cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Carbon and energy footprint of nonmetallic composite pipes in onshore oil and gas flowlines

Abstract A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis was conducted to compare the carbon and energy footprint of several non-metallic composite pipes and carbon steel (CS) pipes used in onshore sour oil and gas (O&G) production flowlines, based on a specific deployment case (cradle-to-gate scenario). This work provides a systematic approach to assessing the carbon and energy footprint of fiber reinforced thermoplastic/thermoset pipes used in the O&G industry, while also accounting for the end-of-life recycling at the material phase, through the use of the recycled-content allocation method. The impact of corrosion allowance (CA), commonly used at design phase of CS pipes, is explicitly included and discussed. From the raw material extraction to the installation phase, all non-metallic pipe technologies assessed in this study were found to have a lower carbon and energy footprint than CS pipes. The reduction in CO2 emissions can reach up to 60% while the energy footprint can be reduced by up to 50%. The material phase, particularly the composite layer for non-metallic pipes, was found to be the main contributor to the product footprint for all pipe technologies and any optimization in this phase could translate into a significant reduction in the overall CO2 footprint of the pipe. The manufacturing phase is the second largest contributor to the emissions and was found to be (on average) five times bigger for CS pipes than any of the non-metallic pipe technologies assessed in this study. The use of stronger and lighter fiber reinforcements (e.g., carbon fibers) to substitute conventional glass fibers in RTP pipes enabled a noticeable reduction in the product weight. However, the potential in reduction of overall emissions was outweighed by the exceedingly high carbon intensity of carbon fibers. The results of this study are supporting an ongoing strategy for mass deployment of nonmetallic pipes (a traditional driver in reducing operating costs) and provide a path for cleaner production and distribution of hydrocarbon resources. The conclusions of this work could be further developed by accounting for the operational phase of the pipes in question.
Cooperative Bond Activation and Facile Intramolecular Aryl Transfer of Nickel–Aluminum Pincer-type Complexes

Pincer-type nickel-aluminum complexes were synthesized using two equivalents of the phosphinoamide, [PhNCH2 Pi Pr2 ]- . The Ni0 -AlIII complexes, {(Mes PAlP)Ni}2 (μ-N2 ) and {(Mes PAlP)Ni}2 (μ-COD), where Mes PAlP is (Mes)Al(NPhCH2 Pi Pr2 )2 , were structurally characterized. The (PAlP)Ni system exhibited cooperative bond cleavage mediated by the two-site Ni-Al unit, including oxidative addition of aryl halides, H2 activation, and ortho-directed C-H bond activation of pyridine N-oxide. One intriguing reaction is the reversible intramolecular transfer of the mesityl ring from the Al to the Ni site, which is evocative of the transmetalation step during cross-coupling catalysis. The aryl-transfer product,(THF)Al(NPhCH2 Pi Pr2 )2 Ni(Mes), is the first example of a first-row transition metal-aluminyl pincer complex. The addition of a judicious donor enables the Al metalloligand to convert reversibly between the alane and aluminyl forms via aryl group transfer to and from Ni, respectively. Theoretical calculations support a zwitterionic Niδ- -Alδ+ electronic structure in the nickel-aluminyl complex.
Patent Eligible Subject Matter: Protecting the Public Domain

The question of what subject matter is eligible for utility patent protection is controversial. Commentators have argued that the current body of law is both unpredictable and in a state of disarray. The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has issued numerous guidelines instructing patent examiners on how to deal with this issue. Congress is considering a legislative solution that would “fix” this area of law. Judges on the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit disagree on the interpretation of relevant Supreme Court precedents. Although historically this was a rarely litigated issue, in recent years it has been frequently litigated before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. A full understanding of this subject matter dispute requires an examination of a basic concept. The law has long recognized the general rule that ideas per se are part of the public domain — free for all to use. Under copyright law, an idea per se is not protectable. However, an idea’s form of expression is protectable. Under patent law, an idea per se is also not protectable, although an embodiment of the idea is eligible for patent protection. This general rule is not altered merely because someone has invested substantial time and capital in developing or discovering an idea. Nevertheless, under certain circumstances it can be inherently unjust to allow a third party to commercially exploit an idea developed by someone else. Hence, although a public domain of ideas exists for the benefit of the public, under certain circumstances the creator of such ideas can be granted legal protection. For example, if an idea is secretly used in a business enterprise such that it provides an economic advantage over competitors, it may be protected by trade secret law. Likewise, contract law can be used to protect a novel idea that has been converted into a concrete form. The real issue, therefore, in the debate over what is patent eligible subject matter is the size or scope of the public domain. Certain basic scientific facts, ideas, and concepts should be free for all to use. Such things should not be amenable to ownership by anyone. Hence, they should be ineligible for property ownership in the form of patent protection. This paper will examine the concept of a public domain comprised of ideas, information, and knowledge that is generally free for all to use. This concept permeates all of the various bodies of law that have historically protected intellectual property. This paper will then review recent Federal Circuit opinions that have addressed whether purported inventions are patent eligible subject matter and conclude that such decisions are generally properly distinguishing between patent eligible and patent ineligible inventions.
A Rare Case of Subcutaneous Insulin Resistance Presumed to be due to Paraneoplastic Process in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Abstract Objective We describe a rare case of profound subcutaneous insulin resistance (SIR) presumed due to a paraneoplastic process caused by pancreatic adenocarcinoma that improved with intravenous insulin and tumor resection. Methods An 80-year-old man with previously well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus had worsening glycemic control (hemoglobin A1C increase of 6.5% to 8.6% over 4 months) following a recent diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. His blood glucose was uncontrolled at 600 mg/dL despite rapid up-titration of a subcutaneous basal-bolus insulin regimen totaling 1000 units/d. Extensive evaluation of insulin resistance including insulin antibodies and anti-insulin receptor antibodies was negative. Due to clinical deterioration, the patient underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy before the completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The patient received intravenous insulin before surgery, which resulted in rapid improvement in glycemic control. The patient’s blood glucose normalized, and he was maintained on metformin monotherapy following pancreaticoduodenectomy. Results This patient had evidence of SIR in the setting of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. SIR was likely a paraneoplastic process as glycemic control improved after tumor resection. Interestingly, the patient did not have hyperinsulinemia but rather evidence of β-cell dysfunction, which highlights the possibility of exogenous insulin resistance. Conclusion Paraneoplastic processes due to pancreatic adenocarcinoma can cause SIR, marked by profound hyperglycemia and deteriorating functional status. It is, therefore important to recognize this rare syndrome and appropriately escalate to a higher level of care and consider proceeding with tumor resection.
Topological polymorphism of nucleosome fibers and folding of chromatin.

Abstract We discuss recent observations of polymorphic chromatin packaging at the oligonucleosomal level and compare them with computer simulations. Our computations reveal two topologically different families of two-start 30-nm fiber conformations distinguished by the linker length L; fibers with L ≈ 10n and L ≈ 10n+5 basepairs have DNA linking numbers per nucleosome of ΔLk ≈ −1.5 and −1.0, respectively (where n is a natural number). Although fibers with ΔLk ≈ −1.5 were observed earlier, the topoisomer with ΔLk ≈ −1.0 is novel. These predictions were confirmed experimentally for circular nucleosome arrays with precisely positioned nucleosomes. We suggest that topological polymorphism of chromatin may play a role in transcription, with the {10n+5} fibers producing transcriptionally competent chromatin structures. This hypothesis is consistent with available data for yeast and, partially, for fly. We show that both fiber topoisomers (with ΔLk ≈ −1.5 and −1.0) have to be taken into account to interpret experimental data obtained using new techniques: genome-wide Micro-C, Hi-CO, and RICC-seq, as well as self-association of nucleosome arrays in vitro. The relative stability of these topoisomers is likely to depend on epigenetic histone modifications modulating the strength of internucleosome interactions. Potentially, our findings may reflect a general tendency of functionally distinct parts of the genome to retain topologically different higher-order structures.
Caregivers of Individuals with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome: Perspectives, experiences, and relationships with medical professionals.

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare genetic disorder. Family-centered care (FCC) is a healthcare delivery approach that aims to create an equal partnership between caregivers and providers. FCC has been shown to improve parental wellbeing, their knowledge of the condition and care, and improve their feelings of self-efficacy and personal control. The purpose of this study was to explore the healthcare experiences of family caregivers of children and adults with RTS to understand the issues they encounter when working with medical professionals and to examine their perspectives on how to improve FCC. Primary family caregivers of individuals with RTS took an online mixed-method survey that contained three primary components: a demographic survey, the Measures of Processes of Care-20 (MPOC-20) [a measure of the FCC an individual feels they receive], and a qualitative assessment of negative and positive interactions with medical professionals and priority areas for improvement. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. An analysis of variance test was used to determine whether values statistically differed between different-age groups of individuals with RTS being cared for. Sixty-three caregivers completed the survey. The average score of the Providing General Information subscale of the MPOC-20 was 3.18, lower than that seen in other studies. The average scores of the other subscales of the MPOC-20 ranged from 4.60 to 5.02, comparable to other studies of caregivers of children with other medical conditions. All aspects of FCC were ranked as important by caregivers. There were no differences in MPOC-20 values between those caring for the individuals with RTS in different-age groups reviewed. In the qualitative responses, parents noted that experiences with medical professionals would be improved if healthcare providers actively provided FCC, collaborated with parents and other providers, respected caregivers' time and breadth of knowledge and lived experience, gave a more balanced description of the condition, showed greater respect toward their loved ones and included them in the conversation, and made an effort to learn about RTS. The changes that parents would like to see in their child's care were not specific to one discipline and could be implemented by all healthcare specialists. While caregivers report that they receive moderate levels of FCC, they indicated that areas of FCC could be improved.
Interpretation of genotoxicity data in assessing the risks of genetic diseases.

Risk assessment may be either qualitative or quantitative. The screening of chemicals for mutagenicity is a qualitative matter, akin to a test of hypothesis in statistical analysis. Monitoring a population for an increase in the mutation rate also falls into this category. On the other hand, determining dose-response curves and estimating the impact on the population of an increase in exposure to some mutagenic agent is a quantitative process, involving statistical estimation.
Observations of O and Of stars

Evaluation of spectrograms with a dispersion of 16.2 A/mm covering the spectral range from 3300 to 4900 A obtained for three early O stars and three early Of stars. Detailed line profiles of selected hydrogen and helium lines were obtained, and equivalent widths of nearly all visible lines were measured. Comparison of the spectroscopic properties between Of stars and O stars suggests that Of stars have lower surface gravities than do O stars. Comparison of their photometric properties confirms this suggestion. Hence present temperature scales for O5-O8 stars should not be applied to Of stars until the effect of gravity in determining spectral type has been determined. In addition, the spectra suggest that atmospheric models of Of stars should take into account spherical and hydrodynamic effects.
Panic disorder in cardiology patients with atypical or non-anginal chest pain: A pilot study

Abstract Since chest pain is a characteristic symptom of panic attacks, the authors hypothesized that cardiology patients with atypical or nonanginal chest pain were likely to have panic disorder. In this pilot study, 13 of 30 (43%) of such patients evaluated by a semi-structured interview were positive for panic disorder. Atypical and nonanginal chest pain may serve as potential markers for panic disorder.
Full-body hybrid motor control for reaching

In this paper, we present a full-body motor control mechanism that generates coordinated and diverse motion during a reaching action. Our framework animates the full human body (stretching arms, flexing of the spine, as well as stepping forward) to facilitate the desired end effector behavior. We propose a hierarchical control system for controlling the arms, spine, and legs of the articulated character and present a controller-scheduling algorithm for coordinating the sub-controllers. High-level parameters can be used to produce variation in the movements for specific reaching tasks. We demonstrate a wide set of behaviors such as stepping and squatting to reach low distant targets, twisting and swinging up to reach high lateral targets, and we show variation in the synthesized motions.
Detection of A Shared HIV Protease-RT Deletion in Patient Plasma & Cells: A Role For ARV-mediated Selection and Viral Complementation

Background A deletion in HIV pol spanning amino acid residues 59– 99 of protease and 1–204 of reverse transcriptase (RT) was detected in 12/22 plasma specimens from patients receiving antiretovirals (ARVs). It was subsequently detected in cerebrospinal fluid, blood monocytes and T-cells, brain and lymphoid tissues. It was always accompanied by an I54V mutation in protease, and L210W, R211K and L214F mutations in RT. Sequencing and other experiments confirmed that it is not a PCR artifact.
Efficient total probability prediction via convex optimization and optimal transport

In this paper, we consider state space modeling for sequential continuous estimation. We consider the one-step prediction update, which transforms our previous belief state (posterior distribution of the previous state) to new belief state (posterior distribution of the current state). We demonstrate a recursive algorithm for updating the latent state at every time by avoiding intractable integral or Gaussian approximation. The construction of the desired map is pursued through the optimal transportation theory, and we demonstrate that for the large class of log-concave state transition functions, the one-step prediction problem for continuous hidden variable is solvable through convex optimization.
Randomized Controlled Trials of Rheumatoid Arthritis Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: What Gets Published and When

Objective To examine characteristics associated with the publication and timeliness of publication of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods RA RCTs (phases II–IV) registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and completed by December 31, 2009 were identified. A standardized strategy was used to determine publication status and outcome assessment. The association of RCT characteristics recorded at ClinicalTrials.gov and study outcome with publication and time to publication were assessed. Results A search conducted at least 30 months after trial completion revealed that among 143 eligible RCTs, 95 (64.4%) were published. The 48 unpublished RCTs had enrolled >10,000 patients. Efficacy outcomes could be ascertained for 127 of the RCTs. RCT publication was associated with positive outcome, with an adjusted odds ratio [OR] of 4.3 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.8–10.2) (P = 0.001), and marginally with RCT registration before completion (adjusted OR 0.4 [95% CI 0.1–1.0], P = 0.06). The estimated median time to publication was 38 months. Positive outcome was associated with earlier publication (adjusted hazard ratio 1.9 [95% CI 1.2–2.9], P = 0.006). RCTs completed in 2006–2007 or 2008–2009 were likely to be published sooner than RCTs completed in or before 2005. Sensitivity analyses to assess the impact of 16 RCTs with unknown outcome did not alter these findings, except in the highly implausible scenario of all such trials being positive. Conclusion Positive study outcome was associated with publication and timeliness of publication despite registration in a publicly available registry. A substantial minority of RA RCTs remained unpublished. Efforts to improve transparency in reporting of clinical trials need to continue.
The C proteins of HeLa 40S nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles exist as anisotropic tetramers of (C1)3 C2.

The C proteins (C1 and C2) of HeLa 40S heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles copurify under native conditions as a stable complex with a fixed molar protein ratio (S.F. Barnett, W.M. LeStourgeon, and D.L. Friedman, J. Biochem. Biophys. Methods 16:87-97, 1988). Gel filtration chromatography and velocity sedimentation analyses of these complexes revealed a large Stokes radius (6.2 nm) and a sedimentation coefficient of 5.8S. On the basis of these values and a partial specific volume of 0.70 cm3/g based on the amino acid composition, the molecular weight of the complex was calculated to be 135,500. This corresponds well to 129,056, the sequence-determined molecular weight of a (C1)3C2 tetramer. Reversible chemical cross-linking with dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate) and analysis of cross-linked and cleaved complexes in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis confirmed that the C proteins exist as tetramers, most or all of which are composed of (C1)3C2. The tetramer is stable in a wide range of NaCl concentrations (0.09 to 2.0 M) and is not dissociated by 0.5% sodium deoxycholate. This stability is not the result of disulfide bonds or interactions with divalent cations. The hydrodynamic properties of highly purified C-protein tetramers are the same for C-protein complexes released from intact particles with RNase or high salt. These findings support previous studies indicating that the core particle protein stoichiometry of 40S heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins is N(3A1-3A2-1B1-1B2-3C1-1C2), where N = 3 to 4, and demonstrate that the C-protein tetramer is a fundamental structural element in these RNA-packaging complexes. The presence of at least three tetramers per 40S monoparticle, together with the highly anisotropic nature of the tetramer, suggesting that one-third of the 700-nucleotide pre-mRNA moiety packaged in monoparticles is associated through a sequence-independent mechanism with the C protein.
Pursuit of Muscularity in Adolescent Boys: Relations among Biopsychosocial Variables and Clinical Outcomes.

Adolescent boys (n = 269) were assessed for levels of several risky behaviors related to the pursuit of muscularity, including substance use (anabolic steroids, prohormones, and ephedrine) dieting to gain weight, and symptoms of muscle dysmorphia (MD). The association between these behaviors and a variety of putative biological, psychological, and social risk factors were also evaluated. Concerning rates for lifetime use of steroids (2.6%), prohormones (4.5%), and ephedrine (6%) were found. Multiple regression analyses indicated that MD and sports participation significantly predicted substance use. Body dissatisfaction and body mass index were significant predictors of dieting to gain weight. Additionally, negative affect, media influence, and sports participation predicted symptoms of MD.
The influence of thyroid hormone deficiency on the development of cochlear nonlinearities.

It is well known that failure to treat severe congenital hypothyroidism leads to profound auditory disability, and it has been suggested that an intracochlear defect, or defects, associated with the condition diminishes the efficacy of an active, physiologically vulnerable nonlinear transduction process commonly referred to as cochlear amplification. We address this question directly by tracking the development of threshold–frequency (tuning) curves and two-tone suppression in hypothyroid, Tshr mutant mice born to hypothyroid dams and comparing those findings with findings observed in euthyroid mice. Like sharp tuning, two-tone suppression is a product of transduction nonlinearity and is a useful indicator of the functional status of cochlear amplification. In contrast to euthyroid mice that acquire sharp tuning, normal two-tone suppression, and adultlike sensitivity by the end of the third postnatal week, as shown in earlier studies, hypothyroid mice remained grossly insensitive to sound throughout life. In addition, tuning was generally broad in hypothyroid mice, tuning curve “tips” were frequently missing, and two-tone suppression was rarely observed. However, unlike tip thresholds, tuning curve “tail” thresholds, a feature that reflects the functional status of passive elements of transduction, acquired normal values over a roughly 2-month postnatal time period. These observations collectively suggest that active transduction micromechanics, at least in the frequency region studied here, are profoundly affected by thyroid hormone and support speculation that abnormal outer hair cell function may be the cause of the primary, enduring peripheral auditory defect associated with profound, congenital hypothyroidism in the Tshr mutant mouse.
Land Speculation in Southern California: Energy Monopoly, Fiscal Crisis and the Future

. Increasing automobile traffic congestion and longer trip times on interurban trolley lines in southern California after the second world war led to the contruction of freeways. The trolleys were denied access and the efficient electric railway system was sold to bus lines, partly as a result of a conspiracy between bus manufacturers, tiremakers, and oil companies. This producecl “the golden age of land speculation” in the region. Floodplains, earthquake zones, blowsand areas and the tops and sides of crumbling cliffs were dotted with sprawled residential developments. The energy crisis of 1973, produced by the oil companies and the Arab oil cartel, turned boom into bust. As inflation and rising taxes produced by soaring property values put intolerable pressure on urban homeowners, they forced legislators to limit increases in assessed values and to restrict government spending. Now the public is challenged to produce order out of fiscal chaos and speculative ruin.
From the old to the new: intergrating hypertext into traditional scholarship

Hypertext allows academics to structure and manipulate their ideas in a radically new way, but it should also reinforce traditional scholarly activity. Those designing Hypertext systems that are intended for the general academic market must be careful to support not only new possibilities, but those functions with which academics are already familiar. Further, many scholars hope that their documents will be useful for decades to come. We need standard document architectures that will separate a particular Hypertext from the system in which it was designed.
Nanocrystalline indium oxide-doped tin oxide thin film as low temperature hydrogen sensor

Abstract Hydrogen gas, within the concentration range of 100 ppm–4 vol.%, is successfully sensed at lower operating temperatures, 25 and 50 °C, using the Pt-sputtered sol–gel dip-coated nanocrystalline (6–7 nm) 6.5 mol% In 2 O 3 -doped SnO 2 semiconductor thin (100–150 nm) film sensor. Typically, for 1000 ppm of hydrogen, the maximum sensitivity values of 32 and 1600% are observed at 25 and 50 °C, respectively; while for 2 vol.% hydrogen, the maximum sensitivity values of 50 and 70,000% are recorded at 25 and 50 °C, respectively. At 25 °C, for 4 vol.% (explosive limit as set by NASA) hydrogen, the maximum hydrogen gas sensitivity values of 107,887 and 2083% are observed for the Pt-sputtered thin films calcined at 500 and 600 °C, respectively.
Detection of nodal metastatic disease in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: comparison of positron emission tomography (PET), contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), and combined PET-CT

Of 31 patients with lung cancer, 19 underwent PET-CT and 12 had CT followed by PET. Thoracic lymph nodes were sampled by mediastinoscopy or thoracotomy. Sensitivities, specificities, positive (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) were calculated based on histopathology. Ninety nodes (41 malignant) were identified. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 94%, 73%, 66%, and 96% for PET-CT, respectively. In 12 patients who underwent PET and CT separately, these values were 90%, 31%, 64%, and 71% for PET and 81%, 50%, 69%, and 66% for CT, respectively.
Korean Women & Breastfeeding: Reversing the Trend Toward Formula Feeding

In Korea the cultural tradition states that mothers should breastfeed on demand for the first three years of an infant’s life. However few Korean women today follow this custom. One study conducted in Korea demonstrated that 67 percent of the mothers were bottle-feeding only 17 percent were exclusively breastfeeding and 14 percent were both breast- and bottle-feeding. The decline in breastfeeding practices in Korea can be correlated to an increased participation of women in the workforce lack of social support and public promotion of bottle-feeding. The steady increase of Korean women in the workforce in Korea since the 1970s has led to an increase of income and the ability to purchase formula. This increase in women’s employment also brought an improvement in women’s status as well as a noted move among women to more urban areas. During this shift women’s roles in the family have changed. One survey reported that some women believe breastfeeding is old fashioned and does not promote the image of the modern mother (Kim 1998). Because of the decreased number of Korean women breastfeeding there is less of an opportunity to learn about breastfeeding within the family. (excerpt)
Integrins step up the pace of cell migration through polyamines and potassium channels

Cell migration is a fundamental process, playing a central role in embryonic development, wound healing, inflammation, and tumor metastasis. To migrate, cells must form a leading and trailing edge, apply coordinated force in the direction of movement, and both adhere and release their hold on the substrate as they travel (1–5). To perform these feats, migrating cells respond to a variety of factors such as extracellular matrix molecules and growth factors, which engage cell surface receptors to initiate and maintain migration. One such family of receptors, the integrins, plays an important role in migration, in part by adhering to the extracellular matrix, and activating intracellular cascades that promote actin polymerization involved in lamellipodial extension (1–5). Integrins are heterodimeric receptors that consist of α- and β-subunits with large extracellular ligand-binding domains, and smaller cytoplasmic domains that initiate intracellular signaling (1–5). One mechanism of integrin-mediated cell migration involves the ability of integrins to regulate the activity of the Rho family of small G proteins. For example, localized Rac activation, important for lamellipodial extension, is promoted at the leading edge of cells by α4β1 integrin phosphorylation and consequent unbinding of the signaling adapter protein paxillin and is inhibited at the trailing edge by α4β1 dephosphorylation, binding of paxillin, and inactivation of Rac (1, 4). The closely related α9β1 integrin also is able to enhance cell migration, but its mechanism of action was not known. In an elegant study from the Sheppard laboratory published in this issue of PNAS (6), deHart et al. identify a novel pathway by which α9β1 integrins increase cell migration by modulation of polyamine metabolism and activation of potassium channels.
Characterization of the Interaction between Neuronal RNA-binding Protein HuD and AU-rich RNA

Hu proteins have been shown to bind to AU-rich elements (AREs) in the 3′-untranslated region of unstable mRNAs. They can thereby inhibit the decay of labile transcripts by antagonizing destabilizing proteins that target these AU-rich sequences. Here we examine the sequence preferences of HuD to elucidate its possible role in counteracting mRNA decay. Using repeats of the prototype destabilizing sequence UU(AUUU)nAUU, we show that all three HuD RNA-binding domains participate in binding to AU-tracts that can be as short as 13 residues, depending on the position of the remaining As. Removal of the A residues, resulting in a poly(U)-tract, increased the affinity of HuD for RNA, suggesting that the presence of As in destabilizing elements might favor the recruitment of other proteins and/or prevent HuD from binding too tightly to AREs. In vitro selection experiments with randomized RNAs confirmed the preference of HuD for poly(U). RNA binding analysis of the related protein HuB showed a similar preference for poly(U). In contrast, tristetraprolin, an mRNA destabilizing protein, strongly prefers AU-rich RNA. Many labile mRNAs contain U-tracts in or near their AREs. Individual AREs may thus differentially affect mRNA half-life by recruiting a unique complement of stabilizing and destabilizing factors.
Evaluators' Use of Peer Debriefing: Three Impressionist Tales

Program evaluators are sometimes requested to help their clients identify ways to use evaluation findings, but little guidance for this task has been provided in the literature. How might evaluators grapple with this dilemma? This article discusses the use of peer debriefing as a method for helping evaluators during the final stage of the evaluation of a curriculum in a school of a large state university and presents the implications of these findings for program evaluators and qualitative researchers. The authors employ an impressionist tale format to discuss the impact of the peer debriefing process on the peer debriefer, the principal investigator, and the project director. The method is found to be helpful to evaluators who face issues of roles, the use of expertise, and interpersonal dynamics.
Dielectric Barrier Discharge-Induced Vortex Generation With Discharge-Actuated Boundary Layer Bleed

The characteristics of vortices induced by spanwise forcing using a streamwise-oriented dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) vortex generator (VG) are investigated with and without a boundary layer bleed slot, the flow of which is also driven by a DBD actuator. The velocity fields of the induced flows are characterized by ensemble averaged particle image velocimetry. A stronger downward motion and proximity of the induced vortex to the forcing electrode and the wall are observed when the DBD VG is used in conjunction with a DBD-active bleed slot. The effect of varying the applied voltage and freestream velocity on the induced vortex is examined. Researches are carried out on the ability for this DBD VG to control the separation on an inclined flat-plate and diverging ramp. We find that the DBD VG, together with DBD-activated bleed slots, leads to more robust separation control in these adverse pressure gradient configurations.
Pharmacotherapy of the eating disorders: a commentary.

Abstract During the last 10 yr, evidence has accummulated which indicates that the eating disorders of bulimia and anorexia nervosa (BN and AN) may be differentially affected by pharmacological treatment. Although the efficacy of drug treatment alone (relative to nonpharmacological approaches) has been debated, there is support for the generalization that all types of antidepressant medications have proven efficacious for bulimia but not for anorexia. These clinical observations are consistent with an extensive body of research concerning the regulation of ingestion, which indicates that the neurotransmitter serotonin plays an important role in mediating satiety. Such considerations have led to the “serotonin-hypothesis of bulimia,” which postulates that BN represents an underlying “hyposerotonergic” condition and, conversely, that AN represents a “hyperserotonergic” state. Recently, however, two independent studies have shown that the antidepressant fluoxetine, which selectively blocks the synaptic re-uptake of serotonin, provided significant therapeutic benefit for anorexic patients. The implications of these apparently anomalous results for the “serotonin-hypothesis of BN” are discussed in an attempt to gain insight into the present pharmacotherapy of the eating disorders.
Representing hyperspectral textures using opponent features

We introduce a representation for hyperspectral textures using unichrome and opponent features computed from Gabor filter outputs. The unichrome features are computed from the spectral bands independently while the opponent features combine information across different bands at different scales. Using a database of AVIRIS image regions, we evaluate the performance of the multiscale approach using opponent features for recognizing hyperspectral textures.
A note on mathematical models for the interaction of neural elements

By introducing a plausible model for the initiation of axonal impulses the output is obtained as a function of the input incoming impulses. If the temporal aspects of the excitatory process resulting from the afferent impulses are sufficiently rapid one obtains the discontinuous or microscopic model of McCulloch-Pitts. If these are sufficiently slow a continuous model, such as Rashevsky’s one or two factor theory, is a natural model. But the linear relation between the strength of excitation of one axon and excitatory factor of the next will not in general hold. However, under conditions which are not too restrictive the linear relation with threshold can be considered as satisfactory approximation over a fairly wide range of values.
Nutritional considerations and management of the child with liver disease

Nutritional management of the infant and child with liver disease is highly dependent upon the type of liver disease. Acute liver disease, such as that secondary to viral hepatitis, requires no specific nutritional therapy with the exception that branched-chain amino acid supplements may be indicated in the management of hepatic encephalopathy. Nutritional management of the child with chronic liver disease depends upon whether or not cholestasis is present, since in that condition, large amounts of fat-soluble vitamin supplements and medium-chain triglycerides are usually required for optimum growth. However, anicteric cirrhotic liver disease also presents nutritional challenges because of hypermetabolism, enteropathy, and increased protein oxidation. Certain inborn errors of metabolism that result in liver disease (including galactosemia, hepatorenal tyrosinemia, hereditary fructose intolerance, and Wilson's disease) have specific nutritional requirements. And, finally, the advent of pediatric liver transplantation has placed new emphasis on the importance of optimum nutritional management of the child with chronic liver disease, since improvement of nutritional status in the pretransplant period maximizes success of the transplant. This review will focus on the pathogenesis of malnutrition in childhood liver disease and will provide recommendations for nutritional assessment and monitoring as well as nutritional management of cholestatic liver disease, anicteric cirrhotic liver disease, and the inborn errors of metabolism enumerated above. Specific recommendations for nutritional management of the child awaiting liver transplantation will be provided.
The Role of Arthroscopy in Trapeziometacarpal Arthritis

Background Trapeziometacarpal (TM) arthroscopy should be viewed as a useful minimally invasive adjunctive technique rather than the operation itself since it allows one to visualize the joint surface under high-power magnification with minimal disruption of the important ligamentous complex. Relatively few articles describe the arthroscopic treatment of TM osteoarthritis (OA) and the arthroscopic anatomy of the TM joint. There is lingering confusion as to whether soft tissue interposition and K-wire fixation of the joint are needed and whether the outcomes of arthroscopic procedures compare to the more standard open techniques for TM arthroplasty.
Synthesis and stereochemical assignment of the C1–C10 fragment of nystatin A1

Abstract Compound 8 representing the C 1 –C 10 fragment of nystatin A 1 has been synthesized from nystatin A 1 by degradation and by total synthesis. Comparison of the two samples revealed the 3R, 5R, 7R stereochemistry for the three nystatin A 1 centers.
Allometry and cirque evolution

A deductive analysis of the processes responsible for cirque formation leads to a model that describes cirque development through time. In this model, cirque volumes increase as the third power of time, although observed variations in cirque size also reflect pre-glacial erosion, as well as the average rate of surface recession/lowering. The deductive findings are extended via analysis of 23 cirques from a part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, south-central Colorado. The assumption that glacier-occupance times are proportionately adjusted to topoclimatic situation leads to the conclusion that average rates of cirque erosion exhibit at least a fourfold (possibly as much as an order of magnitude) range within a given massif. The notion that cirque-development rates depend on bed-rock resistance is supported by a statistically significant inverse relationship between estimated erosion coefficients and average bed-rock joint spacing. Allometric analysis of a 15-cirque subsample (the cirques were chosen because they exhibit similar erosion susceptibility) lends credence to the hypothesis that headwall recession has been more rapid than cirque-floor lowering within the study area. However, allometric enlargement cannot by itself account for observed values for the ratio cirque length:cirque depth. The results imply that pre-glacial topography strongly influences observed variability in glacial morphometry.
BOTUX: Bayesian-like operational taxonomic unit examiner

Bayesian-like operational taxonomic unit examiner (BOTUX) is a new tool for the classification of 16S rRNA gene sequences into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that addresses the problem of overestimation caused by errors introduced during PCR amplification and DNA sequencing steps. BOTUX utilises a grammar-based assignment strategy, where Bayesian models are built from each word of a given length (e.g., 8-mers). de novo analysis is possible with BOTUX as it does not require a training set, and updates probabilistic models as new sequences are recruited to an OTU. In benchmarking tests performed with real and simulated datasets of 16S rDNA sequences, BOTUX accurately identifies OTUs with comparable or better clustering efficiency and lower execution times than other OTU algorithms tested. BOTUX is the only OTU classifier, which allows incremental analysis of large datasets, and is also adept in clustering both 454 and Illumina datasets in a reasonable timeframe.
Eating Time: Capitalist History and Pastoralist History among Samburu Herders in Northern Kenya

Abstract This article examines food and eating practices as a central domain for understanding the changing politics of everyday life for Samburu pastoralists in northern Kenya. The analysis engages with longstanding debates concerning the historical models applied by western analysts to non-western peoples, as well as contemporary issues concerning the contours of ethnography within the context of global processes. Until recent times Samburu were wealthy livestock keepers, with a central cultural emphasis on a pastoral diet of milk, meat and blood. Patterns of provisioning, eating and food sharing constituted a domain densely packed with core cultural values, and thickly entangled webs of social relations. Over the past several decades, however, there has been a significant decline in the Samburu livestock economy. A diet centrally constituted of livestock products is now impossible for most Samburu, while problematizing those wide-ranging social and cultural domains closely entwined with food and eating...
The regulation of mortality and fecundity in Schistosoma mattheei following a single experimental infection in sheep.

Abstract The regulation of mortality and fecundity of Schistosoma mattheei in sheep was examined using a series of mathematical models applied to data culled from the literature. Parasite mortality (μ) was found to be an increasing linear function of the magnitude of the initial infection over the ranges of doses examined (200–91, 000 cercariae) where μ = 9.78 × 10 −3 + 3.476 × 10 −7 ∗ infection dose. Parasite fecundity (λ) was found to be inversely related to the duration of the infection. The best fit model for parasite fecundity was one in which fecundity decreased exponentially with time since initial infection, λ = λ0e−δ1−r. There was no evidence for density-dependent regulation of fecundity.
RADIATION SMOOTHING OF SHOCKS

Abstract : The structure of a steady-state shock temperature profile in a fully-ionized ideal gas in the presence of a magnetic field is examined. It is pointed out that many of the important qualitative features of the temperature profile can be obtained in a simple way from a nomogram whose use is described. The customary introduction of a simplifying assumption (such as the Milne-Eddington approximation) relating the radiation pressure to the radiation energy flux is postponed to indicate which predictions are clearly independent of the approximation and which features may be a consequence of it. The thermal equilibrium of the electrons with the ions in the plasma is considered, and a parameter which measures the importance of the deviation from equilibrium is given. (Author)
Effects of elevated prolactin and its normalization on thyroid hormone, cardiac β-adrenoreceptor number and β-adrenergic responsiveness

Abstract Subcutaneous inoculation of the prolactin secreting MtTW15 adenoma in male Wistar Furth rats for 4 weeks produced a significant increase in serum prolactin and a corresponding decrease in peripheral β-adrenergic responsiveness. Both the isoproterenol induced drink and heart rate responses used to assess the β-adrenergic responsiveness were significantly reduced in the hyperprolactinemic rat. Serum T 3 and T 4 levels were measured as was cardiac β-adrenergic receptor number to ascertain if an alteration of thyroid hormone and a resultant decrease in β-adrenergic receptor number was responsible for the attenuated β-adrenergic responsiveness. Serum T 4 was significantly reduced in the hyperprolactinemic group (1.9 ± 0.3 μ g%) as compared to the control group (6.4 ± 0.5 μ g%). However there was no significant difference in serum T 3 or in cardiac β-adrenergic receptor number between the two groups. Removal of the MtTW15 adenoma resulted in a normalization of serum prolactin, T 4 , and in the responsiveness of the peripheral β-adrenergic system within 4–6 weeks. These results indicate that the attenuated β-adrenergic responsiveness associated with hyperprolactinemia is reversible and not dependent on a reduction in β-adrenergic receptor number.
Neurocognitive Aspects of Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is associated with significant neurocognitive deficits that develop across the life span. This article discusses the patterns of cognitive deficits associated with congenital and adult-onset hypothyroidism. A review of the extant literature shows that the successful treatment of clinically evident thyroid gland hypofunction, resulting in a return to euthyroidism in both infants and adults, may be associated with only partial and typically inconsistent patterns of recovery of overall neurocognitive function. In addition to demonstrating different patterns of cognitive impairments, patients with congenital and acquired adult-onset hypothyroidism have variable responses to thyroid replacement therapy, which increases the risk of higher neurocognitive morbidity associated with congenital hypothyroidism. An evaluation of the commonly held view that hypothyroid dementia is an imminently reversible condition is only partially supported by the medical literature, which is fraught with methodological and conceptual shortcomings. I offer some recommendations for addressing the cognitive and behavioral management concerns of individuals with clinical hypothyroidism.
Homogeneous fluorescent derivatization of large proteins.

Abstract A method of homogeneously derivatizing large proteins for highly sensitive analysis is described. Homogeneity of the derivative was realized by tagging all the free amino groups of proteins. With this method, α-chymotrypsinogen A, ovalbumin and bovine serum albumin were derivatized with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC). Prior to the derivatization, all the proteins were reduced and alkylated. After reacting the resulting unfolded proteins with excessive amounts of AQC, the samples were analyzed with matrix assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF-MS) to determine the derivatization degree. The results indicated that all three proteins had been, or had almost been, fully derivatized. HPLC and CE were used for characterizing these protein derivatives. Under the optimized fluorescence detection conditions, the detectability of the tagged proteins was 2400–6200 times better than that detected at UV 280 nm, 170–300 times better than detected at UV 214 nm, and 150–420 times better than measured with their native fluorescence.
Behavior of molybdenum in alkali silicate melts: Effects of excess SiO2 and CO2

Abstract The effects of excess SiO 2 and CO 2 on the solubility of molybdenite in hydrous sodium disilicate melts were experimentally determined at 680 bars and 650°C. The molybdenite solubility decreases with increasing SiO 2 and CO 2 . Under the experimental conditions, the MoS 2 content of the vapor-saturated liquid decreases from 10 wt.% to 2.5 wt.% at SiO 2 saturation. In the presence of CO 2 , the solubility decreases to 4.6 wt.% MoS 2 and becomes negligible at high P CO2 . These results are explained as deriving from the increased polymerization and hence decreased NBO/Si ratio of the melt with increasing SiO 2 content and CO 2 , respectively. Sulfur dissolves principally as SO 4 −2 at the relatively high fo 2 of the experiments. Consequently, the effect of sulfur is to lower the Mo solubility by effectively decreasing the NBO/Si ratio of the melt. Sulfur saturation is, therefore, likely to be a limiting factor in the Mo content of alkali silicate melts because of the chalcophile affinities of molybdenum.