cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
μ-1,2-Peroxo Diferric Complex Formation in Horse Spleen Ferritin. A Mixed H/L-Subunit Heteropolymer

Previous kinetics studies with homopolymer ferritins (bullfrog M-chain, human H-chain and Escherichia coli bacterial ferritins) have established that a μ-1,2-peroxo diferric intermediate is formed during Fe(II) oxidation by O2 at the ferroxidase site of the protein. The present study was undertaken to determine whether such an intermediate is formed also during iron oxidation in horse spleen ferritin (HoSF), a naturally occurring heteropolymer ferritin of H and L-subunits (∼3.3 H-chains/HoSF), and to assess its role in the formation of the mineral core. Multi-wavelength stopped-flow spectrophotometry of the oxidative deposition of iron in HoSF demonstrated that a transient peroxo complex (λmax∼650 nm) is produced in this protein as for other ferritins. The peroxo complex in HoSF is formed about fourfold slower than in human H-chain (HuHF) and decays more slowly (∼threefold) as well, at an iron level of two Fe(II)/H-chain. However, as found for HuHF, a second intermediate is formed in HoSF as a decay product of the peroxo complex. Only one-third of the expected peroxo complex forms at the ferroxidase centers of HoSF when two Fe(II)/H-subunits are added to the protein, dropping to only ∼14% when 20 Fe(II)/H-chain are added, indicating a declining role of the peroxo complex in iron deposition. In contrast to HuHF, HoSF does not enzymatically regenerate the observable peroxo complex. The kinetics of mineralization in HoSF are modeled satisfactorily by a mechanism in which the ferroxidase site rapidly produces an incipient core from a single turnover of iron, upon which subsequent Fe(II) is oxidized autocatalytically to build the Fe(O)OH(s) mineral core. This model supports a role for the L-chain in iron mineralization and helps to explain the widespread occurrence of heteropolymer ferritins in tissues of vertebrates.
Molecular Basis for Interaction of let-7 MicroRNAs with Lin28.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. Among these, members of the let-7 miRNA family control many cell-fate determination genes to influence pluripotency, differentiation, and transformation. Lin28 is a specific, posttranscriptional inhibitor of let-7 biogenesis. We report crystal structures of mouse Lin28 in complex with sequences from let-7d, let-7-f1, and let-7 g precursors. The two folded domains of Lin28 recognize two distinct regions of the RNA and are sufficient for inhibition of let-7 in vivo. We also show by NMR spectroscopy that the linker connecting the two folded domains is flexible, accommodating Lin28 binding to diverse let-7 family members. Protein-RNA complex formation imposes specific conformations on both components that could affect downstream recognition by other processing factors. Our data provide a molecular explanation for Lin28 specificity and a model for how it regulates let-7.
Turning of hardened steels using CBN tools

CBN is to be seen as a further development in cutting tools. CBN is the second hardest known substance and because of its physical properties, many advantages appear when using CBN tooling as an alternative to tungsten carbide or to grinding operations. In the present investigation, CBN cutting edges were used in turning tests of the materials 50CrMo4, 16MnCr5, 90MnV8, and X210CrW12; all of them provided a hardness of at least 55 HRC. Even though the cost of CBN cutting edges is relatively high in relation to tungsten carbide, the results of the tests performed show that an economical usage of the new cutting material is possible for turning operations. The wear behavior of CBN cutting edges is characterized by crater and flank wear, as well as small cracks on the cutting edge, depending upon the cutting conditions. The surface quality of the machined workpieces is fairly good and remained good even though relatively long cutting times were reached.
Structure of an isolated vortex in an anisotropic type-II superconductor.

The Ginzburg-Landau equations with general effective-mass anisotropy are diagonalized for a general direction v of an isolated vortex core. For v not parallel to one of the three crystal axis directions, the local magnetic induction b contains components ${b}_{\ensuremath{\rho}}$ and ${b}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}$, perpendicular to v, which vanish as ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{2}$ away from the center of the core with coefficients that are odd in the azimuthal angle \ensuremath{\varphi}. In the London limit far from the core, ${b}_{\ensuremath{\rho}}$ and ${b}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}$ are comparable to ${b}_{3}$=v^\ensuremath{\cdot}b, and all fall off exponentially in \ensuremath{\rho}, with two distinct exponents, each of which depends explicitly upon the azimuthal angle \ensuremath{\varphi} about v^. The presence of ${b}_{\ensuremath{\rho}}$ and ${b}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}$ reduces the energy cost of the locking of the core into the lattice but does not remove it entirely, as the leading correction to the line energy is proportional to the parameter ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{2}$ (rather than \ensuremath{\beta}), where \ensuremath{\beta} is the parameter introduced previously by the author. With the use of an ansatz, an exact form for the field components and reduced order parameter f in the core region is obtained. The lines of constant ${b}_{3}$ and \ensuremath{\Vert}${b}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$\ensuremath{\Vert} in the core region are found for arbitrary effective-mass anisotropy and v^. These forms should be observable by scanning tunneling microscopy and by large-momentum-transfer neutron-scattering experiments for fields slightly greater than ${H}_{c1}$. In addition, the angular dependence of ${H}_{c1}$ should exhibit a kink, as the vortex cores prefer to lie along one of the crystal symmetry directions.
The Influence of Risk Factors on Breast Carcinoma Screening of Medicare-insured Older Women

BACKGROUND It is not certain whether older women with additional breast carcinoma risk factors are adequately screened or whether they are more likely to undergo screening than other older women. This study was conducted to determine whether selected risk factors influence the breast carcinoma screening rates of Medicare-insured older women (i.e., age 65 years or older). METHODS Self-reported rates of screening mammography and clinical breast examination in the previous year were compared for women with benign breast disease, women with a family history of breast carcinoma, and women lacking these risks, using samples of non-Hispanic white, Medicare-insured women surveyed at the 5 National Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Screening Consortium sites in 1991 (n = 5376, mean age = 69.7 years) and 1994 (n = 5086, mean age = 69.7 years). RESULTS In 1993, rates of screening mammography reported in the previous year at the 5 Consortium sites had a range of 46–61% for women with a family history of breast carcinoma, 49–66% for women with benign breast disease, and 31–43% for women lacking these risks. Women with a positive family history or a personal history of benign breast disease were also more likely to report having had a clinical breast examination in the previous year and having received a physician's mammography recommendation. A substantial proportion of older women with a positive family history remain inadequately screened, however. Between 25% and 35% of women in this group had not had a screening mammogram in the previous 2 years, while at some Consortium sites more than 20% reported never having had a mammogram in their lives. CONCLUSIONS Older women with additional risk factors are more likely to undergo screening mammography. This is due partly to more frequent physician recommendations for screening and partly to more frequent provision of clinical breast examinations. However, a substantial proportion of high risk older women remain inadequately screened, despite widespread clinical consensus that these women should be regularly screened. Interventions that target older women with risk factors and their physicians appear warranted. Understanding the mechanisms by which risk factors influence screening is an important area for future research. Cancer 1996; 78:2526-34.
Generation and pH dependent superquenching of poly(amido) carboxylate dendrons hosting a single "focal point" pyrene.

Both pH and generation number play deterministic roles in the luminescence quenching efficiency of analytes toward a series of water-soluble, monopyrenyl poly(amido) carboxylate dendrons, with clear implications toward switchable or programmable chemosensors.
Expression of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Transgenes in Neurons of Adult and Developing Mice

Abstract The DNA sequences important for cell-specific expression and developmental regulation of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) were analyzed in transgenic mice. A construct containing 0.5 kb of CRH 5′ flanking DNA linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene was expressed in many brain regions and in several ectopic peripheral sites, suggesting that this portion of the CRH gene contains basal promoter activity but lacks DNA elements necessary for appropriate tissue specificity. Cell specificity of transgene expression was examined with a CRH-β-galactosidase reporter construct containing the same 0.5-kb CRH promoter fragment, but also including the CRH structural gene and 2 kb of CRH 3′ flanking DNA. Transgene expression was observed in inappropriate regions of the brain, but no expression was detected in peripheral tissues, suggesting that these additional CRH sequences suppress inappropriately high levels of peripheral expression. Cell-specific expression improved significantly with the inclusion of 8.7 kb of CRH 5′ flanking DNA. Individual transgenic lines exhibited expression in a number of the major CRH neuronal groups including the paraventricular nucleus, medial geniculate nucleus, inferior olivary nucleus, and Barrington's nucleus. Transgene expression was properly activated in Barrington's nucleus during development. This study demonstrates that the regulatory control of cell-specific and developmentally appropriate CRH expression is complex, utilizing multiple DNA sequence elements located upstream and downstream of the CRH transcription start site.
Calcium-activated potassium channels expressed from cloned complementary DNAs

Abstract Calcium-activated potassium channels were expressed in Xenopus oocytes by injection of RNA transcribed in vitro from complementary DNAs derived from the slo locus of Drosophila melanogaster. Many cDNAs were found that encode closely related proteinsof about 1200 aa. The predicted sequences of these proteins differ by the substitution of blocks of amino acids at five identified positions within the putative intracellular region between residues 327 and 797. Excised inside-out membrane patches showed potassium channel openings only with micromolar calcium present at the cytoplasmic side; activity increased steeply both with depolarization and with increasing calcium concentration. The single-channel conductance was 126 pS with symmetrical potassium concentrations. The mean open time of the channels was clearly different for channels having different subsituent blocks of amino acids. The results suggest that alternative splicing gives rise to a large family of functionally diverse, calcium-activated potassium channels.
The chromosome count in a true hermaphrodite

Summary A child with ambiguous genitals improperly diagnosed as a masculinized female with virilizing adrenal hyperplasia was found to be a true hermaphrodite by exploratory operation with gonadal biopsy. Chromosomal studies of leukocytes showed an apparently normal complement of 46 chromosomes with XX sex chromosomes.
Contributions to psychohistory: XV. Structural characteristics as an index of mental health in Freud's, his patients' and colleagues' manifest dreams.

Evolution of psychoanalytic dream theory from the topographical-conflict model resulted in the relative ascendance of manifest dream content and structure. Correspondingly, Freud's emphasis on the latent dream, disguised unconscious wish-fulfillment function, was paralleled by the development of an ego problem-solving-conflict function demonstrably observable in subjects' and patients' nocturnal dreams in sleep-lab REM awakenings. This development culminated in clinical, theoretical, and operational adoption of binary opposition as a language of manifest dream structure and a corresponding definition of mental health in terms of personal problem-solving efficacy measured in a narrative as self-defined, self-advocacy-adversary statements of sequences. Process and outcome measures from initial studies of psychoanalytic patients and nonpatients' dreams evidenced concurrent validity. Use of this measure on the three types of dreams reported in Freud's seminal The Interpretation of Dreams yielded results which...
Acetylcholinesterase-acetylcholine, an enzyme system essential to rhythmicity in the preneural embryonic chick heart.

The problem was to prove that without acetylcholine or acetylcholinesterase it is impossible for the heart to originate an impulse. Fifty to sixty-five-hour old embryonic chick hearts were chosen for study because this age range antedates the period when nerve fibers reach the heart. Electrocardiograms were taken on hearts in lying drops before, during and after changes of media. The diluent in all cases was Tyrode solution of pH 7.4, and the temperature was 31 to 32°C. Hearts react to acetylcholinesterase as follows: the PR interval increases; AV block and complete stoppage of the ventricle occur; finally the sinu-atrium stops and the heart is completely quiescent. The process can be reversed and normal activity restored by adding acetylcholine, proof that acetylcholine is necessary for rhythmicity. Hearts react to eserine, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase as follows: the amplitude of the P wave and QRS complex is reduced; the PR interval is eliminated; a single wave, the “cardiac wave” emerges even though visibly both atrium and ventricle are beating; the heart finally stops. The hearts can be returned to complete normality by washing out the eserine with Tyrode solution. From this we conclude that acetylcholinesterase is also necessary for rhythmicity.
Pituitary apoplexy complicating auto-SCT.

Pituitary apoplexy is an uncommon neurological event resulting from sudden hemorrhage or infarction of the pituitary gland, usually in patients with undiagnosed pituitary adenomas. The occurrence of pituitary apoplexy is unpredictable with no correlation existing with tumor size, age, presence of intratumoral cysts and tumor growth, and numerous precipitating causes have been described.1
What kind of support do they need?: an instructional designer's experience in faculty and student support for online courses

This paper intends to share two unique Lehigh experiences in designing and offering online courses to two completely different sets of audience. One of the two courses is offered to students around the world via Lehigh's International Program. The development team consists of a faculty member, an Instructional Technology Consultant (IT Consultant), three graduate assistants and other media support staff. We have about a month to develop an online course from scratch.Lehigh University's Clipper Project is designed to develop five Web-based freshman courses and offer them to high school seniors early admitted to Lehigh. Each course is assigned an IT Consultant to help the faculty develop the course. My other project is to work with an English professor to redesign his English course for the Clipper Project. This professor is considered a catalyst on campus for his continuous interest in exploring new and more effective educational technology. This team consists of three members, the professor, an IT Consultant, and a graphic and Web designer. Course redesign takes about one year.Serving as the IT consultant for both of these two teams, I had the opportunities to work with two very different design approaches. One differentiates itself from the other by variables such as the target audience, the discipline, the learning objectives, the instructor's level of comfort with technology, students' technology literacy and accessibility to various technologies, timeline, and many others. Table A presents a quick comparison of these two projects.In most ideal arrangements, the helpdesk is responsible for supporting students' technological needs and IT Consultants for the training and supporting of the faculty. In reality, it is fairly difficult to draw a line between the two in an online environment. Owing to their deep and long-term involvement with all aspects of online courses, IT Consultants are often considered more effective as well as efficient in providing first line support to online students. My experiences echo loud and sound with this perception.
Toward Evidence-Based Practice in the Auditory Processing Disorder Clinic

Abstract Audiologists are seeking evidence to guide clinical decision-making regarding the tests used to diagnose auditory processing disorder (APD) in children. Novel research paradigms using a po...
Microstructural effects in finite multilayers with aligned cracks

Abstract A study of microstructural effects in finite layered media containing single and periodically distributed cracks is carried out based on an exact elasticity solution. First, the effect of microstructural refinement of a multilayer comprised of alternating hard and soft layer pairs on the stress intensity factors and crack-opening displacements of a single crack embedded in the middle of the layered structure is studied. The results indicate that the crack-opening displacements converge to the corresponding ones in the fully homogenized configuration with increasing microstructural refinement. In contrast, the stress intensity factors asymptotically converge to values that depend on the layer stiffness. For configurations with many layers, partial homogenization efficiently captures these microstructural effects and preserves the homogenization’s efficiency. Then the exact elasticity solution is employed to study the response of a homogeneous solid with elastic properties degraded by periodically aligned cracks. The effective properties obtained from a homogenization scheme are used to quantify the convergence behavior of the stress intensity factors of cracks far and near the bounding surface of the periodically cracked solid as a function of different levels of partial homogenization.
CAS SCF/CI calculations of low-lying states of SnH2

Abstract Complete active space MC SCF (CAS SCF) followed by full second-order CI calculations are carried out on the three lowest-lying states of SnH 2 ( 1 A 1 , 3 B 1 , 1 B 1 ). Relativistic effective core potentials are employed for the tin atom with the outer d 10 s 2 p 2 shell as the valence shell. The ground state is found to be 1 A 1 ( r e = 1.78 A, θ e = 92°). The calculated properties of the 3 B 1 state are, r e =1.72 A, θ e = 119°, T e = 22.5 kcal mole ; corresponding values for the 1 B 1 state are 1.75 A, 120° and 48.5 kcal mole . These results are compared with SiH 2 and GeH 2 .
Modulating Amyloid Aggregation by Incorporation of Fluorinated Phenylalanine Derivatives in the Central Hydrophobic Cluster of Aβ10-35

Aromatic amino acids have been suspected to drive the aggregation mechanism in amyloidogenic peptides by virtue of their hydrophobicity and aromaticity. Alzheimer's disease in particular is associated with the aggregation of a 39-42 residue polypeptide (Amyloid β, Aβ) and its subsequent deposition into amyloid plaques. The aromatic phenylalanine residues (Phe19 and Phe20) in the central hydrophobic cluster (CHC) of the peptide have been suspected to play a significant role in such aggregation. In the present study the amyloid β 10-35 (Aβ10-35) fragment has been used as a model system, where the CHC has been perturbed through the introduction of non-natural amino acids. We have prepared variants where Phe19 and Phe20 have been systematically replaced by pentafluorophenylalanine (F5-Phe) and their affect on amyloid aggregation and kinetics has been studied by biophysical techniques including circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence, UV resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy and chemometrics. While Phe→F5-Phe mutations have been found to enhance conformational stability in Aβ16-22 (Senguen et al. Mol. BioSyst., 2011, 7, p486) by virtue of enhanced hydrophobicity, unfavorable steric interactions brought about by such substitution can also lead to destabilization in some systems (Cornilescu et al., Prot.Sc., 2007, 16, p14). Our experimental studies show that aggregation in both the wild type (wT) Aβ10-35 and the Phe 19→F5-Phe mutant proceeds via a two step conformational transition pathway (wTAβ10-35: T1= 9.18 ±1.4 hrs, T2= 9.79 ±0.44 days, F5-Phe19: T1= 10.72 ± 2.1 hrs, T2= 7.6 ± 0.47 days). However the Phe 20→F5-Phe mutants fail to aggregate into β-sheets as confirmed by both CD and fluorescence studies. Deep UVRR studies have also been performed to probe the fibrillation process and monitor the structural changes brought about by the F5-Phe substitution and their effect on amyloid aggregation.
Control of swimming in the hydrozoan jellyfish Aequorea victoria: subumbrellar organization and local inhibition

The subumbrella of the hydrozoan jellyfish Aequorea victoria (previously classified as Aequorea aequorea ) is divided by numerous radial canals and attached gonads, so the subumbrellar musculature is partitioned into subumbrellar segments. The ectoderm of each segment includes two types of muscle: smooth muscle with a radial orientation, used for local (feeding and righting) and widespread (protective) radial responses, and striated muscle with a circular orientation which produces swim contractions. Two subumbrellar nerve nets were found, one of which stained with a commercial antibody produced against the bioactive peptide FMRFamide. Circular muscle cells produce a single, long-duration action potential with each swim, triggered by a single junctional potential. In addition, the circular cells are electrically coupled so full contractions require both electrotonic depolarization from adjacent cells and synaptic input from a subumbrellar nerve net. The radial cells, which form a layer superficial to the circular cells, are also activated by a subumbrellar nerve net, and produce short-duration action potentials. The radial muscle cells are electrically coupled to one another. No coupling exists between the two muscle layers. Spread of excitation between adjacent segments is decremental, and nerve net-activated junctional potentials disappear during local inhibition of swimming (such as with a radial response). Variable swim contractions are controlled by a combination of synaptic input from the motor network of the inner nerve ring, synaptic input from a subumbrellar nerve net, and electrotonic depolarization from adjacent, active muscle cells.
The induction of nonspecific resistance in mice by papain.

various types of heterologous challenge have also been reported (Rowley, 1955; Landy, 1956a; Dubos and Schaedler, 1957; and others). The purpose of this report is to discuss the nonspecific resistance induced in mice by a substance present in crude commercial preparations of papain. Papain is a proteolytic enzyme prepared from the fruit of the papaya (Carica papaya). This study was initiated when, in the course of various experiments concerning the effect of enzymatic digestion on the immunologic properties of bacterial cells, it was noted that a papain suspension (experimental enzyme control) induced a significant degree of protection in mice challenged with Staphylococcus aureus. In that study it was noted that when 0.5 ^0 papain was injected into mice approximately 60*^0 of the animals survived a
Harmonic distortion caused by electrode polarisation

Steady-state measurements of the electrical properties of electrodes immersed in physiological saline were taken with small- and large-amplitude sinusoidal voltages (30 m V-1 V) in the frequency range 0.2 mHz-2 Hz. Impedance magnitude and phase, and the first four Fourier series coefficients of the polarised current were measured. The dependence of the polarisation admittance on input current intensity was modelled with the linear relationship proposed by Schwan. This model predicts harmonics in the non-linear range for AC overpotentials up to several hundred millivolts. Observed values deviated from theoretical values. Reasons for such deviations are discussed. The study of harmonic distortion appears to be a useful tool to monitor and predict the non-linear behaviour of the interface and other dielectric phenomena.
Few-cycle intense laser interactions with complex atoms

We present an ab initio and non-perturbative time-dependent approach to describe the response of a general atom to intense few-cycle laser pulses. After using a highly flexible B-Spline R-matrix method to generate field-free Hamiltonian and electric dipole matrices, the initial state is propagated in time using an efficient Arnoldi-Lanczos scheme. The method is illustrated with recent results for excitation and single ionization of Ne and Ar, as well as double ionization of He in a two-color pump-probe arrangement.
Epitope-specific antibody responses in market-stressed calves to bovine herpesvirus type 1.

Abstract Reciprocal competition ELISA (rcELISA) was conducted to map monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reactive with gI, gIII and gIV glycoproteins of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) into epitope groups. mAbs to glycoproteins gI and gIV were divided into six epitope groups each, while gIII mAbs had been previously divided into four areas. mAbs were chosen from each epitope group to compete in cELISA with bovine sera collected during a typical regimen of vaccination and transportation from farm to auction to feedlot. The immunodominant epitopes were identified for each BHV-1 glycoprotein. With glycoprotein gI, three epitopes defined by mAbs 1F10, D9 and 4807 were the most dominant; with glycoprotein gIII epitopes defined by mAbs G2 and 1507, and with glycoprotein gIV epitopes defined by mAbs 1102, 1106, 3C1, 3402 and 3E7 showed the maximum responses. The overall cELISA responses to each glycoprotein among two vaccination groups were also compared and it was shown that cELISA responses were significantly higher for each glycoprotein in calves receiving two vaccinations, one on the farm of origin and one at auction, than in calves receiving only one vaccination at auction.
Changes in lipid ordering of model phospholipid membranes treated with chrysotile and crocidolite asbestos

A variety of inorganic particles bind to cell membranes and cause alterations in phagocytosis, migration, and metabolism leading to eventual cell death. The mechanisms which mediate these events at the complex membrane level are not known. In attempting to define the mechanisms of asbestos-induced membrane changes, we have prepared small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine as a simplified model of the cell membrane. Negatively stained preparations for electron microscopy demonstrated that the SUVs bind to both chrysotile and crocidolite asbestos fibers. Electron spin resonance showed that both asbestos types caused increased membrane rigidity at the level of the 12th carbon, whereas chrysotile induced increased rigidity at the 5th carbon level as well. Studies using DPPC membranes compared to SUVs made of phosphatidylcholine from egg yolk support the view that lipid peroxidation may play no significant role in alterations of membrane rigidity induced by the asbestos particle binding. Similar alterations of membrane rigidity and lipid peroxidation at the depth of the 12th carbon have been reported in complex naturally occurring erythrocyte membranes. This suggests that our observations may be relevant to biological membranes and that the model system of SUVs is appropriate for additional studies on the mechanisms of particle-induced membrane injury.
Effects of annealing on the isoconfigurational flow of a metallic glass

Abstract The isoconfigurational viscosity of amorphous Pd 77.5 Cu 6 Si 16 in various states of structural relaxation was investigated over a wide temperature range. It was found to be thermal history dependent and non-Arrhenian. The lower the glass fictive temperature, and hence the more ordered the glass, the greater the departure from Arrhenian behavior. The non-Arrhenian behavior shows that the temperature dependence of the isoconfigurational viscosity cannot be ascribed entirely to the temperature dependence of the jump frequency of the flow defect. The observed crossover of isoconfigurational curves obtained from different structural states implies that the isoconfigurational viscosity cannot be a function of only a single structural parameter, such as the average free volume of the specimen.
Using inpatient hospital discharge data to monitor patient safety events

The development of systematic and sustainable surveillance systems is necessary for the creation of patient safety prevention programs and the evaluation of improvement resulting from innovations. To that end, inpatient hospital discharges collected by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council were used to investigate patient safety events (PSEs) in Pennsylvania in 2006. PSEs were identified using external cause of injury codes (E-codes) in combination with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's patient safety indicators (PSIs). Encounters with and without PSEs were compared with regard to patient age, sex, race, length of stay, and cost. Approximately 9% of all Pennsylvania inpatient discharges had a PSE in 2006. Patients with a PSE were on average older, male, and white. The average length of stay for a PSE was 3 days longer and $35 000 more expensive than a non-PSE encounter. It was concluded that E-codes and PSIs were useful tools for the surveillance of PSEs in Pennsylvania, and that administrative data from healthcare organizations provide a consistent source of standardized data related to patient encounters, creating an opportunity to describe PSEs at the population level.
Charm dimuons and determination of the strange sea

Abstract We re-examine the standard charm model for opposite-sign dimuon events in neutrino-nucleon scattering. Published dimuon rates are shown to be consistent with a simple SU(3) symmetric sea. We discuss the types of correlated studies of different dimuon observables needed to extract unambiguous information on the nucleon's strange sea from upcoming, high statistics data. Our calculations demonstrate the sizeable effects of finite energy resolution and missing final-state energy on predictions of observed dimuon rates, particularly for data obtained from wide-band incident neutrino spectra. We emphasize the crucial role of the non-zero charm mass, not only for the analysis of dimuon events, but also for the interpretation of large-y inclusive v N → μ X data.
COMPUTERIZED PERFORMANCE MONITORING: A REVIEW OF HUMAN RESOURCE ISSUES

Abstract The increasing use of computerized performance monitoring (CPM) systems across a variety of organizational settings has stirred controversy and induced change into the performance appraisal process. This article reviews research concerning CPM in four general areas which include the impact of CPM on (a) employee attitudes and perceptions; (b) employee stress perceptions; (c) job performance; and, (d) the performance monitoring process. Research based guidelines and issues for the design and implementation of an effective CPM system are suggested. The potential for enhancing employee development is also discussed.
Can telomerase be put in its place

The Cajal body is an intriguing nuclear structure present in a great variety of plant, animal, and some fungal cells. Recent work on the ribonucleoprotein enzyme telomerase has indicated an unanticipated degree of intranuclear dynamics of both its RNA and protein subunits. In this issue, Jady et al. place the Cajal body on the intranuclear traffic route of telomerase RNA (Jady et al., 2004).
In Defense of the Emotions (and Passions too)

Sabini and Silver argue (“On the Possible Non-Existence of Emotions: The Passions” (JTSB, 1997) that there are (or might be) no emotions. They are not just arguing, what I take to be true, that (1) emotions do not constitute a proper class or that (2) an emotion is not a “thing” or entity. They are – or seem to be – advocating serious reductionism, perhaps even an “eliminitivism” in which all talk of emotions (in both common sense and in philosophy) should be replaced by talk about desire and belief. I argue that emotions constitute a rich and subtle field of complex phenomena which are by no means reducible to the crude, artificial and grossly inadequate ontology of “beliefs and desires”. Emotions are real enough. Happily, Sabini and Silver believe this too. They don’t really mean what they say.
Mutations in the Exo III Motif of the Herpes Simplex Virus DNA Polymerase Gene Can Confer Altered Drug Sensitivities

Abstract Two herpes simplex virus mutants containing mutated residues within the conserved Exo III motif of the polymerase gene were previously shown to be defective in 3′–5′ exonuclease activity and exhibited extremely high mutation frequencies. In this study, we have shown that these mutants also exhibited higher resistance to phosphonoacetic acid and sensitivity to aphidicolin and all nucleoside analogs tested, including acyclovir and gancicolvir, compared to wild-type virus. Marker transfer experiments and sequencing analyses demonstrated that these altered phenotypes were the result of mutations within the Exo III motif. The data indicate that, aside from leading to exonuclease deficiency, mutations in the Exo III motif may also affect interaction of nucleoside triphosphates with the catalytic sites of polymerase activity.
Climate feedback implied by observed radiation and precipitation changes with midlatitude storm strength and frequency

[1] Current climate observations are used to quantify the relationships between midlatitude storm strength and frequency and radiation and precipitation properties. Then, the derived radiation/precipitation-storm relationships along with the midlatitude storm changes with climate-warming predicted by a climate model are used to determine the radiation and precipitation changes resulting from an increase in midlatitude storm intensity and a decrease in midlatitude storm frequency. Increases in midlatitude storm intensity produce shortwave cooling and longwave warming while decreases in storm frequency produce the opposite effects. When the two changes are added together the increase in storm strength dominates producing a shortwave cooling effect of 0–3.5 W/m2 and a longwave warming effect of 0.1–2.2 W/m2. For precipitation, the increase in storm intensity also dominates the decrease in storm frequency and produces an increase in precipitation of 0.05–0.08 mm/day.
Sinusitis in childhood.

As little as 10 years ago, many physicians doubted that sinusitis was a pediatric disease. It was widely believed that the sinuses were not developed in infants and young children and that bacterial infections seldom occurred. Advances in imaging techniques, the development of quartz-rod optical telescopes for nasal endoscopy, and the pioneering work of Wald 97,99,100 and others into the pathophysiology of pediatric sinus disease have changed the understanding and approach to this disorder. Sinusitis is common, complicating between 5% and 10% of upper respiratory infections. 98 No age group is immune, and even infants may experience complications of sinusitis (Fig. 1). This article examines the anatomy and physiology of the paranasal sinuses of developing children, reviews current guidelines for the diagnosis of sinusitis, and addresses the available medical and surgical options for treating paranasal sinus disease.
Flare of arthritis with successful treatment of Felty's syndrome with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF)

A 58-year-old white male with Felty's syndrome was successfully treated with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF). GCSF can correct the granulocytopenia of Felty's syndrome and may be a beneficial therapeutic adjunct in patients who have serious infections associated with neutropenia. The patient developed a flare of arthritis concomitant with increased circulating neutrophils following GCSF therapy.
Diminished natriuretic response to dopamine in old rats is due to an impaired D1-like receptor-signaling pathway

Diminished natriuretic response to dopamine in old rats is due to an impaired D 1 -like receptor-signaling pathway. Background Dopamine (DA) causes natriuresis and diuresis, which results from activation of D 1 -like receptor (D 1 R) located on proximal tubules. Earlier, we reported that DA failed to inhibit Na,K-ATPase in proximal tubules of old Fischer 344 rats. The present study was designed to investigate the functional consequence of this phenomenon. Methods Measurements of the functional (natriuretic and diuretic) response to intravenously infused DA and SKF 38393 (D 1 R agonist) in adult (6 month) and old (24 month) Fischer 344 rats were taken. Biochemical measurements were carried out to determine the potential defects in D 1 R and its signaling pathway in proximal tubules of old rats. Results We found that intravenous infusion of DA and SKF 38393 caused natriuresis and diuresis in adult rats, but this response was blunted in old rats. In the isolated proximal tubules, DA and SKF 38393 inhibited Na,H-exchanger (NHE) in adult rats; however, this inhibition was attenuated in old rats. Radioligand binding revealed approximately 46% reduction in D 1 R binding sites in brush border membranes (BBMs) in old compared with adult rats. SKF 38393 stimulated [ 35 S]GTPγS binding in BBM in adult rats, but not in old rats, suggesting an impaired D 1 R-G protein coupling. DA and SKF 38393 stimulated adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity in adult but not in the old rats. Forskolin and NaF stimulated AC activity in a comparable manner in adult and old rats, indicating no defect in AC and G proteins. DA and SKF 38393 failed to stimulate protein kinase A (PKA) activity in proximal tubules of old rats. Dibutyryl-cAMP–mediated PKA activation was also absent in old rats. Conclusions A decrease in D 1 R binding sites, a coupling defect with G proteins, and a defect in PKA activation lead to diminished DA-mediated inhibition of NHE in old rats, which may contribute to the blunted natriuretic response to DA in these animals.
Synthesis of complex phosphopeptides as mimics of p53 functional domains.

A complete set of mono-, di- and triphosphorylated peptides comprising amino acids 10–27, the Mdm2 and p300 binding site(s) of p53, with and without a fluorescein label at the N-terminus, was synthesized by step-by-step solid phase synthesis. Fluorescence polarization analysis revealed that phosphorylation at Thr18 decreased binding to recombinant Mdm2 protein compared with the unphosphorylated and the two other single phosphorylated analogues. Unlabelled multiply phosphorylated peptides corresponding to this amino-terminal transactivation domain proved to be powerful tools in analysing the phosphate specificity of existing anti-p53 monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies using direct ELISA. The tetramerization domain of human p53 protein was modelled with a 53 residue-long unlabelled unphosphorylated and Ser315-phosphorylated peptide pair. CD analysis showed similar α-helical structures for both peptides and no major difference in the secondary structure could be observed upon phosphorylation. Size-exclusion HPLC indicated that these synthetic oligomerization domain mimics underwent a pH-dependent tetramerization process, but the presence of a phosphate group at Ser315 did not modify the oligomeric state of the 308–360 p53 fragments. Nevertheless, the fluorescein-labelled Ser315 phosphorylated peptide bound to the downstream signalling ligand DNA topoisomerase I protein with slightly higher affinity than did the unphosphorylated analogue. Copyright © 2002 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Parent Anxiety and Infant Pain During Pediatric Immunizations

Infants’ procedural pain and parents’ treatment room anxiety has been largely ignored in the research and clinical domains. To understand and manage infant procedural pain, it is essential to examine the correlates and potential predictors of this pain. Given that parent anxiety is a strong predictor of preschoolers’ procedural anxiety and pain, it is likely that parents play a role in infants’ distress during medical procedures. The purpose of this study was to thoroughly examine parent anxiety and its effects on infant procedural pain for 37 parent-infant dyads. Results demonstrated that only parent self-report measures were intercorrelated and several measures of parent distress correlated with measures of infant distress. Treatment implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.
RFID‐based baggage‐handling system design

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of radio frequency identification (RFID) deployment at an airport baggage‐handling system (BHS).Design/methodology/approach – The impact of number of RFID readers at different power levels with varying conveyor (i.e. baggage‐handling conveyors) speeds on timely delivery of baggage is studied via simulation. The layout of the BHS at the Hong Kong International Airport and data pertinent to its RFID deployment in 2005 are used to build the simulation model. The RFID read logic is based on the equations defined as a function of the number of tags and the time the tags spend in the interrogation zone for each reader in order to capture possible read‐rate issues realistically.Findings – The identification capability of the BHS studied in this paper is a result of its combined ability to identify tags via RFID technology on straight and circulating conveyors, as well as at the manual recovery station for unidentified bags on circulating conveyors....
A CONNECTION BETWEEN ORDINARY PARTITIONS AND TILINGS WITH DOMINOES AND SQUARES

In this paper a way of representing an ordinary partition as a tiling with dominoes and squares is introduced. The generating functions associated with such tilings is developed and explained analytically and combinatorially. The results in this paper were inspired by a talk given by Arthur Benjamin at the Southeastern Section meeting of the MAA in 2004 and based on his new book with Jennifer Quinn [2]. At this meeting Benjamin discussed tilings of a 1 ! n rectangle with 1 ! 1 squares and 1 ! 2 dominoes. The total number of such tilings of a 1 ! n rectangle is the nth Fibonacci number and these tilings can be used to explain numerous identities involving the Fibonacci numbers. For n < 5 the values of p(n), the number of partitions of n, match the values of the Fibonacci sequence. The natural question that arises is “Can the partitions of n be explained in terms of tilings using squares and dominoes?.” The answer to this question is “yes” as the first theorem below explains.
Intravenous therapies for castration-resistant prostate cancer: Toxicities and adverse events

Prostate cancer (CaP) continues to be a significant burden on men's health. While significant advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of localized disease, androgen deprivation therapy remains the treatment of choice for advanced and metastatic disease. However, once a man progresses on androgen deprivation, therapies targeting castration-resistant CaP have been extremely limited until quite recently. Urologic oncologists who wish to play an active role in the treatment of men with CaP from diagnosis through end-of-life care should be familiar with administration of and toxicities associated with chemotherapeutic agents. This review is directed at urologists and urologic oncologists and will discuss many of the FDA-approved intravenous agents currently available for castration-resistant CaP with a specific focus on the side-effects associated with these regimens.
Optimum Time Sequence for the Administration of Vincristine and Cyclophosphamide in Vivo

Summary The cytotoxic effect of the combination of vincristine sulfate and cyclophosphamide was quantitated by the spleen colony assay for both AKR- and L1210-transplantable leukemias as well as for normal hematopoietic stem cells. The lethal effect of this combination on the leukemic cell population was found to be schedule dependent. Subadditive cell killing occurred when the drugs were administered together or within a few hr of each other. A marked enhancement of the cytotoxicity was noted when cyclophosphamide was given after vincristine, with a nadir obtained when 12 hr had elapsed between the administration of the two drugs. The observed killing of normal hematopoietic stem cells by this combination was additive independent of the sequence or schedule of administration.
Magnetoresistive read magnetic recording head offtrack performance assessment

Simple equations that characterize the offtrack performance of magnetic recording heads with magnetoresistive read are derived. The validity of the equations is illustrated with experimental data. It is shown how these equations can be used to derive the optimum write and read trackwidth for a given application or to derive the track-density potential of a given head. Only one parameter, called the k-factor, is used in addition to the physical head trackwidth. The k-factor can be readily found experimentally for a given design, and once it is known, the design optimization becomes relatively simple. >
Immunological evidence for eight spans in the membrane domain of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase: implications for enzyme degradation in the endoplasmic reticulum

We have raised two monospecific antibodies against synthetic peptides derived from the membrane domain of the ER glycoprotein 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the rate limiting enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. This domain, which was proposed to span the ER membrane seven times (Liscum, L., J. Finer-Moore, R. M. Stroud, K. L. Luskey, M. S. Brown, and J. L. Goldstein. 1985. J. Biol. Chem. 260:522-538), plays a critical role in the regulated degradation of the enzyme in the ER in response to sterols. The antibodies stain the ER of cells and immunoprecipitate HMG-CoA reductase and HMGal, a chimeric protein composed of the membrane domain of the reductase fused to Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase, the degradation of which is also accelerated by sterols. We show that the sequence Arg224 through Leu242 of HMG-CoA reductase (peptide G) faces the cytoplasm both in cultured cells and in rat liver, whereas the sequence Thr284 through Glu302 (peptide H) faces the lumen of the ER. This indicates that a sequence between peptide G and peptide H spans the membrane of the ER. Moreover, by epitope tagging with peptide H, we show that the loop segment connecting membrane spans 3 and 4 is sequestered in the lumen of the ER. These results demonstrate that the membrane domain of HMG-CoA reductase spans the ER eight times and are inconsistent with the seven membrane spans topological model. The approximate boundaries of the proposed additional transmembrane segment are between Lys248 and Asp276. Replacement of this 7th span in HMGal with the first transmembrane helix of bacteriorhodopsin abolishes the sterol-enhanced degradation of the protein, indicating its role in the regulated turnover of HMG-CoA reductase within the endoplasmic reticulum.