cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary Parenchymal Changes in COVID-19 Survivors.

Abstract Background As the COVID-19 pandemic moves into the survivorship phase, questions regarding long-term lung damage remain unanswered. Previous histopathologic studies are limited to autopsy reports. We studied lung specimens from COVID-19 survivors who underwent elective lung resections to determine whether postacute histopathologic changes are present. Methods This multicenter observational study included 11 adult COVID-19 survivors who had recovered but subsequently underwent unrelated elective lung resection for indeterminate lung nodules or lung cancer. We compared these against an age- and procedure-matched control group who never contracted COVID-19 (n = 5) and an end-stage COVID-19 group (n = 3). A blinded pulmonary pathologist examined the lung parenchyma focusing on 4 compartments: airways, alveoli, interstitium, and vasculature. Results Elective lung resection was performed in 11 COVID-19 survivors with asymptomatic (n = 4), moderate (n = 4), and severe (n = 3) COVID-19 infections at a median 68.5 days (range 24-142 days) after the COVID-19 diagnosis. The most common operation was lobectomy (75%). Histopathologic examination identified no differences between the lung parenchyma of COVID-19 survivors and controls across all compartments examined. Conversely, patients in the end-stage COVID-19 group showed fibrotic diffuse alveolar damage with intra-alveolar macrophages, organizing pneumonia, and focal interstitial emphysema. Conclusions In this study to examine the lung parenchyma of COVID-19 survivors, we did not find distinct postacute histopathologic changes to suggest permanent pulmonary damage. These results are reassuring for COVID-19 survivors who recover and become asymptomatic.
An Attempt to Measure Elastic Stress with Positrons

It is well known that residual stress can be measured with varying degrees of success by x-ray diffraction methods [1]. Nonetheless, it would be well to have additional nondestructive techniques capable of this kind of measurement. Positron annihilation is one potential alternative, which has previously been applied to the study of shot peening [2]. Although shot peening produced readily detectable changes in the positron annihilation measurements, it was not possible to relate these changes directly to the residual stresses produced. Since residual stresses are elastic, the intention of the present research was to use positron annihilation to initially measure applied uniaxial elastic stresses and then extend the technique to measure actual residual stresses.
Photogrammetric Trajectory Estimation of Foam Debris Ejected from an F-15 Aircraft

Photogrammetric analysis of high-speed digital video data was performed to estimate trajectories of foam debris ejected from an F-15B aircraft. This work was part of a flight test effort to study the transport properties of insulating foam shed by the Space Shuttle external tank during ascent. The conical frustum-shaped pieces of debris, called "divots," were ejected from a flight test fixture mounted underneath the F-15B aircraft. Two onboard cameras gathered digital video data at two thousand frames per second. Time histories of divot positions were determined from the videos post flight using standard photogrammetry techniques. Divot velocities were estimated by differentiating these positions with respect to time. Time histories of divot rotations were estimated using four points on the divot face. Estimated divot position, rotation, and Mach number for selected cases are presented. Uncertainty in the results is discussed.
Site-Specific Recombination by the Flp Protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This chapter reviews the biochemical, mechanistic, and topological aspects of the Flp system with special emphasis on the contributions made by the Flp protein subunits and the target DNA to the individual steps of the recombination pathway. It illustrates how Flp recombination fits into the global physicochemical paradigm followed by the integrase/tyrosine family recombinases, while still retaining features that are strikingly different from other members of the family. The chapter then discusses how the Flp active site provides a model for the emergence of complex active sites from elementary active sites under the functional constraints faced by biological catalysts during their evolution. Next, it alludes to some of the applications of Flp in yeast and in extraneous host systems. Researchers conclude by considering potential mechanisms for Flp regulation in vivo to rapidly commission or decommission the amplification machine as demanded by the copy-number status of the 2μm plasmid. The DNA-protein interactions are mediated through both major and minor grooves. An impressive application of Flp in eukaryotes has been the creation of mosaic flies in Drosophila by site-specific recombination between homologous chromosomes. Aside from its natural role in the physiology of the 2μm plasmid, Flp has been used to perform many artificial functions in its native host Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Echocardiographic Assessment of Ventricular Systolic Function

A major clinical application of echocardiography is the assessment of ventricular systolic function. This is a fundamental part of the standard echocardiographic examination, but is especially important in patients with heart failure and post-myocardial infarction (Fig.2). Two-dimensional (2D) and Doppler echocardiography plays important roles in the diagnosis, management, and risk stratification of patients with systolic dysfunction.
State following (StaF) kernel functions for function approximation part II: Adaptive dynamic programming

An infinite horizon optimal regulation problem is solved online for a deterministic control-affine nonlinear dynamical system using a state following (StaF) kernel method to approximate the value function. Unlike traditional methods that aim to approximate a function over a large compact set, the StaF kernel method aims to approximate a function in a small neighborhood of a state that travels within a compact set. Simulation results demonstrate that stability and approximate optimality of the control system can be achieved with significantly fewer basis functions than may be required for global approximation methods.
Water-to-Air Transfer and Enrichment of Bacteria in Drops from Bursting Bubbles.

Abstract An electrostatic induction technique was used to determine both drop size distribution and concentration of bacteria in the film drops produced by bubbles bursting at the surface of a suspension of Serratia marcescens. Film drops are produced from the collapse of the thin film of water that just before bursting separates the air in the bubble from the atmosphere. Bubbles of 1.7-mm diameter produced from 10 to 20 film drops which ranged from <2 mum to over 30 mum in diameter. Half the drops were <10 mum. For bubbles rising a distance of less than 2 cm through the bacterial suspension, bacterial enrichment factors in the drops were between 10 and 20. Electrostatic methods can be used to determine the enrichment of bacteria in film drops as a function of bubble size and distance of rise through the bacterial suspension.
Galaxy counts on the cosmic microwave background cold spot

The cold spot on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) could arise due to a supervoid at low redshift through the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect. We imaged the region with MegaCam on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and present galaxy counts in photometric redshift bins. We rule out the existence of a 100 Mpc radius spherical supervoid with underdensity δ = –0.3 at 0.5 < z < 0.9 at high significance. The data are consistent with an underdensity at low redshift, but the fluctuations are within the range of cosmic variance and the low-density areas are not contiguous on the sky. Thus, we find no strong evidence for a supervoid. We cannot resolve voids smaller than a 50 Mpc radius; however, these can only make a minor contribution to the CMB temperature decrement.
Effects of MgO on densification and consolidation of oxidized pellets

The calcined magnesite was utilized as a kind of MgO bearing additive to produce MgO bearing pellets. The effects of MgO on densification and consolidation of pellets were investigated. The experimental results show that, at the same process parameters, the porosity and pore size distribution of green pellets have no evident relation with the MgO bearing additive, pore size of green pellets is between 15 μm and 35 μm and the porosity of green pellets is about 34%. There is a densification and consolidation phenomenon during the induration process; the pore size and porosity of product pellets decrease gradually; and the structure of product pellets becomes dense. MgO makes a negative effect on the densification and consolidation of product pellets, the densification ratio of pellets decreases from 46.3% to 28.6% with the addition of MgO bearing additive from 0 to 2.0 %. The porosity and the pore size of product pellets increase gradually with the increase of MgO content; When the mass fraction of MgO bearing additive increases from 0 to 2.0%, the pore size of product pellet increases and the pore size distributes in a large range. Also, the porosity increases from 18.61% to 24.06%.
Frontier/Fronteira: A Transnational Reframing of Brazil's Inland Colonization

The following essay examines Portuguese and Brazilian understandings of the frontier as a term and concept applicable to Brazil's colonial history. It argues that Brazilian scholars often rejected the frontier as an analytical concept because of perceived excesses in its application to U.S. history. These reservations proved prescient, as their North American colleagues would come to share many of the same objections. In pushing the idea aside, however, Brazilian scholars sometimes overlooked the historical relevance of frontier incorporation during the colonial period. A renewal of scholarly interest in the subject points to a growing conviction that the colonial history of Brazil cannot be adequately rendered without close attention to internal territorial consolidation, whether or not the term frontier is used to describe this process. This foreign paradigm from the past century, one that never quite caught on among Brazilian intellectuals, has now been reshaped and rehabilitated.
Functional Role of the Noncatalytic Subunit of Complement C5 Convertase

The C5 convertase is a serine protease that consists of two subunits: a catalytic subunit which is bound in a Mg2+-dependent complex to a noncatalytic subunit. To understand the functional role of the noncatalytic subunit, we have determined the C5-cleaving properties of the cobra venom factor-dependent C5 convertase (CVF, Bb) made with CVF purified from the venom of Naja naja (CVFn) and Naja haje (CVFh) and compared them to those for two C3b-dependent C5 convertases (ZymC3b,Bb and C3b,Bb). A comparison of the kinetic parameters indicated that although the four C5 convertases (CVFn,Bb, ZymC3b,Bb, CVFh,Bb, and C3b,Bb) had similar catalytic rate constants (kcat = 0.004-0.012 s-1) they differed 700-fold in their affinity for the substrate as indicated by the Km values (CVFn,Bb = 0.036 microM, ZymC3b,Bb = 1.24 microM, CVFh,Bb = 14.0 microM, and C3b,Bb = 24 microM). Analysis of binding interactions between C5 and the noncatalytic subunits (CVFh or C3b, or CVFn) using the BIAcore, revealed dissociation binding constants (Kd) that were similar to the Km values of the respective enzymes. The kinetic and binding data demonstrate that the binding site for C5 resides in the noncatalytic subunit of the enzyme, the affinity for the substrate is solely determined by the noncatalytic subunit and the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme appears not to be influenced by the nature of this subunit.
Cardiac platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome: An often unrecognized malady

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is a rare but clinically important form of dyspnea. The syndrome is characterized by dyspnea and arterial oxygen desaturation that occurs in the upright position and improves with recumbency. In cardiac POS, an atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale allows communication between the right- and left-sided circulations. A second defect, such as a dilated aorta, prominent eustachian valve, or pneumonectomy, then contributes to right-to-left shunting through the interatrial connection. Diagnosis is made through pulse oximetry to confirm orthodeoxia and through transesophageal echocardiography with bubble study to visualize the shunt. Although data are limited for this rare syndrome, percutaneous closure has thus far proven safe and effective.
Cutting Edge: Antimalarial Drugs Inhibit IFN-β Production through Blockade of Cyclic GMP-AMP Synthase–DNA Interaction

Type I IFN is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, and rare monogenic IFNopathies, including Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome. Recently, a new DNA-activated pathway involving the enzyme cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) was described and potentially linked to Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome. To identify drugs that could potentially inhibit cGAS activity, we performed in silico screening of drug libraries. By computational analysis, we identified several antimalarial drugs (AMDs) that were predicted to interact with the cGAS/dsDNA complex. Our studies validated that several AMDs were effective inhibitors of IFN-β production and that they functioned by inhibiting dsDNA stimulation of cGAS. Because AMDs have been widely used in human diseases and have an excellent safety profile, our findings suggest new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of severe debilitating diseases associated with type I IFNs due to cGAS activation.
Cumulative deficit irrigation effects on corn biomass and grain yield under two tillage systems

Abstract Deficit irrigation (DI) is sometimes used to cope with dwindling irrigation water supplies or limited water allocations. A study at Akron, Colorado, USA from 2001 to 2006 investigated the effects of consecutive years of DI on soil water use, soil water content, biomass production, grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) in a continuous corn system. In 2001, DI and full irrigation (FI) had the same grain yield. In 2002, DI reduced grain yield by 20% relative to FI. By 2006, continued DI reduced grain yield by 65% compared with FI. Significant increases in soil water storage during the non-crop period occurred only in 2005 and 2006. This resulted in a slow but continual decrease in soil water storage as the years progressed. By 2006, soil water storage in the 60- to 90-cm depth remained lower for DI than for FI during the entire growing season. WUE declined for DI compared with FI over the years. WUE was the same for DI and FI in 2001, but WUE for DI declined to only 65% of FI by 2006. DI may be an option for short term or emergency situations when insufficient irrigation water is available for FI in one year. However, long-term use of DI, without replenishment of stored soil water during the non-cropped period, was detrimental to both corn production and water use efficiency under these experimental conditions.
Imaging Through Atmospheric Turbulence Using Modified Log Gradients

A new approach to the problem of imaging through a time-varying randomly inhomogeneous medium is presented. This method assumes that an ensemble of short exposure images of a single fixed scene or object is available. It also assumes that knowledge of the average short-term optical transfer function is either known or estimated empirically from a point reference source. Restoration is performed by averaging a modified log gradient of the observed image spectra. This log gradient operator is an exact, mapping of discrete convolution into finite-field addi-tion, and is closely related to the complex "cepstrum," popularized by Oppenheim, It is shown to be invertible to within a constant multiplicative factor by a series of eigenvector computations. The mathematics of this gradient operator are developed, and two-dimensional simulations are presented.
Political efficacy and trust: A report on the NES pilot study items

Political efficacy and trust—among the most frequently used survey measures of general political attitudes—are often maligned for their lack of reliability and validity. This paper reports results from the National Election Studies 1987 pilot study, which included more than thirty-five efficacy and trust items. Five attitudinal dimensions were hypothesized; four emerged clearly. One scale, internal efficacy, is especially robust; a four- to six-item scale represents a considerable improvement on existing NES measures. External efficacy is distinguished from political trust, at least when the former is measured in terms of the fairness of political procedures and outcomes rather than in terms of elite responsiveness to popular demands. Though less decisive, there also is support for dividing trust into incumbent- and regime-based components. The failure to find a similar incumbent- and regime-based distinction for external efficacy is in accord with theoretical perspectives.
The Results of Recent MICE Superconducting Spectrometer Solenoid Tests

The MICE spectrometer solenoid magnets will be the first magnets to be installed within the MICE cooling channel. The MICE spectrometer solenoids may be the largest magnets that have been cooled using small two stage coolers. During the previous test of this magnet, the cooler first stage temperatures were too high. The causes of some of the extra first stage heat load has been identified and corrected. The rebuilt magnet had a single stage GM cooler in addition to the three pulse tube coolers. The added cooler reduces the temperature of the top of the HTS leads, the shield and of the first stage of the pulse tube coolers.
Lordosis after cerebellar damage in female rats

Abstract Massive destruction of the cerebellum is consistent with both the performance of lordosis by estrous female rats and the continuation of estrous cyclicity.
Kinetics of Folding of Escherichia coli OmpA from Narrow to Large Pore Conformation in a Planar Bilayer

The outer membrane protein of Escherichia coli, OmpA, is currently alleged to adopt two native conformations: a major two-domain conformer in which 171 N-terminal residues form a narrow eight beta-barrel pore and 154 C-terminal residues are in the periplasm and a minor one-domain conformer in which all 325 residues create a large pore. However, recent studies in planar bilayers indicate the conformation of OmpA is temperature-sensitive and that increasing temperature converts narrow pores to large pores. Here we examine the reversibility and kinetics of this transition for single OmpA molecules in planar bilayers of diphytanoylphosphatidylcholine (DPhPC). We find that the transition is irreversible. When temperatures are decreased, large pores close down, and when temperatures are stabilized they reopen in the large pore conformation, with gradually increasing open time. Large pores are converted to narrow pores only by denaturing agents. The transition from narrow to large pores requires temperatures >or= 26 degrees C and is a biphasic process with rates that rise steeply with temperature. The first phase, a flickering stepwise transition from a low-conductance to a high-conductance state requires approximately 7 h at 26 degrees C but only approximately 13 min at 42 degrees C, signifying an activation energy of 139 +/- 12 kJ/mol. This is followed by a gradual increase in conductance and open probability, interpreted as optimization of the large pore structure. The results indicate that the two-domain structure is a partially folded intermediate that is kinetically stable at lower temperatures and that mature fully folded OmpA is a large pore.
Largest Placement of One Convex Polygon Inside Another

We show that the largest similar copy of a convex polygon P with m edges inside a convex polygon Q with n edges can be computed in O(mn 2 log n) time. We also show that the combinatorial complexity of the space of all similar copies of P inside Q is O(mn 2 ) , and that it can also be computed in O(mn 2 log n) time.
Structure and dynamics of a DNA: polymerase complex by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy

The interaction of a fluorescent DNA primer:template with the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I has been studied in solution using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The excited-state decay behavior and internal reorientation dynamics of a dansyl sulfonamide probe connected by a propyl chain to a modified uridine base in the primer strand were very sensitive to the local probe environment and exhibited characteristic changes upon binding of Kienow fragment to the DNA and elongation of the primer strand. Between 5 and 7 bases of duplex DNA upstream of the 3' primer terminus were protected from the solvent by the Kienow fragment and the strength of DNA:protein contacts varied within this region, being strongest at the 3' primer terminus. About 5% of the substrates were bound in a second spatially distinct site on the enzyme. Site-directed mutagenesis of the Kienow fragment was consistent with this being the active site for 3'->5' exonuclease activity.
Mammalian erythrocyte metabolism and oxidant drugs

Abstract The addition of methylene blue to erythrocyte suspensions from horse, cat, dog, and man resulted in increased glucose utilization concomitant with a marked increase in pentose phosphate pathway metabolism in each species. With the addition of ascorbate, an increase in erythrocyte glucose utilization was observed only in the horse. Erythrocyte pentose phosphate pathway metabolism was higher in man than in animals in the presence of ascorbate, suggesting that animal erythrocytes might be less able to protect themselves against peroxides and/or superoxide. Differences in superoxide dismutase activity did not appear to account for this lower metabolism in animal erythrocytes, since similar activities were measured in hemolysates prepared from each species. When blood was incubated with ascorbate and cyanide in a visual screening test designed for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in man, hemoglobin in horse and dog blood was oxidized more rapidly than human hemoglobin, whereas hemoglobin in cat blood was oxidized less readily than that in human blood. It is suggested that the lower ascorbate-stimulated pentose phosphate pathway metabolism in cat erythrocytes relative to man reflects a decreased incorporation of ascorbate intracellularly rather than a decreased ability of cat erythrocytes to respond to peroxides.
Identification of the Binding Site for Acidic Phospholipids on the PH Domain of Dynamin: Implications for Stimulation of GTPase Activity

It has recently been suggested that pleckstrin homology (PH) domains bind specifically to phospholipids, with phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) being most strongly bound. This observation suggests that PH domains may be responsible for membrane association of proteins in which they occur. Further, this membrane association may be regulated by enzymes that modify lipid head groups to which PH domains may bind. We have studied the binding of phospholipids to the PH domain of human dynamin, a 100 kDa GTPase that is involved in the initial stages of endocytosis. We describe a rapid method for screening PH domain/ligand interactions that gives precise binding constants. We confirm that PtdIns(4,5)P2 can bind to dynamin PH domain, although not in an aggregated state. Using NMR spectroscopy, we have mapped a specific site on the surface of dynamin PH domain of which binding of gIns(1,4,5)P3 (the head-group skeleton of PtdIns(4,5)P2) occurs. The relative affinity of acidic phospholipids for dynamin PH domain correlates with their ability to activate the GTPase of dynamin. We propose, therefore, that the interaction of these phospholipids with dynamin is likely to occur via the PH domain. Given the fact that PH domains are often found in proteins associated with GTPase activity, or in guanine nucleotide exchange factors, we suggest that one role of PH domains may be to couple phosphatidylinositol signalling to GTP hydrolysis.
Remission of refractory Sezary syndrome after bone marrow transplantation from a matched unrelated donor.

S e z a ry syndrome is a leukemic variant of mycosis fungoides (MF)/cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Bone marro w transplantation (BMT) from a matched unrelated donor was perf o rmed in a 22-year-old woman with a 10-year hist o ry of Sezary syndrome who had failed treatment with cort i c o s t e roids, methotrexate, photochemotherapy, photopheres i s , h y d ro x y u rea, interf e ro n -α, and cladarabine. At the time of BMT, she had persistent ery t h ro d e rmic skin disease, a d e n o p a t h y, circulating Sezary cells and bone marrow (BM) involvement. The patient underwent BMT from a 6/6 HLA-matched unrelated male donor in August 1996. A BM biopsy obtained on day 30 after BMT showed no e v idence of lymphoma and complete male donor engraftment. Her skin lesions resolved within 100 days after transplant. Complete staging studies, including T-cell receptor gene re a rrangement studies perf o rmed at 36 months p o s t - B M T, showed no evidence of re c u rrent Sezary syndrome. This re p resents her first durable remission since the initial diagnosis more than 12 years ago. To our knowledge, this is the first patient with re f r a c t o ry Sezary syndro m e who has been successfully treated with allogeneic unrelated donor BMT. Our results indicate that this modality may be effective in inducing remission in re f r a c t o ry MF/CTCL, including Sezary syndro m e .
Synthesis of certain metabolites and analogs of vitamin B6 and their ring-chain tautomerism

Pyridoxol and pyridoxal on benzylation with dimethylphenylbenzylammonium hydroxide (“leucotrope”) gave 3-O-benzylpyridoxol (IV) and 3-O-benzylpyridoxal (V), respectively. As a possible mechanism of this reaction an ion pair intermediate has been postulated. Oxidation of IV and V with chromic oxide-pyridine-acetic acid complex gave 3-O-benzyl-4-pyridoxic acid lactone (VI), which could also be obtained by benzylation of 4-pyridoxic acid. Treatment of VI with dimethylamine gave 2-methyl-3-benzyloxy-5-hydroxymethylpyridine-4-N,N-dimethylcarbox-amide (X) which oxidized to form the 5-formyl derivative (XI). The latter on hydrolysis yielded the metabolite, 2-methyl-3-hydroxy-5-formylpyridine-4-carboxylic acid (I). When reacted with liquid ammonia, VI gave 3-O-benzyl-4-pyridoxamide (VII) which was then oxidized to give 2-methyl-3-benzyloxypyridine-4,5-dicarboxylic acid cyclicimide(IX). Acid hydrolysis of IX gave another metabolite, 2-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine-4,5-dicarboxylic acid (XIII), which could also be obtained by oxidizing XI with potassium permanganate in water to yield 2-methyl-3-benzyloxy-5-carboxypyridine-4-N,N-dimethylcarboxamide (XII) and subsequent hydrolysis with hydrochloric acid. A positional isomer of I, 2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-formylpyridine-5-carboxylic acid (XVII) was synthesized starting from 3-O-benzyl-5-pyridoxic acid lactone (XIV) following similar reaction sequences used for the preparation of I. Ring-chain tautomerism has been studied in I, XVII, opianic acid (XVIII), phthalaldehydic acid (XIX) and (2-carboxy-4,5-dimethoxy)-phenylacetaldehyde (XX) in different solvents by nmr and in the solid state by ir spectroscopy. A direct and reliable differentiation between the open form (aldehyde proton in low field) and the ring form (lactol proton in the intermediate field) has been obtained by nmr spectroscopy. In sodium deuteroxide and pyridine-d5 the open chain form existed exclusively (except for homolog (XX) which is in cyclic form in pyridine-d5), whereas in 18% hydrogen chloride in deuterium oxide all the compounds are completely in the cyclic form. In hexafluoroacetone hydrate-d2, XVIII, XIX, and XX exist in the cyclic form whereas I is in the open form. In DMS0-d6 both cyclic and open-chain forms have been observed in XVIII, XIX and XX. Definite peak assignment for the two forms could not be made in I due to broadening or superimposition with C6-H. The metabolite I, isometabolite (XVII) and opianic acid (XVIII) form cyclic acetyl derivatives which give a sharp lactol peak. In the solid state XVIII, XIX are in the cyclic form and I and XX in the open-chain form as observed by ir spectroscopy.
TGF-β inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation: Alteration of EGF binding and EGF-induced growth-regulatory (competence) gene expression

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) inhibits the growth of endothelial cells derived from various sources, including human umbilical vein, bovine aorta, and rat heart. Long-term exposure of rat heart endothelial cells to TGF-beta also induces dramatic changes in morphology that are characteristic of senescent cells. These changes are accompanied by a decrease in the number of high-affinity receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGF), with almost no change in total receptor number. Additionally, the EGF-induced expression of specific competence genes (c-myc, JE, KC) is decreased, whereas the induction of c-fos gene expression by EGF is unaltered by TGF-beta treatment. These data suggest that growth inhibitors such as TGF-beta may act by altering the cell's response to growth-stimulatory factors.
Somatic Mutation of TRβ Can Cause a Defect in Negative Regulation of TSH in a TSH-Secreting Pituitary Tumor

In patients with TSH-secreting tumors (TSHomas), serum TSH is poorly suppressed by thyroid hormone. The mechanism for this defect in negative regulation of TSH secretion is not known. To investigate the possibility of a somatic mutation of TR causing this defect, we performed mutational analysis of TRbeta by RT-PCR using RNA obtained from five surgically resected TSHomas. In one TSHoma, we identified a somatic mutation in the ligand-binding domain of TRbeta that caused a His to Tyr substitution at codon 435 of TRbeta1 corresponding to codon 450 of TRbeta2. Interestingly, this mutation occurred in the same codon as two mutations (TRbetaH435L and H435Q) previously identified in patients with the syndrome of resistance to thyroid hormone. This mutant TRbeta had impaired T3 binding and T3-mediated negative regulation. It also blocked the negative regulation by wild-type TRbeta2 on glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit and TSHbeta reporter genes in cotransfection studies. Our results demonstrate that somatic mutation of TRbeta occurred in a TSHoma and was probably responsible for the defect in negative regulation of TSH by thyroid hormone in the tumor.
Thermoelectric Generators for Automotive Waste Heat Recovery Systems Part I: Numerical Modeling and Baseline Model Analysis

A numerical model has been developed to simulate coupled thermal and electrical energy transfer processes in a thermoelectric generator (TEG) designed for automotive waste heat recovery systems. This model is capable of computing the overall heat transferred, the electrical power output, and the associated pressure drop for given inlet conditions of the exhaust gas and the available TEG volume. Multiple-filled skutterudites and conventional bismuth telluride are considered for thermoelectric modules (TEMs) for conversion of waste heat from exhaust into usable electrical power. Heat transfer between the hot exhaust gas and the hot side of the TEMs is enhanced with the use of a plate-fin heat exchanger integrated within the TEG and using liquid coolant on the cold side. The TEG is discretized along the exhaust flow direction using a finite-volume method. Each control volume is modeled as a thermal resistance network which consists of integrated submodels including a heat exchanger and a thermoelectric device. The pressure drop along the TEG is calculated using standard pressure loss correlations and viscous drag models. The model is validated to preserve global energy balances and is applied to analyze a prototype TEG with data provided by General Motors. Detailed results are provided for local and global heat transfer and electric power generation. In the companion paper, the model is then applied to consider various TEG topologies using skutterudite and bismuth telluride TEMs.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy precipitated by maxillofacial surgery and general anesthesia: a case report and review of literature.

Purpose Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a syndrome characterized by a transient episode of heart failure. The specific etiology of this condition is widely speculated. The purpose of this case report and literature review was to investigate the incidence of TCM with regard to general anesthesia, especially those cases involving operative procedures within the realm of oral and maxillofacial surgery. It is intended that the present case serve as a guide for fellow surgeons to identify and manage this syndrome. Materials and Methods The present case was explained and a review of the literature was performed. PubMed was used to search for articles involving surgical procedures under general anesthesia, including oral and maxillofacial surgery. Results It was determined that TCM rarely occurs in conjunction with surgical procedures under general anesthesia, especially those of the head and neck region. Conclusions TCM is an uncommon medical condition with significant morbidity and mortality when managed incorrectly. The occurrence of this syndrome in relation to oral and maxillofacial procedures is also rare, although it is imperative that surgeons be able to recognize and treat this condition appropriately.
Deposit formation in liquid fuels. 3. The effect of selected nitrogen compounds on diesel fuel

The influence of substituted quinolines, pyrroles, indoles, and pyridines on deposit formation in a diesel fuel is evaluated. Significant increases in deposition rate are found which are dependent upon the basicity of the nitrogen compound within a given compound class. These effects correspond closely with those produced in a Jet A fuel. Removal of highly polar fuel components renders the nitrogen compound influence inoperative. These components are therefore participants in deposit-forming reactions.
Abnormal contractile properties of muscle fibers expressing beta-myosin heavy chain gene mutations in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Abstract Missense mutations in the beta-myosin heavy chain (beta-MHC) gene cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). As normal and mutant beta-MHCs are expressed in slow-twitch skeletal muscle of HCM patients, we compared the contractile properties of single slow-twitch muscle fibers from patients with three distinct beta-MHC gene mutations and normal controls. Fibers with the 741Gly-->Arg mutation (near the binding site of essential light chain) demonstrated decreased maximum velocity of shortening (39% of normal) and decreased isometric force generation (42% of normal). Fibers with the 403Arg-->Gln mutation (at the actin interface of myosin) showed lowered force/stiffness ratio (56% of normal) and depressed velocity of shortening (50% of normal). Both the 741Gly-->Arg and 403Arg-->Gln mutation-containing fibers displayed abnormal force-velocity relationships and reduced power output. Fibers with the 256Gly-->Glu mutation (end of ATP-binding pocket) had contractile properties that were indistinguishable from normal. Thus there is variability in the nature and extent of functional impairments in skeletal fibers containing different beta-MHC gene mutations, which may correlate with the severity and penetrance of the disease that results from each mutation. These functional alterations likely constitute the primary stimulus for the cardiac hypertrophy that is characteristic of this disease.
Determination of clinical utility of tumor markers: a tumor marker utility grading system.

In the last 20 years, more than 200 papers have been published in the English literature assessing either the prognostic or predictive abilities of several different putative tumor markers. In spite of this plethora of publications, very few factors have been accepted for routine use in clinical practice. In 1995, the American Society of Clinical Oncology convened an Expert Panel to develop evidence-based practice guidelines for the use of tumor markers in breast cancer (ASCO Expert Panel 1996). This panel considered several tissue-based factors, including estrogen receptor (ER), cathepsin D, p53, HER-2/c-neu/erbB-2, and flow cytometrically determined S-phase fraction. After careful deliberation, they concluded that the data were insufficient to recommend the use of any biologically based marker to determine prognosis. Furthermore, the Panel recommended that ER could be used to reliably predict response/benefit from hormone therapy, but that no other predictive factor was sufficiently well-established to be considered for routine clinical use.
Notice of Violation of IEEE Publication Principles Systematically Identifying Genes and Pathways in Multiple Cancer Types Using HGD & PSO-SVM

Identification of genes and pathways which are risk factors for multiple cancers could help us prevent or treat cancer more effectively. Machine learning techniques have been extensively used to analyze microarray data but, most methods are based on the identification of significant associations of gene ontology terms with groups of genes. This does not directly reflect metabolic networks. In this paper, a more systematic approach is considered. As a first step, we did pathway analysis using Hyper Geometric Distribution (HGD) and significantly overrepresented sets of reactions (pathways or sub-pathways) were identified. As a second step, feature selection based Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and the K-Nearest Neighbor (K-NN) methods were used. We also used the Leave-One-Out Cross-Validation (LOOCV) as an evaluator of PSO and One-Versus-Rest (OVR) method as a component classifier. Experimental results show that our method simplifies features effectively and obtains higher classification accuracy than the other classification methods from the literature.
Determining Critical Arcs for Collecting Real-Time Travel Information

The problem explored is that of selecting a fixed number of arcs, representing a subset of the network arcs, referred to as information critical arcs (ICAs), which will be instrumented to collect real-time information, such as travel times, from a transportation network. The objective is to select the ICAs such that the greatest benefit (e.g., in relieving traffic congestion or providing optimal real-time path strategies for onboard route guidance) will be derived. A mathematical formulation of the problem of selecting the ICAs is given. Since the problem as described in this formulation is proved to be NP-hard (which infers that the problem belongs to a class of problems for which there is no known polynomial time solution), a heuristic is proposed, referred to as the critical arc set (CAS) heuristic, for solving the problem. Numerical experiments are conducted on the Texas highway network for assessing the ICAs selected by the CAS heuristic in the context of providing real-time path strategies. The experimental results indicate that for this network, good real-time path strategies can be obtained by instrumenting a fairly small number of the network arcs when the arcs are chosen by the CAS heuristic.
Relationships between skinfold thickness and electromyographic and mechanomyographic amplitude recorded during voluntary and non-voluntary muscle actions.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to examine possible correlations between skinfold thicknesses and the a terms from the log-transformed electromyographic (EMG RMS ) and mechanomyographic amplitude (MMG RMS )-force relationships, EMG M-Waves, and MMG gross lateral movements (GLM). Methods Forty healthy subjects performed a 6-s isometric ramp contraction from 5% to 85% of their maximal voluntary contraction with EMG and MMG sensors placed on the vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF). A single electrical stimulus was applied to the femoral nerve to record the EMG M-waves and MMG GLMs. Skinfold thickness was assessed at the site of each electrode. Pearson's product correlation coefficients were calculated comparing skinfold thicknesses with the a terms from the log-transformed EMG RMS -and MMG RMS - force relationships, EMG M-waves, and MMG GLMs. Results There were no significant cor1relations ( p >0.05) between the a terms and skinfold thicknesses for the RF and VL from the EMG RMS and MMG RMS -force relationships. However, there were significant correlations ( p r =−0.521, −0.376) and VL ( r =−0.479, −0.484). Discussion Relationships were only present between skinfold thickness and the amplitudes of the EMG and MMG signals during the non-voluntary muscle actions.
Antigenic phenotyping of isolated and in situ rodent follicular dendritic cells (FDC) with emphasis on the ultrastructural demonstration of Ia antigens

The antigenic phenotype of mouse lymph node follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) was studied by immunocytochemical techniques. Indirect fluorescence was used in conjunction with monoclonal antibodies to localize FDC surface antigens on FDC-enriched cell preparations and in cryostat sections. Lymph nodes from rats and mice were also labeled directly for Ia antigens with fluorescein- or peroxidase-conjugated Ia-specific monoclonal antibodies (i.e., MRC Ox4 and 10-2.16, respectively). Lymphoid tissue was also prepared for electron microscopy to allow clear distinction between Ia antigens of B lymphocytes and FDCs in situ. In these experiments, gold-labeled antigen was used to clearly identify FDCs and their processes among the Ia-positive cells of lymph node follicles. The labeling observed by light and electron microscopy showed that FDCs expressed Ia in situ and in vitro. Additional surface determinants shown to be expressed by FDCs included H2-K, common leukocyte antigen, and the receptor for the Fc portion of IgG1 and IgG2b. Neither macrophage antigens, such as Mac-1, Mac-2, Mac-3, and F4/80, nor the lymphocyte markers Ly-1, Ly-2, and Thy-1 were expressed by FDCs. Thus, the antigenic phenotype of FDCs, along with their distinctive dendritic morphology, their nonphagocytic and nonadherent nature, and their ability to trap and retain immune complexes on their plasma membrane, identifies them as a unique cell population.
Involvement of p27kip1 and cyclin D3 in the regulation of cdk2 activity during skeletal muscle differentiation

Abstract Terminal myogenic differentiation involves an irreversible transition from a proliferative state to a post-mitotic quiescent state. We showed here that in addition to the previously reported down regulation of G 1 -related cyclin-associated kinase activities, this transition was also accompanied by an extensive reorganization of the cyclin–cdk complexes, including a dramatic shift of cdk2 from cyclin A to cyclin D3. Moreover, the inhibition of cdk activity also correlated with an increase in the expression of the p27 kip1 cdk inhibitor and in its association with the cyclin–cdk2 complexes. Since depletion of p27 substantially reduced the cdk inhibitor activity present in differentiated muscle cells, we believe that the increase in p27 expression along with the reorganization of the cyclin–cdk2 complexes may play an important role in the inhibition of cdk2 activity during the differentiation process.
The IBM computer-stem system

Abstract The system of computer control of STEM operation for EELS acquisition is described. The ability to obtain analytical information from 1 nm sized areas during a 15 min integration time is illustrated. The system of hardware and software is discussed in general terms to highlight the organizational philosophy which allows complex and adaptable behavior with a minimum of construction effort.
In vitro translation of encephalomyocarditis viral RNA: synthesis of capsid precursor-like polypeptides.

Abstract An in vitro system is described which synthesizes high molecular weight, capsid precursor-like polypeptides in response to EMC viral RNA. The preincubated S-10 extracts from Krebs II and Ehrlich mouse ascites cells exhibit more than twice the specific activity of the S-30 extracts. With an incubation temperature of 30 instead of 37°, initiation proceeds for a longer time, and the level of total amino acid incorporation is increased. In vitro translation of viral RNA occurs on large polysomes (250–300 S) and results in the synthesis of a collection of large polypeptides with molecular weights from 60,000 to 140,000. These major in vitro products do not comigrate on SDS-polyacrylamide gels with any stable intracellular viral proteins or viral capsid proteins. The largest in vitro product contains all the CNBr-peptides present in the smaller in vitro products and all of the CNBr-peptides present in the viral capsid-precursor polypeptides. The in vitro products appear to share a common amino-terminus and contain an amino acid sequence which precedes the translation of viral capsid protein sequences.
Theoretical Study of the Electronic Spectrum and ESR of the CH2OH Radical

The structure of the CH2OH radical was optimized at the UHF, UB3LYP, and MP2 levels. The calculated ionization potential was very close to the experimental one. The transition dipole moments from the ground state to the first four lowest excited states were calculated with and without Cs symmetry using the multireference single and double configuration interaction method (MRSD). The first four lowest excited states were also optimized with the single excitation configuration interaction method (CIS). The adiabatic excitation energies and transition dipole moments for vertical emission were calculated at the same level. None of these calculations lead to the assignment of the first excited Rydberg p state as 2A‘ ‘(3pz) as suggested in a recent paper (Chem. Phys. Lett. 318, 393, 2000). Some results of multireference perturbation theory are also presented. The isotropic hyperfine parameters calculated with MRSD were in good agreement with the experimental values.
Masks and Metamorphoses: The Transformation of Classical Tradition in Goethe's Römische Elegien

Goethe's Romische Elegien present a theatrical model of imitation, in which the texts of classical antiquity are performed, brought to life again in the present. The performance acknowledges the models, but also transforms them. The notion of “Halbinkognito,” which Goethe, in the Italienische Reise, applies to his own disguise as a German in Rome, also informs the structure of the Elegien, which present recognizable figures and texts from antiquity, but give them new meaning in an eighteenth-century context. In this article, I examine three elegies, the Second, the Twelfth and the 24th, which illustrate the interplay between private and public identities, and which reveal the possibilities inherent in the parallels and disjunctions between ancient and modern texts.
IKBKAP mRNA in peripheral blood leukocytes: a molecular marker of gene expression and splicing in familial dysautonomia.

The common familial dysautonomia (FD) mutation results in tissue specific mis-splicing with reduced amount of wild-type (WT) IκB kinase associated protein gene (IKBKAP) mRNA and ELP1. ELP1 is a subunit of Elongator, formerly called the IκB kinase associated protein (IKAP) protein. We measured IKBKAP mRNA in peripheral blood leukocytes to determine whether FD subjects and carriers have characteristic levels. Estimated mean IKBKAP mRNA levels, measured by quantitative PCR and expressed as amount relative to the noncarrier average, were significantly different for the two groups when not adjusted for age and sex (p < 0.001): FD subjects 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.19, 0.28); carriers 0.58, 95% CI (0.50, 0.68); or adjusted for age and sex (p < 0.001): FD subjects 0.21, 95% CI (0.16, 0.26); carriers 0.66, 95% CI (0.55, 0.79). Comparison of IKBKAP mRNA levels of the 22 FD subjects and their related carriers showed a strong correlation, providing evidence for genetic control of splicing efficiency. IKBKAP mRNA levels were not higher in those subjects using tocotrienols or epigallocatechin gallate. Levels of IKBKAP mRNA in peripheral blood leukocytes can be used to assess molecular response to therapies aimed at enhancing exon 20 inclusion and increasing cellular levels of ELP1/IKAP.