cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prostaglandin-Associated Periorbitopathy in Children and Young Adults with Glaucoma

Objective To evaluate for relative palpebral and orbital changes after long-term unilateral exposure to prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) in patients with childhood glaucoma. Design Prospective cross-sectional cohort study. Participants A total of 29 patients with history of childhood glaucoma, who were treated unilaterally with PGAs for at least 12 months. Methods Based on 4 standardized clinical photographs (en face with eyes open, right and left side views with eyes open, and en face with eyes closed), 3 masked expert graders each independently selected the eye they perceived to have received unilateral PGA treatment by physical appearance alone and graded the following features relative to the other eye: (1) ocular (e.g., conjunctival hyperemia, iris heterochromia, and buphthalmos), (2) palpebral (e.g., eyelash trichomegaly, eyelash hypertrichosis, eyelid erythema, eyelid edema, eyelid hyperpigmentation, high upper eyelid crease, upper eyelid ptosis, upper and/or lower eyelid retraction, and eyelid skin atrophy with presence of telangiectasias), and (3) periorbital (e.g., superior sulcus hollowing, proptosis, enophthalmos, hypoglobus, and hyperglobus). An interrater reliability analysis was performed using the Fleiss kappa (κ) statistic to determine consistency among raters. Main Outcome Measures Frequencies of each feature of prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy (PAP); group consensus; interrater reliability of selected PGA-treatment laterality. Results Median unilateral PGA exposure time was 31.7 months (interquartile range: 18.8–44.3 months). Eyelash trichomegaly and hypertrichosis (n = 22, 76%), high upper eyelid crease (n = 20, 69%), upper eyelid ptosis (n = 14, 52%), and superior sulcus hollowing (n = 15, 52%) were the most frequently observed features of PAP in PGA-treated eyes compared with untreated fellow eyes. Most of these changes were mild, but 20% to 30% of patients exhibited moderate eyelash and/or eyelid changes. One patient had severe PAP after long-term unilateral PGA exposure. Group consensus with correctly selected laterality was achieved in all patients. The inter-rater reliability was excellent (κ = 0.815, P Conclusions Mild-to-moderate changes in the ocular adnexa can develop in children and young adults with long-term PGA exposure. Patients and their families should be educated on the possibility of PAP, especially when initiating monocular PGA therapy.
Survival outcomes in sinonasal carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation: A NCDB analysis.

Abstract Background Sinonasal carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation (SCND) is a rare group of tumors with poor prognosis. Treatment and sequence of therapies are still unclear. The goal of this study is to analyze treatment outcomes in SCND using a national database. Methods The National Cancer Database was queried for SCND from 2004 to 2014. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics and treatment paradigms were tabulated. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was performed for statistical analysis of treatment regimen on overall survival (OS). Results A total of 415 patients were identified. Most patients were male (61.2%), with a median age of 58 years and the most common primary site was the nasal cavity (52.5%). T4 tumors were observed in 67.7% of cases. Unimodality (41.9%) and bimodality (43.9%) therapies were the most common treatment modalities. Radiation therapy was the only treatment administered in 30% of the patients, while 27.2% received definitive chemoradiation (CRT) and 11.6% had surgery with adjuvant CRT. In our Cox-PH model, age (HR = 1.04, p Conclusion SCND appears to be best treated using a multimodality approach with definitive CRT or surgery followed by CRT. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy could be helpful in selecting the best treatment strategy.
To POS Tag or Not to POS Tag: The Impact of POS Tags on Morphological Learning in Low-Resource Settings

Part-of-Speech (POS) tags are routinely included as features in many NLP tasks. However, the importance and usefulness of POS tags needs to be examined as NLP expands to low-resource languages because linguists who provide many annotated resources do not place priority on early identification and tagging of POS. This paper describes an empirical study about the effect that POS tags have on two computational morphological tasks with the Transformer architecture. Each task is tested twice on identical data except for the presence/absence of POS tags, using published data in ten high- to low-resource languages or unpublished linguistic field data in five low-resource languages. We find that the presence or absence of POS tags does not have a significant bearing on performance. In joint segmentation and glossing, the largest average difference is an .09 improvement in F1-scores by removing POS tags. In reinflection, the greatest average difference is 1.2% in accuracy for published data and 5% for unpublished and noisy field data.
Vascular Sarcomas

Vascular sarcomas are soft-tissue tumors that arise from the endothelium with a malignant potential. This review discusses the management of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) and angiosarcoma. EHE is a vascular tumor of intermediate malignant potential with an indolent course. EHE arising from the liver, lung, or bone tends to be multifocal and the rate of progression is slow and often unpredictable. Treatment should be considered in patients with significant symptomatic deterioration and/or progressive disease on imaging studies. Various cytotoxic and targeted therapies are available for management, with disease stabilization as the most common outcome. Angiosarcoma is an aggressive vascular tumor with a high malignant potential. Multidisciplinary care is critical for the management of localized disease, and the best outcomes are often observed in patients when a combination of systemic and local therapy options is used. Metastatic angiosarcoma is treated primarily with systemic therapy, and several cytotoxic and targeted therapies are available, alone or in combination. The choice of therapy depends on several factors, such as cutaneous location of the tumor, performance status of the patient, toxicity of the treatment, and patient goals.
Proportion of calves and adult muskoxen, Ovibos moschatus killed by gray wolves, Canis lupus, in July on Ellesmere Island

Generally Gray Wolves ( Canis lupus L., 1758) tend to focus predation on young-of-the-year ungulates during summer, and I hypothesized that wolves preying on Muskoxen ( Ovibos moschatus Zimmerman, 1780) in summer would follow that trend. Over 23 July periods observing wolves on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada, I found that packs of 2-12 adult wolves killed seven calves, one yearling, and five adult muskoxen at distances of 2.9 to 32 km from their current dens and pups. Given a possible bias against finding calves because of their fewer remains, these results do not necessarily refute the hypothesis, but they do make it clear that adult muskoxen form an important part of the wolves' diet in July and thus possibly at other times during summer.
Molecular Features and Basic Understanding of Protein-Carbohydrate Interactions: The Arabinose-Binding Protein-Sugar Complex

Protein-carbohydrate interactions play an important role in a wide range of biological and biochemical processes. The carbohydrate-binding proteins and enzymes that have been extensively studied show wide diversity in size, subunit composition and three-dimensional structure (Quiocho 1986). Moreover, there is variation in the nature of the carbohydrate ligands, which range from simple monosaccharides to polysaccharides, either free, such as glycogen and starch, or conjugated polymers such as glycoproteins and glycolipids. Despite this diversity and variability the molecular basis of the mode of binding of sugar substrates shows common features (Quiocho 1986).
Bipedal motion estimation with the human odometer

The problem of human localization presents unique challenges, particularly in areas where GPS satellite signals may be blocked for a significant period of time. A new approach to localization based on a physical model of human motion is presented. Data is taken from inertial measurement units on the limbs, and gait analysis is used to detect and measure different modes of human motion from this data. This approach produces an accurate form of dead reckoning that is less prone to drift than current inertial navigation systems and more adaptable then current pedometry systems.
A Rapid Method to Predict the Effectiveness of Inhibited Engine Coolants in Aluminum Heat Exchangers

The galvanostatic polarization method was used to determine the pitting potentials of candidate wrought aluminum alloys in inhibited ethylene glycol engine coolants. It was shown that the relative value of the pitting potential is an excellent measure of the long-term effectiveness of the coolants in preventing spontaneous pitting and crevice attack in the aluminum heat exchangers. The long-term effectiveness was determined by metallographic examination of aluminum heat exchangers subjected to a four-month, 50,000 mile simulated service circulation test.
Control and synchronization of distributed controllers in modular converters

In order to synchronize the distributed control systems (DCS) in modular converters such as Advanced Modular Multi-level Converters (AMMC) and Modular Transformer Converter (MTC) to the supervisory controller, a network layer must be established, and appropriate control architecture must be designed. In this paper, different control architectures for DCS with application in AMMC and MTC including series (daisy chain), parallel, and parallel-daisy (using both serial and parallel setup) are explored. There are practical issues in synchronization of modules in modular converters that have been addressed by and given solution to in the paper. The laboratory experimental test beds for MTC and AMMC configurations with distributed control systems (series (daisy chain), and parallel) architectures are implemented and experimental results are presented to validate the distributed control configurations.
Beware: Boundary Crossings

This essay addresses the tools by which international lawyers engage in interpretative “boundary crossings” across distinct international regimes, such as those involving trade, investment, and human rights. It distinguishes the traditional tools of treaty interpretation, such as those licensed by the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCT), that encourage interactions between trade and international investment law (such as the VCT’s Art. 31(3)(c), from some more innovative interpretations now proposed by self-identified “public law” scholars. Drawing on examples of boundary crossings pursued recently by investor-state arbitrators and the International Law Commission, it warns against interpretative boundary crossings that go against the object and purpose, remedies or organizational structures of the underlying regimes. It argues that such interpretative linkages, however well-meaning, may not be as “progressive” as anticipated.
The development of computer oriented small businesses in a university sponsored incubator: an overview and case study

GENESIS is a business incubator program of the University of Arkansas with an ultimate mission of providing jobs for the citizens of Arkansas. Funded by the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority (ASTA), this program provides business and technical assistance for technology based start-up companies. Energy Techniques, Inc., is one of the three original companies in the program. Using custom software and commercially available equipment, Energy Techniques provides systems for centralized energy management of dispersed buildings. Structured University support is provided through such agencies as the Entrepreneurial Services Center and the Center for Technology Transfer. Specialized expertise is made available through consulting arrangements with the University teaching and research staff. Both opportunities and potential problems for a university hosted incubator are noted.
Coarse-Grained Representations of Large Biomolecular Complexes from Low-Resolution Structural Data.

High-resolution atomistic structures of many large biomolecular complexes have not yet been solved by experiments, such as X-ray crystallography or NMR. Often however low-resolution information is obtained by alternative techniques, such as cryo-electron microscopy or small-angle X-ray scattering. Coarse-grained (CG) models are an appropriate choice to computationally study these complexes given the limited resolution experimental data. One of the important questions therefore is how to define CG representations from these low-resolution density maps. This work provides a space-based essential dynamics coarse-graining (ED-CG) method to define a CG representation from a density map without detailed knowledge of its underlying atomistic structure and primary sequence information. This method is demonstrated on G-actin (both the atomic structure and its density map). It is then applied to the density maps of the Escherichia coli 70S ribosome and the microtubule. The results indicate that the method can defin...
Threshold for dissipative fission.

The empirical domain of validity of statistical theory is examined as applied to fission data on pre-fission data on pre-fission neutron, charged particle, and {gamma}-ray multiplicities. Systematics are found of the threshold excitation energy for the appearance of nonstatistical fission. From the data on systems with not too high fissility, the relevant phenomenological parameter is the ratio of the threshold temperature T{sub thresh} to the (temperature-dependent) fission barrier height E{sub Bar}(T). The statistical model reproduces the data for T{sub thresh}/E{sub Bar}(T) < 0.26 {plus_minus} 0.05, but underpredicts the multiplicities at higher T{sub thresh}/E{sub Bar}(T) independent of mass and fissility of the systems.
Intramolecular energy-transfer in a europium(III) chelate with salicylidene-valinate schiff base

An intense fluorescence,5D→7F, of the europium(III) ion was observed at room temperature in DMSO and DMF solutions of the europium(III) chelate with salicylidene-valinate Schiff base, as a result of an intramolecular energy-transfer from the ligand to the metal ion. The metal chelate has been characterized and appears to possess an octahedral configuration. These results offer an interesting opportunity to probe the active sites of pyridoxal enzymes.
Effects of composition and polymerization conditions on crosslinked polymer supports based on N‐acrylyl pyrrolidine and N,N‐dimethyl acrylamide for peptide synthesis

Poly(N-acrylyl pyrrolidine-co-N,N′-bis(acrylyl) 1,2-diaminoethane-co-N-Acrylyl 1,6-diamino hexane HCl) with 2,5,8,11,12,15, and 20% degrees of crosslinking (DC) and poly-(N,N′-dimethylacrylaminde-co-N,N′-bis(acrylyl) 1,2-diaminoethane-co-N-acrylyl 1,6-diamino hexane HCl) with 2,5,10, and 15% DC have been synthesized in an entirely beaded form by reverse-phase suspension polymerization. The monomer-to-water ratio was kept constant for all these polymers. With the exception of 2% crosslinked resins in the PAP and PDMA groups, all the resins exhibited favorable swelling properties in solvents normally used for peptide synthesis and the percent incorporation of the first amino acid residue was close to 100 for DC of up to 20%. This is explained as due to the flexible and polar characteristics of the crosslinking agent, N,N′-bis(acrylyl) 1,2-diaminoethane. Between 5 and 20% DC the degree of swelling of the resins changes only slightly with increasing DC. This effect of DC on the swelling and percent incorporation of the first amino acid residue is more favorable for peptide synthesis than in the case of divinyl benzene crosslinked poly(styrene).
Laiks, telpa, vadonis: Autoritārisma kultūra Latvijā, 1934–1940 Hanovs, Deniss & Teraudkalns, Valdis

Latvian publisher Zinātne's recent book by Deniss Hanovs and Valdis Tēraudkalns is undoubtedly a controversial effort in terms of both the subject matter and its handling. It touches a very sensiti...
Foot-and-mouth disease virus in semen of bulls and its transmission by artificial insemination.

Semen from 16 bulls experimentally infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) was examined for virus content and its ability to produce FMD in heifers by artificial insemination.
Glutathione production is regulated via distinct pathways in stressed and non-stressed cortical neurons

Peroxynitrite-mediated damage has been linked to numerous neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, including stroke, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. Studies on the toxic effects of peroxynitrite in neurons have focused primarily on adverse effects resulting from the nitration of cellular proteins as the principal mode of toxicity while the consequences of the modulation of kinase pathways by peroxynitrite have received relatively less attention. Our results show that treatment of primary rat neurons with the peroxynitrite donor, SIN-1, leads to decreases in glutathione (GSH) levels and cell viability via a novel extracellular-signal-related kinase (ERK)/c-Myc phosphorylation pathway and a reduction in the nuclear expression of NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) that down-regulate the expression of glutamate cysteine ligase, the rate limiting enzyme for GSH synthesis. The flavonoid fisetin protects against the SIN-1-mediated alterations in ERK/c-Myc phosphorylation, nuclear Nrf2 levels, glutamate cysteine ligase levels, GSH concentration and cell viability. We also show that inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase or Raf kinase can increase GSH levels in unstressed primary rat neurons through the same ERK/c-Myc phosphorylation pathway. Together, these results demonstrate that distinct signaling pathways modulate GSH metabolism in unstressed and stressed cortical neurons.
The Bering Sea—A dynamic food web perspective

The Bering Sea is a high-latitude, semi-enclosed sea that supports extensive fish, seabird, marine mammal, and invertebrate populations and some of the world's most productive fisheries. The region consists of several distinct biomes that have undergone wide-scale population variation, in part due to fisheries, but also in part due to the effects of interannual and decadal-scale climatic variation. While recent decades of ocean observation have highlighted possible links between climate and species fluctuations, mechanisms linking climate and population fluctuations are only beginning to be understood. Here, we examine the food webs of Bering Sea ecosystems with particular reference to some key shifts in widely distributed, abundant fish populations and their links with climate variation. Both climate variability and fisheries have substantially altered the Bering Sea ecosystem in the past, but their relative importance in shaping the current ecosystem state remains uncertain.
"You Need a Makeover!": The Social Construction of Female Body Image in "A Makeover Story", W"hat Not to Wear", and "Extreme Makeover"

This article discusses the cultural ideology that permeates our society surrounding female body image by focusing specifically on socially constructed ideals of beauty and identity as they are represented in media texts—those of the makeover programs, A Makeover Story, What Not to Wear, and Extreme Makeover. For this study, we conducted textual analyses of selected episodes of each of these programs to examine the ideological impact of patriarchy, particularly as it relates to female body image.
Surgical management of laryngotracheal and esophageal involvement by locally advanced thyroid cancer

Well-differentiated thyroid cancer usually progresses slowly and rarely invades other tissues. However, the rare cases with invasion of local structures, such as the larynx, trachea, or esophagus, present particular management difficulties. In situations with limited involvement of the larynx or trachea, there is controversy over whether a “shave excision” that may leave microscopic disease at the site, or a complete resection that includes removal of a portion of these structures is the better approach. In the case of more extensive involvement of upper aerodigestive tract structures by thyroid carcinomas, the most appropriate method of resection and reconstruction is also at issue. We discuss the literature pertaining to the surgical management of laryngotracheal and esophageal invasion by thyroid carcinoma, review the incidence and presentation of this disease, and make recommendations based on our own experience. Semin. Surg. Oncol. 16:19–29, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Physiological Evaluations of Recent Drought-Tolerant Maize Hybrids at Varying Stress Levels

Maize (Zea mays L.) improvement in drought-stress tolerance poses a great challenge as the global need for food, feed, fiber, and fuel increases. Seed companies are developing and promoting drought-tolerant hybrids, but their physiological drought-tolerance mechanisms are not well understood. The research objective was to investigate the plant traits related to yield improvement for similar maturity hybrids classified as either drought-tolerant (non-transgenic) or conventional at varying plant density (PD) (two levels) and N rates (four levels) over 2 site-years in northwestern Indiana. Physiological measurements included photosynthesis (A), transpiration (E), and leaf area index at multiple growth stages, as well as anthesis-silking interval, potential kernel number, grain yield (GY) and its components. Intensive heat and drought stress occurred in the 30-d period before and during flowering in 2012, but not in 2011. Overall, similar maturity drought- and non-drought-tolerant hybrids did not markedly differ in GY or most other traits, and hybrid responses to varying PD and N rates were similar. In both seasons, GY was impacted most by N rates. A complex N rate effect on A and E was tightly related to water supply (i.e., higher N had positive impact under non-drought conditions). Hybrid differences in A and E were not significant at the leaf-scale, but one drought-tolerant hybrid had lower estimated cumulative A and E at the season-long canopy scale. Under the non-drought and specific-drought conditions in these single-location trials there was no indication that designated drought-tolerant hybrids were more tolerant to high crowding intensity and/or low N stresses.
Caveolin‐Enriched Membrane Signaling Complexes in Human and Murine Osteoblasts

Osteoblasts receive regulatory signals from hormones, growth factors, calcium, extracellular matrix, and other cells through a variety of receptors that utilize an array of signaling pathways and cytoplasmic messengers. This article addresses the nonuniform distribution of important signaling molecules (platelet-derived growth factor receptors [PDGFRs], nonreceptor tyrosine kinases, tyrosine kinase adaptor proteins, G proteins, and nitric oxide synthases [NOSs]) in the surface membranes of human and murine osteoblasts. We show that particular inner leaflet signaling molecules (e.g., heterotrimeric G proteins and Src family tyrosine kinases) are clustered and concentrated in Triton X-100-insoluble membranes that are enriched in caveolin, the major structural component of caveolae (50- to 100-nm flask-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane that apparently are organized by oligomers of the protein caveolin). In addition, we show that a subset of highly ligand-responsive PDGFRs and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway effectors are present in the caveolin-enriched membrane fraction of osteoblasts.
Synovial plicae of the knee

This report describes the anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical, and radiographic findings, and treatment of the synovial plicae of the knee joint. The suprapatellar plica is a synovial fold present in the suprapatellar pouch of the knee joint in approximately 20% of the population. This fold may become symptomatic after injury and cause symptoms similar to other common internal derangements of the knee. Double contrast arthrography of the knee can be used to identify the presence of plicae. Although arthrography can identify the presence of a plica, its clinical significance requires close correlation with symptoms and an accurate clinical examination.
Online Course Reserves and Graduate Student Satisfaction

This study assesses student satisfaction with online course reserves in a graduate environment. Surveys indicated that students prefer online course reserves over in-library print course reserves. Pre-printed course readers are preferred when the purchase price of the reader is less than the cost of printing online reserves. Graduate students are eager and technically ready for online course reserves, but their format preferences are significantly affected by cost.
The rotation-torsion contour of the 2668 Å origin band of toluene. Calculation of the molecular beam fluorescence excitation spectrum

Abstract The rotation-torsion contour of the low-temperature molecular beam fluorescence excitation spectrum of toluene was analyzed within the framework of the asymmetric-top/free-internalrotor model. The features observed in the moderate-resolution spectrum are reproduced well by this calculation, suggesting that the zero barrier approximation in both the ground and excited states is acceptable even at the low temperatures achieved in the supersonic jet expansion. The values of the excited-state rotational constants are found to be the same as those obtained in the analysis of the high-resolution 295 K spectrum. Corroboration for sequence band assignments in the 295 K spectrum is also given.
Reducing Piston Mass in a Free Piston Engine Compressor by Exploiting the Inertance of a Liquid Piston

A dynamic model of a free liquid piston that exploits piston geometry to produce a high inertance was developed for use in a free piston engine compressor. It is shown that for the size scale targeted, advantageous piston dynamics can be achieved with a reduced piston mass compared to a rigid piston design. It is also shown that the viscous losses associated with the liquid piston are negligible for the application discussed. The slow dynamics achieved by the liquid piston also allow for reduced valve sizes for the compressor, creating a more energy-dense device on a systems level. Other advantages gained by this design compared to prior work are discussed, including the elimination of a separated combustion chamber, smaller (integrated) pump check valve, and the capability of more balanced operation for a single-piston compressor. A dynamic model of the proposed high inertance liquid piston is presented and simulation results are discussed.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Primary prevention of colon cancer with dietary and micronutrient interventions

Overall, colorectal carcinoma is the second leading cause of cancer death and the third most common carcinoma in both females and males in the United States. Adjusted incidence rates for whites are consistently higher than those for African Americans, whereas case-fatality rates are consistently lower for whites. Its etiology appears to be related to a complex interaction of environmental and genetic factors. Proposed dietary risk factors for colon carcinoma include excess fat intake and low intakes of fruits, vegetables, dietary fiber, calcium, and other micronutrients. Phase III clinical dietary and micronutrient trials are being conducted with the support of the National Cancer Institute for low fat-high fruits and vegetables, wheat bran fiber, calcium, folic acid, and selenium employing colonic adenoma recurrence as the primary outcome endpoint. If these studies are positive, then the implementation of dietary and/or micronutrient interventions could have an immense public health impact by reducing colon carcinoma mortality. Cancer 1998;83:1734-1739. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
Scavenger Receptor Class A Plays a Central Role in Mediating Mortality and the Development of the Pro-Inflammatory Phenotype in Polymicrobial Sepsis

Sepsis is a frequent complication in critical illness. The mechanisms that are involved in initiation and propagation of the disease are not well understood. Scavenger receptor A (SRA) is a membrane receptor that binds multiple polyanions such as oxidized LDL and endotoxin. Recent studies suggest that SRA acts as a pattern recognition receptor in the innate immune response. The goal of the present study was to determine the role of SRA in polymicrobial sepsis. SRA deficient (SRA−/−) and C57BL/6JB/6J (WT) male mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to induce polymicrobial sepsis. NFκB activity, myeloperoxidase activity, and co-association of SRA with toll like receptor (TLR) 4 and TLR2 was analyzed in the lungs. Spleens were analyzed for apoptosis. Serum cytokines and chemokines were assayed. Blood and peritoneal fluid were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacterial burdens. Long term survival was significantly increased in SRA−/− septic mice (53.6% vs. 3.6%, p<0.05) when compared to WT mice. NFκB activity was 45.5% lower in the lungs of SRA−/− septic mice versus WT septic mice (p<0.05). Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6, IL-10 and monocyte chemoattractant protein −1 were significantly lower in septic SRA−/− mice when compared to septic WT mice (p<0.05). We found that SRA immuno-precipitated with TLR4, but not TLR2, in the lungs of WT septic mice. We also found that septic SRA−/− mice had lower bacterial burdens than WT septic mice. SRA deficiency had no effect on pulmonary neutrophil infiltration or splenocyte apoptosis during sepsis. We conclude that SRA plays a pivotal, and previously unknown, role in mediating the pathophysiology of sepsis/septic shock in a murine model of polymicrobial sepsis. Mechanistically, SRA interacts with TLR4 to enhance the development of the pro-inflammatory phenotype and mediate the morbidity and mortality of sepsis/septic shock.
Frictional Coupling Mechanism in Multidisk Stepless Transmission With Internal Contact

Cas d'un variateur de vitesse a friction a disques multiples avec contacts internes (du type engrenages internes). Calcul du couple de frottement assurant la transmission
Examination of Haldane's first law for the partition of CO and O2 to hemoglobin A0.

A study of the oxygen replacement reaction of carbon monoxide-saturated hemoglobin (HbA0) was carried out using spectroscopic, calorimetric, and pH titration methods. Under fully saturated conditions the replacement reaction can be defined by a single partition constant over all ratios of bound oxygen to carbon monoxide. This indicates that under saturating conditions Haldane's first law for the ligand binding of gas mixtures holds for any CO/O2 ratio. It further shows that there is no appreciable difference in relative CO-O2 affinity between the α- and β-chains. The same partition coefficient was found to hold for different pH, buffer, and allosteric effector conditions. The lack of any pH dependence of the partition coefficient was confirmed by the absence of proton changes for the replacement reaction. The temperature dependence of the partition coefficient and calorimetric results yield a value for the enthalpy of the reaction of −3.65 ± 0.29 kcal/mol/heme.
40Ar/39Ar Age of Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary Tektites from Haiti.

40Ar/39Ar dating of tektites discovered recently in Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary marine sedimentary rocks on Haiti indicates that the K-T boundary and impact event are coeval at 64.5 ± 0.1 million years ago. Sanidine from a bentonite that lies directly above the K-T boundary in continental, coal-bearing, sedimentary rocks of Montana was also dated and has a 40Ar/39Ar age of 64.6 ± 0.2 million years ago, which is indistinguishable statistically from the age of the tektites.
Treatment of hypertension among African Americans: the Jackson Heart Study

Hypertension treatment regimens used by African American adults in the Jackson Heart Study were evaluated at the first two clinical examinations (2415 treated hypertensive persons at examination I [exam I], 2000-2004; 2577 at examination II [exam II], 2005-2008). Blood pressure (BP) was below 140/90 mm Hg for 66% and 70% of treated participants at exam I and exam II, respectively. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure treatment targets were met for 56% and 61% at exam I and exam II, respectively. Persons with diabetes or chronic kidney disease were less likely to have BP at target, as were men compared with women. Thiazide diuretics were the most commonly used antihypertensive medication, and persons taking a thiazide were more likely to have their BP controlled than persons not taking them; thiazides were used significantly less among men than women. Although calcium channel blockers are often considered to be effective monotherapy for African Americans, persons using calcium channel blocker monotherapy were significantly less likely to be at target BP than persons using thiazide monotherapy.
Convergence rate for numerical computation of the lattice Green's function

Flexible boundary-condition methods couple an isolated defect to bulk through the bulk lattice Green's function. Direct computation of the lattice Green's function requires projecting out the singular subspace of uniform displacements and forces for the infinite lattice. We calculate the convergence rates for elastically isotropic and anisotropic cases for three different techniques: relative displacement, elastic Green's function correction, and discontinuity correction. The discontinuity correction has the most rapid convergence for the general case.
Intake of fruit, vegetables, and carotenoids in relation to risk of uterine leiomyomata

Background: US black women have higher rates of uterine leiomyomata (UL) and lower intakes of fruit and vegetables than do white women. Whether fruit and vegetable intake is associated with UL in black women has not been studied. Objective: We assessed the association of dietary intake of fruit, vegetables, carotenoids, folate, fiber, and vitamins A, C, and E with UL in the Black Women's Health Study. Design: In this prospective cohort study, we followed 22,583 premenopausal women for incident UL (1997–2009). Diet was estimated by using food-frequency questionnaires in 1995 and 2001. Cox regression was used to derive incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% CIs for the association between each dietary variable (in quintiles) and UL. Results: There were 6627 incident cases of UL diagnosed by ultrasonography (n = 4346) or surgery (n = 2281). Fruit and vegetable intake was inversely associated with UL (≥4 compared with <1 serving/d; IRR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.82, 0.98; P-trend = 0.03). The association was stronger for fruit (≥2 servings/d compared with <2 servings/wk; IRR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.81, 0.98; P-trend = 0.07) than for vegetables (≥2 servings/d compared with <4 servings/wk: IRR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.89, 1.05; P-trend = 0.51). Citrus fruit intake was inversely associated with UL (≥3 servings/wk compared with <1 serving/mo: IRR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.86, 1.00; P-trend = 0.01). The inverse association for dietary vitamin A (upper compared with lower quintiles: IRR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.83, 0.97; P-trend = 0.01) appeared to be driven by preformed vitamin A (animal sources), not provitamin A (fruit and vegetable sources). UL was not materially associated with dietary intake of vitamins C and E, folate, fiber, or any of the carotenoids, including lycopene. Conclusion: These data suggest a reduced risk of UL among women with a greater dietary intake of fruit and preformed vitamin A.
Monitoring running-wheel movement using a serial mouse and an IBM-compatible system

A running-wheel-movement-detection system is described for use with an IBM-compatible system and a serial mouse. It is an adaptation of a system developed for use on a Commodore 64. The IBM-compatible system provides obvious advantages in speed, memory, data storage, and programming ease over the earlier Commodore 64 system.
Visible light photopolymerization employing 2,4‐diiodo‐6‐butoxy‐3‐fluorone and tetraorganylborate salts as photoinitiators

Several new tetraorganylborate salts have been synthesized and tested as coinitiators with 2,4-diiodo-6-butoxy-3-fluorone (DIBF) for the photopolymerization of acrylic monomer mixtures. The rate of photopolymerization has been found to be a function of chemical structure of the borates. Stability, solubility, and reactivity of these borates as coinitiators for photopolymerization have been investigated. Diphenyldialkylborates have been found to be the best among the tested coinitiators. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Initial stages of contact-induced plasticity in sapphire. I. Surface traces of slip and twinning

The present study focuses on the effects of surface orientation on the peculiarities of the earliest stages of nanoindentation-induced plasticity in sapphire (Al2O3) single crystal surfaces. The previous theoretical analyses do not account for all the experimentally observed trends. Additional considerations are required to bridge the gap between experimental results and theoretical predictions. Of key importance are accounting for the sense of twinning shear, the multiplicity of slip and twinning systems involved and an appropriate criterion for the transition from elastic to elastic-plastic regime. The present study supplements a continuum-based stress analysis with the above considerations and compares the resulting theoretical predictions with the experimental results for basal [C, (0001)], rhombohedral [R,(1102)] and prism [A,(1210) and M,(1010)] surfaces. Surface patterns of slip and twining are scrutinized in Part I. Previously unexplained features justified by the results obtained by the present a...
Conversion of methionine into homocysteic acid in heavily oxidized proteomics samples

Analysis of protein oxidation is necessary in numerous areas of biochemistry, including hydroxyl radical surface mapping, oxidative stress assays, and pharmaceutical stability testing. Mass spectrometry is one of the tools most often used to identify protein oxidation products, and previous studies have attempted to identify and characterize all of the major oxidation products detected by mass spectrometry for each amino acid residue. In this note, we present evidence that in heavily oxidized protein samples, such as those produced by hydroxyl radical surface mapping, a major oxidation product of methionine is homocysteic acid. The formation of homocysteic acid from methionine was previously unrecognized in other mass spectrometric analyses, and has important implications for the analysis of oxidized samples, as well as potential implications as to the functional consequences of methionine oxidation.
A size-exclusion HPLC method for the determination of sodium chondroitin sulfate in pharmaceutical preparations

A size-exclusion HPLC method for the determination of sodium chondroitin sulfate (SCS) in pharmaceutical preparations has been developed and validated. The most important feature of this method compared with the previously reported assay methods was improved economical and determinative applications through direct analysis of SCS from pharmaceuticals. The linearity, precision, specificity, and accuracy of the method were established and validated. The intra- and inter-day precision was satisfactory with relative standard deviation lower than 1.0%. The recovery of SCS from multi-components pharmaceutical preparations were from 93.38 to 100.46%. Comparing our HPLC assay results with classical spectrophotometric methods, the developed method was considerably easy, simple and reproducible. As a result, the present method was supposed to be successfully applied to the assay of SCS for the routine quality control in pharmaceutical preparations.
Silica-suported polyvinylpyrrolidone filtration membranes

A hybrid ceramic-polymeric membrane was developed by the growth of covalently-bonded polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) chains from the surface of a porous silica support membrane via a graft polymerization process. These ceramic-supported polymeric (CSP) membranes can be produced with variable surface density and length of the terminally anchored polymer chains. Hydraulic permeability measurements demonstrated the effect of the grafted chain density and length on the water permeability of the CSP membranes. The potential application of these CSP membranes for the treatment of oil-in-water emulsions, was evaluated in cross-flow filtration experiments. This preliminary evaluation indicated improved performance of a CSP membrane, relative to an unmodified support, since the CSP membrane produced a lower permeate concentration at an equivalent permeability. The improved selectivity and reduced fouling tendency is attributed to the increased hydrophilicity of the membrane surface provided by the grafted PVP chains.
Identification of cis-acting elements that can obviate a requirement for the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II

We have used an in vitro RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) inhibition-restimulation assay to investigate the inability of a form of RNAP II (RNAP IIB) that lacks the conserved, C-terminal heptapeptide repeat domain (CTD) to transcribe the dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) promoter. Our previous studies demonstrated promoter-specific responses to RNAP IIB in the inhibition-restimulation assay and suggested the existence of cis-acting elements that alleviate the requirement for the CTD. We have now identified elements from two different classes of promoters that can convert dhfr to a CTD-independent promoter. First, addition of a consensus TATA box to the dhfr promoter resulted in a promoter capable of CTD-independent transcription and increased the promoter's affinity for the general transcription factor TFIID. These results suggest that high affinity for TFIID correlates with an ability to be transcribed by RNAP IIB, supporting a proposed interaction between the CTD and TFIID. Second, transfer of a combination of two elements (located at -25 and +1) from the rep-3b promoter, which does not contain a consensus TATA box but can nonetheless be transcribed by RNAP IIB, into the dhfr promoter also allowed CTD-independent transcription. These elements do not constitute a high affinity binding site for TFIID, indicating that an additional mechanism exists to allow CTD-independent transcription. Thus, elements from two classes of CTD-independent promoters that can obviate a requirement for the CTD appear to function via distinct mechanisms. Our finding that a change in a basal element can affect a requirement for the CTD is consistent with a role for the CTD during the formation of the transcriptional preinitiation complex.
Natural convection from pin fin arrays

Abstract Pin fins are used to increase heat transfer from heated surfaces to air. Industrial experience has shown that for the same surface area, pin fins can transfer considerably more energy than straight fins. The analysis of a single pin fin is well known. However, when fins are placed in an array, the convective patterns become interrelated, and the resulting heat transfer coefficient has not been predicted. An experimental investigation was carried out during which three pin fin arrays were tested inline and staggered under a variety of heat inputs and inclinations. This investigation suggests that the most important geometric parameter influencing the heat transfer from pin fin arrays is the ratio of the fin diameter to the center-to-center spacing. From our measurements and other available experimental data, we developed an empirical model that predicts the performance of pin fin arrays for a wide range of Rayleigh numbers and geometries. The experimental results indicate that a pin fin array performs better than a plate fin array under the same conditions, and the best performance occurs when the ratio of fin diameter to center-to-center spacing is about 1 3 .
The Bcl6-SMRT/NCoR cistrome represses inflammation to attenuate atherosclerosis

Summary Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of atherosclerosis, but its transcriptional underpinnings are poorly understood. We show that the transcriptional repressor Bcl6 is an anti-inflammatory regulator whose loss in bone marrow of Ldlr −/− mice results in severe atherosclerosis and xanthomatous tendonitis, a virtually pathognomonic complication in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. Disruption of the interaction between Bcl6 and SMRT or NCoR with a peptide inhibitor in vitro recapitulated atherogenic gene changes in mice transplanted with Bcl6-deficient bone marrow, pointing to these cofactors as key mediators of Bcl6 inflammatory suppression. Using ChIP-seq, we reveal the SMRT and NCoR corepressor cistromes, each consisting of over 30,000 binding sites with a nearly 50% overlap. While the complete cistromes identify a diversity of signaling pathways, the Bcl6-bound subcistromes for each corepressor are highly enriched for NF-κB-driven inflammatory and tissue remodeling genes. These results reveal that Bcl6-SMRT/NCoR complexes constrain immune responses and contribute to the prevention of atherosclerosis.
On aspiring to present a developmental theory of occupational aspirations: A reader's guide to Gottfredson

L. S. Gottfredson's preceding comment (Journal of Vocational Behavior 1983, 23, 203–212)is characterized by undocumented and arbitrary assertions. Moreover, we still maintain and cite further evidence that the features of the stages she describes represent an implausible account of development. We conclude that there is nothing in either L. S. Gottfredson's original (Journal of Counseling Psychology 1981, 28, 545–579) article or her preceding paper that leads us to alter our belief that the views we present in our own article (Journal of Vocational Behavior 1983, 23, 179–212) will be useful for the future development of vocational theory and intervention.
RESOURCE COMPETITION MODIFIES THE STRENGTH OF TRAIT- MEDIATED PREDATOR-PREY INTERACTIONS: A META-ANALYSIS

Only a fraction of the individuals in a given prey population are likely to be killed and consumed by predators. In contrast, nearly all individuals experience the chronic effects of predation risk. When threatened by predators, prey adopt defensive tactics whose costs can lead to reduced growth, maturation rates, survivorship, fecundity, or pop- ulation density. This nonconsumptive impact of predation risk on prey is known as a ''trait- mediated interaction'' (TMI) because it results from changes in prey traits such as behavior or physiology. Ecological theory suggests that the strength of TMI effects will reflect a balance between the conflicting demands of reproduction vs. predator avoidance. Competitor density and resource availability are expected to alter the balance between these conflicting forces. We conducted a meta-analysis of experimental studies that measured TMI effect size while varying competitor and/or resource density. The threat of predation had an overall negative effect on prey performance, but the strength of this effect varied with the level of competition. High competition exacerbated the negative effect of intimidation on prey density but moderated the negative effect of intimidation on prey life history and growth. We discuss these results in light of previously published theoretical expectations. Our results highlight the variable and context-dependent nature of interspecific interactions.
Epinephrine-containing test dose during beta-blockade.

Epinephrine is routinely used as a marker for intravascular injection during administration of regional anesthesia. The cardiovascular response of patients on beta-blockers to such a test dose has been reported to be unpredictable. We investigated this interaction by administering 15 µg of epinephrine intravenously to 6 healthy volunteers 39 to 48 years old before and after beta-blockade, accomplished by intravenous injection of propranolol, 0.04 mg/kg. Epinephrine administration caused a 20 ± 4% (mean ± SEM) increase in heart rate before beta-blockade but a 38 ± 3% reduction after beta-blockade. The lowest heart rate recorded was 28 beats/min. We conclude that, in middle-aged beta-blocked men, intravenous injection of a standard epinephrine-containing test dose will predictably cause significant hypertension followed by marked bradycardia.