2+ of 0.22 ± 0.04 μM and a V max of 441 ± 137 pmoles/min/mg protein at 37°C. The uptake was shown to have an optimum pH between 7.0 and 7.2, and was unaffected by the addition of oxalate, characteristics which are consistent with a plasma membrane origin of uptake. The process was temperature-dependent with a Q 10 of 1.11 and was significantly inhibited (50 per cent) by 100 μM concentrations of trifluoperazine and vanadate. The characteristics of placental brush border Ca 2+ uptake are similar to those of other Ca 2+ uptake systems known to regulate intracellular calcium concentrations. By analogy, we suggest a similar role for this process in the maintenance of the low intracellular Ca 2+ levels necessary for placental syncytiotrophoblast viability.
Geologic History of Oceans: Introduction: ABSTRACT

Only a few years have passed since the concepts of the permanence of continents and ocean basins and the stability of the oceans were widely accepted, and the notion of continental drift was regarded as heresy. Since inception of the programs of deep ocean coring, however, a major new body of data has appeared. Many of the new observations are in conflict with traditional ideas. It has become evident that the oceans have a fascinating and complex history, and the history of ocean chemistry appears to be inextricably interwoven with the development of oceanic organisms. It had been tacitly assumed by many geologists that the oceans constituted a massive buffer system, stabilizing climate and affecting geochemical processes on the surface of the earth and in its atmosphere. Now deep-sea sediments are known to bear a record of dramatic changes, some local, some of worldwide significance. It is the purpose of this symposium to explore new ideas which are being generated, and to provide a synthesis of the present state of knowledge concerning the history of the oceans. End_of_Article - Last_Page 341------------
The Apperception of Musical Creativity: Performance as Ritual, Composition as Self-Realization

Musical invention is defined in this article as a form of inward creativity. The creative acts of musical performance are understood in terms of ritual-like symbolic and stylized actions, and those of musical composition as the mind's enactment of meditation and reflection. This article draws on the relationship between two psychological attributes of musical creativity: the cognitive ones controlled and sustained by the central nervous system, and the emotional attributes that may be understood as a sense of inward reflection. The complex nature of musical creativity suggests further emotional and musical representations accumulated and constructed by the composer or performer. When this occurs, music's distinct character is apperceived as a musical ritual in terms of self-realization, rather than a mere execution of idiomatically constructed musical sequences. Along with present-day research in psychology and perspectives on cognitive neuroscience of creativity, this article brings forth a direct link b...
Postural changes in the brachial artery first derivative in the normal and pathologic state.

SUMMARY The measurement of brachial artery and ventricular dp/dt has become an important clinical tool. Heretofore unreported postural effects on this measurement have been presented. All patients studied, except those with aortic insufficiency, showed little change or a fall in the brachial artery dp/dt on standing, while patients with aortic insufficiency always showed an increase. This increase in the speed of rise of pressure must be attributed to increased vascular activity that is catechol mediated, since it can be abolished by reserpinization.
Toxicity issues in the application of carbon nanotubes to biological systems.

Abstract Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have recently emerged as a new option for possible use in methodologies of cancer treatment, bioengineering, and gene therapy. This review analyzes the potential, through possible toxicologic implications, of CNTs in nanomedicine. Generally, proven success in other fields may not translate to the use of CNTs in medicine for reasons including inconsistent data on cytotoxicity and limited control over functionalized-CNT behavior, both of which restrict predictability. Additionally, the lack of a centralized toxicity database limits comparison between research results. To better understand these problems, we seek insight from currently published toxicity studies, with data suggesting postexposure regeneration, resistance, and mechanisms of injury in cells, due to CNTs. From the Clinical Editor Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have recently emerged as a new option for cancer treatment, bioengineering, and gene therapy. Inconsistent data on cytotoxicity and limited control over functionalized-CNT behavior currently restrict predictability of such applications.
A vibrating microtome attachment for cutting brain slice preparations at reproducible compound angles relative to the midline

Slice preparations isolate functional networks, permitting single unit recording under visual control, and the use of fluorescent indicators. Circuits of interest often lie at a tilt in both the rostrocaudal and ventrodorsal axis, thus exposing circuits of interest at the cut surface of a slice would require a device for tilting a preparation along two orthogonal axes relative to the blade. Such a device, designed to be used in conjunction with a vibrating microtome, permitting the isolation of slice preparations at reproducible angles, is described here. Because the two orthogonal axes of tilt can be independently and continuously adjusted, it is possible to use this device to successively refine tilt parameters from preparation to preparation for optimal exposure of circuits of interest, facilitating the development of new slice preparations. Its use in cutting a thick medullary slab preparation, isolated from the neonate rat, which exposes respiratory networks at the cut surface is described.
Bayesian single-exponential kinetics in single-molecule experiments and simulations.

In this work, we develop a fully Bayesian method for the calculation of probability distributions of single-exponential rates for any single-molecule process. These distributions can even be derived when no transitions from one state to another have been observed, since in that case the data can be used to estimate a lower bound on the rate. Using a Bayesian hypothesis test, one can easily test whether a transition occurs at the same rate or at different rates in two data sets. We illustrate these methods with molecular dynamics simulations of the folding of a β-sheet protein. However, the theory presented here can be used on any data from simulation or experiment for which a two-state description is appropriate.
Real-Time Guidance of Underwater Gliders Assisted by Predictive Ocean Models

AbstractIn recent years, collecting scientific data from ocean environments has been increasingly undertaken by underwater gliders. For better navigation performance, the influence of flow on the navigation of underwater gliders may be significantly reduced by estimating flow velocity. However, methods for estimating flow do not always account for spatial and temporal changes in the flow field, leading to poor navigation in complex ocean environments. To improve navigation accuracy in such environmental conditions, this paper studies an approach for the real-time guidance of underwater gliders assisted by predictive ocean models. This study is motivated by glider deployments conducted from January to April 2012 and in February 2013 in Long Bay, South Carolina, where the ocean currents are characterized by strong tides and a stronger alongshore current, the Gulf Stream. The flow speed here often exceeds the forward speed of the glider. To deal with such a challenge, a computationally efficient method of de...
An Integrated Social, Economic, and Ecologic Conceptual (ISEEC) Framework for Considering Rangeland Sustainability

Currently, there is no standard method to assess the complex systems in rangeland ecosystems. Decision makers need baselines to create a common language of current rangeland conditions and standards for continued rangeland assessment. The Sustainable Rangeland Roundtable (SRR), a group of private and public organizations and agencies, has created a forum to discuss rangeland sustainability and assessment. The SRR has worked to integrate social, economic, and ecological disciplines related to rangelands and has identified a standard set of indicators that can be used to assess rangeland sustainability. As part of this process, SRR has developed a two-tiered conceptual framework from a systems perspective to study the validity of indicators and the relationships among them. The first tier categorizes rangeland characteristics into four states. The second tier defines processes affecting these states through time and space. The framework clearly shows that the processes affect and are affected by each other.
Incorporating an HPB fellowship does not diminish surgical residents' HPB experience in a high-volume training centre

Abstract Background Surgical residency training is evolving, and trainees who wish to practice hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery in the future will be required to obtain advanced training. As this paradigm evolves, it is crucial that HPB fellowship incorporation into an established surgical residency programme does not diminish surgical residents' exposure to complex HPB procedures. We hypothesized that incorporation of a HPB fellowship in a high-volume clinical training programme would not detract from residents' HPB experience. Methods Resident operative case logs and HPB fellow case logs were reviewed. Resident exposure to complex HPB procedures for 3 years prior to and 3 years after fellowship incorporation were compared. Results No significant changes in surgical resident exposure to liver and pancreatic resection were seen between the two time periods. Surgical resident exposure to complex biliary procedures decreased in the 3 years after HPB fellowship incorporation ( P = 0.003); however, exceeded the national average in each year except 2006. Graduating residents' overall HPB experience was unchanged in the 3 years prior to and after incorporating an HPB fellow. Expansion of HPB volume was a critical part of successful HPB fellowship implementation. Discussion An HPB fellowship programme can be incorporated into a high-volume clinical training programme without detracting from resident HPB experience. Individual training programmes should carefully assess their capability to provide an adequate clinical experience for fellows without diminishing resident exposure to complex HPB procedures.
Angular momentum in general relativity: A New definition

Although considerable progress has been made in generalizing the concept of angular momentum to general relativity, until now no satisfactory definition that allows for the exchange of angular momentum has been given. I here give the first such definition. It is a definition at null infinity, the place and time where gravity waves reach in the limit far from all masses. The definition applies to any isolated system of masses including those that change their angular momentum $L$ by emitting gravity waves. $\stackrel{\ifmmode \dot{}\else \.{}\fi{}}{L}$ is given solely in terms of parameters in principle measurable directly by Michelson interferometer gravitational wave detectors such as LIGO or LISA.
Evaluation of an absorbable collagen membrane in treating Class II furcation defects

Recent research has focused upon the utilization of an absorbable collagen membrane in guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Concern exists as to whether this type of membrane is beneficial in the treatment of periodontal defects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a type I bovine collagen membrane on treatment of Class II furcation defects. Twelve systemically healthy patients (six male and six female, ages 32 to 68) were treated. Each had bilateral mandibular furcation defects with attachment loss > or = 6 mm. Prior to surgery all patients completed initial therapy including scaling and root planing. At the time of the surgery, teeth were randomly assigned to either a control (flap debridement alone) or test (flap debridement plus collagen membrane) group. Data were collected on the day of surgery, and 2, 4, and 6 months post-surgery and at the 12 month re-entry surgery. Clinical measurements included probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession (GR), stent to base of defect (SB), crestal bone to base of defect (CB), width of defect, and mobility. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing the paired t test. Both control and test groups demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) improvement at 12 months re-entry in PD, CAL, SB, and CB when compared to the presurgery status. While there is no significant difference in PD, CAL, GR, width of defect, and mobility between control and test groups, sites treated with the collagen membrane had significantly higher bone fill (SB and CB) at re-entry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Generalization of the density-functional theory with application to three-body interactions in classical fluids.

An external field coupled with the two-body density distribution function leads to a generalization of the density-functional theory in which the free energy is regarded as a functional not only of the density but also of the two-body distribution function. The generalized formalism is applied to the liquid-structure theory in the presence of a weak three-body potential. In the first-order calculation, the three-body effects are fully taken into account through modification of the pair potential; the structure of the pair-potential theory remains intact. Such a renormalizability, which was proven diagrammatically, is ascribed to the variational property of the free-energy functional. An approximate expression for the nonadditive correction which is amenable to the numerical computations is obtained within the hypernetted-chain theory.
Differential tissue gas analysis in primates during alterations in FlO2

Abstract Tissue gas tensions from within the subcutaneous tissues of the lower limbs, anterior tibial muscle, and medullary canal of the tibia were measured in subhuman primates by mass spectrometry during inspired oxygen tension alterations. Tensions recorded by us were higher than those measured in like tissues by polarographic electrodes, but similar to values measured by mass spectrometry in other experiments. After increasing inspired oxygen tension, muscle and subcutaneous p O 2 doubled, while bone p O 2 increased to 4.5 to 5 times its control tension. The increase in bone p O 2 was significantly greater than that occurring in either muscle or subcutaneous p O 2 .
Anti-citrullinated peptide antibody assays and their role in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Increasingly, assays for the detection of anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) are used in RA diagnosis. This review summarizes the biologic basis and development of ACPA assays, available ACPA assays and their performance characteristics, and diagnostic properties of ACPA alone and compared to rheumatoid factor (RF) in early RA. We also review correlations, precision, costs and cost-effectiveness, availability, stability and reproducibility of the available assays. Taken together, data indicate that ACPA has a higher specificity than RF for early RA, good predictive validity, high sensitivity, apparent cost-effectiveness and good stability and reproducibility. Given its superior performance characteristics and increasing availability, ACPA is emerging as the most useful single assay for the diagnosis of RA.
Comparison of intramural 5‐fluorouracil and more conventional routes of drug administration on concentrations in gastric regional lymph nodes: A potential for trans‐endoscopic adjuvant chemotherapy

Intramural injection of 20 μCi (2-14C) 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) into the gastric submucosa of dogs and baboons was employed to evaluate the kinetics of 5-FU distribution following this route of administration and to compare these results with those following intraluminal, intravenous, and local intra- arterial injections. Measurements of radioactivity taken over a six-hour period after injections demonstrated that the greatest concentration of isotope in samples of gastric wall and perigastric lymph nodes was found after administration of the drug directly into the stomach wall. Clinical application of intramural injections of 5-FU into the stomach wall under direct gastroscopic visual control, may be worthy of trial in patients with gastric cancer.
Alcohol consumption and heart failure in hypertensive US male physicians

Although alcohol drinking increases blood pressure and heavy drinking has been associated with alcoholic cardiomyopathy, little is known about the association between light to moderate drinking and risk of heart failure (HF) in hypertensive subjects. Thus, the association between light to moderate drinking and incident HF in 5,153 hypertensive male physicians who were free of stroke, myocardial infarction, or major cancers at baseline was prospectively examined. Alcohol consumption was self-reported and classified as or=8 drinks/week. HF was ascertained using follow-up questionnaires and validated using Framingham criteria. Average age was 58 years, and about 70% of subjects consumed 1 to 7 drinks/week. A total of 478 incident HF cases occurred in this cohort during follow-up. Compared with subjects consuming or=8 drinks/week after adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, randomization group, use of multivitamins, vegetable consumption, breakfast cereal, exercise, and history of atrial fibrillation, respectively (p for trend <0.001). Similar results were obtained for subjects with HF with and without antecedent myocardial infarction and those without diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, our data suggested that light to moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a lower risk of HF in hypertensive male physicians.
Type I Interferon Inhibits Antibody Responses Induced by a Chimpanzee Adenovirus Vector

Recent studies have indicated that type I interferon (IFN) enhances antibody responses and promotes isotype switching. In this study, we analyzed the role of type I IFN signaling during the generation of transgene product-specific antibody responses elicited by recombinant adenovirus (Ad) vectors. A vector derived from a human Ad serotype (AdHu5) induced low levels of type I IFN following infection of dendritic cells (DCs) and stimulated normal transgene product-specific antibody responses in mice that have a defective type I IFN receptor (IFNAR(-/-)). A vector derived from a chimpanzee Ad serotype (AdC68) induced very high levels of type I IFN following infection of DCs, and surprisingly, primed stronger transgene product-specific antibody responses in IFNAR(-/-) mice compared to wild-type mice. The increased antibody response in IFNAR(-/-) mice vaccinated with the AdC68 vector was mainly due to the generation of IgG1 antibodies that were not elicited in wild-type mice. The induction of IgG1 antibodies correlated with an increase in transgene product expression in IFNAR(-/-) mice and was not associated with an increase in T helper 2 responses. We conclude that type I IFN, when induced at high levels, can downregulate transgene product expression of Ad vectors and inhibit the formation of optimal antibody responses.
Calcium oxalate content affects the nutritional availability of calcium from Medicago truncatula leaves

It is known that oxalate, present in edible plants, can bind calcium in a crystalline form that reduces the availability of the bound calcium for nutritional absorption by humans. It is unknown, however, the degree to which the calcium oxalate content of a plant can be genetically altered and how much such alterations can impact the nutritional availability of the calcium present in plant foods. The recent identification of near isogenic Medicago truncatula mutants that contain a varying range in calcium oxalate content allows us to begin to address this gap in our knowledge. Here we assess, using an in vitro dialysis system that simulates the processes of digestion and absorption, the availability of calcium present in the leaves of M. truncatula. The results showed that calcium availability generally correlates inversely with the amount of calcium sequestered in the oxalate crystal. The plants with more calcium oxalate were found to have reduced calcium availability while the plant with less calcium oxalate was found to have enhanced calcium availability, compared to controls. Overall, this study supports genetically manipulating the form of calcium in edible plants as a viable strategy to improve the nutritional quality.
Overview of alcoholism

Alcohol problems are common in nonalcoholic young people, and alcoholism is one of the most frequently encountered diseases in clinical practice. Specific dental conditions and pathoses associated with alcohol consumption are reviewed. Approximately a third of dental patients can be expected to show minor alcohol-related problems, and 10% to 25% of the patients might have such severe alcohol problems that they could be labeled as alcoholics. This paper reviews alcoholism and the way in which alcohol-related conditions can affect the clinical situation.
Severity of coronary artery disease in obese patients undergoing coronary angiography: "obesity paradox" revisited.

Background: Recent studies have highlighted the existence of an ‘obesity paradox’ in patients undergoing coronary angiography, i.e., a high body mass Index (BMI) is associated with less severe coronary lesions. We sought to confirm the existence of this phenomenon in the US patient population. Methods: Study subjects included 770 consecutive patients (470 men, 428 African-Americans, 212 Caucasians) referred for coronary angiography to a tertiary care center. Duke myocardial jeopardy score, a prognostication tool predictive of 1-year mortality in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, was assigned to angiographic data. Patients were classified according to their BMI (kg/m2) as normal (21–24), overweight (25–29), obesity class I (30–34), class II (35–39) and class III (40 or above). Results: Patients in the increasing obesity class had a higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia and were more likely to be women. A negative correlation was observed between BMI and age (R = − 0.15 p < 0.001) as well as between BMI and Duke Jeopardy score (r = − 0.07, p < 0.05) indicating that patients with higher BMI were referred for coronary angiography at a younger age, and had a lower coronary artery disease (CAD) burden. BMI was not an independent predictor of coronary lesion severity on multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis. Conclusion: Obese patients are referred for coronary angiography at an earlier age and have a lower CAD burden lending further credence to the existence of an apparent “obesity paradox”. However, obesity per se, after adjustment for comorbidities, is not an independent predictor of severity of coronary artery disease. Copyright © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The current state of cardiology in China

Abstract Cardiology in China has shown significant changes in the last decade or so. Interventional cardiology, in particular, has shown remarkable advances, especially in the management of coronary artery disease, which, unfortunately, has shown a disconcerting increase in incidence in a country traditionally known for very low incidence of coronary artery disease. Important contributing factors include increasing affluence, westernization of dietary habit and lifestyle, and rampant cigarette smoking. At present, the Chinese population has an annual coronary mortality of one sixth of that reported in the West, an incidence of acute myocardial infarction of one tenth to one eighth, and a mortality of acute myocardial infarction of one eighth. The prevalence of coronary artery disease among the general Chinese population (3–7%) is roughly one quarter of that among the Caucasians in the West, but this will get worse for sure. China still has a lot of catching up to do to reach full modernization. There is a price that every developing country must pay for modernization. However, let the price the Chinese pay not exceed the benefits derived from modernization. Can we achieve a utopian stage in the 21st century in which the modern Chinese retain their ancestral low rates of coronary artery disease while adapting the positive aspects of a modern western lifestyle?
The Venetian Version of the Fourth Crusade: Memory and the Conquest of Constantinople in Medieval Venice

On a busy day in October 1202, Walframo of Gemona, a resident of Venice living in the parish of San Stae, made his will. Although still a young man, he was anxious to put his affairs in order because, as he put it, “preparing to go in the service of the Lord and his Holy Sepulcher, I am mindful of the day of my death.” Walframo was apparently a man of some wealth. In his will he left his wife, Palmera, her dowry of seventy Venetian lire as well as three houses and four household slaves that Walframo had given to her as a morning gift after their nuptials. He also directed her to spend three hundred Venetian lire for the benefit of his soul. Days later, Walframo boarded one of the hundreds of vessels that made up the great fleet of the Fourth Crusade and sailed out of the Venetian lagoon. Whether he ever returned home is unknown.
Valentin Kataev's Later Writing and “Uže napisan Verter”: Time, Memory, and a Critical Dream

In this article I consider the place of “Uže napisan Verter” (1980) in Valentin Kataev's fictional writing. I discuss the traits that reveal it as a clear example of Kataev's later writing and also examine those features that distinguish it from that later writing, and thus I account for why it probably was deemed unacceptable for publication in the collection of Kataev's works that appeared between 1983 and 1986. I give especial attention to Kataev's portrayals of how personal time confronts historical time (of how memory and dream confront historical reality), how his experiments in literary form emphasize these portrayals, and how characters' choices about personal time and historical time comment on changes that the Revolution and Civil War brought to Russia. 1 I would like to thank one of Scando-Slavica's anonymous reviewers for helpful comments on a draft of this paper and Tatiana Patera for her support in my early work on Kataev's writing.
Dangers of "confirmatory" cancer trials that fail to actually test the original hypothesis.

The concept of “confirmatory” studies is a standard and important component of the overall clinical trials strategy in oncology. However, it is critical that such studies are similar enough in basic design and how they are conducted that they actually have the realistic potential to confirm, or refute, objectively the findings of the original study. In this commentary, two examples of clinical studies in the gynecologic oncology arena suggested by some to serve as “confirmatory” trials for the original reports demonstrate both the dangers and potential inappropriateness of such conclusions.
Angiotensin II in the brain and brainstem of the DOCA salt hypertensive rat.

We previously reported that immunoreactive angiotensin II (AII) containing nerve fibers and cell bodies were increased in the brain and brainstem of the spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rat compared with its normotensive control, the Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rat. Since earlier studies from other laboratories described the distribution of AII in normotensive Sprague Dawley rat brain, it was the intent of this investigation to examine the localization of AII in only DOCA-salt hypertensive rat. We unilaterally nephrectomized Sprague Dawley rats and administered multiple subcutaneous injections of 30 mg/kg body weight of DOCA with saline substituted for drinking water to significantly increase blood pressure. Using the peroxidase anti-peroxidase method for immunocytochemical localization of a tissue antigen, we characterized AII distribution and density in the brain and brainstem of DOCA-salt hypertensive rat. Positively stained cell bodies and fiber profiles were found in discrete anatomical subdivisions, including...
Higher-order quadrature-based moment methods for kinetic equations

Kinetic equations containing terms for spatial transport, body forces, and particle-particle collisions occur in many applications (e.g., rarefied gases, dilute granular gases, fluid-particle flows). The direct numerical solution of the kinetic equation is usually intractable due to the large number of independent variables. A useful alternative is to reformulate the problem in terms of the moments of the velocity distribution function. Closure of the moment equations is challenging for flows sufficiently far away from the Maxwellian limit. In previous work, a quadrature-based third-order moment closure was derived for approximating solutions to the kinetic equation for arbitrary Knudsen number. A key component of quadrature-based closures is the moment-inversion algorithm used to find the non-negative weights and velocity abscissas. Here, a robust inversion procedure is proposed for three-component velocity moments up to ninth order. By reconstructing the velocity distribution function, the spatial fluxes in the moment equations are treated using a kinetic-based finite-volume solver. Because the quadrature-based moment method employs the moment transport equations directly instead of a discretized form of the kinetic equation, the mass, momentum and energy are conserved for arbitrary Knudsen and Mach numbers. The computational algorithm is tested for the Riemann shock problem and, for increasing Knudsen numbers (i.e. larger deviations from the Maxwellian limit), the accuracy of the moment closure is shown to be determined by the discrete representation of the spatial fluxes.
Studies of Malagasy Syzygium (Myrtaceae: Syzygiae)—Two New Species with Small Leaves and Winged Branchlets

Abstract. Two new species of Syzygium are described from Madagascar: S. ludovicii and S. rakotovaoanum. They differ from other Malagasy members of the genus by virtue of their short (< 20 mm long) leaves and prominently winged branchlets. The species can be distinguished from one another based on morphological characters of the leaf and inflorescence. Each species is known only from the type collection. Following IUCN standards, a recommendation of Least Concern is given for S. rakotovaoanum, whereas S. ludovicii is recommended as Vulnerable.
Hammondia hammondi: a new coccidium of cats producing cysts in muscle of other mammals.

Predominant muscle parasitism, and an obligatory two-host cycle (cat-mouse-cat), distinguishes an otherwise similar organism from Toxoplasma. The presence of multiplicative stages in the cat gut separate it from Sarcocystis. Antibody that cross reacts with Toxoplasma antigen is developed in mice and other experimental intermediary hosts, but not in cats, the final host. Recognition of the two-host cycle is essential for the experimental isolation and transmission of the parasite, and for prevention of the infection.
Sequence, splice site and population frequency distribution analyses of the polymorphic human tryptophan hydroxylase intron 7

A human tryptophan hydroxylase intron seven polymorphism previously associated with low CSF 5-HIAA and suicidal behavior was sequenced and characterized for its potential role in TPH pre-mRNA splicing. Two polymorphic sites were identified: A218C and A779C. The 779A allelic frequency in various populations ranged from 0.43 to 0.61 and was in strong linkage disequilibrium with the A218C site. A218C provides a site for restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. TPH mRNA was reverse-transcribed and sequenced. No aberrant splice products from the 779A or 779G TPH genes were detected nor were any other polymorphic nucleotides found.
The Energetics of the Chromophore Regeneration Pathway in Rhodopsin

The regeneration of rhodopsin after photobleaching (i.e., the binding of 11-cis-retinal) is a key molecular event responsible for dark adaptaion. Here we present a detailed study on the kinetics and thermodynamics of this reaction. We utilized a phospholipid/detergent bicelle system that provided superior opsin thermostability compared with other reconstitution systems. We employed recombinant rhodopsin with a genetically-encoded azido-Phe (azF) [1] that was subsequently modified with Alexa488 fluorophore in a stoichiometric bioorthogonal labeling reaction[2]. The Alexa488-Rho allowed us to develop FRET-based assays to monitor retinal entry into the binding pocket and the subsequent formation of Schiff base bond. We also showed that the diffusion of 11-cis-retinal among the bicelles was not rate-limiting and that the recombination reaction followed a simple second-order rate law. We measured the kinetics of the recombination reaction at different temperatures to assess the enthalpic and entropic contribution of the regeneration reaction. We further used isothermal titration calorimetry to obtain the overall change in enthalpy. To study the reverse reaction (i.e., the dissociation of retinal from opsin) we performed a chromophore exchange experiment in which we observed very slow (∼10-7 s-1) exchange of 11-cis-retinal for 9-cis-retinal in rhodopsin. To our knowledge, this is the first in vitro experimental demonstration of the chromophore exchange reaction in rhodopsin. Based on the overall results of the study, we derived an energy diagram for the rhodopsin regeneration reaction.[1] Huber, T. & Sakmar, T. P. (2014) Chemical Biology Methods for Investigating G Protein-Coupled Receptor Signaling. Chem. Biol.[2]Tian, H., Naganathan, S., Kazmi, M. A., Schwartz, T. W., Sakmar, T. P. and Huber, T. (2014), Bioorthogonal Fluorescent Labeling of Functional G-Protein-Coupled Receptors. ChemBioChem.
Deregulation and the competitive fringe: Owner-operators in the trucking industry

This paper assesses the direct and indirect effects of regulatory reform in the trucking industry on the employment of owner-operators. We utilize a probit estimation form derived from driver utility functions to estimate the change in the probability that a truck driver is an owner-operator following deregulation. We find that a representative driver with mean characteristics is 155.6 percent more likely to choose employment as an owner-operator in the deregulated environment. Thirty-six percentage points of this increase is due to the indirect effects of deregulation, which operate primarily through changes in wage differentials and unionization. The direct effect of deregulation accounts for a 120% increase in the probability of a driver choosing employment as an owner-operator.
Error effects on the processing of adaptive array data using the BOC

The Bimodal Optical Computer (BOC) is considered for Adaptive Phase Array Radar (APAR) data processing. The effect of the errors in the BOC and the number of iterations on the optimum weight calculations for the interference cancelling are studied. Computer simulations for five-and nine-element APARs are presented.
Erionite induces production of autoantibodies and IL-17 in C57BL/6 mice

Background Erionite has similar chemical and physical properties to amphibole asbestos, which induces autoantibodies in mice. Current exposures are occurring in North Dakota due to the use of erionite-contaminated gravel. While erionite is known to cause mesothelioma and other diseases associated with asbestos, there is little known about its effects on the immune system.
Detection of neu differentiation factor with a biospecific affinity sensor during chromatography

A technique using a biospecific affinity sensor, BIAcore, was applied to monitor and determine mammalian cell-derived neu differentiation factor (NDF) in column fractions during chromatography. Specific purified polyclonal antibody against Escherichia coli-derived NDF was chemically bound to the surface of BIAcore sensor chips and the derivatized sensor chips were used to detect the specific binding of NDF. The measurement of NDF at very low levels can be assessed by injecting small volumes of the crude media or column fractions into the BIAcore sensor containing antibody-bound sensor chips. This automated procedure performed under computer programming control allows direct measurement of multiple NDF samples in a short period of time and provides excellent quantitative data, which is not possible using other related methods such as Western blotting, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and stimulatory activity assay on receptor autophosphorylation.