cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A case of Castleman's disease that presented as a retroperitoneal mass.

Background A 35-year -old man presented to a local emergency room with acute left-flank pain and a medical history of nephrolithiasis. There were no aggravating or relieving factors for the left-flank pain and no other presenting symptoms, and the physical examination was unremarkable. Investigations Complete blood count, urinalysis, serum tumor markers, scrotal ultrasonography, CT scan of the abdomen (with and without contrast), MRI of the abdomen. Diagnosis Unicentric Castleman's disease (hyaline-vascular type). Management Surgical exploration and excision. Pathologic and immunohistochemical work-up confirmed the diagnosis. CT scan after 7 months was normal with no evidence of recurrence.
ALGEBRAIC COMPLETENESS RESULTS FOR R-MINGLE AND ITS EXTENSIONS

Schiller Joe Scroggs in [9] established remarkable facts concerning “normal” extensions of the modal sentential calculus S5, the most notable of these facts being that all such proper extensions have finite characteristic matrices. The major import of the present paper is that like facts hold for the relevant sentential calculus R-Mingle (RM). Robert K. Meyer in [6] has obtained an important completeness result for RM, which will play a central role in our results. However, in §2 we shall obtain a new proof of Meyer's result as a by-product of the algebraic logic that we develop in §1. Also in §2 we shall obtain the promised results for extensions of RM. In §3 we shall provide a strong completeness theorem for RM by generalizing the semantics of Meyer.
Neovascularization in biodegradable inverse opal scaffolds with uniform and precisely controlled pore sizes.

The formation of a stable vascular network in a scaffold is one of the most challenging tasks in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Despite the common use of porous scaffolds in these applications, little is known about the effect of pore size on the neovascularization in these scaffolds. Herein is fabricated poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) inverse opal scaffolds with uniform pore sizes of 79, 147, 224, and 312 μm in diameter and which are then used to systematically study neovascularization in vivo. Histology analyses reveal that scaffolds with small pores ( 200 μm) favor the formation of vascular networks with large blood vessels at low densities and deep penetration depth. Based on the different patterns of vessel ingrowth as regulated by the pore size, a model is proposed to describe vascularization in a 3D porous scaffold, which can potentially serve as a guideline for future design of porous scaffolds.
A bioassay for a primer pheromone of queen fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) which inhibits the production of sexuals

A bioassay is described for a primer pheromone of functional (egg-laying) queens ofS. invicta which inhibits the production of male and female sexuals. The bioassay utilizes standardized units of workers and brood originating from polygyne colonies and the production of sexuals is assessed by the cumulative number of sexualized larvae produced over time. In general, differences in inhibitory capability among treatments can be detected in 2–3 days, making this a rather quick and sensitive bioassay. Whole corpses of dealate queens were nearly as inhibitory as living queens for the 10-day test period, whereas corpses of alate (nonfunctional) queens showed no signs of inhibition. Abdomens of dealate queens alone were strongly inhibitory suggesting that the pheromone originates in the abdomen. In contrast, the head and thorax of dealate queens appeared to be inhibitory for only a short period (ca. three days). Whole corpes of dealate queens placed in small cages which prevented direct contact by workers were not inhibitory, suggesting that the pheromone is relatively nonvolatile.
Diffusion and reaction in high-occupancy zeolite catalysts—I. A stochastic theory

Abstract The theory of Markov pure jump processes is employed to model zeolitic diffusion and reaction as a sequence of elementary jump events taking place in a finite periodic lattice. Monte Carlo and approximate analytical solutions to the derived Master equation are developed to examine the effect of intracrystalline occupancy on the macroscopic diffusional behavior of the system. It is shown that, in the absence of soft intermolecular interactions, the Wicke—Kallenbach and uptake diffusivities for a single-component system are independent of intracrystalline occupancy, but the self-diffusivity decreases with increases with occupancy if these interaction are attractive, and decreases if they are repulsive. For a multicomponent system, the diffusivity matrix is nondiagonal and occupancy-dependent, giving rise to interesting competitive diffusion and entertainment phenomena.
Sweat testing for the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis: Practical considerations ☆ ☆☆ ★

Abstract Most pediatricians eventually encounter a patient with a clinical presentation that warrants the consideration of a sweat test to rule out or confirm the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. This article discusses, in a series of questions and answers, the currently available sweat testing methods and describes the various methods' reliability, limitations, and frequency of use. In addition, sweat testing utilization and the interpretation and evaluation of test results are discussed so that the clinician can critically analyze the laboratory data. (J Pediatr 1996;129:892-7)
Studying Complexity is Complex

This supplement contains 9 articles that arose from a Department of Veterans Affairs sponsored State of the Art (SOTA) conference “Managing Complexity in Chronic Care.” It is appropriate that these articles appear in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Advocates for general internal medicine as a specialty often mention the care of complex chronically ill patients as a special competency of General Internists.1 Moreover, the Society of General Internal Medicine and its members have been leaders in recognizing and addressing the research and policy importance of this large patient population.2 The editors of JGIM believe that this supplement provides critical early exposure for research topics that will appeal to funders such as the VA, other federal agencies, and foundations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation who wish to encourage research regarding the care for this challenging, but growing population.
SPECIFIC FACTORS AND HECKSCHER-OHLIN: AN INTERTEMPORAL BLEND

A blend of the Specific Factors and Heckscher-Ohlin models can be fashioned, making use of some of the ideas in the earlier vintage capital literature. At any given time, production in many sectors reflects past decisions to create sector-specific capital in those sectors. In addition, current capital formation can be focused on one or two best sectors depicted by the Hicksian composite unit-value isoquant. Thus, international trade concentrates current investment decisions and yet allows a variety of goods to be produced.
Reactions of Male Subordinates to the Sex-Role Congruency of Immediate Supervision.

Male subjects (N=90) worked under supervision for two hours. A 2×2×2 factorial design was employed so that the supervisor was male or female, autocratic or democratic, and possessed a sex-role congruent or incongruent job title. The hypotheses were supported in part: For female supervision only, the more traditionally incongruent the situation, the more unfavorable were the reactions elicited. This finding was true, however, only for subordinates' verbal comments and not for their task performance or written evaluation of the supervisor. Discussion of the specific hypotheses is provided and an alternate explanation concerning the supervisors' alleged prior experience is offered. A more dynamic approach to the study of leader—subordinate relationships — especially in light of the implications for acceptance of female supervision offered by this study — is advocated.
Effects of B vitamins and liver on growth of immature rats maintained at low temperatures.

SummaryA marked retardation in body and gonadal weight was observed in immature male rats fed a purified ration under conditions of low environmental temperature. Supplements of desiccated whole liver, water-insoluble liver residue or water-soluble liver extract resulted in a marked increase in both body and gonadal weight. A supplement of the known B vitamins was similarly effective. It is suggested that the protective effects of the various supplements were due, at least in part, to their vitamin B12 content.
Upwind return flow in a Coastal Lagoon: Seasonal-scale barotropic transport

Current and wind data collected during a 223-d study period from early June 1983 through early January 1984 are used to document net upwind return flow over seasonal time scales in the Indian River Lagoon near Sebastian Inlet on the Atlantic Coast of central Florida. Spectral analysis of wind and current meter data suggests that wind forcing accounts for the majority of nontidal flow. The two time series are highly coherent at periodicities of 2,3–3.5, 4, and 6 d. The serial correlation coefficient of −0.49 is significant at the 99.9% confidence level. Historical water level and wind data recorded simultaneously at Sebastian Inlet and Eau Gallie, 34.5 km to the north, suggest that longitudinal pressure gradients are established in response to seasonal wind patterns. The upwind near-bottom return flow is interpreted as a response to the seasonal set up of the longitudinal pressure gradients. The study documents the importance of windstress in forcing low-frequency transport over seasonal time scales.
Strategies for an HIV vaccine

The development of an HIV vaccine poses an unprecedented challenge to the scientific community. The inexorable spread of HIV worldwide and the devastating clinical consequences of AIDS can only be contained by an effective vaccine. Yet, almost two decades after the first demonstration of HIV and its etiologic role in AIDS, this vaccine still is a goal, not a reality. In this Perspective, I consider the unique problems for vaccine development posed by the biology of HIV infection, and I summarize recent advances in our understanding of the immune control of HIV and the implications of these advances for vaccine development. After reviewing the sobering history of failed traditional vaccine strategies, I discuss the rationale for vaccines with novel designs and their experimental successes to date.
An interpolation approach to Hardy–Littlewood inequalities for norms of operators on sequence spaces

We revisit estimates of Hardy and Littlewood for norms of operators on sequence spaces, and exploit recent advances in interpolation theory to provide relatively simple proofs.
Benzodiazepine modulation of GABAA receptor opening frequency depends on activation context: A patch clamp and simulation study

Benzodiazepines (BDZs) are GABA(A) receptor modulators with anxiolytic, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant properties. BDZs are understood to potentiate GABA(A) receptor function by increasing channel opening frequency, in contrast to barbiturates, which increase channel open duration. However, the in vitro evidence demonstrating increased opening frequency involved prolonged exposure to sub-saturating GABA concentrations, conditions most similar to those found in extrasynaptic areas. In contrast, synaptic GABA(A) receptors are transiently activated by high GABA concentrations. To determine if BDZ modulation of single-channel opening frequency would be different for BDZ-sensitive receptors activated under synaptic versus extrasynaptic conditions, a combination of patch clamp recording and kinetic modeling was used. Consistent with the original experimental findings, BDZs were found to increase receptor affinity for GABA by decreasing the unbinding rate. While this mechanism was predicted to increase opening frequency under extrasynaptic conditions, simulations predicted that the same mechanism under synaptic conditions would increase the number, but not the frequency, of single-channel openings. Thus, a single mechanism (slower GABA unbinding) can produce differential changes in opening frequency under synaptic versus extrasynaptic conditions. The functional impact of BDZs on GABA(A) receptors therefore depends upon the physiological context of receptor activation.
Visual Attention and its Relation to Knowledge States in Chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes

Primates rely on visual attention to gather knowledge about their environment. The ability to recognize such knowledge-acquisition activity in another may demonstrate one aspect of Theory of Mind. Using a series of experiments in which chimpanzees were presented with a choice between an experimenter whose visual attention was available and another whose vision was occluded, we asked whether chimpanzees understood the relationship between visual attention and knowledge states. The animals showed sophisticated understanding of attention from the first presentation of each task. Under more complex experimental conditions, the subjects had more difficulty with species-typical processing of attentional cues and those likely to be learned during human contact. We discuss the results with respect to the comparative impact of enculturation on chimpanzees.
A MODEL TO ESTIMATE CARBON DIOXIDE RECYCLING IN FORESTS USING 13C/12C RATIOS AND CONCENTRATIONS OF AMBIENT CARBON DIOXIDE

Sternberg, L. da S.L. O'R., 1989. A model to estimate carbon dioxide recycling in forests using 13C/12C ratios and concentrations of ambient carbon dioxide. Agric. For. Meteorol., 48: 163173. Carbon dioxide from respiration of forest litter can be dissipated in two ways; photosynthesis and turbulent mixing with the atmosphere. Because there is a discrimination against 13C02 associated with photosynthesis and none for turbulent mixing, different relationships between carbon isotope ratios and concentrations of ambient forest carbon dioxide will occur, depending on which process is responsible for the dissipation of carbon dioxide. A steady-state model predicting the relationship between ambient forest C02 concentrations and (~13C values as a function of the proportion of respired C02 reabsorbed by photosynthesis is presented here. Comparisons of the predictions of this model with data collected in a tropical moist forest in Barro Colorado Island (Republic of Panama) show that about 7-8% of the respired carbon dioxide is recycled via photosynthesis.
Addressing Restrictive Zoning for Affordable Housing: Experiences in Four States

Affordable housing development in suburban locales is often constrained by zoning and other municipal land-use restrictions. This article explores experiences in four states that have been recognized for exemplary interventions that address “exclusionary zoning.” Using quantitative and qualitative methods, the article examines overall production levels resulting from the specific program, the extent to which such production is occurring in locales with more White residents and more higher-income residents, and the levels of compliance with state-specified goals, where such goals exist. When possible, cross-state comparisons are provided. Although there are clear signs of progress, with municipalities increasing their affordable housing stocks and with some of this production occurring in locales that probably would not have developed such housing without such state (or county) intervention, the pace has been slow. A number of recommendations are offered for these and other states contemplating strategies ...
Ethanol Stimulation of Oxidative Metabolism in Euglena gracilis

Euglena gracilis, a flagellate protozoan, utilizes acetate and ethanol as energy and carbon sources. The acetate metabolism of Euglena grown on ethanol differs from that grown on acetate. Ethanol-grown cells have a rate of acetate oxidation at pH 7.0 lower than that of acetate-grown cells1. However, ethanol-grown cells incubated in the presence of acetate for about 80 min. often adapt to acetate, taking on characteristics similar to those of acetate-grown cells1,2. Thus, it was considered of interest to determine the respiration of Euglena in the presence of both acetate and ethanol.
Testing 24 μm and Infrared Luminosity as Star Formation Tracers for Galactic Star-forming Regions

We have tested some relations for star formation rates used in extragalactic studies for regions within the Galaxy. In nearby molecular clouds, where the initial mass function is not fully sampled, the dust emission at 24 μm greatly underestimates star formation rates (by a factor of 100 on average) when compared to star formation rates determined from counting young stellar objects. The total infrared emission does no better. In contrast, the total far-infrared method agrees within a factor of two on average with star formation rates based on radio continuum emission for massive, dense clumps that are forming enough massive stars to have L TIR exceed 104.5 L ☉. The total infrared and 24 μm also agree well with each other for both nearby, low-mass star-forming regions and the massive, dense clump regions.
Solution Grown Folded Chain Crystals of a Random Terpolymer Thermotropic Liquid Crystal Polymer

Abstract Large, lamellar single crystals have been grown from a xylene solution of a random configuration, flexible segment containing terpolymer that has a “rigid” enough backbone to form liquid crystalline “melts”. The lamellar thickness is less than 150A with Mn corresponding to a chain length of ca. 800A. Since electron diffraction indicates the chain axes are normal to the lamellae, chain folding of the type observed in single crystals of flexible backbone polymers, such as polyethylene, is required.
Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Lao Studies

KAREN L. ADAMS and THOMAS JOHN HUDAK (eds). Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Lao Studies . Tempe, AZ: Southeast Asia Council, Center for Asian Research, Arizona State University, 2010. 429 pp. US$...
Impact of OECD Convention anti‐bribery provisions on international companies

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions went into effect in 1999. The convention is important since its signatories account for most of the world’s exports and foreign investment. Thus bribery is no longer an acceptable standard for international competition. Companies engaged in international business must understand the provisions of the Convention and take affirmative steps for compliance. Otherwise the firm and its employees risk criminal prosecution in their home country. This article discusses the issues global businesses must consider for planning under the OECD Convention.
Addition of rapamycin to anti-CD3 antibody improves long-term glycaemia control in diabetic NOD mice.

Aims/Hypothesis Non-Fc-binding Anti CD3 antibody has proven successful in reverting diabetes in the non-obese diabetes mouse model of type 1 diabetes and limited efficacy has been observed in human clinical trials. We hypothesized that addition of rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor capable of inducing operational tolerance in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, would result in improved diabetes reversal rates and overall glycemia.
What Was Wrong with Eugenics? Conflicting Narratives and Disputed Interpretations

Although it is often taken for granted that eugenics is odious, exactly what makes it so is far from obvious. The existence of considerable interpretative flexibility is evident in the disparate policy lessons for contemporary reproductive genetics (or “reprogenetics”) that have been derived from essentially the same set of historical facts. In this paper, I will show how different—indeed, diametrically-opposed—morals have been drawn from the history of eugenics and link these contrasting messages both to different underlying conceptions of what constitutes the central wrong of eugenics and differing degrees of enthusiasm for reprogenetic technologies. I will then argue that, for several reasons, the history of eugenics simply cannot provide the kind of direct guidance that many participants in current debates would like. Although the history does have implications for policy, the insights to be gleaned are both subtle and indirect.
Factor pricing in a finite economy

Abstract Prior theoretical derivations of the Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT) bound an aggregate measure of the deviation of mean asset returns from that predicted by a linear pricing equation. It is conceivable, given this bound, that some assets might be badly mispriced by the model. In this paper, a more intuitive derivation of the factor pricing equation is presented which describes the deviation on an asset by asset basis. The deviation is shown to be small for assets in a realistic finite economy and is arbitrarily close to zero for those assets with arbitrarily small size relative to aggregate wealth. It follows that the linear pricing equation provides a good approximation for the mean returns of all traded assets.
2-thioether 5'-O-(1-thiotriphosphate)adenosine derivatives as new insulin secretagogues acting through P2Y-Receptors.

P2-Receptors (P2-Rs) represent significant targets for novel drug development. P2-Rs were identified also on pancreatic B cells and are involved in insulin secretion. Therefore, novel P2Y-R ligands, 2-thioether 5‘-O-phosphorothioate adenosine derivatives (2-RS-ATP-α-S), were synthesized as potential insulin secretagogues. An efficient synthesis of these nucleotides and a facile method for separation of the chiral products are described. The enzymatic stability of the compounds toward pig pancreas type I ATPDase was evaluated. The rate of hydrolysis of 2-hexylthio-5‘-O-(1-thiotriphosphate)adenosine (2-hexylthio-ATP-α-S) isomers by ATPDase was 28% of that of ATP. Some 2-thioether 5‘-(monophosphorothioate)adenosine derivatives (2-RS-AMP-S) exerted an inhibitory effect on ATPDase. The apparent affinity of the compounds to P2Y1-R was determined by measurement of P2Y-R-promoted phospholipase C activity in turkey erythrocyte membranes. 2-RS-ATP-α-S derivatives were agonists, stimulating the production of inosito...
The median is not the (only) message.

In this issue, Gross and colleagues show that life expectancy after a diagnosis of colorectal cancer depends on the patient's age and comorbid diseases at the time of diagnosis, providing a way to ...
Chronic rapamycin treatment causes diabetes in male mice

Current evidence indicates that the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor rapamycin both increases longevity and, seemingly contradictorily, impairs glucose homeostasis. Most studies exploring the dimensions of this paradox have been based on rapamycin treatment in mice for up to 20 wk. We sought to better understand the metabolic effects of oral rapamycin over a substantially longer period of time in HET3 mice. We observed that treatment with rapamycin for 52 wk induced diabetes in male mice, characterized by hyperglycemia, significant urine glucose levels, and severe glucose and pyruvate intolerance. Glucose intolerance occurred in male mice by 4 wk on rapamycin and could be only partially reversed with cessation of rapamycin treatment. Female mice developed moderate glucose intolerance over 1 yr of rapamycin treatment, but not diabetes. The role of sex hormones in the differential development of diabetic symptoms in male and female mice was further explored. HET3 mice treated with rapamycin for 52 wk were gonadectomized and monitored over 10 wk. Castrated male mice remained glucose intolerant, while ovariectomized females developed significant glucose intolerance over the same time period. Subsequent replacement of 17β-estradiol (E2) in ovariectomized females promoted a recovery of glucose tolerance over a 4-wk period, suggesting the protective role of E2 against rapamycin-induced diabetes. These results indicate that 1) oral rapamycin treatment causes diabetes in male mice, 2) the diabetes is partially reversible with cessation of treatment, and 3) E2 plays a protective role against the development of rapamycin-induced diabetes.
From single-to multihop: The status of wireless localization

The solutions reviewed in this article, which have been proposed to solve the problem of providing reliable localization coordinate estimates in both single and multihop wireless network environments, are regarded as some of the most prominent ones. Although all these proposed solutions are addressing localization needs in different physical environments with exclusively single-hop or additionally multihop connectivity to reference nodes and have been either hardware implemented or just computer simulated, an attempt to summarize their characteristics in a somewhat comparative fashion is also shown.
Entry deterrence in electoral spatial competition

In this paper we examine a model of electoral competition with entry costs, where several established parties compete against each other under the threat of potential entry. Assuming single-peakedness of the distribution of voters’ ideal points, we show that, if there are two established parties, an equilibrium always exists and is unique, and demonstrate that the Hotelling-Downs and the Smithies-Palfrey equilibria represent special cases of the equilibrium in our model. If there are more than two established parties, an equilibrium is always unique and there exists an upper bound on the values of entry cost which guarantee the existence of an equilibrium.
Optical/UV and X-Ray Microwave Kinetic Inductance Strip Detectors

Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) are superconducting detectors that sense the change in the surface impedance of a thin superconducting film when Cooper Pairs are broken by using a high quality factor resonant circuit. We are developing strip detectors that have aluminum MKID sensors on both ends of a rectangular tantalum strip. These devices can provide one dimensional spatial imaging with high quantum efficiency, energy resolution, and microsecond time res- olution for single photons from the IR to the X-ray. We have demonstrated X-ray strip detectors with an energy resolution of 62 eV at 6 keV, and hope to improve this substantially. We will also report on our progress towards optical arrays for a planned camera for the Palomar 200 �� telescope.
Crown Ether Substituted Monomeric and Cofacial Dimeric Metallophthalocyanines. 1. Photophysical Studies of the Free Base, Zinc(II), and Copper(II) Variants

Metallophthalocyanines have been prepared with 18-crown-6 residues at the four peripheral benzo sites (McrPc). Metal centers employed have been H2 (free base), Zn(II), and Cu(II). In ethanol solution containing potassium acetate, such species incorporate K+ cations into the crowns, one K+ per crown, and are monomeric in nature. When cesium acetate is present, Cs+ cations complex with a pair of crown residues, resulting in cofacial dimer species (McrPcD) in which one Cs+ ion links two ethers in a kind of sandwich arrangement. This dimerization results in spectral shifts to the blue. Photophysical examinations of these monomeric and dimeric entities have been carried out. For H2crPc and ZnIIcrPc the excited-state dynamics are those of the π-macrocycle, and dimer formation caused no major changes except for increasing the rate constants of the excited-state deactivation. Such increases are anticipated owing to the proximity of the lower exciton state and the ground state. For CuIIcrPc where now a d9 metal is...
Which Middle School Model Works Best? Evidence from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study.

There are few areas of school organization that reflect more dissatisfaction than how to structure the education of adolescents in the middle grades. This study uses multilevel models on nationally...
Binding affinities of gallotannin analogs with bovine serum albumin : ramifications for polyphenol-protein molecular recognition

A series of gallotannin analogs were prepared by chemical synthesis, and their affinity for the test-case protein bovine serum albumin was measured by equilibrium dialysis. The structure/activity data obtained suggest that the naturally occurring gallotannins, in fact, do not represent the optimal protein recognition agents amongst polyphenolated templates.
Restructuring Double-Entry Accounting for Climate Change Remediation by Monetary Authorities

The Federal Reserve System and the U.S. Treasury are two powerful planning agencies with regard to monetary policy and the economy. Yet, their monetary policies do not consider climate-change remediation. Their policy emphasis is mainly focused on investment and production, while climate change from investment and production is creating devastating ecological and social disruption. The double-entry accounting system utilized by banks and production corporations is not designed to record the consequences of their finance, investment, and production activities on climate change. Restructuring Federal Reserve and Treasury policy regarding climate change is not possible without change in the accounting system to provide relevant indicators because banks, corporations, and monetary authorities are captives of a double-entry accounting system that does not consider ecological challenges. In order to record and integrate ecological impacts, a conversion to single-entry accounting is not necessary. Accounts for ecological impacts can be added to traditional double-entry accounts in order to demonstrate the environmental impact of particular corporate activities. Then, monetary authorities could require banks to consider such ecological accounts when making loans and, in turn, consider that database in their relationships with the banks.
Do Economic Effects Justify the Use of Fiscal Incentives

the community of location. This presumption serves as the basis for the granting of lucrative economic development incentives to footloose businesses. This article examines whether large, mobile firms generate significant net benefits for the region of location. Panel data and nonrandom estimation techniques are applied to a primary database of large firms that made location decisions in the 1980s to explore the impact of location on regional economic performance. The empirical analysis explores different treatment regions (both effects within the county and the metropolitan statistical area [MSA] of location) and different control regions. The results show that large firms fail to produce significant net benefits for their host communities, calling into question the high-stakes bidding war over jobs and investment.
Excision of 5-Halogenated Uracils by Human Thymine DNA Glycosylase ROBUST ACTIVITY FOR DNA CONTEXTS OTHER THAN CpG

Thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) excises thymine from G·T mispairs and removes a variety of damaged bases (X) with a preference for lesions in a CpG·X context. We recently reported that human TDG rapidly excises 5-halogenated uracils, exhibiting much greater activity for CpG·FU, CpG·ClU, and CpG·BrU than for CpG·T. Here we examine the effects of altering the CpG context on the excision activity for U, T, FU, ClU, and BrU. We show that the maximal activity (kmax) for G·X substrates depends significantly on the 5′ base pair. For example, kmax decreases by 6-, 11-, and 82-fold for TpG·ClU, GpG·ClU, and ApG·ClU, respectively, as compared with CpG·ClU. For the other G·X substrates, the 5′-neighbor effects have a similar trend but vary in magnitude. The activity for G·FU, G·ClU, and G·BrU, with any 5′-flanking pair, meets and in most cases significantly exceeds the CpG·T activity. Strikingly, human TDG activity is reduced 102.3–104.3-fold for A·X relative to G·X pairs and reduced further for A·X pairs with a 5′ pair other than C·G. The effect of altering the 5′ pair and/or the opposing base (G·X versus A·X) is greater for substrates that are larger (bromodeoxyuridine, dT) or have a more stable N-glycosidic bond (such as dT). The largest CpG context effects are observed for the excision of thymine. The potential role played by human TDG in the cytotoxic effects of ClU and BrU incorporation into DNA, which can occur under inflammatory conditions and in the cytotoxicity of FU, a widely used anticancer agent, are discussed.
Discordant effects on eicosanoids and fibrin degradation products in two murine models of antiphospholipid antibody.

Abstract Two murine models of lupus were employed to challenge an hypothesized mechanism by which antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) might promote thrombosis: altering prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane (TX) production. PGI2 levels in mouse blood and the ex vivo release of PGI2 and TX from mouse kidney were measured. Since APLA have been reported to alter synthesis or activation of several molecules mediating fibrinolysis, murine plasma levels of the fibrin degradation product, D-dimer were also determined. Two murine strains, one prone to spontaneous “lupus-like” illness (MRL-lpr) and related strain (MRL-++), were compared. The assays confirm that MRL-lpr mice have increased anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) and two-fold increased release of TX from renal tissues compared to MRL-++ mice. However, these mice have low levels of plasma D-dimer. NIH Swiss mice injected with IgG (containing APLA) from thrombosis-prone lupus patients had high blood ACA titers and D-dimer levels, but both ACA and D-dimer were low or non-detectable in Swiss mice injected with saline or normal IgG. Unlike mice with spontaneous lupus-like illness, healthy mice injected with APLA did not differ from controls with respect to plasma or tissue PGI2 or TX levels. The two murine models of lupus differ, because an altered PGI2-TX ratio is a finding in the chronic murine lupus strain MRL-lpr, but is not seen when APLA are injected into normal mice. It is unlikely that APLA alone has a direct effect on cellular production of eicosanoids in vivo. Copyright © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Prp5 Protein Has RNA-dependent ATPase Activity with Specificity for U2 Small Nuclear RNA

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein Prp5 is a member of the "DEAD box" family of putative RNA-dependent ATPases and helicases. The protein was purified from Escherichia coli and determined to be an RNA-dependent ATPase. The ATPase activity is 7-fold more specific for full-length U2 than for any of the other small nuclear RNAs or nonspecific RNAs tested. An RNaseH assay in extracts was used to demonstrate that Prp5 mediates an ATP-dependent conformational change in the intact U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein. We propose that this conformational change makes the branch point pairing sequence of U2 RNA accessible for pairing with the intron allowing formation of the pre-spliceosome.
Specification testing in nonparametric instrumental variable estimation

Abstract In nonparametric instrumental variable estimation, the function being estimated is the solution to an integral equation. A solution may not exist if, for example, the instrument is not valid. This paper discusses the problem of testing the null hypothesis that a solution exists against the alternative that there is no solution. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for existence of a solution and show that uniformly consistent testing of an unrestricted null hypothesis is not possible. Uniformly consistent testing is possible, however, if the null hypothesis is restricted by assuming that any solution to the integral equation is smooth. Many functions of interest in applied econometrics, including demand functions and Engel curves, are expected to be smooth. The paper presents a statistic for testing the null hypothesis that a smooth solution exists. The test is consistent uniformly over a large class of probability distributions of the observable random variables for which the integral equation has no smooth solution. The finite-sample performance of the test is illustrated through Monte Carlo experiments.
Foot care: prevention of problems for optimal health.

Problems of the feet generally cause pain but are not life threatening. By making information available regarding ill-fitting shoes and the conditions linked to poor shoe wear, the awareness of our clients can be raised. Home health nurses can contribute to the educational process that may reduce fo
Lysozyme in preosseous cartilage VI. Purification, characterization and localization of mammalian cartilage lysozyme

Abstract Lysozyme (mucopeptide- N -acetylmuramylhydrolase, EC 3.2.1.17) is present in mammalian cartilage. Lysozyme was isolated and purified from bovine and canine cartilage and from dog serum using various chromatographic steps and affinity chromatography on carboxymethylated chitin. Amino acid analysis of bovine cartilage lysozyme showed that it is similar to other mammalian lysozymes. Anti-canine lysozyme antibodies cross-react with calf lysozyme, but not with hen egg white or embryonic chick cartilage lysozyme. In the epiphyseal plate of the dog, 90-μm sections were analyzed for lysozyme and its was found that in the hypertrophic zone its concentration is approximately six times higher than it is in the resting zone. Using immunocytochemical techniques at the electromicroscopic level, lysozyme in the epiphyseal plate of the dog was localized extracellularly, mainly in the immediate vicinity of the chondrocytes, the territorial matrix.
Type 2 Gaucher disease: phenotypic variation and genotypic heterogeneity

Gaucher disease (GD), the most common lysosomal storage disease, results from a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase. GD has been classified into 3 types, of which type 2 (the acute neuronopathic form) is the most severe, presenting pre- or perinatally, or in the first few months of life. Traditionally, type 2 GD was considered to have the most uniform clinical phenotype when compared to other GD subtypes. However, case studies over time have demonstrated that type 2 GD, like types 1 and 3, manifests with a spectrum of phenotypes. This review includes case reports that illustrate the broad range of clinical presentations encountered in type 2 GD, as well as a discussion of associated manifestations, pathological findings, diagnostic techniques, and a review of current therapies. While type 2 GD is generally associated with severe mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene, there is also significant genotypic heterogeneity.
The application of high-concentration short-time chlorine dioxide treatment for selected specialty crops including Roma tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum), cantaloupes (Cucumis melo ssp. melo var. cantaloupensis) and strawberries (Fragaria×ananassa)

The effects of high-concentration short-time chlorine dioxide (ClO2) gas treatment on food-borne pathogens inoculated onto the surface of tomatoes, cantaloupes, and strawberries were studied. Produce were spot-inoculated with a mixture of Salmonella enterica (serotypes Montevideo, Javiana and Baildon), Escherichia coli O157:H7 (serotypes 204 P, EDL 933 and C792) or Listeria monocytogenes (serotypes Scott A, F 5069 and LCDC 81-861), and treated with ClO2 gas at 10 mg/l for 180 s. After ClO2 gas treatment, surviving populations were determined and shelf-life studies were conducted (microbial spoilage population, change in color and overall appearance). Significant microbial reduction (p 0.05). Results obtained suggest the potential use of high-concentration short-time ClO2 gas treatment as an effective online pathogen inactivation technology for specialty crops in large-scale produce packing operations.
Evidence that Collagen Fibrils in Tendons Are Inhomogeneously Structured in a Tubelike Manner

The standard model for the structure of collagen in tendon is an ascending hierarchy of bundling. Collagen triple helices bundle into microfibrils, microfibrils bundle into subfibrils, and subfibrils bundle into fibrils, the basic structural unit of tendon. This model, developed primarily on the basis of x-ray diffraction results, is necessarily vague about the cross-sectional organization of fibrils and has led to the widespread assumption of laterally homogeneous closepacking. This assumption is inconsistent with data presented here. Using atomic force microscopy and micromanipulation, we observe how collagen fibrils from tendons behave mechanically as tubes. We conclude that the collagen fibril is an inhomogeneous structure composed of a relatively hard shell and a softer, less dense core.
The role of universities in advancing citizenship and social justice in the 21st century

This article makes the following claims: (1) the goal for universities should be to contribute significantly to developing and sustaining democratic schools, communities, and societies; (2) by work...
Thromboembolism in the Intensive Care Unit

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary emboli are in reality one and the same disease, thromboembolic disease, as a large proportion of patients with DVT have “asymptomatic” PE. Critically ill ICU patients have many of the risk factors that increase the risk of DVT, including prolonged venous stasis caused by bed rest, cardiac failure, dehydration, obesity, and advanced age. Consequently, routine DVT prophylaxis is recommended in all ICU patients; i. e., every ICU patient should receive DVT prophylaxis. Patients with femoral venous catheters may be at an increased risk of thromboembolism, and DVT prophylaxis is therefore particularly important in this group of patients. For practical purposes, it is convenient to group the patients according to the risk of DVT (Table 13–1). It should be appreciated that the improper use and/or application of intermittent compression devices will result in ineffective prophylaxis. Routine screening for DVT is not cost-effective in ICU patients who are receiving DVT prophylaxis. However, a high index of suspicion for DVT should exist with a low threshold for performing venous Doppler ultrasonography. Recently, aspirin has been demonstrated to have utility in DVT prophylaxis. However, the role of this agent in ICU patients who are at an increased risk of gastric stress ulceration is unclear.
Communication networks: Message path delays

A communication network is modeled by a weighted graph. The vertices of the graph represent stations with storage capabilities, while the edges of the graph represent communication channels (or other information processing media). Channel capacity weights are assigned to the edges of the network. The network is assumed to operate in a store-and-forward manner, so that when a channel is busy the messages directed into it are stored at the station, where it joins a queue that is governed by a first-come first-served service discipline. Assuming that fixed-length messages arrive at random at the network, following the statistics of a Poisson point process, we solve for the steady-state distributions of the message overall delay time, for the average message waiting times at the individual stations, for the average memory size requirements at the stations, as well as for other statistical characteristics of the message flow along a communication path.
THE COHOMOLOGY COMPARISON PROBLEM FOR BANACH ALGEBRAS

For a large class of Banach algebras we solve the Cohomology Comparison Problem for the second cohomology groups, in that we prove that for all amenable strongly regular Banach function algebras A and all Banach A -bimodules E the second comparison map between continuous and algebraic cohomology is an embedding. Accepting the continuum hypothesis we show that for algebras of this kind there exist Banach A -bimodules E such that i 2 is not onto.
Lost in Translation: Employee and Organizational Constructions of Mission and Vision

Research on organizational mission and vision has primarily centered on the leader’s role in developing and implementing these while neglecting employee worldviews on mission and vision. Guided by ...
Relationship Between United States and Canadian Genetic Evaluations of Longevity and Somatic Cell Score

Canadian and US evaluations of Holstein bulls were compared for longevity measures (433 bulls) and somatic cell score (354 bulls). Bulls were required to have a birth year of ≥1975, daughter information from ≥20 herds, and a reliability of ≥50% in both Canada and the US. The number of bulls with longevity evaluations was greater for early years because longevity information was available from lactation data and daughters were required to be ≥ 3y r of age for US evaluations; evaluations for somatic cell score required additional collection of data and did not have corresponding numbers of bulls until the 1980s. Correlation between longevity measures in the US (productive life) and Canada (herd life) was 0.60. This low correlation was expected because US productive life includes yield information, but yield is excluded from Canadian herd life. For evaluations for somatic cell score, the correlation between the two countries was 0.82. Genetic correlations with productive life were estimated to be 0.69 for herd life and 0.81 for herd life combined with protein yield. Conversion equations were developed to predict a US evaluation for somatic cell score from a Canadian evaluation for somatic cell score and to predict a US evaluation for productive life from Canadian evaluations for herd life and yield.
A new formulation of the distributed Lagrange multiplier/fictitious domain method for particulate flows

A Lagrange-multiplier-based fictitious-domain method (DLM) for the direct numerical simulation of rigid particulate flows in a Newtonian fluid was presented previously. An important feature of this finite element based method is that the flow in the particle domain is constrained to be a rigid body motion by using a well-chosen field of Lagrange multipliers. The constraint of rigid body motion is represented by ua Ua o r; u being the velocity of the fluid at a point in the particle domain; U and o are the translational and angular velocities of the particle, respectively; and r is the position vector of the point with respect to the center of mass of the particle. The fluid‐particle motion is treated implicitly using a combined weak formulation in which the mutual forces cancel. This formulation together with the above equation of constraint gives an algorithm that requires extra conditions on the space of the distributed Lagrange multipliers when the density of the fluid and the particles match. In view of the above issue a new formulation of the DLM for particulate flow is presented in this paper. In this approach the deformation rate tensor within the particle domain is constrained to be zero at points in the fluid occupied by rigid solids. This formulation shows that the state of stress inside a rigid body depends on the velocity field similar to pressure in an incompressible fluid. The new formulation is implemented by modifying the DLM code for two-dimensional particulate flows developed by others. The code is verified by comparing results with other simulations and experiments. 7 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Kalari and Kalarippayattu of Kerala, South India: nexus of the celestial, the corporeal, and the terrestrial

Kalari is an arena that imparts a whole body of knowledge in Kerala, south India, including kalarippayattu (martial arts). In recent times, these centers have been exclusively referred to as cultural performance centers, corroding the intrinsic value and diluting the religious essence of such places and praxis. This essay explores kalari and kalarippayattu from a Hindu religious perspective and suggests that kalari and kalarippayattu embody the celestial and terrestrial in its spatial and corporeal representations. Divided into two sections, the essay first discusses some historical background of kalari and kalarippayattu traditions; and, secondly, from a bhakti perspective it examines kalari and kalarippayattu, proposing it to be a nexus of the celestial, corporeal, and terrestrial.
The canine third eyelid

The conjunctiva has a bulbar (posterior) surface which is concave and facing the globe and palpebral surface which is convex and facing the lids. Both are confluent with the conjunctival mucosa of the globe. The nictitating membrane is covered by nonkeratinised stratified squamous epithelium with an underlying stroma of fibrous connective tissue containing much glandular and lymphoid tissue which is rich in elastic tissue.