cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ehlers Danlos syndrome and gastrointestinal manifestations: a 20-year experience at Mayo Clinic

Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations are found in Ehlers Danlos syndrome (EDS) hypermobility subtype (HM). We aimed to assess associations between EDS HM and other EDS subtypes with GI manifestations.We reviewed medical records of EDS patients evaluated at Mayo Clinic's Medical Genetics Clinic 1994-2013. We extracted information regarding EDS subtypes, GI manifestations, and treatments.We identified 687 patients; 378 (56%) had associated GI manifestations (female 86.8%, diagnosis mean age 29.6 years). Of the patients identified, 58.9% (43/73) had EDS classic, 57.5% (271/471) EDS HM, 47.3% (27/57) EDS vascular subtypes. In addition, 86 patients had EDS that could not be classified in any of those three subtypes. Commonest GI symptoms were: abdominal pain (56.1%), nausea (42.3%), constipation (38.6%), heartburn (37.6%), and irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms (27.5%). Many GI symptoms were commoner in EDS HM than the other subtypes together. Among 37.8% of the 378 patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, the commonest abnormalities were gastritis, hiatal hernia and reflux esophagitis. Abnormal gastric emptying was observed in 22.3% (17/76): 11.8% delayed and 10.5% accelerated. Colonic transit was abnormal in 28.3% (13/46): 19.6% delayed and 8.7% accelerated. Rectal evacuation disorder was confirmed in 18/30 patients who underwent anorectal manometry. Angiography showed aneurysms in abdominal vessels in EDS vascular type. Proton pump inhibitors (38%) and drugs for constipation (23%) were the most commonly used medications. A minority underwent colectomy (2.9%) or small bowel surgery (4%).EDS HM and other subtypes should be considered in patients with chronic functional GI symptoms and abdominal vascular lesions.
Liver injury following halothane anesthesia in phenobarbital-pretreated rats.

Abstract Linear foci of centrolobular necrosis on the posterior aspect of the liver were consistently produced by 5 hr of anesthesia with 0.85% halothane in young male rats pretreated with phenobarbital (PBT: 1 g/l. drinking water) for 30 days. Microsomes isolated from livers of these animals immediately upon completion of anesthesia had elevated lipid-conjugated diene and decreased cytochrome P-450 content and 14 C-glycine incorporation into protein in vivo . Lipid-conjugated dienes and glycine incorporation, but not P-450, returned to pre-anesthesia levels within 2 hr. None of these alterations were evident after anesthesia in livers of saline-pretreated rats (0.23 g NaCl/l. drinking water). Aside from the persistence of decreased animals, alterations in lipid-conjugated diene and glycine incorporation did not occur after repeated anesthesia at 48-hr intervals, nor was hepatic necrosis as evident, although anesthesia recovery times increased significantly. These findings indicate that metabolites of halothane are directly hepatotoxic and that repeated anesthesia with halothane at 2-day intervals decreases its hepatotoxic effect—presumably by interfering with its metabolism to toxic metabolites by the endoplasmic reticulum. Similar morphologic lesions can also be produced in PBT-pretreated animals by minute doses of CCl 4 .
Optimal Positioning of Tubes in Arbitrary Two-Dimensional Regions Using a Special Boundary Integral Method

Two-dimensional steady conduction heat transfer from a set of parallel tubes located in a finite two-dimensional region enclosed by an arbitrarily shaped boundary is considered. A special boundary integral method is used in an optimization scheme where the tubes sizes, positions, and surface temperatures can be determined in an iterative procedure with the objective of minimizing the variation of temperature over a specified segment of the boundary. Previous studies of this type were limited not only to rectangular regions but also to uniform heat flux results on the surface of each tube. However, the optimization scheme developed in this study is applicable to any arbitrarily shaped two-dimensional region and considers angular variation of heat flux on the surface of each tube. Results for three sample geometries are presented and discussed.
Isolation, partial amino acid sequence, and cellular distribution of heat-shock protein hsp98 from Neurospora crassa

Abstract Hsp98 is one of the most prominent proteins synthesized during the heat-shock response of Neurospora crassa . We purified hsp98 and determined the amino acid sequence of two overlapping peptides obtained by cyanogen bromide cleavage. This 28 amino acid sequence from hsp98 has 75% homology with a region of the ClpB protein of Escherichia coli and 86% homology to a 96-kDa protein of Trypanosoma brucei . It also has 71% homology to hsp104 of Saccharomyces cerevisae . Hsp98 was enriched in the microsomal fraction of heat-shocked cells. Sucrose gradient analysis of this cellular fraction showed that the three major high molecular weight heat-shock proteins (hsp98, 83 and 67) were more concentrated in polyribosomes than in monoribosomes. Another newly synthesized protein, p28, was strongly enriched in monoribosomes. After dissociation of the polyribosomes into ribosomal subunits, the three major heat-shock proteins were shown to be localized preferentially in the large subunit. Whereas p28 was also strongly associated with the large ribosomal subunit, a newly synthesized protein of about 22 kDa was exclusively associated with the small subunit.
Post‐traumatic stress after childhood cancer I: The role of appraisal

Life threat or physical injury have been shown to produce post-traumatic stress symptoms in children. Recent studies have demonstrated that a subset of survivors of pediatric cancer report post-traumatic stress symptoms years after completing successful treatment. However, it is not clear whether these symptoms represent a response to the perception of life-threat or to the repeated intrusive procedures that accompany cancer treatment. In this exploratory study, 30 childhood cancer survivors 8 to 19 years old, who were at least 22 months off treatment without recurrence of disease, were evaluated using self-report questionnaires. The survivor's appraisal of treatment intensity signficantly correlated with the severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms. When age at the time of diagnosis was evaluated, appraisal of treatment intensity was significantly correlated with symptoms only in those six years old and younger. For children aged seven years or older at the time of diagnosis, duration of treatment was a significant contributor to symptoms. Diagnostic category (leukemia or solid tumor), length of time since completion of treatment and the child's appraisal of life-threat were not significantly correlated with severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Further study of the impact of intensive pediatric treatment on children and the importance of developmental factors in traumatic response to illness appears to be indicated.
Changes over time in the black-white difference on mental tests: Evidence from the children of the 1979 cohort of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth

Abstract Data for three Peabody achievement tests and for the Peabody picture vocabulary test administered to children of women in the 1979 cohort of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth show that the black–white difference did not diminish for this sample of children born from the mid 1970s through the mid 1990s. This finding persists after entering covariates for the child's age and family background variables. It is robust across alternative samples and specifications of the model. The analysis supplements other evidence that shows no narrowing of the black–white difference in academic achievement tests since the late 1980s and is inconsistent with recent evidence that narrowing occurred in IQ standardizations during the same period. A hypothesis for reconciling this inconsistency is proposed.
Renal Atrophy Secondary to Radiation Treatment of Abdominal Malignancies

Mean size of the primary radiated kidney was reduced from 104.1 mm (range 100–120, SD 13.1) before treatment to 93.8 mm (range 85–120, SD 13.3) at 1 year after radiotherapy (p < 0.0001). Mean size of the non-primary radiated kidney was reduced from 109.4 mm (range 80–125, SD 8.3) before treatment to 105.0 mm (range 70–120, SD 10.2) at 1 year after radiotherapy (p = 0.06), table 1. Mean creatinine was increased from 0.84 mg/dl (range 0.5-1.3) before treatment to 0.94 mg/dl (range 0.6-1.4) after radiotherapy (p = 0.08).
Studies on the inner mitochondrial membrane localization of proline dehydrogenase.

Abstract 1. The site of proline dehydrogenase (EC1.5.99.-) activity in blowfly (Phormia regina) flight muscle mitochondria has been investigated employing the inner membrane-impermeable Fe(CN)63− as electron acceptor. Antimycin had no inhibitory effect on ferricyanide reduction due to proline dehydrogenase activity. Ferricyanide reductase activity due to inside localized dehydrogenase activity was antimycin sensitive. These results indicate that the interaction between proline dehydrogenase and ferricyanide was direct and not dependent on respiratory chain activity. 2. The stimulatory action of the effector, ADP, on proline dehydrogenase activity was insensitive to atractyloside, an indication that the site of dehydrogenase interaction with ADP was external to the atractyloside barrier. 3. Swelling studies revealed that proline does not readily penetrate the matrix space. 4. An outside localization for proline dehydrogenase is discussed in terms of the role of proline in insect flight muscle metabolism.
Elemental and isotopic heterogeneities of rare gases in the solar system: Reply to a comment by Kuroda and Sheng

The experimental evidence for correlated elemental and isotopic ratios of rare gases in meteorites is indisputable and totally independent of model or interpretation. More effort needs to be made to understand this observation if models proposed to explain the existence of isotopic anomalies in the early solar system are to be credible.
Quantitative analysis of hemocyte morphological abnormalities associated with Campoletis sonorensis parasitization

Abstract Endoparasitoids of arthropods evoke host cellular immune responses that result in hemocytic encapsulation of the endoparasitoid, unless these responses are disrupted by the parasite. Our interest has focused on mutualistic viruses found in some hymenopteran endoparasitoids that disrupt hemocyte function and prevent encapsulation. Specifically, the Campoletis sonorensis polydnavirus interacts with wasp factors to suppress immunity via expression of intracellular and secreted viral proteins. To study the roles of specific parasitization-associated factors on immunocyte morphology, fluorescence microscopy was used to visualize the actin cytoskeleton in infected and uninfected cells, or after treatment with C. sonorensis ovarian proteins or plasma from infected larvae. The titer and distribution of F- and G-actin were altered in hemocytes from parasitized insects relative to control cells, with plasma from parasitized larvae having an intermediate effect. This suggests that intracellular and secreted...
Postpartum radical trachelectomy for IB1 squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix diagnosed in pregnancy

Standard management of stage IB1 cervical cancer in pregnancy is radical hysterectomy with fetus in situ if diagnosis precedes viability, or cesarean radical hysterectomy. Postpartum abdominal radical trachelectomy was performed as an alternative, fertility-preserving surgery in a 30-year-old nulliparous woman diagnosed with stage IB1 cervical at 21 weeks' gestation.
Identification and Characterization of a New Class of Trafficking Motifs for Controlling Clathrin-independent Internalization and Recycling

Plasma membrane proteins such as receptors and ion channels allow a cell to communicate with its environment and regulate many intracellular activities. Thus, the proper control of the surface number of these proteins is essential for maintaining the structural and functional homeostasis of a cell. Internalization and recycling plays a key role in determining the surface density of receptors and channels. Whereas the clathrin-mediated internalization and its associated recycling have been the focus of research in this field, recent studies have revealed that an increasing number of receptors and channels enter a cell via clathrin-independent pathways. However, little is known about the trafficking motifs involved in controlling clathrin-independent internalization and various associated recycling pathways. By using a potassium channel as a model system, we identified a class of trafficking motifs that function along a clathrin-independent pathway to increase the surface density of a membrane protein by preventing its rapid internalization and/or facilitating its recycling via the ADP-ribosylation factor 6-dependent recycling pathway. Moreover our data suggest that these motifs may enhance the association of membrane proteins with the EFA6 family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors for ADP-ribosylation factor 6.
Simulation and measurement of on-body wave propagation

The future of wireless body area networks (WBAN) in medical applications is promising. A typical WBAN consists of wearable body sensor units (BSU) and a body control unit (BCU). The BCU can receive the signal from the BSUs and relay data regarding impending emergencies. In this paper, the wave propagation along and around the human body are studied, representing line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight, respectively. A simplified human phantom model is also simulated to validate measurements.
CA5-05: A Visual Method to Rapidly Facilitate Case Identification Among a Medically Complex Cohort

Background/Aims Comparative effectiveness research studies often require researchers to make inference about the relationship between exposure to various treatments over time and health outcomes. In these studies it can be a challenge to isolate the effect of the exposure from other concurrent treatments and health conditions. For example, in the study of the effect of different antipsychotic medications on body weight, concurrent exposures of oral steroids, insulin, pregnancy, and cancer diagnosis can have important confounding effects. The temporal relationships between these exposures may be difficult to assess in large samples; therefore we sought a way to graphically display exposures and outcomes in a single figure to facilitate rapid screening of potential cases.
Cyclic AMP-mediated transformation of rat cells transformed by temperature-sensitive mouse sarcoma virus

SEVERAL lines of evidence suggest that adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) is involved in the regulation of growth and other properties of cultured cells (for review, see ref. 1). Specifically, various reports have shown a correlation between the abnormal growth and morphological properties of virus-transformed cells and low levels of cyclic AMP2,3. Treatment of these transformed cells with cyclic AMP, cyclic AMP analogues, or agents that raise cyclic AMP levels restores growth and morphological properties characteristic of normal cells4–7. The use of cells transformed by temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) or mouse sarcoma virus (MSV)8,9 as well as ts host cell mutants10,11 strengthened the evidence relating viral transformation and cyclic AMP levels. Other evidence obtained in similar virally transformed cell systems, however, has failed to confirm the inverse relationship between cyclic AMP levels and cell growth rate and transformation by RNA and DNA tumour viruses12–15. We now report that the exogenous addition of cyclic AMP mediates the morphological transformation of rat cells transformed by a ts mutant of MSV at the non-permissive temperature. Correspondingly, expression of the transformed phenotype by cells grown at the permissive temperature is associated with increased levels of endogenous cyclic AMP.
On the extracellular contribution to multiple quantum filtered 23Na NMR of perfused rat heart

We investigated the contribution of extracellular Na+ to the multiple-quantum filtered 23Na NMR signal of perfused rat hearts to determine if the presence of shift reagent Dy(PPPi)2 and inorganic phosphate were somehow responsible for the generation of extracellular multiple quantum coherence. Neither phosphate nor shift reagent caused an increase in the total multiple-quantum filtered signal intensity or in the percent contribution from extracellular ions. On the contrary, addition of Dy(PPPi)2 actually decreased the total signal intensity from intra- and extracellular ions. Further addition of 1.5 mM Gd(PPPi)2 eliminated the extracellular contribution. These data indicate that the previously reported extracellular contribution in perfused hearts is a true contribution of extracellular ions, and not an artifact originating from their interaction with the shift reagent.
Synthesis of a 10-Oxo-Bilirubin: Effects of the Oxo Group on Conformation, Transhepatic Transport, and Glucuronidation

Bilirubin, the yellow pigment of jaundice, is a linear tetrapyrrole with a methylene group at its center, C(10), a position of crucial importance to its conformation and metabolism. The presence of the central methylene group allows the bilirubin to fold into an intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded conformation. This paper describes the first synthesis of a bilirubin analogue with an oxo group at C(10). The change from CH2 to CO, from sp3 to sp2, is designed to stress the molecule at its hinge and relax its conformation. Such compounds have been suggested as potential oxidative metabolites of bilirubin in vivo. 10-Oxo-mesobilirubin-XIIIα (1) is a red crystalline solid, unlike its parent, mesobilirubin-XIIIα, which is a bright yellow solid. It is surprisingly polar, relative to the parent, yet it does not exhibit a significantly larger bicarbonate/chloroform partition coefficient. Like the parent, 1 appears to adopt an intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded ridge-tile-like conformation. In normal rats, 1 is metaboli...
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Interactions with Epithelial Cells: Adherence, Invasion and Apoptosis |[diams]| 896

P. aeruginosa is primarily an extracellular pathogen which adheres to cystic fibrosis epithelial cells due to increased numbers of asialyated receptors on the epithelial surface. Recent studies suggest that P. aeruginosa interacts with normal CFTR leading to ingestion by respiratory epithelial cells (Pier et al Science, 1996) which are then shed, possibly due to apoptosis. Both these processes may be relevant to the pathogenesis of infection in cystic fibrosis. We compared the trafficking of P. aeruginosa in CF and normal respiratory epithelial cells in primary culture and in transformed cell lines using flow cytometry, electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. To determine the relative contribution of superficial attachment versus epithelial phagocytosis, epithelial cell lines were grown in a polarized fashion on transwells, and treated with 1×108 cfu/ml of PAO1. When examined by EM polarized cells with tight junctions show minimal P. aeruginosa adherence and no invasion. Epithelial cells with disrupted tight junctions had increased intracellular bacterial invasion and evidence of intracellular replication. Flow cytometry was used to differentiate adherent from ingested bacteria, facilitating rapid analysis of a large number of individual cells. PAO1 labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) were incubated with monolayers of IB-3 (CF) and C-38 cells (“corrected”) cell lines. FACS analysis allowed the enumeration of all cells associated with bacteria and secondary labeling with Texas Red detected adherent but not ingested organisms. 18% of the CF cells had ingested organisms, which was half the amount ingested by the corrected cell line (44%). Ingestion of PAO1 was not abolished by cytochalasin-D. Confocal microscopy clearly differentiated green (ingested) from yellow (adherent) bacteria. These results contrasted markedly with the data obtained with primary cells which retained tight junctions and had virtually no internalized bacteria. A TUNEL assay demonstrated that epithelial cells with ingested bacteria were apoptotic within 6 hours. These experiments suggest P. aeruginosa can invade epithelial cells when the integrity of the epithelium is damaged but are only minimally adherent and non-invasive to an intact respiratory epithelium.
Assessment for Excellence: The Philosophy and Practice of Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education

Preface Chapter 1: The Philosophy and Logic of Assessment Chapter 2: A Conceptual Model for Assessment Chapter 3: Assessing Outcomes Chapter 4: Assessing Student Inputs Chapter 5: Assessing the Environment Chapter 6: Analyzing Assessment Data Chapter 7: Use of Assessment Results Chapter 8: Building a Database Chapter 9: Assessment as Direct Feedback to the Learner Chapter 10: Assessment and Equity Chapter 11: Assessment and Public Policy Chapter 12: The Future of Assessment Appendix: Statistical Analysis of Longitudinal Data References Index
SUGGESTIONS AS TO METHOD IN MAKING A VOCABULARY

These suggestions are offered in the hope that they may be of practical assistance to some textbook makers. They rest upon experience gained in the making of a number of Italian textbooks; they will prove generally applicable, I think, in the making of textbooks in other languages.
Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities and adaptation to a shared environment

Natural selection might drive the evolution of postzygotic reproductive isolation even when allopatric populations adapt to identical environments, an idea first suggested by Muller (1942). Here, we analyze this scenario mathematically, focusing on the evolution of a Dobzhansky–Muller incompatibility (DMI) between populations. Our results identify a potential problem with Muller's scenario: adaptation to identical environments can often involve substitution of the same alleles, precluding formation of a hybrid incompatibility. We show that the probability of evolving a DMI falls as selection coefficients among beneficial alleles become less similar. The reason is that if one locus is under much stronger selection than the other, that locus is much more likely to experience a substitution first in both populations. This precludes the development of a DMI, which requires different substitutions in the two populations.
An investigation of the temperature distribution in cast-resin transformer windings

A comprehensive thermal test program was conducted on a 2000 kVA cast-resin dry type transformer with 300 embedded thermocouples to determine the hottest spot temperature allowance and to obtain data to develop mathematical models. Nineteen thermal test runs were performed at different loads, tap positions, and core excitations under natural and forced air operating conditions. The test data indicated that the hottest spot temperature allowance used in the IEC standard was too low. In the IEEE standard, the hottest spot temperature allowance appears conservative up to about 115 degrees C average winding temperature rise. The locations of the hottest spot for the primary and secondary winding were determined. Conclusions about thermal testing and loading are presented. >
Making and Executing Decisions for Safe and Independent Living (MED-SAIL): development and validation of a brief screening tool.

Objectives Older adults prefer to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. The purpose of this article is to describe the development and preliminary validation of Making and Executing Decisions for Safe and Independent Living (MED-SAIL), a brief screening tool for capacity to live safely and independently in the community. Design Prospective preliminary validation study. Setting Outpatient geriatrics clinic located in a community-based hospital. Participants Forty-nine community-dwelling older adults referred to the clinic for a comprehensive capacity assessment. Measurements We examined internal consistency, criterion-based validity, concurrent validity, and accuracy of classification for MED-SAIL. Results The items included in MED-SAIL demonstrated internal consistency (5 items; α = 0.85). MED-SAIL was significantly correlated with the Independent Living Scales (r = 0.573, p ≤0.001) and instrumental activities of daily living (r = 0.440, p ≤0.01). The Mann-Whitney U test revealed significant differences between the no capacity and partial/full capacity classifications on MED-SAIL (U(48) = 60.5, Z = −0.38, p Conclusions This study demonstrated the validity of MED-SAIL as a brief screening tool to identify older adults with impaired capacity for remaining safe and independent in their current living environment. MED-SAIL is useful tool for health and social service providers in the community for the purpose of referral for definitive capacity evaluation.
Solvent cage effects: the influence of radical mass and volume on the recombination dynamics of radical cage pairs generated by photolysis of [CpCH2CH2N(CH3)C(O)(CH2)nCH3Mo(CO)3]2 (n = 3, 8, 13, 18) (Cp = η5-C5H4) complexes

The photochemistry of the [(CpR)Mo(CO)3]2 molecules, where CpR = η5-C5H4(CH2)2C(O)NCH3(CH2)nCH3 (n = 3, 8, 13, and 18), was examined using femtosecond pump–probe transient absorption spectroscopy. The goal of this study was to investigate the importance of radical size and mass on the dynamics and efficiency of geminate radical–radical recombination. The femtosecond results demonstrated the lack of any size/mass dependence of the recombination efficiency. This finding contrasts with results from a prior study that did find a size/mass dependence using a steady-state photochemical technique. To explain these conflicting results, it is proposed that the femtosecond pump–probe results are a measurement of the efficiency of primary geminate recombination whereas the steady-state method results are a measurement of the sum of primary and secondary geminate recombination efficiencies. The size/mass dependence is evident in the latter because secondary geminate recombination is a slower diffusive recombination process and therefore depends on the steric properties of the radicals. Although the existence of primary and secondary recombination channels is often taken for granted, experimental differentiation of primary and secondary caging has proven to be difficult because it is not possible for a single experimental technique to span the entire timescale for recombination of a radical cage pair and adequately resolve these recombination pathways.
Mechanism of Insulin Chain Combination: ASYMMETRIC ROLES OF A-CHAIN α-HELICES IN DISULFIDE PAIRING *

Abstract The A and B chains of insulin combine to form native disulfide bridges without detectable isomers. The fidelity of chain combination thus recapitulates the folding of proinsulin, a precursor protein in which the two chains are tethered by a disordered connecting peptide. We have recently shown that chain combination is blocked by seemingly conservative substitutions in the C-terminal α-helix of the A chain. Such analogs, once formed, nevertheless retain high biological activity. By contrast, we demonstrate here that chain combination is robust to non-conservative substitutions in the N-terminal α-helix. Introduction of multiple glycine substitutions into the N-terminal segment of the A chain (residues A1–A5) yields analogs that are less stable than native insulin and essentially without biological activity. 1H NMR studies of a representative analog lacking invariant side chains IleA2and ValA3 (A chain sequence GGGEQCCTSICSLYQLENYCN; substitutions are italicized and cysteines are underlined) demonstrate local unfolding of the A1–A5 segment in an otherwise native-like structure. That this and related partial folds retain efficient disulfide pairing suggests that the native N-terminal α-helix does not participate in the transition state of the reaction. Implications for the hierarchical folding mechanisms of proinsulin and insulin-like growth factors are discussed.
John Auther, Philomusus

The article is about Auther's one book of poetry "Poems on Various Occations," (1777) which is one of the great rarities of the Rutgers Library's eighteenth century collection.
Radiating Instability of Nonzonal Ocean Currents

Abstract The linear stability of nonzonal flow, uniform in the alongjet direction on a beta plane, is studied. The flow is balanced by a forcing term in the potential vorticity equation. The problem is analyzed in both barotropic and two-layer models. The stability computations are performed for piecewise constant and continuous velocity profiles. New stability properties of nonzonal jets are discussed. The destabilizing effect of the meridional tilt of the jet is demonstrated. The study focuses on the ability of the current to support radiating instabilities capable of significant penetration into the far field. The radiating properties of nonzonal currents are found to be very different from those of zonal currents. In particular, purely zonal flows do not support radiating instabilities, whereas flows with a meridional component are capable of radiating long waves. The new mechanism for radiation is related to the nonzonality of a current.
3D versus 2D behavior in ceramic Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10−δ high-Tc superconductors

Abstract The comprehensive studies of I–V curve characteristics in ceramic Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10−δ(Tl-2223) compounds are carried out in the magnetic field. In low fields, 0≤H≤2000 Oe, the system has well-defined 3D vortex-glass transition and all nonlinear I–V curves above and below Tg(H) can be collapsed into two universal lines. In high fields H≥6000 Oe, the system is in a 2D state. The 2D vortex behavior can be described by the 2D vortex-glass scaling, in which all of nonlinear I–V curves can be sealed into a single universal line. When 2000≤H≤6000 Oe, the vortex system undergoes a dimensional crossover. A tentative phase diagram is constructed.
Is BTZ a separate superselection sector of CTMG

We exhibit exact solutions of (positive) matter coupled to original “wrong G-sign” cosmological TMG. They all evolve to conical singularity, rather than to black hole – here negative mass – BTZ. This provides evidence that the latter constitute a separate “superselection” sector, one that unlike in GR, is not reachable by physical sources.
Effects of radiation on the properties of low thermal expansion coefficient materials: A review

Abstract This paper presents a literature review of the effects of radiation on the physical properties (excluding optical absorption) of low thermal expansion coefficient materials such as silica and glass-ceramics. Because in-depth studies of radiation effects have been reported only for silica, the emphasis of the review is on this material.
The Construct Validity of Individual and Interpersonal Correlates of Roommate Relationship Quality

There is a need for validated constructs and instruments with which to approach the study of individual traits and interpersonal processes which enable college roommates to develop and maintain quality relationships. This study investigated the convergent and discriminant validity of four constructs important to college roommate relationships: empathic responding, perception of experience (in the relationship), similarity of partners and interpersonal understanding. The design employed Campbell & Fiske's (1959) multitrait-multimethod matrix. Each constructwas represented by two `companion variables' that were measured using both the psychometric and single-item self-rating methods. Forty roommate pairs enrolled in a Relationship Skills program participated in the study. One individual variable, Perception of Trust and Intimacy, and one interpersonal variable, Understanding, showed promising evidence of convergent and discriminant validity.
Maximal and minimal solutions, effectiveness factors for chemical reaction in porous catalysts

Abstract A chemical reaction in a porous catalyst particle is considered. It is shown that in both the isothermal and non-isothermal cases, with either Dirichlet or third kind boundary conditions, two sequences of functions can be obtained, one of which converges to the maximal solution and the other to the minimal solution. Corresponding to these two sequences of functions, two sequences of numbers, which converge to the maximal and the minimal effectiveness factors, can be obtained. It is shown that in the isothermal case, the maximal (minimal) solution has the minimal (maximal) effectiveness factor while in the non-isothermal case, the maximal (minimal) temperature solution has the maximal (minimal) effectiveness factor. Two numerical examples are given to illustrate the results.
Exercise improves biomarkers of health and stress in animals fed ad libitum.

Abstract Voluntary and forced exercise decrease morbidity and mortality in laboratory animals. Caloric restriction has similar effects on health and unique benefits on life span. Nonetheless, in most experiments, animals do not have access to physical activity and are fed ad libitum (AL). We hypothesized that with regular access to either unlimited running wheel exercise (EX) or limited physical activity (PA), key biomarkers of health would be enhanced enough to counter some consequences of a sedentary AL lifestyle. This 16-month study compared body weight, tumor number and size, tissue lesions, oxidative stress, and reactive stress in (1) sedentary animals with no access to physical activity (SED); (2) animals with access to hour-long, twice weekly activity in a large box (PA); and (3) animals with access every other day to a running wheel (EX). At the end of the study, EX body weight was 8–9% lower than PA and SED. In addition, EX had no kidney lesions versus 50% in PA and SED, and had smaller tumor size (10±2 vs. 14±4 and 30±4 mm). Exhaustive exercise lowered glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio in EX and PA, but in SED, the ratio was depressed even in resting animals. In all treatments, prolactin (PRL) levels were lower in resting animals than in acutely exercised animals. In conclusion, EX had the most favorable health biomarkers while SED had the least. PA did not confer gross health benefits different than the SED group, but was biochemically more similar to EX animals.
Transformation of modified brushite to hydroxyapatite in aqueous solution: effects of potassium substitution.

Brushite (dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, DCPD, CaHPO4 x 2H2O) was deposited electrolytically from calcium dihydrogen phosphate solution with and without potassium chloride (KCl) as a supporting electrolyte. The kinetics of brushite transformation to hydroxyapatite (HA, Ca5(PO4)3OH) in the presence of calcium and protein free, aqueous body fluid (Hank's balanced salt solution, HBSS) was investigated. We present evidence that the deposition of brushite in a KCl-supported electrochemical bath yields a modified brushite where some of the calcium is substituted by potassium. Transformation of both normal (i.e. potassium free) and modified brushite to hydroxyapatite upon exposure to calcium and protein-free aqueous fluid (HBSS) was followed by reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Changes in the morphology of the coatings were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicate that modified brushite undergoes faster transformation to hydroxyapatite in HBSS in comparison to normal brushite. Our results show that the presence of potassium ions in the brushite not only favors the formation of different intermediate phases but also alters transformation rates to HA.
Collisional sheet flows of sediment driven by a turbulent fluid

We consider a sheet flow in which heavy grains near a packed bed interact with a unidirectional turbulent shear flow of a fluid. We focus on sheet flows in which the particles are supported by their collisional interactions rather than by the velocity fluctuations of the turbulent fluid and introduce what we believe to be the simplest theory for the collisional regime that captures its essential features. We employ a relatively simple model of the turbulent shearing of the fluid and use kinetic theory for the collisional grain flow to predict profiles of the mean fluid velocity, the mean particle velocity, the particle concentration, and the strength of the particle velocity fluctuations within the sheet. These profiles are obtained as solutions to the equations of balance of fluid and particle momentum and particle fluctuation energy over a range of Shields parameters between 0.5 and 2.5. We compare the predicted thickness of the concentrated region and the predicted features of the profile of the mean fluid velocity with those measured by Sumer et al. (1996). In addition, we calculate the volume flux of particles in the sheet as a function of Shields parameter. Finally, we apply the theory to sand grains in air for the conditions of a sandstorm and calculate profiles of particle concentration, velocity, and local volume flux.
Role of the Small Heat Shock Proteins in Regulating Vascular Smooth Muscle Tone

Background Vasospasm occurs in conduits used for vascular reconstructions. The small heat shock proteins, HSP20 and HSP27, coordinately regulate vascular smooth muscle tone. Phosphorylated HSP20 is associated with vasorelaxation, and phosphorylated HSP27 inhibits the phosphorylation of HSP20 and relaxation. We hypothesized that the relationship between the phosphorylated states of these two proteins might dictate the tone of a vessel and may contribute to vasospasm. Study design Sodium nitroprusside relaxation of vascular smooth muscle was recorded using pig coronary artery and human saphenous vein. Segments were frozen and homogenized, and extracted proteins were separated by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, transferred to Immobilon (Millipore), and probed with anti-cGMP-dependent protein kinase (anti-PKG), -HSP20, -HSP27, and -phosphoHSP27 antibodies. Band intensity was estimated using densitometry. Results Pig coronary artery completely relaxed (100%) with SNP (10 −7 M), but human saphenous vein only partially relaxed (20%). The levels of cGMP-dependent protein kinase and HSP20 were similar in the two tissue types. Human saphenous vein had significantly higher levels of HSP27 versus pig coronary artery (30.14 ± 0.8 versus 6.62 ± 0.2 pixels/mg; p ≤ 0.001) and phosphoHSP27 (8.29 ± 3.43 versus 0.012 ± 0.008 pixels/mg; p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions Human saphenous vein contained significantly higher levels of HSP27 and pHSP27. Increased levels of phosphorylated HSP27 might contribute to vasospasm in human saphenous vein.
The nature of ‘solvent effects’

Abstract The coordination model for nonaqueous solvent chemistry was the first attempt to offer a unified presentation of those interactions essential to the understanding of the behavior of solutes in nonaqueous solvents. The model focused on two distinct aspects of the problem; specific interactions of the Lewis acid base type and non-specific interactions in which coordinate bond formation is not involved. As in any classification, there are gray areas in which it sis difficult to assign the interaction to one category or another. However, in many instances the assessment is straightforward. Though the original publication of this work met with considerable resistance, it is now quite generally accepted that the Coordination model accurately represents the behavior or solutes in a wide variety of solvents including many of the oxyhalides. In recent years the problem has become one of ascertaining coordination strengths and solvation energies. With the wide publicity given to the class A and B concept, HSAB theory and the E and C model, it should be obvious to all that there is no single scale of donor strength that permits an estimate of solvent coordinating abilities. However, one still finds in the literature attempts to correlate all sorts of phenomenon with single scale models; for example, pK B data or donor numbers. In this talk the pitfalls associated with such procedures will be discussed. In their place an approach will be described that enables one to determine if observed phenomena are being dominated by sigma bond, donor strengths. A set of experiments will also be discussed which permits one to detect when coordination involves contributions other than a normal sigma bond type of interaction. Procedures for ascertaining the source of these additional effects will be discussed. A second and independent contribution to reactions in non-aqueous solvents involves the solvating ability of the solvent. This was demonstrated earlier by showing that solvents with similar donor properties behaved quite differently toward the solute iron(III) chloride in terms of chloride ion dissociation. Models have been developed which enable one to work in polar solvents and correct the enthalpies obtained back to the solvent minimized type of data that one measures in carbon tetrachloride or in alkanes. These studies provide insight regarding some subtle solute-solvents interactions and permit one to obtain data that can be interpreted in terms of bond strength considerations for systems in which it is necessary to work in more polar solvents because of solubility limitations.
Pacific Ocean forecasts

A primitive equation Pacific Ocean model forced by wind stresses and heat fluxes is used to obtain uncoupled forecasts of sea surface temperature (SST), heat storage (upper 400 m), and surface currents. The forecasts are displayed in real-time on the web http://ecpc.ucsd.edu) and are compared against observations obtained from the Reynolds (SST) and Joint Environmental Data Analysis Center, JEDAC http://jedac.ucsd.edu), (0- to 400-m temperature) data sets. The resulting forecast skill, for both total and anomalous fields, are reasonably good given the simplicity of our methodology and the fact that feedback processes between ocean and atmosphere are absent. SST forecasts are equal and even superior to anomaly persistence forecasts in some regions during some seasons. Given this skill, which depends both on model performance and on quality and sampling density of the observations, we are beginning to develop various applications for these experimental forecasts. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The psychosocial factors of the abortion experience: a critical review.

The literature on the psychosocial factors of abortion is critically reviewed. It is concluded that due to faulty methodology no general statements can be made about these factors for women receiving illegal abortions. It appears that the data showing that women receiving therapeutic abortions experienced favorable psychological conseuqences are stronger than the data indicating negative consequences. Studies of abortion on request, which, for the most part, have been methodologically sound, indicate that the new abortion patients are mostly young, unmarried women who are not in a social position to bear and care for a child. They tend to end their pregnancies for social and economic reasons. Further, they are either not aware of or not concerned about the possibility of getting pregnant at the time of intercourse, or they have a contraceptive failure. Finally, the psychological consequences of abortion on request appear to be mostly benign.
Rabex-5 Ubiquitin Ligase Activity Restricts Ras Signaling to Establish Pathway Homeostasis in Drosophila

The Ras signaling pathway allows cells to translate external cues into diverse biological responses. Depending on context and the threshold reached, Ras signaling can promote growth, proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. Failure to maintain precise control of Ras can have adverse physiological consequences. Indeed, excess Ras signaling disrupts developmental patterning and causes developmental disorders [1, 2], and in mature tissues, it can lead to cancer [3-5]. We identify Rabex-5 as a new component of Ras signaling crucial for achieving proper pathway outputs in multiple contexts in vivo. We show that Drosophila Rabex-5 restricts Ras signaling to establish organism size, wing vein pattern, and eye versus antennal fate. Rabex-5 has both Rab5 guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity that regulates endocytic trafficking [6] and ubiquitin ligase activity [7, 8]. Surprisingly, overexpression studies demonstrate that Rabex-5 ubiquitin ligase activity, not its Rab5 GEF activity, is required to restrict wing vein specification and to suppress the eye phenotypes of oncogenic Ras expression. Furthermore, genetic interaction experiments indicate that Rabex-5 acts at the step of Ras, and tissue culture studies show that Rabex-5 promotes Ras ubiquitination. Together, these findings reveal a new mechanism for attenuating Ras signaling in vivo and suggest an important role for Rabex-5-mediated Ras ubiquitination in pathway homeostasis.
On estimating the common mean of several normal populations under the pitman closeness criterion

For the problem of estimating the common mean of k normal populations, the performance of the Graybill-Deal estimator is comparedwith each of the A; sample means using the criterion of Pitman closeness. It is shown that for the Graybill-Deal estimator to dominate any of the sample means it is necessary and sufficient that Ni, the size of the sample from population i, is ≥ 5 for all i when k = 2; and it is sufficient that for all i when k > 2, where . This is a generalization of the result obtained by Kubokawa (1989).
A look at 15 years of planar thallium-201 imaging

Extensive experience has been accumulated over the past 15 years regarding planar thallium-201 imaging. Quantitation of technically superior images provides a high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of CAD. In addition, planar thallium-201 images provide very important prognostic information in different clinical situations. Although single photon emission computerized tomography offers potential theoretical advantages over planar imaging, because of the problems involved in reconstruction, specifically the creation of artifacts, it may not be the ideal imaging modality in all situations. Good quality planar thallium-201 imaging still has an important role in clinical cardiology today.
Experimental methods for studying salt nucleation and growth from supercritical water

Abstract Experimental techniques have been developed and tested for examining phase behavior and precipitation in salt-water systems near and above the critical point of pure water (374°C and 221 bar). These methods were conceived to address important issues relating to salt formation during Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO), which is an emerging waste treatment process. An experimental apparatus featuring an optically accessible cell was designed and constructed for operation up to 600°C and 400 bar. The cell has been used to observe phase transformations and locate phase boundaries under isobaric conditions in the NaCl-H2O system at a pressure of 250 bar. A flow system has recently been incorporated into the cell for studying the rapid or “shock-like” precipitation of salts from supercritical water. Preliminary results from shock crystallization experiments on the NaCl-H2O and Na2SO4-H2O systems at 250 bar suggest the importance equilibrium phase relationships have in determining the morphology and size of particles formed during the SCWO process.