cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural Studies on Adenosine Ri Receptors from Rat Cerebral Cortex

In cerebral cortical membranes, adenosine Ri receptors exist in high- and low-affinity states. GTP and Mg2+ redistribute the receptors between these two states. In our studies adenosine receptors and inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory components were solubilized from cerebral cortical membranes with sodium cholate. [3H]-(1)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) bound with high affinity to the soluble receptors, which retained the pharmacological specificity of adenosine Ri receptors displayed in membranes. The binding was regulated by both divalent cations and guanine nucleotides.
The Economization of Diversity

Through a case study of an ongoing diversity initiative at Diversity University (DU), a public, flagship university in the U.S. South, the author’s research advances understanding of the discursive...
Reduction of Analgesia Duration after Tracheostomy during Neonatal Intensive Care: A Quality Initiative.

Introduction As survival has improved in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), there has been a 10-fold increase in the proportion of infants requiring a tracheostomy. At our institution, we observed a wide variation in the duration of opioid use posttracheostomy from 6 to 148 days. We aimed to decrease the duration of opioid exposure in postoperative tracheostomy patients in the NICU from a baseline average of 24 days to 7 days by December 31, 2017. Methods We established a multidisciplinary team to develop change ideas to implement in 3 Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles that focused on enhanced care plan standardization and communication in patient care rounds with subsequent documentation in the medical record and the timely addition of dexmedetomidine to the postoperative care plan. Results Baseline population was from October 2014 to December 2016. The mean posttracheostomy opioid duration was 24.6 days (range, 6-148 days); neuromuscular blockade was 2.89 days (range, 0-9 days), and benzodiazepine exposure was 20.9 days (range, 1-114 days). Following our interventions, the mean duration of posttracheostomy opioid duration was 5.4 days (range, 4-21 days); neuromuscular blockade was 3.14 days (range, 1-5 days), benzodiazepine duration was 8.88 days (range, 4-25 days), and dexmedetomidine was 4.6 days (range, 0-32 days). Conclusions We utilized quality improvement methodology to standardize posttracheostomy management and demonstrate that we could significantly reduce the duration of opioid and benzodiazepine use after tracheostomy with the timely addition of dexmedetomidine, a structured written daily care plan, and clarification of roles and responsibilities.
Transposable Elements, Inflammation, and Neurological Disease

Transposable Elements (TE) are mobile DNA elements that can replicate and insert themselves into different locations within the host genome. Their propensity to self-propagate has a myriad of consequences and yet their biological significance is not well-understood. Indeed, retrotransposons have evaded evolutionary attempts at repression and may contribute to somatic mosaicism. Retrotransposons are emerging as potent regulatory elements within the human genome. In the diseased state, there is mounting evidence that endogenous retroelements play a role in etiopathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, with a disposition for both autoimmune and neurological disorders. We postulate that active mobile genetic elements contribute more to human disease pathogenesis than previously thought.
Composite Vascularized Allograft Machine Preservation: State of the Art

In this review, we aim to introduce the concept of machine perfusion of vascularized composite allografts (VCAs). We briefly discuss the basic elements of the circuit design, role of the temperature during the perfusion, types of perfusate, and future trends in this field. Several large animal models have demonstrated the efficacy of machine perfusion over static cold storage. While the maximum allowable ischemia time in VCA is 4–6 h with cold storage method, promising results have been achieved in extended preservation times up to 24 h in machine perfusion technique. Current evidence shows that machine perfusion of VCA can overcome the limitations of static cold storage technique and not only can be considered as a preservation but also as a diagnostic and therapeutic method for the practice of replantation/transplantation.
An Innovative Nanobody-Based Electrochemical Immunosensor Using Decorated Nylon Nanofibers for Point-of-Care Monitoring of Human Exposure to Pyrethroid Insecticides

A novel ultrasensitive nanobody-based electrochemical immunoassay was prepared for assessing human exposure to pyrethroid insecticides. 3-Phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) is a common human urinary metabolite for numerous pyrethroids, which broadly served as a biomarker for following the human exposure to this pesticide group. The 3-PBA detection was via a direct competition for binding to alkaline phosphatase-embedded nanobodies between free 3-PBA and a 3-PBA-bovine serum albumin conjugate covalently immobilized onto citric acid-decorated nylon nanofibers, which were incorporated on a screen-printed electrode (SPE). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was utilized to support the advantage of the employment of nanofibrous membranes and the success of the immunosensor assembly. The coupling between the nanofiber and nanobody technologies provided an ultrasensitive and selective immunosensor for 3-PBA detection in the range of 0.8 to 1000 pg mL-1 with a detection limit of 0.64 pg mL-1. Moreover, when the test for 3-PBA was applied to real samples, the established immunosensor proved to be a viable alternative to the conventional methods for 3-PBA detection in human urine even without sample cleanup. It showed excellent properties and stability over time.
Dodging Darwin: Race, evolution, and the hereditarian hypothesis

Abstract Many intellectuals enthusiastically denounce those who argue that genes play some role in cognitive differences between human populations. However, such proposals are perfectly reasonable and are, in fact, consistent with the Darwinian research tradition in which most modern social scientists profess to operate. We argue that population-based cognitive differences are congruent with our best understanding of the world because there are strong reasons to believe that different environments and niches selected for different physical and psychological traits, including general cognitive ability. Like most hereditarians (those who believe it likely that genes contribute to differences in psychological traits among human populations), we do not believe there is decisive evidence about the causes of differences in cognitive ability. But we will argue that a partial genetic hypothesis is most consistent with the Darwinian research tradition.
Relational turning points in the parent and LGBTQ child coming out process

This paper explores the ongoing coming out process between parent and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) child. Framed with relational dialectics theory, this thematic analys...
144. Concordance between patients’ and surgeons’ expectations of cervical spine surgery

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Patients undergo cervical spine surgery because they expect improvement in physical and psychological symptoms and function. Patients and surgeons need to share an understanding of what are possible, probable and realistic expectations so they can work toward the same goals. PURPOSE To compare concordance (agreement) within the patient-surgeon pair regarding expectations of cervical spine surgery. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Cross-sectional, tertiary spine center. PATIENT SAMPLE This study included106 patients scheduled for cervical spine surgery and their surgeons. OUTCOME MEASURES Hospital for Special Surgery Cervical Spine Surgery Expectations Survey. METHODS Patients scheduled for cervical spine surgery were recruited from the practices of 5 spine surgeons and interviewed in person several days before surgery with several patient-centered questionnaires including the Neck Disability Index (NDI) (score range 0-100, higher is worse), the PHQ8 for depressive symptoms (score range 0-24, ≥10 is a positive screen for depression), and the valid Cervical Spine Surgery Expectations Survey. The 20-item Expectations Survey addresses symptoms, physical function, and psychological well-being, and asks how much improvement is expected with response options of “complete” (=4 points), “a lot” (=3 points), “a moderate amount” (=2 points), “a little” (=1 point), or “no improvement/this expectation does not apply to me” (=0 points). An overall score is calculated as the sum of all responses (range 0-100, higher is greater expectations). Before surgery, surgeons completed an identical survey asking them to rate how much improvement they expected for each item for each of their patients. The surgeon's survey is scored similarly to generate an overall score (range 0-100). Concordance between scores for each patient-surgeon pair was measured with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for continuous data (range 0-1.0: 0-.20 poor; .21-.40 fair; .41-60 moderate; .61-.80 good; .81-1.0 excellent agreement). RESULTS Patients completed the Expectations Survey a mean of 9 days before surgery, mean age was 57 years, 50% were women, mean NDI score was 42±20, 26% had a positive screen for depression, 32% had a diagnosis of myelopathy, and 68% had a diagnosis of radiculopathy. The 5 surgeons were age 41-63 years, in practice for 8-31 years, and all had completed a spine fellowship. The mean Expectations Survey score was 65±22 for patients and 57±19 for surgeons (p CONCLUSIONS Overall concordance between patients’ and surgeons’ expectations was moderate, but varied from fair to excellent based on major demographic, diagnostic, and clinical characteristics. Because patients and surgeons may not be aware of differences in expectations, discussions about expectations should be part of comprehensive preoperative evaluations. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.
Malunions of the Acetabulum and Pelvis

Nonunions and malunions of the pelvis and acetabulum present challenging problems for both the patient and the surgeon. Though optimal initial care can potentially prevent these complications, nonunions and malunions still occur. However, nonoperative management of vertically unstable pelvises can lead to malunions and nonunions. In the case of acetabular fractures, deteriorating results are seen if operative treatment is delayed. Furthermore, reoperation of malreduced acetabular fractures significantly decreases the good to excellent results. Therefore, prevention of this clinically significant problem is the mainstay of treatment. By 4–5 weeks post injury, all of the fracture lines are fixed with callous and are unmovable. Although a continuum exists, after 4 months, it is possible to declare that a malunion or nonunion is present. There is often a deformity associated with the nonunion. With operative treatment of acute fractures becoming the standard of care, malunions are increasing in numbers.
Role of electrostatic interactions in charge regulation of weakly dissociating polyacids

Abstract We investigate theoretically charge regulation of weakly dissociating polyacids by potentiometric titration of their aqueous solutions. By treating deprotonation and cation binding to the polyacids as reversible reactions in our model, the ionization constant of acid groups along the polyacid chain is adjusted from its intrinsic value by electrostatic correlations. If electrostatic correlations are modeled with a Debye-Huckel electrostatic free energy that ignores the connectivity of acid groups, the theory follows Henderson-Hasselbalch behavior for monoacids at low polyacid concentrations, and does not capture the shift of the ionization constant from its intrinsic value with increasing pH. Using a random phase approximation (RPA) that captures the chain connectivity, the shift of the ionization constant is predicted, which is found to directly originate from the electrostatic repulsions along the polyacid chain. We make predictions for titration of rodlike and Gaussian coil polyacids, and find that the former is followed by hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid), while the latter is followed more closely by hydrophobic poly(acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid). The results suggest that development of more advanced free energy models that allow chain configurations to self-adjust with changing pH and chain hydrophobicity could provide accurate a priori modeling of charge regulation of polyacids.
Perspectivas para a construção de práticas pedagógicas solidárias a partir de Freire e Bakhtin

O presente artigo tem como objetivo apresentar uma reflexao acerca de possiveis caminhos, a serem trilhados na educacao, com vistas a construcao de praticas pedagogicas solidarias nos diversos espacos educativos da sociedade. Para isso, dialogaremos com a Filosofia de Bakhtin e com a Pedagogia de Paulo Freire acerca das possiveis complementaridades, dos pensamentos desses autores, a respeito de temas relacionados as praticas pedagogicas.
Forward Super-Resolution: How Can GANs Learn Hierarchical Generative Models for Real-World Distributions.

Generative adversarial networks (GANs) are among the most successful models for learning high-complexity, real-world distributions. However, in theory, due to the highly non-convex, non-concave landscape of the minmax training objective, GAN remains one of the least understood deep learning models. In this work, we formally study how GANs can efficiently learn certain hierarchically generated distributions that are close to the distribution of images in practice. We prove that when a distribution has a structure that we refer to as Forward Super-Resolution, then simply training generative adversarial networks using gradient descent ascent (GDA) can indeed learn this distribution efficiently, both in terms of sample and time complexities. We also provide concrete empirical evidence that not only our assumption "forward super-resolution" is very natural in practice, but also the underlying learning mechanisms that we study in this paper (to allow us efficiently train GAN via GDA in theory) simulates the actual learning process of GANs in practice on real-world problems.
Gov2Vec: Learning Distributed Representations of Institutions and TheirLegal Text

We compare policy differences across institutions by embedding representations of the entire legal corpus of each institution and the vocabulary shared across all corpora into a continuous vector space. We apply our method, Gov2Vec, to Supreme Court opinions, Presidential actions, and official summaries of Congressional bills. The model discerns meaningful differences between government branches. We also learn representations for more finegrained word sources: individual Presidents and (2-year) Congresses. The similarities between learned representations of Congresses over time and sitting Presidents are negatively correlated with the bill veto rate, and the temporal ordering of Presidents and Congresses was implicitly learned from only text. With the resulting vectors we answer questions such as: how does Obama and the 113th House differ in addressing climate change and how does this vary from environmental or economic perspectives? Our work illustrates vectorarithmetic-based investigations of complex relationships between word sources based on their texts. We are extending this to create a more comprehensive legal semantic map.
Transradial cerebral angiography becomes more efficient than transfemoral angiography: lessons from 500 consecutive angiograms

Background Transradial arterial access (TRA) for cerebral diagnostic angiography is associated with fewer access site complications than transfemoral access (TFA). However, concerns about increased procedure time and radiation exposure with TRA may slow its adoption. Our objective was to measure TRA rates of success and fluoroscopy time per vessel after ‘radial-first’ adoption and to compare these rates to those obtained with TFA. Methods We examined 500 consecutive cerebral angiograms on an intent-to-treat basis during the first full year of radial-first adoption, recording patient and procedural characteristics and outcomes. Results Over a 9-month period at a single center, 457 of 500 angiograms (91.4%) were performed with intent-to-treat via TRA, and 431 cases (86.2%) were ultimately performed via TRA. One patient (0.2%) experienced a temporary neurologic deficit in the TRA group, and none (0%) did in the TFA group (p=0.80). The mean±SD fluoroscopy time per vessel decreased significantly from the first half of the study to the second half for TRA (5.0±3.8 vs 3.4±3.5 min/vessel; p Conclusion Of 500 consecutive angiograms performed during the first full year of radial-first implementation, 86.2% were performed successfully using TRA. TRA efficiency exceeded that of TFA after 150 angiograms. Concerns about the length of procedure or radiation exposure should not be barriers to TRA adoption.
Differential Impact of Advanced Age on Clinical Outcomes After Vestibular Schwannoma Resection in the Very Elderly: Cohort Study.

Background Vestibular schwannomas (VS) have a peak incidence in the sixth and seventh decades of life. Stereotactic radiosurgery is often the preferred treatment for VS among patients of advanced age. The fraction of elderly patients potentially requiring consideration for surgical treatment is anticipated to expand, mandating an update to management paradigms in this population. Objective To describe our experience with surgical management of VS in patients aged 75 yr and older. Methods Cohort study of all patients aged ≥75 yr with sporadic VS requiring surgical treatment at our institution between 1999 and 2020. Data included preoperative baseline characteristics and outcome data including extent of resection, facial nerve and hearing status, functional outcome, length of stay, and complications. Results A total of 24 patients were included, spanning an age range of 75 to 90 yr. Average tumor size was 2.76 ± 1.04 cm, and average baseline Modified 5-item Frailty Index (mFI-5) score was 1.08 ± 0.93. Extent of resection was gross total in 5 (20.8%), near total in 3 (12.5%), and sub-total resection in the remaining 16 (66.7%). One patient died in the postoperative period because of an acute sub-dural hematoma. Favorable facial nerve function (HB1-2) was preserved in 12 patients (75%) between 75 and 79 yr and 2 patients (28.6%) aged ≥ 80 yr. No cerebrospinal fluid leak or surgical site infection was observed; 3 patients developed hydrocephalus requiring ventriculo-peritoneal shunt placement. Nine patients required out-of-home disposition; all patients eventually returned to independent living. Conclusion Microsurgical resection of VS can be safely undertaken in patients greater than 75 y/o but may carry an increased risk of poor facial function.
Joint Action Enhances Subsequent Social Learning by Strengthening a Mirror Mechanism

Many of our activities involve joint action. Here we explore a possible consequence of joint action: Completing a task may improve one’s ability to learn a novel task from a partner. In the Joint condition of three experiments, participants and experimenters jointly used a wire to cut candles for five minutes. In the control condition, the participants used the wire to cut the candles alone. After cutting, the experimenter demonstrated a novel, complex movement that was imitated by the participant. Compared to the control condition, participants in the Joint condition imitated the experimenter more accurately, at a shorter lag, and reproduced the sequence more accurately without the experimenter’s involvement. In experiments using electroencephalography, we used mu-desynchronization to track changes in the action mirror neuron system produced by candle-cutting. Although we did not confirm all predictions of a mirror neuron account, the results were generally consistent with our hypothesis that joint action enhances subsequent social learning by changing a mirror mechanism. In addition, the Joint participants reported greater closeness to the experimenter. We end the chapter by briefly exploring the consequences of joint modification of the mirror neuron system for social relations, teaching, and rehabilitation.
Elektrokardiographische Muster eines drohenden, unabhängig von instabiler pektanginöser Symptomatik auftretenden Koronarverschlusses

Die konservative Revaskularisation durch Thrombolytika oder Ballondilatation (PTCA) fuhrt, als Teil des therapeutischen Effektes, zu einem instabilen Koronarsitus. Thrombolytika losen zwar den Thrombozyten-Fibrin-Pfropf auf, beeinflussen aber den darunterliegenden rupturierten Plaque nicht, der zunachst die thrombosierende Kettenreaktion ausgelost hat. Das Aufblahen des PTCA-Ballons bricht und zerreist die durch den Plaque belegte Koronarintima und die Entblosung von frischem Kollagen ruft einen Entzundungsherd hervor. Um den Erfolg oder Miserfolg der intrakoronar erfolgten Intervention durch Thrombolytika oder PTCA festzustellen, wird ublicherweise eine angiographische Untersuchung vorgenommen. Dieser primar anatomische Parameter ist jedoch nicht immer zuverlassig, und bei 2–30% der „erfolgreich“ dilatierten oder reperfundierten Patienten kann sich klinisch stumm oder auch symptomatisch die Interventionsstelle wieder verschliesen, wahrend die Patienten sich auf der Intensivstation erholen [1–11]. Auf diese Weise kann der Ubergang des Koronarherdes von einem relativ stabilen in einen instabilen Zustand untersucht werden. Zusatzlich konnen patienten-und koronarsitusspezifische Daten fur jeden einzelnen Patienten wahrend des Ereignisses gesammelt werden, entweder wahrend des Herzinfarktes bei der Einlieferung oder wahrend des transitorischen Koronarverschlusses bei der PTCA. Dieses Referenzereignis kann eine weitere Einsicht in die Muster geben, die bei rezidivierender Instabilitat vorliegen.
Wavelength dependence of coherently induced transparency in a Doppler-broadened cascade medium

Summary form only given. Popular belief is that the study of cw electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in a Doppler-broadened medium is limited by the power requirements on the coupling field. Carefully choosing the atomic scheme and field geometry can render these media virtually Doppler-free and so allows a study of continuous-wave EIT. The first reported cw inversionless lasing system uses such a Doppler-free scheme. We investigate both theoretically and experimentally the wavelength dependence of coherently induced transparency within a Doppler-broadened medium and show that the requirement of wavelength-matched optical fields is in fact not necessary.
Polyphosphate, platelets, and coagulation

While we have understood the basic outline of the enzymes and reactions that make up the traditional blood coagulation cascade for many years, recently our appreciation of the complexity of these interactions has greatly increased. This has resulted in unofficial 'revisions' of the coagulation cascade to include new amplification pathways and connections between the standard coagulation cascade enzymes, as well as the identification of extensive connections between the immune system and the coagulation cascade. The discovery that polyphosphate is stored in platelet dense granules and is secreted during platelet activation has resulted in a recent burst of interest in the role of this ancient molecule in human biology. Here we review the increasingly complex role of platelet polyphosphate in hemostasis, thrombosis, and inflammation that has been uncovered in recent years, as well as novel therapeutics centered on modulating polyphosphate's roles in coagulation and inflammation.
SH compounds in mitosis. II. The effect of mercaptoethanol on the structure of the mitotic apparatus in sea urchin eggs.

Abstract 1. 1. The cleavage of fertilized eggs of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus may be blocked reversibly by mercaptoethanol (monothioethylene glycol). 2. 2. The critical concentration for blockage of the next division is about 0.075 M . At lower concentrations, the eggs may be blocked after one or more divisions. 3. 3. The divisions are blocked, at the critical concentration, if mercaptoethanol is introduced at any time up to metaphase. If it is introduced shortly after metaphase, cleavage proceeds without delay and the cells are blocked in the following division. 4. 4. Superficially, the blockage has the character of a simple arrest. That is, the total time from fertilization to division, minus the time spent in mercaptoethanol, is equal to the division time of the controls. However, the following observations indicate that the evident arrest is not merely a “freezing” of the mitotic apparatus at a given stage. 5. 5. Nuclear reproduction and possibly the reproduction of the centrioles proceed during the mercaptoethanol block. If the eggs are removed from mercaptoethanol after the time when the controls have made their second division, they divide directly into four cells, from which a normal embryo develops. 6. 6. Isolation of the mitotic apparatus from the blocked cells shows that their structure at the microscopic level is very much disorganized by mercaptoethanol. 7. 7. It is concluded that the apparent disorganization at the microscopic level does not imply an equally drastic disruption of the underlying organization. The effect of mercaptoethanol is analogized to a “relaxation” or “loosening” of structure that can be reversed almost instantaneously.
Exploiting the overlap of security and fault-tolerance

The need for highly secure, highly dependable computer systems is acute in today's world. As an example, the United States' President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection identifies the nation's electrical, transportation, telecommunication, and financial systems as critical points, all of which heavily depend on computer technology. However, security and fault-tolerance are frequently looked at in isolation to each other as two separate issues. We contend that there are areas where the two goals and methods overlap, and that there is a large benefit to be gained by examining the two in relation to one another. This paper details our reasons for this viewpoint and points out a few examples where it has borne fruit, as well as presenting some of the research challenges that remain to be addressed.
The Cellular Physiology of Carbonic Anhydrases

Carbonic anhydrases are zinc metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible hydration of CO2 to form HCO3 - and protons according to the following reaction: CO2 + H2O H2CO3 HCO3 - + H + . The first reaction is catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase and the second reaction occurs instantaneously. The carbonic anhydrase (CA) gene family includes ten enzymatically active members, which are major players in many physiological processes, including renal and male reproductive tract acidification, bone resorption, respiration, gluconeogenesis, signal transduction, and formation of gastric acid [1]. The newly identified CA IX (previously called MN) and CA XII are related to cell proliferation and oncogenesis [2, 3, 4]. Carbonic anhydrase isozymes have different kinetic properties and they are present in various tissues [1] and in various cell compartments. CA I, II, III and VII are cytoplasmic, CA V is mitochondrial, and CA VI is present in salivary secretions. CA IV, IX, XII and XIV are membrane proteins: CA IV is a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored protein, and CA IX, XII and XIV are transmembrane proteins. The present work will focus on the roles of CA II and CA IV in transepithelial proton secretion and bicarbonate reabsorption processes. The localization of these isoforms in selected epithelia that are involved in net acid/base transport, such as kidney proximal tubules and collecting ducts, and tubules from the male reproductive tract will be reviewed.
Fixture design synthesis for a flexible manufacturing system

Issues related to modular fixture design, including product modeling, design synthesis, numerical analysis, and geometric reasoning, are discussed in this paper. An automated fixture design (AFD) system is developed in an object-oriented programming (OOP) environment. The AFD system proposes a preliminary fixturing configuration by synthesizing the fixture design issues and reasoning about the necessary knowledge bases. The system is coupled with external numerical tools to carry out deformation analysis, and redesign of the preliminary fixturing configuration, if necessary. The paper also addresses several implementational issues of a prototype AFD system. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Integrated Comput Aided Eng 4: 101-113, 1997
WTO Dispute Settlement: Current Cases

Upon Australia’s appeal, the AB largely confirmed the panel’s findings. This chapter will provide an overview of all WTO dispute settlement decisions.
Diagnostic Imaging of Late-Stage Breast Cancer

Diagnostic imaging has proven to be a beneficial tool in the screening, diagnosis, and prognosis of breast cancer. Most cancers are found early with breast screening methods, such as mammography. In some instances, breast cancer will go unidentified or untreated up to the point that the cancer becomes more advanced. This case study investigates a form of breast cancer that was diagnosed within a month after the patient’s first meeting with her physician. The breast cancer was examined with x-ray, computed tomography, and sonography. The role of sonography is discussed in detail with the aim of illustrating the usefulness of this technology in identifying cancerous breast tissue.
Fun and games, good and bad, with APL

APL as a language has a great many facilities which lead to unexpected solutions to several computing problems. At the same time it can result in programs that are hard to follow by virtue of those facilities and the resulting long lines of code that users like. Underlying these facts are some real benefits and challenges. This paper attempts to show some of those benefits, and also examines the challenge of how much can really be done in single statements. Some of the resultant one line solutions are fast and efficient, some of them are terrible and slow but fun to construct.
The Mycobacterium tuberculosis pks2 Gene Encodes the Synthase for the Hepta- and Octamethyl-branched Fatty Acids Required for Sulfolipid Synthesis

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is a major global health emergency. Cell wall lipids of Mycobacterium tuberculosis can play crucial roles in the pathogenesis. The enzymes involved in their synthesis can be ideal new drug targets against tuberculosis, because many such lipids are unique to this pathogen. A variety of multiple methyl-branched fatty acids are among such unique lipids. We have identified seven genes highly homologous to the mas gene, which is known to be involved in the production of one class of such multiple methyl-branched fatty acids. One of these mas-like genes, pks2, was disrupted using a phage-mediated delivery of the disruption construct. Gene disruption by homologous recombination was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis of the flanking regions of the introduced disrupted gene and by Southern analysis. Thin-layer and radio gas-chromatographic analyses of lipids derived from [1-14C]propionic acid and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of the fatty acids and hydroxy fatty acids showed that the pks2 mutant was incapable of producing hepta- and octamethyl phthioceranic acids and hydroxyphthioceranic acids that are the major acyl constituents of sulfolipids. Consequently, pks2 mutant does not produce sulfolipids. Sulfolipid deficiency in pks2 mutant was confirmed by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatographic analysis of lipids derived from [1-14C]propionic acid and 35SO4(-2). With this sulfolipid-deficient mutant, it should be possible to test for the postulated important roles for sulfolipids in the pathogenesis of M. tuberculosis.
Cellulose Studies: Part XXII: Determination of the Nonreducing End Group in Cellulose1

In an attempt to establish unambiguously the presence of the nonreducing end group in cellulose when treated under nondegrading conditions, different celluloses were sub jected to exhaustive methylation, using sodium hydroxide and dimethyl sulfate in toluene. Other methods of methylation were also investigated. Samples with 43.8% methoxyl content were obtained which were found suitable for this investigation. Identification and quantitative estimation of tetramethyl glucose, which originates from the nonre ducing end of the cellulose chain, involved hydrolysis, extraction of the tetramethyl glucose from the main component, trimethyl glucose, and chromatographic analysis.Paper, thin-layer, and gas chromatography were used in the analysis and special techniques were developed for each method. Identification and quantitative estimation by gas chromatography were accomplished for the methyl glucosides and the trimethyl silyl derivatives of the methylated glucoses. Isolation of crystalline tetramethyl glucose ...
Wallace receives 1999 Roger Revelle medal

John Michael Wallace was awarded the 1999 Roger Revelle Medal at the AGU Spring Meeting Honors Ceremony, which was held on June 2,1999, in Boston, Massachusetts. The medal recognizes outstanding accomplishments or contributions toward an understanding of the Earth's atmospheric processes, including its dynamics, chemistry, and radiation, or the role of atmosphere, atmosphere-ocean coupling, or atmosphere-land coupling in determining the climate, biogeochemical cycles, or other key elements of the integrated climate system.
A framework of organisations as dynamic structures

This paper integrates advances in organisational structure research into a broader framework of ‘structural action’ that depicts organisations as dynamic structures. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the main contributions from various theories and perspectives that have all informed our understanding of the impact of organisational structure on strategic change. We propose that organisational structures, as one mechanism by which strategy is enacted, are moulded purposefully and in different ways. To better understand how organisations are re-designed, the framework recommends particular structural actions depending on the turbulence (both internal and external) and performance (both actual and aspired) aspects of the organisation.
Hydroxyapatite: Catalyst or conjuror? ☆ ☆☆

Abstract A prospective, randomized, intermediate-term study of 174 patients (199 hips) comparing proximally hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated and non-HA-coated surfaces of identical stem design is presented. Clinical and radiographic data from 152 patients (174 hips) confirmed comparable outcomes in both groups according to the Hospital for Special Surgery modification of the Postel–d'Aubigne Hip Rating System. The non-HA group showed significantly higher ( P =.03) activity-related thigh pain, however. There were no significant radiographic differences, with all stems showing bone ongrowth. The use of HA-coated stems resulted in early recovery of function and reduced activity-related trochanteric and thigh pain. A possible explanation for the difference is most likely early superior osseointegration. HA as a biologic adjuvant should gain widespread acceptance because of rapid recovery of function and lesser trochanteric and thigh pain. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
The effect of different similarity transformations on ensemble mean particle paths in turbulent spots

Computations from measurements taken on the plane of symmetry of turbulent spots in a laminar boundary layer are presented here. Different types of similarity growths are compared and discussed. The streamline pattern and the instantaneous particle trajectories are weakly affected by the change of vertical growth law, providing no explanation for the apparent contradictions observed in temperature and velocity fields. This result suggests that the ensemble averaged field improperly represents the dynamics of the spot Calculs effectues d'apres des mesures faites dans le plan de symetrie d'eclatements turbulents dans une couche limite laminaire. Comparaison de plusieurs regimes similaires. Les lignes de courant et les trajectoires instantanees sont faiblement affectees par le changement de loi de similarite verticale et ne donnent pas d'explication aux contradictions observees entre les champs thermiques et cinematiques. Le champ moyen represente de facon incorrecte la dynamique des eclatements turbulents
A novel kinesin-like protein with a calmodulin-binding domain

Calcium regulates diverse developmental processes in plants through the action of calmodulin. A cDNA expression library from developing anthers of tobacco was screened with 35S-labeled calmodulin to isolate cDNAs encoding calmodulin-binding proteins. Among several clones isolated, a kinesin-like gene (TCK1) that encodes a calmodulin-binding kinesin-like protein was obtained. The TCK1 cDNA encodes a protein with 1265 amino acid residues. Its structural features are very similar to those of known kinesin heavy chains and kinesin-like proteins from plants and animals, with one distinct exception. Unlike other known kinesin-like proteins, TCK1 contains a calmodulin-binding domain which distinguishes it from all other known kinesin genes. Escherichia coli-expressed TCK1 binds calmodulin in a Ca2+-dependent manner. In addition to the presence of a calmodulin-binding domain at the carboxyl terminal, it also has a leucine zipper motif in the stalk region. The amino acid sequence at the carboxyl terminal of TCK1 has striking homology with the mechanochemical motor domain of kinesins. The motor domain has ATPase activity that is stimulated by microtubules. Southern blot analysis revealed that TCK1 is coded by a single gene. Expression studies indicated that TCK1 is expressed in all of the tissues tested. Its expression is highest in the stigma and anther, especially during the early stages of anther development. Our results suggest that Ca2+/calmodulin may play an important role in the function of this microtubule-associated motor protein and may be involved in the regulation of microtubule-based intracellular transport.
Multidetector Computed Tomography of Maxillofacial Fractures: The Key to High-Impact Radiological Reporting

Maxillofacial fractures are very common. Recognizing patterns of facial fractures is helpful in assessing maxillofacial injury and accurately characterizing all fractures that may be present. Facial fractures are grouped into the following categories: nasal bone, naso-orbito-ethmoid, orbital, zygomatic, maxillary (including Le Fort-type fractures), mandibular, and frontal sinus fractures. Within each subgroup of facial fractures, there are key findings, whether of the fracture itself or of potential associated injuries, that are important factors in determining whether the patient is managed conservatively or with surgery. This article highlights the features of facial fractures that are the most important to the surgeons and provides a framework for effective radiological reporting.
Pandemic Influenza Planning: An Extraordinary Ethical Dilemma for Local Government Officials

The possibility of an influenza pandemic occurring within the next two decades is very real; the role of local governments in comprehensive preparation for this global threat is crucial. The federal government has provided broad guidelines for state and local officials who are ultimately responsible for emergency response and lifesaving services, vaccination and antiviral use, and the provision of other critical support. Much of this influenza pandemic preparedness has occurred under conditions of uncertainty, and these government actions may have unprecedented legal and ethical implications. This study evaluates the pandemic influenza policies of eight large U.S. cities to determine how Department of Health and Human Services recommendations with ethical and legal implications have been addressed. The authors find that several important aspects of these guidelines are vague in many plans, and input from key stakeholders is inadequate.
When Euler Met l'Hôpital

Chronological details notwithstanding, the connection between these two individu als is real. For one thing, l'H?pital published the first text on differential calculus, his Analyse des infiniment petits, in 1696. This was justifiably regarded as the standard exposition, a status not relinquished until Euler's treatment of the same topic in his masterful Institutiones calculi dijferentialis of 1755, shown in FIGURE 2. More germane is Euler's discussion, in that 1755 work, of indeterminate forms. There, he presented various methods to attack the 0/0 problem, from using simple algebra and trigonometry, to introducing infinitely small quantities, to applying that most sophisticated of techniques, l'H?pital's rule. Because it had originally appeared in l'H?pital's text, the rule now carries his name, but, as is widely known, it had been discovered as early as 1694 by Johann Bernoulli (1667-1748). At the time, Johann was employed by the Marquis to provide lectures on the emerging subject of calculus. In a letter to Bernoulli, l'H?pital described their financial arrangement [11]:
Hurka's Theory of Virtue

Thomas Hurka has put forth a powerful account of virtue. The account rests on a specification of intrinsically good mental states and then explains what unifies them. On his account, virtue and desert also share the same structure. His theory of virtue has some difficulties that threaten the structure that unifies it. First, Hurka's account cannot provide a principled account of virtue and vice when they are constituted by attitudes toward things are not intrinsically good (e.g., nonexistent state of affairs). Second, Hurka's account does not have room for an important factor in determining the degree to which an attitude is virtuous or vicious: agent-relative goods. Hurka is thus faced with a abandoning the basic structure that makes his theory attractive or adopting counterintuitive positions.
Membrane reconstitution of high-affinity alpha 2 adrenergic agonist binding with guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins.

Regulation of adenylate cyclase by alpha 2 adrenergic receptors requires the inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding protein Ni. A role for this protein has also been suggested in the high-affinity binding of agonists to the alpha 2 receptor. We recently reported that alkaline treatment can selectively inactivate alpha 2 agonist binding and Ni in human platelet plasma membranes [Kim, M.H. & Neubig, R.R. (1985) FEBS Lett. 192, 321-325]. Binding of the full alpha 2 agonists epinephrine and 5-bromo-6-[N-(4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-yl)amino]quinoxaline (UK 14,304) to these membranes was determined by competition and direct radioligand binding, respectively. The high-affinity GTP-sensitive binding of the agonists is lost after alkaline treatment. Binding of [3H]UK 14,304 was reconstituted by poly(ethylene glycol)-induced fusion of alkaline-treated platelet membranes with cell membranes containing Ni but no alpha 2 receptor or with lipid vesicles containing purified guanine nucleotide binding proteins (N-proteins) from bovine brain. The reconstituted binding was of high affinity (Kd = 0.4 +/- 0.1 nM), accounted for a substantial fraction of the total alpha 2 receptors (Bmax for [3H]UK 14,304 was 78 +/- 23% of the Bmax for [3H]yohimbine), and was abolished in the presence of guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imidotriphosphate) (GppNHp). The brain-specific protein No (predominant guanine nucleotide regulatory protein from bovine brain) was also effective in reconstituting high-affinity alpha 2 agonist binding. The results presented here show that a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein of the No or Ni type is necessary for high-affinity alpha 2 agonist binding. These methods should also prove useful for future studies of receptor N-protein interactions.
A Prolog implementation of an instruction-level processor simulator

This paper describes the implementation of a Prolog-based, instruction-level simulator used in the design of a new processor. The adaptability of Prolog as a hardware description language is reported. Prolog was a good choice for purposes of rapid prototyping and as a means to derive high-level executable specifications for the instruction set. The rapid software development strategy entailed a price to be paid in the form of a relatively slow performance. Methods to improve the speed of Prolog-based simulators are suggested.
Neural networks and graph theory as computational tools for predicting polymer properties

A new computational methodology is presented for making rapid and accurate predictions of chemical, physical and mechanical properties of polymers based on their molecular structure. The method uses a set of topological indices derived from graph theory to numerically describe the structure of a monomeric repeating unit for a given polymer (structural descriptors) and relates these indices to a set of polymer properties by utilizing an artificial neural network. The neural network is able to efficiently formulate all of the correlations (i.e., between structural descriptor-property, property-property, structural descriptor-structural descriptor: both linear and nonlinear dependencies) necessary to make accurate predictions. Results have been obtained for up to 9 properties of 357 different polymers with an average prediction error of < 3% and a maximum error of 12%, demonstrating superiority over other quantitative structure/property relationships for polymers.
Nanoindentation and Plasticity in Nanocrystalline NI Nanowires: A Case Study in Size Effect Mitigation

We examine the processes of spherical indentation and tension in Ni nanowires and thin films containing random distributions of nanoscale grains by molecular dynamics simulations. It is shown that the resistance to nanoindentation of nanocrystalline Ni nanowires with diameters of 12 and 30 nm tends not to depend on the wire diameter and free surfaces, contrary to nanoindentation in single-crystalline nanowires. Accommodation of plastic deformation by grain boundary sliding suggests a mitigation strategy for sample boundary effects in nanoscale plasticity.
Microbore liquid chromatography and refractive index gradient detection of low-nanogram and low-ppm quantities of carbohydrates

Abstract A refractive index gradient detector is presented as a universal detector in the microbore high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of carbohydrates. Simultaneously, low-ng and low-ppm injected quantities of carbohydrates were detected at the 3 × root-mean-square baseline noise level. A typical microbore high-performance liquid chromatography chromatogram separating fructose from sucrose followed by refractive index gradient (RIG) detection is reported. Use of a position sensitive detector (PSD) in the RIG detector design is reported and experimental considerations discussed. Optimization of the PSD-based RIG detector is addressed. Potential for the device in industrial and clinical applications is considered.