cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drug-eluting stents are associated with improved outcomes for the treatment of infrainguinal bypass graft stenoses.

Abstract Background Existing endovascular therapies for failing infrainguinal bypass grafts are associated with modest patency rates. The use of everolimus drug-eluting stents (eDESs) for endovascular bypass graft revision has not yet been reported. The objective of this study was to describe and to compare clinical outcomes of eDESs vs percutaneous cutting balloons (PCBs) vs percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for the treatment of infrainguinal bypass graft stenoses. Methods A multicenter, single-institution retrospective analysis of patients with infrainguinal bypass graft stenoses treated by endovascular intervention (August 2010-December 2017) was conducted. The primary study outcome was primary patency of the treated lesion. The secondary outcome was limb salvage. Outcomes are described overall and stratified by endovascular treatment modality using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests. Results During the 7-year study period, 43 patients with 78 infrainguinal bypass stenoses were treated by endovascular intervention (eDES, 15; PCB, 23; PTA, 40). Mean age was 63.3 ± 1.7 years, 53.5% were male, and 55.8% were black. The majority of patients were diabetic (60.5%) with a history of smoking (74.4%), and nearly all (83.7%) had two or more comorbidities. Half (48.7%) of bypasses treated were femoral-popliteal bypasses, followed by popliteal-distal (25.6%) and femoral-tibial (25.6%) configurations. The location of revision was the proximal anastomosis in 37.2%, midbypass in 25.6%, and distal anastomosis in 37.2%. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, bypass configuration, or revision location between treatment groups (P ≥ .19). Technical success for endovascular bypass intervention was 100%. At 2 years after intervention, primary patency was significantly better for patients treated with eDES (81.8%) compared with PCB (54.7%) or PTA (33.2%; log-rank, P = .03). Limb salvage was achieved in 93.6% of patients, including 86.7%, 91.3%, and 97.5% for eDES, PCB, and PTA, respectively (P = .30). Conclusions This is the first study reporting the results of eDESs for the treatment of infrainguinal bypass graft stenoses. Use of eDESs for endovascular bypass graft revision not only is feasible but may have better primary patency than other endovascular therapies. These data suggest that eDESs may be considered a safe and efficacious endovascular technique in the armamentarium for treatment of infrainguinal bypass graft stenoses.
Staged biliary reconstruction after liver transplantation: A novel surgical strategy for high acuity pediatric transplant recipients.

Abstract Introduction Biliary complications after pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation remain causes of significant patient morbidity. Staged operative approach in complex hepatobiliary surgery has improved postoperative outcomes but has not been evaluated in pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation. We sought to analyze the outcomes of staged biliary reconstruction after orthotopic liver transplantation in high acuity patients. Methods A retrospective analysis of 43 pediatric orthotopic liver transplantations at our center (January 2013 through December 2017). Median follow-up was 25 months. Variables were compared for group I: 1-stage orthotopic liver transplantation with biliary anastomosis (n = 6) versus group II: staged biliary reconstruction orthotopic liver transplantation (n = 37). Results Comparing groups I and II, median age (7.3 vs 4.8 years), weight (27 vs 19 kg), proportion of urgent orthotopic liver transplantation (50% vs 65%), partial graft orthotopic liver transplantation (33% vs 35%), and intraoperative red blood cell transfusion volume (11 vs 21 mL/kg) were comparable. Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy was performed in 67% (group I) and 49% (group II). There was no biliary complication in both groups. For groups I and II, 3-year survival rates for graft (100% vs 92%, P = .477) and patient (100% vs 97%, P = .679) were comparable. Conclusion Our study showed excellent outcomes with staged biliary reconstruction orthotopic liver transplantation in high acuity pediatric transplant recipients. This is the first report showing clinical applicability of staged biliary reconstruction orthotopic liver transplantation in children.
Calculation of safe speed and minimally admissible distance of closing of ships during radar information usage

Exceeding the safe speed and the minimum allowable distance when ships approach each other is considered as one of the main reasons for their collision, especially when using radar information when sailing in reduced visibility or in confined areas. When assigning a safe speed, among other factors, the rules recommend to take into account the state of visibility of the maneuverable capabilities of the ship, especially the distance required to completely stop the ship, as well as the characteristics, efficiency and limitations of radar equipment. But, besides the quality recommendations in the COLREGs, there are no quantitative estimates of the safe speed and excessive convergence of the ships. Each navigator subjectively assigns a safe speed and determines the minimum allowable approach distance for ships. Therefore, the development of a universal method for calculating safe speed and the minimum allowable distance when using radar information is relevant, and the method itself is effective when used on ships, especially when sailing in difficult navigation areas and with limited visibility. The developed method allows to automate the choice of safe speed and eliminate the subjective factor when it is appointed navigator
A CROSS-DISORDER GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION STUDY OF ANOREXIA NERVOSA AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Background This work is presented on behalf of the Eating Disorders and Tourette's/Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Working Groups of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric disorder with high mortality and morbidity, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an idiopathic psychiatric condition that often follows a chronic course. Overlap of hallmark symptoms (e.g., compulsivity, cognitive rigidity), notable comorbidity, shared family history, and a high genetic correlation provide converging lines of evidence for shared etiology of AN and OCD, but the biological mechanisms behind this shared risk have yet to be uncovered. The aim of the present study was to examine the shared genetic risk factors for AN and OCD. Methods Under the umbrella of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, we conducted a meta-analysis of the most recent and largest AN and OCD Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWASes) to investigate risk variants common to both disorders. A total of 6,183 cases (3,495 AN and 2,688 OCD) and 18,013 controls were included in the meta-analysis of 8,062,640 variants conducted using METAL through the Ricopili pipeline. Results Although no variant reached genome-wide significance, the closest nearby genes for the variants with p Discussion In this first cross-disorder GWAS for AN and OCD, our preliminary results provide encouraging evidence for the shared genetic architecture of these two psychiatric disorders. Additional approaches such as gene- and gene-set based analyses, partitioned heritability analyses, and those making use of gene-expression data are underway and will supplement current results.
MR-Cubes: On-the-Fly Computation of Location Popularity from Check-in Data Streams

Several applications in urban planning, ride-sharing or marketing, require access to the location popularity of a geographical area (e.g., city block, city, county) in near real-time and at different resolutions. To conceptualize such an access, imagine a visualization tool to view a heatmap of location popularity of a region on-the-fly as a user interacts seamlessly by zooming in and out. The access method required to enable such a seamless visualization must support: 1) updating the heatmap cells frequently as the raw data (e.g., check-ins) arrives at a high rate in a streaming fashion, and 2) splitting and merging the adjacent cells quickly to support zooming in and out, respectively. This is challenging because the most useful metric for location popularity, location entropy, requires counting the number of unique visits per user, and hence: 1) a large data structure should be maintained and updated per cell, and 2) the adjacent cells must be aggregated/disaggregated quickly while the unique visits are not additive. Due to these challenges, the previous techniques for OLAP cubes, streaming sketches and index structures are not effective. In this paper, we propose a new index structure called MR-Cube that approximates the popularity by maintaining sketches of streamed data per cell, supports time-decay for older visits and aggregates the non-additive location popularity quickly and accurately at different resolutions. We evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of MR-Cube using real-world and synthetic datasets and show its utility for our application.
Computationally efficient implementation of robust controllers in active magnetic bearing systems

Abstract This paper proposes a novel method for implementing robust controllers for active magnetic bearing (AMB) systems in a computationally cost-effective manner without affecting robust performance. The method decomposes the single-rate LTI controller into two parts, one containing slow modes and the other fast modes, where the slow and fast modes refer to the low and high-frequency modes, respectively, relative to a threshold frequency. Slow modes of the controller do not need to be implemented at a fast rate to achieve an accurate response and, therefore, can be implemented at a slow rate. This transforms the single-rate LTI controller into a dual-rate periodically time-varying controller and can significantly reduce the computational cost of necessary algebra at each time step using the interlacing technique. The novel part of the method is the selection of the dual-rate configuration, i.e., selection of the threshold frequency for the decomposition and the implementation rate of the slow modes. The proposed method utilizes the largest singular values of the closed-loop system along with μ-analysis and lifting technique to analyze robust performance of different dual-rate implementations and determines the optimal dual-rate configuration that maintains robust performance while maximizing computational savings. The presented method is demonstrated experimentally on an AMB test stand. A dual-rate configuration is identified that reduces the computational cost of the necessary controller algebra by 35% while maintaining robust performance. Experimental comparison of the performance and computational cost of the single-rate and the dual-rate implementations of the controller are shown. The results demonstrate the feasibility and potential of the presented method.
A Chemical Counterpunch: Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 31532 Produces Violacein in Response to Translation-Inhibiting Antibiotics.

ABSTRACT Antibiotics produced by bacteria play important roles in microbial interactions and competition Antibiosis can induce resistance mechanisms in target organisms, and at sublethal doses, antibiotics have been shown to globally alter gene expression patterns. Here, we show that hygromycin A from Streptomyces sp. strain 2AW. induces Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 31532 to produce the purple antibiotic violacein. Sublethal doses of other antibiotics that similarly target the polypeptide elongation step of translation likewise induced violacein production, unlike antibiotics with different targets. C. violaceum biofilm formation and virulence against Drosophila melanogaster were also induced by translation-inhibiting antibiotics, and we identified an antibiotic-induced response (air) two-component regulatory system that is required for these responses. Genetic analyses indicated a connection between the Air system, quorum-dependent signaling, and the negative regulator VioS, leading us to propose a model for induction of violacein production. This work suggests a novel mechanism of interspecies interaction in which a bacterium produces an antibiotic in response to inhibition by another bacterium and supports the role of antibiotics as signal molecules. IMPORTANCE Secondary metabolites play important roles in microbial communities, but their natural functions are often unknown and may be more complex than appreciated. While compounds with antibiotic activity are often assumed to underlie microbial competition, they may alternatively act as signal molecules. In either scenario, microorganisms might evolve responses to sublethal concentrations of these metabolites, either to protect themselves from inhibition or to change certain behaviors in response to the local abundance of another species. Here, we report that violacein production by C. violaceum ATCC 31532 is induced in response to hygromycin A from Streptomyces sp. 2AW, and we show that this response is dependent on inhibition of translational polypeptide elongation and a previously uncharacterized two-component regulatory system. The breadth of the transcriptional response beyond violacein induction suggests a surprisingly complex metabolite-mediated microbe-microbe interaction and supports the hypothesis that antibiotics evolved as signal molecules. These novel insights will inform predictive models of soil community dynamics and the unintended effects of clinical antibiotic administration.
The Medical Assessment

This chapter will teach you how to conduct a medical assessment in accordance with EMT and EMR NREMT guidelines.
144 Lack of correspondence between commercial genetic test variants for type 2 polysaccharide storage myopathy and a histopathologic diagnosis in Quarter Horses

A diagnosis of type 2 polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM2) in Quarter Horse-related breeds (QH) is currently based on the absence of the glycogen synthase 1 (GYS1) mutation causing type 1 PSSM (PSSM1) and presence of aggregates polysaccharide in myofibers. Recently, genetic tests for PSSM2 have been offered by a commercial company based on variants in the genes myotilin (termed P2), filamin C (P3) and myozenin 3 (P4). The company claims these variants are associated with PSSM2 as phenotyped by clinical signs without regard to muscle histopathology. The purpose of this study was to compare genotype and allele frequencies of commercial test variants (P variants) in MYOT (P2; rs1138656462), FLNC (P3a; rs1139799323 and P3b; rs1142918816) and MYOZ3 (P4; rs1142544043) between Quarter Horses diagnosed with PSSM2 by muscle histopathology and healthy Quarter Horse controls with normal muscle histology (periodic acid Schiff's stain). DNA was isolated from hair bulb, buffy coat, whole blood or muscle tissue samples. Primers were designed and genotyping performed using pyrosequencing. Genotypes at each locus (homozygous reference vs. heterozygous, homozygous alternate) were compared between PSSM2 (n = 54, 7.6 ± 4.2 y) and control horses (n = 121, 9.8 ± 5.7 y) using a Fisher's exact test (P ≤ 0.05). There was no significant association between any P locus and a histopathological diagnosis of PSSM2. Minor allele frequencies (cases/controls) were: 20%/27% (P2), 13%/10% (P3a), 11%/9% (P3b)/and 11%/10% (P4). The P2 variant was present in 48% of control and 33% of PSSM2 Quarter Horses. In conclusion, the P2, P3a, P3b and P4 commercial test variants appear to be relatively common variants in Quarter Horses not associated with a diagnosis of PSSM2 established by muscle biopsy.
White matter integrity of contralesional and transcallosal tracts may predict response to upper limb task-specific training in chronic stroke.

OBJECTIVE To investigate white matter (WM) plasticity induced by intensive upper limb (UL) task specific training (TST) in chronic stroke. METHODS Diffusion tensor imaging data and UL function measured by the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) were collected in 30 individuals with chronic stroke prior to and after intensive TST. ANOVAs tested the effects of training on the entire sample and on the Responders [ΔARAT ≥ 5.8, N = 13] and Non-Responders [ΔARAT < 5.8, N = 17] groups. Baseline fractional anisotropy (FA) values were correlated with ARATpost TST controlling for baseline ARAT and age to identify voxels predictive of response to TST. RESULTS While ARAT scores increased following training (p < 0.0001), FA changes within major WM tracts were not significant at p < 0.05. In the Responder group, larger baseline FA of both contralesional (CL) and transcallosal tracts predicted larger ARAT scores post-TST. Subcortical lesions and more severe damage to transcallosal tracts were more pronounced in the Non-Responder than in the Responder group. CONCLUSIONS The motor improvements post-TST in the Responder group may reflect the engagement of interhemispheric processes not available to the Non-Responder group. Future studies should clarify differences in the role of CL and transcallosal pathways as biomarkers of recovery in response to training for individuals with cortical and subcortical stroke. This knowledge may help to identify sources of heterogeneity in stroke recovery, which is necessary for the development of customized rehabilitation interventions.
Indications for Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy in Malignant Tumors

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors constitute around 5% of yearly incident soft tissue sarcomas in the United States, with around half of cases occurring in neurofibromatosis type 1, and prognosis remains poor despite multimodal therapy. Guidelines based on a high level of evidence for the use of adjunct radiotherapy and chemotherapy are lacking, but general recommendations on the most common indications can be made. In general, radiotherapy is employed as adjuvant treatment in intermediate- or high-grade tumors that are more than 5 cm in size or after marginal excision of low-grade lesions. Chemotherapy is mainly utilized in metastatic disease and in cases where preoperative chemotherapy may downstage tumors to improve surgical outcome. Targeted therapies are currently being investigated in clinical trials and constitute the main focus of future research endeavors aimed at prolonging survival. Multimodal therapy in specialized centers and a multidisciplinary approach remain crucial for achieving optimal outcome.
A novel targeted approach to delineate a role for estrogen receptor-β in ameliorating murine mammary tumor-associated neuroinflammation

Circulating estrogens in breast cancer patients and survivors are often extremely low due to menopause and estrogen-reducing cancer treatments. Simultaneously, circulating inflammatory markers, and inflammatory proteins in brains of rodent tumor models, can be elevated and correlate with debilitating neurological and psychological comorbidities. Because estrogen has anti-inflammatory properties in the brain, we hypothesized that mammary tumor-induced neuroinflammation is driven, in part, by reduced brain estrogen signaling. An ovariectomized mouse model of postmenopausal breast cancer utilizing the ERα-positive 67NR mammary tumor cell line was used for these experiments. A novel, orally bioavailable, and brain penetrant ERβ agonist was administered daily via oral gavage. Following treatment, estrogen-responsive genes were measured in brain regions. Central and circulating inflammatory markers were measured via RT-qPCR and a multiplex cytokine array, respectively. We present novel findings that peripheral mammary tumors alter estrogen signaling genes including receptors and aromatase in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and frontal cortex. Mammary tumors induced peripheral and central inflammation, however, pharmacological ERβ activation was not sufficient to reduce this inflammation. Data presented here suggest that compensating for low circulating estrogen with ERβ brain activation is not sufficient to attenuate mammary tumor-induced neuroinflammation, and is therefore not a likely candidate for the treatment of behavioral symptoms in patients. The novel finding that mammary tumors alter estrogen signaling-related genes is a clinically relevant advancement to the understanding of how peripheral tumor biology modulates neurobiology. This is necessary to predict and prevent behavioral comorbidities (e.g., cognitive impairment) prevalent in cancer patients and survivors.
Utility of PCR, Culture, and Antigen Detection Methods for Diagnosis of Legionellosis

The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate the performance of different diagnostic tests for Legionnaires' disease in a clinical setting where Legionella pneumophila PCR had been introduced. Electronic medical records at the Cleveland Clinic were searched for Legionella urinary antigen (UAG), culture, and PCR tests ordered from March 2010 through December 2013. For cases where two or more test methods were performed and at least one was positive, the medical record was reviewed for relevant clinical and epidemiologic factors. Excluding repeat testing on a given patient, 19,912 tests were ordered (12,569 UAG, 3,747 cultures, and 3,596 PCR) with 378 positive results. The positivity rate for each method was 0.4% for culture, 0.8% for PCR, and 2.7% for UAG. For 37 patients, at least two test methods were performed with at least one positive result: 10 (27%) cases were positive by all three methods, 16 (43%) were positive by two methods, and 11 (30%) were positive by one method only. For the 32 patients with medical records available, clinical presentation was consistent with proven or probable Legionella infection in 84% of the cases. For those cases, the sensitivities of culture, PCR, and UAG were 50%, 92%, and 96%, respectively. The specificities were 100% for culture and 99.9% for PCR and UAG.
Chronic ingestion of cadmium and/or tritium. II. Effects on growth, development, and reproductive function.

Abstract The effects of chronic low-level exposure to cadmium (Cd) and/or tritium (HTO) on the growth and reproduction were evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats. Cadmium exposure levels ranged from less than 0.1 to 5.0 ppm as CdCl2 in the drinking water, while HTO concentrations ranged from less than 0.1 to 13.0 μCi/ml. Exposures were started with conception of the first generation. Both insults, at the higher doses, resulted in depressed adult body weight. Chronic Cd exposure caused liver weight decrements and a decrease in sperm counts. HTO effects were manifested in a depression of several reproductive parameters and brain weights in the F2 neonates. Synergistic effects of simultaneous exposure were minimal.
Newly Observed Selection Rule in Two-Photon Absorption Spectroscopy

We report the first observation of an identity-forbidden transition, between the I1Σ− and X1Σ+ states of carbon monoxide. McCLAIN has shown that such transitions are dipole-allowed only for the absorption of two photons with different frequencies and polarization states [1].
Testicular choriocarcinoma: An unusual presentation as occult gastrointestinal blood loss☆

Abstract Choriocarcinoma is the rarest testicular germ cell tumor, occurring in less than 1% of cases. Gastrointestinal bleeding is not uncommon in cases of testicular choriocarcinoma and reflects metastatic disease. Typically, the patient presents with marked upper or lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding. A young adult male with metastatic testicular chioriocarcinoma presented as a near-syncopal episode, with a hematocrit of 22% and hemoccult—positive stool. Endoscopy revealed a solitary bleeding lesion along the greater curvature of the stomach. His presentation suggested chronic, rather than acute, gastrointestinal blood loss. This case may represent the first case of testicular choriocarcinoma in which chronic gastrointestinal blood loss was the presenting manifestation of metastatic disease.
Specialty of prescribers associated with prescription opioid fatalities in Utah, 2002-2010

Opioid adverse events are widespread, and deaths have been directly attributed to opioids prescribed by medical professionals. Little information exists on the amount of opioids various medical specialties prescribe and the opioid fatality rate that would be expected if prescription opioid-related deaths were independent of medical specialty. OBJECTIVE To compute the incidence of prescription opioid fatalities by medical specialty in Utah and to calculate the attributable risk (AR) of opioid fatality by medical specialty. Design Prevalence database study design linking the Utah Controlled Substance Database (CSD) for prescribing data with the Utah Medical Examiner data to identify prescription opioid fatalities. AR were calculated for each medical specialty and year. RESULTS Opioid prescriptions are common with 23,302,892 recorded in the CSD for 2002-2010, 0.64% of which were associated with a fatality. We attached specialty to 90.2% of opioid prescriptions. Family medicine and internal medicine physicians wrote the largest proportion of prescriptions (24.1% and 10.8%) and were associated with the greatest number of prescription opioid fatalities. The number of active prescriptions at time of death decreased each year. The AR of fatality by provider specialty varied each year with some specialties, such as pain medicine and anesthesiology, consistently associated with more fatalities per 1,000 opioid prescriptions than internal medicine physicians the same year. CONCLUSIONS Primary care providers were the most frequent prescribers and the most often associated with opioid fatalities and should be targeted for education about safe prescribing along with specialties that prescribe less frequently but are associated with a positive AR for opioid fatality. Language: en
Plus Ça Change, Plus C’Est La Même Chose (The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same)

This essay takes the original plans from NYU Law School and draws analogies between those plans and the issues facing legal education today.Benjamin Butler's 1835 Plan for the Organization of a Law Faculty and for a System of Instruction in Legal Science in the University for the City of New-York1 will make any law school dean feel like Yogi Berra: it’s “deja-vu all over again.” The issue of how best to organize a curriculum to train legal professionals was a hot topic then, and it’s a hot topic now.
An essential yeast protein, CBF5p, binds in vitro to centromeres and microtubules.

Abstract Yeast centromere DNA (CEN) affinity column chromatography has been used to purify several putative centromere and kinetochore proteins from yeast chromatin extracts. The single yeast gene (CBF5) specifying one of the major low-affinity centromere-binding proteins (p64'/CBF5p) has been cloned and shown to be essential for viability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. CBF5 specifies a 55-kDa highly charged protein that contains a repeating KKD/E sequence domain near the C terminus, similar to known microtubule-binding domains in microtubule-associated proteins 1A and 1B, CBF5p, obtained by overexpression in bacterial cells, binds microtubules in vitro, whereas C-terminal deleted proteins lacking the (KKD/E)n domain do not. Dividing yeast cells containing a C-terminal truncated CBF5 gene, producing CBF5p containing only three copies of the KKD/E repeat, delay with replicated genomes at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, while depletion of CBF5p arrests most cells in G1/S. Overproduction of CBF5p in S. cerevisiae complements a temperature sensitivity mutation in the gene (CBF2) specifying the 110-kDa subunit of the high-affinity CEN DNA-binding factor CBF3, suggesting in vivo interaction of CBF5p and CBF3. A second low-affinity centromere-binding factor has been identified as topoisomerase II.
Arthroplasty for Pertrochanteric Hip Fractures

The mainstay of treatment of pertrochanteric fractures is internal fixation using a sliding hip screw or a cephalomedullary device. However, in patients with ipsilateral hip osteoarthritis or avascular necrosis of the femoral head, or inflammatory arthritis, arthroplasty should be considered as the primary treatment modality to reduce the likelihood of a secondary procedure. Unstable fracture patterns with concomitant poor bone quality represent a challenge for internal fixation, with high rates of lag screw cut-out and hardware failure. Prosthetic replacement for unstable pertrochanteric fractures has therefore been considered as an alternative primary treatment option. Further prospective randomized trials are required.
The older woman: What are the physician's concerns?

Abstract This article describes the unique physiological and psychological needs of older women who seek primary care services and discusses ways in which physicians can tailor their approach to best meet these needs.
Electron spin resonance study of the spin dynamics in the impurity doped one-dimensional magnetic crystal (CH3)4NMnCl3:Cu2+

Abstract We have studied the spin dynamics in the one dimensional magnetic crystal, tetramethyl manganese trichloride (TMMC) doped with different concentrations of the Cu2+ ion, using electron spin resonance. We have observed the line widths to increase with Cu2+ impurity and the line shapes to deviate from the one-dimensional character.
Assembly of Nanoparticles into Hollow Spheres Using Block Copolypeptides

Various modes are being explored for the construction of functional materials out of nanoparticles. Despite these efforts, the assembly of nanoparticles remains challenging with respect to the requirement of multiple component organization on varying dimensions and length scales. We report here a room-temperature, wet chemical-based synthesis route in which silica and gold nanoparticles (∼10 nm) are cooperatively assembled with lysine−cysteine diblock copolypeptides into robust hollow spheres (diameter ∼ microns). The walls of the hollow spheres are composed of two distinct layers of silica and gold nanoparticles, and the hollow center is created without the use of a sacrificial core, emulsion phase, or hollow preformed substrate. Block copolypeptides designed with specific recognition sites for nanoparticles of various compositions provide a versatile approach for the hierarchical organization of nanoparticles into multidimensional composite arrays.
Static drop on an inclined plate: Analysis by the finite element method

Abstract The shapes of drops of given volume and density in contact with an inclined plate over a circular wetted area are found from the Young—Laplace equation by means of the finite element method. Contact angle variations around the contact circles at mechanical equilibrium are determined, and the maximum advanced and minimum receded contact angles are calculated as functions of plate inclination and drop volume. The largest inclination at which a drop of given volume can remain static is found. An approximate force balance used by previous investigators is evaluated and Larkin's one-parameter family of solutions that satisfy no simple boundary condition is discussed.
Using multivariate statistical methods to model the electrospray ionization response of GXG tripeptides based on multiple physicochemical parameters

Response factors were determined for twelve GXG peptides (where G stands for glycine and X is any of alanine [A], arginine [R], asparagine [N], aspartic acid [D], glycine [G], histidine [H], leucine [L], lysine [K], phenylalanine [F], serine [S], tyrosine [Y], valine [V]) by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The response factors were measured using a novel flow injection method. This new method is based on the Gaussian distribution of analyte concentration resulting from band-broadening dispersion experienced by the analyte upon passage through an extended volume of PEEK tubing. This method removes the need for preparing a discrete series of standard solutions to assess concentration-dependent response. Relative response factors were calculated for each peptide with reference to GGG. The observed trends in the relative response factors were correlated with several analyte physicochemical parameters, chosen based on current understanding of ion release from charged droplets during the ESI process. These include analyte properties: nonpolar surface area; polar surface area; gas-phase basicity; proton affinity; and Log D. Multivariate statistical analysis using multiple linear regression, decision tree, and support vector regression models were investigated to assess their potential for predicting ESI response based on the analyte properties. The support vector regression model was more versatile and produced the least predictive error following 12-fold cross-validation. The effect of variation in solution pH on the relative response factors is highlighted, as evidenced by the different predictive models obtained for peptide response at two pH values (pH = 6.0 and 9.0). The relationship between physicochemical parameters and associated ionization efficiencies for GXG tripeptides is discussed based on the equilibrium partitioning model.
Organic counterions as probes of the micellar surface

Etudes des proprietes de surface dans le cas de systeme decyltrimethylammonium+ion antagoniste organique
Using hydropower to smooth intermittent and unreliable sources of generation

Abstract This work describes, in part, the extent to which the large hydropower system on the Snake and Columbia rivers, and tributaries, could be used to ‘smooth’ or level the intermittent contributions of large numbers of wind generators, so that the sum of these contributions becomes reliable. Data for wind generators on site is given, the methods by which the ‘smoothing’ would occur is described, and a computer simulation model of the Pacific Northwest hydropower system is used to develop several case studies. The several constraints imposed on the flexibility of the hydropower system are defined by streamflow restrictions at the hydropower projects.
Von Willebrand factor: a matrix protein that tries to be soluble

Platelet adhesion and aggregation onto vascular wall lesions contribute to the arrest of posttraumatic bleeding but may also cause arterial occlusion leading to complications such as myocardial infarction and stroke (Ruggeri, Nat Med. 2002;8:1227-1234). The interaction between the membrane
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer bidirectional reflectance distribution function-based albedo parameterization for weather and climate models

[1] The albedo of land surfaces is an important parameter for surface energy balance and is dependent on the solar zenith angle and the three-dimensional structure of the canopies. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) algorithm is reformulated to derive a new two-parameter scheme for the computation of land surface albedo and its solar zenith angle (SZA) dependence for use in weather and climate models as well as in the remote sensing retrieval of surface solar fluxes. In this formulation the season- and pixel-dependent black-sky albedo at 60° SZA can be directly prescribed using the MODIS BRDF data while the two parameters are taken as a function of vegetation type only. Comparison of this formulation with those used in weather, climate, and data assimilation models (at NCAR, NCEP, and NASA) reveals the deficiencies in the treatment of SZA dependence and white-sky albedo in these models. Similarly, comparison of this formulation with those computed using the remotely sensed solar flux data from three groups (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP)-FD, NASA's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (CERES/TRMM), and University of Maryland) shows that surface albedos from these data sets are at times unrealistic, and suggestions are made regarding how to better treat the surface albedo and its SZA dependence in the retrieval of surface and atmospheric solar fluxes.
Static checking of safety critical Java annotations

The Safety Critical Java Specification intends to support the development of programs that must be certified. The specification includes a number of annotations used to constrain the behavior of programs written against it. This paper describes and motivates the design of these annotations and the rules used to check statically that programs respect their intended semantics. We report on a prototype implementation with the Java Checker Framework and initial experiments annotating a 24KLoc application.
Observation of calcium microdomains at the uropod of living morphologically polarized human neutrophils using flash lamp-based fluorescence microscopy.

The present study outlines improved strategies for ratiometric imaging of cell calcium using a flash lamp-based excitation method and its application to neutrophil polarization. A brief (6 ls) and intense flash was used to excite the Fluo-4 and Fura Red calcium dye combination in morphologically polarized human neutrophils. These illumination conditions do not allow the dye or calcium ions to diffuse significant distances during the exposure period. Buffer conditions such as pH, pyruvate concentration, and glucose levels were adjusted to more faithfully replicate these parameters in sepsis patients. Fluorescence images at both dyes’ emission wavelengths were simultaneously collected using a Dual-View apparatus and an ICCD camera. The ratiometric images, when viewed as single frames or averaged image stacks, clearly demonstrated high calcium probe ratios at the uropod and comparatively low ratios at the cell body that were not evident using conventional imaging methods with longer exposure times. Calcium signaling at the uropod is likely associated with cytoskeletal remodeling during cell motility. ' 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Structural Asymmetry of the Terminal Catalytic Complex in Selenocysteine Synthesis

Selenocysteine (Sec), the 21st amino acid, is synthesized from a serine precursor in a series of reactions that require selenocysteine tRNA (tRNASec). In archaea and eukaryotes, O-phosphoseryl-tRNASec:selenocysteinyl-tRNASec synthase (SepSecS) catalyzes the terminal synthetic reaction during which the phosphoseryl intermediate is converted into the selenocysteinyl moiety while being attached to tRNASec. We have previously shown that only the SepSecS tetramer is capable of binding to and recognizing the distinct fold of tRNASec. Because only two of the four tRNA-binding sites were occupied in the crystal form, a question was raised regarding whether the observed arrangement and architecture faithfully recapitulated the physiologically relevant ribonucleoprotein complex important for selenoprotein formation. Herein, we determined the stoichiometry of the human terminal synthetic complex of selenocysteine by using small angle x-ray scattering, multi-angle light scattering, and analytical ultracentrifugation. In addition, we provided the first estimate of the ratio between SepSecS and tRNASec in vivo. We show that SepSecS preferentially binds one or two tRNASec molecules at a time and that the enzyme is present in large molar excess over the substrate tRNA in vivo. Moreover, we show that in a complex between SepSecS and two tRNAs, one enzyme homodimer plays a role of the noncatalytic unit that positions CCA ends of two tRNASec molecules into the active site grooves of the other, catalytic, homodimer. Finally, our results demonstrate that the previously determined crystal structure represents the physiologically and catalytically relevant complex and suggest that allosteric regulation of SepSecS might play an important role in regulation of selenocysteine and selenoprotein synthesis.
The pros, cons and pitfalls of “self-help” rehabilitation programs

Abstract This paper reports on the findings of an in-depth case study of a residentially based self-help program for alcoholics. Semi-structured interviews with the program's ex-alcoholic staff and with its clients, observation of on-going program activities, and examination of program documents were used to investigate the program's developmental history and present functioning. Data collection centered on the unique service possibilities associated with the self-help approach to rehabilitation, and on organizational problems encountered in implementing and maintaining such potential in a residential setting. Unique aspects of the program under study included an aggressive and wide-ranging client recruitment policy, a balanced attack on social as well as emotional obstacles to abstinence, heavy reliance on client input in therapeutic activities and program planning, and the presence of successful role models with whom clients could easily identify. These qualities were, however, frequently threatened in leadership struggles, by resource crises, and by internal and external pressures to professionalize. Drawing upon the literature, the authors suggest that such problems may be typical of developing self-help programs.
Impact of the stem borer, Dectes texanus, on yield of the cultivated sunflower, Helianthus annuus.

Foliar and soil-drench insecticide treatments were used in attempts to manipulate infestation of cultivated sunflower plants, Helianthus annuus LeConte (Asterales: Asteraceae) by Dectes texanus LeConte, (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) a serious pest of sunflowers in the High Plains of the USA. Seed yields were assessed on a per-plant basis for both oilseed and confection type sunflower hybrids in two years. Both insecticide treatments (foliar e-cyhalothrin and soil-drench carbofuran) improved yield of oilseed sunflowers in 2004, but not in 2005. Yield of confection hybrids was improved by a systemic fungicide (thiophanate methyl) in 2005, but insecticides did not improve yield in either year. Both insecticide treatments gave good control of various stalk-boring insects such as Cylindrocopturus adspersus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Mordellistena sp. (Coleoptera: Mordellidae), and Pelochrista womanana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), but neither gave better than 50% control of D. texanus. Plants were sorted according to the presence or absence of D. texanus larvae and no reduction was found in total seed weight, seed size, or oil content as a result of infestation. However, mature larvae of D. texanus girdle stalks at the base in preparation for overwintering, a behavior that reduced stalk breakage force by 34–40%, leading to yield losses through lodging. At harvest in 2005, there were differences between cultivars and among treatments in the proportions of D. texanus larvae that had girdled their plants at harvest. It was concluded that further research aimed at reducing crop losses to D. texanus should focus on means of delaying stalk desiccation and/or deterioration, factors that appear to trigger girdling behavior.
Nuclear Factor κB Signaling in Opioid Functions and Receptor Gene Expression

Opiates are the most powerful of all known analgesics. The prototype opiate morphine has been used as a painkiller for several thousand years. Chronic usage of opiates not only causes drug tolerance, dependence, and addiction, but also suppresses immune functions and affects cell proliferation and cell survival. The diverse functions of opiates underscore the complexity of opioid receptor signaling. Several downstream signaling effector systems, including adenylyl cyclase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, Ca2+ channels, K+ channels, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt, have been identified to be critical in opioid functions. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), one of the most diverse and critical transcription factors, is one of the downstream molecules that may either directly or indirectly transmit the receptor-mediated upstream signals to the nucleus, resulting in the regulation of the NF-κB-dependent genes, which are critical for the opioid-induced biological responses of neuronal and immune cells. In this minireview, we focus on current understanding of the involvement of NF-κB signaling in opioid functions and receptor gene expression in cells.
Robust active control for uncertain structural systems with acceleration sensors

Natural hazards such as earthquakes and strong wind events place large forces on tall, slender structures and on long-span bridges that inherit numerous uncertainties due to model errors, stress calculations, material properties, and load environments. Thus, a robust feedback control for structural systems is needed. This paper develops a robust active control approach for uncertain structural systems with acceleration sensors and white noise. The approach is based on a robust state feedback control, with the robust α-degree relative stability, robust H∞δ-degree disturbance rejection and robust H2 optimality, and a modified Kalman filter, with α0-degree relative' stability. The uncertainties considered include structural ones in the system and control input matrices and multiplicative nonstructural ones in the disturbance input matrices. Special singular value decomposition (SVD) is applied to structured uncertain structures. Numerical simulations excited by the 1940 El Centro, California, earthquake data have been carried out for the proposed different robust controllers and LQG for comparison. The resulting approach to robust control may be applied to analysis and design of practical structural systems. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Correction to Classical Homogeneous Nucleation Theory for Polar Molecules Exhibiting an Electric Double Layer at the Liquid Surface

Abstract An oriented dipole surface layer is added to the classical liquid drop model of nucleation to account for the surface behavior of substances having polar nonsymmetrical molecules. The preliminary treatment of the change in free energy as given by Abraham is modified to include Fletcher's exponential decay of the degree of orientation. An additional correction for the excess binding energy due to the presence of a foreign molecule in the prenucleation cluster is included to account for the inflections observed in the experimental results of Allen and Kassner. The resulting free energy of formation is combined with the kinetic treatment of Frenkel to obtain a nucleation rate law. The theoretical results are compared to the experimental results of Allen and Kassner as a function of both supersaturation and temperature. The agreement is good once the heterogeneous component is taken into account.
Tilapia yield improvement through maintenance of minimal oxygen concentrations in experimental grow-out ponds in Honduras

Abstract Tilapia yields and water quality were compared in 1000-m2 grow-out ponds that were unaerated, or aerated beginning at 10 or 30% of oxygen saturation. Tilapia yield and individual final size were significantly greater in aerated ponds than in unaerated ponds, but there were no significant differences between levels of aeration. Treatment means of organic-N, total P. chlorophyll a, net primary productivity, and total volatile solids were not significantly different. However, aeration caused higher clay turbidity as indicated by significantly higher total fixed solids and lower Secchi disk visibility in aerated treatments. Maintenance of oxygen above minimal levels augmented tilapia yields, but additional research is needed to make aerator use in tilapia culture more efficient and profitable.
Rhythmic variations of valine and leucine decarboxylation in rat diaphragm.

Abstract Daily rhythmic variations of valine and leucine decarboxylation in the rat diaphragm were measured. Both valine and leucine decarboxylation increased during the hours of darkness and decreased during hours of light. Hypophysectomy eliminated the daily variation of decarboxylation. When food is available ad lib. to normal rats, the time of most active feeding coincides with the hours of darkness. Therefore, the period of darkness and maximum feeding coincides with the maximum oxidation of these two essential amino acids, valine and leucine, by diaphragm, and an active pituitary appears to be necessary to maintain this relationship. This model can be used to study interrelationships of behavioral, neurohumoral, and metabolic rhythms.