cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gating Motions of KirBac1.1 Cytoplasmic Domain with Respect to Transmembrane Domain Revealed by FRET

KirBac1.1 is a bacterial inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channel, which, contrary to its eukaryotic homologues, is strongly inhibited by phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). The most recent crystal structures of eukaryotic Kir2.2 in complex with PIP2 indicate that the TM-CD linker forms a short a-helix in the presence of PIP2. As a result, the cytoplasmic domain of Kir2.2 moves about 6 angstrom towards the membrane surface. However, the ‘KKR’ motif in the TM-CD linker of Kir2.2, which directly interacts with PIP2, is absent in KirBac1.1 and the question arises: how does KirBac1.1 cytoplasmic domain move in response to PIP2 inhibition? In the present work, we have made KirBac1.1 tandem tetramer constructs and purified KirBac1.1 tandem proteins successfully. Reconstituted liposome flux assays indicate that the KirBac1.1 tandem protein remains functional, and retains sensitivity to PIP2 inhibition. We introduced two cysteine into the KirBac1.1 tandem tetramer, one at the extracellular loop of subunit 1 (G85 or T120) and one in the cytoplasmic domain of subunit 2 (A273). We labeled these cysteines with a FRET dye pair (Alexa-Fluor 488 and DABCYL) and measured FRET efficiencies in protein samples reconstituted into liposomes, in the absence and presence of PIP2. Our results indicate that the KirBac1.1 cytoplasmic domain moves ∼2-3 angstrom away from the transmembrane domain in the presence of PIP2 - opposite the direction suggested from eukaryotic Kir2.2 crystal structures in the presence and absence of PIP2. Reversed PIP2-dependent motions of the cytoplasmic domain with respect to the transmembrane domain between prokaryotic and eukaryotic Kir channels may explain their differential response to PIP2 modulation.
MeCP2 functions largely cell-autonomously, but also non-cell-autonomously, in neuronal maturation and dendritic arborization of cortical pyramidal neurons

Rett syndrome is a human neurodevelopmental disorder presenting almost exclusively in female infants; it is the second most common cause of mental retardation in girls, after Down's syndrome. The identification in 1999 that mutation of the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene on the X chromosome causes Rett syndrome has led to a rapid increase in understanding of the neurobiological basis of the disorder. However, much about the functional role of MeCP2, and the cellular phenotype of both patients with Rett syndrome and mutant Mecp2 mouse models, remains unclear. Building on prior work in which we demonstrated that cortical layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons (primarily interhemispheric "callosal projection neurons" (CPN)) have reduced dendritic complexity and smaller somata in Mecp2-null mice, here we investigate whether Mecp2 loss-of-function affects neuronal maturation cell-autonomously and/or non-cell-autonomously by creating physical chimeras. We transplanted Mecp2-null or wild-type (wt) E17-18 cortical neuroblasts and immature neurons from mice constitutively expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) into wt P2-3 mouse cortices to generate chimeric cortices. Mecp2-null layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in both Mecp2-null and wt neonatal cortices exhibit equivalent reduction in dendritic complexity, and are smaller than transplanted wt neurons, independent of recipient environment. These results indicate that the phenotype of Mecp2-null pyramidal neurons results largely from cell-autonomous mechanisms, with additional non-cell-autonomous effects. Dysregulation of MeCP2 target genes in individual neuronal populations such as CPN is likely centrally involved in Rett syndrome pathogenesis. Our results indicating MeCP2 function in the centrally affected projection neuron population of CPN themselves provide a foundation and motivation for identification of transcriptionally regulated MeCP2 target genes in developing CPN.
Functional connectivity associated with acoustic stability during vowel production: implications for vocal-motor control.

Abstract Vowels provide the acoustic foundation of communication through speech and song, but little is known about how the brain orchestrates their production. Positron emission tomography was used to study regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during sustained production of the vowel /a/. Acoustic and blood flow data from 13, normal, right-handed, native speakers of American English were analyzed to identify CBF patterns that predicted the stability of the first and second formants of this vowel. Formants are bands of resonance frequencies that provide vowel identity and contribute to voice quality. The results indicated that formant stability was directly associated with blood flow increases and decreases in both left- and right-sided brain regions. Secondary brain regions (those associated with the regions predicting formant stability) were more likely to have an indirect negative relationship with first formant variability, but an indirect positive relationship with second formant variability. These re...
On the deduction of species relationships: a précis

The deductive inference of phylogeny, first dealt with in some detail by Wiley (1975), continues to be called into question (for an early negation see Hull, 1983; but for a change of mind see Hull, 1999, p. 481). For example, Cleland (2002, p. 483) concludes ‘‘there is little in the practice of historical science that resembles what is prescribed by falsificationism.’’ Olmstead (2001, p. 304) is even of the opinion that ‘‘Popper never addressed the question of how his philosophical framework related to the singular history of evolutionary diversification or to our ability to recover that pattern.’’ Rieppel (2002, p. 30, 2003) is somewhat more specific in stating that ‘‘Popper s philosophy is not applicable to cladistic analysis of phylogenetic relationships, because . . . there is no deductive link between a hypothesis of relationships and the character distribution on a tree . . .’’ In his search for Kuhnian values (Kuhn, 1962), Richards (2002) claims to have discovered that cladistic parsimony cannot function as an unequivocal rule, because different cladograms depend on ‘‘the social factors that influence character individuation.’’ Then there is de Queiroz and Poe (2001; see also Faith and Trueman, 2001), who maintain that Popper s degree of corroboration correctly interpreted is an inductive formalism, thereby tacitly denying an explication of falsificationism (Kluge, 2001). In the hope of achieving more critical discussions in the future, I describe phylogenetic systematics in hypothetico-deductive terms, sufficient I believe for it to be evaluated as a basis for obtaining objective knowledge of species history. Philosophical formalisms and related arguments are placed in footnotes, or ignored altogether, with the bulk of the text consisting of the most familiar terminology and simplest examples of phylogenetic systematics that I can manage while still making my arguments. Whether or not all scientific discoveries are united by the same underlying logic, there is a fundamental difference between the universal (predictive) and the historical (postdictive) sciences, the nomothetic and the idiographic, respectively. As Popper (1957, p. 143, italics in the original) underscored,
A Reconsideration of Cerebral Perfusion in Aortic Arch Replacement

Ten patients underwent aortic arch replacement for aneurysmal disease from 1970 to 1985 using a simplified cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) technique with partial brachiocephalic perfusion, low CPB flow (30 to 50 ml/kg/min), moderate systemic cooling (26 degrees to 28 degrees C), and topical hypothermic myocardial protection. The arterial line from a single pump head has a Y shape to perfuse the femoral artery (20F cannula) and either the innominate or left carotid artery (14F). Of the 10 patients (mean age, 58 years) with arch aneurysm (6 atherosclerotic, 2 dissections, and 2 degenerative), 3 had previously undergone major cardiovascular operations. Concomitant procedures included aortic valve replacement in 4 and coronary artery bypass grafting in 3. Eight patients survived the procedure, and 1 died three weeks after operation of a ruptured abdominal aneurysm. Among the survivors, CPB time was 119 +/- 36 minutes (+/- standard deviation), myocardial ischemia time was 79 +/- 32 minutes, and intraoperative blood requirement was 5.9 +/- 3.4 units. There were no postoperative strokes. Neurological complications were only minor and included an asymptomatic miosis and ulnar nerve paresthesias in 1 patient and transient vocal cord palsy in another. Applicable in most patients undergoing elective resection of degenerative and atherosclerotic arch aneurysms and in selected patients with arch dissections, this simplified technique of brachiocephalic perfusion without circulatory arrest provides an attractive and safe alternative; the potential advantages are technical simplicity, reduced CPB and operating times, and satisfactory cerebral protection.
Optically Controlled Fiber Optic Logic Arrays

A second generation of fiber optic based optoelectronic programmable logic arrays (OPLA's) is introduced. The relative merits of these devices is critically examined with respect to first generation OPLA technology. Specific applications are cited including a novel type of fiber optic based OPLA operating as an optically controlled crossbar switch. The concept of bit-slice reconfigurability with such a switch is discussed. System descriptions and system photographs are presented for two prototype bit-slice crossbar switches that have been constructed. A comparison of the capabilities of various categories of optical crossbar switches is presented.
The measurement of FAD-containing mono-oxygenase activity in microsomes containing cytochrome P-450.

1. Antibodies to NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase have been used to essentially abolish the contribution of cytochrome P-450 to xenobiotic metabolism by mammalian microsomes. This permits the determination of the activity of the FAD-containing monooxygenase and the stoichiometry between substrate, O2 and NADPH, in the microsomal membrane, and in the absence of cytochrome P-450-dependent activity.2. FAD-containing mono-oxygenase oxidation rates were determined for sulphur- and nitrogen-containing substrates, including: thiols; sulphides; thioamides; primary, secondary and tertiary amines; hydrazines.3. Although the enzyme in mouse, rabbit, rat and pig microsomes displays similar substrate specificity, some catalytic characteristics are different between species and tissues.
Mindfulness and Emotional Well-being in Women with Borderline Personality Disorder

For women with borderline personality disorder (BPD) mindfulness may provide a significant avenue for change and lead to an improved sense of well-being. In the current study, we examined the predictors of emotional well-being as well as the relationship between mindfulness and healthcare utilization. We employed a correlational design assessing 165 women diagnosed with BPD who were engaged in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and learning mindfulness skills. The participants ranged in age from 18 to 68 years and were solicited from five DBT treatment programs in five different states. Using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Medical Outcomes Study measure of emotional and physical well-being, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, we examined two hypotheses. The first hypothesis stated that emotional well-being would be predicted by mindfulness, social support, general physical health, and physical functioning with mindfulness as the strongest predictor of emotional well-being. As anticipated, mindfulness was the strongest predictor of emotional well-being followed by social support. The second hypothesis that mindfulness would be associated with healthcare utilization, specifically the number of prescription medications and the number of medically related office visits in the past 3 months was only partially supported. Women who reported greater incorporation of the mindfulness skills they learned in DBT reported less frequent healthcare usage; however mindfulness was unrelated to prescription medication use. The findings support the importance of the core skills of mindfulness taught as a primary component of DBT for women with BPD.
Natural and anthropogenic trace gases in the lower troposphere of the Arctic

Concentrations of CCl3F (F-11), CCl2F2 (F-12), CHClF2 (F-22), C2Cl3F3 (F-113), CH3CCl3, CCl4, C2HCl3 (TCE), CH3I, CHCl3, CO, CH3Cl, CH4, and N2O were measured in and above the boundary layer (0–4 km) of the arctic troposphere near Pt. Barrow (70°N) during May 1982. The vertical structure of the concentrations is reported graphically and is analyzed statistically to reveal consistent patterns. The results are compared with analogous observations made during spring in the southern hemisphere.
Cramér-von Mises type estimation of the regression parameter: The rank analogue

Abstract A point estimator based on minimization of the rank analogue of the Cramer-von Mises statistic is proposed for the slope parameter β in the simple linear regression model. The asymptotic distribution of the estimator is derived and its variance is compared to the asymptotic variances of several common estimators for β at various underlying distributions.
426 IS GH SECRETORY STATUS A DETERMINANT OF THE PITUITARY TSH RESPONSE TO TRH

A suppressive GH effect on the pituitary TSH responsiveness to TRH and instances of clinical hypothyroldism developing in children receiving GH therapy have been described. To further clarify the mechanism, 17 children with GH deficiency were studied. Eleven children suffered from isolated GH deficiency (IGHD). Six children, in addition, had TSH deficiency attributable to TRH deficiency. Baseline thyroid studies including T4, RT3U, FT4 and TSH were determined in all and a TRH test (7 ug/kg IV) was performed prior to initiation of GH therapy, 2 weeks post-therapy and subsequently at 3 month intervals. In children with IGHD baseline thyroid studies were normal, and TSH response to TRH was comparable to controls. GH therapy up to 12 months did not alter thyroid function nor the TSH responsiveness to TRH.(Table) Children with GH and TSH deficiencies had variable baseline thyroid levels and hyper-responsiveness to TRH. The data indicates that in IGHD pituitary TRH responsiveness is intact and that GH therapy does not influence this responsiveness. Routine T4 substitution in children on GH therapy therefore, is unwarranted.
reVITALize gynecology: reimagining apparent feminism's methodology in participatory health intervention projects

As state and federal legislation continues to regulate women's reproductive health, it follows that the field of technical communication must continue to develop methodologies to facilitate stakeholder participation in health policymaking practices. Scott's (2003) scholarship on HIV testing and his "ethic of responsiveness" serve as a foundation for methods to broaden stakeholder participation. Yet, as current legislation attempts to regulate health decisions of female bodies, more explicit feminist methods inviting feminist perspectives to resist such anti-feminist legislation must be developed. Frost's (2013, 2014a, 2014b) apparent feminism serves as a useful methodology that builds upon Scott's methods to enact feminist interventional methods. This article provides a case study of the reVITALize Gynecology infertility initiative, a health intervention project that appears to function as an ally of apparent feminism. Applying an apparent feminist analysis to the initiative reveals limitations of the project's feminist commitments. To address the limitations of the initiative, the article articulates the need to expand apparent feminism's methodology by accounting for stakeholder participation throughout health intervention projects. This article posits that expanding feminist approaches to designing public stakeholder input is vital to upholding technical communication's commitment to advocacy and an ethical feminist commitment to facilitating spaces for all citizens to contribute as public intellectuals.
Exposure to naphthalene induces naphthyl-keratin adducts in human epidermis in vitro and in vivo

We observed naphthyl-keratin adducts and dose-related metabolic enzyme induction at the mRNA level in reconstructed human epidermis in vitro after exposure to naphthalene. Immunofluorescence detection of 2-naphthyl-keratin-1 adducts confirmed the metabolism of naphthalene and adduction of keratin. We also observed naphthyl-keratin adducts in dermal tape-strip samples collected from naphthalene-exposed workers at levels ranging from 0.004 to 6.104 pmol adduct microg(-1) keratin. We have demonstrated the ability of the human skin to metabolize naphthalene and to form naphthyl-keratin adducts both in vitro and in vivo. The results indicate the potential use of keratin adducts as biomarkers of dermal exposure.
Do Parents Expect Pediatricians to Pay Attention to Behavioral Health

Background and Objective. This study is a qualitative analysis examining caregivers’ expectations for pediatricians with regard to behavioral health care. Methods. Fifty-five parents/caregivers of children seen in an urban primary care clinic participated in semistructured interviews. Participants were parents or guardians of children between the ages of 2 and 17 years, referred from the pediatric clinic to the mental health center. Interviews were analyzed using grounded theory methods. Results. Pertinent themes were the following: expected range of care, components of an effective primary care provider (PCP) relationship, action of the PCP, and parent reaction to PCP intervention. Forty-seven percent of caregivers saw the PCP role as strictly for physical health care; 53% expected the PCP to have a role in both physical and behavioral health. Responses were overwhelmingly positive from caregivers when the PCP asked about or conducted a behavioral health intervention. Conclusion. Caregivers did not consi...
Prospective analysis of pneumonectomy: Risk factors for major morbidity and cardiac dysrhythmias

Background. Data were acquired prospectively on 136 consecutive patients undergoing pneumonectomy for cancer from 1988 to 1993, to define factors that increase the risk of major morbidity and postoperative cardiac dysrhythmias. Methods. There were 81 patients (60%) with non-small cell lung cancer (standard pneumonectomy) and 55 patients (40%) with malignant pleural mesothelioma (extrapleural pneumonectomy). Results. Four perioperative deaths occurred (3%) with no identifiable associated risk factors. Twenty-three patients (17%) had a major complication with an increase in the median length of stay from 7 to 11 days ( p p p p Conclusions. Pneumonectomy can be performed safely in selected patients with cancer. Supraventricular dysrhythmia was the most common complication noted with a peak incidence at 3 to 4 days after resection.
A numerical study of a subtropical cloud free marine stable layer

The processes acting to stabilize or destabilize a parcel of air can be partitioned and their individual contribution to the time rate of change of stability can be examined as a forcing to a stability equation. This study examines the trade wind inversion and is different from previous studies on the subject in that time dependent solutions of three dimensional non-linear equations are explored here. A quasi-geostrophic model is developed to simulate a typical large-scale environment in which a stable layer develops. Large-scale divergence forcing is found to be comparable to horizontal advection of stabilities in regions to the east of a subtropical low-level anticyclone. The level of maximum divergence forcing is found to be elevated in regions of upward heat flux from the ocean. Longwave radiative cooling from water vapor will increase the stability if the amount of water vapor decreases rapidly through the stable layer, however, the radiation will decrease the stability if the water vapor is well mixed through the stable layer. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1975.tb01675.x
Simplified Two-Fluid Models for Dilute Turbulent Multiphase Flows Using Equilibrium Closure

In two-fluid models of multiphase flow the dispersed phase is treated as a continuum and here we explore the consequences of the dispersed phase being in equilibrium with the surrounding flow. Under equilibrium the particle velocity field can be expressed as an explicit expansion in the surrounding fluid velocity. To the leading order the particle velocity is the same as the local fluid velocity and the first order correction will be shown to capture important physics such as preferential accumulation of particles and turbuphoretic particle migration. To verify the equilibrium expansion, we have performed direct numerical simulations of particles and bubbles in the canonical problems of isotropic turbulence and a turbulent channel flow, where “true” particles moved according to their Lagrangian equations of motion are compared with “test” particles moved according to the equilibrium particle velocity. For small particles the equilibrium expansion is shown to converge rapidly. The equilibrium concept will be extended to the rotational motion and thermal field of the particle. The equilibrium approximation for the particle provides a clean mechanism for two-way coupling and a rigorous set of equations for the description of multi-phase flow turbulence, in the limit of a dilute dispersion of small particles.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Immigration Past & Present

Immigration has remade and changed American society since the nation's founding, and an understanding of the past can help illuminate the immigrant experience in the present. This essay focuses on three central questions: What is new about the most recent immigrant wave? What represents continuity or parallels with the past? And how have migrant inflows in earlier historical periods changed the social, economic, political, and cultural contexts that now greet – and shape the experiences of – the latest arrivals? In examining these questions, the focus is on the last great wave of immigration at the turn of the twentieth century, in which the newcomers were mainly from Eastern, Southern, and Central Europe, and the contemporary inflow, from the late 1960s to the present, which is made up overwhelmingly of people from Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean.
Mediterranean disease-thalassemia(Erythroblastic anemia of cooley)

Summary This disease is due to some racial, inherited defect which is responsiblefor the abnormalities of the hemopoictic tissues (of the order of pernicious anemia), the bone changes (of the order of acromegaly), and the pigment abnormalities (practically identical with hemochromatosis). This suggests a deficiency state which may be remediable when completely understood and gives adequate grounds for a variety of therapeutic tests. We record in detail the complete autopsy findings in three new cases of this disease and partial autopsy findings in two others. We believe the pigment deposits in these cases (simulating hemochromatosis) are as characteristic of this disease as are the recorded abnormalities of the hemopoietic system and bony skeleton. The anemia may be classified as microcytic and hypochromic. Macrocytosis and thinning of the cells occurred in two cases after splenectomy. In two cases (Cases 3 and 8) the total blood volume and the plasma volume were found to be normal, while the red cell volume was decreased. Wet preparations revealed marked fragmentation but no tendency to sickle. The following therapeutic measures, which we believe have been adequately tested, failed to modify the clinical picture: blood transfusions, plasma and cell extracts, primary or secondary anemia liver extracts, fetal liver extract, spleen extract, raw pancreas, adrenal cortex extract (cortin), estrogenic substance (progynon), vitamin B1 concentrate, iron, and copper.
The association between early ventricular arrhythmias, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system antagonism, and mortality in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction: Insights from Global Use of Strategies to Open coronary arteries (GUSTO) V.

Background The long-term prognostic significance of early ( Methods We assessed the relationship between early VF/VT (defined as within 48 hours after admission) and mortality in 16,588 patients from global use of strategies to open coronary arteries (GUSTO) V trial. Furthermore, we examined the relationship between baseline use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), early VF/VT, and mortality. Results Early VF or VT occurred in 732 (4.4%) patients. Compared to patients without VF/VT, those experiencing early VF or VT had a significant increase in 30-day mortality (22% vs 5%, P P = .008). A lower 30-day mortality was seen in patients with early VF/VT on baseline ACEI/ARB compared with patients with early VF/VT not receiving an ACEI/ARB at baseline (17.7% vs 24.2%, respectively, P = .04). The association between baseline RAAS antagonism and mortality persisted after adjustment for multiple confounders. Conclusions In patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction, early VF/VT identifies those at increased risk for 30-day mortality. Baseline use of RAAS antagonists is associated with a reduced incidence of malignant arrhythmias. Identifying how this association impacts short-term mortality in this patient population requires further prospective evaluation.
Alignment of a 2D sensor and a 3D radar

Integration of sensors into a multi-sensor system requires accurate alignment of all of the sensors in the system. This is an important issue because all of the sensors must be aligned to effectively share data. The presence of alignment errors will degrade the overall system performance. The alignment problem for two sensors, where one of the sensors is a 3-D radar (i.e., it measures the range, azimuth, and elevation) and the other one is a 2-D sensor that measures azimuth and elevation (e.g., an optical sensor), is examined in this paper. It will be assumed that the sensors are relatively close to each other (e.g., the sensors are located on the same platform). The 3-D radar will serve as the master sensor; that is, all of the multi-sensor data will be expressed in the 3-D radar's reference frame and the 2-D sensor will be aligned relative to the 3-D radar. A mathematical model will be developed for this alignment problem, and Kalman filtering techniques will be used to develop the alignment algorithm.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Temporal and spatial variability in phytoplankton ammonium and nitrate uptake in the Delaware Estuary

Abstract Phytoplankton NH 4 + and NO 3 − uptake was examined along the longitudinal salinity gradient of the Delaware Estuary over several seasonal cycles using 15 N-tracer techniques. Saturated nitrogen uptake rates increased directly with water temperature and reached a maximum of 380 nmol Nl −1 h −1 during summer. This temperature dependence was related primarily to changes in the rate of maximum chlorophyll specific uptake, which varied exponentially between 2 and 70 nmol N [μg Chl h] −1 over a temperature range of 2–28°C. Despite these high uptake rates, balanced growth (C:N⋍7:1) could be maintained over the diel light cycle only by highly efficient nitrogen uptake at low light intensities and dark uptake below the photic zone and at night (dark uptake=25% maximum uptake). Ammonium fulfilled 82% of the annual phytoplankton nitrogen demand in the estuary despite dominance of NO 3 − in the ambient dissolved inorganic nitrogen pool. The predominance of NH 4 + uptake occurred because of the general suppression of NO 3 − assimilation at NH 4 + concentrations in excess of 2 μ m . This suppression, however, was not as universal as has been reported for other systems, and it is suggested that the extremely high NO 3 − concentrations found in the estuary contribute to this pattern. Nitrate was a significant source of nitrogen only during periods of high phytoplankton production in summer, and when NH 4 + concentrations were low towards the end of the spring bloom.
Neutron Diffraction Studies of CO2 Clathrate Hydrate: Formation from Deuterated Ice

The formation of CO2 clathrate hydrate was investigated by using time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction at temperatures ranging from 230 to 290 K with a CO2 gas pressure of 900 psi. CO2 clathrate hydrate was prepared in situ from deuterated ice crystals at 230, 243, 253, and 263 K by pressurizing the system with CO2 gas to produce the hydrate in approximately 70% yield. Nearly complete conversion from the hexagonal ice to the sI type CO2 hydrate was observed as the temperature of the sample was slowly increased through the melting point of D2O ice. The conversion of ice into hydrate is believed to be a two-stage process in which an initial fast conversion rate is followed by a slower, diffusion-limited rate. On the basis of a shrinking core diffusion model, an activation energy of 6.5 kcal/mol was obtained from the temperature dependence of the reaction. Our findings suggest that the formation of the hydrate is through a reaction between CO2 and water molecules in the quasi-liquid layer (QLL). The CO2 ...
Identifying redundant search engines in a very large scale metasearch engine context

For a given set of search engines, a search engine is redundant if its searchable contents can be found from other search engines in this set. In this paper, we propose a method to identify redundant search engines in a very large-scale metasearch engine context. The general problem is equivalent to an NP hard problem -- the set-covering problem. Due to the large number of search engines that need to be considered and the large sizes of these search engines, approximate solutions must be developed. In this paper, we propose a general methodology to tackle this problem and within the context of this methodology, we propose several new heuristic algorithms for solving the set-covering problem.
Efficacy of leptin therapy in the different forms of human lipodystrophy

Lipodystrophy is a rare disorder characterised by loss of adipose tissue, hypoleptinaemia, severe insulin resistance, diabetes and dyslipidaemia. The aims of this study were to determine whether leptin replacement in lipodystrophy patients ameliorates their metabolic abnormalities over an extended period of time and whether leptin therapy is effective in the different forms of lipodystrophy. We conducted an open-label prospective study of patients with acquired forms of lipodystrophy and inherited forms of lipodystrophy secondary to mutations in the AGPAT2, SEIPIN (also known as BSCL2), LMNA and PPARγ (also known as PPARG) genes. Between July 2000 and November 2008, 48 patients with lipodystrophy were treated with s.c. recombinant methionyl human leptin. Serum triacylglycerol and HbA1c levels declined dramatically with leptin therapy. Among 35 patients with data at baseline and 12 months, serum triacylglycerol fell by 59% (from 10.18 ± 2.67 mmol/l to 4.16 ± 0.99 mmol/l [means ± SE]; p = 0.008) and HbA1c decreased by 1.5 percentage points (from 8.4 ± 0.3% to 6.9 ± 0.3%; p < 0.001). A significant reduction was seen in total cholesterol and a trend towards reduction was observed in LDL-cholesterol at 12 months. HDL-cholesterol was unchanged. Among generalised lipodystrophy patients, proteinuria diminished with leptin replacement. Patients with both acquired and inherited forms of lipodystrophy experienced decreases in serum triacylglycerol and HbA1c levels. Leptin replacement in lipodystrophy patients leads to significant and sustained improvements in glycaemic control and dyslipidaemia. Leptin is effective in the various forms of lipodystrophy, whether they are acquired or inherited, generalised or partial. ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT00025883 This work was supported by intramural research funding from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Failure analysis of a graphite/epoxy laminate subjected to combined thermal and mechanical loading

Quasi-static thermal stress response and failure behavior of graphite/epoxy lam inated plates under combined intense thermal and mechanical loadings are investigated. The temperature field is obtai...
The effect of feedback and feedforward on formation ISS

A new type of stability of leader follower formations is defined, based on input-to-state stability (ISS) properties of cascade interconnections. Formation ISS links leader input to internal state of the formation and characterizes the way this input affects performance. The effect of feedforward and feedback inter-agent communication is then investigated in this framework and it is indicated how the structure of interconnections and the amount of available information can affect stability performance.
Triggerless neuralgic otalgia: A case series and systematic literature review:

BackgroundIsolated neuralgic pain in the deep ear may arise from either nervus intermedius (NIN) or glossopharyngeal (GPN) neuralgias. Current International Headache Society (IHS) International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition (ICHD-2) criteria for these cranial neuralgias require the presence of a characteristic trigger.AimThe aim of this article is to report cases of triggerless neuralgic otalgia to better understand a subset of patients for whom there may be diagnostic uncertainty.MethodsMethods included an observational cohort series and systematic literature review.ResultsWe identified five female patients with a median age at symptom onset of 58 (range: 47 to 73). Our patients generally experienced an excellent clinical response to carbamazepine. Patients were contacted by telephone at a median follow-up duration of seven years (range: four to 32) from symptom onset, at which time carbamazepine-free remissions were reported by five of five (100%) of the patients. A systematic rev...
The lactoperoxidase system links anion transport to host defense in cystic fibrosis

Chronic respiratory infections in cystic fibrosis result from CFTR channel mutations but how these impair antibacterial defense is less clear. Airway host defense depends on lactoperoxidase (LPO) that requires thiocyanate (SCN−) to function and epithelia use CFTR to concentrate SCN− at the apical surface. To test whether CFTR mutations result in impaired LPO-mediated host defense, CF epithelial SCN− transport was measured. CF epithelia had significantly lower transport rates and did not accumulate SCN− in the apical compartment. The lower CF [SCN−] did not support LPO antibacterial activity. Modeling of airway LPO activity suggested that reduced transport impairs LPO-mediated defense and cannot be compensated by LPO or H2O2 upregulation.
Intestinal vitamin D receptor is required for normal calcium and bone metabolism in mice.

Background & Aims Vitamin D receptor (VDR)-knockout mice develop severe hypocalcemia and rickets, accompanied by disruption of active intestinal calcium absorption. To specifically study the effects of VDR in intestinal calcium absorption, we investigated whether restoration of intestinal VDR is sufficient to recover the phenotype of VDR-knockout mice. Methods We generated mice with intestine-specific transgenic expression of human VDR and crossed them to VDR knockout mice. The intestine, kidney, and bone phenotypes of the VDR- knockout mice with intestine-specific expression of human VDR (knockout/transgenic [KO/TG]) were analyzed. Results Transgenic expression of VDR in the intestine of VDR-knockout mice normalized duodenal vitamin D–regulated calcium absorption as well as vitamin D–regulated calcium binding protein D 9k and TRPV6 gene expression in the duodenum and proximal colon. As a result, animal growth and the serum levels of calcium and parathyroid hormone were normalized in KO/TG mice. Other phenotypes were revealed when calcium metabolism was normalized in KO/TG mice: serum 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D levels were higher in KO/TG mice than normal mice owing to reduced renal expression of the vitamin D–degrading enzyme CYP24, urinary calcium excretion was higher and associated with lower renal calcium binding protein D 9k and calcium binding protein D 28k than normal mice, and bone density and volume increased in KO/TG compared with normal mice owing to increased mineral apposition rate and osteoblast number. Conclusions Intestinal VDR and vitamin D–regulated intestinal calcium absorption are critical for controlling whole-body calcium metabolism in growing mice. Normalizing intestinal calcium absorption and metabolism reveals essential roles for VDR in control of bone formation and renal control of serum 1,25(OH) 2 D and urinary calcium excretion.
High speed data acquisition system for large area proportational counters

A modular, UNIX/X-Windows/Sun SPARC-based data acquisition and analysis system provides NASA X-Ray Timing Explorer (XTE) Proportional Counter Array (PCA) scientists with near real-time access to space flight instrument ground test data. This system processes data directly from five large-area, xenon-filled low-background collimated proportional counters at rates up to 2 MB/s in a networked, real-time environment. Science events are sent serially from the proportional counter flight electronics and multiplexed on a custom-designed data acquisition board. Each event is tagged with a time stamp of 1 /spl mu/s resolution and a detector identifier. A commercial Direct Memory Access (DMA) board interfaces directly to the data acquisition board allowing asynchronous transfer of buffered data to software residing on a high performance workstation. A windows-based interface provides an operator with acquisition command and control functions to capture data through the DMA board. Data is collected, buffered, and archived to magnetic disk. Histogramming and statistical functions are provided by the software enabling real-time pulse height spectroscopy, rate analysis, and spectral analysis. >
Omnidirectional supervisory control of a multilegged vehicle using periodic gaits

A novel algorithm is described for omnidirectional control of a multilegged robot vehicle using periodic gaits. The vehicle model is chosen from a hexapod robot vehicle, named the Adaptive Suspension Vehicle, which is under development. To implement periodic gaits for omnidirectional control, the notion of the constrained working volume (CWV) is introduced on the basis of reachability of the leg and the kinetic maximum locomotion period is defined using the CWV. As a result, the leg touchdown and liftoff points are constrained within the CWV during vehicle locomotion. Based on this constraint, the foothold selection problem is addressed. The algorithm was developed through a computer graphics simulation; results of the simulations are discussed. >
Reducing family members’ anxiety while waiting on the day of surgery: systematic review of studies and implications of HIPAA health information privacy rules

Abstract Study Objective: To investigate changes that most surgical suites will need to make in the process of giving reports to family members on the day of surgery by the compliance date (April 14, 2003) of the privacy regulations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996. Design: Systematic review of the medical literature on ways in which providing information to family members changes their anxiety. Measurements: The endpoints of the controlled studies included Spielberger State Anxiety. The observational studies reported percentages of family members with a specific concern. Main Results: An in-person progress report can reduce family members' anxiety, but this is not always. A personal approach is superior to providing pagers or a phone call. Observational studies suggest that family members want information specific to their relative, particularly if the case is running later than expected. Statistical methods exist to provide such an estimate of the time remaining in surgical cases. Conclusions: Surgical facilities should strive to provide in-person progress reports to family members while their relatives are undergoing surgery. To satisfy HIPAA regulations, the staff and physicians who talk to family members in the waiting room will need to determine first if the patient has agreed to the release of information. As hospital information systems are updated to assure that this process is HIPAA-compliant, facilities can also incorporate the relevant statistical methods.
Review of the use of medium-energy collimators in I-123 imaging.

2733 Objectives It has been demonstrated in the literature that the use of medium-energy collimators (ME) in I-123 imaging produces images with improved quality compared to low-energy, high resolution (LEHR) imaging. In addition to the primary emission of a 159 keV photon, I-123 emits a small fraction of higher energy gamma rays with an average energy of 507 keV. LEHR collimators are ineffective at stopping these high energy photons, a fraction of which will undergo Compton scattering in the camera crystal and will be detected in the 159 keV window. These events contribute to image noise and loss of resolution. Utilizing phantom imaging, the objective of this study was to review the use of ME collimators when imaging I-123. Methods To simulate the hot spot imaging performed with many I-123 radiotracers (i.e. MIBG) a Jaszczak phantom was fitted with fillable spheres of various diameters (hot spheres). Planar and SPECT data sets were acquired on a Siemens Symbia camera using both ME and LEHR collimators and the resulting images were compared. Planar images were acquired for 300,000, 500,000 and 1,000,000 counts with the phantom placed directly on each collimator. SPECT images were acquired with the time per projection required to collect 24,000 counts in the first projection. Results Planar and SPECT images acquired with ME collimators were determined to be of substantially better quality in comparison to LEHR collimated images. All images acquired with ME collimators had improved resolution of the hot spheres, greater contrast between the hotspots and background, and less counts appearing outside the phantom. Conclusions The use of ME collimators improves the quality of I-123 images by reducing high energy scatter, thereby increasing image resolution and contrast. Given the results of these phantom studies, further investigation into the use of ME collimators in clinical I-123 imaging is recommended
Regulation of fibronectin and laminin receptor expression, fibronectin and laminin secretion in human colon cancer cells by transforming growth factor-β1

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 modulates the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoproteins, fibronectin and laminin and the adhesion of Moser colon cancer cells to these glycoproteins. Since adhesion can be altered through expression of cell-surface receptors, binding affinities of adhesion molecules for receptors, or both, we investigated the effect of TGF-beta 1 on the binding properties of fibronectin and laminin to their cell-surface receptors by saturation binding and Scatchard analyses using radiolabeled fibronectin and laminin. Fibronectin bound to its cell-surface receptor with high affinity (Kd = 1.25 x 10(-9) M), Moser cells had approximately 7.1 x 10(4) fibronectin-binding sites per cell. TGF-beta 1 treatment rapidly up-modulated the number of cell-surface fibronectin-binding sites by 1.9-fold. The binding affinity of fibronectin for the receptor, however, was not altered. Laminin was found to bind to a higher-affinity and a lower-affinity receptor. Moser cells expressed approximately 1.1 x 10(3) higher-affinity laminin-binding sites and approximately 3.1 x 10(4) lower-affinity-binding sites per cell. TGF-beta 1 rapidly increased the expression of the higher-affinity sites 3-fold and the lower-affinity sites 5-fold. The binding affinity of both the higher-affinity and lower-affinity laminin receptors increased 3-fold after 2 and 6 hr of TGF-beta 1 treatment respectively. Concurrent with receptor modulation, TGF-beta 1 induced the secretion of fibronectin and laminin from Moser cells. Northern hybridization analyses showed a concurrent stimulation of the expression of the mRNAs for ligands (fibronectin and laminin) and the mRNAs for the integrin species of the fibronectin and laminin receptors (alpha 5 and alpha 6 subunits). Thus the production of fibronectin and laminin and the expression of their receptors were tightly co-regulated by TGF-beta 1.
Loss of extracellular superoxide dismutase leads to acute lung damage in the presence of ambient air: a potential mechanism underlying adult respiratory distress syndrome.

The extracellular superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3) is highly expressed in both blood vessels and lungs. In different models of pulmonary injury, SOD3 is reduced; however, it is unclear whether this contributes to lung injury. To study the role of acute SOD3 reduction in lung injury, the SOD3 gene was deleted in adult mice by using the Cre-Lox technology. Acute reduction of SOD3 led to a fivefold increase in lung superoxide, marked inflammatory cell infiltration, a threefold increase in the arterial-alveolar gradient, respiratory acidosis, histological changes similar to those observed in adult respiratory distress syndrome, and 85% mortality. Treatment with the SOD mimetic MnTBAP and intranasal administration of SOD-containing polyketal microparticles reduced mortality, prevented the histological alterations, and reduced lung superoxide levels. To understand how mice with the SOD3 embryonic deletion survived without lung injury, gene array analysis was performed. These data demonstrated the up-regulation of 37 genes and down-regulation of nine genes, including those involved in cell signaling, inflammation, and gene transcription in SOD3 −/− mice compared with either mice with acute SOD3 reduction or wild-type controls. These studies show that SOD3 is essential for survival in the presence of ambient oxygen and that acute loss of this enzyme can lead to severe lung damage. Strategies either to prevent SOD3 inactivation or to augment its levels might prove useful in the treatment of acute lung injury.
Spectrally resolved flow imaging of fluids inside a microfluidic chip with ultrahigh time resolution.

Abstract Microfluidics has advanced to become a complete lab-on-a-chip platform with applications across many disciplines of scientific research. While optical techniques are primarily used as modes of detection, magnetic resonance (MR) is emerging as a potentially powerful and complementary tool because of its non-invasive operation and analytical fidelity. Two prevailing limitations currently inhibit MR techniques on microfluidic devices: poor sensitivity and the relatively slow time scale of dynamics that can be probed. It is commonly assumed that the time scale of observation of one variable limits the certainty with which one can measure the complementary variable. For example, short observation times imply poor spectral resolution. In this article, we demonstrate a new methodology that overcomes this fundamental limit, allowing in principle for arbitrarily high temporal resolution with a sensitivity across the entire microfluidic device several orders of magnitude greater than is possible by direct MR measurement. The enhancement is evidenced by recording chemically resolved fluid mixing through a complex 3D microfluidic device at 500 frames per second, the highest recorded in a magnetic resonance imaging experiment. The key to this development is combining remote detection with a time ‘slicing’ of its spatially encoded counterpart. Remote detection circumvents the problem of insensitive direct MR detection on a microfluidic device where the direct sensitivity is less than 10 - 5 relative to traditional NMR, while the time slicing eliminates the constraints of the limited observation time by converting the time variable into a spatial variable through the use of magnetic field gradients. This method has implications for observing fast processes, such as fluid mixing, rapid binding, and certain classes of chemical reactions with sub millisecond time resolution and as a new modality for on-chip chromatography.