cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Length Dependent Activation in Synchronous Flight Muscle from Manduca Sexta

In most striated muscles, the amount of force generated at a given concentration of activating calcium is greater at long sarcomere length (SL) than at shorter SL, referred to as “length dependent activation” (LDA). LDA is prominent in mammalian cardiac muscle and underlies the so-called Frank-Starling Law of the Heart” allowing cardiac output to be adjusted on a beat-to-beat basis. The molecular basis for LDA is not yet understood. The dorsal longitudinal flight muscle (DLM) of the Hawkmoth Manduca sexta is an emerging model system for structural and functional studies of muscle. It is a synchronous muscle, requiring a neural impulse for every muscle twitch, as in mammalian skeletal and cardiac striated muscle, but it is structurally similar to the more widely studied asynchronous insect flight muscles of Drosophila and Lethocerus. Its force-length curve has been shown to be remarkably similar to mammalian cardiac muscle (Tu & Daniel, J Exp Biol 207: 2455. 2004) indicating that Manduca flight muscle might be a useful model system to elucidate various aspects of cardiac function in comparative studies. The present studies were undertaken to characterize LDA in Manduca flight muscle. Conditions were found that allowed chemical skinning of the muscles while maintaining good structural order as assessed by by light and X-ray diffraction. Force-pCa curves were collected as a function of SL. Dorsally located DLMs (cooler in vivo) were compared to ventrally located DLM's (warmer in vivo). We found that both dorsal and ventral DLMs show length-dependent activation. Our study also showed that ventrally located DLM's are less cooperative (Hill coefficient nH ∼1-1.2) than the dorsally located DLM's (nH ∼1.8–1.9) which may be related to their different functions in vivo. Supported by NSF IOS 1022058 and NIH RR08630.
Parkes-Weber Syndrome Associated With a Congenital Short Femur of the Affected Limb

The association of capillary malformation, high-flow arteriovenous fistulas, and limb hypertrophy corresponds to Parkes-Weber syndrome. Most of cases are sporadic, although a first familial case has been recently reported. We report the first observation of a Parkes-Weber vascular anomaly with an underlying congenital short femur.
Robust estimation of the mean of the exponential distribution in outlier situations

Some estimators of the mean θ of an exponential distribution are studied under the assumption of different outlier-generating distribution models. We consider situations where exactly one contaminated observation from a distribution with possibly larger mean θ/b, with b ∊ (0.1) unknown, may be present. Since the estimator then no longer has uniformly minimal mean squared error, we propose and compare some classes of estimators, namely trimmed and Winsorized estimators based on preceding outlier-tests. providing robust estimation of 9 in this situation. Some results of Rauhut (1982) are improved.
The Basis of Racial Differences in the Incidence of Thyroid Cancer

The incidence of thyroid cancer in black Americans is half that in white Americans. It is unknown whether this gap represents a population difference in disease or is attributable to inferior cancer screening in the black population. A population-based cohort study of 53,990 patients (1973–2003) was performed using the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance Epidemiology End Results database. Socioeconomic variables were explored using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project database and macroeconomic data. Since 1973, thyroid cancer incidence among whites has increased 150.2% (4.0 to 9.9 of 100,000), while incidence among blacks has increased 73.2% (3.0 to 5.1 of 100,000). Across 17 regions, the incidence correlated with the percentage of the population with health insurance (r = 0.56, P = .02). Regression analysis suggested that half of the black-white incidence gap might be attributable to differences in health insurance status. Patients with thyroid cancer were more likely to be insured or reside in wealthier ZIP codes. Black patients were more likely to present at advanced age (RR 1.08, P 4 cm in size (RR 1.13, P <.0001). Black patients were slightly less likely to present with advanced disease (RR 0.96, P = .0008). Cancer-specific mortality was identical in the two populations. Sociodemographic data and differences at presentation support a small detection disparity in thyroid cancer, which may contribute to part of the incidence gap. However, this effect is not sufficiently strong to fully explain the incidence gap. A population difference in the incidence of disease may be coexistent.
Convergent and Discriminant Validity of Television Commercial Rating Scales

Abstract There is no published evidence of examination of convergent and discriminant validity for any set of measures of viewer reaction to television commercials. The present study begins to fill this gap by comparing three Likert-type scales of three copy testing concepts (Relevance, Confusion and Entertainment) with measures obtained from the content analysis of viewer verbatim comments obtained from open questioning. A multiconcept-multimethod covariance matrix of viewer responses is modeled in light of the standards of convergent and discriminant validity with confirmatory factor analysis. The analysis provides evidence for the measurement validity for two of the three scales.
Hydrogen diffusion and relaxation processes in a-Si:H and a-Ge:H

Abstract H diffusion in rf sputter deposited undoped and boron doped a-Si:H/(H,D)/H and undoped a-Ge:H/(H,D)/H was studied by SIMS profiling of the annealed multilayers. While long-range atomic H motion is apparently suppressed in undoped a-Si:H of excess microvoid content, in all a-Si:H and a-Ge:H multilayers displaying diffusion, the diffusion constant is power-law time dependent, D(t) ∝ D oo ( ω t) − α , where 0.2 ≤ α ≤ 0.09. These results are discussed in relation to relaxation processes and the dynamics of floating and dangling bonds in a-Si:H.
The hemodynamic effects of neonatal patent ductus arteriosus shunting on superior mesenteric artery blood flow.

To determine if the ratio of the pulsatility index (PI) of the left pulmonary artery to the PI of the descending aorta, the Rp/Rs index, correlates with the degree of ductal steal from the intestine in neonates with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Echocardiograms and Doppler studies of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) were performed in 41 neonates less than 35 weeks gestational age with a hemodynamically significant PDA (hsPDA). There was a significant negative correlation between the Rp/Rs index and the SMA PI after controlling for ductal size (r=−0.476, p<0.008). The Rp/Rs index can be used as an indicator of ductal steal on intestinal blood flow. The Rp/Rs index may be a useful adjunct to existing and new techniques for improving early assessment and treatment of hsPDA, and for evaluating the effects of hsPDA on systemic organs.
Investigations on the Growth Mechanisms of α‐Cr2O3 on Ni‐Base Alloys with and without Y2O3 Dispersions

The growth kinetics of Cr2O3 scales on the Y2O3 dispersion containing Ni-base alloy MA754 at low oxygen partial pressure have been compared with the corresponding growth rates on Ni-30Cr and on Ni-30 Cr-0.5 Ti alloys in the 1000–1125°C temperature range. In the dispersion containing alloy, the growth kinetics are slower by a factor of 12–14, the Ni-30 Cr and Ni-30 Cr-0. 5 Ti alloys exhibiting similar growth rates. Microstructural evidence does not support mechanisms for growth rate reduction suggested by earlier investigators based on blocking effects of dispersoid particles or dispersoid-assisted generation of a fine-grained Cr2O3 scale. Rather, the present evidence supports a model based on yttrium doping. It is shown that in undoped Cr2O3 at low oxygen partial pressures, chromium interstitials are the most probable cationic defects, yttrium doping suppresses the concentration of chromium interstitials.
Influence of Mental Health Assessment on Prescription of Psychoactive Medication Among New Nursing Home Residents

This article presents preliminary evidence for a novel way of promoting use of non-psychopharmacological interventions for mental health problems among nursing home (NH) residents. Mental health assessments addressing cognitive status, mood, behavior problems, typical activities, and quality of life were conducted on newly admitted NH residents, with recommendations supporting non-psychopharmacological alternatives conveyed to the NH staff. The purpose was to determine whether non-psychopharmacological recommendations based on the assessments would have a significant influence on psychoactive prescribing patterns, use of psychological interventions, number of falls, and the number of hospitalizations among NH residents. Chart reviews were conducted 1 month post-NH assessment in a non-randomized design comparing the 23 residents in four for-profit NHs who received a mental health assessment with 25 residents in one of the for-profit NHs who did not receive an assessment. A mental health assessment administ...
Acute FeCl3-induced epileptogenic foci in cats: electrophysiological analyses.

Abstract Fifteen cats were rendered acutely epileptic via transpial iontophoresis of ferric ions. Extracellular electrical activity of individual cortical neurons was temporally correlated with ECoG epileptic spikes. Each unit's activity was characterized as excited, inhibited, or unaffected. The spatial coordinates of each neuron were logged, thereby generating a 3-dimensional activity map. Discharge patterns were further classified as bursting or non-bursting. A significantly increased population of inhibited cells was detected at radial distances greater than 3 mm from the iontophoretic site. This increase was at the expense of ‘unaffected-bursting’ cells. Pathological discharge patterns, including units which fired in long-first-interval bursts, were common in the focus. A system was designed to electronically calculate single-unit firing probability before, during and after surface epileptiform spikes. An 8–12 Hz oscillation in firing probability level, time-locked to the epileptic spike, was observed in most excited-bursting units. Many of these findings in the ferric-induced epileptic focus accurately model the electrophysiological characteristics previously reported for human epileptic foci examined at neurosurgery.
Helium purge flow prevention of atmospheric contamination of cryogenically cooled optics on orbiting infrared telescopes

Abstract The ability of a He purge gas to protect the cryogenically cooled optics of orbiting infrared telescopes from the primary atmospheric contaminant, atomic oxygen, can be estimated by calculations simulating the He-O scattering events that would occur in the operating telescope. This paper reports results of accurate quantum mechanical calculations of the He-O differential cross sections σ(θ, E ) needed in such calculations. To facilitate the use of these cross sections, a simple separable function of E and θ is also given which provides an adequate representation of σ(θ, E ) for the entire range of relative collision energies studied, E = 0.02−1.66 eV.
Moving to high-value care: more thoughtful use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

In this commentary, leaders of the European Federation of Internal Medicine and American College of Physicians remind physicians of the importance of discussing patient preferences for cardiopulmon...
Measurement of balance in computer posturography: Comparison of methods—A brief review

Some symptoms related to disequilibrium may not be detected by a clinical exam. Therefore, objective study is important in assessing balance. In this paper, methods to measure balance in computer posturography are compared. Center of pressure (COP) displacement, equilibrium score (ES) and postural stability index (PSI), the main measures of assessing balance are described and their merits and disadvantages are discussed. Clinicians should apply that measure which suits the specific strategies in a specific situation. Measuring devices such as Force plate, Balance Master and Equitest are also discussed. Although the Balance Master and Equitest devices are more costly compared to the force plate only, they are more useful for assessing balance relevant to daily life activities that might result in falls.
Stability of Fiber Networks Under Biaxial Stretching

This paper is concerned with the constitutive behavior of a particular orthogonal fiber network under biaxial dead loading. We also describe a new kind of biaxial, dead-loading machine which is applicable to anisotropic materials. The machine does not require that the loads are exerted along symmetry axes of the material. A specimen of the cloth was loaded by different loading paths to the same equibiaxial dead-load, and two different final deformations were observed. A related observation was reported by Treloar for rubber in 1948. In order to understand this instability, we experimentally determined the energy function for the cloth. The energy function is then used in a variational calculation to explain this instability.
An essential role of thyroxine and triiodothyronine balance in establishing normal pituitary-thyroid feedback control in goitrogen-treated rats.

Rats were fed propylthiouracil (0.05%), methimazole (0.05%), or sulfaguanidine (1%) and injected with graded doses of thyroxine (0.5–3.0 jug) daily for 2 weeks. In spite of the high serum PBI with doses of 1.0 and 1.5 μg of thyroxine, goiter was still observed in animals fed propylthiouracil. Goiter was prevented only when the PBI was increased to 2.2 times that of the control level by giving 2.0 μg of thyroxine. Similar effects were found with methimazole and sulfaguanidine. In animals which were thyroidectomized and given thyroxine, methimazole slightly elevated the serum PBI and reduced the urinary excretion of radioiodine after a single injection of labeled thyroxine. However, since sulfaguanidine was without effect in these respects, the development of goiter in the presence of a high serum PBI cannot be explained by assuming that all 3 goitrogens interfered with the deiodination of thyroxine. On the other hand,goiter was prevented in propylthiouracil-fed animals by doses of thyroid powder which resu...
Flux-density wave and superconducting instability of the staggered-flux phase

We study the stability of the staggered-flux phase in the t-J model away from half-filling using a systematic large-N slave-boson approach. Found below a critical doping concentration ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}_{\mathit{c}}$=a(J/t${)}^{2}$, is a flux-density-wave instability with an incommensurability wave number \ensuremath{\sim}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}^{3/4}$. The instability towards a modulated-flux state is due to low-lying phase fluctuations of the valence bonds. When the doping parameter exceeds ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}_{\mathit{c}}$, we find a fully gapped d-wave superconducting state due to residual quasiparticle interactions.
Is the pattern of intellectual growth and decline across the adult life span different for men and women

Gender comparisons on the WAIS-R were made for 1,480 adults from the standardization sample, ages 20-74 years, to determine whether men and women differ in their age-related patterns of change on tests of fluid and crystallized abilities. Multivariate analyses of covariance and univariate analyses of covariance were conducted, covarying education, to examine the age + gender interactions. These interactions tended to be nonsignificant and trivial for the WAIS-R Verbal and Performance scales and the 11 subtests, which suggests that both men and women maintain their crystallized abilities through old age, but show early, rapid declines in fluid ability. These results were interpreted in terms of the literature on aging and intelligence, gender differences in cognitive abilities, and gender differences in V-P patterns for patients with unilateral brain damage.
Lunar permafrost - Dielectric identification.

A simulator of lunar permafrost at 100 K exhibits a dielectric relaxation centered at approximately 300 hertz. If permafrost exists in the moon between 100 and 213 K, it should present a relaxation peak at approximately 300 hertz. For temperatures up to 263 K it may go up to 20 kilohertz.
End points in the analysis of breast cancer survival: Relapse versus death from tumor

Abstract Background: To determine whether relapse and death from tumor are comparable as survival end points for assessing therapeutic efficacy, five prospective, randomized clinical trials of adjuvant therapy for stage II breast cancer were analyzed. One thousand eight hundred ninety patients were combined from five clinical groups into a single group for analysis. Methods: Actuarial and parametric survival methods were used to generate three estimates for the likelihood of cure (LOC): (1) for all patients, with relapse as the end point to survival (LOCR); (2) for all patients, with death from tumor as the end point (LOCD); and (3) for patients with relapse only, with death from tumor as the end point (LOCRD). Linear regression analysis was used to compare time to relapse for each patient with time from relapse to death. Results: Estimates of LOCR ranged from 33.5% to 38.4%, estimates of LOCD ranged from 36.3% to 44.2%, and estimates of LOCRD ranged from 0% to 6%. Thus LOCR and LOCD are approximately equal for these patients. On the other hand, time to relapse correlated poorly with time from relapse to death (r2 = 0.005). Conclusions: If therapy affects LOC, relapse and death should ultimately lead to the same conclusion with respect to therapeutic efficacy, because both end points lead to essentially the same LOC. If therapy affects time to relapse, however, these two end points may ultimately lead to different conclusions, because time to relapse correlates poorly with time from relapse to death. (Surgery 1998;124:197-202.)
Oral pharmacokinetics of omeprazole and lansoprazole after single and repeated doses as intact capsules or as suspensions in sodium bicarbonate.

Background: Omeprazole and lansoprazole can be given in sodium bicarbonate as, respectively, simplified omeprazole suspension and simplified lansoprazole suspension. We previously found the antisecretory effect of omeprazole 20 mg given as simplified omeprazole suspension to be lower than with intact capsules. However, lansoprazole 30 mg as simplified lansoprazole suspension produced an effect similar to that seen with intact capsules. Aim: To evaluate the absorption of both drugs when given orally as capsules or as suspensions in sodium bicarbonate. Methods: In random order, we gave 5-day courses of omeprazole 20 mg and lansoprazole 30 mg as capsules and as suspensions in sodium bicarbonate to 12 healthy women. Serial blood samples were taken on days 1 and 5 of each course for pharmacokinetic measurements. Results: There was impairment of omeprazole absorption when given as simplified omeprazole suspension. Maximum plasma concentration and area under the concentration/time curve were lower with simplified omeprazole suspension than with omeprazole capsules (P=0.034 and 0.013, respectively, on day 5). No differences were found in lansoprazole absorption when simplified lansoprazole suspension was compared with its standard capsule formulation. Relative bioavailability of omeprazole from simplified omeprazole suspension compared to the capsule was 58.4% on day 5. The corresponding value for lansoprazole was 84.7%. Conclusions: Simplified omeprazole suspension 20 mg does not supply adequate omeprazole for systemic absorption. Lansoprazole absorption from simplified lansoprazole suspension is maintained.
Birth defects in Arkansas: is folic acid fortification making a difference?

BACKGROUND Since 1998, fortification of grain products with folic acid has been mandated in the United States, in an effort to reduce the prevalence of neural tube defects (NTDs). Published reports have shown a reduction in the prevalence of spina bifida since fortification was mandated, but no published studies have reported a reduction in birth defects, other than NTDs, that are postulated to be associated with folic acid deficiency. This study was performed to determine if fortification has reduced the prevalence of NTDs and other birth defects in Arkansas. METHODS Using data from the Arkansas Reproductive Health Monitoring System, prevalences were computed for thirteen specific birth defects with prior evidence supporting a protective effect of folic acid or multivitamins. Prevalences were calculated using data for live births to Arkansas residents for 1993–2000. Exposure to folic acid fortification was classified by birth year as “pre-fortification” (1993–1995), “transition” (1996–1998) or “post-fortification” (1999–2000). Logistic regression analysis was used to compute crude and adjusted prevalence odds ratios comparing the identified time periods. RESULTS Prevalences decreased between the pre- and post-fortification periods for spina bifida, orofacial clefts, limb reduction defects, omphalocele, and Down syndrome, but only the decrease in spina bifida was statistically significant (prevalence odds ratio 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.37, 0.83). CONCLUSION In Arkansas, the prevalence of spina bifida has decreased since folic acid fortification of foods was implemented. Similar studies by other birth defects surveillance systems are needed to confirm a preventive effect of fortification for malformations other than spina bifida. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 70:559–564, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mobility and Turnover among School Principals.

Abstract This paper uses administrative data from two states covering the school years 1987–1988 to 2000–2001 to examine principal turnover and mobility. We use a longitudinal event history modeling approach to examine whether individual characteristics of the principal and the school in which they work are related to different types of principal turnover. We find that over the time period considered, turnover among all school principals was 14 percent in Illinois and 18 percent in North Carolina. Only 20 percent of this turnover was due to principals leaving the system in Illinois; and 13 percent in North Carolina. However, we observe some interesting variation by school characteristics. Specifically, we find that principals in schools with a larger proportion of minority students are more likely to change schools and to leave the principalship, but remain in the system.
Conservative Remapping and Region Overlays by Intersecting Arbitrary Polyhedra

An efficient algorithm for first-order grid intersections, by computing geometrically the intersection volume between donor and target zones, is developed for polyhedral meshes. We examine two applications of grid intersections. One application is first-order remapping, in which zone and node centered fields defined on a given mesh are transferred to a different mesh. The second application is region overlays, in which a region with homogeneous material properties is approximated by a grid of polyhedra and mapped onto an arbitrary hexahedral mesh, creating mixed zones on the boundary of the region. We demonstrate the use of this grid intersection algorithm within the framework of hydrodynamics simulations, and using a domain decomposed mesh, we study the feasibility of a parallel implementation.
Polarization interferometer for 2800 MHz solar noise studies with a 0.5′ fan beam

The construction and operation of a high resolution interferometer for solar noise observations at 10.7 cm for the Algonquin Radio Observatory is described. One element is the existig 32 element array of 3 m reflectors while the second is a grating element of 4 reflectors symmetrically placed on the same E-W line. The aperture of 665 m produces a fan beam of 0.5′ E.W. by 2° N.S. Four Faraday rotators in the antenna feeds of the newly commissioned grating enable three Stoke's parameters to be observed. The expected antenna pattern is confirmed by making observations on the brighter radio sources. Observations of the Sun on 1972, January 6 show the range of phenomena to be observed and a detailed study of the association of eight radio emissive regions with all centers of solar activity is presented.
Zone electrophoresis of conarachin, α-conarachin and bovine serum albumin on polyacrylamide gel

Abstract Conarachin, a crude fraction of peanut globulins; the major component of this fraction, α-conarachin; and crystalline bovine serum albumin were examined by zone electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. This medium made possible the clear demonstration of the complexity of composition of crude fractions of seed proteins, α-Conarachin, which is homogeneous by gradient elution chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, showed several closely related components by zone electrophoresis; crystalline bovine serum albumin showed several components by this procedure. Sedimentation analysis of the peanut globulins confirmed that they are part of an association-dissociation system.
Individual Differences in Trauma Disclosure

Abstract Background and objectives Findings on disclosure and adjustment following traumatic events have been mixed. Better understanding of individual differences in disclosure may help us better understand reactions following trauma exposure. In particular, studying disclosure patterns for those with and without psychopathology and for different types of emotional experiences may help clarify the relationship between disclosure, event emotionality, trauma exposure, and PTSD. Methods In this study, 143 men and women with (n = 67) and without (n = 43) chronic PTSD and without trauma exposure (n = 33) provided information on disclosure for a traumatic/severe life event, a negative event, and a positive event. Results Individuals with PTSD reported greater difficulty disclosing their traumatic event compared to those with trauma exposure no PTSD and those with no-trauma exposure. However, individuals with PTSD reported disclosing the traumatic event a similar number of times and with similar levels of detail to those with trauma exposure but no PTSD. Both sexual and childhood trauma were associated with greater disclosure difficulty. Limitations Although control event types (positive, negative) were selected to control for the passage of time and for general disclosure style, they do not control for salience of the event and results may be limited by control events that were not highly salient. Conclusions The present findings point to a dynamic conceptualization of disclosure, suggesting that the differential difficulty of disclosing traumatic events seen in individuals with PTSD is not simply a function of the amount of disclosure or the amount of details provided.
Tunicamycin suppresses differentiation and stimulates dedifferentiation of heterocysts in the cyanobacteriumAnabaena azollae Stras

The effect of tunicamycin (TM), a specific inhibitor of glycosylation of proteins, on heterocyst differentiation inAnabaena azollae Stras. was investigated. Heterocysts were developed in the presence of TM up to a concentration of 0.2 μg ml−1, whereas at higher concentrations differentiation proceeded only up to the proheterocyst stage. Analysis of lipids by thinlayer chromatography showed that the glycolipid that is specific for the laminated layer of mature heterocysts was synthesized even in the cultures where the differentiation had proceeded only up to the early proheterocyst stage (i.e., at>0.2 μg TM ml−1). Further, deposition of the glycolipid-containing laminated layer in the envelope of the heterocysts differentiated in the presence of TM (i.e., at ≤0.2 μg ml−1) was incohesive as observed at the ultrastructural level. These findings clearly suggest that the process leading to the transportation of the heterocyst-specific glycolipid and its deposition as a laminated layer are affected by TM treatment. Because of the reported highly selective mode of action of TM, our results implicate a role for protein glycosylation in the process of heterocyst development and maturation.
Separate radioimmune measurements of body fluid Δ9-THC and 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-THC

Abstract Simultaneous native molecule and discrete metabolite immune assays were performed after exposure of subjects to standardized Δ9-THC cigarettes. Plasma (and urine) 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-THC remains elevated long after Δ9-THC becomes scant or undetectable enabling simple radioimmune determination of recent versus distant exposure to multiple cigarettes.
A spectroscopic study of the effects of a microbial siderophore on Pb adsorption to kaolinite

Abstract Batch adsorption experiments were combined with X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) analysis to determine the mechanism(s) whereby the microbial trihydroxamate siderophore ligand desferrioxamine-B (DFO-B) affects Pb sorption to kaolinite at pH 4, 6, and 7.5 (in 0.1 M NaClO 4 , 22 °C; Pb:DFO-B ratio 120:240 μM). In the absence of DFO-B, Pb adsorbs only slightly to kaolinite at pH 4, by a combination of inner- and outer-sphere complexation. Adsorption increases at pH 6, and sorption (adsorption/surface precipitation) further increases at pH 7.5. At pH 4, DFO-B does not bind Pb in solution appreciably, and the Pb adsorption mechanism(s) is unchanged by the presence of DFO-B. At pH 6, DFO-B slightly enhances Pb adsorption, due at least in part to formation of a DFO-B–Pb–kaolinite type A ternary surface complex. At pH 7.5, DFO-B decreases Pb sorption and Pb adsorption is dominated by a DFO-B–Pb–kaolinite type A ternary surface complex. Although XAS and thermodynamic speciation modeling indicate that Pb is bound by multiple DFO–B functional groups in solution at pH 7.5, the DFO-B–Pb–kaolinite surface complex appears to involve only a single hydroxamate group. This study thus demonstrates that the detailed structure of a ternary surface complex cannot necessarily be predicted from the structure of the solution organic-metal complex.
Development of a Fluorescent In Situ Method for Visualization of Enteric Viruses

Studying the interactions between enteric pathogens and their environment is important to improving our understanding of their persistence and transmission. However, this remains challenging in large part because of difficulties associated with tracking pathogens in their natural environment(s). In this study, we report a fluorescent labeling strategy which was applied to murine norovirus (MNV-1), a human norovirus surrogate, and hepatitis A virus (HAV). Specifically, streptavidin-labeled Quantum dots (Q-Dots) were bound to biotinylated capsids of MNV-1 and HAV (bio-MNV-1 and bio-HAV); the process was confirmed by using a sandwich-type approach in which streptavidin-bound plates were reacted with biotinylated virus followed by a secondary binding to Q-Dots with an emission range of 635 to 675 nm (Q-Dots 655). The assay demonstrated a relative fluorescence of 528 ± 48.1 and 112 ± 8.6 for bio-MNV-1 and control MNV-1, respectively. The biotinylation process did not impact virus infectivity, nor did it interfere with the interactions between the virus and host cells or model produce items. Using fluorescent microscopy, it was possible to visualize both bio-HAV and bio-MNV-1 attached to the surfaces of permissive mammalian cells and green onion tissue. The method provides a powerful tool for the labeling and detection of enteric viruses (and their surrogates) which can be used to track virus behavior in situ.
Reemergence of PML in natalizumab-treated patients--new cases, same concerns.

The earlier prediction that more cases of PML would be identified in association with natalizumab treatment has been realized, and we have no clear idea how many cases are on the horizon or how to anticipate which patients will be at greatest risk. Eugene Major writes that knowing that a patient has elevated levels of CD34+ cells, viremia, or both could be informative for the evaluation of continued or future treatment.
The novel primary response gene MyD118 and the proto-oncogenes myb, myc, and bcl-2 modulate transforming growth factor beta 1-induced apoptosis of myeloid leukemia cells.

Abstract Cell numbers are regulated by a balance among proliferation, growth arrest, and programmed cell death. A profound example of cell homeostasis, controlled throughout life, is the complex process of blood cell development, yet little is understood about the intracellular mechanisms that regulate blood cell growth arrest and programmed cell death. In this work, using transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1)-treated M1 myeloid leukemia cells and genetically engineered M1 cell variants, the regulation of growth arrest and apoptosis was dissected. Blocking of early expression of MyD118, a novel differentiation primary response gene also shown to be a primary response gene induced by TGF beta 1, delayed TGF beta 1-induced apoptosis, demonstrating that MyD118 is a positive modulator of TGF beta 1-mediated cell death. Elevated expression of bcl-2 blocked the TGF beta 1-induced apoptotic pathway but not growth arrest induced by TGF beta 1. Deregulated expression of either c-myc or c-myb inhibited growth arrest and accelerated apoptosis, demonstrating for the first time that c-myb plays a role in regulating apoptosis. In all cases, the apoptotic response was correlated with the level of MyD118 expression. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the primary response gene MyD118 and the c-myc, c-myb, and bcl-2 proto-oncogenes interact to modulate growth arrest and apoptosis of myeloid cells.
Pulsed Polarization Transfer for 13C NMR in Solids

Abstract A new pulsed polarization transfer experiment method is described for the polarization of 13 C spins in a solid by magnetization transfer from protons. The method is directly analogous to the INEPT sequence for liquids introduced by Freeman and Morris. As polarization is transferred in PPT between individual 1 H 13 C pairs, rather than between spin reservoirs, different opportunities exist for structurally selective experiments. Results on p -diethoxybenzene and coronene are presented.
The Crisis of Politics and Government in France

The French elections of June 1951 and the serious difficulties experienced by the victorious constitutional parties in the formation of a government call attention once more to the problems of a parliamentary system in a multiparty state, and underline the urgency of a redefinition of the roles of parties and government within a constitutional democracy. These developments also draw attention to the basic constitutional problems which affect the political stability of France, and thereby weaken the Western community. With an occasional glance at parallel Italian developments, this article will first analyze the new electoral law and the election returns before proceeding to a discussion of the constitutional issues that contribute to the deepening crisis of the Fourth Republic.
Non-genetic origins of cell-to-cell variability in TRAIL-induced apoptosis

Noisy gene expression or unequal partition of molecules during cell division are increasingly recognized as key sources of non-genetic cell-to-cell heterogeneity but the consequences for disease progression and drug efficiency are little understood. Through single-cell imaging, Spencer et al. now show that pre-existing cell-to-cell differences in the levels of signalling proteins determine whether the addition of an external death signal will kill a cell by apoptosis or not — and how quickly it happens. The mechanism may explain the phenomenon of 'fractional killing', in which repeated rounds of chemotherapy kill some but not all cells in a tumour. From an evolutionary perspective, such systems-level phenotypic variation — not based on genetic or epigenetic modifications — offers wider adaptive potential to populations of living organisms. Noise in gene expression gives rise to cell-to-cell variability in protein concentrations and is increasingly recognized as a key source of non-genetic differences between cells. Through single cell imaging, it has now been possible to demonstrate that pre-existing differences in the levels of signalling proteins determine whether the addition of an external death signal will kill a cell or not—and how fast. This has implications for understanding 'fractional killing' of tumour cells after chemotherapy, in which some but not all tumour cells die. In microorganisms, noise in gene expression gives rise to cell-to-cell variability in protein concentrations1,2,3,4,5,6,7. In mammalian cells, protein levels also vary8,9,10 and individual cells differ widely in their responsiveness to uniform physiological stimuli11,12,13,14,15. In the case of apoptosis mediated by TRAIL (tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) it is common for some cells in a clonal population to die while others survive—a striking divergence in cell fate. Among cells that die, the time between TRAIL exposure and caspase activation is highly variable. Here we image sister cells expressing reporters of caspase activation and mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization after exposure to TRAIL. We show that naturally occurring differences in the levels or states of proteins regulating receptor-mediated apoptosis are the primary causes of cell-to-cell variability in the timing and probability of death in human cell lines. Protein state is transmitted from mother to daughter, giving rise to transient heritability in fate, but protein synthesis promotes rapid divergence so that sister cells soon become no more similar to each other than pairs of cells chosen at random. Our results have implications for understanding ‘fractional killing’ of tumour cells after exposure to chemotherapy, and for variability in mammalian signal transduction in general.
Comment on Lockwood and Davis, ''On the longitudinal extent of magnetopause reconnection pulses''

Lockwood and Davis (1996) present a concise description of magnetopause reconnection pulses, with the claimed support of three types of observations: (1) flux transfer events (FTE), (2) poleward-moving auroral forms on the dayside, and (3) steps in cusp ion dispersion characteristics. However, there are a number of errors and misconceptions in the paper that make their conclusions untenable. They do not properly take account of the fact that the relevant processes operate in the presence of a plasma. They fail to notice that the source of energy (a dynamo with E J 0) in transient phenomena, since energy (or information) cannot travel faster than the group velocity of waves in the medium (here the Alfven velocity VA). In short, Lockwood and Davis use the wrong contour in their attempt to evaluate the electromotive force (emf). This criticism goes beyond their article: a dynamo is not included in the usual definition of reconnection, only the reconnection load. Without an explicit source of energy in the assumed model, the idea of magnetic reconnection is improperly posed. Recent research has carried out a superposed epoch analysis of conditions near the day- side magnetopause and has found the dynamo and the load, both within the magnetopause current sheet. Since the magnetopause current is from dawn to dusk, the sign of E J reflects the sign of the electric field. The electric field reverses, within the magnetopause; this can be discovered by an application of Lenz's law using the concept of erosion of the magnetopause. The net result is plasma transfer across the magnetopause to feed the low latitude boundary layer, at least partly on closed field lines, and viscous interaction as the mechanism by which solar wind plasma couples to the magnetosphere.
Determination of Spacecraft Landing Footprint for Safe Planetary Landing

A methodology is developed based on a ballistic analysis to estimate the landing footprint associated with the powered terminal descent phase of a spacecraft soft landing. The analysis is based on an idealized two-impulse thrust maneuver and leads to an analytical expression for the elliptical boundary of the landing footprint. The objective is to develop a computationally efficient method to estimate the landing footprint for use in an on-board fuzzy-logic based inference engine for real-time hazard avoidance. The inference engine combines an estimate of the landing footprint with information about the safeness of the landing terrain to construct an overall landing site quality index. The landing site quality index is a critical parameter that enables the spacecraft to make intelligent real-time decisions about landing safely on unknown and hazardous terrains. The footprint generated from the ballistic analysis is also compared with the footprint resulting from numerically integrating a representative guidance law.
Focus on Protein kinase A and protein kinase C, critical components of signal transduction system, in mood disorders and suicide

Depression is among the most prevalent forms of mental disorders, affecting 10–15% of the US population, with high rates of comorbidity and frequent suicidal behaviour. Tragically, about 30000 lives are lost each year by suicide (Minino and Smith, 2001). Despite significant progress in research, the pathophysiology of depression and suicide is poorly understood. A number of studies suggest that abnormalities in signalling mechanisms may be crucial to various psychiatric disorders, including depression and suicide (Dwivedi et al., 2002, 2003; Jope et al., 1998; Pacheco et al., 1996; Pandey et al., 2002a). Particular attention has been paid to examining protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation and the activation and repression of transcription factors, which are key processes in signalling mechanisms, and ultimately in modulating the expression of genes involved in various neuronal functions. Two important protein phosphorylating enzymes, protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC), are components of the adenylyl cyclase-cyclic AMP (AC-cAMP) and the phosphoinositide (PI) signalling systems respectively. Activation of PKC by diacylglycerol is associated with the translocation of the enzyme from the cytoplasm to the membrane and then causes phosphorylation of important proteins and transcription factors such as cAMP response element-binding (CREB) protein, which regulates the expression of genes containing CRE consensus in their promoters. As is the case with PKC, the activation of PKA by cAMP also phosphorylates a diverse number of target proteins in both cytoplasm and the nuclear compartment. One such target in the nucleus is CREB.
Different gene regulation strategies revealed by analysis of binding motifs

Coordinated regulation of gene expression relies on transcription factors (TFs) binding to specific DNA sites. Our large-scale information–theoretical analysis of >950 TF-binding motifs demonstrates that prokaryotes and eukaryotes use strikingly different strategies to target TFs to specific genome locations. Although bacterial TFs can recognize a specific DNA site in the genomic background, eukaryotic TFs exhibit widespread, nonfunctional binding and require clustering of sites to achieve specificity. We find support for this mechanism in a range of experimental studies and in our evolutionary analysis of DNA-binding domains. Our systematic characterization of binding motifs provides a quantitative assessment of the differences in transcription regulation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Physician/patient-driven risk assignment in radiation oncology: Reality or fancy?

Purpose Treatment plan optimization in radiation oncology entails designing multiple x-ray beams to irradiate a tumor to a dose that will achieve locoregional control while minimizing normal tissue complications. For some anatomical sites, it is possible to estimate tumor control probabilities (TCP) and normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP) as a function of radiation dose. Thus, treatment plan optimization can be based on biologic end points rather than on dose calculations alone. Given multiple plans with different NTCPs and TCPs, a tradeoff must be made between maximizing TCP and maintaining an acceptable NTCP. How do physicians reach these decisions? Can the process be quantified? Should patients participate in the process? Methods and materials Physicians and patients were asked to rank a series of treatment plans having different combinations of TCP and NTCP. Responses were parametrized into a figure of merit (FM) equation which quantifies predilections of TCP and NTCP. Results Physician-based FM equations are site- and patient-specific. Variations exist among physicians, but treatment plan selection is often conservative in accordance with the primum non nocere dictum. FM equations generated from the responses of patients suggest that some patients may be willing to accept higher treatment toxicity in exchange for increased TCP. Conclusion The term "optimized treatment plan" contains inherently subjective criteria which reflect one's willingness to accept treatment morbidity in exchange for probability of cure. These criteria may differ among patients and/or physicians. A quantifiable FM may permit the design of custom-made treatment plans that include physician and patient input.
Analysis of Telemedicine Diffusion: The Case of China

Telemedicine helps developing countries deliver medical services to underdeveloped rural areas where health resources are deficient. Yet telemedicine diffusion in the largest developing country, China, remains a secret to the world. This paper examines the evolution of telemedicine in China, analyzes factors influencing the diffusion of telemedicine, and provides recommendations to overcome obstacles to telemedicine
Design and Fabrication of Large-Area, Redundant, Stretchable Interconnect Meshes Using Excimer Laser Photoablation and In Situ Masking

Stretchable interconnects play an important role towards the realization of the realm of systems that include large-area sensor skins and wearable electronics. These interconnects must be reliable and robust for viability, and must be flexible, stretchable, and conformable to nonplanar surfaces for diverse applicability. This research describes the design, modeling, fabrication, and testing of stretchable interconnects on polymer substrates using metal patterns both as functional interconnect layers and as in situ masks for excimer laser photoablation. The fluences for photoablation of polymers are generally much lower than the threshold fluence for removal or damage of metals; thus, metal thin films that are designed as structural layers in the sensor skin can be used as in situ masks for polymers if the proper fluence is used. Self-aligned single-layer and multilayer interconnects of various designs (rectilinear and “meandering”) have been fabricated, and certain “meandering” interconnect designs can be stretched up to 50% uniaxially while maintaining good electrical conductivity and structural integrity. Furthermore, redundant interconnect meshes have been modeled and fabricated that increase the viability of the interconnect mesh while stretching up to 30% uniaxially and a prototype redundant interconnect mesh has been fabricated using seamless-scanning large-area fabrication techniques.
Universities and RF measurement

RF measurement offers an excellent opportunity to university students and practitioners to advance knowledge. Progress in the field requires better RF measurements, especially for improvement of systems.
Introduction: Presuppositions in Context—Theoretical Issues and Experimental Perspectives

A central issue in semantics and pragmatics is to understand how various different aspects of meaning contribute to the overall conveyed meaning of an utterance. Asserted content, implicatures, and presuppositions are commonly assumed to differ in terms of their source, their status, and their interaction with the context in the theoretical literature. This chapter starts with a brief introduction of this theoretical background, and then reviews the experimental literature on related phenomena in some detail, with a focus on presuppositions. In the course of this, the contributions to the present volume are situated in the context of previous work. The conclusion provides an outlook on future directions.