cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia with joint laxity (SEMDJL) : Presentation in two unrelated patients in the United States

This is a report of two North American patients with spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia with joint laxity, an uncommon autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia rarely reported outside of South Africa. Patients with SEMDJL have vertebral abnormalities and ligamentous laxity that results in spinal misalignment and progressive severe kyphoscoliosis, thoracic asymmetry, and respiratory compromise resulting in early death. Nonaxial skeletal involvement includes elbow deformities with radial head dislocation, dislocated hips, clubbed feet, and tapered fingers with spatulate distal phalanges. Many affected children have an oval face, flat midface, prominent eyes with blue sclerae, and a long philtrum. Palatal abnormalities and congenital heart disease are also observed. Diagnosis in infancy may be difficult because many of the typical findings are not apparent early and only evolve over time. We review the physical and radiographic findings in two unrelated patients with this disorder in order to increase the awareness of this disorder, particularly for clinicians outside of South Africa.
Influence of age on cerebral recovery after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in piglets

Background. In the first weeks of life there are important maturational changes in the central nervous system in many species in energy metabolism, synapse number, and concentration of neuronal excitatory receptors. Methods. Four groups of 10 piglets (aged 1, 2, 4, and 10 weeks) underwent 1 hour of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest at 15°C, with cooling and rewarming on cardiopulmonary bypass. Cerebral blood flow and metabolic rate measurements and electroencephalographic recordings were obtained from 5 animals per group. The remaining animals underwent cerebral magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results. Preoperative cerebral blood flow and glucose consumption were higher at 4 and 10 weeks than at 1 and 2 weeks. Cerebral adenosine triphosphate content decreased more rapidly during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest at 4 and 10 weeks. Phosphocreatine recovery was greater at 30 minutes of reperfusion at 10 weeks compared with 1 week. Recovery of cerebral phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate ratio and intracellular pH was remarkably uniform at all ages. Latency to recovery of electroencephalographic activity decreased with increasing age ( p = 0.04). Conclusions. Differences in acute recovery of brain energy metabolism and electroencephalogram after cardiopulmonary bypass and 1 hour of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in piglets between 1 and 10 weeks of age are small. Further studies are required to correlate these acute findings with subsequent neurologic outcome.
Limiting Law for Boundary Spreading in Zone Centrifugation

Abstract The superimposed density and viscosity gradient required in zone centrifuge experiments will create a gradient of sedimentation velocity which in many cases may offset the spreading of the zone due to diffusion. Equations are developed which show that, as a first approximation, the limiting shape of the sedimenting zones of macromolecules will be gaussian.
The morphology of graded gravel rivers: a network perspective

Analytical hydraulic geometry equations are combined with a watershed model to quantify downstrem trends in equilibrium fluvial morphology in gravel streams. The hydraulic geometry equations relaet fluvial morphology to discharge, bedload transport rate and grain size; these independent variables are in turn determined by routing gravel supplied at zero-order basins through a channel network. As gravel is routed downstream, it decreases in size according to an empirical power law. The resulting model specifies the discharge, bedload transport rate, grain size, width, depth, slope and river bed elevation at every point in the drainage basin. When the downstream fining law is calibrated using data from central Pennsylvania, dowstream hydraulic geometry exponents for the width and depth are accurately reproduced. Longitudinal profiles calculated from the model fit observed profiles in largerwatersheds, but are inaccurate in smaller watersheds. The model also reproduces Hack's (1957) empirical result relating slope to the 0.6 power of A/ds, where A is the drainage basin area and ds is the mean grain size. Unfortunately, the model requires an equilibrium time scale which is unreasonably long, suggesting that the channels of the study area are best described as systems with multiple time scales and multiple rates of response. The model probably is successful because the width and depth have relatively short relaxation times, and also because downstream trends in discharge and sediment transport rate are controlled by network topology. Thus, downstream hydraulic geometry equations do not necessarily provide strong evidence for the equilibrium of fluvial landscapes. Rather, they reflect the constancy of network topology and the rapid response times of width and depth.
Nanoindentation studies of ion implanted silicon

Abstract Cyclic nanoindentation studies were conducted on (111) single-crystal silicon modified by implanting O + , N + 2 , P + , As + , and Ar + ions with different doses ranging from 1 × 10 16 to 5 × 10 17 ions cm -2 at 200 keV. Hysteresis in cyclic indentation and discontinuity kinks during unloading are considerably reduced by the ion implantation. Ion implantation of compound-forming species O + and N + 2 into silicon improves the resistance to deformation, which is defined as the ratio of hardness to the square of Young's modulus. By contrast, the implantation of P + , As + , and Ar + species that do not form compounds reduced the resistance to deformation to almost half. Based on this study, it is concluded that the ion implantation with an appropriate ion species can be used to modify resistance to deformation.
The gamma subunit of DNA polymerase III holoenzyme of Escherichia coli is produced by ribosomal frameshifting.

Abstract The tau and gamma subunits of DNA polymerase III holoenzyme are both products of the dnaX gene. Since tau and gamma are required as stoichiometric components of the replicative complex, a mechanism must exist for the cell to coordinate their synthesis and ensure that both subunits are present in an adequate quantity and ratio for assembly. We have proposed that gamma is produced by a translational frameshift event. In this report, we describe the use of dnaX-lacZ fusions in all three reading frames to demonstrate that gamma, the shorter product of dnaX, is generated by ribosomal frameshifting to the -1 reading frame of the mRNA within an oligo(A) sequence that is followed by a sequence predicted to form a stable secondary structure. Immediately after frameshifting a stop codon is encountered, leading to translational termination. Mutagenesis of the oligo(A) sequence abolishes frameshifting, and partial disruption of the predicted distal secondary structure severely impairs the efficiency. Comparison of the expression of lacZ fused to dnaX distal to the site of frameshifting in the -1 and 0 reading frames indicates that the efficiency of frameshifting is approximately 40%.
Volcanic activity on Umnak and Great Sitkin Islands, 1946–1948

As part of the United States Geological Survey's volcano program in the Aleutian volcanic arc during 1946–1948, the volcanoes and thermal areas on Umnak and Great Sitkin Islands were studied. In addition to observation of the volcanoes, temperatures of fumaroles were measured and some products of the volcanic activity were collected and analyzed. After an eruption in 1945, Cone A in Okmok Caldera on northeastern Umnak Island remained relatively quiet during the period 1946–1948. The fumarole gases contained water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. The incrustations associated with the sulfur dioxide fumaroles are the sulfate minerals halotrichite, gypsum, and soda alum. Temperatures of lava fumaroles at the source of the December, 1945 lava flow from Cone A dropped from an average of 320°C on July 19, 1946, to 90°C on September 5, 1946. With exception of the large central fumarole which reached red heat in 1947, the extra crater fumaroles of Cone A ranged from 96° to 98° C in temperature Cone C, another cone in Okmok Caldera was in the solfataric stage and emitted water vapor, hydrogen sulfide, and probably carbon dioxide. Incrustations associated with fumaroles on this cone consisted of sulfur, pyrite, and aragonite. The temperatures of the fumaroles ranged from 95° to 96°C and were probably kept within this narrow range partly by the heat supplied during condensation of steam. Sixteen large thermal springs emerging from the base of Cone D in Okmok Caldera had an aggregate discharge of approximately 115 cfs and gave off approximately 21,000 kcal of heat per second on September 7, 1946. Water samples of thermal springs on Umnak Island contained as high as 159 ppm of boron expressed as B203 and a few parts per million of arsenic and antimony. Several of the thermal springs in southwestern Umnak Island were slightly superheated with respect to the boiling point of water and behaved as small geysers. As has been found elsewhere, the discharge, temperature, and composition of the emanations from a spring is modified by surface conditions of topography and drainage. Thermal springs and fumaroles on Great Sitkin Island occurred at an altitude of about 2000 ft near the head of the west fork of Big Fox Creek. All the fumaroles were at or near a temperature of 100°C. The large crater fumarole in the center of the 1945 crater dome was unapproachable. No change in the activity of Great Sitkin volcano was observed between 1946 and August 1948.
Quadratic forms and profinite 2-groups

Throughout this paper, F will denote a field of characteristic not 2, F(2) will be its quadratic closure, and m(F), W(F) will denote, respectively, the Grothendieck and Witt rings of quadratic forms over F. The purpose here is to investigate the connection between the behavior of quadratic forms over F and the structure of the Galois group, G,(2) = Gal(F(2)/F), of the quadratic closure of F. In Section 2, we extend some observations of Delzant [3] and Scharlau [13] to show that if Fl and F, are fields, neither containing (l)liz, with GF1(2) z G,,(2) as profinite groups, then W(F,) z W(F,) as rings. Moreover, if G,1(2) g G,,(2) but WV is not isomorphic to W(F,) then -1 is a square in one of the fields and is a sum of two squares in the other. It is also observed that there exist fields with W(F,) G W(F,) but GF1(2) not isomorphic to G,2(2). In Section 3, fields with G,(2) a free or “almost” free pro 2-group are studied and in Section 4 the opposite extreme is considered: namely those fields with G,(2) abelian or metabelian. The notations and terminology will primarily follow [12, 141. The multiplicative group of F will be denoted by 8, the subgroup of squares by p2, and for a in fi, [a] will denote the image of a in the group of square classes p/p”. If 4 is a quadratic form over F then the value set of CJ is D,(q) = {[a] ~fi/fi” / a is represented by Q}. Isometries of quadratic forms will be written s and q1 . q2 will denote the tensor product of the forms pi and q2 . We will write q = <a, , a2 ,..., a,) to mean that q has an orthogonal basis e, , e2 ,..., e, with q(ei) = ai ~14;. The u-invariant of F is defined to be u(F) = max(dim q}, where q ranges over all anisotropic forms whose signature is zero relative to all (if any) orderings on F [5]. The Hasse number of F is zZ:F) = max{dim q}, where q ranges over all anisotropic forms which becomes isotropic over all (if any) real closures of F.
Formation of Anti-Bredt Olefins from Bridgehead Carbene Precursors: A Computational Study

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are employed to examine the energetics of the rearrangement of bridgehead carbenes to anti-Bredt olefins. These C-migrations are found to have very small activation barriers. For instance, rearrangement of bicyclo[2.2.2]octylcarbene has a transition-state energy that lies 3.8 kcal/mol above the carbene. These rearrangements are also quite exothermic, despite the instability of the bridgehead alkene. Rearrangement of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentylcarbene to bicyclo[2.1.1]hex-1-ene is exothermic by 18.4 kcal/mol. The greater thermodynamic stability of the anti-Bredt olefin products, as well as the low reaction barrier, demonstrates that bridgehead carbenes are a viable source of these strained alkenes.
A novel endothelin receptor type-B-like gene enriched in the brain.

Abstract We report here our effort of cloning and characterization of a novel human gene, which encodes a putative human endothelin receptor type B like protein (hETBR-LP), from a human hippocampus tissue cDNA library. hETBR-LP consists of 614 amino acids with seven putative transmembrane domains. The deduced amino acid sequence of hETBR-LP is 52% similar and 26.7% identical to human endothelin type B receptor. A 4.0 kb mRNA of hETBR-LP is abundantly expressed in the human brain. The results of in situ hybridization and reverse transcriptase in situ gene amplification reveal tissue distribution and cellular localization of signals of hETBR-LP mRNA in the neuronal cells, particularly concentrated in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, and neuronal cells of the hippocampus of human brain, including pyramidal cells of Ammon's horn and granule cells of the dentate gyrus. A 4.0 kb mRNA of hETBR-LP is also less abundantly expressed in the liver and the placenta. Expression of recombinant protein, hETBR-LP/HA, in cells of COS7 and HEK293 transfected with plasmid DNA, hETBR-LP/HA/pcDNA1/Amp, was confirmed by Northern blot analysis and by immunofluorescence staining of cells with anti-HA antibody. Specific binding of radiolabeled ET-1 and ET-3 to membrane preparations and to intact cells expressing recombinant protein of hETBR-LP/HA did not show any significant difference of binding properties between cells transfected with plasmid DNA, hETBR-LP/HA/pcDNA1/Amp, and cells untransfected, including both COS7 cells and HEK293 cells. The results of assays of measuring Ca++mobilization and cAMP production in HEK293 cells indicate that ET-1, ET-3, bombesin and neuropeptide Y are unable to produce any kind of significant difference of Ca++mobilization and cAMP production between HEK293 cells expressing recombinant protein and HEK293 cells untransfected or HEK293 cells transfected with vector DNA only (pcDNA1/Amp) in functional assays performed. Therefore, its ligand and physiological significance of hETBR-LP remains to be discovered.
Who's the Boss? Confronting Whiteness and Power Differences within a Feminist Mentoring Relationship in Participatory Action Research

In this article, we discuss the sometimes problematic and always challenging nature of feminist mentoring, particularly in a participatory action research project aimed at interrogating whiteness. ...
The distribution of ferritin subunit types in porcine tissues

Abstract 1. 1. Ferritin was isolated from porcine heart, liver and spleen. 2. 2. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography of the ferritin subunits yielded three chromatographic fractions. 3. 3. The relative proportions of the three chromatographic fractions were different for each tissue ferritin. 4. 4. These results support the model which proposes a combination of (at least) two subunit types as the basis for the existence of isoferritins.
Mammalian hemodynamics : A new similarity principle

Abstract The distribution of wave lengths in systemic arterial trees of mammals of greatly different size relative to the lengths of these systems proves invariant. This explains the similarity in the waveform of the pressure and flow pulses in these species. Heart rates at rest are at the lowest rate commensurate with minimal external work performed by the left ventricle.
Matrix metalloproteinase 7 restrains Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric inflammation and premalignant lesions in the stomach by altering macrophage polarization

Helicobacter pylori is the strongest risk factor for the development of gastric cancer. Although the specific mechanisms by which this pathogen induces carcinogenesis have not been fully elucidated, high-expression interleukin (IL)-1β alleles are associated with increased gastric cancer risk among H. pylori-infected persons. In addition, loss of matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7) increases mucosal inflammation in mouse models of epithelial injury, and we have shown that gastric inflammation is increased in H. pylori-infected MMP7−/− C57BL/6 mice. In this report, we define mechanisms that underpin such responses and extend these results into a genetic model of MMP7 deficiency and gastric cancer. Wild-type (WT) or MMP7−/− C57BL/6 mice were challenged with broth alone as an uninfected control or the H. pylori strain PMSS1. All H. pylori-challenged mice were successfully colonized. As expected, H. pylori-infected MMP7−/− C57BL/6 mice exhibited a significant increase in gastric inflammation compared with uninfected or infected WT C57BL/6 animals. Loss of MMP7 resulted in M1 macrophage polarization within H. pylori-infected stomachs, as assessed by Luminex technology and immunohistochemistry, and macrophages isolated from infected MMP7-deficient mice expressed significantly higher levels of the M1 macrophage marker IL-1β compared with macrophages isolated from WT mice. To extend these findings into a model of gastric cancer, hypergastrinemic WT INS-GAS or MMP7−/− INS-GAS mice were challenged with H. pylori strain PMSS1. Consistent with findings in the C57BL/6 model, H. pylori-infected MMP7-deficient INS-GAS mice exhibited a significant increase in gastric inflammation compared with either uninfected or infected WT INS-GAS mice. In addition, the incidence of gastric hyperplasia and dysplasia was significantly increased in H. pylori-infected MMP7−/− INS-GAS mice compared with infected WT INS-GAS mice, and loss of MMP7 promoted M1 macrophage polarization. These results suggest that MMP7 exerts a restrictive role on H. pylori-induced gastric injury and the development of premalignant lesions by suppressing M1 macrophage polarization.
Subcellular sites of synthesis of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol in type II pneumonocytes.

The subcellular sites of synthesis of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol in type II pneumonocytes isolated from lungs of adult rats were investigated. Microsomes contained approximately 34% of the total cellular activity of CDP-diacylglycerol: inositol 3-phosphatidyltransferase (EC 2.7.8.11) but less than 10% of the total activity of CDP-diacylglycerol: glycerol 3-phosphate phosphatidyltransferase (EC 2.7.8.5) and the latter activity could be attributed to mitochondrial contamination of the microsomal fraction. A crude mitochondrial fraction contained approximately 90% of the total cellular activity of CDP-diacylglycerol: glycerol 3-phosphate phosphatidyltransferase and also contained more than 50% of the total CDP-diacylglycerol: inositol 3-phosphatidyltransferase activity. When the crude mitochondrial fraction was subfractionated by use of discontinuous density gradient centrifugation, the distribution of CDP-diacylglycerol: inositol 3-phosphatidyltransferase activity was similar to that of NADPH: cytochromec reductase activity but dissimilar to the distribution of CDP-diacylglycerol: glycerol 3-phosphate phosphatidyltransferase activity which resembled that of succinate dehydrogenase. Electron microscopy of subcellular fractions revealed that fractions rich in CDP-diacylglycerol: inositol 3-phosphatidyltransferase activity contained numerous smooth membrane vesicles, whereas fractions rich in CDP-diacylglycerol: glycerol 3-phosphate phosphatidyltransferase activity contained mainly mitochondria. We conclude that the subcellular sites of synthesis of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol in type II pneumonocytes are most likely the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, respectively.
The Total Human Environmental Exposure Study (THEES) to Benzo(a)pyrene: Comparison of the Inhalation and Food Pathways

ABSTRACT The assessment of human exposure to an environmental contaminant requires the measurement of levels present in each pathway of possible contact. In this paper, the design considerations and Phase I results of a human exposure study focused on Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) are discussed. This study site, located in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, is a city that contains a metal pipe foundry, which is a suspected major source of BaP. Three outdoor PM-10 samplers (used to collect BaP-containing particles with an aerodynamic size of ≤ 10 μm) were located in residential areas surrounding the foundry. Ten homes were sampled indoors for PM-10. Some homes have indoor combustion sources, e.g., cigarette smoke or a coal burning stove. The indoor and outdoor samples were 24 hr in duration. The mean outdoor concentration of BaP was 0.9 ng/m3, and the indoor concentrations ranged from 0.1–8.1 ng/m3. Food samples were acquired from family meals each day. They represented a one-third portion of each meal eaten at home. The ra...
The Devil's Dilemma in Flaubert' Saint Antony

In La Tentation de Saint Antoine Gustave Flaubert dramatizes a philosophical exchange about the nature of divine providence and the efficacy of petitionary prayer. The Devil and Antony consider the question of whether God can be called upon for relief from suffering. The Saint assumes as popular religion teaches that it is possible to ask for God's help in emergency situations, while the Devil poses a dilemma to challenge Antony's faith. The Devil seeks to expose contradictions in some of the beliefs Antony holds about God's infinite perfection. The Devil's argument purports to prove that God is not a person, and that for this reason God is inaccessible to human interaction. The Devil's dilemma is supposed to be this: (1) If God as an infinitely perfect being created the universe, then divine providence is not needed [does not exist]. (2) If divine providence is needed [exists], then the universe is defective [not the creation of God as an infinitely perfect being]. Although these look at first to be the opposite poles of an excluded middle, propositions (1) and (2) are mere contrapositives. Since the Devil's propositions (1) and (2) are logically equivalent, the Devil can only proceed to the conclusion that God does not exist or that divine providence is not needed or does not exist paradoxically by assuming that God exists or that divine providence is needed or exists. Yet if divine providence is needed or exists, then God exists as its divine source. If the Devil is supposed to succeed by logic, his dilemma as Flaubert portrays it is powerless to prove that the only reasonable religious attitude is an impassionate metaphysical acknowledgement of the existence of an impersonal infinitely perfect Substance, which is absolute unchanging unmoveable Being.
The identity of Archaeopteris and Callixylon

A specimen from the late Devonian Katsberg beds of Delaware County, New York, comprising a pyritized axis determined asCallixylon and leaves determined asArchaeopteris, is described and illustrated. The leaves are probablyA. macilenta Lesquereux and the axisC. zalesskyi Arnold, but because of doubt of the specific identity of the leaves a nomenclature transfer is delayed.
Synthesis of Acoustic-Emission Wave Propagation in Multi-Layer Media

This paper presents synthesis of acoustic-emission (AE) wave propagation in multi-layer materials and simulation of AE wave responses at free surface. In particular, the AE source is modelled as an arbitrary-orientation dislocation over an inclined-to-surface fault within one layer or at the layer-to-layer interface, while the materials are assumed as multi-layer media, each of which is homogeneous, isotropic and linearly elastic. With the use of the integral transformation approach, the three-dimensional wave propagation in the materials is solved in transformed or frequency-wavenumber domain. Subsequently, a closed-form solution for wave responses at free surface is found, which can then be converted in time-space domain. Numerical examples are finally provided for illustration.
New-Generation Amber United-Atom Force Field

We have developed a new-generation Amber united-atom force field for simulations involving highly demanding conformational sampling such as protein folding and protein-protein binding. In the new unitedatom force field, all hydrogens on aliphatic carbons in all amino acids are united with carbons except those on CR. Our choice of explicit representation of all protein backbone atoms aims at minimizing perturbation to protein backbone conformational distributions and to simplify development of backbone torsion terms. Tests with dipeptides and solvated proteins show that our goal is achieved quite successfully. The new unitedatom force field uses the same new RESP charging scheme based on B3LYP/cc-pVTZ//HF/6-31g** quantum mechanical calculations in the PCM continuum solvent as that in the Duan et al. force field. van der Waals parameters are empirically refitted starting from published values with respect to experimental solvation free energies of amino acid side-chain analogues. The suitability of mixing new point charges and van der Waals parameters with existing Amber covalent terms is tested on alanine dipeptide and is found to be reasonable. Parameters for all new torsion terms are refitted based on the new point charges and the van der Waals parameters. Molecular dynamics simulations of three small globular proteins in the explicit TIP3P solvent are performed to test the overall stability and accuracy of the new united-atom force field. Good agreements between the united-atom force field and the Duan et al. all-atom force field for both backbone and side-chain conformations are observed. In addition, the per-step efficiency of the new united-atom force field is demonstrated for simulations in the implicit generalized Born solvent. A speedup around two is observed over the Duan et al. all-atom force field for the three tested small proteins. Finally, the efficiency gain of the new united-atom force field in conformational sampling is further demonstrated with a well-known toy protein folding system, an 18 residue polyalanine in distance-dependent dielectric. The new united-atom force field is at least a factor of 200 more efficient than the Duan et al. all-atom force field for ab initio folding of the tested peptide.
Developing Entrepreneurial Thinking in University of Kansas Bioengineering Students

Design and development of new biomedical products in an entrepreneurial environment requires technical expertise as well as an understanding of clinical applications, business considerations and regulatory aspects, and the ability to work across multidisciplinary boundaries. Advanced engineering skills must also interface with clinical needs and requirements.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A unified approach to approximation algorithms for bottleneck problems

In this paper a powerful, and yet simple, technique for devising approximation algorithms for a wide variety of NP-complete problems in routing, location, and communication network design is investigated. Each of the algorithms presented here delivers an approximate solution guaranteed to be within a constant factor of the optimal solution. In addition, for several of these problems we can show that unless P = NP, there does not exist a polynomial-time algorithm that has a better performance guarantee.
Age-dependent modulation of parathyroid hormone action

The effects of aging on the calcemic action of parathyroid hormone were evaluated. In the first and second studies, 1-, 8-, 12-, and 22-month-old male Wistar rats were parathyroidectomized (PTX) or thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX), injected with parathyroid hormone and bled at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 h and plasma calcium determined. In the third study, 2-and 15-month-old TPTX rats were injected with parathyroid hormone and bled at 0, 1, 2, 5, 15, 30 and 120 minutes and plasma immunoreactive parathyroid hormone measured. Since the rats were prestarved, subsequent rise in plasma calcium is due primarily to the effect of parathyroid hormone on bone.
A Focused Breast Skills Workshop Improves the Clinical Skills of Medical Students

Purpose. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a focused breast skills workshop for teaching clinical skills to third-year medical students. Methodology. One hundred twenty-four third-year medical students involved in the surgical core clerkship were randomly assigned to two groups. Group 1 (n = 67) participated in a 2-h focused breast skills workshop. Group 2 (n = 57) received traditional ambulatory teaching for a period of 4 h in the breast clinic. The focused workshop consisted of a series of encounters concentrating on mammogram and ultrasound interpretation, physical examination skills, lump detection, and workup of a breast mass. Both groups received a didactic core curriculum lecture from surgical faculty. All students completed a satisfaction rating scale and a subset of students completed a pre- and postencounter self-efficacy rating scale on several aspects of breast skills. Student's t test was used to compare the groups in the areas of clinical skills as evidenced by performance on the breast-specific items on the end of the clerkship Objective Structure Clinical Examination and student satisfaction as evidenced by their response on a satisfaction rating scale. ANCOVA (controlling for preencounter self-efficacy rating) was used to compare the change scores between pre- and postencounter self-efficacy ratings. Results. Students in Group 1 performed significantly higher than the students in Group 2 in the areas of clinical examination skills (t = -2.99, P < 0.05); in sensitivity (t = -5.82, P < 0.05) and specificity (t = -7.27, P < 0.05) in the examination of breast models; and with their satisfaction with the encounter (t = 10.72, P < 0.05). Students in Group 1 also demonstrated a higher level of confidence in their breast skills at the end of the clerkship than students in Group 2 (F = 6.22, P < 0.05). Conclusions. The focused breast skills workshop is more effective than the traditional ambulatory setting for teaching clinical breast examination skills. This setting also demonstrated the development of higher confidence in breast skills than the traditional ambulatory setting.
Four Approaches to Commodity Market Stabilization: A Comparative Analysis

The effects of four alternative price stabilization programs for soybeans are compared using a rational expectations model and simulation. For a given government expenditure, subsidized private storage is the most efficient way to stabilize market price. For a given deadweight loss, a program of direct payments is the most efficient stabilizer of the effective farm price; this program does not stabilize market price. All four programs, including a buffer stock program and one involving both direct payments and buffer stocks, tend to destabilize quasi-rent. Programs that involve an initial build-up of stocks increase producer benefits and hurt consumers.
Resonance Raman Characterization of Reaction Centers with an Asp Residue near the Photoactive Bacteriopheophytin

Qy-excitation resonance Raman (RR) studies are reported for a series of Rhodobacter capsulatus reaction centers (RCs) containing mutations at L-polypeptide residue 121 near the photoactive bacteriopheophytin (BPhL). The studies focus on the electronic/structural perturbations of BPhL induced by replacing the native Phe with an Asp residue. Earlier work has shown that the electron-transfer properties of F(L121)D RCs are closely related to those of RCs in which BPhL is replaced by bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) (beta-type RCs) or by pheophytin. In addition to the F(L121)D single mutant, RR studies were performed on the F(L121)D/E(L104)L double mutant, which additionally removes the hydrogen bond between BPhL and the native Glu L104 residue. The vibrational signatures of BPhL in the single and double mutants containing Asp L121 are compared with one another and with those of BPhL in both wild-type and F(L121)L RCs. The replacement of the aromatic Phe residue with Leu has no discernible effect on the vibrational properties of BPhL, a finding in concert with the previously reported absence of an effect of the mutation on the electron-transfer characteristics of the RC. In contrast, replacement of Phe with Asp significantly perturbs the vibrational characteristics of BPhL, and in a manner most consistent with Asp L121 being deprotonated and negatively charged. The negative charge of the carboxyl group of Asp L121 interacts with the pi-electron system of BPhL in a relatively nonspecific fashion, diminishing the contribution of charge-separated resonance forms of the C9-keto group to the electronic structure of the cofactor. The presence of a negative charge near BPhL is consistent with the known photochemistry of F(L121)D RCs, which indicates that the free energy of P+BPhL- is substantially higher than in wild-type RCs.
Let the Market Decide

Regarding the letter “Journal proliferation” from Peter T. Shepherd of Elsevier Science ( Science 's Compass. 21 Aug., p. [1143][1]), it is a risible irony that Elsevier Science, publisher of Tetrahedon Letters , is complaining that competition from a new American Chemical Society (ACS)
Rhabdomyosarcomas in adults: classification and differential diagnosis

Abstract Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. In contrast, RMS is rare in adults, accounting for
Late Quaternary planktonic foraminiferal biostratrigraphy, Strait of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea

Abstract The development of a detailed planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy for the Late Quaternary (latest 180,000 years) has allowed the dating and correlation of sediments from the Strait of Sicily. Principal component analysis of the assemblages has extracted a climatic history similar to that based upon oxygen isotopic oscillations. Intercore correlations are supported by tephrochronology and sapropel layer stratigraphy. Identification of Termination IA and IB in several high sedimentation rate cores indicates that the Mediterranean Sea experienced a two-stage warming during the last deglaciation. Cores collected between water depths of 200 and 600 m contain an erosional hiatus near their tops, reflecting an increase in the Levantine Intermediate Water flow sometime since 25,000 years B.P. and as recently as 7000 years B.P., during deposition of the youngest sapropel layer. A distinct and unusual planktonic foraminiferal succession is associated with sapropel layers. This begins in a protosapropel layer immediately beneath a sapropel horizon and continues upwards to the immediately overlying oxidized layer.
Synthesis of the Neutral (CuF(NC5H5)4)2NbOF5 Cluster

Composition space diagrams can be used to study the stability and variety of mixed transition metal oxide fluorides prepared under hydro(solvato)thermal conditions. Prior to this work the neutral (CuF(NC 5 H 5 ) 4 ) 2 NbOF 5 cluster had not been observed but it was expected because of the nucleophilic character of the oxygen and trans fluorine in the [NbOF 5 ] 2- species. [H 3 O] 2 [(CuF(NC 5 H 5 ) 4 ) 2 NbOF 5 ][F] 2 , a compound containing the 2:1 (Cu: Nb) cluster, was synthesized from the concentration variables, [CuO.0.5 Nb 2 O 5 ], [(HF) x . pyridine], and [H 2 O], by adding a fourth, [pyridine], and extending the composition space from a two-dimensional triangle to a three-dimensional prism. Crystal Data: [H 3 O] 2 [(CuF(NC 5 H 5 ) 4 ) 2 NbOF 5 ][F] 2 , tetragonal, space group I4 1 /acd (no. 142), with a = 24.691(1) A, c = 14.556(1) A, Z = 8.
Disturbed Sleep and Inflammatory Cytokines in Depressed and Nondepressed Pregnant Women: An Exploratory Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes

Objective Disturbed sleep and depression are potential risk factors for pregnancy complications. Both conditions are noted to dysregulate biological pathways responsible for maintaining homeostatic balance and pregnancy health. Depression during pregnancy is associated with poor sleep. Thus, we explored whether disturbed sleep was associated with inflammatory cytokines and risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, as well as whether depression augmented the sleep-cytokine relationship thereby additively contributing to risk for adverse outcomes.
Imaging single-cell signaling dynamics with a deterministic high-density single-cell trap array.

Stochasticity in gene expression, protein or metabolite levels contributes to cell–cell variations, the analysis of which could lead to a better understanding of cellular processes and drug responses. Current technologies are limited in their throughput, resolution (in space, time, and tracking individual cells instead of population average) and the ability to control cellular environment. A few microfluidic tools have been developed to trap and image cells; however, in most designs available to date, there is a compromise among loading efficiency, speed, the ability to trap single cells, and density or number of trapped cells. To meet the needs of single-cell imaging studies, we developed a microfluidic platform for high-throughput capture and imaging of thousands of single cells. The optimized trapping mechanism enables 95% of the traps to be occupied with single cells, with a trap density of 860 traps/mm2. The dense array allows up to 800 cells to be imaged simultaneously with a 4x objective and a typi...
An academic radiology information system (RIS): a review of the commercial RIS systems, and how an individualized academic RIS can be created and utilized.

Current commercial radiology information systems (RIS) are designed for scheduling, billing, charge collection, and report dissemination. Academic institutions have additional requirements for their missions for teaching, research and clinical care. The newest versions of commercial RIS offer greater flexibility than prior systems. We sent questionnaires to Cerner Corporation, ADAC Health Care Information Systems, IDX Systems, Per-Se’ Technologies, and Siemens Health Services regarding features of their products. All of the products we surveyed offer user customizable fields. However, most products did not allow the user to expand their product’s data table. The search capabilities of the products varied. All of the products supported the Health Level 7 (HL-7) interface and the use of structured query language (SQL). All of the products were offered with an SQL editor for creating customized queries and custom reports. All products included capabilities for collecting data for quality assurance and included capabilities for tracking “interesting cases,” though they varied in the functionality offered. No product offered dedicated functions for research. Alternatively, radiology departments can create their own client-server Windows-based database systems to supplement the capabilities of commercial systems. Such systems can be developed with “web-enabled” database products like Microsoft Access or Apple Filemaker Pro.
ADAPTING AN EXPERIMENTAL BEAN COOKER FOR AUTOMATIC RECORDING

The experimental bean cooker devised by Mattson and modified by Morris has been modified'electrically so that the operator need not be present during a cooking run. This not only saves time but, with samples that cook relatively rapidly, increases accuracy. When the percentage of beans cooked “done” is plotted against time on log-probability paper, the points fall closely about a straight line. It is believed that the “median cooking time” derived from such a plot represents the cookability of an entire sample somewhat better than does that from the S-shaped curve which results when the data are plotted on rectilinear graph paper.
Severity, satisfaction and symptom resolution in patients of emergency medicine residents.

Emergency department patients treated by first and second year emergency medicine residents were compared with those treated by surgical interns and residents and medical interns and residents to see if emergency medicine residents are exposed to patients with problems that aid in teaching and whether there is a suitable correspondence between patient severity and clinical training level. The Emergency Department Surveillance System at The Johns Hopkins Health Services Research and Development Center was used to gather data. Results indicated emergency medicine residents were exposed to fewer severe medical cases than medical housestaff but saw a significantly greater number of severe surgical cases than surgical interns and residents. Patients reported greater satisfaction with nonemergency medicine residents. Regarding outcome, there was no significant difference among the clinician groups. For all the patients, pain and anxiety levels improved significantly. Although the findings may be specific to The Johns Hopkins Adult Emergency Department, they demonstrate the methods and motivation for examining the training experience offered emergency medicine residents.
Time-dependency of neurohypophyseal peptide attenuation of puromycin amnesia in mice.

[Ile3, Arg8]. vasopressin (arginine-vasotocin), as well as the C-terminal tripeptides of the neurohypophyseal hormones arginine and lysine vasopressin, Pro-Arg-Gly-NH2 and Pro-Lys-Gly-NH2, were protective against puromycin-induced amnesia in mice when administered 24h before training. The N-protected tripeptide derivative, Z-Pro-Lys-Gly-NH2, was effective when given 5 days before training. The effectiveness of all peptides to attenuate puromycin-induced amnesia decreased as the interval between training and peptide treatment increased, indicating that the peptides influence memory processes, rather than general arousal. Z-Pro-Lys-Gly-NH2 was active at 24h after training, when the other peptides were no longer effective. Although it seems clear that neurohypophyseal hormones per se can attenuate puromycin-induced amnesia, these results are in line with the possibility that some portion of hormone action may be mediated via formation of longer-lived hormone fragments in the CNS.
Cardiotoxin from cobra venom increases the level of phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate and phosphatidylinositol kinase activity in two cell lines

Abstract In rat basophilic leukemia-2H3 (RBL-2H3) and Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, cardiotoxin from cobra venom induced a marked decrease in the level of [ 3 H]phosphatidylinositol and a corresponding increase in the level of [ 3 H]phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate over the course of 20 min as demonstrated in cells that had been labeled to equilibrium with [ 3 H]inositol. The effect was dependent on the concentration (5–30 μg/ml) of the toxin. In plasma membrane-enriched fractions isolated from the two cell lines, the cardiotoxin enhanced the endogenous activity of phosphatidylinositol kinase especially at temperatures above 14°C. In RBL-2H3 cells, cardiotoxin also induced release of substantial amounts of histamine and lactate dehydrogenase. The release of histamine, but not of lactate dehydrogenase, was totally dependent on external calcium and this release probably represented an exocytotic response of the cells to cardiotoxin. Although, initially, treatment with the toxin did not impair antigen-induced hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids or prevent the antigen-induced rise in the concentration of cytosol Ca 2+ , prolonged exposure to the toxin did result in a progressive loss of responsiveness of RBL-2H3 cells to antigen.
Regional differences in the fescue toxicosis response of Bos taurus cattle.

Cattle of the same breed from different regions of the USA may have altered responses to heat stress and fescue toxicosis. Angus steers from Missouri (MO ANG, n = 10, 513.6 ± 13.6 kg BW) and Oklahoma (OK ANG, n = 10, 552.8 ± 12.0 kg BW) were fed a diet containing either endophyte-infected (E+, 30 μg ergovaline/kg BW/day) or endophyte-uninfected (E−, 0 μg ergovaline/kg BW/day) tall fescue seed for 23 days. Diet treatment began on day 2. Animals were maintained at thermoneutrality (TN, 19–22 °C, days 1–8) and then exposed to heat stress (HS, cycling 26–36 °C, days 9–22). On day 23, ambient temperature was returned to TN and used as a recovery day. Feed intake (FI) was measured daily, with rectal and skin temperatures determined six times daily. Feed intake reduction from pretreatment levels was greater (P < 0.01) for E + (13.9 ± 0.9 versus 11.9 ± 0.3 kg/day) compared to E − (12.6 ± 0.9 versus 12.4 ± 0.3 kg/day) steers over the entire TN period, regardless of Angus group. During HS, E + cattle had reduced FI (P < 0.02; 6.9 ± 0.2 versus 8.4 ± 0.2 kg/day) compared to E − animals, independent of region of origin. A greater decrease in FI (P < 0.01) was observed for OK (12.1 ± 0.3 versus 6.2 ± 0.2 kg/day) compared to MO ANG (12.2 ± 0.3 versus 7.9 ± 0.2 kg/day) when ambient temperature was increased from TN to HS. On day 13 and days 15–22, OK ANG (E+) had reduced FI (P < 0.01, −2.21 kg) compared to OK ANG (E−), while there was no effect on MO ANG. From day 12 to day 22 of HS, daily minimum temperatures for ear, rump, and tail skin were less for E + (P < 0.05) when compared with E−treated steers, signifying peripheral vasoconstriction in E + animals. This was supported by reduced shoulder and lower tail temperatures (P < 0.01) for E + compared to E−treated OK ANG on the recovery day. In summary, regional differences in the response to fescue toxicosis exist, with peripheral vasomotor effects becoming most evident when animals are subjected to rapid changes in their environment.
The fate of low grade dysplasia in ulcerative colitis

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The optimal strategy for the management of definite low grade dysplasia (LGD) detected in surveillance in ulcerative colitis (UC) is unknown, because the natural history of LGD has not been well described. METHODS: We reviewed the Mayo Clinic records of patients with UC found to have flat LGD between 1990 and 1993 in whom a nonoperative strategy was pursued for 2 months or more. RESULTS: Eighteen patients with UC and LGD were observed for a median of 32 months. Nine of 18 patients identified with UC and LGD developed advanced neoplastic lesions during follow-up, which were defined as adenocarcinoma, raised dysplasia, or high grade dysplasia. The cumulative incidence of progression to an advanced lesion was 33% at 5 yr (95% CI = 9–56%). Only one patient developed adenocarcinoma, diagnosed 74 months after his initial finding of LGD and 20 months after his last surveillance exam. Besides this patient, adenocarcinoma was not detected in the colectomy specimens of 13 other patients who underwent surgery. Colectomies were performed for dysplasia or cancer in seven patients, active colitis in five patients, and unknown reasons in two patients. Four patients did not have colectomies. CONCLUSIONS: Neoplastic progression in patients with UC and LGD is common. Total proctocolectomy should be offered to all patients with flat LGD. Our study illustrates numerous pitfalls in the practice of surveillance.
Privacy and the news media

The right of the public to know and the right of the individual to be let alone are inherently in conflict. The origins of these rights are quite different: the former derived from the First Amendment's protection of a free press, the latter in a law journal article published in the late nineteenth century. So, too, has the development of these ideas followed different paths: the former as Constitutional law, the latter as tort law. This article examines the relationship between privacy law and the press. A century ago two lawyers called for legal relief from aggressive newspaper reporters. At the present time, the development of electronic media, and struggles over group identities have given privacy concerns a new life and new urgency.
Two-phase whole-body skeletal scintigraphy in children—revisiting the usefulness of the early blood pool phase

The usefulness of whole-body blood pool imaging as part of Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate (MDP) skeletal scintigraphy in detection of marrow infiltrative processes and unexpected soft-tissue and visceral abnormalities is demonstrated via illustrative case examples. Technical aspects of this simple and fast scanning technique are also highlighted.