cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extended active tunable optical lattice filters enabled by four-dimensional couplers: systems modeling

A system theoretic model of a unit cell of a two-dimensional tunable lattice filter architecture consisting of four 4-port couplers and four waveguides containing semiconductor optical amplifiers is provided. It is shown that such multiple input-multiple output devices can be modeled in state space and by transfer function matrices. This modeling can also be extended to devices constructed by concatenations of the basic building block, the unit cell.
Psychological Research With Administrative Data Sets: An Underutilized Strategy for Mental Health Services Research.

A key element in the identity of professional psychologists is their commitment to base practice on the best knowledge available about a problem being tackled. Although administrative data (e.g., records of provider billing and procedures) can often shed light on the dark areas of the complex U.S. health care system, psychologists make notably little use of them. Experience teaches that decisions must often be made despite the absence of “gold standard” knowledge from the well-designed, controlled studies learned in graduate school. Increased involvement of psychologists in work using administrative data can improve service provision but requires that psychologists adopt unaccustomed approaches to research. The authors discuss administrative data's strengths and limitations, recent progress made in using them, how psychologists can acquire and use low-cost information from administrative data, and examples of questions that can be answered.
Contrast measurements of kilojoule laser pulses at the OMEGA EP laser facility

The OMEGA EP intensity contrast has been measured to be approximately 6 decades for kilojoule 10-ps pulses. The OPCPA front end is the primary source of the measured incoherent pedestal.
A microgonotropen branched decaaza decabutylamine and its DNA and DNA/transcription factor interactions.

The central pyrrole of a site-selective DNA minor groove binding tripyrrole peptide 1 has been attached to a branched decaaza decabutylamine via a -(CH2)3-NHCO-(CH2)3- linker to provide the decaaza-microgonotropen (8). The decaaza decabutylamine moiety of 8 was designed to have a much greater affinity to the phosphodiester linkages of the backbone of DNA. Employing Hoechst 33258 (Ht) as a fluorescent titrant, the equilibrium constants for the binding of 8 to the hexadecameric duplex d(GGCGCA3T3GGCGG)/d(CCGCCA3T3GCGCC) and to calf thymus DNA were determined. The log of the product of equilibrium constants (log K1.1K1.2) for 1:1 and 1:2 complexes formation at A3T3 is 17 (35°C). Results of studies of the inhibition of the binding of several proteins to target DNA are discussed. Binding of the E2F1 transcription factor to its DNA target is 50% inhibited at ∼2 nM concentration of 8.
T Regulatory Cells in Autoimmune Diabetes: Past Challenges, Future Prospects

Introduction Accumulating evidence suggests that defective regulation is an essential underlying cause of autoimmunity. The development of type 1 diabetes in the NOD mouse strain it is a complex process that depends on a fine balance between pathogenic and regulatory pathways.
Effects of strontium administration on rat molar morphology

Abstract Strontium at concentrations of 0, 50 and 150mg/l was given to rats during pregnancy and to the pups during a pre- and post-weaning period. Measurements were made on first and second mandibular molars to assess the morphology of tooth and fissure dimensions, and enamel and dentine thickness. A significant increase in horizontal and vertical dentine thickness was associated with a level of 50 mg Sr/1, a concentration previously found to be associated with decreased caries prevalance in rats.
FUNGAL PERITONITIS IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: TIME TREND OVER 15 YEARS (1981-95) AND CLINICAL FEATURES OF 26 CASES. † 1317

FUNGAL PERITONITIS IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: TIME TREND OVER 15 YEARS (1981-95) AND CLINICAL FEATURES OF 26 CASES. † 1317
Impact of Late Holocene climate variability and anthropogenic activities on Biscayne Bay (Florida, U.S.A.): Evidence from diatoms

Abstract Shallow marine ecosystems are experiencing significant environmental alterations as a result of changing climate and increasing human activities along coasts. Intensive urbanization of the southeast Florida coast and intensification of climate change over the last few centuries changed the character of coastal ecosystems in the semi-enclosed Biscayne Bay, Florida. In order to develop management policies for the Bay, it is vital to obtain reliable scientific evidence of past ecological conditions. The long-term records of subfossil diatoms obtained from No Name Bank and Featherbed Bank in the Central Biscayne Bay, and from the Card Sound Bank in the neighboring Card Sound, were used to study the magnitude of the environmental change caused by climate variability and water management over the last ~ 600 yr. Analyses of these records revealed that the major shifts in the diatom assemblage structures at No Name Bank occurred in 1956, at Featherbed Bank in 1966, and at Card Sound Bank in 1957. Smaller magnitude shifts were also recorded at Featherbed Bank in 1893, 1942, 1974 and 1983. Most of these changes coincided with severe drought periods that developed during the cold phases of El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), or when AMO was in warm phase and PDO was in the cold phase. Only the 1983 change coincided with an unusually wet period that developed during the warm phases of ENSO and PDO. Quantitative reconstructions of salinity using the weighted averaging partial least squares (WA-PLS) diatom-based salinity model revealed a gradual increase in salinity at the three coring locations over the last ~ 600 yr, which was primarily caused by continuously rising sea level and in the last several decades also by the reduction of the amount of freshwater inflow from the mainland. Concentration of sediment total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and total organic carbon (TOC) increased in the second half of the 20th century, which coincided with the construction of canals, landfills, marinas and water treatment plants along the western margin of Biscayne Bay. Increased magnitude and rate of the diatom assemblage restructuring in the mid- and late-1900s, suggest that large environmental changes are occurring more rapidly now than in the past.
The precipitation of carbonyl compounds with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine formation of isomeric dinitrophenylhydrazones

Abstract Disadvantages prevalent in the methods of precipitation of carbonyl compounds with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine are eliminated if perchlorate is. used as the reagent. The latter is freely soluble in water and stable in concentrated as well as dilute solutions. Observations are imparted on conditions for the appearance of DNH's different in color and crystal form.
Characterization of primary and tertiary aerosols produced for high-temperature plasma spectrometry

Laser light scattering interferometry and laser Fraunhofer diffraction are used for the diagnostic studies of aerosols produced by a simple, high-efficiency pneumatic nebulizer. The new device, utilized in plasma spectrochemical analysis, operates more efficiently at low solution uptake rate (down to 10 (mu) L/min) compared to the conventional nebulizers consuming 1.2 mL/min. The efficacy of the cited techniques for assessing droplet-size information is contrasted for test aerosols prior introduction into high-temperature plasmas. Both the primary and tertiary aerosols are probed at uptake rate ranging from 10 to 1200 (mu) L/min. The relevance of these measurements and data in elemental analysis is discussed.
Accumulation of radioiodine (I131) in thyroid gland of the hamster embryo.

Summary(1) Fifty to 100 microcuries of radioactive iodine in the form of Nal were injected into the peritoneal cavity of the gestating hamster on the 8th to the 15th day after copulation. (2) Observations made on embryos of from 8 to 15 days of development by means of autoradiographic study and tests with the Geiger-Muller counter show that radioactive iodine begins to accumulate in the thyroid on the 13th day of development. (3) The accumulation of radioactive iodine is coincident with the appearance of discrete follicles, which first appear between the 12 th and 13th day of development. (4) The quantity of iodine-containing colloid increases with the number of follicles present and the age of the embryo.
Put on a happy face: Batman as schizophrenic savior

This essay uses the psychological framework of Carl G. Jung as an interpretive lens to view Batman, the 1989 movie. Gotham City is suggested to represent a contemporary, collective dream; the psyche is scene. To be an effective crime fighter in this city, Bruce Wayne must actively cultivate schizophrenia. The integration of the psychic elements represented by the Joker is necessary for the psychological health of both Gotham and Wayne/Batman, but paradoxically the Joker must be destroyed to preserve both the city and savior. Gotham City represents a contemporary psyche unwilling to do the hard work of psychological maturation. Therefore, it can maintain order only through the efforts of a madman.
The E5 oncoprotein of bovine papillomavirus is oriented asymmetrically in Golgi and plasma membranes

The E5 oncoprotein of BPV-1 is a 44 amino acid, hydrophobic polypeptide which is present in membrane fractions of transformed cell homogenates. To define the specific cellular membrane compartments with which E5 associates, immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy were performed using an affinity-purified antibody specific for the E5 carboxyl-terminus. Two cell systems which overexpressed the E5 protein were analyzed: (1) Balb/c 3T3 mouse cells transformed by a BPV-1 cDNA expressing the E2-E5 ORFs, and (2) Sf9 insect cells infected with recombinant baculovirus expressing the E5 ORF. In both cell types, E5 protein was found in the membranes of the Golgi apparatus with its carboxyl-terminus oriented intraluminally. In the Sf9 cells, which synthesize much greater quantities of viral protein, E5 protein was observed additionally in plasma membranes with the carboxyl-terminus facing extracellularly. The concentration of E5 protein within the Golgi and plasma membranes suggests several potential mechanisms for inducing cellular transformation.
Accelerator-control-system interface for intelligent power supplies

A number of high-current high-precision magnet power supplies have been installed at the proton storage ring at the Los Alamos National Laboratory Accelerator Complex. The units power large dipole magnets in the ring. These bending magnets require a high-current supply that is precise and stable. The control and interface design for these power supplies represents a departure from all others on-site. The supplies have sophisticated microprocessor control on-board and communicate with the accelerator control system via RS-422 (serial communications). The units, built by Alpha Scientific Electronics, Hayward, CA use a high-level ASCII control protocol. The low-level front-end software used by the accelerator control system has been written to accommodate these new devices. They communicate with the control system through a terminal server port connected to the site-wide ethernet backbone. Details of the software implementation for the analog and digital control of the supplies through the accelerator control system are presented. >
Microtubule contribution to the reflectance of the retinal nerve fiber layer.

PURPOSE. The reflectance of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) arises from light scattering by cylindrical structures oriented parallel to ganglion cell axons. In amphibian retinas, at 440 nm, microtubules (MTs) contribute about one half of RNFL reflectance. In rodent retinas, MTs are the only structure contributing to RNFL birefringence. To increase understanding of the anatomic basis for clinical RNFL measurements, this study was conducted to evaluate the MT contribution to RNFL reflectance in rodent retinas by using the MT depolymerizing agent colchicine. METHODS. Reflectance of nerve fiber bundles in isolated rat retinas was measured at 460, 580, and 830 nm with a multispectral imaging reflectometer. Images were taken frequently over an extended period. During baseline, the tissue was perfused with a physiological solution. During a treatment period, the solution was switched either to a control solution or to a solution containing colchicine. RESULTS. Because of the high reflectance of the RNFL, nerve fiber bundles appeared as bright stripes against a darker retina. The reflectance of bundles was relatively stable in control experiments. With colchicine treatment, however, bundle reflectance at first decreased rapidly and then became stable. After 70 minutes of colchicine treatment, RNFL reflectance had declined to approximately 50% below baseline at all wavelengths. CONCLUSIONS. MTs contribute to RNFL reflectance at all wavelengths. Unlike RNFL birefringence, however, which totally disappears after colchicine treatment, about one half of RNFL reflectance remained after colchicine treatment. This result suggests that, in addition to MTs, other mechanisms may contribute to RNFL reflectance.
Stress and transtheoretical model indicators of stress management behaviors in HIV-positive women.

Objective: Women are particularly prone to stress with respect to living with HIV. Stress management behaviors can mediate the stress response and improve health outcomes in HIV-positive individuals. The purpose of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to examine stress and Transtheoretical Model (TTM) indicators of stress management behaviors in HIV-positive women. Methods: 126 HIV-positive women recruited from diverse HIV-care clinics in northeast Ohio completed standardized self-report research instruments to measure stress, stress management behaviors, stage of change, self-efficacy, and decisional balance (pros and cons). Results: Women reported higher levels of stress in the later phase of HIV infection (P<.05). Highly stressed women in this study reported infrequently using stress management behaviors and a low level of perceived efficacy to manage stress although they perceived the pros of managing stress to be high (P<.01). Stress management behaviors were significantly related to stage of change (P<.01), self-efficacy (P<.01), and the cons of managing stress (P<.05). Graphed patterns of decisional balance examined by stage of change and stress management behavior were atypical in this sample. Conclusions: Clinicians and researchers can use the TTM to describe behavioral indicators of stress management in HIV+ women. However, further research is needed to more fully understand behavioral processes HIV+ women can use to adopt and maintain stress management behaviors.
Use of antidepressants for 12 weeks or longer is associated with a reduced incidence of heart attack in depressed adults.

0.48, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.52; SNRIs 0.35, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.39; TCA 0.39, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.44; ‘other’ antidepressants 0.41, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.45). The risk of all-cause mortality was lower among people with depression who had taken 12 weeks or more of any of the antidepressant classes than among people with depression who had not taken any antidepressant for this long (adjusted HRs for mortality: SSRIs 0.62, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.65; SNRIs 0.51, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.54; TCAs 0.66, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.71; HR with ‘other’ antidepressants: 0.50, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.53). CONCLUSIONS In depressed patients with no history of cardiovascular disease, continuous antidepressant treatment for 12 weeks or longer is associated with a decreased risk of incident MI and all-cause mortality over 7 years of follow-up compared with not taking the antidepressants for this duration. This effect remains after controlling for covariates and is consistent across several drug classes. The mechanism for this decrease in risk is unclear and could be due to a direct drug effect, alleviation of depression or compliance with antidepressants which may refl ect general adherence to health-promoting behaviours.
The global family business: Challenges and drivers for cross-border growth

Abstract Globalization has become an imperative and is no longer avoidable as a strategic choice for family businesses. However, globalization strategies are far from the norm among small and medium-sized family enterprises. This article reviews the main drivers for globalization, highlights the distinct characteristics of family businesses that may enhance or constrain their global expansion, and provides a framework for strategically evaluating business capabilities and global market opportunities.
TLR4 ligand formulation causes distinct effects on antigen-specific cell-mediated and humoral immune responses

The formulation of TLR ligands and other immunomodulators has a critical effect on their vaccine adjuvant activity. In this work, the synthetic TLR4 ligand GLA was formulated with three distinct vaccine delivery system platforms (aqueous suspension, liposome, or oil-in-water emulsion). The effect of the different formulations on the adaptive immune response to protein subunit vaccines was evaluated in the context of a recombinant malaria antigen, Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein (PbCSP). Antibody responses in vaccinated mice were similar for the different formulations of GLA. However, cell-mediated responses differed significantly depending on the adjuvant system; in particular, the emulsion formulation of the TLR4 ligand induced significantly enhanced cellular IFN-γ and TNF-α responses compared to the other formulations. The effects of differences in adjuvant formulation composition and physical characteristics on biological activity are discussed. These results illustrate the importance of formulation of immunostimulatory adjuvants (e.g. TLR ligands) on the resulting immune responses to adjuvanted vaccines and may play a critical role for combating diseases where T cell immunity is advantageous.
On questions following questions in service encounters

This paper is a treatment of some patterns of talk that occur in service encounters (and presumably in other conversations as well). It is an attempt to examine the contribution of discourse structures such as the question–answer adjacency pair to the coherence of everyday discourse. The customer-request–server-response sequence is examined as to its adherence to a pattern of question–answer. Though some sequences do adhere to the question–answer pattern, there are many that do not, but rather are manifested as question–question. The question–question patterns are shown to be of several kinds in terms of the relationship of the second question to the first. The analysis demonstrates the relationship of these patterns to the pragmatic interpretation of the customer-request as either a request for information or as a request for service, and leads to a tentative set of generalizations concerning the interpretation of responses to questions in general. (Questions, conversational analysis, discourse analysis, pragmatics, indirect speech acts, coherence, ritual, service encounters, American English.)
A physician-based voluntary reporting system for adverse events and Medical errors

OBJECTIVE: To create a voluntary reporting method for identifying adverse events (AEs) and potential adverse events (PAEs) among medical inpatients.
Do No Harm: A Defense of Markets in Healthcare

This paper argues that the rules that constitute a market protect autonomy and increase welfare in healthcare. Markets do the former through protecting rights to self-ownership and a cluster of rights that protect its exercise. Markets protect welfare by organizing and protecting trades. In contrast, prohibition destroys legitimate markets, giving rise to so-called black markets that harm both the autonomy and well-being of agents. For example, a fee-for-service medical system is a highly developed and specialized market. It is individuals working together, through the division of labor, to provide mutual insurance. This coordination, and the benefits it makes possible, is not possible without injunctions against harm. Prohibitions on harm are not mere ethical niceties, they are practice rules for both healthcare and markets. Placing the doctor within a healthcare market actually reinforces the doctor’s moral obligation, and the legal enforcement of that obligation, not to harm. Similarly, markets reinforce patient rights to self-determination through legal and institutional enforcement of the harm principle in the form of the protection of certain basic welfare rights to life, bodily integrity, property, trade, and contract. Since the establishment of markets protects agent autonomy and welfare, and prohibition directly harms the same, there are strong reasons for establishing markets to protect trade in precisely those areas where autonomy and well-being are most vulnerable to exploitation, for example, the trade in human kidneys.
Ion/Ion Reactions for Oligopeptide Mixture Analysis: Application to Mixtures Comprised of 0.5–100 kDa Components

Oligopeptide mixtures have been subjected to electrospray ionization, accumulated within a quadrupole ion trap, and subjected to ion/ion proton transfer reactions with anions derived from perfluoro-1,3-dimethylcyclohexane. Various mixtures were studied with approximate molecular weight ranges of 0.5–8.5, 12–30, 45–100, and 0.5–100 kDa. Mixtures of known composition were studied to evaluate the mixture complexity amenable to electrospray combined with ion/ion reactions to reduce spectral complexity associated with multiple charging. Mixture analysis with at least 40 components of low and medium molecular weight and roughly comparable solution concentrations appears to be straightforward. No matrix effects upon ionization were implicated in the data for the low and medium molecular weight mixtures but bovine albumin appeared to inhibit signals from bovine transferrin and chicken conalbumin in the high molecular weight mix. Furthermore, the presence of abundant low mass-to-charge ions appeared to inhibit signals from high molecular weight proteins (>40 kDa) in the 0.5–100 kDa mix. Such an observation is consistent with dynamic range limitations that can arise from discrimination based on ion space charge effects, although an ionization matrix effect could not be precluded from the data reported here. The results reported here indicate that the limitation to mixture complexity amenable to electrospray mass spectrometry imposed by spectral congestion associated with multiple charging can be significantly reduced via ion/ion reactions. The use of ion/ion reactions can therefore facilitate the study of other factors that can impose limitations to mixture analysis, such as matrix effects upon ionization and differences in ion transmission, accumulation, storage, and detection efficiencies.
Biosynthesis and amino terminal acetylation of cat hemoglobin B.

Abstract Acetylation of the amino-terminal serine of the β chains of cat hemoglobin B (HbB) occurs during synthesis of hemoglobin in a mRNA-dependent protein synthesizing system from rabbit reticulocyte lysate in the presence of acetyl-CoA and cat reticulocyte mRNA. The process occurs after peptide chain growth of about 30 amino acid residues. When endogenous acetyl-CoA was removed from the rabbit reticulocyte lysate by pretreatment with oxalacetate and citrate synthase, nonacetylated HbB (HbB′) was synthesized. Thus, β B globin chain synthesis goes to completion in the absence of acetylation even though the latter normally occurs during nascent chain growth. When HbB′ was incubated with acetyl-CoA in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate, hemoglobin with properties identical to those of HbB was produced. Thus, the selective amino terminal acetylation of β B globin also occurs in the completed hemoglobin.
Long-term responses to nifedipine in patients with coronary spasm who have an initial favorable response

Twenty-six patients with angina and coronary spasm participated in a randomized crossover trial comparing nifedipine with isosorbide dinitrate. Eighteen patients had a short-term beneficial response to nifedipine, and 14 of these were followed up for an average period of 9.4 months. During follow-up study, nifedipine was the primary therapy in these 14 patients, but other drugs were added when clinically necessary to control angina. There was an overall 86% beneficial response rate (greater than 50% decrease in angina frequency). However, 2 patients had a large increase (greater than 10 times) and 4 patients had a slight increase (transient) in angina frequency over the long term compared with the short-term response. The other 8 patients had a similar angina frequency compared with the short-term response. Of the 12 patients with a good response (transient slight increase or no change), 8 (67%) required additional drug therapy to maintain angina control. Nifedipine was discontinued in 2, and the dose was decreased in 3 of the 14 patients because of adverse effects. Three patients had a marked increase in angina at 9, 14, and 3 months, requiring hospitalization; 1 patient had coronary bypass for symptom control. Thus, patients with coronary spasm selected because of a favorable short-term response to nifedipine were effectively treated over the long term with nifedipine; however, additional therapy was often needed to control symptoms. Adverse effects were common, but simple reduction of nifedipine dose usually diminished the unwanted effects of the drug.
Antimycobacterial Antibody Levels in Pleural Fluid as Reflection of Passive Diffusion from Serum

The objective of this study was the prospective evaluation of the relationship between serum and pleural fluid antibody levels to mycobacterial antigens and their role in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis. The setting was a tertiary care medical center. Thirteen patients with tuberculous pleuritis and 53 control subjects with pleural effusion (22 with carcinoma, 17 with cardiac failure, and 14 with empyema or parapneumonic effusion) were studied. The level of IgG was measured by ELISA. The median titers of antibody to both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M avium were significantly higher in the serum and pleural fluid of the patients with tuberculosis than in the control patients. There was a very close relationship between the levels of M tuberculosis (r = 0.95) and M avium (r = 0.94) antibodies in the serum and pleural fluid. We concluded that the levels of antimycobacterial IgG in pleural fluid, adjusted to constant protein concentration, are very closely related to the serum levels. Therefore, these antibodies in the pleural fluid probably result from passive diffusion from serum and not local production. Measurement of pleural fluid antibody levels will not add diagnostic sensitivity or specificity to that achieved with serodiagnosis.
A Deviation-Based Conditional Upper Bound on the Error Floor Performance for Min-Sum Decoding of Short LDPC Codes

Conditional upper bounds are given for min-sum decoding of low-density parity-check codes in the error floor region. It is generally thought that absorbing sets, i.e., small collections of variable nodes connected to a relatively small number of unsatisfied check nodes, are the primary source of errors in the error floor region. The conditional upper bounds presented here are based on the assumption that all error floor errors are caused by absorbing sets. In order to bound the probability of error associated with each absorbing set, a directed-edge Tanner graph is used to link absorbing sets to low-weight deviations. These low-weight deviations result when a proportionally large number of nodes within a stopping set belong to an absorbing set contained inside the stopping set. A complete collection of the most problematic absorbing sets, and the minimum deviation weights that result from them, are used to derive a conditional upper bound on the probability of error for min-sum decoding of low-density parity-check codes. Simulation results are given to demonstrate the accuracy of the bound.
MOVEMENT OF THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID IN HUMAN BEINGS.

CONSIDERABLE controversy and doubt exist regarding the movement of the cerebrospinal fluid, and a convincing demonstration of bulk flow of this fluid is still lacking. Since obstruction of the ventricular paths invariably results in hydrocephalus, obviously a net transfer of fluid must occur from the ventricular system out into the sub-arachnoidal spaces. A caudad or cephalad movement of the cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoidal spaces, however, has been questioned1,2.
Normal transitions in synthesis of replacement histones H2A.Z and H3.3 during differentiation of dystrophic myotube cells. A brief note

We previously reported that differentiating G0 myotube cells cultured from normal chicken embryos exhibit a histone synthesis pattern that is highlighted by transitions in the expression of the minor replacement variants H3.3 and perhaps H2A.Z (Wunsch and Lough, Dev. Biol. 119 (1987) 94-99). Because these proteins may be synthesized to maintain chromatin structure during the differentiation and maturation of the skeletal muscle fiber, it was of interest to determine whether they are made at normal levels during the differentiation of dystrophic muscle. To this end, the synthesis of histone proteins in cultured myoblasts and myotubes from normal and dystrophic avian embryos has been characterized by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography. Proliferating myoblasts (day 1) as well as two stages of differentiating myotubes (days 3, 4) exhibited histone synthesis patterns that were indistinguishable when comparing normal and dystrophic cells. It is noteworthy that this study also revealed that, in both cell types, the change in H2A.Z synthesis during the myoblast/myotube transition was remarkable, increasing from approximately 20% of the non-ubiquitinated H2As in myoblasts to 80% in myotubes. Also, gel staining patterns and immunoblotting detected no differences in the degree of histone ubiquitination between normal and dystrophic cells. These findings indicate that, up to this point in dystrophic differentiation, neither the synthesis nor ubiquitination of histones are perturbed.
Stratospheric trace constituent profile retrievals using laser heterodyne radiometer IR limb sensing spectra.

A retrieval technique for high resolution IR solar occultation limb sensing data is described for profiling stratospheric trace constituents. Remote measurement of ClO during sunset in the 24-45-km region with a 2-km height resolution is chosen as an example. Two types of instruments are considered: a laser heterodyne radiometer with line resolving spectral resolution and an interferometer spectrometer with a fixed slit width of 0.02/cm. It is pointed out that a multichannel approach is necessary with the heterodyne instrument for improved retrieval accuracy. The error analysis indicates the relative sizes of instrument noise and other sources of error in the retrieval of altitude profiles with high (2-km) vertical resolution.
Fruit removal rate depends on neighborhood fruit density, frugivore abundance, and spatial context

Fleshy-fruited plants depend fundamentally on interactions with frugivores for effective seed dispersal. Recent models of frugivory within spatially explicit networks make two general predictions regarding these interactions: rate of fruit removal increases (i.e., is facilitated) as densities of conspecific neighborhood fruits increase, and fruit removal rate varies positively with frugivore abundance. We conducted a field experiment that constitutes the first empirical and simultaneous test of these two primary predictions. We manipulated neighborhood abundances of arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum and Viburnum dentatum) fruits in southern New England’s maritime shrub community and monitored removal rates by autumn-migrating birds. Focal arrowwood plants in neighborhoods with high conspecific fruit density sustained moderately decreased fruit removal rates (i.e., competition) relative to those in low-density neighborhoods, a result that agrees with most field research to date but contrasts with theoretical expectation. We suggest the spatial contexts that favor competition (i.e., high-abundance neighborhoods and highly aggregated landscapes) are considerably more common than the relatively uniform, low-aggregation fruiting landscapes that promote facilitation. Patterns of arrowwood removal by avian frugivores generally varied positively with, and apparently in response to, seasonal changes in migratory frugivore abundance. However, we suggest that dense stands of arrowwood concentrated frugivore activity at the neighborhood scale, thus counteracting geographic patterns of frugivore abundance. Our results underscore the importance of considering spatial context (e.g., fruit distribution and aggregation, frugivory hubs) in plant-avian frugivore interactions.
Lyme Neuroborreliosis Presenting as Alice in Wonderland Syndrome

We describe a 7-year-old boy with Alice in Wonderland syndrome associated with Lyme disease. He presented with metamorphopsia and auditory hallucinations in the absence of previous tick bites or other signs of Lyme disease. The boy never developed clinical seizures, and electroencephalograms during these spells indicated no epileptic activity. There was no history of migraine. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging produced normal results. Lyme serology tested positive in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid. He was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone for 3 weeks, with complete resolution of signs. This case report is the first, to our knowledge, of neuroborreliosis presenting as Alice in Wonderland syndrome with complete resolution of findings after intravenous antibiotic treatment.
Photoionization of an autoionizing level of atomic oxygen.

Direct evidence for the photoionization of an autoionizing level of atomic oxygen is presented. Atomic oxygen is produced in the 1${\mathit{s}}^{2}$2${\mathit{s}}^{2}$2${\mathit{p}}^{4}$ $^{1}$${\mathit{D}}_{2}$ level by photodissociation of ${\mathrm{NO}}_{2}$ or ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$O and excited to the ${(}^{2}$D\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{})3p $^{1}$${\mathit{P}}_{1}$ and $^{1}$${\mathit{F}}_{3}$ levels by two-photon absorption. These levels lie above the ${\mathrm{O}}^{+}$ $^{4}$S${\mathrm{\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}}_{3/2}$ ionization threshold but are forbidden to autoionize in LS coupling. Although the autoionization rates are thus very small, photoelectron spectra demonstrate that both levels do autoionize into the $^{4}$S${\mathrm{\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}}_{3/2}$ continuum. At laser intensities of \ensuremath{\sim}3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{9}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, photoionization of the $^{1}$${\mathit{F}}_{3}$ level competes effectively with autoionization. The implications of this work for high-intensity multiphoton ionization studies of above-threshold ionization and multiple ionization are discussed.
The synthesis of protected glycopeptides containing the amino acid sequences 34–37 and 34–38 of bovine ribonuclease B

Abstract 2-Acetamido-3,4,6-tri- O -acetyl-1- N -[ N -(benzyloxycarbonyl)- L -aspart-1-oyl-( L -leucyl- L -threonyl- N 2 -tosyl- L -lysine p -nitrobenzyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β- D -glucopyranosylamine ( 21 ) and 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri- O -acetyl-1- N -[ N -(benzyloxycarbonyl)- L -aspart-1-oyl-( L -leucyl- L -threonyl- N 2 -tosyl- L -lysine p -nitrobenzyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β- D -glucopyranosylamine ( 22 ), 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri- O -acetyl-1- N -[ N -(benzyloxycarbonyl)- L -aspart-1-oyl-(glycine ethyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β- D -glucopyranosylamine, and 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri- O -acetyl-1- N -[ N -(benzyloxycarbonyl)- L -aspart-1-oyl-(phenylalanine methyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β- D -glucopyranosylamine were synthesized by condensation of 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri- O -acetyl-1- N -[ N -(benzyloxycarbonyl)- L -aspart-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β- D -glucopyranosylamine with the appropriate protected amino acids and tri- and tetra-peptides. The amino acid sequences of 21 and 22 correspond to the protected amino acid sequences 34–37 and 34–38 of ribonuclease B that are adjacent to the carbohydrate-protein linkage.
Postural Stability during Simulated Drywall Lifting and Hanging Tasks

Drywall lifting and hanging tasks require workers to handle heavy and bulky drywall sheets and maintain awkward postures to install materials onto the wall or ceiling. Previous studies indicated that drywall lifting and hanging tasks cause more fall-related injuries than any other tasks. Activities associated with these two tasks often result in muscle fatigue and propensity for loss of balance. The objective of this study is to identify the methods resulting in the least postural instability during drywall lifting or hanging drywall tasks. Sixty construction workers with at least 6 months of drywall-installation experience participated in this study. Each subject performed four lifts of a drywall sheet using one of the four lifting methods. The subject was also asked to perform 4 hanging trials using one of the four hanging methods. This study is a completely randomized repeated design with lifting and hanging methods randomly assigned to each subject. Workers' postural instability was quantified using a...
Inhibition of corneal inflammation by liposomal delivery of short-chain, C-6 ceramide

Ceramide is recognized as an antiproliferative and proapoptotic sphingolipid metabolite; however, the role of ceramide in inflammation is not well understood. To determine the role of C6-ceramide in regulating inflammatory responses, human corneal epithelial cells were treated with C6-ceramide in 80 nm diameter nano-liposome bilayer formulation (Lip-C6) prior to stimulation with UV-killed Staphylococcus aureus. Lip-C6 (5 μM) inhibited the phosphorylation of proinflammatory and proapoptotic MAP kinases JNK and p38 and production of neutrophil chemotactic cytokines CXCL1, CXCL5, and CXCL8. Lip-C6 also blocked CXC chemokine production by human and murine neutrophils. To determine the effect of Lip-C6 in vivo, a murine model of corneal inflammation was used in which LPS or S. aureus added to the abraded corneal surface induces neutrophil infiltration to the corneal stroma, resulting in increased corneal haze. Mice were treated topically with 2 nMoles (811 ng) Lip-C6 or with control liposomes prior to, or following, LPS or S. aureus stimulation. We found that corneal inflammation was significantly inhibited by Lip-C6 but not control liposomes given prior to, or following, activation by LPS or S. aureus. Furthermore, Lip-C6 did not induce apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells in vitro or in vivo, nor did it inhibit corneal wound healing. Together, these findings demonstrate a novel, anti-inflammatory, nontoxic, therapeutic role for liposomally delivered short-chain ceramide.
Acute endocarditis of a percutaneously placed pulmonary valve

Endocarditis of percutaneously placed pulmonary valve is increasingly being recognized and reported as a potentially life-threatening complication. In this report, we discuss a 17-year-old male who presented with septic shock secondary to staphylococcal endocarditis of a percutaneously placed pulmonary valve.
An accurate and computationally efficient algorithm for ground peak identification in large footprint waveform LiDAR data

Abstract Large footprint waveform LiDAR sensors have been widely used for numerous airborne studies. Ground peak identification in a large footprint waveform is a significant bottleneck in exploring full usage of the waveform datasets. In the current study, an accurate and computationally efficient algorithm was developed for ground peak identification, called Filtering and Clustering Algorithm (FICA). The method was evaluated on Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS) waveform datasets acquired over Central NY. FICA incorporates a set of multi-scale second derivative filters and a k-means clustering algorithm in order to avoid detecting false ground peaks. FICA was tested in five different land cover types (deciduous trees, coniferous trees, shrub, grass and developed area) and showed more accurate results when compared to existing algorithms. More specifically, compared with Gaussian decomposition, the RMSE ground peak identification by FICA was 2.82 m (5.29 m for GD) in deciduous plots, 3.25 m (4.57 m for GD) in coniferous plots, 2.63 m (2.83 m for GD) in shrub plots, 0.82 m (0.93 m for GD) in grass plots, and 0.70 m (0.51 m for GD) in plots of developed areas. FICA performance was also relatively consistent under various slope and canopy coverage (CC) conditions. In addition, FICA showed better computational efficiency compared to existing methods. FICA’s major computational and accuracy advantage is a result of the adopted multi-scale signal processing procedures that concentrate on local portions of the signal as opposed to the Gaussian decomposition that uses a curve-fitting strategy applied in the entire signal. The FICA algorithm is a good candidate for large-scale implementation on future space-borne waveform LiDAR sensors.
Misalignment between medicare policies and depression care in home health care: home health provider perspectives.

Semistructured interviews with nurses working for home health care agencies in five states raise serious questions about the deleterious effects of Medicare policies and procedures on depression care. The agencies have strong incentives to limit nursing time in a given payment episode and to increase volume, making it difficult to provide high-quality depression care for homebound patients. Some nurses felt forced to “abandon” many patients with depression. The authors call for incremental policy changes in several key areas.
Archeology Meets Clinical Microbiology: Analysis of the Microbial Content of Soil From Archeological Sites in Italy and Belize

Background Soil was obtained from pottery near Lecce, Italy, and from Lubaantun, Belize. We compared the microbial contents of the 2 soil specimens. Methods Soil from each site, mixed thoroughly, was solubilized with phosphate buffer and used for culture and microscopy by standard methods. Cultures for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, acid-fast bacilli, fungi, and actinomycetes were done at 22°C and 35°C. Stains included Gram, methylene blue, calcofluor white, Ziehl-Neelsen, trichrome, iodine, Grocott-Gomori methenamine-silver, and modified acid-fast. Results Soil from Lecce: Only gram-positive bacilli were seen microscopically. Many spp. of Bacillus were recovered. Aeromonas caviae complex, Aspergillus niger, A. versicolor, Clostridium bifermentans, C. butyricum, Mycobacterium avium, and several unidentified fungi were recovered. Soil from Lubaantun: Rare gram-positive bacilli were seen microscopically. Clostridium bifermentans, C. innocuum, C. tetani, Bacillus cereus group, Pantoea agglomerans, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium sp., Chaetomium sp., Chrysosporium sp., Acremonium sp., Streptomyces sp., and Gordonia sp. were recovered in culture. Conclusion While we noted that cultures and microscopy of the microbial flora of soil from these 2 archeological sites revealed somewhat similar findings, the flora from the Lubaantun site was more complex.
Adenosine in fibrosis

Adenosine is an endogenous autocoid that regulates a multitude of bodily functions. Its anti-inflammatory actions are well known to rheumatologists since it mediates many of the anti-inflammatory effects of a number of antirheumatic drugs such as methotrexate. However, inflammatory and tissue regenerative responses are intricately linked, with wound healing being a prime example. It has only recently been appreciated that adenosine has a key role in tissue regenerative and fibrotic processes. An understanding of these processes may shed new light on potential therapeutic options in diseases such as scleroderma where tissue fibrosis features prominently.
Whole-genome ChIP–chip analysis of Dorsal, Twist, and Snail suggests integration of diverse patterning processes in the Drosophila embryo

Genetic studies have identified numerous sequence-specific transcription factors that control development, yet little is known about their in vivo distribution across animal genomes. We determined the genome-wide occupancy of the dorsoventral (DV) determinants Dorsal, Twist, and Snail in the Drosophila embryo using chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with microarray analysis (ChIP-chip). The in vivo binding of these proteins correlate tightly with the limits of known enhancers. Our analysis predicts substantially more target genes than previous estimates, and includes Dpp signaling components and anteroposterior (AP) segmentation determinants. Thus, the ChIP-chip data uncover a much larger than expected regulatory network, which integrates diverse patterning processes during development.
Outcomes of the oldest patients with primary CNS lymphoma treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Up to 20% of all primary CNS lymphoma (PCNLS) patients are aged 80 years or older, yet data are limited on how best to treat this rapidly growing population. Despite demographic pressures and the proven efficacy of methotrexate (MTX)-based regimens, automatic de-escalation of care based on age is standard practice outside of tertiary care centers. We performed a retrospective review of all PCNSL patients aged 80 years or older treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1993 to 2011. Demographic and clinical variables were evaluated as predictors of survival by multivariate analysis. Twenty-three of 24 patients were treated with chemotherapy (92% with high-dose MTX, typically in combination with vincristine and procarbazine). One patient received ocular radiation alone for disease limited to the eyes. Response to treatment was noted in 62.5% of patients; 9 (37.5%) had refractory disease. Median overall survival was 7.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.8-53), and median progression-free survival was 6.5 months (95% CI: 4.4-29.5). Two-year survival rate was 33%; 3-year survival rate was 17%. Three patients lived more than 4 years postdiagnosis. Most patients tolerated therapy well, and despite low baseline creatinine clearance, no significant renal toxicity was noted. Response status and deep brain involvement were identified as the most important predictors of survival. Multidrug regimens containing high-dose MTX are feasible and efficacious among the oldest patients, particularly those who achieve a complete response by their fifth treatment cycle. Aggressive therapy should be offered to select patients irrespective of advanced age.