cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship of duration of postoperative ileus to extent and site of operative dissection

Postoperative ileus has been thought to be related to intraoperative manipulation of the intestines and to the duration of operative procedures. In order to study the effect of these variables on the postoperative myoelectrical activity of the intestine, six stumptailed monkeys had strain-gauge force transducers and bipolar electrodes placed on gastric antrum, mid-small bowel, right colon, and sigmoid colon. The animals were then subjected to three operations in random order varying in extent and site of dissection: (1) midline incisions, mobilization of right colon and kidney, clamping of renal pedicle, and extensive blunt dissection of right retroperitoneum; (2) the same operation but done on the left side; and (3) midline incision and gentle digital manipulation of the intestines. The first two procedures involved much more intestinal handling and dissection and took five to six times longer than the minimal laparotomy procedure. Postoperative inhibition of bowel motility was most profound and persistent in the colon. The duration and pattern of postoperative ileus in these experiments were independent of the extent, site, and duration of the operative procedure.
Developmentally Distinct Learning Experiences Among Adult English Language Learners

Many adult English language learners (ELLs) aspire toward postsecondary educational programs but do not go on to obtain college credentials after beginning classes in Adult Basic Education (ABE) or...
Long-term outcomes of the 'primary extension technique' in the prevention of Steal syndrome.

PurposeTo report our 13 years of experience with the ‘primary extension technique’ for the prevention of dialysis-associated steal syndrome.MethodsAll diabetic patients undergoing upper arm autogen...
Left atrial volume quantification using coronary calcium score scan: Feasibility, reliability and reproducibility analysis of a standardized approach.

Background Left atrial volume (LAV) is an independent prognosticator of cardiovascular events. We investigated whether LAV could be accurately and reliably measured using coronary calcium score (CAC) scan. Methods We retrospectively selected consecutive patients that underwent coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and CAC scans. A standardized approach to calculate LAV on images was implemented. The measurements of the LAV on CAC scans and CCTA were performed one to three weeks apart in a random fashion by two readers blinded to the results of each other. The LAV measurements from CAC scan were compared to those from CCTA using correlation analysis. Inter-observer and intra-observer agreement of LAV measurement using CAC scan was evaluated. Results Final analysis included one hundred subjects, mean age 52 ± 12 years, 48% male. There was a trend of a marginally larger, albeit not clinically significant, mean LAV calculated using CAC scan compared to that using CCTA: 74.3 vs. 71.0 mL: p < 0.001; for reader 1, and 71.7 vs. 71.2 mL p = 0.06 for reader 2, respectively. LAV using CAC scan and CCTA were highly correlated (R = 0.954, p < 0.001 for reader1 and R = 0.945, p < 0.001 for reader 2). There was high reproducibility within each reader with ICC of 0.951 and 0.989 for readers 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.001). Finally, there was high inter-observer agreement as indicated by R of 0.97 and ICC of 0.96 (p < 0.001 for both). Conclusions Quantification of LAV from CAC scan using the proposed standardized approach is feasible, highly reliable and reproducible as compared to CCTA.
Influence of Respiratory Tract Fluid on Airway Calibre

Increases in airflow resistance in the respiratory tract are produced by decreases in the calibre of the airways. Reductions in cross-sectional area of the airway lumen are due to a number of factors including smooth muscle contraction, airway wall thickening, increased surface tension at the air-liquid interface, reductions in the external support of the airway caused by changes in surrounding structures, and to increased luminal content of airway fluid. Each process alone may not be sufficient to significantly reduce airflow whereas interactions between one or more of the processes may well lead to marked airflow limitation. In the short-term, contraction of smooth muscle is considered to be associated with rapidly-developing decreases in airway calibre and is the process most readily identified with the term bronchoconstriction. However, increased secretion of mucus and water and the transepithelial passage of plasma from the bronchial vasculature would each increase fluid volume in the airway lumen which, although not constricting the bronchi, would decrease airway patency and contribute to airflow limitation. This chapter considers the influence of respiratory tract fluid on airway calibre and discusses the neurohumoral factors which, in addition to their effects on airways smooth muscle tone, contribute to increasing the volume of lumenal fluid.
Thermal Diffusivity of Thin Diamond Films

The high thermal diffusivity of diamond and thin film geometry make standard thermal analysis inadequate for experimental determination. We have developed a laser pulse technique suitable for polycrystalline diamond films which were deposited on a silicon substrate using a microwave plasma deposition system. The effective thermal diffusivity of diamond film on a silicon substrate was calculated from its thermal response to cyclic heating. An analytical model is developed to calculate the effective in-plane (face-parallel) diffusivity of a two layer system. The model is used to reduce the effective thermal diffusivity of the diamond/silicon sample to a value for the thermal diffusivity and conductivity of the diamond film.
A User's Guide to International Capital Flows

This note provides a description of international flows and positions data, a way to identify extreme capital flow episodes (such as surges and stops), and a straightforward technique to predict whether a country should receive more or fewer portfolio inflows in the coming year based on a notion of benchmark inflows. Excerpt UVA-GEM-0171 Jan. 23, 2019 A User's Guide to International Capital Flows In some ways, capital flows are like oxygen: too little or too much can be dangerous. Surges of capital inflows are often followed by crises. Capital flows in, at first funding worthy projects but later enabling questionable ones, and all is well as long as capital continues to flow in and the recipient economy remains buoyant. But when the tide turns and the capital inflow surge turns into a sudden stop, questionable projects are exposed, defaults increase, and the economy suffers. It need not be this way—not all surges end in stops—but the specter of a virtuous cycle turning vicious looms over international capital flows. This note is intended to get the reader from 0 to 60 in just 10 pages. For those unaccustomed to capital flows, it begins with a description of balance of payments (BOP) and international investment position (IIP) data. It then proceeds to measures of extreme capital flows (such as surges and stops), before ending with new thinking on the benchmark amount of inflows a country can expect to receive. BOP and IIP Data: The Basics . . .
Evaluation of microsatellite instability testing through cell-free DNA sequencing

Abstract Background Microsatellite instability (MSI) status has been approved by FDA to select for patients with metastatic tumors for cancer immunotherapy treatments. Additionally, MSI status is used in assessment of prognosis and treatment choices in certain cancer types, as well as the first step in the genetic diagnosis for Lynch syndrome. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a noninvasive, real-time approach used for comprehensive genomic profiling of cancer. However, only a small fraction of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragments originate from tumor cells, requiring an ultra-sensitive method to detect MSI status from cfDNA. Here we evaluate the performance of Illumina TruSight™ Oncology 500 panel for MSI testing through cfDNA sequencing. Methods We developed a robust method to assess MSI status in cfDNA. For each MSI locus, we assessed the repeat length distribution of the test subject and a cohort of normal samples. By comparing allele distributions with information-theory based approach, we determined if each of the MSI locus was unstable. Final MSI score was calculated using the number of unstable sites divided by total tested sites. To assess the analytical performance of our method, we titrated MSI-high (MSI-H) cell lines into MSI stable (MSS) background at a series of concentrations ranging from 0.31% to 5.0%, representing low tumor fractions in cfDNA samples. Additionally, we processed 94 clinical samples with matched FFPE tumor and cfDNA to examine the concordance of MSI testing between FFPE and cfDNA. Results For titrated MSI-H samples with low tumor fraction, we achieved 100% sensitivity in samples at 0.625% MSI-H content titration into MSS background. Moreover, we achieved 98.9% overall percent agreement (93/94) for MSI status between matched FFPE and cfDNA samples with a wide range of tumor content. Conclusions Our evaluation indicates that we can accurately determine MSI status in cfDNA samples with a wide range of tumor content. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Illumina. Disclosure S. Zhang: Full / Part-time employment: Illumina. J.S. LoCoco: Full / Part-time employment: Illumina. A. Mentzer: Full / Part-time employment: Illumina. B.M. Crain: Full / Part-time employment: Illumina. S. Katz: Full / Part-time employment: Illumina. G. Berry: Full / Part-time employment: Illumina. Y. Fu: Full / Part-time employment: Illumina. T. Jiang: Full / Part-time employment: Illumina. C. Zhao: Full / Part-time employment: Illumina. S. Bilke: Full / Part-time employment: Illumina. T. Pawlowski: Full / Part-time employment: Illumina. K. Kruglyak: Full / Part-time employment: Illumina.
Integrating value-chain approach with participatory multi-criteria analysis for sustainable planning of a niche crop in Indian Himalayas

The value-chain approach (VCA) was used for exploring how a niche crop, namely large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.), can be developed sustainably to increase incomes and enhance rural livelihoods in the mountains. Large cardamom is a high-value, agro-climatically suitable, and non-perishable spice crop grown in the Himalayan region. Originating in Sikkim, the crop is important to the local economy and is sold in both domestic and international markets; however, its production in India has been declining significantly in recent years. Using VCA and participatory methods of data collection the study helped elicit value chain actors’ perspectives on various reasons for the decline as well as potential strategies to improve the cardamom value chain. The results present the multiple environmental and climatic (e.g. water stress), social (e.g. women participation) and institutional (e.g. lack of trust between actors) challenges and corresponding upgrading strategies. Through participatory multi-criteria analysis (MCA), the strategies were prioritized based on the overall preferences of multiple stakeholders. The analysis considered eight criteria and 25 options, or strategies, and found that that marketability and profitability were the most important criteria, and increasing cardamom production, the most important option trait. Stakeholder discussions along with sensitivity analysis also showed how these options could be implemented and revealed how criteria preferences can change with expert inputs. This combination of VCA and MCA, because it supports participatory decision-making and balances multiple dimensions of sustainable development, can be effectively deployed in planning for agricultural development in the mountains.
Polishing characteristics of Nd:YAG ceramics with various Nd-dopant concentrations

Abstract Neodymium-doped polycrystalline yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) ceramics require nanometer-scale surface roughness when used as laser gain media to minimize light scattering. Variations in grain size and crystallographic orientation can result in uneven material removal between grains and excessive material removal at the grain boundaries, hindering the smoothing of this material. The introduction of rare earth ion dopants, necessary for laser oscillation, can influence these parameters. This paper explores the effects of varying dopant concentration on grain structure and those effects on the polishing characteristics of polycrystalline Nd:YAG ceramics.
Simple Steps to Promote Classroom Engagement and Inclusion: A Report from the Field

Idescribe an effort to enhance student engagement and classroom inclusion in a sophomore Introduction to Modern Physics class, through the use of assigned student groups, cold-calling, and exposure to the work of female physicists of varied backgrounds. These approaches took minimal effort, appeared to have positive impacts, and had no discernible negative effects. They could readily be adapted to other physics classes at the college and high school levels. This work is not a research study and makes no generalizable claims. It reports on the experience of one instructor and the students, in one class at one institution, and may be of interest to others who are concerned with similar issues.
Persistent Disparities in Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake: Knowledge and Sociodemographic Determinants of Papanicolaou and Human Papillomavirus Testing Among Women in the United States.

ObjectivesCervical cancer is the second-most common type of cancer among women aged 15-44, and racial, ethnic, and economic disparities exist in survival rates despite widely available screening te...
Development of dispersible radioluminescent silicate nanoparticles through a sacrificial layer approach

Abstract X-rays offer low tissue attenuation with high penetration depth when used in medical applications and when coupled with radioluminescent nanoparticles, offer novel theranostic opportunities. In this role, the ideal scintillator requires a high degree of crystallinity for an application relevant radioluminescence, yet a key challenge is the irreversible aggregation of the particles at most crystallization temperatures. In this communication, a high temperature multi-composite reactor (HTMcR) process was successfully developed to recrystallize monodisperse scintillating particulates by employing a core-multishell architecture. The core–shell morphology of the particles consisted of a silica core over-coated with a rare earth (Re = Y 3 + , Lu 3 + , Ce3+) oxide shell. This core–shell assembly was then encapsulated within a poly(divinylbenzene) shell which was converted to glassy carbon during the annealing & crystallization of the silica/rare earth oxide core–shell particle. This glassy carbon acted as a delamination layer and prevented the irreversible aggregation of the particles during the high temperature crystallization step. A subsequent low temperature annealing step in an air environment removed the glassy carbon and resulted in radioluminescent nanoparticles. Two monodisperse nanoparticle systems were synthesized using the HTMcR process including cerium doped Y2Si2O7 and Lu2Si2O7 with radioluminescence peaks at 427 and 399 nm, respectively. These particles may be employed as an in vivo light source for a noninvasive X-ray excited optogenetics.
RODNet: A Real-Time Radar Object Detection Network Cross-Supervised by Camera-Radar Fused Object 3D Localization

Various autonomous or assisted driving strategies have been facilitated through the accurate and reliable perception of the environment around a vehicle. Among the commonly used sensors, radar has usually been considered as a robust and cost-effective solution even in adverse driving scenarios, e.g., weak/strong lighting or bad weather. Instead of considering fusing the unreliable information from all available sensors, perception from pure radar data becomes a valuable alternative that is worth exploring. In this paper, we propose a deep radar object detection network, named RODNet, which is cross-supervised by a camera-radar fused algorithm without laborious annotation efforts, to effectively detect objects from the radio frequency (RF) images in real-time. First, the raw signals captured by millimeter-wave radars are transformed to RF images in range-azimuth coordinates. Second, our proposed RODNet takes a snippet of RF images as the input to predict the likelihood of objects in the radar field of view (FoV). Two customized modules are also added to handle multi-chirp information and object relative motion. The proposed RODNet is cross-supervised by a novel 3D localization of detected objects using a camera-radar fusion (CRF) strategy in the training stage. Due to no existing public dataset available for our task, we create a new dataset, named CRUW, 1 1 The dataset and code are available at https://www.cruwdataset.org/ . which contains synchronized RGB and RF image sequences in various driving scenarios. With intensive experiments, our proposed cross-supervised RODNet achieves 86% average precision and 88% average recall of object detection performance, which shows the robustness in various driving conditions.
Spectrum of hematological malignancies, clonal evolution and outcomes in 144 Mayo Clinic patients with germline predisposition syndromes.

Germline predisposition syndromes (GPS) result from constitutional aberrations in tumor suppressive and homeostatic genes, increasing risk for neoplasia in affected kindred. In this study, we present clinical and genomic data on 144 Mayo Clinic patients with GPS; 59 evaluated prospectively using an algorithm-based diagnostic approach in the setting of a dedicated GPS/ inherited bone marrow failure syndrome (IBMFS) clinic. Seventy-two (50%) patients had IBMFS (telomere biology disorders-32,Fanconi anemia-18, Diamon Blackfan Anemia - 11, congenital neutropenia-5, Schwachman-Diamond Syndrome-5 and Bloom Syndrome-1), 27 (19%) had GPS with antecedent thrombocytopenia (RUNX1-FPD-15, ANKRD26-6, ETV6-2, GATA1-1, MPL-3), 28 (19%) had GPS without antecedent thrombocytopenia (GATA2 haploinsufficiency-16, DDX41-10, CBL-1 and CEBPA-1) and 17 (12%) had general cancer predisposition syndromes (ataxia telangiectasia-7, heterozygous ATM variants-3, CHEK2-2, TP53-2, CDK2NA-1, NF1-1 and Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome-1). Homozygous and heterozygous ATM pathogenic variants were exclusively associated with lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD), while DDX41 GPS was associated with LPD and myeloid neoplasms. The use of somatic NGS-testing identified clonal evolution in GPS patients, with ASXL1, RAS pathway genes, SRSF2 and TET2 being most frequently mutated. Fifty-two (91%) of 59 prospectively identified GPS patients had a change in their management approach, including additional GPS-related screening in 42 (71%), referral for allogenic HSCT workup and screening of related donors in 16 (27%), medication initiation and selection of specific conditioning regimens in 14 (24%), and genetic counseling with specific intent of fertility preservation and preconceptual counselling in 10 (17%) patients; highlighting the importance of dedicated GPS screening, detection and management programs for patients with hematological neoplasms. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
AAVE Features in the lyrics of Tupac Shakur: The notion of “Realness”

Tupac Shakur was an artist who worked in a range of verbal media and was fluent in registers tailored to communicating with vastly different audiences. Tupac was an amateur poet and platinum-sellin...
The estimation of solubility in binary solvents: application of the reduced 3-suffix solubility equation to ethanol-water mixtures.

The reduced 3-suffix solubility equation (R3SSE) is applied to the characterization of solubility in the ethanol–water system. The data needed are the solubility of the compound in each of the pure solvents and at one ethanol–water composition. This composition has been estimated from solubility data to be 0.56 volume fraction of ethanol. The solubility obtained at this volume fraction is used to estimate the ternary solute–solvent interaction constant, C 2. The R3SSE, with the C 2 thus obtained, predicts the mixed solvent solubilities of the compounds tested, as accurately as that obtained from several volume fractions. The superiority of the R3SSE over two related equations—a simple second-degree polynomial equation and a simplified form of the R3SSE which neglects contributions to solubility from the solvent mixture—is also demonstrated for a number of solutes.
The role of computer reservations systems: International implications for the travel industry

Abstract Computer reservations systems (CRS) have become critical instruments in the marketing and distribution of travel and tourism products and services. New systems have recently been developed in Western Europe, while the Asian and Pacific regions are in the process of establishing their own systems. This article reviews the importance of CRS with particular reference to the experience of the travel industry in the USA. Issues inherent in the application of the systems are discussed, and policy issues in response to the sophistication and global expansion of CRS are examined.
Insulin receptor function is inhibited by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]).

Abstract The regulatory role of GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) in insulin receptor function was investigated using isolated insulin receptors and plasma membranes from rat adipocytes. Treatment of isolated insulin receptors with 1 mM-guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) inhibited insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the beta-subunit, histone Hf2b and poly(GluNa4,Tyr1) by 22%, 65% and 65% respectively. Phosphorylation of calmodulin by the insulin receptor kinase was also inhibited by 1 mM-GTP[S] both in the absence (by 88%) and in the presence (by 81%) of insulin. In the absence of insulin, 1 mM-GTP had the same effect on calmodulin phosphorylation as 1 mM-GTP[S]. However, when insulin was present, GTP was less effective than GTP[S] (41% versus 81% inhibition). Concentrations of GTP[S] greater than 250 microM are necessary to inhibit phosphorylation. Although these concentrations are relatively high, the effect of GTP[S] is not due to competition with [32P]ATP for the insulin receptor kinase since (1) other nucleotide triphosphates did not inhibit phosphorylation as much as did GTP[S] (or GTP) and (2) the Vmax of the ATP-dependent kinase reaction was decreased in the presence of GTP[S]. GTP[S] (1 mM) also inhibited insulin binding to isolated receptors and plasma membranes, by 80% and 50% respectively. Finally, an antibody raised to a peptide sequence common to the alpha-subunits of G-proteins Gs, Gi, Go and transducin detected G-proteins in plasma membranes but failed to detect them in the insulin receptor preparation. These results indicate that GTP inhibits insulin receptor function, but does so through a mechanism that does not require a conventional GTP-binding protein.
Lessons from a student-led development project in Peru: Aligning technical and educational perspectives

With the growth of student interest in humanitarian engineering development projects, a critical assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of this type of work is crucial to success. While a number of models exist for joining development with technical expertise in humanitarian engineering projects, this paper focuses on the experiences of students working on a program in Peru within the Greater Austin Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB)-USA. This program is a unique EWB-USA program that builds on ongoing academic research in the Peruvian Andes at the University of Texas at Austin and regional efforts by The Mountain Institute to mitigate the effects of climate change on Peruvian communities that need technical solutions to water issues. We contrast the benefits and struggles of pursuing a student-led initiative with a regional scope. Specifically, this case study shares how the roles of partnerships between universities, private sector, government, and nongovernmental organizations create challenges and opportunities for a student-led humanitarian engineering program. The key challenges identified are (1) effectual use of U.S. team members, (2) building trust and open communication with in-country partners, and (3) understanding community dynamics and adapting projects to their local context. We present how development of a ‘non-traditional engineering classroom’ framework can serve as a proactive means for facilitating effective knowledge transfer, critical reflection, and service-learning to improve project outcomes.
Effects of Interagent Communications on the Collective

Based on a recently introduced networked multiagent game [2], we study how agent-agent communications across a complex social network can affect the evolution of the collective during multiple iterations of the game. We show that the information obtained from the social network local to the agent can override the global information source and thus completely change the evolution of the collective compared to the nonnetworked situation. In addition, we show that when trait diversity is low, namely when the agents' action space is severely limited, the overall stability of “leader agents” is improved.
Effect of BCG on delayed hypersensitivity responses of patients with neoplastic disease.

BCG is a potent immunologic stimulant which can increase cellular immune responses generally, as well as induce sensitivity to tuberculin. A single BCG vaccination induced significant increases in delayed hypersensitivity responses of patients whose neoplastic disease was under good control. Repeated vaccinations exerted cumulative effects, and very substantial increases in delayed skin test responses to a battery of antigens were seen in some groups of patients. The major determinant of responsiveness to these effects of BCG was the status of the neoplastic disease. Patients with uncontrolled, actively progressing disease showed little immunologic response to BCG vaccination.
Simulation of a Solar Pond Using Upward Flow Through the Storage Zone

This paper proposes a design modification that would reduce heat losses to the ground from the Storage Zone (SZ) of a solar pond, while increasing the rate of heat extraction. This modification would use a thermally stratified, opaque SZ, and would induce a slow, upward flow by decanting warmed water near the top of the SZ and then returning this water to the bottom of the SZ after removing some heat. This innovation would help sensible heating applications, especially heating water up from ambient temperature, but would not help latent heating applications such as electric power cycles. A computer simulation of this design predicts heat extraction rates 13-62 percent higher than in conventional ponds. Gains are greatest if the return flow at the bottom of the SZ is near the ambient temperature, if the peak temperature of the heat extracted is high, or if water clarity in the upper pond layers is poor.
Occlusal Wear in Prosthodontics

In this study, the rates of wear of combinations of gold alloy, acrylic resin, porcelain, and enamel were analyzed, and combinations of materials that should be used to restore occluding surfaces were tried. An abrading apparatus, which functioned similarly to the stomatognathic system, was especially designed for testing the materials. Wear rates were classified as low; higher; and highest. Wear rates have a direct influence on which combinations of materials should be used in construction of occluding surfaces.
A rapid field method for extracting the magnetic fraction from stream sediments

Abstract Magnetic fraction concentrates for geochemical analysis can be obtained with an automagnet directly from wet stream sediments, without prior concentration by panning.
Central Nervous System Effects of HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitors: Lovastatin and Pravastatin on Sleep and Cognitive Performance in Patients with Hypercholesterolemia

Sleep disturbances and decrements of daytime performance have been attributed to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. As a rule, lipophilic compounds more readily cross the blood-brain barrier and are more likely to affect central nervous system function. The authors compared the effects of lovastatin (40 mg), a lipophilic compound, to pravastatin (40 mg), a hydrophilic compound, in a 6-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, three-way Latin square design, cross-over study on 22 men with hypercholesterolemia. Patients had LDL cholesterol of more than 165 mg/dL and triglyceride of less than 350 mg/dL after 6 weeks of a low-fat (< 30%), low-cholesterol (< 300 mg/day) diet. Compared with placebo, there were no significant effects of lovastatin or pravastatin on the following subjective and polysomnographic sleep measures: changes in total sleep time, time in each sleep stage, sleep efficiency, sleep latency, REM density, REM activity, and number of arousals. Similarly, there were no effects of the two drugs on measures of cognitive performance. A significant increase in the duration of nocturnal tumescence (NPT) was observed after 2 weeks of treatment with both study drugs. This effect was not significant after 6 weeks of treatment. Both lovastatin and pravastatin caused significant (P < .05 compared with placebo) decreases in total cholesterol (by 20.9 and 20.6%, respectively), LDL cholesterol (by 27.8 and 29.9%), and triglycerides (by 13.6 and 3.7%). Subjects' HDL increased by 2.3% with lovastatin (NS) and by 3.1% with pravastatin (P < .05). Lipoprotein(a) increased by 20.5% with lovastatin and by 1.1% with pravastatin; these changes were not significantly different from placebo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Molecular recognition in signal transduction: the interaction surfaces of the Spo0F response regulator with its cognate phosphorelay proteins revealed by alanine scanning mutagenesis.

The phosphorelay, a signal transduction pathway composed of two-component regulatory proteins, mediates the initiation of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. Environmental and physiological signals activate the autophosphorylation of histidine kinases, KinA and KinB, which transfer the phosphoryl group to Spo0F, a single domain homolog of the two-component response regulator. Phosphorylated Spo0F passes the phosphate to the final transcriptional regulator, Spo0A, through a phosphotransferase, Spo0B. Spo0F shares significant homology with other members of the response regulator family. It displays a (beta/alpha)5-barrel scaffold with the active site situated at the carboxyl end of the beta strands. The molecular recognition of Spo0F with its cognate proteins was investigated using a comprehensive strategy termed alanine-scanning mutagenesis. Of the total 124 residues, 79 in the region of helices and loops were individually changed to alanine using site-directed mutagenesis. The mutants with notable in vivo sporulation phenotypes were further examined in vitro to identify the corresponding effect in each protein-protein interaction. This study revealed that most, if not all, protein-protein interactions involve the residues in the vicinity of the active site. The surface-exposed residues critical for the interactions with KinA or Spo0B were identified. Surprisingly, although these interaction proteins are very different, they recognize subsets of residues comprising a common surface of Spo0F.
A brief note on the variability of the torsional strength of paired bones

Abstract The distribution of the per cent side-to-side differences of the torsional strengths of three groups of paired animal bones was compared. These distributions were centered about 0 per cent side-to-side difference, indicating no left-right bias in the torsional strengths. The scatter in the per cent side-to-side differences can be characterized by a standard deviation of about 0·093, with all three distributions showing similar standard deviations.
Insulin Inhibits Cardiac Mesoderm, Not Mesendoderm, Formation During Cardiac Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells and Modulation of Canonical Wnt Signaling Can Rescue This Inhibition

The study of the regulatory signaling hierarchies of human heart development is limited by a lack of model systems that can reproduce the precise developmental events that occur during human embryogenesis. The advent of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technology and robust cardiac differentiation methods affords a unique opportunity to monitor the full course of cardiac induction in vitro. Here, we show that stage-specific activation of insulin signaling strongly inhibited cardiac differentiation during a monolayer-based differentiation protocol that used transforming growth factor β superfamily ligands to generate cardiomyocytes. However, insulin did not repress cardiomyocyte differentiation in a defined protocol that used small molecule regulators of canonical Wnt signaling. By examining the context of insulin inhibition of cardiomyocyte differentiation, we determined that the inhibitory effects by insulin required Wnt/β-catenin signaling and that the cardiomyocyte differentiation defect resulting from insulin exposure was rescued by inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin during the cardiac mesoderm (Nkx2.5+) stage. Thus, insulin and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, as a network, coordinate to influence hPSC differentiation to cardiomyocytes, with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway dominant to the insulin pathway. Our study contributes to the understanding of the regulatory hierarchies of human cardiomyocyte differentiation and has implications for modeling human heart development.
Circadian regulation of retinomotor movements: II. The role of gaba in the regulation of cone position

Cone photoreceptor movements in lower vertebrates are regulated by the interaction of the light-dark cycle and an endogenous circadian clock. We have suggested that melatonin and dopamine interact to regulate dark- and light-adaptive movements, respectively, and that melatonin affects cones indirectly by inhibiting dopamine release. In fact, any factor modulating dopaminergic neurons in the retina may have effects on either cone elongation or contraction. We have utilized an in vitro eyecup preparation from the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, to evaluate a possible role of the neurotransmitter GABA, which is thought to tonically suppress dopamine release. GABA agonists mimic the effects of darkness and induce cone elongation; the effects of GABA agonists are blocked by dopamine. Muscimol-induced cone elongation occurs at low light intensity but is inhibited by bright light in eyecups prepared from cyclic-light-maintained animals. Although neither melatonin nor muscimol stimulates cone elongation in bright light, simultaneous application of both drugs induces elongation. The GABA antagonist picrotoxin induces cone contraction which is blocked by the dopamine receptor antagonist spiroperidol, which suggests that GABA may affect cone movement in Xenopus by regulating dopamine neurons. Consistent with this, picrotoxin-induced cone contraction is Ca+2 dependent and is blocked by high Mg+2 or the Ca+2 antagonist nifedipine. Pharmacological analysis suggests that the effects of GABA may result from its action at more than one receptor subtype. Our results support the hypothesis that dopamine is part of the light signal for cone contraction and that its suppression is part of the signal for cone elongation.
A magic bullet to specifically eliminate mutated mitochondrial genomes from patients' cells

When mitochondrial diseases result from mutations found in the mitochondrial DNA, engineered mitochondrial-targeted nucleases such as mitochondrial-targeted zinc finger nucleases are shown to specifically eliminate the mutated molecules, leaving the wild-type mitochondrial DNA intact to replicate and restore normal copy number. In this issue, Gammage and colleagues successfully apply this improved technology on patients' cells with two types of genetic alterations responsible for neuropathy ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa (NARP) syndrome and Kearns Sayre syndrome and progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO).
Maternal-infant interactions at one-year adjusted age in infants at low- and high-risk as newborns

Abstract To compare maternal-infant interactions in high- and low-risk groups, we observed infants who had required neonatal intensive care and otherwise similar infants with normal perinatal histories in a follow-up clinic at one year adjusted age. The developmental level as assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development was significantly lower for the high-risk infants than for the control infants at one year of age. Principal component analyses were used to define interaction patterns in each of five situations. Principal component analyses allow a more meaningful analysis of interrelated maternal and infant behaviors than do standard statistical analyses and minimize the likelihood of misleading ‘significance’ findings resulting from multiple comparisons. Prior to being examined, mothers of control infants were more likely to adopt an ‘en face’ position, play with, comfort, talk to, and smile at their infants than were mothers of high-risk infants. Control infants were more likely to smile in return. These differences between control and high-risk mother-infant dyads disappeared when the infants' developmental level was statistically controlled. Group differences in maternal-infant interactions independent of the infants' developmental level were observed in only one situation (collection of blood). Specific medical risk factors had little relation to findings at one year. Maternal-infant interaction should be interpreted in relation to the postconceptional and developmental age as well as the postnatal age of the infant.
Translating Self-Determination Concepts into Support for Adults with Severe Disabilities

Enhancing self-determination is an ongoing process that involves the development of skills, interaction with the environment, and the support of others. In this report we translate the concepts of ...
Low-resistance submicrometer contacts to silicon

The fabrication of submicrometer contacts of Al, PtSi, TiN, and CVD W to both arsenic- and boron-doped junctions using e-beam lithography and photolithography in a mix-and-match mode is described. The contact resistances obtained indicate that this will not be a major barrier for future ULSI scaling. The measured resistance values are compared to those obtained using a 2-D model and the discrepancies are discussed. A generalized scaling law for electromigration at contacts is also developed by taking into account the current distribution in the contact area. >
Assessing It/Business Alignment

Abstract Alignment is the perennial business chart-topper on top-ten lists of IT issues. What follows is a methodology developed by the author for assessing a company's alignment. Modeled after the Capability Maturity Model ® developed by Carnegie Mellon's Software Engineering Institute, but focused on a more strategic set of business practices, this tool has been successfully tested at more than 50 Global 2000 companies and is currently the subject of a benchmarking study sponsored by the Society for Information Management and the Conference Board. the primary objective of the assessment is to identify specific recommendations for improving the alignment of IT and the business.
Supporting role of vasodilators in inducing regressions of the Ehrlich solid tumor.

Summary1. When mice bearing established, solid Ehrlich carcinomas were treated with pentaerythritol tetranitrate, there was an increase in the localization of Evans blue dye in the tumors. Epinephrine caused a decrease in the dye recovered from the tumors. 2. When mice bearing solid Ehrlich tumors were treated with pentaerythritol tetranitrate, heterologous antitumor serum (adsorbed) and normal guinea pig serum, 60% of the tumors regressed if treatment was continued for 5 weeks or longer. The administration of guinea pig serum may have been unnecessary.
A Bayesian Model for Detecting Acute Change in Nonlinear Profiles

We propose a model for longitudinal data with random effects that includes model-based smoothing of measurements over time. This research is motivated by experiments evaluating the hemodynamic effects of various agents in tumor-bearing rats. In one set of experiments, the rats breathed room air, followed by carbogen (a mixture of pure oxygen and carbon dioxide). The experimental responses are longitudinal measurements of oxygen pressure measured in tissue, tumor blood flow, and mean arterial pressure. The nature of the recorded responses does not allow any meaningful parametric form to model these profiles over time. Additionally, response patterns differ widely across individuals. Therefore, we propose a nonparametric regression to model the profile data over time. We propose a dynamic state-space model to smooth the data at the profile level. Using the state parameters, we formally define “change” in the measured responses. A hierarchical extension allows inference to include a regression on covariates....
Frequency Response of Finite Aperture Sample-and-Hold Systems

Sampling systems frequently store the collected samples in the form of a series of numbers in the memory of a digital computer. Ideally, the stored number represents the magnitude of the sampled function at one instant of time. Practically, the stored number is the result of some weighted averaging of the sampled function during a finite time interval. As this acquisition time interval becomes a significant fraction of the sample period, the averaging process degrades the sample-system frequency response. The procedure is reviewed whereby one calculates the frequency response for the class of systems that are linear and time-varying or constant during the acquisition interval. The transfer function is calculated for a sampler that first acts as an RC integrator during the acquisition time, then transfers the accumulated charge to some holding circuit (for A-D conversion), and finally begins to acquire the next sample. Tradeoffs between overshoot and rise time in the design of the system transfer function are shown along with an example of how one can arrive at the desired transfer function by convolution of the samples with a proper waveform.
Analysis of the frequencies of HLA-A, B, and C alleles and haplotypes in the five major ethnic groups of the United States reveals high levels of diversity in these loci and contrasting distribution patterns in these populations.

The HLA system is the most polymorphic of all human genetic systems. The frequency of HLA class I alleles and their linkage disequilibrium patterns differ significantly among human populations as shown in studies using serologic methods. Many DNA-defined alleles with identical serotypes may have variable frequencies in different populations. We typed HLA-A, B, and C loci at the allele level by PCR-based methods in 1,296 unrelated subjects from five major outbred groups living in the U.S.A (African, AFAM; Caucasians, CAU; Asian, ORI; Hispanic, HIS, and North American Natives, NAI). We detected 46, 100 and 32 HLA-A, B, and C alleles, respectively. ORI and HIS presented more alleles at each of these loci. There was lack of correlation between the levels of heterozygosity and the number of alleles detected in each population. In AFAM, heterozygosity (>90%) is maximized at all class I loci. HLA-A had the lowest heterozygosity in all populations but CAU. Tight LD was observed between HLA-B and C alleles. AFAM had weaker or nonexistent associations between alleles of HLA-A and B than other populations. Analysis of the genetic distances between these and other populations showed a close relationship between specific US populations and a population from their original continents. ORI exhibited the largest genetic distance with all the other U.S. groups and were closer to NAI. Evidence of admixture with CAU was observed for AFAM and HIS. HIS also had significant frequencies of AFAM and Mexican Indian alleles. Differences in both LD and heterozygosity levels suggest distinct evolutionary histories of the HLA loci in the geographical regions from where the U.S. populations originated.
Epitope mapping of the anti-human progesterone receptor monoclonal antibody, AB-52.

Abstract The monoclonal antibody AB-52 has high affinity and specificity for the two natural human progesterone receptor forms, receptor A (hPR A ) and receptor B (hPR B ), but it does not bind the PR of chick, mice, rats or rabbits. We have used a novel method to map its epitode. Based on a series of site-directed mutants of hPR A , together with immunoblotting, DNA gel mobility shift and antibody super shift assays, we have mapped the epitope of AB-52 to a 17 amino acid sequence lying between Val 221 and Leu 237 of the 933 amino acid hPR B protein. This N-terminal sequence is common to both hPR B and hPR A but is missing in chick PR and differs extensively from mouse PR. No anti-rabbit PR antibodies map to the homologous rabbit PR sequence which differs from hPR by four amino acids, suggesting that one or more of these four amino acids form a critical subset of residues in hPR that define the human specificity of AB-52. Knowledge of the AB-52 epitope is useful in structural analyses of PR, and in competition studies. Additionally, this 17 amino acid peptide whose antigenicity would not be predicted from computer analysis, should be useful for generating additional hPR specific antibodies.
Seventeenth-Century Technical and Persuasive Communication A Case Study of Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc's Work on a Method of Determining Terrestrial Longitude

Finding a method to determine terrestrial longitude was critical in the early seventeenth century as countries attempted to establish territorial boundaries. The magistrate and natural philosopher Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc (1580-1637) spent much of his life working on a solution to this problem. As an early technical communicator, he was concerned with the criteria of acceptable observations, the standardization of materials and methods, and the communication of results. He refined a variety of strategies to obtain these observations and ensure their accuracy. He persuaded missionary priests to make observations throughout the Levant by promising patronage and gifts or stressing practical applications in the solution to the problem of longitude and church calendar reform. Although Peiresc did not resolve the issue of determining longitude, his efforts did provide the basis for work by later astronomers.
Coaching for results

Purpose – This paper aims to help coaches better understand their approach to coaching and to help those being coached to have a sense of options in selecting a coach. And, to overview the field of coaching and offer a typology of approaches.Design/methodology/approach – This paper lays out the purposes of coaching, then review two models or approaches to coaching: behavior vs. results. Then goes through the steps for doing each.Findings – This study finds that there are two ways to approach coaching, each with pros and cons and a clear methodology.Research implications – We could study these two approaches.Practical implications – We could help coaches do their work better and help those selecting coaches make more informed decisions.Originality/value – No one has contrasted these two approaches to coaching and laid out the methodologies for doing each approach. This should help coaching move to a more rigorous definition of models and approaches.