cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mapping of a syndrome of X-linked thrombocytopenia with thalassemia to band Xp11-12: further evidence of genetic heterogeneity of X-linked thrombocytopenia

X-linked thrombocytopenia with thalassemia (XLTT; Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man [OMIM] accession number 314050) is a rare disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia, platelet dysfunction, splenomegaly, reticulocytosis, and unbalanced hemoglobin chain synthesis. In a 4-generation family, the gene responsible for XLTT was mapped to the X chromosome, short arm, bands 11-12 (band Xp11-12). The maximum lod score possible in this family, 2.39, was obtained for markers DXS8054 and DXS1003, at a recombination fraction of 0. Recombination events observed for XLTT and markers DXS8080 and DXS8023 or DXS991 define a critical region that is less than or equal to 7.65 KcM and contains the gene responsible for the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS; OMIM accession number 301000) and its allelic variant X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT; OMIM accession number 313900). Manifestations of WAS include thrombocytopenia, eczema, and immunodeficiency. In WAS/XLT the platelets are usually small, and bleeding is proportional to the degree of thrombocytopenia. In contrast, in XLTT the platelet morphology is normal, and the bleeding time is disproportionately prolonged. In this study no alteration in the WAS gene was detected by Northern blot or Western blot analysis, flow cytometry, or complimentary DNA dideoxynucleotide fingerprinting or sequencing. As has been reported for WAS and some cases of XLT, almost total inactivation of the XLTT gene-bearing X chromosome was observed in granulocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 1 asymptomatic obligate carrier. The XLTT carrier previously found to have an elevated alpha:beta hemoglobin chain ratio had a skewed, but not clonal, X-inactivation pattern favoring activity of the abnormal allele. Clinical differences and results of the mutation analyses make it very unlikely that XLTT is another allelic variant of WAS/XLT and strongly suggest that X-linked thrombocytopenia mapping to band Xp11-12 is a genetically heterogeneous disorder.
On the propagation of a coupled saturation and pressure front

[1] Using an asymptotic technique, valid for a medium with smoothly varying heterogeneity, I derive an expression for the velocity of a propagating, coupled saturation and pressure front. The asymptotic approach produces an explicit expression for the slowness, the inverse of the velocity, of a propagating two-phase front. Because of the nonlinearity of the governing equations, the velocity of the propagating front depends upon the magnitude of the saturation and pressure changes across the front in addition to the properties of the medium. Thus, the expression must be evaluated in conjunction with numerical reservoir simulation. The slowness is governed by the background saturation distribution, the saturation-dependent component of the fluid mobility, the porosity, the permeability, the capillary pressure function, the medium compressibility, and the ratio of the slopes of the relative permeability curves. Numerical simulation of water injection into a porous layer saturated with a nonaqueous phase liquid indicates that two modes of propagation are important. The fastest mode of propagation is a disturbance that is dominated by the change in fluid pressure. This is followed, much later, by a coupled mode associated with a much larger saturation change. These two modes are also observed in a numerical simulation using a heterogeneous porous layer. A comparison between the propagation times estimated from the results of the numerical simulation and predictions from the asymptotic expression indicates overall agreement.
Biochemical basis of vocal fold mobilization after microflap surgery in a rabbit model.

Objectives/Hypothesis To investigate phonation-related extracellular matrix (ECM) changes in the vocal fold lamina propria after microflap surgery using an in vivo rabbit phonation model. Study Design Prospective animal study. Methods Twenty-four New Zealand White rabbits were used in this study. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate alterations in vocal fold ECM proinflammatory and profibrotic gene, and protein expression from a control group of animals receiving a microflap without phonation and a separate group of animals receiving experimentally induced phonation on postmicroflap days 0, 3, and 7. Results IHC demonstrated the highest concentration of CD45 in vocal folds on postoperative day 0. Staining for CD45 was absent by postoperative day 7, with no differences in CD45 staining between groups. Fibronectin gene expression increased significantly on postoperative day 3 in the control and experimentally induced phonation groups, with maximal staining of fibronectin around the microflap incision on postoperative day 7. No alterations in cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-1β, and transforming growth factor-β1 gene expression were observed between groups. Conclusions Results of the present study revealed an acute inflammatory response in the vocal fold at the time of microflap (day 0) and up to 3 days post-microflap. By post-operative day 3, staining of CD45 positive cells decreased, with essentially no evidence of inflammation by post-operative day 7. With the end of the acute inflammatory response occurring around day 3, these data may provide support for mobilizing tissue after inflammation has subsided and the process of active tissue remodeling has ensued (days 3–7). Level of Evidence N/A. Laryngoscope, 124:487–493, 2014
Synthesis of H/sub 2/ optimal controllers for sampled-data systems

The authors consider an H/sub 2/ optimal control problem for sampled-data systems. After defining an H/sub 2/ norm for sampled-data systems, they give a state-space solution to the optimal controller synthesis problem. They show that the H/sub 2/ optimal control problem for a sampled-data system is equivalent to a standard H/sub 2/ optimal control problem for a related discrete-time system. >
Cardiac Interpretation of Pediatric Chest X-Ray

The cardiac silhouette occupies 50–55% of the chest width on an anterior–posterior chest X-ray When assessing the cardiovascular system on a chest X-ray, the following must be noted: The size of the heart (small, normal, or large) The contours of the heart reflecting various cardiovascular components which can be enlarged, absent, or displaced The Pulmonary vascularity which can be diminished, normal, or increased Many newborn children appear to have cardiomegaly when in fact the thymus is contributing to the “cardio-thymic shadow”. The lateral view of CXR can separate this from true cardiomegaly. An enlarged heart coupled with an increase in pulmonary vascular markings can be indicative of left to right shunting such as with ASD, VSD, and PDA.
Expression and induction of an immunochemically related class of glutathione S-transferases in Daphnia magna

The cytosolic glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are dimeric enzymes that are responsible for the conjugation of glutathione to an electrophilic center of a variety of lipophilic compounds. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the GSTs of Daphnia magna with respect to enzyme multiplicity, molecular weight, isoelectric points, and immunochemical distinction and to determine the inducibility of these enzymes by the prototypical mammalian GST inducer, phenobarbital. GSTs were purified from crude cystosols prepared from daphnids by glutathione-sepharose affinity chromatography. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the affinity purified GSTs revealed the presence of multiple subunits with molecular weights ranging from 26.9 to 30.2 kDa. Preparative electrofocusing separated GST activity into three major fractions having approximate isoelectric points of 4.5, 4.8 and 5.6. All of the catalytically active fractions contained a single protein band of the same molecular weight (30.2 kDa) during SDS-PAGE. A monoclonal antibody, prepared against the affinity-purified GST proteins, recognized three distinct proteins separated during analytical-scale isoelectric focusing (pI 4.6, 4.7 and 4.8). These proteins may represent a class of GSTs distinct from the GST having a pI of 5.6. Treatment of daphnids with phenobarbital elevated both GST catalytic activity and immunodetectable protein. These results demonstrate that multiple immunochemically related proteins of the same molecular weight but varying isoelectric points are responsible for most of the GST catalytic activity with the substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene.
Efficacy of Sunitinib and Radiotherapy in Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Soft-tissue Sarcoma

Purpose Sunitinib (SU) is a multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptors. The present study examined SU and radiotherapy (RT) in a genetically engineered mouse model of soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Methods and Materials Primary extremity STSs were generated in genetically engineered mice. The mice were randomized to treatment with SU, RT (10 Gy × 2), or both (SU+RT). Changes in the tumor vasculature before and after treatment were assessed in vivo using fluorescence-mediated tomography. The control and treated tumors were harvested and extensively analyzed. Results The mean fluorescence in the tumors was not decreased by RT but decreased 38–44% in tumors treated with SU or SU+RT. The control tumors grew to a mean of 1378 mm 3 after 12 days. SU alone or RT alone delayed tumor growth by 56% and 41%, respectively, but maximal growth inhibition (71%) was observed with the combination therapy. SU target effects were confirmed by loss of target receptor phosphorylation and alterations in SU-related gene expression. Cancer cell proliferation was decreased and apoptosis increased in the SU and RT groups, with a synergistic effect on apoptosis observed in the SU+RT group. RT had a minimal effect on the tumor microvessel density and endothelial cell-specific apoptosis, but SU alone or SU+RT decreased the microvessel density by >66% and induced significant endothelial cell apoptosis. Conclusion SU inhibited STS growth by effects on both cancer cells and tumor vasculature. SU also augmented the efficacy of RT, suggesting that this combination strategy could improve local control of STS.
Cephalopod Ink: Production, Chemistry, Functions and Applications

One of the most distinctive and defining features of coleoid cephalopods—squid, cuttlefish and octopus—is their inking behavior. Their ink, which is blackened by melanin, but also contains other constituents, has been used by humans in various ways for millennia. This review summarizes our current knowledge of cephalopod ink. Topics include: (1) the production of ink, including the functional organization of the ink sac and funnel organ that produce it; (2) the chemical components of ink, with a focus on the best known of these—melanin and the biochemical pathways involved in its production; (3) the neuroecology of the use of ink in predator-prey interactions by cephalopods in their natural environment; and (4) the use of cephalopod ink by humans, including in the development of drugs for biomedical applications and other chemicals for industrial and other commercial applications. As is hopefully evident from this review, much is known about cephalopod ink and inking, yet more striking is how little we know. Towards closing that gap, future directions in research on cephalopod inking are suggested.
Activity of the purified mutagenesis proteins UmuC, UmuD', and RecA in replicative bypass of an abasic DNA lesion by DNA polymerase III.

Abstract The introduction of a replication-inhibiting lesion into the DNA of Escherichia coli generates the induced, multigene SOS response. One component of the SOS response is a marked increase in mutation rate, dependent on RecA protein and the induced mutagenesis proteins UmuC and UmuD. A variety of previous indirect approaches have indicated that SOS mutagenesis results from replicative bypass of the DNA lesion by DNA polymerase III (pol III) holoenzyme in a reaction mediated by RecA, UmuC, and a processed form of UmuD termed UmuD'. To study the biochemistry of SOS mutagenesis, we have reconstituted replicative bypass with a defined in vitro system containing purified protein and a DNA substrate with a single abasic DNA lesion. The replicative bypass reaction requires pol III, UmuC, UmuD', and RecA. The nonprocessed UmuD protein does not replace UmuD' but inhibits the bypass activity of UmuD', perhaps by sequestering UmuD' in a heterodimer. Our experiments demonstrate directly that the UmuC-UmuD' complex and RecA act to rescue an otherwise stalled pol III holoenzyme at a replication-blocking DNA lesion.
Suppurative complications of acute otitis media in the era of antibiotic resistance

Objective To review our experience with suppurative complications of acute otitis media (AOM) in the era of antibiotic resistance, given a perceived increase in the number of such cases in recent years requiring surgical intervention. Design Retrospective review of pediatric patients presenting with suppurative complications of AOM from January 1993 to June 2000. Setting Academic tertiary care children's medical center. Patients A total of 90 pediatric patients, ranging in age from 3 months to 16 years (mean age, 45 months). Results A total of 104 suppurative complications of AOM occurred in 90 patients over the 7.5-year study period. The incidence of noncoalescent, coalescent, and total cases of mastoiditis and total number of suppurative complications all increased over the study period, with coalescent outpacing noncoalescent disease during the last 3 years of the study. A trend toward an increasing number of cases requiring surgical intervention was noted during the study period, corresponding to an increasing number of resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates. Ten of 16 S pneumoniae isolates were resistant, primarily collected from younger children ranging in age from 4 to 24 months (mean age, 11.9 months). Conclusion The rising incidence of resistant S pneumoniae corresponded to the increasing number of suppurative complications of AOM during the study period and seemed to contribute to more aggressive infectious processes requiring surgical intervention.
Modeling Unusual Behavior of Parallel Algorithms

A probabilistic model of a class of parallel programs is used to investigate the counterintuitive behavior observed for some parallel algorithms. Two main points are made: 1) it may, in general, be beneficial to consider using more logical processes than physical processors in a parallel algorithm; and 2) results from order statistics are useful tools in analyzing parallel systems.
The Rand experiment and economical health care.

Does prepaid group practice actually reduce the cost of health care, or are the apparent reductions the result of a favorable selection of health risks? About 40 comparison studies have found that prepaid group practices reduce per capita cost some 10 to 40 per cent, largely as a result of a 25 to 45 per cent reduction in hospital use.1 Although these findings have been replicated in many different employee groups and in studies that controlled for age and sex and sometimes tested for measurable differences in health status, the suspicion has always remained that somehow these savings might be . . .
Full-frame programmable spectral filters based on micro-mirror arrays

Rapidly programmable micro-mirror arrays, such as the DLP® digital micro-mirror device (DMD), have opened an exciting new arena in spectral imaging: rapidly reprogrammable, high spectral resolution, multi-band spectral filters that perform spectral processing directly in the optical hardware. Such a device is created by placing a DMD at the spectral plane of an imaging spectrometer, and using it as a spectral selector that passes some wavelengths down the optical train to the final image and rejects others. While simple in concept, realizing a truly practical DMD-based spectral filter has proved challenging. Versions described to date have been limited by the intertwining of image position and spectral propagation direction common to most imaging spectrometers, reducing these instruments to line-by-line scanning imagers rather than true spectral cameras that collect entire two-dimensional images at once. Here we report several optical innovations that overcome this limitation and allow us to construct full-frame programmable filters that spectrally manipulate every pixel, simultaneously and without spectral shifts, across a full 2D image. So far, our prototype, which can be programmed either as a matched-filter imager for specific target materials or as a fully hyperspectral multiplexing Hadamard transform imager, has demonstrated over 100 programmable spectral bands while maintaining good spatial image quality. We discuss how diffraction-mediated trades between spatial and spectral resolution determine achievable performance. Finally, we describe methods for dealing with the DLP’s 2D diffractive effects, and suggest a simple modification to the DLP that would eliminate their impact for this application.
Airline deregulation and the impact on stock prices of major surviving carriers

Abstract This paper examines the effects of deregulation on stock price movements for the major surviving carriers in the airline industry. Linear transfer function model building procedures are used to define the dynamic relationships between price changes in the market and price changes in airline stocks. Analysis confirms that stock price changes in the airline industry are less sensitive to price changes in the market following the industry deregulation of 1978. The importance of the joint estimation of transfer function parameters and outlier effects is also illustrated.
Gravitational collapse of a Paleoproterozoic orogen, southern Hualapai Mountains, Arizona

Abstract Recent recognition of pervasively migmatized gneisses in the southern Hualapai Mountains raises questions about the origin and consequences of crustal anatexis in Proterozoic rocks of northwestern Arizona. This study uses structural and metamorphic data from a small but well-exposed area of the southern Hualapai Mountains to constrain the tectonic history of and elucidate partial-melting processes in the boundary zone between the Paleoproterozoic Mojave and Yavapai crustal provinces. Based on field observations, structural data, and thermobarometry a multiphase history is inferred for the southern Hualapais. Pre-D 1 crust may have experienced heating related to extension. Subhorizontal fabrics (S 0 /S 1 ) formed initially during thrusting and crustal thickening associated with the regional D 1 of the Mojave and Yavapai provinces, which has been recognized elsewhere in northwestern Arizona at 1740–1720 Ma. Supracrustal sediments were buried to depths greater than 26–34 km, where they underwent partial melting at temperatures of 800 °C. Large-volume melting eventually destabilized the D 1 crust and promoted gravitational collapse. Rocks from the deepest parts of the D 1 orogen were tectonically exhumed to less than 12 km. Subhorizontal fabrics developed during D 1 thrusting were reactivated during exhumation (S 1 /S 2 ). The southern Hualapais field area shows evidence for only minor structural overprinting during later regional D 2 event (Ivanpah-Yavapai orogeny).
Acceleration Factors for Thin Gate Oxide Stressing

Time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) data for 100A of thermally grown SiO2 has been analyzed using an Eyring model based on thermodynamic free energy considerations. The model describes well the following features of the data: (1) an apparent activation energy which is a function of the stressing electric field and (2) a field acceleration parameter that is a function of temperature. Quantitatively, the model suggests the proper field dependence for the activation energy and the observed temperature dependence of the field acceleration in the 100A oxide material. The apparent activation energy is found to decrease from > leV at low field stressing (Eb(50%) - Es > 5 MV/cm) to <0.3eV at higher fields Eb(50%)- Es < 3 MV/cm). Also, the field acceleration was found to be approximately 6 decades/MV/cm at room temperature but reduces to 2 decades/MV/cm at 150C.
Eating disorders in collegiate female athletes: factors that assist recovery.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that assist female athletes’ recovery from eating disorders. Forty-seven female collegiate athletes who experienced eating disorders responded to an open-ended question regarding factors that most helped their recovery. The most common factors were the desire to be healthy enough to perform in sport, support from others, and shifts in values/beliefs. A unique finding was that the desire to be healthy enough to perform in sport most frequently facilitated recovery. This knowledge can help treatment providers to foster athletes’ motivation to recover and distinguishes athletes as a unique treatment population from non-athletes.
Cumulative exposure to stimulants and immune function outcomes among HIV-positive and HIV-negative men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study

We examined associations between stimulant use (methamphetamine and cocaine) and other substances (nicotine, marijuana, alcohol, inhaled nitrites) with immune function biomarkers among HIV-seropositive (HIV+) men using highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART) and -seronegative (HIV−) men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). Among HIV+ men, cumulative adherence to ART (4.07, 95% CI: 3.52, 4.71, per 10 years of adherent HAART use), and recent cohort enrollment (1.38; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.55) were multiplicatively associated with increases in CD4+/CD8+ ratios. Cumulative use of methamphetamine (0.93; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.98, per 10 use years), cocaine (0.93; 95% CI: 0.89, 0.96, per 10 use years), and cumulative medical visits (0.99; 95% CI: 0.98, 0.99, per 10 visit years), each showed small negative associations with CD4+/CD8+ ratios. Among HIV- men, cumulative medical visits (0.996; 95% CI: 0.993, 0.999), cumulative number of male sexual partners (0.999; 95% CI: 0.998, 0.9998, per 10 partner years) and cigarette pack years (1.10; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.18, per 10 pack years) were associated with CD4+/CD8+ ratios over the same period. ART adherence is associated with a positive immune function independent of stimulant use, underscoring the influence of ART on immune health for HIV+ men who engage in stimulant use.
Integrated Analysis Reveals hsa-miR-142 as a Representative of a Lymphocyte-Specific Gene Expression and Methylation Signature.

Abstract: Gene expression profiling has provided insights into different cancer types and revealed tissue-specific expression signatures. Alterations in microRNA expression contribute to the pathogenesis of many types of human diseases. Few studies have integrated all levels of gene expression, miRNA and methylation to uncover correlations between these data types. We performed an integrated profiling to discover instances of miRNAs associated with a gene expression and DNA methylation signature across multiple cancer types. Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we revealed a concordant gene expression and methylation signature associated with the microRNA hsa-miR-142 across the same samples. In all cancer types examined, we found a signature of co-expression of a gene set R and methylated sites M, which correlate positively (M+) or negatively (M-) with the expression of hsa-miR-142. The set R consistently contains many genes, such as TRAF3IP3, NCKAP1L, CD53, LAPTM5, PTPRC, EVI2B, DOCK2, LCP2, CYBB and FYB. The signature is preserved across glioblastoma, ovarian, breast, colon, kidney, lung, uterine and rectum cancer. There is 28% overlap of methylation sites in M between glioblastoma (GBM) and ovarian cancer. There is 60% overlap of genes in R between GBM and ovarian (P = 1.3e11). Most of the genes in R are known to be expressed in lymphocytes and haematopoietic stem cells, while M reflects membrane proteins involved in cell-cell adhesion functions. We speculate that the hsa-miR-142 associated signature may signal haematopoietic-specific processes and an accumulation of methylation events triggering a progressive loss of cell-cell adhesion. We also observed that GBM samples belonging to the proneural subtype tend to have underexpressed hsa-miR-142 and R genes, hypomethylated M+ and hypermethylated M-, while the mesenchymal samples have the opposite profile.
Optimal quantum circuits for general two-qubit gates

In order to demonstrate nontrivial quantum computations experimentally, such as the synthesis of arbitrary entangled states, it will be useful to understand how to decompose a desired quantum computation into the shortest possible sequence of one-qubit and two-qubit gates. We contribute to this effort by providing a method to construct an optimal quantum circuit for a general two-qubit gate that requires at most 3 controlled-NOT (CNOT) gates and 15 elementary one-qubit gates. Moreover, if the desired two-qubit gate corresponds to a purely real unitary transformation, we provide a construction that requries at most 2 CNOT and 12 one-qubit gates. We then prove that these constructions are optimal with respect to the family of CNOT, $y$-rotation, $z$-rotation, and phase gates.
Mechanisms of chain folding in nucleic acids. The (ω′,ω) plot and its correlation to the nucleotide geometry in yeast tRNAPhe1

The (omega', omega) polot depicting the internucleotide P-O bond rotation angles in yeast phenylalanyl transfer RNA has established the interdependence of the phosphodiesters and the nucleotide geometries in the folding of the polynucleotide backbone. The plot distinguishes the regions characteristic of secondary helical structures and tertiary structural loops and bends. The folding of the polynucleotide chain is accomplished either solely by rotations around the P-O bonds or in concert with rotations around the nucleotide C4'-C5' bond with or without changes in the sugar ring pucker. In spite of differences in nucleotide sequence and intraloop tertiary interactions in the anticodon and pseudouridine loops, a characteristic repeating structural unit is found for the sugar-phosphate backbone of the tetranucleotide segment around the sharp turns.
Nondestructive indices of mercury exposure in three species of turtles occupying different trophic niches downstream from a former chloralkali facility

Turtles are useful for studying bioaccumulative pollutants such as mercury (Hg) because they have long life spans and feed at trophic levels that result in high exposure to anthropogenic chemicals. We compared total Hg con- centrations in blood and toenails of three species of turtles (Chelydra serpentina, Sternotherus odoratus, and Grapte- mys geographica) with different feeding ecologies from locations up- and downstream of a superfund site in Vir- ginia, USA. Mercury concentrations in turtle tissues were low at the reference site (average ± 1SE: blood = 48 ± 6n g g -1 ; nail = 2,464 ± 339 ng g -1 FW) but rose near the contamination source to concentrations among the highest ever reported in turtles (up to 1,800 ng g -1 (blood) and 42,250 ng g -1 (nail) FW). Tissue concentrations remained elevated *130 km downstream from the source compared to reference concentrations. Tissue Hg concen- trations were higher for C. serpentina and S. odoratus than G. geographica, consistent with the feeding ecology and our stable isotope (d 13 C and d 15 N) analyses of these species. In addition, we suggest that toenails were a better indication of Hg exposure than blood, probably because this keratin- ized tissue represents integrated exposure over time. Our results demonstrate that downstream transport of Hg from point sources can persist over vast expanses of river thereby posing potential exposure risks to turtles, but relative exposure varies with trophic level. In addition, our study identifies turtle toenails as a simple, cost-efficient, and minimally invasive tissue for conservation-minded sam- pling of these long-lived vertebrates.
Quantitation of epinephrine and norepinephrine secretion from individual adrenal medullary cells by microcolumn high-performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract The cellular response of individual adrenal medullary cells to a prolonged stimulation with carbamylcholine (carbachol) was studied using microcolumn high-performance liquid chromatography (MHPLC) with electrochemical detection. Chromaffin cells will not release all of their catecholamine stores when continuously exposed to a secretagogue. The process of desensitization prevents the continued release of catecholamines after a certain percentage of chemical stores have been depleted. The percentage of a cell's chemical stores released upon stimulation was determined, and whether there is a difference in release between the cell types was examined. A single cell was exposed to a stimulation solution for 5.0 min at 25°C. Approximately 80% of the solution was removed and analyzed on a microcolumn reversed-phase chromatography column. A lysing solution was immediately added to the miniaturized vial which still contained the cell, and this solution was also analyzed chromatographically. The first run was used to determine the amount of catecholamine the cell released upon stimulation. The second run determined the amount of catecholamine that remained in the cell. From these values the percentage of catecholamine released was calculated. Twenty-seven individual cells were studied by this method, and 22 could be classified as norepinephrine or epinephrine dominant. There was no statistical difference in the amount of catecholamine the norepinephrine dominant cells released (14 ± 5%, n = 11) as compared to the epinephrine dominant cells (12 ± 4%, n = 11).
CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS/ELECTROSPRAY IONIZATION HIGH MASS ACCURACY TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS SPECTROMETRY FOR PROTEIN IDENTIFICATION USING PEPTIDE MAPPING

Capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ionization (CE/ESI) high mass accuracy time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used for the first time to characterize small proteins using peptide mapping. To identify small proteins, the intact proteins were first analyzed to obtain their average molecular weights with errors less than 1 Da. On-line capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry of the tryptic digests of these small proteins was then performed to obtain the accurate molecular weights of the peptides with accuracies of approximately 10 ppm. Next, this information was used for the identification of the proteins using a protein database. It was found that high mass accuracy is an effective tool in reducing the list of most-likely proteins generated by the database. In addition, on-line collision-induced dissociation of the completely or partially resolved capillary electrophoresis peaks of the protein digests was used to unambiguously identify the sequences of these peptides. Each CE/ESI-MS analysis used only 5 nL of sample containing approximately 120 fmol of each peptide in protein digests. The results indicate that the combination of capillary electrophoresis and high resolution, high mass accuracy time-of-flight mass spectrometry is a viable option for the identification of small proteins using peptide mapping. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detection of Single Nucleotide Mismatches via Fluorescent Polymer Superquenching

An improved assay for the detection of a 20-mer DNA sequence coding for the Anthrax Lethal Factor sequence that utilizes fluorescence superquenching and peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) is reported. The basis for this assay is a microsphere sensor that is coated with both Neutravidin (a biotin-binding protein) and biotinylated poly(phenylene)ethynylene (a fluorescent conjugated polymer). A 15-mer PNA tethered through its N-terminus to a biotin serves as a capture ligand for DNA oligonucleotides. When mixed, the PNAs and microspheres form a strong complex through the biotin−avidin interaction, creating a sensor for DNA detection. The 20-mer DNA target strand and a 17-mer DNA-QTL (QTL = quencher tether ligand, where the quencher is a QSY-7 label at the 3‘-terminus of the DNA strand) of a similar sequence to the target strand are then used to develop an assay for DNA detection. A sequential addition of target, followed by DNA-QTL, yields a sensitive and selective assay for DNA detection. This study compares PNA ...
Student Evaluation of Instructor: A Nomological Investigation Using Structural Equation Modeling:

Structural equation modeling is used to examine the nomological relationships between the five latent constructs that comprise the Student Instructional Rating System (SIRS), a widely used student evaluation of instructor form. Our results indicate that input factors, that is, course organization and student-instructor interaction, influence the endogenous factors, that is, instructor involvement and student interest, in a positive manner. However, the factor—course demands affects these endogenous factors in a negative manner. In addition, course demands is also negatively associated with the other two input factors. Despite their apparent intuitive appeal, users of student evaluation forms often ignore these relationships. The authors hope that users of student evaluation forms take these relationships between the latent constructs into account when using the results.
On some inversion formulas for Riesz potentials and k-plane transforms

New proofs are given to some approximate and explicit inversion formulas for the Riesz potentials. The results are applied to reconstruction of functions from their integrals over k-dimensional planes in ℝ n .
The appraisal and management of uncertainty: Implications for information-retrieval systems

Abstract Uncertainty is an important idea in information-retrieval (IR) research, but the concept has yet to be fully elaborated and explored. Common assumptions about uncertainty are (a) that it is a negative (anxiety-producing) state and (b) that it will be reduced through information search and retrieval. Research in the domain of uncertainty in illness, however, has demonstrated that uncertainty is a complex phenomenon that shares a complicated relationship with information. Past research on people living with HIV and individuals who have tested positive for genetic risk for different illnesses has revealed that information and the reduction of uncertainty can, in fact, produce anxiety, and that maintaining uncertainty can be associated with optimism and hope. We review the theory of communication and uncertainty management and offer nine principles based on that theoretical work that can be used to influence IR system design. The principles reflect a view of uncertainty as a multi-faceted and dynamic experience, one subject to ongoing appraisal and management efforts that include interaction with and use of information in a variety of forms.
Validity of Amino Terminal pro-Brain Natiuretic Peptide in a Medically Complex Elderly Population

Background: The routine use of natiuretic peptides in severely dyspneic patients has recently been called into question. We hypothesized that the diagnostic utility of Amino Terminal pro Brain Natiuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) is diminished in a complex elderly population. Methods : We studied 502 consecutive patients in whom NT-proBNP values were obtained to evaluate severe dyspnea in the emergency department. The diagnostic utility of NT-proBNP for the diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) was assessed utilizing several published guidelines, as well as the manufacturer’s suggested age dependent cut-off points. Results : The area under the receiver operator curve (AUC) for NT-proBNP was 0.70. Using age-related cut points, the diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP for the diagnosis of CHF was below prior reports (70% vs. 83%). Age and estimated creatinine clearance correlated directly with NT-proBNP levels, while hematocrit correlated inversely. Both age > 50 years and to a lesser extent hematocrit NT-proBNP , while renal function had no effect. In multivariate analysis, a prior history of CHF was the best predictor of current CHF, odds ratio ( OR ) = 45; CI : 23-88. Conclusions : The diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP for the evaluation of CHF appears less robust in an elderly population with a high prevalence of prior CHF. Age and hematocrit levels, may adversely affect the diagnostic accuracy off NT-proBNP . doi:10.4021/jocmr 606 w
Denial Malpractice Liability Insurance MarketSurveys of Insurers and Insurance Commissioners

Survey shows a highly concentrated insurance market with room for increased competition. Surveys of malpractice insurers and state insurance commissioners in 1992 show a highly concentrated market with opportunities for greater competition. Fewer than 50 firms write coverage nationally. Weighted premiums for $1 million/S3 million coverage vary across U.S. census divisions from $1,700 in the South to $3,000 in the Northeast. These data may be of interest to practitioners who purchase insurance and will aid dental associations in effectively participating in revisions of malpractice liability statutes as part of overall health care reform.
Discretionary unplanned buying in consumer society

This paper addresses a disjunction between consumer behaviour discourse about ‘impulse buying’ and the reality of shopper behaviour in contemporary marketing and retail environments, by revising the concept of unplanned buying. ‘Discretionary unplanned buying’ is distinguished from impulse buying and is argued to be part of the core meaning of a ‘consumer society’. Consumers buy goods and services with discretionary income intentionally, but without prior planning. It is suggested that such purchases account for a significant portion of the excitement and the ‘hedonic’ satisfaction that consumers receive from their consumption purchases, both in the present day and historically. Consumer experiences as well as the historical development of retail places and consumer society are considered. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hexosamine analogs: from metabolic glycoengineering to drug discovery

Metabolic glycoengineering, a technique pioneered almost two decades ago wherein monosaccharide analogs are utilized to install non-natural sugars into the glycocalyx of mammalian cells, has undergone a recent flurry of advances spurred by efforts to make the methodology more efficient. This article describes the versatility of metabolic glycoengineering, which is a prime example of ‘chemical glycobiology,’ and gives an overview of its capability to endow complex carbohydrates in living cells and animals with interesting (and useful!) functionalities. Then an overview is provided describing how acylated monosaccharides, a class of molecules originally intended to be efficiently-used, membrane-permeable metabolic intermediates, have led to the discovery that a subset of these compounds (e.g. tributanoylated hexosamines) display unanticipated ‘scaffold-dependent’ activities; this finding establishes these molecules as a versatile platform for drug discovery.
Light gluino constituents of hadrons and a global analysis of hadron scattering data

Light strongly interacting supersymmetric particles may be treated as partonic constituents of nucleons in high energy scattering processes. We construct parton distribution functions for protons in which a light gluino is included along with standard model quark, antiquark, and gluon constituents. A global analysis is performed of a large set of data from deep-inelastic lepton scattering, massive lepton pair and vector boson production, and hadron jet production at large values of transverse momentum. Constraints are obtained on the allowed range of gluino mass as a function of the value of the strong coupling strength ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}({M}_{Z})$ determined at the scale of the $Z$ boson mass. We find that gluino masses as small as 10 GeV are admissible provided that ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}({M}_{Z})\ensuremath{\ge}0.12$. Current hadron scattering data are insensitive to the presence of gluinos heavier than $\ensuremath{\sim}100\char21{}150\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$.
Steric Interactions of Valines 1, 5, and 7 in [Valine 5, d-Alanine 8] Gramicidin A Channels

When the central valine residues 6, 7, and 8 of gramicidin A (gA) are shifted by one position, the resulting [Val(5), D-Ala(8)]gA forms right-handed channels with a single-channel conductance and average duration somewhat less than gA channels. The reduction in channel duration has been attributed to steric conflict between the side chains of Val(1) and Val(5) in opposing monomers (Koeppe, R. E. II, D. V. Greathouse, A. Jude, G. Saberwal, L. L. Providence, and O. S. Andersen. 1994. J. Biol. Chem. 269:12567-12576). To investigate the orientations and motions of valines in [Val(5), D-Ala(8)]gA, we have incorporated (2)H labels at Val 1, 5, or 7 and recorded (2)H-NMR spectra of oriented and nonoriented samples in hydrated dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine. Spectra of nonoriented samples at 4 degrees C reveal powder patterns that indicate rapid side chain "hopping" for Val(5), and an intermediate rate of hopping for Val(1) and Val(7) that is somewhat slower than in gA. Oriented samples of deuterated Val(1) and Val(7) show large changes in the methyl and C(beta)-(2)H quadrupolar splittings (Deltanu(q)) when Ala(5) in native gA is changed to Val(5). Three or more peaks for the Val(1) methyls with Deltanu(q) values that vary with the echo delay, together with an intermediate spectrum for nonoriented samples at 4 degrees C, suggest unusual side chain dynamics for Val(1) in [Val(5), D-Ala(8)]gA. These results are consistent with a steric conflict that has been introduced between the two opposing monomers. In contrast, the acylation of gA has little influence on the side chain dynamics of Val(1), regardless of the identity of residue 5.
I just want your anonymized contacts! benefits and education in security & privacy research

Does participating in privacy research benefit the participant; if so, under what conditions? How do we measure the risk and benefit of participation of privacy and security research? In this paper we describe an experiment in which we requested anonymized information in the form of hashed contacts lists. The response to the request brought forward not only another example of the privacy paradox (people give away contacts for applications but would not sell them anonymized) but also brought forward the question of research as education and awareness. After evaluation our interactions, we developed a proposal for determining if there is a benefit to participating in privacy research. Is there a benefit in privacy awareness or increased security practices for participants in privacy and security research? We sketch a coordinated cross-university study to meet three goals: implement a practical collaborative partnership; investigate the value of security research for participants in terms of education; and enable evaluation of distinct benefit assessments.
OCULAR INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF INTRAVITREALLY INJECTED TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-ALPHA AND ENDOTOXIN

Intravitreal injection of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) induced inflammation in the rabbit eye characterized by dilation of blood vessels in the iris, disruption of the blood-ocular barriers, infiltration of inflammatory cells into the anterior chamber, and accumulation of prostaglandin E in intraocular fluids. Inflammation first appeared on day 1, increased on day 2, and remained elevated on day 7. The inflammatory cell infiltrate in the anterior segment of the eye was largely monocytic on days 1 and 2; by day 7 large numbers of lymphocytes were also present. TNF-induced ocular inflammation therefore differed from that reported for intravitreally injected endotoxin in terms of time course and the types of inflammatory cells in the aqueous humor. In a series of experiments in which combinations of TNF and endotoxin were used, intravitreal injection of TNF, 24 h after a low dose of Escherichia coli endotoxin, produced no more inflammation than that produced by TNF following an injection of endotoxin vehicle. However, if TNF was injected 24 h before endotoxin, the resulting inflammation was greater than that observed in animals given TNF followed by endotoxin vehicle.
Hydropower development in the lower Mekong basin: alternative approaches to deal with uncertainty

Governments in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) face decisions that involve trade-offs between the economic benefits from hydropower generation and potentially irreversible negative impacts on the ecosystems that provide livelihoods and food security to the rural poor. As a means of comparing these trade-offs, a sensitivity analysis of the benefit-cost analysis of certain Basin Development Plan (BDP) scenarios was undertaken. By changing some key assumptions in the BDP about discount rates, the value of lost capture fisheries, future aquaculture production in the LMB, and the value of lost ecosystem services from wetlands to reflect the full range of uncertainty, at the extremes, there could be a reversal of the Net Present Value (NPV) estimates of the scenarios from a positive $33 billion to negative $274 billion. This report recommends when dealing with large-scale, complex projects: a more comprehensive, integrated human and natural systems framework and adaptive management approach to LMB planning and development that deals with the entire watershed; a more comprehensive analysis and treatment of risk and uncertainty; a more thorough assessment of the value of direct and indirect ecosystem services; a broader set of scenarios that embody alternative models of development, broader stakeholder participation; and better treatment of the effects of infrastructure construction on local cultures and the poor.
Assessment, Media Literacy Standards, and Higher Education

Recent assessment trends suggest that those interested in media literacy in higher education will need to clearly define the term and develop standards and competencies to measure media literacy st...
Characterization of SpAPETALA3 and SpPISTILLATA, B class floral identity genes in Spinacia oleracea, and their relationship to sexual dimorphism

Floral organ identity B class genes are generally recognized as being required for development of petals and stamens in angiosperm flowers. Spinach flowers are distinguished in their complete absence of petals in both sexes, and the absence of a developed stamen whorl in female flowers. As such, we hypothesized that differential expression of B class floral identity genes is integral to the sexual dimorphism in spinach flowers. We isolated two spinach orthologs of Arabidopsis B class genes by 3′ and 5′ RACE. Homology assignments were tested by comparisons of percent amino acid identities, searches for diagnostic consensus amino acid residues, conserved motifs, and phylogenetic groupings. In situ hybridization studies demonstrate that both spinach B class genes are expressed throughout the male floral meristem in early stages, and continue to be expressed in sepal primordia in reduced amounts at later stages of development. They are also highly expressed in the third whorl primordia when they arise and continue to be expressed in these tissues through the development of mature anthers. In contrast, neither gene can be detected in any stage in female flowers by in situ analyses, although northern blot experiments indicate low levels of SpAP3 within the inflorescence. The early, strong expressions of both B class floral identity genes in male floral primordia and their absence in female flowers demonstrate that B class gene expression precedes the origination of third whorl primordia (stamen) in males and is associated with the establishment of sexual floral dimorphism as it initiates in the first (sepal) whorl. These observations suggest that regulation of B class floral identity genes has a role in the development of sexual dimorphism and dioecy in spinach rather than being a secondary result of organ abortion.