cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk Factors for Excessive Anticoagulation Among Hospitalized Adults Receiving Warfarin Therapy Using a Pharmacist‐Managed Dosing Protocol

tudy Objective To identify specific risk factors for excessive anticoagulation, defined as an international normalized ratio (INR) higher than 5, in hospitalized adults receiving warfarin therapy using a pharmacist-managed dosing protocol. Design Retrospective nested case-control study. Setting Large academic tertiary care medical center. Patients Hospitalized nonsurgical patients 18 years or older who received at least one dose of warfarin according to the pharmacist-managed protocol from January 1, 2009, to January 31, 2012, were included. Patients who experienced an INR higher than 5 were designated as case patients; those who received warfarin for at least as many days as the case patients but who did not experience an INR more than 5 were deemed control patients. Controls were matched to cases in a 2:1 ratio by age, sex, INR goal, and type of warfarin therapy (new start or continuation). Measurements and Main Results A total of 87 case patients were matched to 174 controls. Ten different hypothesized risk factors were examined. Two variables, severity of illness score (odds ratio [OR] 4.89, p<0.001) and poor nutritional status (OR 4.27, p<0.001), demonstrated strong independent associations with risk of excessive anticoagulation. Administration of interacting drugs that highly potentiate warfarin's effect (OR 2.26, p=0.011) and concurrent diarrheal illness (OR 4.75, p<0.001) also displayed a statistically significant risk for excessive anticoagulation. Conclusion Even in a highly standardized system for warfarin dosing by a pharmacist-managed protocol, higher disease severity and poor nutritional status placed hospitalized patients at greater risk of experiencing excessive anticoagulation. In addition, administration of interacting drugs that highly potentiate warfarin's effect or the occurrence of diarrheal illness may predict increased risk.
μ-opioid modulation of HIV-1 coreceptor expressionand HIV-1 replication

A substantial proportion of HIV-1-infected individuals are intravenous drug users (i.v.DUs) who abuse opiates. Opioids induce a number of immunomodulatory effects that may directly influence HIV-1 disease progression. In the present report, we have investigated the effect of opioids on the expression of the major HIV-1 coreceptors CXCR4 and CCR5. For these studies we have focused on opiates which are ligands for the mu-opioid receptor. Our results show that DAMGO, a selective mu-opioid agonist, increases CXCR4 and CCR5 expression in both CD3(+) lymphoblasts and CD14(+) monocytes three- to fivefold. Furthermore, DAMGO-induced elevation of HIV-1 coreceptor expression translates into enhanced replication of both X4 and R5 viral strains of HIV-1. We have confirmed the role of the mu-opioid receptor based on the ability of a mu-opioid receptor-selective antagonist to block the effects of DAMGO. We have also found that morphine enhances CXCR4 and CCR5 expression and subsequently increases both X4 and R5 HIV-1 infection. We suggest that the capacity of mu-opioids to increase HIV-1 coreceptor expression and replication may promote viral binding, trafficking of HIV-1-infected cells, and enhanced disease progression.
The composition of coffee oil and its component fatty acids

A specimen of coffee oil has been examined with the objective of determining its composition in the light of possible uses of the oil which is recoverable as a byproduct in the soluble coffee industry. The oil, as obtained by extraction of the coffee grounds with solvent, contains over 5% of unique unsaponifiable material which, without preliminary removal, makes the oil unsuitable for many purposes. It has been shown that the unsaponifiable and glyceridic components can be separated by molecular distillation. A specimen of the methyl esters of the fatty acids of the oil was examined by the ester distillation fractional crystallization techniques. The composition of the component fatty acids has been calculated. The oil contains 46% of linoleic acid. Saturated and unsaturated acids of the C20, C22, and C24 series are present in coffee oil in small amounts.
Propagation of electrical activity in the nerve cord and muscle syncytium of the nematodeAscaris lumbricoides

The functional muscle syncytium overlying the nerve cord inAscaris lumbricoides is preferentially excited by anodal stimulation with an extracellular electrode. Cathodal stimulation preferentially excites the nerve cord, allowing determination of separate conduction velocities for the nerve cord and syncytium. The propagation velocity of the nerve cord is 16.2±1.2 cm/s; that of the syncytium varies with Ca2+ concentration, being 21.6±1.3 cm/s under normal conditions (Figs. 5, 6). Both values are too high to account for the propagation of contractile waves in the intact animal.
Grassroots mobilization of internet NGOs in China: the cases of www.1kg.org and www.geshanghua.org

This paper attempts to draw attention to the experiences of two distinguished examples of Chinese Internet NGOs, www.1kg.org and Gesanghua.org, using them as case studies to illustrate how grassroots NGOs in China use the Internet to organize, operate, and mobilize general public to volunteer for social and welfare service. By comparing the differences and similarities between two Internet NGOs that have harnessed the Internet on a different level and utilized different strategies, this paper also provides some insightful implications in terms of how internet serves as a venue for grassroots mobilization. This paper suggests that grassroots NGOs should tailor the Internet to their own use according to their own organizational and operational characteristics. In the meantime, political viability always plays a critical role in deciding its online mobilization strategies. Additionally, strategic and thoughtful partnership with private corporations is another key to maximize Internet NGOs' capacity.
Optimum multi-hop transmission strategies for energy constrained wireless sensor networks

This paper presents optimum multi-hop transmission strategies (MHTS) for energy constrained wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Nodes in a multi-hop WSN need to transmit their own information and to relay each other's information to a base station (BS), and there are usually multiple available paths between a node and the BS. The optimum MHTS derived in this paper answers three questions: 1) how should a node divide its limited energy between the transmission of the self-information and the relay-information? 2) whether a single path or a combination of multiple paths should be used to route the information from a node to the BS? and 3) if multi-path routing is used, how should a single data stream be divided among the multiple paths? The answers to these questions are obtained by minimizing the energy per bit, or equivalently, by maximizing the amount of information delivered to the BS under certain energy constraints. Two different scheduling strategies are considered, the fair equal information strategy that requires all the nodes deliver the same amount of information to the BS, and the unfair maximum information strategy that maximizes the total amount of information delivered to the BS. The optimum MHTS for these two strategies are derived, with either convex optimization or analytical expressions, under a per node energy constraint and a total energy constraint, respectively.
E-books in Academic Libraries: Challenges for Discovery and Access

AbstractThis paper examines the recent literature on the presentation of e-books in college and university libraries, focusing on three mechanisms for discovery and access: e-book vendors' interfaces, library catalogs (OPACs), and resource discovery tools (RDTs). If libraries rely on vendors' interfaces, patrons must search on multiple platforms, many of which have limited and idiosyncratic search mechanisms. The most common strategy for discovery and access—including e-books in the library catalog—brings its own set of challenges, including limited availability of records, lack of standardization, difficulties managing the addition and removal of titles, and the generally low quality of vendor-supplied records. Likewise, libraries that use resource discovery tools face another set of difficulties: incomplete coverage, reliance on metadata from external sources, problems with subject headings and authority control, difficulties with guest-user access, and continuing dependence on vendors' platforms for ac...
Biomarkers of Holocene buried conifer logs from Bella Coola and north Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Abstract The biomarker compositions of a Holocene seep oil (liquefied resin) originating from a buried log of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) from Bella Coola, BC, Canada, and a Holocene pine wood (Pinus sp.) sample from north Vancouver, BC, Canada, were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The total extract of the Bella Coola sample contains the sesquiterpenoid derivative calamenene and diterpenoids of the labdane, abietane, pimarane, and phyllocladane classes. A novel series of successively degraded labdane derivatives (labdan-15-oic acid, norlabdanoic acids, drimenoic acid) was detected in the polar fraction and a diagenetic pathway is proposed. Aromatic abietanes are the major components in the neutral fraction. The neutral fraction of the pine wood contains two sesquiterpenoids (calamenene, cadalene), diterpenoids of the abietane, pimarane, isopimarane, and kaurane classes, and a series of steroids. 18-Norabieta-8,11,13-triene (dehydroabietin) is the major component among the predominantly aromatic abietanes. Based on the compositions of the terpenoids it is concluded that the diagenesis of the pine and Douglas fir logs probably occurred under anaerobic conditions leading to reductive reactions such as decarboxylation of resin acids, with concurrent oxidation reactions to form the aromatic derivatives.
Pyeloplasty Improves Renal Function and Somatic Growth in Children with Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction

AbstractWe studied the systemic effects of pyeloplasty in 38 children with unilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Mean patient age at surgery was 2.5 years and 22 patients were age 1 year or younger. Mean followup was 18 months. We recorded serum creatinine levels, glomerular filtration rate calculated by the Schwartz formula body growth, the degree of dilatation and the excretory curve of the diuresis renogram. Pyeloplasty was effective in decreasing the degree of ultrasonographic dilatation and the excretory curve of the renogram in 36 cases. Two patients required reoperation. Individual renal function improved significantly in children younger than 1 year with preoperative differential function less than 45 percent but not in older children. Serum creatinine level decreased significantly after pyeloplasty in all children. Likewise, glomerular filtration rate improved significantly in all children. Preoperatively, 72 percent of children younger than 1 year were below the 50th percentile in heigh...
A field study to understand the currents and loads of a near shore finfish farm

An extensive field study was conducted to investigate the current velocities and mooring system tensions in a 20-unit net pen fish farm located in Eastport Maine, USA, near the Bay of Fundy where extreme tides create strong currents loading fish farm components. To understand the flow characteristics at the site, currents meters were deployed at external and internal farm locations during three distinct operational conditions: (1) clean nets for smolts, (2) clean nets for standard grow out and (3) nets for standard grow out at the end of the stocking schedule, when the gear is fouled with biological material. Also, several load cells were deployed at the same time on important anchor leg and net pen attachment components to measure system loads. The current meter data sets provided evidence of velocity flow reduction through the farm by examining the current meter statistics and tidal harmonic constituents. Tidal analysis also showed substantial tidal harmonics or shallow water tides. The load cells measured maximum loads of 104 kN for anchor leg and 11 kN for net pen lines. The results are significant because few extensive fish farm engineering data sets exist, especially for different combinations of nets and levels of biological fouling. These results are being used in complementary studies to quantify flow reduction, to validate Morison equation type numerical models and as a baseline for specifying offshore fish farm gear.
Prototype client/server application for biomedical text/image retrieval on the Internet

At the Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications, a research and development division of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), a prototype image database retrieval system has been built. This medical information retrieval system (MIRS) is a client/server application which provides Internet access to biomedical databases, including both text search/retrieval and retrieval/display of medical images associated with the text records. The MIRS graphical user interface (GUI) allows a user to formulate queries by simple, intuitive interactions with screen buttons, list boxes, and edit boxes; these interactions create structured query language (SQL) queries, which are submitted to a database manager running at NLM. The result of a MIRS query is a display showing both scrollable text records and scrollable images returned for all of the 'hits' of the query. MIRS is designed as an information-delivery vehicle intended to provide access to multiple collections of medical text and image data. The database used for initial MIRS evaluation consists of national survey data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics, including 17,000 spinal x-ray images. This survey, conducted on a sample of 27,801 persons, collected demographic, socioeconomic, and medical information, including both interview results and results acquired by direct examination by physician.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Education for the Peace Through the Foreign Languages1

Author's summary.— Although few would question the practical, vocational importance of languages in the present emergency, the permanent, universal values of foreign language study remain obscure and misunderstood. An attempt to analyze these “intangibles” and to emphasize their importance in the post-war curriculum in our schools.
Accuracy of pH Sensing Using Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

This paper presents the influence of photon noise in pH measurement using the fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. The accuracy of measurement with both frequency-domain and time-domain techniques are discussed.
MR Imaging of the Thoracic Inlet

The thoracic inlet serves as the junction between the neck and the chest. As such, it is sometimes considered a sort of "no-man's-land" between the well-defined and comfortable territories of the thoracic radiologist and that of the head and neck radiologist. Crucial digestive, respiratory, vascular, lymphatic, and neural structures traverse the thoracic inlet. Endocrine structures also are in close proximity to, and sometimes extend into, the thoracic inlet. Familiarity with the normal anatomy of the thoracic inlet on routine chest or neck imaging, and on dedicated high-resolution examinations of such areas as the brachial plexus, is critical for detection and characterization of pathologic conditions.
Isolation of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid from Thymus vulgaris, L.

Tbymus vulgaris L. has been investigated for its nonvolatile constituents. Two previously unreported, isomeric triterpene hydroxy-acids were isolated. Oleanolic acid, C39H48O3, was obtained from the petroleum ether extract and characterized through its acetate. Ursolic acid, C30H48O3, was isolated from the ethyl ether extract and identified through its acetate, acetyl-acid chloride, and methyl ester.
Structure and properties of electric-spark alloyed TiN, TiB2, and Mo coatings on VT22 titanium alloy and their transformation under light-thermal treatment

We have established that electric-spark alloyed TiN, TiB2, and Mo coatings improve substantially the tribotechnical characteristics of VT22 titanium alloy. It has been shown that an increase in the slip velocity from 1.0 to 10 m/sec increases the wear intensity and friction coefficient by a factor of 1.5–2 and 1.3, respectively. A significant amount of oxides in the coatings and their additional alloying with titanium after treatment by concentrated solar radiation favor a 3–4 times increase in the layer thickness but lower its tribotechnical properties.
Buoyancy studies and microscopy of skin and subdermal extracellular matrix of the antarctic snailfish, Paraliparis devriesi.

The Antarctic snailfish Paraliparis devriesi (Liparididae) occupies an epibenthic habitat at a depth of 500-650 m in the subzero waters of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Although lacking a swim bladder, this species is neutrally buoyant through the combined effects of reduced skeletal ossification and expansion of a watery gelatinous subdermal extracellular matrix (SECM). The SECM serves as a low density buoyancy agent. It comprises a mean of 33.8% of the body weight, the largest known proportion of any adult fish. The SECM is loose connective tissue dominated by ground substance consisting of glycosaminoglycans, especially hyaluronic acid, and immobilized water. Although the SECM is 97% water, elevated levels of NaCl provide an osmotic strength greater than that of other body fluids. Only small amounts of antifreeze compounds have been identified in P. devriesi; therefore, freezing avoidance may result from the combined effects of antifreezes and the elevated osmolality of body fluids. The skin overlying the SECM is thin (85-200 μm) and loose, and unlike most other fishes, the epidermis is several times thicker than the dermis. The midepidermis, has a distinctive layer of vacuolated club cells of unknown function. Light and electron microscopy indicate that the skin is unspecialized for protection against entry of ice. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
When is a carrier not a membrane carrier? The cytoplasmic transport of amphipathic molecules

Abstract After entering the cell, small molecules must penetrate the cytoplasm before they are metabolized, excreted, or can convey information to the cell nucleus. Without efficient cytoplasmic transport, most such molecules would efflux back out of the cell before they could reach their targets. Cytoplasmic movement of amphipathic molecules (e.g., long-chain fatty acids, bilirubin, bile acids) is greatly slowed by their tendency to bind intracellular structures. Soluble cytoplasmic binding proteins reduce this binding by increasing the aqueous solubility of their ligands. These soluble carriers catalyze the transport of hydrophobic molecules across hydrophilic water layers, just as membrane carriers catalyze the transport of hydrophilic molecules across the hydrophobic membrane core. They even display the kinetic features of carrier-mediated transport, including saturation, mutual competition between similar molecules, and countertransport. Recent data suggest that amphipathic molecules cross the cytoplasm very slowly, with apparent diffusion constants 10 2 to 10 4 times smaller than in water. By modulating the rate of cytoplasmic transport, cytosolic binding proteins may regulate transport and metabolism of amphipathic molecules. Storage diseases may cause hepatocellular dysfunction by disrupting normal cytoplasmic transport. (Hepatology 1996 Nov;24(5):1288-95)
Mercosur and the end game of the ftaa negotiations: challenges and prospects after the argentine crisis

The negotiations to create a Free Trade Area of the Americas (ftaa) by January 2005 are at a crossroads. Although goals and deadlines have been met, the hard bargaining to reduce trade barriers among the 34 participating countries has just begun and there are formidable obstacles to concluding the negotiations on schedule. On the other hand, the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) is slowly emerging from the crises provoked by the Brazilian devaluation of 1999 and the implosion of the Argentine economy in December 2001. This article examines the interplay between Mercosur, the ftaa negotiations and the parallel Doha Round of global trade talks. It takes stock of the impasses in Mercosur and examines the challenges faced by the ftaa: US protectionism, the divergent positions of the USA and Brazil, the need to accommodate the demands of the small economies, the loss of legitimacy of the neoliberal model, anti- ftaa sentiment among vast segments of civil society throughout the hemisphere, and the election...
Muscle allograft survival after cyclosporin A immunosuppression

Abstract In normal rats, autografts of skeletal muscle survive, whereas allografts of muscle are immunologically rejected. In the present study we sought to determine whether or not the new immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CyA) would prevent the rejection of muscle allografts. Autografts and allografts of rat extensor digitorum longus muscles were made into recipients that went untreated (i.e., no treatment or vehicle injected) or that received daily injections of CyA (5 mg/kg). Autografts of muscle survived throughout the 12-week period of study. On the other hand, untreated rats rejected muscle allografts within 2 weeks, whereas allografts in CyA-treated recipients survived, even at 12 weeks when the experiment was terminated. In another study, CyA therapy was discontinued after 4 weeks in rats that received bilateral muscle allografts, both of which had survived; one was removed at that time. The second muscle allograft from these rats was examined 2 months later, and all were found rejected. CyA was also effective in preventing the rejection of muscle allografts in rats that were previously sensitized to the same transplantation antigens present on the allogeneic muscle cells. These results demonstrated that CyA can prevent the rejection of muscle allografts but only if drug treatment is continued. We conclude that CyA is a potent immunosuppressive agent which could prove useful in clinical muscle allotransplantation or in experimental animal studies that require immunosuppression.
Tumors of the neck showing thymic or related branchial pouch differentiation: a unifying concept.

Abstract A number of rare tumors occurring in the soft tissues of the neck and the thyroid gland, reported in the literature under a variety of designations, show complete to partial histologic resemblance to the fetal, mature, or involuted thymus and mediastinal thymomas. This family of tumors spans a range of histologic appearances and behaviors from completely benign lesions to metastasizing malignant tumors. After reviewing the previously reported and new cases, we have been able to delineate four reasonably well-defined clinicopathologic entities within this spectrum. On the benign end is “ectopic hamartomatous thymoma,” which occurs in the soft tissues of the lower neck. It is characterized by spindle epithelial cells, solid or cystic epithelial islands, and adipose cells which intermingle haphazardly to impart a hamartomatous quality. In the middle of the spectrum are the ectopic cervical thymomas which are usually benign, but can sometimes be locally invasive and can exceptionally metastasize. They are histologically identical to mediastinal thymomas, and residual ectopic thymus is not uncommonly identifiable in the periphery of the tumor. On the malignant end are tumors we have designated as “spindle epithelial tumor with thymus-like differentiation” (SETTLE) and “carcinoma showing thymus-like differentiation” (CASTLE). Tumors of the SETTLE type occur in the thyroid gland of young patients, and are highly cellular tumors comprised of compact bundles of long spindle epithelial cells which merge with tubulopapillary structures and/or mucinous glands. Tumors of the CASTLE type are histologically similar to thymic carcinoma of the lymphoepithelioma or squamous cell variety. We postulate that this family of tumors arises either from ectopic thymus or remnants of branchial pouches which retain the potential to differentiate along the thymic line.
WITHDRAWN: A Rare Cause Of Intraabdominal Tumor In Childhood: Omental Mesenteric Myxoid Hamartoma

WITHDRAWN: A Rare Cause Of Intraabdominal Tumor In Childhood: OmentalMesenteric Myxoid HamartomaArzu Sencan, Hulya Tosun Yildirim, Munevver HosgorPII: S2213-5766(14)00040-2DOI: 10.1016/j.epsc.2014.03.007Reference: EPSC 194To appear in: Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case ReportsPlease cite this article as: Sencan A, Yildirim HT, Hosgor M, WITHDRAWN: A Rare Cause OfIntraabdominal Tumor In Childhood: Omental Mesenteric Myxoid Hamartoma, Journal of PediatricSurgery Case Reports (2014), doi: 10.1016/j.epsc.2014.03.007.This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service toour customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergocopyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Pleasenote that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and alllegal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Crystallographic and magnetic characteristics of the Y2Ni17−xCux system

Abstract Crystallographic and magnetic characteristics of ternaries represented by the formula Y 2 Ni 17− x Cu x have been determined in an effort to establish why ferromagnetism in Y 2 Ni 17 (and also in Lu 2 Ni 17 ) is lost with increasing temperature in two stages. The a and c spacings both increase with increasing x (i.e., replacement of Ni by Cu). The saturation magnetization and the two transition temperatures decrease with increasing x . The initial decrease in saturation magnetization suggests that Cu transfers all its s electrons to Ni, whereas for x > 2.6 the decrease indicates a transfer of only 0.4 electron per Cu atom. Magnetization versus field at 4°K shows two stages for certain of the ternaries. These results and the temperature dependence of magnetization are interpreted to indicate that there is an equilibrium between s and d electrons that is temperature and field sensitive for values of x between 2.5 and 3. Interpretations developed for the ternaries have been extended to Y 2 Ni 17 . The two stages of magnetization are ascribed to a change of electronic configuration of Ni (lower transition) with concurrent change in moment and normal destruction of magnetic order at the upper transition point. The lower transition resembles the situation in elemental Ce where a change from the +4 to the +3 state is brought on by changing temperature.
Resin impregnation during composites manufacturing: Theory and experimentation

Abstract An experimental investigation into the area of resin impregnation during the manufacturing of composite materials is undertaken. The study is specifically directed at furthering the degree of understanding of the resin transfer molding and resin film stacking manufacturing processes. An additional goal of the present work is the testing of a previously developed numerical model for simulating such processes. The experimentation performed consists of the fully monitored impregnation of resin into a thin mold containing a three-dimensional reinforcement fiber composite preform material. Experimental results for two cases involving highly anisotopic resin impregnation are compared to corresponding numerical results. Reasonable agreement between the two sets of results is found to exist and suggestions are made as to future work which could further increase the technical understanding of such processes.
Purification, characterization and production of rabbit antibodies to rat liver particulate, high-affinity, cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase.

Abstract The cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.16) activities of a rat liver particulate fraction were analyzed after solubilization by detergent or by freeze-thawing. Analysis of the two extracts by DEAE-cellulose chromatography revealed that they contain different complements of phosphodiesterase activities. The detergent-solubilized extract contained a cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase, a low affinity cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase whose hydrolysis of cyclic AMP was activated by cyclic GMP and a high affinity cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. The freeze-thaw extract contained a cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase. The cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities from the freeze-thaw extract and from the detergent extract all had negatively cooperative kinetics. One of the cyclic AMP AMP phosphodiesterases from the freeze-thaw extract (form A) was insensitive to inhibition by cyclic GMP; the other freeze-thaw solubilized cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (form B) and the detergent-solubilized cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase were strongly inhibited by cyclic GMP. The B enzyme appeared to be converted into the A enzyme when the particulate fraction was stored for prolonged periods at −20°C. The B form was purified extensively, using DEAE-cellulose, a guanine-Sepharose column and gel filtration. The enzyme retained its negatively cooperative kinetics and high affinity for both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP throughout the purification, although catalytic activity was always much greater for cyclic AMP. Rabbit antiserum was raised against the purified B enzyme and tested via a precipitin reaction against other forms of phosphodiesterase. The antiserum cross-reacted with the A enzyme and the detergent-solubilized cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from rat liver. It did not react with the calmodulin-activated cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase of rat brain, the soluble low affinity cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase of rat liver or a commercial phosphodiesterase preparation from bovine heart. These results suggest a possible interrelationship between the high affinity cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases of rat liver.
Four-quark static bag model in two dimensions

A two-dimensional MIT bag model is considered for the case of two quark-antiquark pairs aligned on an axis in the static limit. The problem of solving for the shape of the bag surface, the energy of the configuration, and the color field distribution is shown to be exactly solvable through a series of conformal mappings. Analysis and physical interpretation of the exact results are given.
Just War Theory: Restraint or Enabler of War?

Just War Theory: Restraint or Enabler of War? Laurie Calhoun, War and Delusion: A Critical Examination. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. 270 pp. $90 (hardcover). Reviewed by Stephen R. Shalom (W...
Structure of the minor pseudopilin EpsH from the Type 2 secretion system of Vibrio cholerae.

Many Gram-negative bacteria use the multi-protein type II secretion system (T2SS) to selectively translocate virulence factors from the periplasmic space into the extracellular environment. In Vibrio cholerae the T2SS is called the extracellular protein secretion (Eps) system, which translocates cholera toxin and several enzymes in their folded state across the outer membrane. Five proteins of the T2SS, the pseudopilins, are thought to assemble into a pseudopilus, which may control the outer membrane pore EpsD, and participate in the active export of proteins in a 'piston-like' manner. We report here the 2.0 {angstrom} resolution crystal structure of an N-terminally truncated variant of EpsH, a minor pseudopilin from Vibrio cholerae. While EpsH maintains an N-terminal {alpha}-helix and C-terminal {beta}-sheet consistent with the type 4a pilin fold, structural comparisons reveal major differences between the minor pseudopilin EpsH and the major pseudopilin GspG from Klebsiella oxytoca: EpsH contains a large {beta}-sheet in the variable domain, where GspG contains an {alpha}-helix. Most importantly, EpsH contains at its surface a hydrophobic crevice between its variable and conserved {beta}-sheets, wherein a majority of the conserved residues within the EpsH family are clustered. In a tentative model of a T2SS pseudopilus with EpsH at its tip, the conservedmore » crevice faces away from the helix axis. This conserved surface region may be critical for interacting with other proteins from the T2SS machinery.« less
Potential ecosystem-level effects of genetic variation among populations of Metrosideros polymorpha from a soil fertility gradient in Hawaii.

This study assessed intrinsic differences in tissue quality and growth rate among populations of Metrosideros polymorpha native to sites with a range of soil fertilities. We collected seedlings from three Hawaiian mesic forests that were either phosphorus-limited, nitrogen-limited, or relatively fertile. These individuals were grown in a common garden under a factorial high/low, N/P fertilization regime for 1.5 years and then harvested to determine genetic divergence; aboveground growth rate; and lignin, N, and P concentrations in leaves and roots. Allozyme analyses indicated that the three groups had genetically diverged to some degree (genetic distance = 0.036–0.053 among populations). Relative growth rate did not differ significantly among the populations. Senescent leaves from the fertile-site population had the highest N concentrations (due to low N resorption) and had lower lignin concentrations than plants from the N-limited site. Across treatments, P concentrations in senescent leaves were highest in plants from the fertile and P-limited site. Root tissue quality did not generally differ significantly among populations. Since decomposition rate of senescent leaves in this system is related positively to N concentration and negatively to lignin concentration, senescent leaves from the fertile-site population may have a genetic tendency toward faster decay than the others. The intrinsic qualities of the three populations may provide positive feedbacks on nutrient cycling at each site–nutrient availability may be raised to some degree at the fertile site, and reduced at the N- or P-limited sites. Our results suggest that even a small degree of genetic differentiation among groups can influence traits related to nutrient cycling.
Forsythe's Box: On the Afterlife of Choreography

“Open the box . . . yes you can’t, yes you can . . . the box is open.” These words, spoken into a microphone by a menacing male with a shaved head, wavered between command, threat, entreaty, invitation, and temptation. Of course, there was no box on the minimalist stage of William Forsythe’s Yes We Can’t, which premiered at the Festspielhaus Hellerau in Dresden in March 2008, but only three microphones and an ordinary white exercise mat. In the absence of a referential object, the audience was confronted by the overdetermined associations of “box,” which might refer to graves, secrets, storage, archives, theatres, or, ominously, a crudely depersonalized female sex. Although such an extreme implication may seem far-fetched, just such a salacious shadow of sexual violence haunted the work. The uneasy proximity of “box” and “sex” was made explicit when a female performer breathily baited the audience with the words, “put your stuff in the box . . . put your stuff in my box,” repeating phrases that alliteratively intermingled indefinite and definite articles. This linguistic technique became a central device that instigated slippages between can/n’t, would/n’t, could/n’t, and cunt.
A note on thermal stresses in hollow cylinders

The extensions of Trostel's solutions derived in this paper may be employed tor general ν over wide conditions with a resulting error less than 3%, the stress values being too small in magnitude by this amount. The error decreases as the variation of physical properties of the media decreases or as ν → 1/2.
Interleukin 1 mediated acceleration of type II collagen-induced arthritis: effects of anti-inflammatory or anti-arthritic drugs.

We previously demonstrated that treatments with rIL-1B accelerated the onset and progression of CIA in mice. In the present study, it was observed that IL-1 also enhanced the development of CIA in rats. Like the mouse model, maximal incidence (80–100%) of arthritis occurred within 7 days after the first treatment with IL-1 in rats. Thus, the acceleration of CIA by IL-1 (IL-1 CIA) may be an improved model for the rapid screening of anti-inflammatory and/or anti-arthritic drugs. As a first step to determining the utility of the IL-1 CIA model as a drug screen, we examined the ability of various known anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic drugs to modify the IL-1 mediated enhancement of CIA in both rats and mice. The results of these studies showed that when analyzed in the IL-1 CIA model, rats and mice exhibited differences in their responses to several of these drugs. For example, dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as well as methotrexate were found active in the IL-1 CIA of rats. By contrast, the NSAIDs were found to be less effective in suppressing the IL-1 accelerated disease in mice. In both rats and mice, cyclosporine A and several disease modifying anti-arthritic drugs failed to the prevent the development of CIA that was potentiated by IL-1. Thus, in the IL-1 CIA model NSAIDs appeared to be less active in mice than rats. In conclusion, because of the shorter latent period required for the development of arthritis in the IL-1 treated animals, the IL-1 accelerated CIA model in both mice and rats may be useful for screening anti-inflammatory or anti-arthritic compounds.
Superior outcomes for repair in infants and neonates with tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome

Objective Primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome has been associated with significant mortality, particularly for neonates in respiratory distress. Controversy persists regarding the method of establishing right ventricle–pulmonary artery continuity. Methods Anatomic and demographic parameters were evaluated for patients undergoing repair of tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome from 1990 to 2005, as were perioperative and late postoperative parameters (airway complications, reoperation or catheter-based intervention, and mortality). Results Twenty-three patients underwent repair. Median age was 15 days (range 2-1154 days). Patients were followed up for 5.3 ± 3.9 years. Seventeen (85%) required preoperative ventilatory assistance. One patient died within 24 hours; 1 patient died 8 months postoperatively. Four patients received valved homografts, and the remainder had valveless connections. All patients underwent reduction pulmonary arterioplasty and mobilization, unifocalization (in 3), and ventricular septal defect closure. Valveless connection recipients had a transannular hood. No patient underwent a Lecompte maneuver. Four patients underwent reoperation for conversion to valveless connection (n = 1), reduction arterioplasty (n = 1), and repair of pulmonary stenosis (n = 2). Three patients required catheter-based intervention, with balloon angioplasty (n = 3) and stent placement (n = 1); 2 now demonstrate equal quantitative lung perfusion. No patient has had significant debility from airway compromise. All patients demonstrate free pulmonary insufficiency and good biventricular function. Conclusions We report excellent overall survival (89%) and low postoperative morbidity for neonates and infants undergoing primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome. Our recent experience supports the use of a valveless right ventricle–pulmonary artery connection, which, combined with catheter-based intervention, reduces the likelihood of reoperation necessitated by homograft placement.
Use of 35S for tracing sulfur in coal for studies of coal cleaning processes

Abstract Methods are developed and tested for the use of 35 S as a tracer for sulfur for use in the study of coal cleaning processes that do not involve chemical changes. 35 S is produced from the sulfur intrinsic to the coal of interest by neutron irradiation of a sample. Then, after addition of the irradiated coal sample, samples of coal from various points in a coal cleaning process can be taken and processed for liquid-scintillation counting of the 35 S. A suitable radiochemical separation procedure and a liquid-scintillation counting technique have been developed and tested for this purpose. The 35 S tracer method is illustrated here by a small study on the grinding of coal in a laboratory batch ball mill.
Impact of mode partition noise on horizontal eye opening in multimode fiber links

Statistical exploration of the impact of the mode partition noise in multimode links shows achievable distances without CDR or FEC limited to 50m, while adding both CDR and FEC extends them to more than 200m.
Radiofrequency ablation of human fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma

Abstract Objective: Fetuses with solid, highly vascularized sacrococcygeal teratomas can die as a result of the vascular steal syndrome. This is the first report in which a percutaneous technique, radiofrequency ablation, was used to interrupt blood flow to a sacrococcygeal teratoma in 4 human fetuses. Study Design: A radiofrequency ablation probe was percutaneously inserted into the fetal tumor under ultrasonographic guidance. In 2 fetuses a significant portion of the tumor mass was ablated, whereas in the other 2 fetuses only the major feeding vessels were targeted. Results: Two infants were delivered at 28 and 31 weeks' gestation, respectively, and are doing well. In 2 other cases hemorrhage into the tumor led to an unfavorable fetal outcome. Conclusion: Ablation of a majority of the tumor tissue in sacrococcygeal teratoma is not necessary and proved fatal in two instances. Targeted ablation of the feeding tumor vessels diminishes blood flow sufficiently to reverse high-output fetal heart failure. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:503-7.)
The Philippine currency board arrangement, 1945–48: a case of deflationary bias?

This article provides an historical case study of the hypothesis that a currency board imparts a deflationary bias to a growing economy. The hypothesis is based on the argument that, while economic growth increases the demand for money, the expansion of the money supply in a currency board system is constrained by the balance of payments. After examining the origins, development and criticisms of the deflationary bias hypothesis, the article investigates the experience of the Philippines during its economic recovery from the devastation of the Second World War. The evidence suggests that, under the currency board arrangement then in place, deflationary pressure emerged in the manner predicted by the hypothesis.
A general nonlinear framework for the analysis of gene interaction via multivariate expression arrays

A cDNA microarray is a complex biochemical-optical sys- tem whose purpose is the simultaneous measurement of gene expres- sion for thousands of genes. In this paper we propose a general statis- tical approach to finding associations between the expression patterns of genes via the coefficient of determination. This coefficient mea- sures the degree to which the transcriptional levels of an observed gene set can be used to improve the prediction of the transcriptional state of a target gene relative to the best possible prediction in the absence of observations. The method allows incorporation of knowl- edge of other conditions relevant to the prediction, such as the appli- cation of particular stimuli or the presence of inactivating gene muta- tions, as predictive elements affecting the expression level of a given gene. Various aspects of the method are discussed: prediction quan- tification, unconstrained prediction, constrained prediction using ter- nary perceptrons, and design of predictors given small numbers of replicated microarrays. The method is applied to a set of genes under- going genotoxic stress for validation according to the manner in which it points toward previously known and unknown relationships. The entire procedure is supported by software that can be applied to large gene sets, has a number of facilities to simplify data analysis, and provides graphics for visualizing experimental data, multiple gene in- teraction, and prediction logic. © 2000 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (S1083-3668(00)00204-5)
Hole Transport in Diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) Small Molecules: A Joint Theoretical and Experimental Study

Charge transport in 3,6-bis[5-(benzofuran-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl]-2,5-bis(2-ethylhexyl)pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione [DPP(TBFu)2] small molecules, a model donor material for organic photovoltaics, is studied by combined first-principles simulations and experiments. The dependence of the hole mobility on electric field, temperature, and molecular packing is examined in detail. Phonon-assisted hole transition rates and energetic disorder are identified as key intrinsic factors that control the hole mobility in DPP small molecules, with the latter playing a more important role than the former. In order to explain the substantial mobility differences between the as-cast and annealed films, we examine the effect of energetic traps on charge transport. For a trapping energy of 0.4 eV and a trap density of 1.5 × 1017/cm3, we find that 98% of the carriers are trapped and the mobility drops by 2 orders of magnitude. With trap densities of 4.5 × 1018/cm3 and 1.5 × 1017/cm3 and trapping energy of 0.4 eV, we can reprod...
O6-Methylguanosine leads to position-dependent effects on ribosome speed and fidelity

Nucleic acids are under constant assault from endogenous and environmental agents that alter their physical and chemical properties. O6-methylation of guanosine (m(6)G) is particularly notable for its high mutagenicity, pairing with T, during DNA replication. Yet, while m(6)G accumulates in both DNA and RNA, little is known about its effects on RNA. Here, we investigate the effects of m(6)G on the decoding process, using a reconstituted bacterial translation system. m(6)G at the first and third position of the codon decreases the accuracy of tRNA selection. The ribosome readily incorporates near-cognate aminoacyl-tRNAs (aa-tRNAs) by forming m(6)G-uridine codon-anticodon pairs. Surprisingly, the introduction of m(6)G to the second position of the codon does not promote miscoding, but instead slows the observed rates of peptide-bond formation by >1000-fold for cognate aa-tRNAs without altering the rates for near-cognate aa-tRNAs. These in vitro observations were recapitulated in eukaryotic extracts and HEK293 cells. Interestingly, the analogous modification N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) at the second position has only a minimal effect on tRNA selection, suggesting that the effects on tRNA selection seen with m(6)G are due to altered geometry of the base pair. Given that the m6G:U base pair is predicted to be nearly indistinguishable from a Watson-Crick base pair, our data suggest that the decoding center of the ribosome is extremely sensitive to changes at the second position. Our data, apart from highlighting the deleterious effects that these adducts pose to cellular fitness, shed new insight into decoding and the process by which the ribosome recognizes codon-anticodon pairs.