cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implementing a Mental Health and Primary Care Partnership Program in Placer County, California

Individuals with serious mental illness are at an increased risk for developing co-morbid chronic physical illnesses, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This article is a descriptive piece about an intervention to decrease physical health risks in this population through a partnership effort between a primary care clinic and mental health agency in rural Placer County, California. The project was conducted as a part of the CalMEND Pilot Collaborative to Integrate Primary Care and Mental Health Services, which took place in five California counties in 2010–2011. A description of the program elements, conceptual models, key measures, and the process of program implementation is provided. Benefits were observed in areas of quality assurance, intra- and inter-agency teamwork, and access to adequate primary care for this population.
Combined effects of mustard flour, acetic acid, and salt against Esherichia coli O157:H7 stored at 5 and 22°C

The combined effects of acetic acid and mustard flour were investigated to ascertain their impact on Escherichia coli O157:H7 stored at 5 and 22 degrees C. Samples were prepared with various concentrations of acetic acid (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1% [vol/vol]) combined with 10% (wt/vol) Baltimore or Coleman mustard flour and 2% (fixed; wt/vol) sodium chloride. An acid-adapted mixture of three E. coli O157:H7 strains (10(6) to 10(7) CFU/ml) was inoculated into prepared mustard samples that were stored at 5 and 22 degrees C, and samples were assayed periodically for the survival of E. coli O157:H7. The numbers of E. coli O157:H7 were reduced much more rapidly at 22 degrees C than at 5 degrees C. E. coli O157:H7 was rapidly reduced to below the detection limit (<0.3 log10, CFU/ml) after 1 day at 22 degrees C, whereas it survived for up to 5 days at 5 degrees C. There was no synergistic or additive effect with regard to the killing of E. coli O157:H7 with the addition of small amounts of acetic acid to the mustard flour. When stored at 5 degrees C, mustard in combination with 0.25 (M-0.25), 0.5 (M-0.5), and 0.75% (M-0.75) acetic acid exerted less antimicrobial activity than the control (M-0). The order of lethality at 5 degrees C was generally M-0.25 = M-0.5 < M-0.75 = M-0 < M-1. The addition of small amounts of acetic acid (<0.75%) to mustard retards the reduction of E coli O157:H7. Statistical reduction in populations of E. coli O157:H7 (P < 0.05) was enhanced relative to that of the control (mustard alone) only with the addition of 1% acetic acid. This information may help mustard manufacturers to understand the antimicrobial activity associated with use of mustard flour in combination with acetic acid.
Feasibility of jejunal enteral nutrition for patients with severe duodenal injuries

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of enteral nutrition (EN) for critically ill trauma patients with severe traumatic duodenal injuries who received placement of concurrent decompressing and feeding jejunostomies. Methods: Adult patients admitted to the trauma intensive care unit from January 2010 to December 2013, given concurrent afferent decompressing and efferent feeding jejunostomies for severe duodenal injury and provided EN or parenteral nutrition (PN), were retrospectively evaluated. Enteral feeding intolerance was defined as an increase in the decompressing jejunostomy drainage volume output, worsening abdominal distension, or cramping/pain unrelated to surgical incisions. Patients who failed initial EN were transitioned to PN. Results: Twenty-six patients were enrolled. Of the 24 patients given EN within the first 2 wk posthospitalization, 18 (75%) failed EN within 2 � 2 d of initiating EN. EN was discontinued when increases were seen in decompressing jejunostomy drainage volume output (n ¼ 11) and output with abdominal pain and/or distension (n ¼ 6), or abdominal pain/distension was seen without an increase in output (n ¼ 1). Jejunostomy drainage volume output increased from 474 � 425 mL/d to 1168 � 725 mL/d (P < 0.001) during EN intolerance. More patients with blunt intestinal injury than those with penetrating injuries (75% versus 15%, respectively; P ¼ 0.035) tolerated EN. Patients initially given PN (n ¼ 13) received more calories (P < 0.005) and protein (P < 0.001) than those given initial EN (n ¼ 13). Conclusion: The majority of patients with severe duodenal injuries and concurrent decompressing/ feeding tube jejunostomies failed initial EN therapy.
Spacial distribution of ions and electrons within 63Ni ionization cells

Abstract Measurements of ion densities within a specialized 63 Ni ionization cell are described where the distance between a radioactive foil and the point of ion density measurement is continuously variable. Air and dichlorodifluoromethane are used as the ionizing medium. Measurements are made with an atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer. The results are shown to be in excellent agreement with a simple quantitative model of the experiment. The model is then used to predict the distribution of ions throughout the active volumes of several cylindrical cells of typical dimensions.
The role of isometric muscle tension in the production of muscle toxicity by phencyclidine and restraint stress.

A restraint cage with a strain gauge attached to a movable roof to record the isometric force exerted by rats during restraint is described. The isometric activity score, an integral of the total upward force exerted during restraint, correlated significantly with plasma creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity in rats following restraint. Phencyclidine 5 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally to rats 15 min prior to 1/2 hr restraint has been shown to produce muscle damage associated with large increases of plasma CPK activity. Dose-response curves for the effects of phencyclidine on isometric activity score and plasma CPK activity were essentially parallel, and isometric activity scores were linearly related to plasma CPK activity. Rats restrained and painfully stimulated on the tail developed both elevated isometric activity scores and elevations of plasma CPK activity. Slopes of the curves relating isometric activity to plasma CPK activity were identical for painfully stimulated and phencyclidine treated rats. Phencyclidine has been reported to produce large increases in locomotor activity in unrestrained rats without muscle damage or elevated plasma CPK activity. Thus, increased isometric muscle tension developed during phencyclidine plus restraint is related to the production of muscle damage and increased efflux of CPK in rats.
Substitution Reactions of (C5Ph5)Cr(CO)3: Structural, Electrochemical, and Spectroscopic Characterization of (C5Ph5)Cr(CO)2L (L = PMe3, PMe2Ph, P(OMe)3)

The radical complex (C5Ph5)Cr(CO)3 reacts with small, neutral, monodentate Lewis bases (PMe3, PMe2Ph, P(OMe)3) in THF at −78 °C (PMe2Ph reacts at ambient temperature) to yield the monomeric substitution products (C5Ph5)Cr(CO)2L·THF as thermally stable solids. Electrochemical and spectroscopic data are provided. An X-ray crystal structure of the hemisolvate (C5Ph5)Cr(CO)2PMe3·0.5THF was obtained. Frozen-solution ESR spectra of (C5Ph5)Cr(CO)2L in toluene are comparable to those of other low-spin d5 “piano-stool” complexes. Rotation of the Cr(CO)2L moiety relative to the C5Ph5 ring is rapid on the ESR time scale in low-temperature liquid solutions and leads to axial powderlike spectra. Analysis of this effect leads to significant insights into the electronic structure.
Models of binocular luminance interaction evaluated using visually evoked potential and psychophysical measures: a tribute to M. Russell Harter.

We determined subjects' responses to sine-wave modulated lights employing visually evoked potentials (VEPs) and psychophysical thresholds in a series of experiments. The stimuli had the same temporal frequency and mean luminance in each eye but the phase difference between the two eyes was varied so that phase was either the same (dioptic) or different (dichoptic) in the two eyes. The data were fit by a model which had two binocular pathways, one which summed monocular nonlinear elements and a second which had a nonlinearity following the combination of monocular linear elements. In the second channel the outputs of the monocular linear elements were summed at low luminance while at higher luminance levels they were subtracted. Based on variations in the threshold data with temporal frequency, the pathway which summed nonlinear monocular elements was identified with the magnocelluiar (M) pathway, and the pathway which combined monocular linear elements prior to a binocular nonlinear element was identified...
Recommending images of user interests from the biomedical literature

Every year hundreds of thousands of biomedical images are published in journals and conferences. Consequently, finding images relevant to one's interests becomes an ever daunting task. This vast amount of literature creates a need for intelligent and easy-to-use tools that can help researchers effectively navigate through the content corpus and conveniently locate materials of their interests. Traditionally, literature search tools allow users to query content using topic keywords. However, manual query composition is often time and energy consuming. A better system would be one that can automatically deliver relevant content to a researcher without having the end user manually manifest one's search intent and interests via search queries. Such a computer-aided assistance for information access can be provided by a system that first determines a researcher's interests automatically and then recommends images relevant to the person's interests accordingly. The technology can greatly improve a researcher's ability to stay up to date in their fields of study by allowing them to efficiently browse images and documents matching their needs and interests among the vast amount of the biomedical literature. A prototype system implementation of the technology can be accessed via http://www.smartdataware.com.
Evolutionary variants of simian virus 40: characterization of cloned complementing variants.

Abstract Three evolutionary variants of simian virus 40 (SV40), cloned by complementation with temperature-sensitive SV40 mutants, have been mapped by restriction endonuclease analysis and by electron microscopic heteroduplex mapping. One of the variants contains a deletion of most of the “late” region of the genome, and the other two contain nonidentical deletions within the “early” region. Each of the variants has a distinctive duplication of a DNA segment which includes the initiation site for DNA replication. Based on the physical maps of these genomes, a recombinational mechanism is suggested for the generation of variants; once generated, encapsidatible molecules with duplications of the replication initiation site would have a selective growth advantage. One variant contains one of its two initiation sites close to the site where SV40-DNA replication normally terminates. In this variant, however, replication appears to terminate 180° from the initiation point. Therefore, unlike initiation, termination of SV40-DNA replication is probably not sequence specific.
Long-range effects of histone point mutations on DNA remodeling revealed from computational analyses of SIN-mutant nucleosome structures

The packaging of DNA into nucleosomes impedes the binding and access of molecules involved in its processing. The SWI/SNF multi-protein assembly, found in yeast, is one of many regulatory factors that stimulate the remodeling of DNA required for its transcription. Amino-acid point mutations in histones H3 or H4 partially bypass the requirement of the SWI/SNF complex in this system. The mechanisms underlying the observed remodeling, however, are difficult to discern from the crystal structures of nucleosomes bearing these so-called SIN (SWI/SNF INdependent) mutations. Here, we report detailed analyses of the conformations and interactions of the histones and DNA in these assemblies. We find that the loss of direct protein-DNA contacts near point-mutation sites, reported previously, is coupled to unexpected additional long-range effects, i.e. loss of intermolecular contacts and accompanying DNA conformational changes at sequentially and spatially distant sites. The SIN mutations seemingly transmit information relevant to DNA binding across the nucleosome. The energetic cost of deforming the DNA to the states found in the SIN-mutant structures helps to distinguish the mutants that show phenotypes in yeast from those that do not. Models incorporating these deformed dimer steps suggest ways that nucleosomal DNA may be remodeled during its biological processing.
Antibacterial Activities of Plant Essential Oils and Their Components against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica in Apple Juice

We evaluated 17 plant essential oils and nine oil compounds for antibacterial activity against the foodborne pathogens Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica in apple juices in a bactericidal assay in terms of % of the sample that resulted in a 50% decrease in the number of bacteria (BA(50)). The 10 compounds most active against E. coli (60 min BA(50) range in clear juice, 0.018-0.093%) were carvacrol, oregano oil, geraniol, eugenol, cinnamon leaf oil, citral, clove bud oil, lemongrass oil, cinnamon bark oil, and lemon oil. The corresponding compounds against S. enterica (BA(50) range, 0.0044-0.011%) were Melissa oil, carvacrol, oregano oil, terpeineol, geraniol, lemon oil, citral, lemongrass oil, cinnamon leaf oil, and linalool. The activity (i) was greater for S. enterica than for E. coli, (ii) increased with incubation temperature and storage time, and (iii) was not affected by the acidity of the juices. The antibacterial agents could be divided into two classes: fast-acting and slow-acting. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that the bactericidal results are related to the composition of the oils. These studies provide information about new ways to protect apple juice and other foods against human pathogens.
A Bartter's-like Syndrome From Capreomycin, and a Similar Gentamicin Tubulopathy

Marked renal potassium and magnesium wasting, alkalosis, and a progressive increase in plasma renin and eventual hyperaldosteronemia developed during a 15-month course of in-hospital capreomycin therapy that was necessary for drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis. A prominent feature of the present case was renal chloride wasting, a feature of the capreomycin syndrome that has previously received little attention. Similar potentially life-threatening metabolic abnormalities, which resemble those found in Bartter's syndrome, can occur during prolonged therapy with the antibiotic gentamicin. In the present case, electrolyte abnormalities were unaffected by three days of indomethacin therapy but were partially corrected by large doses of spironolactone. Capreomycin, viomycin (an antibiotic closely related to capreomycin), and gentamicin are highly basic polypeptide antibiotics that may induce strikingly similar and potentially fatal syndromes of renal tubular dysfunction that can feature multiple electrolyte abnormalities.
Effects of a high information-processing load on the writing process and the story written

The purpose of this study was to test how information-processing load affects the writing process (through thinking-aloud reports) and the story written. Information-processing load was increased by having subjects write to an ending sentence with more content constraints. Secondary reaction times were synchronized with thinking-aloud statements to yield a measure of cognitive effort for the components of the writing process and for the overall task. A high information-processing load led to lower rated story coherence, but not to lower rated quality. A high load did not increase overall cognitive effort, but changed the distribution of processing time, with more reviewing earlier. Results suggest that a high information-processing load altered the distribution of writing processes, which resulted in lower story coherence.
Local-field dependence of the 17 O spin-lattice relaxation and echo decay rates in the mixed state of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7

We find that the planar and apical {sup 17}O NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T{sub 1}) and the spin-echo decay rate (1/T{sub 2}) are spatially dependent in the mixed state of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7}. For both sites, 1/T{sub 1} and 1/T{sub 2} increase by a factor of 2 to 3 for nuclei close to the vortex cores. The data suggest that fluctuating fields from the low-frequency vibrations of the vortex lattice give rise to the similar echo decay observed at both sites. These vibrations also dominate 1/T{sub 1} for both sites below T(less-or-similar sign)25 K. Above this temperature, the planar 1/T{sub 1} is dominated by spin-flip scattering with delocalized quasiparticles associated with the nodes in the superconducting gap showing that the position dependence arises from the effect of the supercurrents on the quasiparticle energy spectrum. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
Raven scavenging favours group foraging in wolves

Wolves, Canis lupus, routinely live in large packs that include unrelated individuals and mature offspring. Studies show that individual wolves that live in large packs suffer reduced foraging returns. Therefore, group hunting and group living (sociality) in wolves is generally thought to be favoured by indirect fitness gains accrued through kin-directed altruism. However, we show that kin-directed altruism cannot account for groups that include mature offspring or unrelated individuals. We also present an analysis that incorporates a previously ignored feature of wolf foraging ecology, namely the loss of food to scavenging ravens, Corvus corax. By accounting for this process, we show that individuals in large packs do indeed accrue foraging advantages. In the hypothetical absence of this scavenging pressure, an individual would maximize its rate of prey acquisition, and minimize its risk of energetic shortfall, by foraging with just one other individual. However, incorporating the effect of scavenging by ravens leads to a dramatic increase in the predicted group size. Our analysis indicates that per capita gains are highest in the largest observed packs. The greater food-sharing costs in a larger pack are more than offset by smaller losses to scavengers and increased rates of prey acquisition. Thus, in contrast with previous interpretations, the selfish benefits of social foraging appear to contribute to the maintenance of sociality in wolves after all. We explore whether such benefits favour group living in various social carnivores that hunt large prey and are thus vulnerable to scavenging.
Lasing in the aluminum and indium resonance lines following photoionization and recombination in the presence of H 2

When an aluminum or indium target in a molecular hydrogen buffer gas is exposed to a 500-mJ, 20-nsec pulse from a line-focused ArF 1930-A laser, light from the neutral resonance lines appears promptly. It is emitted in a beam directed along the axis of the focal volume with a divergence less than 18 mrad. On axis, the 3s4s2S1/2–3s3p2P3/2 transition of Al is more than 100 times the intensity of the transition from the same excited state to the 3s3p2P1/2 ground state, but the ratio of intensities decreases rapidly with increasing angle from the axis. The intensity anomaly is evidence of amplification of spontaneous emission from a population inversion in the 3s4s2S1/2 state of Al. The resulting stimulated emission depends critically on the presence of the H2 buffer gas at a density of the order of 1019 cm−3. It lasts only as long as the excitation provided by the ArF excimer laser. However, it is absent for excitation by a similar KrF laser at 2480 A, a wavelength below the threshold for single-photon ionization of the target. The relative intensities of the resonance doublet, and the variation of intensity with line focus length and buffer-gas density, indicate a gain–length product of approximately 8 cm−1 under optimum conditions. Photoionization followed by rapid recombination in the presence of H2 is suspected as the primary mechanism responsible for the inversion and the gain.
Resolution of anti-3-Oxotricyclo[2.2.1.0]heptane-7-carboxylic acid by Candidia antartica Lipase A

Abstract An enzyme-based resolution for anti-3-oxotricyclo [2.2.1.0]heptane-7-carboxylic acid (1) that gives a higher yield of recovery and is more expedient than previously reported procedures.
Risk Factors Associated With Self-injurious Behavior Among a National Sample of Undergraduate College Students

AbstractObjective: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidality among undergraduates represent important public health issues. This analysis identified risk factors that distinguished 3 groups, those who reported no history of self-harm; self-injury, but no suicide attempts (NSSI only); and self-injury and a suicide attempt (NSSI + SA) in the past year. Methods: Data came from 16,044 undergraduates who completed the Fall 2010 National College Health Assessment. Results: Over 3% of students reported NSSI, and one third of these individuals also attempted suicide. Factors that distinguished the NSSI only and NSSI + SA groups from the no self-harm group included current depressive symptoms, nonheterosexual orientation, an eating disorder/extreme weight control behavior, and diagnosis of an internalizing disorder. Factors that distinguished the NSSI + SA group from the NSSI only group were current depressive symptoms and diagnosis of an internalizing disorder. Conclusions: Students experiencing mental healt...
Flavor and feeding: Introduction to an international conference

This submission is just the introductory piece for the special issue. It does not seem that an abstract is warranted.
Local atomic structure deviation from average structure of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3: Combined x-ray and neutron total scattering study

The crystal structure of sodium bismuth titanate (NBT) and related compounds is of great interest, as these may form part of a new generation of ferroelectric materials used in a multitude of piezoelectric applications. This work examines the short- and long-range structure of sodium bismuth titanate in different states of synthesis using x-ray and neutron pair distribution function studies. The average structure of NBT was modeled using the monoclinic $Cc$ space group through a combined structural refinement of x-ray and neutron diffraction data via the Rietveld method. A small box approach was used to model the local structure based on the average structure of the material, as determined from the Rietveld structural refinement, and rule out the presence of local $A$-site ordering in NBT. A ``box-car fitting'' method used to analyze the neutron pair distribution function showed that bond environments change when averaged over different length scales and the calculated bond valence of Bi${}^{3+}$, in particular, is different locally from its average value. A model calculated using the reverse Monte Carlo method allowed the positions of Na${}^{+}$ and Bi${}^{3+}$ to move independently, allowing the determination of their distinctive bonding environments with O${}^{2\ensuremath{-}}$. This method revealed that Na${}^{+}$ and Bi${}^{3+}$ have slightly different atomic positions, an effect that may be the origin of the large atomic displacement parameters calculated for the $A$ site from the average structure model. The local structure described here is discussed in comparison with published long-range structure models.
Pollen morphology of Ulmaceae

Abstract Thirty-two species from 17 genera were examined by scanning electron microscopy and representatives from each subfamily were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The treatment of Ulmaceae based on pollen grains is consistent with the treatment of the family presented by I. A. Grudzinskaya. Wall structure and exine sculpturing are the best diagnostic pollen characteristics for determining subfamilial affinities. The pollen morphological characteristics of the Celtidoideae are more like those of Moraceae than of Ulmoideae, thus lending support to Grudzinskaya's suggestion that the Celtidoideae should have familial status and occupy a phylogenetically intermediate position between the Ulmaceae (Ulmoideae) and the Moraceae.
Development of a high-performance cryogenic shock tube

A cryogenic shock tube has been developed as a tool for research in fluid mechanics and low-temperature physics. The shock tube was designed to operate with the test section immersed in a cryogenic liquid. A unique diaphragm-changing mechanism makes this shock tube an economical and practical device. There are several advantages in operating a shock tube at cryogenic temperatures. Shock waves of very large Mach number can be produced. The flow field can be accurately calculated using ideal-shock-tube/perfect-gas theory. Boundary-layer effects are decreased, so that long test times are possible.
Effects of climate change on thermal properties of lakes and reservoirs, and possible implications

Meteorologic-driven processes exert large and diverse impacts on lakes’ internal heating, cooling, and mixing. Thus, continued global warming and climate change will affect lakes’ thermal properties, dynamics, and ecosystem. The impact of climate change on Lake Tahoe (in the states of California and Nevada in the United States) is investigated here, as a case study of climate change effects on the physical processes occurring within a lake. In the Tahoe basin, air temperature data show upward trends and streamflow trends indicate earlier snowmelt. Precipitation in the basin is shifting from snow to rain, and the frequency of intense rainfall events is increasing. In-lake water temperature records of the past 38 years (1970–2007) show that Lake Tahoe is warming at an average rate of 0.013°C/year. The future trends of weather variables, such as air temperature, precipitation, longwave radiation, downward shortwave radiation, and wind speed are estimated from predictions of three General Circulation Models (GCMs) for the period 2001–2100. Future trends of weather variables of each GCM are found to be different to those of the other GCMs. A series of simulation years into the future (2000–2040) is established using streamflows and associated loadings, and meteorologic data sets for the period 1994–2004. Future simulation years and trends of weather variables are selected so that: (1) future simulated warming trend would be consistent with the observed warming trend (0.013°C/year); and (2) future mixing pattern frequency would closely match with the historical mixing pattern frequency. Results of 40-year simulations show that the lake continues to become warmer and more stable, and mixing is reduced. Continued warming in the Tahoe has important implications for efforts towards managing biodiversity and maintaining clarity of the lake.
Embryonic determination and differentiation

Abstract At the cellular level, development proceeds in a series of stages in which precursor cells are first restricted in their developmental potential (determination) and subsequently express th...
Candidate quality of care indicators for localized bladder cancer

The surgical management of clinically localized bladder cancer is challenging, and the quality of care delivered to patients with bladder cancer is a subject of increasing interest. Multiple large studies have examined the association between surgical volume and outcomes after radical cystectomy. These studies generally find lower mortality and complication rates at high-volume centers, though interpretation of the data must be tempered by limitations of the datasets driving the studies. Benefits of regionalization of care also must be weighed against other measures proven to predict outcomes; a delay in time to cystectomy beyond 3 months, for example, is strongly associated with increased mortality. Other candidate process measures supported by existing literature include adequacy of lymphadenectomy as measured by nodal yield and availability or offering of orthotopic diversion when appropriate. Assessment and reporting of bladder cancer outcomes should be risk adjusted based on oncologic risk factors and patient comorbid illness. Perioperative morbidity and mortality, cause-specific survival, and overall survival are all key measures. Assessment of health-related quality of life after bladder cancer treatment should also be standardized for reporting. Multiple survey instruments have been developed in recent years, but none has yet been well validated or widely adopted. In particular, capturing variation in quality of life outcomes between patients undergoing bladder-sparing protocols vs. continent diversion vs. incontinent diversion is an important but difficult goal that has not yet been met. The urologic oncology community should take a strong lead in achieving consensus regarding the definition, assessment, and reporting of quality of care data for bladder cancer.
Electrophoresis of DNA. III. The effect of several univalent electrolytes on the mobility of DNA

The electrophoretic mobility of DNA in the presence of tetramethylammonium and alkali metal ion chlorides has been studied as a function of ionic strength. Each cation exhibits a characteristic behavior in accord with the idea that the order of inter-action with DNA is Li+ > Na+ > K+ > TMA+. The application of theories of the electrophoresis of polyelectrolytes is discussed, leading to an attempt to calculate the fractional charge per DNA phosphorus from the mobility data. Over the range 0.05–0.4M a constant and unique value of the DNA charge is obtained in the presence of each cation. Values of the zeta potential and of the friction factor per monomer unit are also calculated.
Traces of factor VIIa modulate thromboplastin sensitivity to factors V, VII, X, and prothrombin

Summary. Background: Thromboplastin reagents are used to conduct prothrombin time (PT) clotting tests to monitor oral anticoagulant therapy and screen for clotting factor deficiencies. Thromboplastins made from purified, recombinant tissue factor are generally more sensitive to changes in plasma factor (F) VII levels than are thromboplastins prepared from tissue extracts. This may be problematic as FVII's short plasma half-life can result in day-to-day fluctuation during oral anticoagulant therapy. We hypothesized that trace contamination of tissue-derived thromboplastins with FVII(a) blunts sensitivity to plasma FVII levels. Methods: Traces of purified FVIIa were added to thromboplastin reagents prepared using recombinant human tissue factor and the effect on sensitivity to individual clotting factors was quantified in PT clotting assays. Results and conclusions: Adding 5–100 pm FVIIa not only decreased thromboplastin sensitivity to plasma FVII, it surprisingly increased sensitivity to plasma levels of FV, FX and prothrombin. In addition, traces of FVIIa interacted with changes in the salt content and phospholipid composition of recombinant thromboplastins to further modulate their sensitivities to individual clotting factors. These results help explain how thromboplastin reagents of differing composition exhibit differing sensitivities to individual clotting factor levels. Implications of our results for monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy and other uses of the PT assay are discussed.
Treatment of rats with an anti-(+)-methamphetamine monoclonal antibody shortens the duration of action of repeated (+)-methamphetamine challenges over a one month period

This study assessed clinical scenarios of continuing monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment for (+)-methamphetamine (METH) addiction, and the implications of missing or discontinuing this therapy. We hypothesized that chronic anti-METH mAb7F9 (METH KD=9 nM) treatment of rats could significantly decrease METH-induced behaviors; even with repeated METH challenges, use of METH doses in excess of mAb binding sites, and after discontinuing mAb treatment which results in a 10-fold reduction in mAb7F9 serum concentrations. Male Sprague Dawley rats (n=6/group) were treated with i.v. saline or a loading dose of mAb7F9 to achieve instant steady-state conditions followed by two weekly (141 mg/kg) doses ending on day 14. METH (0.56 mg/kg) was administered 4h and three days after each saline or mAb7F9 treatment, and on day 21. This produced locomotion and rearing behavior that lasted about 120 min in control rats. In mAb7F9 treated rats, METH-induced distance traveled was significantly reduced from 60 to 120 min (P<0.05) on days 0-21 and rearing was significantly reduced from 60 to 120 min on days 0-17. METH serum concentrations determined 5h after METH dosing was significantly increased in mAb7F9-treated rats after all METH challenges. On days 24 and 28 (the final day), the rats were administered a 3-fold higher METH dose (1.68 mg/kg). MAb7F9 treated rats showed a substantially earlier termination of the METH-induced locomotion on both days, even though the METH dose exceeded mAb7F9s binding capacity. METH brain concentrations determined 5h after METH on day 28 were also significantly decreased in mAb7F9-treated rats. In conclusion, over one month, mAb7F9 significantly and continuously bound METH and reduced METH-induced locomotor effects even after discontinuation of mAb treatment and challenge with higher METH doses.
Birthing faith. Giving a gift of trust and support.

I work in a busy labor and delivery suite on the day shift. Because I've worked in L&D for 29 years, it's a popular belief among my colleagues that I possess the most expertise in giving labor support to women who give birth without epidurals. Admittedly, I enjoy this aspect of my role and I derive much professional satisfaction when a woman has a successful birth experience without medications. I also get the honor of teaching new nurses coming onto our unit how to support laboring women who choose to forego medications.
Aminoacylation of RNA minihelices with alanine

The genetic code is determined by both the specificity of the triplet anticodon of tRNAs for codons in mRNAs and the specificity with which tRNAs are charged with amino acids. The latter depends on interactions between tRNAs and their charging enzymes, and an advance in understanding such interactions was provided recently by the demonstration that a major determinant of the identity of alanine tRNA is located in the amino-acid acceptor helix. Multiple substitutions in many distinct parts of the molecule do not prevent aminoacylation with alanine1. Substitution of the G3·U70 base pair with G3·C70 or A3·U70 in the acceptor helix prevents aminoacylation in vivo and in vitro, however1, and the introduction of this base pair into tRNACys (ref. 1) or tRNAPhe (refs 1, 2) enables both to accept alanine. The importance of a single base pair in the acceptor helix and the results of recent footprinting experiments3 prompted us to investigate the possibility that a minihelix, composed only of the amino-acid acceptor-TΨC helix, could be a substrate for alanine tRNA synthetase. We show here that a synthetic hairpin minihelix can be enzymatically aminoacylated with alanine. Alanine incorporation requires a single G·U base pair, and occurs in helices that otherwise differ significantly in sequence. Aminoacylation can be achieved with only seven base pairs in the helix.
Serine Phosphorylation Sites on IRS2 Activated by Angiotensin II and Protein Kinase C To Induce Selective Insulin Resistance in Endothelial Cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) activation, induced by hyperglycemia and angiotensin II (AngII), inhibited insulin-induced phosphorylation of Akt/endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) by decreasing tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS2 (p-Tyr-IRS2) in endothelial cells. PKC activation by phorbol ester (phorbol myristate acetate [PMA]) reduced insulin-induced p-Tyr-IRS2 by 46% ± 13% and, similarly, phosphorylation of Akt/eNOS. Site-specific mutational analysis showed that PMA increased serine phosphorylation at three sites on IRS2 (positions 303, 343, and 675), which affected insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS2 at positions 653, 671, and 911 (p-Tyr-IRS2) and p-Akt/eNOS. Specific PKCβ2 activation decreased p-Tyr-IRS2 and increased the phosphorylation of two serines (Ser303 and Ser675) on IRS2 that were confirmed in cells overexpressing single point mutants of IRS2 (S303A or S675A) containing a PKCβ2-dominant negative or selective PKCβ inhibitor. AngII induced phosphorylation only on Ser303 of IRS2 and inhibited insulin-induced p-Tyr911 of IRS2 and p-Akt/eNOS, which were blocked by an antagonist of AngII receptor I, losartan, or overexpression of single mutant S303A of IRS2. Increases in p-Ser303 and p-Ser675 and decreases in p-Tyr911 of IRS2 were observed in vessels of insulin-resistant Zucker fatty rats versus lean rats. Thus, AngII or PKCβ activation can phosphorylate Ser303 and Ser675 in IRS2 to inhibit insulin-induced p-Tyr911 and its anti-atherogenic actions (p-Akt/eNOS) in endothelial cells.
Comparison of Seven Systems for High-Frequency Air-Conduction Audiometry

Seven equipment systems were assembled to examine human auditory acuity from 8 to 20 kHz. Two loudspeakers and two earphones were examined, together with two types of stimulus (pure tones and narro...
An improved culture system for secondary palatal elevation

An organ culture system devised for studying the development of the secondary palate was modified so that it retained high partial pressures of oxygen and supported total anterior and posterior palatal elevation. The cultured tissues appeared healthy as judged by histological examination. Medium was continuously recirculated through the culture system in which Day 13 embryonic mouse heads, with the brain and tongue removed, were totally submerged and suspended. The medium was constantly gassed via hollow fiber devices. A motor-driven stirrer, run at a low rate, agitated the medium so that the boundary layer surrounding the tissue was dispersed. Embryonic mouse heads were cultured in each of four media: Eagle's basal medium, Ham's F-12 medium, Fitton-Jackson's modified BGJb medium, and Waymouth's MB 752/1 medium. Elevation of the palate in both anterior and posterior regions with excellent tissue viability was achieved in all heads grown in BGJb medium.
Dynamics of Stratified Liquids in the Presence of Space Charge

The dispersion characteristics of small signal electrohydrodynamic space charge and polarization waves in continuously and discretely stratified liquids are developed. The liquids, modeled as incompressible, inviscid, and perfectly insulating have distributions of mass density, charge density, permittivity, and electric field. A general set of relations for perturbation field and flow variables defined for a “prototype” layer are used to describe the dynamics of many superposed planar layers. It is shown that the general relations can be used to represent systems of coupled layers which approximate continuous distributions by a series of step functions. Specific examples of weak gradient and exponential distributions are presented showing that the solution found directly from the distributed theory is approached by the system of coupled layers, if the limit is taken in which the number of layers become large while each layer thickness approaches zero.
Identification of critical determinants on ACE2 for SARS-CoV entry and development of a potent entry inhibitor

Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV. Virus entry into cells is mediated through interactions between spike (S) glycoprotein and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Alanine scanning mutagenesis analysis was performed to identify determinants on ACE2 critical for SARS-CoV infection. Results indicated that charged amino acids between residues 22 and 57 were important, K26 and D30, in particular. Peptides representing various regions of ACE2 critical for virus infection were chemically synthesized and evaluated for antiviral activity. Two peptides (a.a. 22–44 and 22–57) exhibited a modest antiviral activity with IC50 of about 50 μM and 6 μM, respectively. One peptide comprised of two discontinuous segments of ACE2 (a.a. 22–44 and 351–357) artificially linked together by glycine, exhibited a potent antiviral activity with IC50 of about 0.1 μM. This novel peptide is a promising candidate as a therapeutic agent against this deadly emerging pathogen.
Effect of Citrovorum Factor in Pernicious Anemia.

Summary1. Citrovorum factor, in amounts of 5 to 10 million units daily intramuscularly, has been shown to produce adequate hematologic and clinical response in 4 of 6 patients with Addisonian pernicious anemia, and a submaximal response in another. A 6th patient failed to respond altogether. 2. Local marrow instillation of citrovorum factor failed to produce enhanced maturation of megaloblasts in situ. 3. Citrovorum factor has been found to be more effective than pteroylglutamic acid in reversing aminopterin inhibition in patients with pernicious anemia.
The systemic and coronary hemodynamic effects of guanethidine.

Abstract 1. 1. Guanethidine was administered intravenously in a dose of 15 mg. per kilogram of body weight to a series of dogs, and hemodynamic studies were performed before and an average of 22 minutes after its administration. 2. 2. Subsequent to administration of guanethidine there was an increase in cardiac rate, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean arterial blood pressure in the systemic arteries, pulmonary artery, and right atrium, as well as an increase in cardiac output, coronary blood flow, and left ventricular oxygen consumption. 3. 3. The increase in systemic arterial blood pressure subsequent to the administration of guanethidine was blocked by immediate prior administration of phentolamine, and the elevated pressure which resulted from guanethidine was reduced by the administration of phentolamine. 4. 4. Pretreatment of the dog with reserpine prevented the hypertensive phase of guanethidine action, as well as the usual increase in cardiac output and body oxygen consumption. 5. 5. These results are compatible with an increased sympathetic-like action during the intermediate phase of guanethidine action, and suggest that this phase could be due to the release of catecholamines.
Effect of tool handle diameter on temporary threshold shift (TTS) of vibrotactile perception

Abstract Objective Temporary threshold shifts (TTSs) of fingertip vibrotactile perception were measured in a laboratory study to examine the effects of handle size in combination with vibration frequency, amplitude, and frequency weighting, on human responses to hand–arm vibration (HAV). Methods Ten healthy male subjects were exposed to two levels of HAV: 125 Hz–5.0 m/s 2 and 125 Hz–20.0 m/s 2 (represented as a combination of vibration frequency and rms acceleration) using two different handles (22 and 35 mm in diameter) excited with a shaker. A simplified version of method of limits were used to measure vibrotactile perception thresholds and TTSs were then calculated as the difference between fingertip vibrotactile perception thresholds measured before and after 5 min vibration exposure. Results At 125 Hz–5.0 m/s 2 vibration, the handle size significantly affected TTSs in fingertip vibrotactile perception. In contrast, the handle size did not significantly affect the TTSs at 125 Hz–2.0 m/s 2 vibration. Conclusions Our results suggest that handle size is more sensitive to the TTS in fingertip vibrotactile perception under relatively lower vibration level. From a viewpoint of risk assessment to HAV exposure, TTS after short-term exposure to HAV is indicative of HAV syndrome resulted from long-term exposure to HAV. Since the long-term effect has been the accumulation of repeated short-term effect of HAV, our results suggest that the tool handle size is recommended to be designed based on the vibration level so as to diminish TTS. Relevance to industry Results obtained from this study show that the range of handle diameter examined in this study does not have a significant influence on TTS in vibrotactile perception. This finding gives fundamental data to the designing of hand-held power tools.
Performance analysis of multiclass queueing networks

The subject of this abstract is performance analysis of multiclass queueing networks. The objective is to estimate steady-state queue lengths in queueing networks, assuming a priori that the scheduling policy implemented brings the system to a steady state, namely is stable. We propose a very general methodology based on Lyapunov functions, for the performance analysis of infinite state Markov chains and apply it specifically to multiclass exponential type queueing networks. We use, in particular, linear and piece-wise linear Lyapunov function to establish certain geometric type lower and upper bounds on the tail probabilities and bounds on expectation of the queue lengths. The results proposed in this paper are the first that establish geometric type upper and lower bounds on tail probabilities of queue lengths, for networks of such generality. The previous results on performance analysis can in general achieve only numerical bounds and only on expectation and not the distribution of queue lengths.
Detection of a buoyant coastal wastewater discharge using airborne hyperspectral and infrared imagery.

Municipal wastewater discharged into the ocean through a submerged pipe, or outfall, can rise buoyantly to the sea surface, resulting in a near-field mixing zone and, in the presence of an ambient ocean current, an extended surface plume. In this paper, data from a CASI (Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager) and an airborne infrared (IR) camera are shown to detect a municipal wastewater discharge off the southeast coast of Florida, U.S.A., through its elevated levels of chromophoric dissolved organic matter plus detrital material (CDOM) and cooler sea surface temperatures. CDOM levels within a ~15-m-diameter surface 'boil' are found to be about twice those in the ambient shelf water, and surface temperatures near the boil are lower by ~0.4°C, comparable to the vertical temperature difference across the ambient water column. The CASI and IR imagery show a nearly identically shaped buoyant plume, consistent with a fully surfacing discharge, but the IR data more accurately delineate the area of most rapid dilution as compared with previous in-situ measurements. The imagery also allows identification of ambient oceanographic processes that affect dispersion and transport in the far field. This includes an alongshore front, which limits offshore dispersion of the discharge, and shoreward-propagating nonlinear internal waves, which may be responsible for an enhanced onshore transport of the discharge.
Photodetachment anisotropy for mixed s-p states: 8/3 and other fractions

An approximate model for analytical prediction of photoelectron angular distributions in anion photodetachment from mixed s-p states is presented. Considering the dipole-allowed s, p, and d free-electron partial waves, the model describes photodetachment anisotropy in terms of the fractional p character of the initial orbital and the A and B coefficients describing the relative intensities of the p → d to p → s and s → p to p → s channels, respectively. The model represents an extension of the central-potential model to an intermediate regime encompassing varying degrees of s and p contributions to the initial bound orbital. This description is applicable to a broad class of hybrid molecular orbitals, particularly those localized predominantly on a single atom. Under the additional assumption of hydrogenic or Slater-type orbitals, the B/A ratio in photodetachment from a mixed 2s-2p state is shown to equal 8/3. Corresponding fractions are derived for other ns-np mixing cases. The predictions of the model a...
The tetragonal high-pressure form of TaOPO4☆

Abstract A high-pressure form of TaOPO4 has been synthesized at 25 to 60 kbar and 500 to 1500° C. It was found to be isostructural with the low-temperature form of NbOPO4. A structure refinement of this more dense, tetragonal modification of TaOPO4 [ a = 6.425(3) A and c = 4.001(3) A ] has been carried out.