cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A rapid method for the determination of glycerophosphorylcholine in rabbit and bull seminal plasma

Abstract Glycerophosphorylcholine is the only phosphate-containing compound of bull or rabbit seminal plasma that is eluted by water from a semimicro column of Dowex 1-acetate. This observation has permitted development of a rapid method for glycerophosphorylcholine analysis.
Validity of indications for transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage for cervical incompetence

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to review the indications for transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerlage to determine whether it is a valid alternative to transvaginal cerclage. Study design: A retrospective review of transabdominal cerclage patients at one institution form 1978 to 1994, analysis of the indications for the transabdominal rather than the vaginal approach, and evaluation of fetal outcomes was performed. Results: Twenty-three patients underwent 24 transabdominal cerclages. The primary indication for transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage was failed transvaginal cerclage in 14 patients and anatomic unsuitability for transvaginal cerclage in nine. Of the latter, five were a result of diethylstilbestrol exposure and four a result of cervical surgery. All patients were successfully delivered of one or more live babies (total 28, including two sets of twins). Two losses occurred, one after rupture of membranes at 21 weeks on the second pregnancy after cerclage placement and one intraoperative loss with herniation of the membranes. The live birth rate was 93%, compared with 18% salvage of pregnancies beyond the first trimester before the transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage procedure. Complications included blood loss requiring transfusion (four patients), although none of these occurred in the last 12 patients. Conclusion: We conclude that all the patients had a history compatible with incompetent cervix requiring a cerclage, and none were suitable candidates for a vaginal cerclage. We further conclude that with strict indications transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage offers a high rate of fetal salvage with a minimum of complications in patients with extremely poor obstetric histories because of cervical incompetence.
Recursive matching algorithms and linear orders on the subset lattice

Abstract Recursive matching algorithms based on two standard recursions in the subset lattice are analyzed and shown to produce the same explicit matching function ϕ. It is shown that for a large class of linear orders on the subset lattice the mapping defined recursively by matching in order subsets of size l to first available subsets of size l + 1 is a matching in the lattice and equals ϕ.
Dynamic 3D surface reconstruction and motion modeling from a pan-tilt-zoom camera

We propose a method to recover the 3D motion and structure of a tracked target.We use a single pan-tilt-zoom camera tracking a freely moving target in real time.The structure and motion are updated sequentially while frames are captured.The 3D motion and structure are recovered using 50% of the frames captured.The method uses less execution time than the offline reconstruction approach. 3D surface reconstruction and motion modeling has been integrated in several industrial applications. Using a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera, we present an efficient method called dynamic 3D reconstruction (D3DR) for recovering the 3D motion and structure of a freely moving target. The proposed method estimates the PTZ measurements to keep the target in the center of the field of view (FoV) of the camera with the same size. Feature extraction and tracking approach are used in the imaging framework to estimate the target's translation, position, and distance. A selection strategy is used to select keyframes that show significant changes in target movement and directly update the recovered 3D information. The proposed D3DR method is designed to work in a real-time environment, not requiring all frames captured to be used to update the recovered 3D motion and structure of the target. Using fewer frames minimizes the time and space complexity required. Experimental results conducted on real-time video streams using different targets to prove the efficiency of the proposed method. The proposed D3DR has been compared to existing offline and online 3D reconstruction methods, showing that it uses less execution time than the offline method and uses an average of 49.6% of the total number of frames captured.
INSOLATION AND SHADOW

The following document describes a mathematical method for locating a new building so that it will not cast shadows on existing buildings during business hours. This and other questions dealing with sunlight and shadows can be determined from the apparent motion of the Sun on the solstices, approximately June 22nd and December 22nd.
Synthesis of camptothecin-amino acid carbamate linkers.

A more convenient and facile approach for the synthesis and production of camptothecin–amino acids carbamate linkers, that can be used in the synthesis of bioconjugate peptides JF-10-81, JF-10-71, and other peptide analogs designed to target somatostatin receptors has been described.
Dichotic listening tests in studying brain-behavior relationships

The magnitude of perceptual asymmetry (PA) on a CVC fused dichotic words test and on VCV and CV fused nonsense syllables tests were compared. In each test the set of distinguishing phonemic cues was the same; the six English stop consonants, b,p,d,t,g,k. Although test-retest reliability was very high on all three tests there was no correlation across individuals between the degrees of PA on different tests. Moreover, the magnitude of PA on the VCV nonsense test increased as field dependence (FD) increased on the field dependence index (FDI) of the WAIS while there was no relationship between FD and the magnitude of PA on the CVC words test. In addition, concurrent visual tasks increased PA on the VCV nonsense test and decreased it on the words test. In order to facilitate the use of such data, Kimura's classical model of the physiological basis of PA is modified by including components of primary receptive and secondary and tertiary associative function. Comparison of highly similar PA measures, that differ in specific ways, is discussed as a means of collecting data for mapping cerebral functional space and exploring brain-behavior relationships.
Communication Privacy Management Theory: What Do We Know About Family Privacy Regulation?

For families, managing private information is challenging. Family members reveal too much, they allow more privacy access to outsiders than others desire, parents attempt to negotiate Internet disclosures with their teens, and family health issues often change the way private information is defined altogether. The complexities of privacy regulation call for a systematic way to grasp how privacy management operates in families. This article presents the evidenced-based theory of communication privacy management (CPM) and corresponding research on family privacy regulation that provides a road map to understand the multifaceted nature of managing private information (Petronio, 2002). The article discusses contributions of CPM to conceptualizing privacy in meaningful ways, along with current research trends and future directions for CPM research and theorizing.
An experimentally based computer search identifies unstructured membrane-binding sites in proteins: Application to class-I myosins, PAKs and CARMIL

Programs exist for searching protein sequences for potential membrane-penetrating segments (hydrophobic regions) and for lipid-binding sites with highly defined tertiary structures, such as PH, FERM, C2, ENTH, and other domains. However, a rapidly growing number of membrane-associated proteins (including cytoskeletal proteins, kinases, GTP-binding proteins, and their effectors) bind lipids through less structured regions. Here, we describe the development and testing of a simple computer search program that identifies unstructured potential membrane-binding sites. Initially, we found that both basic and hydrophobic amino acids, irrespective of sequence, contribute to the binding to acidic phospholipid vesicles of synthetic peptides that correspond to the putative membrane-binding domains of Acanthamoeba class I myosins. Based on these results, we modified a hydrophobicity scale giving Arg- and Lys-positive, rather than negative, values. Using this basic and hydrophobic scale with a standard search algorithm, we successfully identified previously determined unstructured membrane-binding sites in all 16 proteins tested. Importantly, basic and hydrophobic searches identified previously unknown potential membrane-binding sites in class I myosins, PAKs and CARMIL (capping protein, Arp2/3, myosin I linker; a membrane-associated cytoskeletal scaffold protein), and synthetic peptides and protein domains containing these newly identified sites bound to acidic phospholipids in vitro.
Nonverbal indicators of Affect and Deception in an Interview Setting1

A study was conducted to identify codes of nonverbal behavior which could be used by interviewers in a standard field interview to systematically assess deception and emotional states of respondents. Ten male and 10 female subjects were interviewed on topics that had been pretested to arouse in them pleasant involvement, passivity, and unpleasant involvement. Subjects were also instructed to lie to the interviewer on issues of importance to them. Eye contact was measured by observation through a one-way mirror. Smiles, gestures, self-manipulations and postural shifts were scored from videotapes of the interview. The most distinctive patterns of nonverbal cues occurred with unpleasant-involvement and deception questions. The former state was characterized by increases in smiling, self-manipulations, and postural shifts. Deception responses were marked by decreases in smiling and increases in self-manipulations and postural shifts. Results also suggested that eye contact functioned as an intensifier of affect.
Simultaneous genome-wide association studies of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide in rheumatoid arthritis using penalized orthogonal-components regression

Genome-wide associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms and clinical traits were simultaneously conducted using penalized orthogonal-components regression. This method was developed to identify the genetic variants controlling phenotypes from a massive number of candidate variants. By investigating the association between all single-nucleotide polymorphisms to the phenotype of antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide using the rheumatoid arthritis data provided by Genetic Analysis Workshop 16, we identified genetic regions which may contribute to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Bioinformatic analysis of these genomic regions showed most of them harbor protein-coding gene(s).
Evaluation of Material Degradation on the Basis of Ultrasonic Tomography during the Detection of Scattered Signals

Evaluation of the operational degradation of materials using nondestructive methods is an urgent problem of materials science. The nucleation and accumulation of dispersed flaws in structural materials occur from the very beginning of their exploitation and lead to changes in material properties, nucleation of macrocracks, and finally damage. Phenomenological approaches, using both direct and indirect methods are used to study and evaluate flaws [1]. Fractography is a direct method. The measurement of “flaws” (as relative deviations from a standard value) in various physicomechanical characteristics (density, modulus of elasticity, or microhardness) and electrical resistance are classified as indirect methods.
Enzyme systems in the mycobacteria. VIII. The fatty acid oxidizing system

Abstract Cell-free soluble extracts of the H37Ra strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis contain several of the enzymes of the fatty acid cycle, viz., β-hydroxy acyl dehydrogenase, enoyl hydrase and β-keto acyl thiolase. These enzymes have been partially purified and shown to catalyze the same reactions as catalyzed by their counterparts in animal tissues. This study establishes that the oxidation of fatty acids by an aerobic bacterium follows the classical β-oxidation reaction sequence previously established for animal tissues.
Dynamical contributions to the quantum defects of calcium

Nonadiabatic effects on the structure of Rydberg states of alkaline-earth atoms are examined and found to be large in many cases. Calculations for the quantum defects of the singlet $F$ and $G$ series in calcium, including dynamical contributions, are shown to be in good agreement with recent experimental data. This is in contrast to predictions based on the adiabatic core-polarization model, which significantly overestimates the quantum defects. Values for quantum defects of Ca for $l\ensuremath{\ge}4$ are presented.
Effect of oral zinc supplementation on the growth of preterm infants.

Preterm infants are at increased risk of death, acute and long-term morbidity; often associated with nutritional compromise and impaired growth. With about 13 million preterm babies born each year worldwide, the burden is disproportionately concentrated in Africa and Asia, where about 85% of all preterm births occur (31% and 54%, respectively)(1). Preterm and low birth weight babies may have impaired zinc status due to low body stores, limited capacity to absorb and retain micronutrients coupled with increased endogenous losses associated with organ immatu-rity, high nutrient demand to support catch-up growth, and inadequate intakes because exclusive breastfeeding does not compensate for increased demand due to prematurity. Preterm infants have high zinc deficit and dietary requirements as 60% fetal zinc is acquired during third trimester of pregnancy. Zinc deficiency has a negative effect on endocrine system leading to growth failure among other clinical manifestations.
The Bonney test: a reassessment.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to reassess the effects of the Bonney test versus direct urethral compression and to introduce the Miyazaki-Bonney test. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-seven patients with a diagnosis of genuine stress incontinence were studied. Each patient underwent a classic Bonney test, direct urethral compression, and a Miyazaki-Bonney test, while the following observations and measurements were made: (1) urethroscopic observation of the bladder neck and proximal urethra, (2) cotton swab resistance to withdrawal, and (3) proximal urethral pressure changes with use of a microtip catheter. In 16 of the patients cough pressure transmission (pressure transmission ratio) to the proximal urethra was measured before and during a Bonney test. Apart from the study group, four patients with clinical type III urethras were evaluated with the Bonney and Miyazaki-Bonney tests. RESULTS: The effects of the Bonney test and direct urethral compression were grossly different on urethroscopy, cotton swab resistance to withdrawal, and proximal urethral pressure changes. With the Bonney test, the average increase in urethral pressure was 52 cm H 2 O, whereas with direct urethral compression the urethral pressure was >250 cm H 2 O. With the Miyazaki-Bonney test there was little or no change in urethral pressure. Cough pressure transmission ratios before the Bonney test averaged 64%, whereas during the Bonney test they averaged 152%. The Miyazaki-Bonney tests did not prevent leakage in three patients with type III urethras. CONCLUSION: The Bonney test does not work by direct urethral compression but instead appears to produce continence by restoring the anterior vaginal wall hammock. The Miyazaki-Bonney test duplicates the effects of the Burch bladder neck suspension and may still be a valid prognosticator of surgical success. A modified Bonney test that can be standardized is presented as the Miyazaki-Bonney test.(Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;177:9)
Muscle fiber-specific apoptosis and TNF-α signaling in sarcopenia are attenuated by life-long calorie restriction

SPECIFIC AIMSLoss of skeletal muscle mass and fiber number (sarcopenia) is prevalent at old age. The involvement of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a catabolic cytokine found to increase with age ...
A component-based approach to modeling and simulating mixed-signal and hybrid systems

Systems with both continuous and discrete behaviors can be modeled using a mixed-signal style or a hybrid systems style. This article presents a component-based modeling and simulation framework that supports both modeling styles. The component framework, based on an actor metamodel, takes a hierarchical approach to manage heterogeneity in modeling complex systems. We describe how ordinary differential equations, discrete event systems, and finite-state machines can be built under this metamodel. A mixed-signal system is a hierarchical composition of continuous-time and discrete event models, and a hybrid system is a hierarchical composition of continuous-time and finite-state-machine models. Hierarchical composition and information hiding help build clean models and efficient execution engines. Simulation technologies, in particular, the interaction between a continuous-time ODE solving engine and various discrete simulation engines are discussed. A signal type system is introduced to schedule hybrid components inside a continuous-time environment. Breakpoints are used to control the numerical integration step sizes so that discrete events are handled properly. A "refiring" mechanism and a "rollback" mechanism are designed to manage continuous components inside a discrete event environment. The technologies are implemented in the Ptolemy II software environment. Examples are given to show the applications of this framework in mixed-signal and hybrid systems.
β-Adrenergic receptor blockers and heart failure risk after myocardial infarction: A critical review

Remodeling after myocardial infarction is a complex biological process that leads to progressive left ventricular dilation and clinical heart failure. Multiple influences, including autonomic imbalance with sympathetic activation, contribute to the process. This article reviews clinical data in favor of early- and long-term use of β-adrenergic receptor blockers in patients after myocardial infarction. Areas of uncertainty, such as the selection of dose and duration of therapy, current guidelines, and patterns of underuse of therapy with this important class of drugs are outlined and highlighted.
Low prolactin response to fenfluramine in impulsive aggression

To examine the prolactin (prl) response to d,l-fenfluramine in a large sample of personality disorder patients with impulsive aggression. Patients were screened from clinics at the Bronx VAMC and the Mount Sinai Medical Center and from press releases. One hundred and forty-six personality disorder patients (90M;56F) and 23 normal controls (15M;8F) underwent oral d,l-fenfluramine challenge. The peak change in prolactin(deltapkprl) was calculated by subtracting baseline prolactin from peak response following fenfluramine administration (3 h). Analysis of variance and regression analysis were used to detect group differences in deltapkprl. Deltapkprl in impulsive aggressive men, but not women, with personality disorders was blunted compared with controls. Men with suicide histories also had a blunted deltapkprl compared with those without, which was not accounted for by depression. This study represents a replication of previous studies, in a much larger sample, showing a blunted PRL response to fenfluramine of male patients with personality disorder in relation to impulsive aggression and to suicide attempts.
Feature-aided initiation and tracking via tree search

We present a feature-aided approach to multiple-target tracking built upon tree-search tracking algorithms. Using a search tree to represent the target state space, the tracker navigates the tree to identify the most likely sequence of states visited by the target(s). The search for new targets and for new states of existing targets is governed by path metrics that are proportional to the posterior state distribution and incorporate the likelihood of observed feature values. Features may be assumed to follow a given statistical model, or their probability density functions may be estimated empirically using feature history stored with each track in the tree. The performance of the proposed feature-aided tracker is evaluated on the CLUTTER09 dataset. Improvement with respect to target detection/tracking and clutter rejection is evaluated relative to tracking in the absence of feature information.
Bmi-1 regulates the differentiation and clonogenic self-renewal of I-type neuroblastoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner

Human neuroblastoma I-type cells have been proposed as a population of malignant neural crest stem cells, based on their high tumorigenic potential, expression of stem cell markers, and ability to differentiate into cells of neural crest lineages, including neuroblastic (N-type) and Schwann/glial (S-type) cells. Here, we demonstrate at single cell levels that a subpopulation of I-type cells possess clonogenic self-renewal capacity that requires the Polycomb group family transcription repressor Bmi-1. We further show that Bmi-1 expression levels exert an instructive influence on lineage commitment by I-type cells. Spontaneous and induced differentiation of I-type cells into S-type cells is accompanied by a marked reduction in the level of Bmi-1 expression, and enforced down-regulation of BMI-1 facilitates spontaneous differentiation of I-type cells into S-type cells. By contrast, N-type neuroblastoma cell lines and differentiated N-type cells express higher levels of Bmi-1 relative to I-type cells, and overexpression of BMI-1 promotes the differentiation of I-type cells along the neuronal lineage. Thus, Bmi-1 acts in a concentration-dependent manner in the control of the delicate balance between the self-renewal and differentiation of neuroblastoma I-type cells. These observations suggest that graded activation of a master regulator within individual tumors could trigger divergent developmental programs responsible for both tumor growth and heterogeneity.
The synthesis of two monosubstituted meso‐tetraphenylporphine sulfonates

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of two novel meso-tetrakis(4-sulfophenyl)-21H,-23H-porphine (TPPS4) derivatives in which one of the phenyl rings is substituted with an anticancer agent. Several advantages of monosubstitution are pointed out: the higher efficiency of synthetic steps involving the derivatization of one, rather than several, functional group per porphyrin molecule, and the greater solubility and ease of purification of monosubstituted tetraphenylporphines. The new compounds have 5-fluorouracil and cis dichloroethylenediamineplatinum (cis-platinum) substituted in the meta positions of one of the phenyl rings in TPPS4. The palladium analog of the cis-platinum dervative which contains two Pd(II) atoms per molecule - one coordinated with the ethylenediamine moiety, and the other coordinated at the center of the porphyrin ring, was also prepared.
Signals from the dorsal blastopore lip region during gastrulation bias the ectoderm toward a nonepidermal pathway of differentiation in Xenopus laevis

Epi 1, a monoclonal antibody, was generated against an epidermal specific epithelial antigen; it does not stain neural epithelium. We have used Epi 1 as a marker to determine when the spatial patterns delineating neural from nonneural epithelium become established. We used ventral ectoderm in a sandwich assay to show that signals from the central blastopore lip region, passing through the plane of the ectoderm sheet, define the pattern and boundary characteristics of Epi 1 expression. The dorsal blastopore lip at stages 10 and 12 are the strongest in inhibiting Epi 1 expression. The involuted chordamesoderm has only a limited inhibitory effect on Epi 1 expression in ventral ectoderm recombinates and does not appear to establish pattern boundaries. We suggest that the blastopore lip region establishes a preneural bias in the adjacent ectoderm prior to the interaction of the latter with chordamesoderm.
Nonsurgical Closure of Large Arteriovenous Fistulas

We report a nonsurgical closure of large postnephrectomy arteriovenous fistulas in two patients. To our knowledge, this method has not previously been attempted because of the large size of the communication and the risk of pulmonary embolization. However, the development of new embolization techniques makes a nonsurgical approach feasible and safe. ( JAMA 236:2649-2650, 1976)
A multipath video delivery scheme over diffserv wireless LANs

This paper presents a joint source coding and networking scheme for video delivery over ad hoc wireless local area networks. The objective is to improve the end-to-end video quality with the constraint of the physical network. The proposed video transport scheme effectively integrates several networking components including load-aware multipath routing, class based queuing (CBQ), and scalable (or layered) video source coding techniques. A typical progressive video coder, 3D-SPIHT, is used to generate multi-layer source data streams. The coded bitstreams are then segmented into multiple sub-streams, each with a different level of importance towards the final video reconstruction. The underlay wireless ad hoc network is designed to support service differentiation. A contention sensitive load aware routing (CSLAR) protocol is proposed. The approach is to discover multiple routes between the source and the destination, and label each route with a load value which indicates its quality of service (QoS) characteristics. The video sub-streams will be distributed among these paths according to their QoS priority. CBQ is also applied to all intermediate nodes, which gives preference to important sub-streams. Through this approach, the scalable source coding techniques are incorporated with differentiated service (DiffServ) networking techniques so that the overall system performance is effectively improved. Simulations have been conducted on the network simulator (ns-2). Both network layer performance and application layer performance are evaluated. Significant improvements over traditional ad hoc wireless network transport schemes have been observed.
Epilepsia partialis continua due to cortical dysplasia.

We describe a child with progressive neurologic deterioration and epilepsia partialis continua of the right extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging suggested cortical dysplasia of the left frontal region including the central sensorimotor cortex. Subdural grid recordings showed widespread ictal activity and frequent interictal discharges from the motor cortex. A tailored resection was performed, and histologic analysis confirmed cortical dysplasia. This case demonstrates that cortical dysplasia may be the underlying cause in some cases of childhood epilepsia partialis continua of the progressive type. (J Child Neurol 1993;8:386-388).
Oxygen-coupled redox regulation of the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor-Ca2+ release channel by NADPH oxidase 4

Physiological sensing of O(2) tension (partial O(2) pressure, pO(2)) plays an important role in some mammalian cellular systems, but striated muscle generally is not considered to be among them. Here we describe a molecular mechanism in skeletal muscle that acutely couples changes in pO(2) to altered calcium release through the ryanodine receptor-Ca(2+)-release channel (RyR1). Reactive oxygen species are generated in proportion to pO(2) by NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and the consequent oxidation of a small set of RyR1 cysteine thiols results in increased RyR1 activity and Ca(2+) release in isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum and in cultured myofibers and enhanced contractility of intact muscle. Thus, Nox4 is an O(2) sensor in skeletal muscle, and O(2)-coupled hydrogen peroxide production by Nox4 governs the redox state of regulatory RyR1 thiols and thereby governs muscle performance. These findings reveal a molecular mechanism for O(2)-based signaling by an NADPH oxidase and demonstrate a physiological role for oxidative modification of RyR1.
Molecular Evolution of Nitrogen Assimilatory Enzymes in Marine Prasinophytes

Nitrogen assimilation is a highly regulated process requiring metabolic coordination of enzymes and pathways in the cytosol, chloroplast, and mitochondria. Previous studies of prasinophyte genomes revealed that genes encoding nitrate and ammonium transporters have a complex evolutionary history involving both vertical and horizontal transmission. Here we examine the evolutionary history of well-conserved nitrogen-assimilating enzymes to determine if a similar complex history is observed. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that genes encoding glutamine synthetase (GS) III in the prasinophytes evolved by horizontal gene transfer from a member of the heterokonts. In contrast, genes encoding GSIIE, a canonical vascular plant and green algal enzyme, were found in the Micromonas genomes but have been lost from Ostreococcus. Phylogenetic analyses placed the Micromonas GSIIs in a larger chlorophyte/vascular plant clade; a similar topology was observed for ferredoxin-dependent nitrite reductase (Fd-NiR), indicating the genes encoding GSII and Fd-NiR in these prasinophytes evolved via vertical transmission. Our results show that genes encoding the nitrogen-assimilating enzymes in Micromonas and Ostreococcus have been differentially lost and as well as recruited from different evolutionary lineages, suggesting that the regulation of nitrogen assimilation in prasinophytes will differ from other green algae.
Nonlinear effects (discontinuties) in rheology

Several rheological phenomena involve discontinuities of some sort. Three of such non-linear effects were discussed in this contribution. The yield stress in suspensions, the bubble volume-velocity jump in multiphase systems and the stress jump in viscoelastic liquids were all considered.
Nuclear genes that promote splicing of group I introns in the chloroplast 23S rRNA and psbA genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Single nucleotide substitutions were made in the core helices P4, P6, and P7, and in the metal-binding GAAA motif in the J4/5 region of the chloroplast group I rRNA intron of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Cr.LSU. In vitro assays showed that these substitutions had surprisingly strong effects on Cr.LSU self-splicing; however, splicing of all but the P6 mutations could be at least partially recovered by increasing the Mg2+ concentration. The mutant constructs were transformed into chloroplasts to replace the wild-type intron; however, only the P4 mutants became homoplasmic, indicating that the other mutations were lethal. The splicing-deficient P4125A mutant, which exhibited slow growth and light sensitivity, was used to isolate suppressor strains that showed a substantial restoration of Cr.LSU splicing. Genetic analysis of the 7151, 7120 and 71N1 suppressors indicated that these mutations are in at least two nuclear genes. The 7151 suppressor mutation, which defines the chloroplast-splicing suppressor (css1) gene, had no obviously altered growth phenotype with the wild-type intron, and was dominant in vegetative diploids containing the mutant intron. All three of the suppressor strains also suppressed a mutation in the P4 region of the fourth psbA intron, Cr.psbA4, indicating that these genes play a role in splicing of multiple group I introns in the chloroplast.
The sephadex gel filtration characteristics of the neutral soluble proteins of embryonic bovine enamel

Abstract 1. 1.|The behaviour of the neutral soluble proteins of embryonic enamel when filtered through columns of Sephadex G-75 and G-100 resin was investigated. 2. 2.|The relative proportion of the protein which was retarded and which was excluded from the resin was dependent on the initial concentration of the protein solution. 3. 3.|Each of the peaks eluted from the Sephadex columns was studied by ultracentrifugation, amino acid analysis, and by its elution profile when rerun through the Sephadex column. All but one of the peaks were found to contain both high and low molecular weight material in a state of labile equilibrium. 4. 4.|The composition of the fractions which were retarded on the Sephadex columns was found to be dependent on both a concentration effect and the elution of distinctive chemical moieties at particular void-volume to elution-volume ratios. Each of the fractions which was retarded on the Sephadex columns formed high molecular weight aggregates of variable composition. 5. 5.|High molecular weight material which did not dissociate on dilution, and which was apparently unrelated to the interacting system, dissociated in 6 M urea, and was therefore also composed of non-covalently bonded aggregates. The average molecular weight of the aggregates was found to be 2.9·10 6 , and the estimated molecular weight of the smallest aggregate, 1.86·10 6 . 6. 6.|The results of these experiments characterize the enamel proteins as a multicomponent system involving different aggregate complexes of approximately the same size.
Nasal pathology and ultrastructure in patients with chronic airway inflammation (RADS and RUDS) following an irritant exposure

Background: Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome is a chronic asthma-like condition developing after an acute irritant exposure, and chronic inflammation has been seen on endobronchial biopsy. Reactive upper-airways dysfunction syndrome is chronic rhinitis developing in temporal association with a toxic inhalation exposure, but the pathophysiology is unknown. Objectives: To study biopsies of the nasal mucosa in patients with reactive upper-airways dysfunction syndrome and in some cases reactive airways dysfunction syndrome developing in temporal association with a chlorine dioxide exposure, to see if a histologic basis for the persistent rhinitis and sensitivity to chemical irritants could be determined. Methods: Specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and immunoperoxidase stains for substance P, vasointestinal peptide, and S-100 (nerve fibers), and fixed in glutaraldehydefor electron microscopy. Biopsies of three nonexposed subjects were performed for comparison. A pathologist blinded to clinical ...
Soil nitrogen turnover is altered by herbicide treatment in a North Carolina piedmont forest soil

Abstract Additions of Velpar® (hexazinone) increased net nitrogen release from soil by at least four-fold during a 28-day laboratory incubation. Further experiments indicated that the effect was rapid (detectable in less than 1 h) and the use of 15 N-labelled soils demonstrated that microbial biomass was the major source of the N released.
Physics of high contrast gratings: a band diagram insight

We generalize the theoretical modelling of high contrast gratings (HCGs) to arbitrary incidence angle. We unveil the HCG band diagram with HCG supermode formulism, and present the intriguing connections between HCG and 1D photonic crystal (PhC). We show, for the first time, HCG and PhC can be unified in the same theoretical analysis architecture. They differentiate themselves by operating at different regimes in the band diagram. The HCG band diagram not only provides a powerful tool to study both HCG and PhC, but also to design various optical components with different functionalities on the HCG-based optoelectronics platform.
Microglial Expression of MHC Class II Increases in Normal Aging of Nonhuman Primates

The search for factors that influence age-related behavioral and cognitive slowing is ongoing. Because microglia are involved in many neurological disorders, they may also contribute to changes in normal aging. To assess increases in microglial activity, we used an antibody against MHC class II to label microglia in three groups of brains from female Macaca nemestrina: juvenile (2-5 years), young adult (5-11 years), and mature (11-19 years). Image analysis was completed on four white matter and three gray matter regions in a single coronal plane. Microglial expression of MHC class II increased with age, and was highest in the white matter regions of the mature, or middle-aged, monkeys. The higher expression of this antigen may indicate that the cells will more easily respond to stimulation. Their location in the white matter suggest that they may influence myelin loss and the eventual cognitive decline in aged human and nonhuman primates.
Variation on Zernike's phase-contrast microscope.

We describe the design, construction, and testing of a variant of Zernike’s phase-contrast microscope. The sample is illuminated with a white-light source through an annular aperture, which is projected onto the entrance pupil of the objective lens. In the return path the light diffracted by the sample and appearing in the interior of the objective’s aperture (i.e., the test beam) is separated from the light returning in the annular region near the rim of the objective (i.e., the reference beam). The separated beams are relatively phase shifted and then combined to create an interferogram of the sample’s surface on a CCD camera. It is fairly straightforward to use this system as a conventional bright-field or dark-field microscope, but its most interesting application is as a Zernike phase-contrast microscope with adjustable amplitude ratio and phase shift between test and reference beams. The ability to continuously adjust the phase of the reference beam also enables quantitative measurement of the phase imparted by the sample to the incident beam.
Trp-145 Is Essential for the Binding of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 to Human Serum Vitamin D-binding Protein

Chemical modification of specific amino acid residues in a protein has been a valuable tool in identifying amino acid residues that are responsible for ligand binding of a protein. In the present investigation, we targeted Trp and His residues in human serum vitamin D-binding protein (hDBP) by modifying them with specific chemical modifiers. We also evaluated the results of these modifications in the binding of 25-hydroxy[26(27)-3H]vitamin D3 ([3H]25-OH-D3) to hDBP. We observed a dose-dependent loss of binding activity by N-bromosuccinimide (specific for Trp). Similar results were observed with diethylpyrocarbonate (specific for His). Furthermore, loss of [3H]25-OH-D3-binding was protected by preincubation of hDBP samples with an excess of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. These results strongly emphasized the importance of Trp (single residue at position 145) and 1 His residue (out of a total of 6) in the vitamin D sterol-binding by vitamin D-binding protein.
The growth and development of an infant mental health program: An integrated perspective

Cet article detaille le developpement du Programme Clinique et de Formation en Sante Mentale Infantile de l'Ecole de Medecine de l'Universite du Colorado, de 1976 a aujourd'hui. Nous evoquons les sites cliniques ou le programme se tient, sites qui incluent l'Unite Neonatale de Soins Intensifs, la clinique de psychiatrie infantile de consultation externe, et les programmes de traitement de jour. Les stagiaires de differentes disciplines de sante mentale participent au programme, y compris les externes etudiants en psychologie (avant le doctorat), les internes venant de l'Internat de Psychologie Clinique, les internes du Programme de Formation de Psychiatrie Infantile, et les chercheurs en psychopathologie du developpement (post-doctorat, chercheurs attaches a l'universite). Recemment, le Programme de Sante Mentale Infantile a aussi pu etre a meme d'offrir ses propres postes de formation. Les modeles philosophiques du service clinique et du service de formation sont exposes. L'article se termine avec un regard sur les directions a venir et les defis du Programme de Sante Mentale Infantile.
Impurity conduction in indium-doped germanium

Abstract Studies were made of electrical conductivity at low temperatures in germanium crystals grown with indium and antimony EE majority and minority impurities respectively. The indium densities were kept small enough (〈2 × 1016 cm−3) to ensure that impurity conduction was controlled by the degree of compensation, which was carefully determined from Hall and resistive behaviour in the extrinsic temperature range. The impurity conduction results illustrate trapping of electrons on preferred acceptor sites at the lowest temperatures, in accordance with the model recently postdated by Mott (1956) and elaborated by Price (1957, 1958). The trapping energy ∊t is some 10−3 ev. The mobility of electrons involved in the impurity conduction process appears to be essentially temperature independent-a result at variance with the predictions of Conwell (1956). However the increase of mobility with impurity density does generally follow the lines of Conwell's model.
Autoradiographic analyses of agonist binding to muscarinic receptor subtypes

Abstract The binding of four muscarinic receptor agonists to regions of rat brain was examined through quantitative autoradiographic techniques. Oxotremorine, arecoline, pilocarpine and bethanechol were chosen based on their different potencies and efficacies in muscarinic second messenger systems. Overall, the order of potency for inhibition of [ 3 H ]-l- quinuclidinyl benzilate ([ 3 H ]-l- QNB ) binding to rat brain slices was oxotremorine > pilocarpine = arecoline > bethanecol. Regional assays of agonist potency indicated that all agonists were more selective for brainstem and thalamic regions than for hippocampal and cortical regions. The high selectivity of agonists for areas such as the paraventricular thalamus and the superior colliculus, which also display low affinity for pirenzepine, suggests that muscarinic agonists bind with higher affinity to M 2 receptors. Of the four agonists examined, pilocarpine displayed the lowest selectivity for M 2 receptors in that ic 50 values for pilocarpine were only 3-fold higher in the hippocampal and striatal regions (e.g. CA3: 40.6 ± 9.4 μM) than in thalamic and brainstem regions (e.g. paraventricular thalamus: 14.9 ± 6.2 μM). Oxotremorine was 8-fold more potent in the brainstem and thalamus, while arecoline and bethanechol were, respectively, 19- and 100-fold more selective for brainstem and thalamic receptors. Scatchard analyses revealed heterogeneous binding profiles for some agonists within single brain regions, suggesting that multiple agonist sites exist even within regions of predominately M 1 or M 2 receptors. For example, arecoline displayed curved Scatchard plots within the external layers of the cerebral cortex, layer CA1 of the hippocampus (predominantly M 1 subtype), and the paraventricular thalamus (predominantly M 2 subtype). The ability of agonists to recognize multiple sites within a single region may reflect the ability to recognize receptors coupled or uncoupled to second messenger systems through G-proteins
Rethinking cerebral malaria pathology.

Purpose of reviewIntense interventions are ongoing to combat malaria. Malaria mortality investigation remains as an intense area of study with controversies, competing models of pathogenesis, and a few carefully proceeding clinical trials. This review suggests a reframing of the question of cerebral
Anation of cis-aquoerythro chromium(III) ion by thiocyanate ion in acidic aqueous solution

The rate of anation of cis-aquoerythro ion, cis-(NH3)5Cr(OH)Cr(NH3)4(OH2)5+, by thiocyanate ion has been studied in aqueous perchlorate solution. The reactions were conducted under the following experimental conditions: t = 25·0°, 32·1°, 35·6° and 40·8°, [cis-aquoerythro] = (7·0–10·0) × 10−3 M, [H+] = 0·1−0·01 M, [NaSCN] = 0·1−0·8 M and μ = 1·0 M(NaClO4). The observed rate law is first-order in cis-aquoerythro ion concentration, independent of hydrogen ion concentration, and linearly dependent in thiocyanate ion concentration. Therefore, the rate law can be expressed as: R = (ka + kb[SCN−])[cis-aquoerythro], and the values of ka and kb at 25° are 0·344 × 10−4 sec−1 and 1·01 × 10−4 M−1 sec−1. The mechanism postulated for the anation reaction involves the SN1 type and SN1 I.P. (ion pairing) mechanistic steps. The ion-pairing process is supported by the activation parameters (ΔH‡ = 19·9 kcal/mole, ΔS‡ = −10·2 e.u.) which is similar to the values reported for an analogous aquopentaaminechromium(III)-NCS− system. The competitive cleavage reaction of the cis-aquoerythro ion can be estimated from the cleavage rate data and its contribution accounts for 9–17 per cent of the overall reaction.
An immigration and fragmentation stochastic process

Abstract : A population of different types of particles is considered where immigration of the various particle types into the population is allowed. The immigration causes 'fragmentation' or branching of all the existing target particles in the population. An immigrating particle can also fragment into the different types. The joint moment generating function for the number of particles in the m-th generation, and the expected number of particles in the m-th generation are given. Asymptotic expected values, and limits of random variables for a k-type process in discrete random environment with and without immigration are obtained. (Author)
A Senior Scholars Forum Can Enhance the Scholarship Process

Background: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the educational value of an annual Senior Scholars Forum (SSF) of graduating Emergency Medicine resident participants and attendees. Description: This study was conducted at an urban academic medical center with a PGY1-4 year residency program. After completion of the 2nd annual SSF, a web-based survey instrument was sent to all resident and faculty attendees. The instrument was a 3-part tool adapted from previous studies on postgraduate scholarship. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Evaluation: Forty-two of the 44 (95%) attendees completed the survey, including 100% of the PGY4 resident presenters. Prior to the SSF, 52% of respondents did not have a full understanding of senior scholarly activities. After the SSF, 67% reported an improved understanding and 88% had a better understanding of the scope of potential scholarly projects. Sixty-four percent reported the SSF introduced them to departmental resources available for completion of t...
The effects of a discontinuity in the forcing function of a singular integral equation

A note on the effects of a weak discontinuity in the forcing function g(x) of a singular, integral equation of the first kind and the resulting strong discontinuity that can appear in the solution f(x) is presented.
Can the Blood Alcohol Concentration Be a Predictor for Increased Hospital Complications in Trauma Patients Involved in Motor Vehicle Crashes

The goal of this report is to assess the relationship of varying levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and hospital complications in patients admitted after motor vehicle crashes. Data for the study was collected by a retrospective review of the University of Wisconsin Hospital trauma registry between 1999 and 2007 using the National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons (NTRACS). Of 3729 patients, 2210 (59%) had a negative BAC, 338 (9%) 200 mg/dL. Forty-six percent of patients had one or more hospital related complications. The odds ratio (OR) for the occurrence of alcohol withdrawal in the three alcohol groups compared to the no alcohol group was 12.02 (CI 7.0–20.7), 16.81 (CI 10.4–27.2), and 30.96 (CI 19.5–49.2) as BAC increased with a clear dose response effect. While there were no significant differences in the frequency of the total hospital events following trauma across the four groups, rates of infections, coagulopathies, central nervous system events and renal complications were lower in the high BAC group. Prospective studies are needed to more precisely estimate the frequency of hospital complications in patients with alcohol use disorders and in persons intoxicated at the time of the motor vehicle accident. The study supports the use of routine BAC to predict patients at high risk for alcohol withdrawal and the early initiation of alcohol detoxification.