cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adenosine is the primary precursor of all purine nucleotides in Trichomonas vaginalis.

Trichomonas vaginalis, a parasitic protozoan and the causative agent of trichomoniasis, lacks de novo purine nucleotide synthesis and possesses a unique purine salvage pathway, consisting of a bacterial type purine nucleoside phosphorylase and a purine nucleoside kinase. It is generally believed that adenine and guanine are converted to their corresponding nucleosides and then further phosphorylated to form AMP and GMP, respectively, as the main as well as the essential pathway of replenishing the purine nucleotide pool in the organism. Formycin A, an analogue of adenosine, inhibits both enzymes as well as the in vitro growth of T. vaginaliswith an estimated IC50 of 0.27M. This growth inhibition was reversed by adding adenine to the culture medium but not by adding guanine or hypoxanthine. Furthermore, T. vaginalis can grow in semi-defined medium supplemented with only adenine but not with guanine or hypoxanthine. Radiolabeling experiments followed by HPLC analysis of the purine nucleotide pool in T. vaginalis demonstrated incorporation of [8- 14 C]adenine into both adenine and guanine nucleotides, whereas [8- 14 C]guanine was incorporated only into guanine nucleotides. Substantial adenosine deaminase activity and significant IMP dehydrogenase and GMP synthetase activities were identified in T. vaginalis lysate, suggesting a pathway capable of converting adenine to GMP via adenosine. This purine salvage scheme depicts adenosine the primary precursor of the entire purine nucleotide pool in T. vaginalis and the purine nucleoside kinase one of the most pivotal enzymes in purine salvage and a potential target for anti-trichomoniasis chemotherapy. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
High-dose chemotherapy with carboplatin, cyclophosphamide and etoposide and autologous transplantation for multiple myeloma relapsing after a previous transplant.

High-dose chemotherapy with carboplatin, cyclophosphamide and etoposide and autologous transplantation for multiple myeloma relapsing after a previous transplant
Effect of ATP translocation on citrulline and oxaloacetate synthesis by isolated rat liver mitochondria

Abstract The possibility that the availability of ATP may affect the rate of synthesis of carbamoyl phosphate (measured as citrulline) by carbamoyl phosphate synthase (ammonia) was studied using respiring isolated rat liver mitochondria incubated with added ADP, with hexokinase, glucose, and ATP, or with atractylate, in order to enhance or prevent the efflux of mitochondrial ATP. The effects of these agents were compared with those on oxaloacetate synthesis from pyruvate. Addition of hexokinase, glucose, and ATP to isolated mitochondria resulted in an inhibition of citrulline synthesis which was proportional to the amounts of glucose 6-phosphate formed; under these conditions, matrix ATP and ATP/ADP tended to decrease. The addition of increasing amounts of ADP also resulted in proportional inhibition of citrulline synthesis, but in this case the matrix content of ATP and ADP increased, and ATP/ADP decreased very slightly. In the presence of atractylate, citrulline synthesis was maximal despite a 30% decrease in matrix ATP and ATP/ADP. These effects were observed whether pyruvate, succinate, glutamate, or β-OH-butyrate was used as the respiratory substrate. ADP, the hexokinase system, and atractylate had qualitatively similar but much less pronounced effects on oxaloacetate synthesis from pyruvate. Within the limits of variation observed in these experiments, the rate of synthesis of citrulline appears not to be affected by the matrix content of total ATP, total ADP, or by ATP/ADP. It is affected, however, by the velocity of translocation of ATP into the extramitochondrial medium. These findings suggest that carbamoyl phosphate synthase (ammonia) may be loosely associated with the mitochondrial inner membrane, and may compete for ATP with the ATP-ADP translocator to an extent determined by the extramitochondrial demands for ATP.
New directions in video coding

Video coding still remains a largely open problem after decades of research. In this paper, we present some new ideas of video coding from a geometric perspective. We focus on developing an improved modeling of video source by studying its geometric constraints. It is suggested that understanding the relationship between location uncertainty models of motion discontinuity and image singularity is critical to the efficiency of video coding. We argue that linearity is the root of problem in conventional motion compensated predictive coding and propose a classification-based nonlinear coding framework in both spatial and wavelet domains. Nonlinear processing tools are advocated for resolving location-related uncertainty during the exploitation of geometric constraints.
Thermogenic Action of Progesterone in the Rat

Progesterone has been shown to be thermogenic in a variety of species. The present studies investigated the role of the pituitary and thyroid glands in the thermogenic response to exogenous progesterone in 254 adult female rats. In intact rats, subcutaneous injections of 0.1 or 0.5 mg of progesterone daily for 14 days were ineffective in increasing rectal temperatures, whereas injections of 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 or 10.0 mg progesterone daily for 14 days increased rectal temperature by 0.3, 0.4, 0.4 and 0.5 C, respectively (p <0.05). Exogenous progesterone (5.0 mg daily) increased the rectal temperature of ovariectomized rats by 0.3 C (p <0.05). On the other hand, the rectal temperature of hypophysectomized rats was not increased by administration of progesterone. Thyroid acinar cell height was increased significantly from 7.4 to 9.3 μ by daily administration of 5.0 mg of progesterone to intact rats. Injection of 2-thiouracil (17.5 mg daily) lowered rectal temperature and blocked the thermogenic response to exogen...
Mass Media and Racial Crisis: A Study of the New Bethel Church Incident in Detroit

An exchange of gunfire between Detroit police and persons in the proximity of a meeting of black separatists provided an opportunity to evaluate the impact of the mass media in creating, supporting, or reducing racial polarization. Based on responses from 1130 interviews in black and white neighborhoods, perceptions of what occurred outside of the New Bethel Church were linked to reported mass media and primary-group sources of information. In terms both of immediate and of long-term effects, different media combinations were associated differently with how whites and blacks relying on these sources perceived the incident. Where newspapers were relied on more than other media, the original perspective projected in the mass media underwent extinction. Where television was the more important information source, persistence of the original view by whites and increased polarization were the patterns of impact. Language: en
An analytical hierarchy approach to facility layout

Abstract This paper presents a multi-criteria approach to the facility layout problem. The proposed constructive model, based on Saaty's Analytical Hierarchy Process, rates the set of pairs of potentially adjacent departments with respect to both qualitative and quantitative criteria. A computer program, incorporating a modified AHP portion and a layout construction module, was developed to construct departmental locations within a facility. The effectiveness of the approach and the computer program is illustrated with an example.
Turnover of amino-terminal acetylated and non-acetylated hemoglobins in vivo

Abstract The significance of amino terminal acetylation in the turnover of hemoglobin was analyzed by measuring the synthesis and degradation of hemoglobins A and B in domestic cat blood. The two hemoglobins occur as mixtures in cat blood and are structurally very similar except for β-chain amino terminal acetylation found in HbB which is chiefly responsible for their difference in isoelectric pH. The hemoglobins were labeled by administering radioactive amino acids to anemic animals and their specific radioactivities were monitored at intervals for several days thereafter until the average life span of the erythrocytes was exceeded. The results showed that the turnover of hemoglobin is unrelated to isoelectric pH or to amino-terminal acetylation of the protein.
Gene Regulatory Networks Governing Pancreas Development

Elucidation of cellular and gene regulatory networks (GRNs) governing organ development will accelerate progress toward tissue replacement. Here, we have compiled reference GRNs underlying pancreas development from data mining that integrates multiple approaches, including mutant analysis, lineage tracing, cell purification, gene expression and enhancer analysis, and biochemical studies of gene regulation. Using established computational tools, we integrated and represented these networks in frameworks that should enhance understanding of the surging output of genomic-scale genetic and epigenetic studies of pancreas development and diseases such as diabetes and pancreatic cancer. We envision similar approaches would be useful for understanding the development of other organs.
R.B.S. Microscopic "Tomography"

The resolving power of optical and electron microscopes is limited by diffraction, scattering being also a problem with electron microscopes, and ion source properties in the case of ion microprobes. Essentially, the resolution is determined by the hardware. We have developed a technique involving simple equipment but extensive computer analysis following the taking of data. The profile and internal constitution of periodic surfaces and micron sized objects is measured by irradiating them uniformly with a parallel beam of ions. The Rutherford backscattered spectra, observed at different angles using solid state detectors, are analyzed in a manner similar to that employed in tomography to yield the structure of the object irradiated. The ultimate resolution is determined by ion straggling, rather than diffraction.
REPRODUCTION IN FEMALE MANATEES OBSERVED IN SARASOTA BAY, FLORIDA

Resightings of recognizable individual Florida manatees, Trichechus manatus latirostris, in Sarasota Bay provided information on life history and reproductive parameters. These parameters have been documented at winter aggregation sites, but few data existed for Florida's west coast at non-winter sites. Life history data are needed to estimate annual reproduction and survival rates and construct population models for manatees along west central Florida. Observations of 113 recognizable manatees of known sex sighted between 1993 and 1997 indicated a 1: 1 sex ratio. Fifty-three females produced at least 55 calves during five years of observation. Two large, presumably sexually mature females were never observed with calves in over five years of monitoring. Not surprisingly, several reproductive parameters matched those measured in previous studies at winter sites with a mean of 1.8 seasons of calf dependence, 2.2 seasons between births, and age of sexual maturity at 3–4 yr. Birth rates, fecundity, and proportions of females with calves varied only slightly among investigations.
Establishment of Tilapia Spawning Families Providing a Continuous Supply of Eggs for in vitro Fertilization

Three hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus ± O. niloticus) spawning families were established in three separate culture tanks to provide a continuous supply of fresh gametes. An ovulation event, resulting in a natural spawn, an artificial spawn or oocyte resorption, occurred with a mean of every 1.4 days among 19 females, though only a few females demonstrated periods of evenly spaced 10 to 20 day maturation-ovulation cycles. Ovulation events/female/year were similar among the three spawning families: 13.1, 17.5 and 13.4/female, as were mean interovulation intervals (23.6, 21.9, and 23.9 days). Estimated fertilization rates, both natural and as a result of strip-spawning, were highly variable. Rates from natural spawns ranged from a mean per female of 25.7 to 57.3%, and from artificial spawns from 47.8 to 58.8%. Establishment and active management of spawning families of tilapias proved to be an effective procedure for obtaining a continuous supply of gametes for manipulative genetic research.
Investigation of several passive and active methods for turbulent flow separation control

Relative performance of several passive and active methods for controlling two-dimensional turbulent separated flow associated with a curved backward-facing ramp were investigated at low speeds. Surface static pressure measurement and oil flow visualization results indicate that submerged vortex generators, vortex generator jets, elongated arches at +-alpha, and large-eddy breakup devices at +-alpha placed near the baseline separation location reduce flow separation and increase pressure recovery. Spanwise cylinders reduce flow separation but decrease pressure recovery downstream. Arches with alpha = 0 deg, Helmholtz resonators, and Viets' fluidic flappers examined so far have no significant effect in reducing separation. Wall cooling computation indicates that separation delay on a partially cooled ramp is nearly the same as on a fully-cooled ramp while minimizing the frictional drag increase associated with the wall cooling process.
Welcome to the Desert of the Wheel: A Phenomenological Reading of Wheel of Fortune

Abstract Although Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are very similar, they differ decisively in the manner in which they incorporate the element of luck. A comparison of these two game shows suggests that it is precisely the element of chance that gives the world its texture as a world.
Extrarenal Complications of the Nephrotic Syndrome

The systemic complications of nephrotic syndrome are responsible for much of the morbidity and mortality seen with this condition. This review discusses the causes for the hypoalbuminemia and the associated metabolic abnormalities of the nephrotic syndrome. No unifying hypothesis exists for the induction, maintenance, and resolution of nephrotic edema. In view of the wide spectrum of renal diseases leading to the nephrotic syndrome, more than a single mechanism may be responsible for the renal salt retention in these diverse conditions. Although hypoalbuminemia may be important, especially when plasma oncotic pressure is very low (serum albumin < 1.5 to 2.0 g/dL), primary impairment of salt and water excretion by the nephrotic kidney appears to be a major factor in pathogenesis of the edema. However, the decreased serum albumin and/or oncotic pressure seen with nephrotic syndrome is a major contributing factor to the development of the hyperlipidemia of nephrotic syndrome. Patients with unremitting nephrotic syndrome should be considered for combined dietary and lipid-lowering drug therapy. Urinary losses of binding proteins lead to the observed abnormalities in the endocrine system and in trace metals, and urinary losses of coagulation factors contribute to the hypercoagulable state. At present, selective renal venography is recommended when the suspicion of renal vein thrombosis is justified by clinical presentation. The impact on renal function caused by treating asymptomatic chronic renal vein thrombosis is undetermined, but anticoagulation for chronic renal vein thrombosis is associated with relatively few complications.
Cervicovaginal cytokines, vaginal infection, and preterm birth.

Preterm birth complicates 11% of pregnancies in the United States and is the most common cause of perinatal mortality and long-term handicap. A wealth of data now implicates covert microbial infection of the upper genital tract as a common factor associated with spontaneous preterm delivery, especially those occurring before 3032 weeks’ gestation. The search for lower tract markers of upper tract infection/inflammation that will ultimately result in preterm birth is an important focus of current research. In this issue, Genc et al report that an imbalance in the IL-1b and IL-1ra response, as measured in cervicovaginal secretions, among women with vaginal colonization by anaerobic Gram-negative rods or G. vaginalis at 18-22 weeks’ gestation is associated with spontaneous preterm delivery. Using cutoffs derived from ROC analyses, an elevated IL-1b concentration and a diminished IL-1ra:IL-1b ratio identified women at increased risk for spontaneous preterm delivery with a sensitivity of 48% and 78%, a specificity of 77% and 51%, a positive predictive value of 21% and 17%, and a negative predictive value of 92% and 95%, respectively. Such data are critically important in that they contribute to our understanding of the role that the immune response plays in infection-mediated preterm birth. Notably, however, the immune response is quite complex and likely involves an interplay of more factors than IL-1b and IL-1ra. Indeed, Simhan et al recently reported in the August 2003 issue that genital tract immune hypo-responsiveness, as measured by decreased rather than increased lower genital tract concentrations of several cytokines including IL-1b, is associated with subsequent chorioamnionitis. A decade of intervention trials to prevent infection/
The mechanism of the antagonism of experimentally induced ocular hypertension by polyphloretin phosphate

Abstract The ability of polyphloretin phosphate to antagonize the rise in intraocular pressure produced by prostaglandins E2 (PGE2), F2α (PGF2α) and formaldehyde has been studied in the conscious rabbit. Topical instillation of polyphloretin phosphate antagonized only the response to PGF2α. In contrast, subconjunctival injections of polyphloretin phosphate antagonized the response of the intraocular pressure to all 3 irritants. Polyphloretin phosphate did not prevent the conjunctival vasodilation produced by all 3 irritants. Polyphloretin phosphate was separated into high and low molecular weight fractions by fractionation on Sephadex G-25 columns. Fraction I (the high molecular weight fraction) had almost no prostaglandin-blocking activity, but was a potent antagonist of hyaluronidase. Conversely Fraction III (the low molecular weight fraction) had very little anti-hyaluronidase activity, but was 2 to 5 times more potent than polyphloretin phosphate as a prostaglandin antagonist. Subconjunctival injections of Fraction I did not antagonize the response of the rabbit intraocular pressure to PGE2 whereas Fraction III produced a significant inhibition of this response. Both Fractions I and II were found to antagonize the rise in intraocular pressure produced by formaldehyde. The present results suggest that the antiinflammatory actions of polyphloretin phosphate in the rabbit eye are due to both the prostaglandin-blocking and anti-hyaluronidase actions. It is concluded that both prostaglandin-antagonists and anti-hyaluronidase agents should be evaluated more thoroughly for use as ocular anti-inflammatory agents.
The Effects of Wetting and Surface Roughness on Liquid Metal Droplet Bouncing

In droplet-based manufacturing processes, such as dropwise rapid prototyping, solder bumping, and spray forming, the quality of the deposit is adversely affected by bouncing of liquid droplets off the target surfaces. This study investigates the effects of wetting and surface roughness on the bouncing phenomenon. An analytical model, based on the conservation of energy during deposition, was developed to correlate wetting and surface roughness to a dimensionless droplet bouncing potential. In addition, experiments were conducted to image the deposition behavior of Sn-37 wt % Pb solder droplets, averaging 280 μm in diameter, on prepared substrates with a wide range of wetting properties and roughness levels. The high-speed image data correlate well with the model prediction that droplets are likely to bounce as a target surface becomes less wetting or is roughened.
Reconsidering the Problem of Evil: The International Context of the Early Modern Discussion1

The problem of evil has recently gained renewed attention. As before, what is so mind-boggling is not just the horrific aggression of man against man but the fact of offenders not easily being demo...
Challenges and opportunities in defining the essential cancer kinome.

Signaling pathways controlled by protein kinases underlie a large fraction of human diseases and participate in the development and progression of all forms of cancer. Targeted therapeutic strategies to treat cancer and other diseases are focused almost exclusively on protein kinases, with a strong bias toward a small subset of the entire human kinome. RNA interference (RNAi)–based screens for protein kinase requirements have revealed a surprisingly high degree of diversity between cancer cell lines in their dependence on specific protein kinases. These screens also demonstrate that some of the most critical protein kinases for the proliferation and survival of cancer cell lines are also the least studied. Although the concept of oncogene addiction is powerful in designing therapeutic strategies to treat cancer, unbiased kinome-specific and genome-wide RNAi screens are revealing unexploited areas of potential therapeutic intervention.
RESPONSE OF NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES (EUBALAENA GLACIALIS) TO PLAYBACK OF CALLS RECORDED FROM SURFACE ACTIVE GROUPS IN BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH ATLANTIC

The surface active group (SAG) is the most obvious social interaction of the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis). SAGs are typically composed of an adult female with two or more males engaged in social behavior near the surface. Distinct calls, believed to be produced by the female, are associated with these groups. Calls recorded from three North Atlantic right whale SAGs and three South Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena australis) SAGs were played back to North Atlantic right whales to determine if these sounds are sufficient to attract males to the groups. Playbacks of gunshot sounds produced by North Atlantic right whales were used as a control stimulus. Thirty-six trials were carried out from 1999 to 2001 in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. Whales approached 27 of 31 SAG playbacks and 0 of 5 gunshot playbacks. Where sex was determined (n = 28), all approaches to North Atlantic SAG recordings were by males. Individuals (n = 22) of all age and sex classes approached South Atlantic SAG playbacks. These trials indicate that SAG calls from both populations are sufficient to attract right whales to SAGs and that males and females respond differently to stimuli from the North Atlantic. The difference in response to North and South Atlantic SAG stimuli was unexpected. Novelty, species differences in calls, and different seasonal or behavioral context for the recorded stimuli may be responsible for the differences in response.
A cointegration analysis of bilateral air travel flows: The case of international travel to and from the United States

Abstract Demand for international air travel has risen over the past decade causing international visitation to the US to reach a record high in 2012. This paper assesses the dynamic impacts of GDP, exchange rate, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks on bilateral air travel flows between the US and its 11 major travel and trading partners. An autoregressive distributed lag modeling approach is employed to estimate short- and long-run relationships between variables. Long-run results demonstrate foreign GDP as the major determinant of demand for inbound travel to the US and US GDP is a crucial factor affecting demand for outbound travel from the US. These findings support a strong linkage between economic growth and demand for international air travel. The real exchange rate has relatively little impact on the bilateral air travel flows. The US dollar appreciation against foreign currencies is found to reduce demand for inbound travel to the US, while having mixed effects on outbound travel from the US. In the short-run, economic growth tends to be a primary factor influencing international travel flows to and from the US. The 9/11 market shock has a detrimental short- and long-run effect on the bilateral air travel flows, implying that the impact of 9/11 is prolonged in international air travel markets.
Hepatic and renal blood flow responses to a clinical dose of intravenous cyclosporine in the pig

The immunosuppressant Cyclosporine A (CsA) is considered to induce nephrotoxicity in part by causing vasoconstriction of the glomerular afferent arterioles. Although CsA is widely used in hepatic transplantation, little is known concerning its effects on hepatic blood flow. We used ultrasonic flow probes in an anesthetized swine model to measure the effects of a single 60 min infusion of a clinically comparable dose of CsA (5 mg/kg per h) on hepatic, renal, and supraceliac descending aortic blood flows (n = 7 swine). To account for any changes in systemic output or systemic vascular resistance during the 60 min CsA infusion that may non-specifically affect hepatic and renal blood flows, the total hepatic (portal vein plus hepatic artery) and renal blood flows were reported relative to the supraceliac descending aortic blood flow (termed ‘fractional’ total hepatic and renal blood flows). The fractional total hepatic blood flow decreased significantly (p < 0.05) by 40 min of CsA infusion vs baseline, and continued to decrease throughout the infusion (baseline = 0.38 ± 0.03 units vs 0.28 ± 0.05 units by 60 min of CsA infusion). During the recovery period, the fractional total hepatic blood flow increased to a value which was not different from baseline (recovery = 0.38 ± 0.03 units). Fractional right renal artery blood flow did not change significantly from baseline at any time during the CsA infusion or during the recovery period. We conclude that a single, clinically comparable dose of CsA results in a significant decrease in total hepatic blood flow, and that this decrease is greater than that seen in renal blood flow.
Truth in automating: case studies in library automation

Contributors from five libraries address the expectations and realities of their automation projects, including: staff impact, costs and funding, time and schedules, users, computer support, vendors, and consultants. Some keys to success include: very clear political objectives at the beginning of the project; careful definition of the project structure; a well‐prepared automation plan; carefully‐considered, contractual commitments with a vendor; and flexibility and adaptability.
Successful Transporter Gets an EGO Boost

The trafficking of nutrient transporters is highly regulated and controlled by a variety of signal transduction pathways. A recent study by Gao and Kaiser (2006) in Nature Cell Biology demonstrates a role for a novel GTPase-containing complex that allows the amino acid permease Gap1 to recycle out of late endosomal compartments. This complex is likely to play critical roles in allowing animal cells to mobilize their nutrient transporters in response to metabolic demands.
Rhythmic dysfunctions in 11‐hydroxycorticoid excretion after midbrain lesions and their relationship to an abnormal grooming behavior in Cats∗∗∗

Abstract Cats with midbrain lesions exhibit a dissociation between appetitive and consummatory grooming behaviors that waxes and wanes with the seasons of the year. Because of various indications that the glucocorticoid hormones are involved in central nervous system functioning, and because the midbrain is implicated in the control and regulation of glucocorticoid hormones, and because of the prominent seasonal rhythm in glucocorticoid hormones, a measure of the urinary excretion of glucocorticoid hormones was obtained once a month for a year on normal and lesioned groups of cats. A quantitative measure of the grooming abnormality was obtained throughout the same year. A timing dysfunction in glucocorticoid excretion was found in the lesioned group: the normal group exhibited a prominent annual rhythm, but for the lesioned group a prominent four‐month rhythm was evident. The grooming abnormalities exhibited a prominent peak in the fall with minor fluctuations of about four‐month's duration. Because the i...
Measurement of neutron dose equivalent to proton therapy patients outside of the proton radiation field

Abstract Measurements of neutron dose equivalent values and neutron spectral fluences close to but outside of the therapeutic proton radiation field are presented. The neutron spectral fluences were determined at five locations with Bonner sphere measurements and established by unfolding techniques. More than 50 additional neutron dose equivalent values were measured with LiI and BF 3 thermal neutron detectors surrounded by a 25 cm polyethylene moderating sphere. For a large-field treatment, typical values of neutron dose equivalent per therapeutic proton absorbed dose, H / D , at 50 cm distance from isocenter, range from 1 mSv/Gy (at 0° with respect to the proton beam axis) to 5 mSv/Gy (at 90°). Experiments reveal that H / D varies significantly with the treatment technique, e.g., patient orientation, proton beam energy, and range-modulation. The relative uncertainty in H / D values is approximately 40% (one standard deviation).
Methylation-dependent DNA Restriction in Bacillus anthracis

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is poorly transformed with DNA that is methylated on adenine or cytosine. Here we characterize three genetic loci encoding type IV methylation-dependent restriction enzymes that target DNA containing C5-methylcytosine (m5C). Strains in which these genes were inactivated, either singly or collectively, showed increased transformation by methylated DNA. Additionally, a triple mutant with an ~30-kb genomic deletion could be transformed by DNA obtained from Dam(+)Dcm(+)E. coli, although at a low frequency of ~10(-3) transformants/10(6)cfu. This strain of B. anthracis can potentially serve as a preferred host for shuttle vectors that express recombinant proteins, including proteins to be used in vaccines. The gene(s) responsible for the restriction of m6A-containing DNA in B. anthracis remain unidentified, and we suggest that poor transformation by such DNA could in part be a consequence of the inefficient replication of hemimethylated DNA in B. anthracis.
Unintended Consequences of Health Care Legislation

Unintended consequences of health care legislation threaten the financial and social well-being of the United States. Examples of major legislation resulting in unintended and unforeseen consequences include the Social Security Amendments Acts of 1989 and 1993 (the Stark laws), the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and the Social Security Amendments Act of 1965 (Medicare and Medicaid). Each of these has had unintended financial and social outcomes. Spending for Medicare and Medicaid now equals an unsustainable 23% of the federal budget. Major reasons for unintended consequences include failure to appreciate the complexity of the issues, the open-ended nature of medical advances with attendant increases in costs, the inducement of change in behaviors in response to legislation, and the moral hazard of people spending other people's money. Actions that should be considered to avoid unintended consequences include more involvement of health professionals in the design of legislation, the inclusion of triggers to target review of legislatively defined programs, and the setting of time limits for sun-setting legislation. The ACR has played an important advocacy role and should continue to offer input to legislators, federal policymakers, and other stakeholders. Many opportunities exist to address the current financial situation by reducing the amount of unnecessary care delivered. Both major US political parties need to find the political will to compromise to chart the way forward. Some level of sacrifice is likely to be necessary from patients and providers and other stakeholders.
The Effect of ITMT’s and P/M Processing on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of the X7091 Alloy

The influence of microstructure and texture on the monotonic and cyclic properties of X7091-T651 was investigated. The various structures were developed from conventional ingot metallurgy (I/M), powder metallurgy (P/M) and intermediate thermal mechanical treatments (ITMT). Powder metallurgy produced a finer grain structure and particle distribution than I/M. Intermediate thermomechanical treatment produced a recrystallized, coarse grain structure with a weak texture, compared to the unrecrystallized grain structure and sharp texture obtained with conventional processing (CP). All materials had comparable monotonic properties. The resistance to fatigue crack initiation (FCI) increased with both a reduction in grain size and a finer particle distribution. Smaller grain sizes and finer particle distributions reduced the degree of cyclic strain localization. The CP-P/M alloy had the poorest ductility and FCI resistance of all the materials, although the slip was fairly homogeneous. This may be due to the presence of oxides at the grain boundaries and a sharp texture. The threshold stress intensity, ΔKth, and the fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) roughly follow a grain size dependence with the resistance of fatigue crack propagation (FCP) increasing with increasing grain size. It appears that large grains allow more reversible slip and reduce the amount of accumulated plastic strain within the reverse plastic zone. It is also believed that a greater degree of fatigue crack closure, which may be associated with large grains and a rough FCP surface, results in a lower FCGR in the lowΔK region. The intermediate thermomechanical treatment of P/M X7091 produced the optimum microstructure giving the best combination of mechanical properties. The important features include a small recrystallized grain structure, a fine particle distribution, a weak texture, and a low concentration of oxides at grain boundaries.
SU-HH-BRB-09: Real-Time Soft-Tissue Imaging Concurrent with External Beam Radiation Therapy Delivery

Purpose: The challenge of real‐time visualization, localization, and tracking of organ motion and deformation concurrently with external beam radiation therapy(EBRT)delivery remains unmet and unattainable by existing image guidance technologies. We propose to address this challenge in the development of a novel, minimally interfering, roboticultrasoundimage guidance system that can be integrated with existing medicallinear accelerators.Method and Materials: The span of ultrasound transducer motion required for trans‐abdominal prostate imaging was quantified via optical tracking of a probe during free‐hand acquisitions. This information was incorporated into the design of a customized human‐safe robotic manipulator to remotely control the transducer position and pressure while avoiding LINAC gantry collisions. The effect of accelerator‐induced electromagnetic interference on the robot was investigated. In addition, a treatment plan with beam directions restricted to sectors that do not interfere with the ultrasound transducer was evaluated. Results: Prostate image integrity was sensitive to probe pitch, thus the manipulator was designed to actively control abdominal pressure (0–10N) and transducer pitch (−40°−90°). Probe placement in other directions remains adjustable to accommodate anatomy variations. Human‐safety requirements translated into the design via a torque limiting friction clutch, lightweight backdriveable links, and remote center of motion pitch mechanism. Collision avoidance was confirmed by rotating the gantry 360° around the robot mounted on the LINAC couch in a typical treatment setup. The control system of the robot behaved similarly with the LINAC beam off and on, with mean servo cycle intervals of 1000.03 μs and 1000.06μs, respectively. For a representative prostate setup, remotely‐controlled roboticultrasoundimage acquisition was successfully demonstrated on a volunteer. Dose volume histogram (DVH) for an IMRT plan with restricted sectors remained virtually identical to a clinically employed DVH. Conclusion: Remotely‐controlled roboticultrasound imaging is feasible and may offer real‐time intra‐fractional soft‐tissue guidance concurrent with EBRTdelivery.
Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity in undifferentiated U937 cells.

PLA2 activity has been described in U937 cells. The present study characterized PLA2 activity in these undifferentiated cells. Cells were grown in suspension culture, harvested by centrifugation, and washed and homogenized in a neutral buffer containing standard proteinase inhibitors. A low speed supernatant was fractionated either by acid extraction or by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. PLA2 activity was measured using either L-α-1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl [1-14C]-phosphatidylcholine or heat-inactivated [3H]oleic acid-labeledE. coli as substrates. Substrate-specific PLA2 activity was found in the acid-extracted and in the 25% sucrose fractions. Standard inhibitors were investigated with these PLA2 activities. Our results suggest undifferentiated U937 cells contain three distinct PLA2 activities. This is the first indication that more than one PLA2 activity is present in undifferentiated U937 cells.
The essence of just-in-time: Embedding diagnostic tests in work-systems to achieve operational excellence

This paper asserts that problem identification and problem-solving processes can be integrated into work processes by embedding tests in work that evaluate performance with every exchange of products, services, and information. These tests make it unambiguous when, where, and by whom problem solving is necessary. This hastens improvement and deepens process knowledge frequently and at low-cost. These assertions are based on an ethnographic study of how some firms sustain outstanding performance through iterative problem solving, a concern of organizational and operations management theory. This field research revealed attributes of just-in-time (JIT) as it is practiced by Toyota and its affiliates - companies that have been associated with JIT and that have been recognized for outstanding performance - that have not been fully explored previously. Whereas JIT&'s role in controlling material flows through sequential processes has been much discussed, Toyota and its affiliates also use JIT to evaluate work-...
A Prospective, Multicenter Study of a Pneumonia Practice Guideline

Objective To study the effect of a length of stay practice guideline on patient outcomes. Design A prospective, nonrandomized, interventional trial. Setting Six geographically distributed hospitals. Patients Two hundred forty-two consecutively hospitalized “low-risk” patients with pneumonia. Measurements and results One hundred fifty-two patients (63%) completed the mailed postdischarge survey and were included in the analysis. Data were prospectively collected for 85 patients from the baseline observation period (B) and 67 patients from the intervention period (I). During the I, case managers provided physicians with patient risk information based on guideline recommendations. There was no significant change in guideline compliance (B vs I: 76.5% vs 83.6%; p=0.32) or length of stay (B vs I: 3.5 days [95% confidence interval, 3.2 to 3.8] vs 3.6 days [95% confidence interval, 3.3 to 4.0]). Also, there were no statistically significant effects of the intervention on patient outcomes, care following hospital discharge, and patient satisfaction scores. Conclusion Patients in this study often had shorter lengths of stay than recommended by the practice guideline. This suggests that the external environment may have had a greater effect on physician behavior and length of stay than the practice guideline itself. Moreover, it demonstrates the importance of continuous assessment of physician practices immediately prior to, during, and after application of the clinical practice guideline.
Pregnancy and immunology: selected aspects.

Learning Objectives This article reviews current concepts of the immunology of pregnancy and of the diagnosis and management of certain allergic conditions in the pregnant woman: asthma, rhinitis, immunotherapy, and hereditary angioedema (HAE). Data Sources Current texts, reviews, and individual studies were picked from the National Library of Medicine database. Results and Conclusions Knowledge concerning the immunologic paradox of pregnancy continues to evolve. Although the answer is not definitive, attention is being paid to the role of a Th-2 shift in the pregnant uterus. Extensive studies, both epidemiologic and therapeutic, are clarifying the influence of pregnancy on asthma and rhinitis (and vice versa) and the best methods for treatment of these conditions in the pregnant woman. A brief guideline to the handling of hereditary angioedema in pregnancy is presented.
Role of three-dimensional instabilities in compliant wall boundary-layer transition

The use of passive devices to obtain drag and noise reductions or transition delays in boundary layers is highly desirable. One such device that shows promise for hydrodynamic applications is the compliant coating. In the present study, a mechanical model is chosen to represent the compliant wall. In previous two-dimensional studies, coatings were found that provided significant transition delays. The present study allows for three-dimensional waves. These instabilities are found to dominate transition over compliant walls. However, transition delays are still obtained, compared with transition predictions for rigid walls. The angles of wave propagation and obliquity are determined as a function of Reynolds and frequency. The propagation of group velocity direction is found to be nearly axial. Calculations at fixed Reynolds numbers are also presented. These results indicate that the dominant mode for the coatings considered occurs for an oblique angle of approximately 40-60 deg. Other modes of instability that arise as a result of the compliance are discussed.
Bromide intoxication in the elderly.

: Four patients with dysfunction of the central nervous system secondary to bromide intoxication are reported. Three of them were referred because of symptoms of “senility,” which appeared to preclude further independent living. After diagnosis and treatment of the bromism, they were able to continue living at home. The development of bromide toxicity with relatively low serum bromide levels in the elderly is discussed. The importance of a home visit to establish the diagnosis of drug-induced cognitive dysfunction is emphasized.
Spider Predation on Coleophora parthenica (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), a Moth Imported for the Biological Control of Russian Thistle

Spider predation on Coleophora parthenica Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), an insect introduced into the western United States for control of Russian thistle, Salsola australis R. Brown (Chenopodiaceae), was studied at Indio, Calif., during April through October 1980. The two most common of seven species of spiders observed feeding on C. parthenica adults were studied in detail. Dictyna reticulata Gertsch and Ivie (Dictynidae) reached mean densities of 93 per plant, and each spider captured up to five moths in each of three emergence periods. There was a positive correlation between the numbers of D. reticulata webs and moths captured per plant. Dictyna reticulata also captured more C. parthenica per web as the density of the insect increased. Diguetia mojavea Gertsch (Diguetidae) reached densities of 170/ha, and mature females captured up to 221 moths during the summer. Coleophora parthenica comprised a mean of 71% of the arthropods in the diet of D. mojavea . Web site location on Russian thistles influenced the number of moths captured by D. mojavea , unlike D. reticulata . The total numbers of prey captured by D. mojavea females, but not the numbers of C. parthenica alone captured, affected the number of egg sacs this spider produced. Field data suggested that these spiders were responding functionally and numerically to their prey densities augmented by the introduction of C. parthenica .
T-Cell Development: T-cell lineage commitment revisited

Abstract Years of controversy about the lineage relationship between α β and γ δ T cells may at last have been resolved: it now appears that most T cells derive from an identical T-lineage committed precursor.
The New Stigma of Relocated Public Housing Residents: Challenges to Social Identity in Mixed‐Income Developments

Public housing residents have long experienced stigma as members of an urban “underclass.” One policy response is the creation of mixed–income developments; by deconcentrating poverty and integrati...
Testing the Readability of Engineering Writing

The question discussed here is whether or not scientific writing can be made more readable by using a "readability formula." The methods of Flesch readability testing are described briefly. The applicability to technical writing is limited but the technique does seem useful for improving the language network connecting technical terms.
A simple inverse method for the distribution of basal sliding coefficients under ice sheets, applied to Antarctica

Abstract. Variations in intrinsic bed conditions that affect basal sliding, such as the distribution of deformable sediment versus hard bedrock, are important boundary conditions for large-scale ice-sheet models, but are hard to observe and remain largely uncertain below the modern Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Here a very simple model-based method is described for deducing the modern spatial distribution of basal sliding coefficients. The model is run forward in time, and the basal sliding coefficient at each grid point is periodically increased or decreased depending on whether the local ice surface elevation is too high or too low compared to observed in areas of unfrozen bed. The method considerably reduces large-scale errors in Antarctic ice elevation, from several 100s to several 10s of meters in most regions. Remaining ice elevation errors over mountain ranges such as the Transantarctics are further improved by parameterizing the possible effect of sub-grid topography in the basal sliding law, representing sliding in deep valleys. Results are compared with modern velocity data, and various sensitivity tests are described in Appendices.
Transformative Partnerships: Designing School-Based Visual Arts Outreach Programmes

Partnerships between informal learning environments and schools have been cited as an innovative, effective way for museums, galleries and schools to work together to enrich classroom curricula, support student success, and facilitate the utilisation of available community museum and cultural resources. This article reports on findings from a multi-year, exploratory arts outreach programme for 31 elementary and secondary visual art educators from a rural school district in the American South. The outreach programme was conceived in partnership with faculty from the neighbouring university's art department, school of education and university art gallery. Utilising a partnership framework, the travelling exhibit was developed through a collaborative research relationship with the participating visual art educators. Findings from this programme indicate that travelling exhibits can be an effective mode of programme delivery for informal learning environments while also supporting the content needs for classroom arts educators if the programme stresses transformative partnerships across all invested parties.
Stereochemical issues in studies of ion channel proteins

Studies of ion channel proteins present many special challenges, including the potential for novel stereochemical phenomena. Here we describe several examples in which modern studies of ion channels have involved or made use of stereochemistry. Chirality 10:8–13, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.