cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A molecular dynamics simulation of the (dG)6 . (dC)6 minihelix including counterions and water.

The results of a 60 ps molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of (dG)6.(dC)6 including 10 Na+ counterions and 292 water molecules are presented. All backbone angles and helix parameters for the hexamer are reported in this paper along with trajectory plots of selected angles. Hydrogen bonding between the bases along the helical axis was observed to fluctuate with time, showing the dynamic nature of the base-pairing interaction. These fluctuations gave rise to unusual hydrogen-bonding patterns. Good intrastrand base stacking and no interstrand base stacking were also observed. The hexamer minihelix retains an essentially B-DNA conformation throughout the entire simulation even though some helix parameters and backbone angles do not have strict B-DNA values. The most striking feature obtained from the simulation was a high propeller twist, which resulted in a narrow minor groove for the minihelix. It is proposed that (dG)n.(dC)n sequences are resistant to DNAase I because of this narrow minor groove in dilute aqueous solution.
Perioperative X-rays in arthroplasty surgery: Outcome and cost☆

Abstract Numerous legislative proposals to cut reimbursement to surgeons and hospitals are presently included in U.S. congressional and senate agendas. Perioperative x-ray films in arthroplasty surgery are standard operating procedure. Our objective was to assess the effects of the radiologist reading on the clinical and economic outcome of arthroplasty procedures. One hundred consecutive cases were prospectively studied. The radiologist reading, clinical management, and outcome of each case were carefully reviewed. The amount billed for the radiologist interpretation was noted for each examination. A total of 398 studies in 100 patients were done. Ninety-six preoperative, 110 intraoperative, and 192 postoperative radiographic studies were reviewed. These reports took an average of 1.71 days to be recorded on the chart (SD ± 2.45). The total radiologic professional fees billed to Medicare in these cases was $11,054. (The radiologist's interpretation was not useful in the clinical management and did not affect the outcome in any case.) Assuming that each surgeon takes 1 x-ray film on every arthroplasty case, the total actual savings to Medicare of not having a radiologist reading these studies could reach $536,000 per year; if 2 intrahospital x-ray studies are performed per procedure (preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative), the savings are $1.1 million per year. These cost reductions are achieved at no sacrifice to quality of care or outcome. Numerous areas of excessive spending with no improvement in outcome exist in the treatment of Medicare patients. There areas should be identified and eliminated before surgical fees are lowered even further.
Development and Test of a Contingency Framework of Coupling: Assessing the Covariation between Structure and Culture

Though the concept of loose coupling permeates organizational science, it has stagnated because of definitional and operational issues. In this study, a contingency framework of coupling was develo...
More on Quantifiers in Comparative Clauses

The focus of this paper is the interpretation of DP quantifiers in clausal comparatives, cf. (1). Recent work has greatly advanced our understanding of this topic (Schwarzschild & Wilkinson 2002, Schwarzschild 2004, Heim 2006a), yet several puzzles remain. In particular, though recent advances have rectified many of the problems encountered by earlier theories (von Stechow 1984, Rullmann 1995), it is unclear whether they retain all the benefits of these earlier theories. A case in point is the explanation of the unacceptability of downward entailing quantifiers in comparative clauses, illustrated in (2).
Age-Related Effects in Rabbit Hearts of N6-R-Phenylisopropy ladenosine, an Adenosine A1 Receptor Agonist

Interventions known to increase cytoplasmic Ca2+ appear to amplify age-related impairment of cardiac function. In addition, increased release of interstitial adenosine, an endogenous nucleoside, has been suggested to mediate the diminished beta-adrenergic responsiveness in senescent heart. However, the direct effects of adenosine A1 receptor activation on senescent myocardium have not been investigated thoroughly. Therefore, the effects of N6-R-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA), an A1 agonist, on atrial rate and contractility (+dF/dt) in adult (6-8 months) and senescent (5-7 years) New Zealand White rabbits were compared in spontaneously beating right atria and electrically stimulated isolated right papillary muscles. Although senescent right atria appeared to be more sensitive to the negative chronotropic-effects of R-PIA, the effective concentrations producing 50% of the maximum response (EC50 values) of R-PIA were not significantly different between adult (26 nM, 95% confidence limits: 12-52 nM) and senescent (13 nM; 95% confidence limits: 10-16 nM). However, senescent right ventricular papillary muscles were more sensitive to the negative inotropic effects of R-PIA. For example, at 90 contractions/min, 100 nM R-PIA decreased +dF/dt 25.3 +/- 7.4% and 61.9 +/- 4.8% in adult and senescent papillary muscles, respectively. To investigate whether R-PIA might alter sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function as a mechanism of decreased inotropy, we determined the inotropic effects of R-PIA on steady-state and 30-s postrest-potentiated contractions (PRP; an index of SR Ca2+ release) of left atria. R-PIA did not selectively decrease contractility of PRP compared to steady state in either adult or senescent left atria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Thinking and Creative Styles: A Validity Study

The validity evidences of thinking and creative styles were analyzed. Two studies are reported, one analyzing the dimensionality of creative styles and the other verifying their external validity. Participants were Brazilians, 1,752 in the first study (55% women) and 128 in the second study (53% women), among whom 45% had demonstrated creative talent. The instruments were a scale of thinking and creative styles and Torrance's figural and verbal creativity tests. Item analysis used the Rasch model. Two styles were identified: cautious–reflexive and nonconforming–innovative. Linear regression for predicting recognized creative achievements indicated significant contributions from the verbal creativity index and the nonconforming–innovative style. Styles were found to have predictive and constructive validity for creativity.
Concurrent Naive and Memory CD8 + T Cell Responses to an Influenza A Virus

Memory Thy-1(+)CD8(+) T cells specific for the influenza A virus nucleoprotein (NP(366-374)) peptide were sorted after staining with the D(b)NP(366) tetramer, labeled with CFSE, and transferred into normal Thy-1.2(+) recipients. The donor D(b)NP(366)(+) T cells recovered 2 days later from the spleens of the Thy-1.2(+) hosts showed the CD62L(low)CD44(high)CD69(low) phenotype, characteristic of the population analyzed before transfer, and were present at frequencies equivalent to those detected previously in mice primed once by a single exposure to an influenza A virus. Analysis of CFSE-staining profiles established that resting tetramer(+) T cells divided slowly over the next 30 days, while the numbers in the spleen decreased about 3-fold. Intranasal infection shortly after cell transfer with a noncross-reactive influenza B virus induced some of the donor D(b)NP(366)(+) T cells to cycle, but there was no increase in the total number of transferred cells. By contrast, comparable challenge with an influenza A virus caused substantial clonal expansion, and loss of the CFSE label. Unexpectedly, the recruitment of naive Thy-1.2(+)CD8(+)D(b)NP(366)(+) host D(b)NP(366)(+) T cells following influenza A challenge was not obviously diminished by the presence of the memory Thy-1.1(+)CD8(+)D(b)NP(366)(+) donor D(b)NP(366)(+) set. Furthermore, the splenic response to an epitope (D(b)PA(224)) derived from the influenza acid polymerase (PA(224-233)) was significantly enhanced in the mice given the donor D(b)NP(366)(+) memory population. These experiments indicate that an apparent recall response may be comprised of both naive and memory CD8(+) T cells.
Cocaine-induced cardiovascular responses in rats during acute ethanol withdrawal.

The effects of cocaine administration during acute ethanol withdrawal on both the cardiovascular system and cocaine pharmacokinetics are unclear. This study demonstrated differences in the cardiovascular effects of i.v.-administered cocaine during acute ethanol withdrawal in awake, freely moving rats. The altered responses to cocaine while in acute ethanol withdrawal compared to control animals included: enhanced increases in mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance, attenuated heart rate decreases, and enhanced cardiac index and stroke volume decreases. These results may suggest that acute ethanol withdrawal disrupts myocardial contractility when the myocardium is subjected to a large increase in blood pressure. Serial arterial blood sampling in additional groups of rats were done to assess plasma cocaine concentrations and to confirm the absence of ethanol in the blood. Plasma cocaine concentrations were not effected by acute ethanol withdrawal. These results indicate that the altered cardiovascular responses to cocaine during acute ethanol withdrawal were not a result of differences in cocaine plasma concentrations.
Microarray analysis of E9.5 reduced folate carrier (RFC1; Slc19a1) knockout embryos reveals altered expression of genes in the cubilin-megalin multiligand endocytic receptor complex

The reduced folate carrier (RFC1) is an integral membrane protein and facilitative anion exchanger that mediates delivery of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate into mammalian cells. Adequate maternal-fetal transport of folate is necessary for normal embryogenesis. Targeted inactivation of the murine RFC1 gene results in post-implantation embryolethality, but daily folic acid supplementation of pregnant dams prolongs survival of homozygous embryos until mid-gestation. At E10.5 RFC1-/- embryos are developmentally delayed relative to wildtype littermates, have multiple malformations, including neural tube defects, and die due to failure of chorioallantoic fusion. The mesoderm is sparse and disorganized, and there is a marked absence of erythrocytes in yolk sac blood islands. The identification of alterations in gene expression and signaling pathways involved in the observed dysmorphology following inactivation of RFC1-mediated folate transport are the focus of this investigation. Affymetrix microarray analysis of the relative gene expression profiles in whole E9.5 RFC1-/- vs. RFC1+/+ embryos identified 200 known genes that were differentially expressed. Major ontology groups included transcription factors (13.04%), and genes involved in transport functions (ion, lipid, carbohydrate) (11.37%). Genes that code for receptors, ligands and interacting proteins in the cubilin-megalin multiligand endocytic receptor complex accounted for 9.36% of the total, followed closely by several genes involved in hematopoiesis (8.03%). The most highly significant gene network identified by Ingenuity™ Pathway analysis included 12 genes in the cubilin-megalin multiligand endocytic receptor complex. Altered expression of these genes was validated by quantitative RT-PCR, and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that megalin protein expression disappeared from the visceral yolk sac of RFC1-/- embryos, while cubilin protein was widely misexpressed. Inactivation of RFC1 impacts the expression of several ligands and interacting proteins in the cubilin-amnionless-megalin complex that are involved in the maternal-fetal transport of folate and other nutrients, lipids and morphogens such as sonic hedgehog (Shh) and retinoids that play critical roles in normal embryogenesis.
Wavelet transformation of chaotic biological signals

Wavelet analysis is a recently developed mathematical theory and computational method for decomposing a nonstationary signal into components that have good localization properties both in time and frequency and hierarchical structures. Wavelet transform provides local information and multiresolution decomposition on a signal that cannot be obtained using traditional methods such as Fourier transforms and statistical estimation theory. Hence the change in complex biological signals can be detected. We use wavelet analysis as an innovative method for identifying and characterizing chaotic biological signals in this paper. We usually do not know the underlying mechanism that determine the behavior of a biosystem. We are instead presented with nothing more than a phenomenological time series signal of the behavior, and must infer the mechanism from simple measurements of that time series. Data we used are simulated chaotic signals from the logistic equation. Using wavelet transformation we extract instantaneous frequencies of the signal varying in time across scales. The results under different parameters and initial conditions show that the phase maps of their wavelet transforms are different between period doubling bifurcation and chaos. This information could be used as a diagnostic for detecting different nonlinear dynamic responses. This may lead to a better understanding of the system, that may allow us to predict the onset of lethal arrhythmias and to intervene prior to the development of catastrophic clinical events.
Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic and Response Sensitization Modeling of the Intraocular Pressure-Lowering Effect of the EP4 Agonist 5-{3-[(2S)-2-{(3R)-3-hydroxy-4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]butyl}-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl]propyl}thiophene-2-carboxylate (PF-04475270)

Developing a population-based pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) model is a challenge in ophthalmology due to the difficulty of obtaining adequate pharmacokinetic (PK) samples from ocular tissues to inform the pharmacodynamic (PD) model. Using limited PK data, we developed a preclinical population-based PD model suitable for capturing the time course of dog intraocular pressure (IOP) that exhibited time-dependent sensitization after topical administration of PF-04475270 [5-{3-[(2S)-2-{(3R)-3-hydroxy-4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]butyl}-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl]propyl}thiophene-2-carboxylate]. A physiologically relevant PK model was chosen to simultaneously capture the concentration profiles of CP-734432, a potent EP4 agonist and the active metabolite of PF-04475270, sampled from three ocular tissues of the anterior chamber: cornea, aqueous humor, and iris-ciliary body. Two population-based PD models were developed to characterize the IOP lowering profiles: model I, a standard indirect-response model (IRM); and model II, an extension of a standard IRM that empirically incorporated a response-driven positive feedback loop to account for the observed PD sensitization. The PK model reasonably described the PK profiles in all three ocular tissues. As for the PD, model I failed to capture the overall trend in the population IOP data, and model II more adequately characterized the overall data set. This integrated PKPD model may have general utility when PD sensitization is observed and is not a result of time-dependent PK. In addition, the model is applicable in the ophthalmology drug development setting in which PK information is limited but a population-based PD model could reasonably be established.
Beamfield analysis for statistically described planar microphone arrays

An analysis of Delay and Sum beamforming using microphone arrays with two-dimensional stochastic geometry in an office environment is carried out with two metrics proposed to rate the performance of these arrays: main lobe width (MLW) and peak-to-sidelobe ratio (PSR). Geometries with irregular microphone placements use a dispersion measure analogous to aperture and centroid to indicate array center relative to focal point. Sets of stochastic arrays are generated though Monte Carlo simulations and their performance is evaluated using the proposed metrics for varying number of microphones, sound source frequency, centroid location, and dispersion and compared to rectangular arrays. Performance results show increasing the number of microphones in a stochastic geometry increases the average PSR by 3 dB per doubling of microphones but remains one standard deviation below regular array performance while MLW remains relatively constant and close to that of the regular arrays. Increasing target frequency reduced MLW for both stochastic and regular geometries. Both types of arrays lost PSR while regular arrays were 5–10 dB superior. For increasing centroid displacement regular arrays display similar or inferior performance in PSR by as much as 5 dB versus the random arrays and mostly similar performance in MLW. Increasing the array dispersion reduces both the MLW and PSR, where the MLW for the stochastic geometries is on par with the corresponding regular geometries and the PSR is on the order of 5 to 10 dB below the regular arrays.
Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Atrial Fibrillation in Korean Adults Older than 40 Years

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia that is a potent independent risk factor for stroke. The incidence of AF increase with age and most affected people have underlying cardiac disease. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of and risk factors for AF in Korean. In this study, 14,540 adults (male 6,573/female 7,967) > or =40 yr old received screening test for general health between April 2000 and December 2000. Participants answered questionnaires and underwent examinations that included blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG), total cholesterol, and fasting glucose. Data analysis was done by SPSS 10.0 for Windows. The prevalence of AF was 0.7% in people older than 40 yr and 2.1% in those older than 65 yr. The prevalence in men was 1.2% and women was 0.4% in people older than 40 yr. The prevalence in men was 3.3% and women was 1.1% in people older than 65 yr. Approximately 56.6% of individuals with AF are older than 65 yr. The prevalence of AF was higher at all age group in men than in women. Also, the prevalence of AF was highest in people older than 80 yr. In univariate analysis, male sex, old age (> or =65 yr), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, left ventricular hypertrophy in ECG, stroke, and cardiac disease were associated with an increased risk of AF. In multivariate analysis, however, risk factors of AF were male (odds ratio, OR 4.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] : 2.6 to 6.5; p=0.000), old age (OR 5.3; 95% CI:3.5 to 7.9; p=0.000), and cardiac disease (OR 19.8; 95% CI:12.3 to 31.8; p=0.000). In this study, the most potent risk factors of AF was cardiac disease.
Spatio-temporal imaging of the hemoglobin in the compressed breast with diffuse optical tomography

We develop algorithms for imaging the time-varying optical absorption within the breast given diffuse optical tomographic data collected over a time span that is long compared to the dynamics of the medium. Multispectral measurements allow for the determination of the time-varying total hemoglobin concentration and of oxygen saturation. To facilitate the image reconstruction, we decompose the hemodynamics in time into a linear combination of spatio-temporal basis functions, the coefficients of which are estimated using all of the data simultaneously, making use of a Newton-based nonlinear optimization algorithm. The solution of the extremely large least-squares problem which arises in computing the Newton update is obtained iteratively using the LSQR algorithm. A Laplacian spatial regularization operator is applied, and, in addition, we make use of temporal regularization which tends to encourage similarity between the images of the spatio-temporal coefficients. Results are shown for an extensive simulation, in which we are able to image and quantify localized changes in both total hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation. Finally, a breast compression study has been performed for a normal breast cancer screening subject, using an instrument which allows for highly accurate co-registration of multispectral diffuse optical measurements with an x-ray tomosynthesis image of the breast. We are able to quantify the global return of blood to the breast following compression, and, in addition, localized changes are observed which correspond to the glandular region of the breast.
Ethics, Risk and Safety Culture

This chapter discuses the relationship between safety culture and societal culture within the context of ethics and risk, and how this relationship may have influenced the accident at Fukushima. Following a brief historical perspective on culture and technology, the context espoused by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding safety culture is summarized, as they pertain to the accident at Fukushima. Based on some reflections regarding the accident at Fukushima, the chapter then argues that when safety culture, which is explicit and is “designed” to fulfill a task in present time, and societal culture, which is implicit and evolves “organically” over millennia are incongruent with each other, the latter can undermine the former, thus highlighting the difficulty in bringing the nuclear safety culture of Japan up to international standards. This chapter concludes that a cultural risk assessment be carried out to help overcome this difficulty in the future.
Enhancement of Coronary Vasodilator Action of Adenosine Triphosphate by Dipyridamole

It has been reported that previously administered dipyridamole intensifies the coronary vasodilator action of adenosine compounds. In the present study, a combination of dipyridamole and ATP at doses that alone are ineffective was examined for its effect on the coronary sinus blood flow. In 10 anesthetized dogs, heart rate, arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, and coronary sinus blood flow were measured before and during a 20-min constant-rate infusion of (a) ATP alone, 1 mg/min; (b) a combination of ATP, 1 mg/min, and dipyridamole, 0.005 mg/kg/min; and (c) dipyridamole alone, 0.005 mg/kg/ min. Coronary sinus flow was measured by a newly developed thermodilution flowmeter. Consistently during the infusion of ATP or dipyridamole alone no changes in the measured parameters occurred, whereas during infusion of the combination a very marked and sustained elevation (+493%) of coronary flow occurred, associated with a moderate increase in cardiac rate (+37%) and output (+42%) and a decrease in arterial blood pressure (-17%). In 7 other dogs, coronary vasodilator responses to ATP were determined before and 1 hour after a single 10-mg dose of dipyridamole. After dipyridamole, the coronary vasodilator action of ATP increased 5- to 100-fold. In a third group of 3 dogs, dipyridamole did not enhance the coronary vasodilator effects of nitroglycerin, bradykinin, or acetylcholine.
Image presentation options for a distributed PACS environment

The concept of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) was introduced in 1980 and was conceived to revolutionize the work-flow of the radiology department. Several early prototypes were developed but were neither practical nor economical. The PACS concept has undergone several major revisions. Recently, distributed digital archiving systems have emerged, and the progress towards all digital radiology departments is underway. One of the economic justifications for digital solutions has been to eliminate wet-processed silver films. In fact, many researchers have equated the PACS environment with a film-less radiology department in order to create an economic justification. This objective was emphasized to a degree that skewed the research direction away from the goals of establishing an effective and efficient radiology department. Film is a storage as well as a display medium, and the economics of replacing it with electronic devices can be challenged. However, the difficulties with controlling the quality of chemically processed film and the requirements of wet processing do not fit the modern environment of digital radiology. These issues are troublesome enough to cause some users to turn to less efficient display solutions. In fact, researchers have experimented with dry hardcopy systems, although these devices create hardcopy output inferior to silver film. In this paper we present a digital printing system with dry hardcopy output, with the quality required by a clinical PACS environment.
Directors and Officers Certainly Do Not Get Off Scott-Free, But Ought We Cut Them a Little Slack?

A corporation is defined as “[a]n entity having authority under law to act as a single person distinct from the shareholders who own it . . . .”2 It has directors. It has officers. It has creditors. And it has shareholders or, minimally, one shareholder. Suppose a corporation has a single shareholder, and that shareholder is a corporation itself with its own directors, officers, creditors, and shareholders. Imagine a chain of corporations where each has a single, corporate shareholder. Now find a man and put him as an officer of this corporation that has another single, corporate shareholder. Tell this man he is a fiduciary.3 Tell him he is in charge of an entity “distinct from the shareholder[ ] who own[s] it.”4 But be sure to remind him the shareholders of the parent company control his fate. Be sure to inform this man that although he has authority under the law to control the corporation as a
Doc McStuffins and Dora the Explorer: representations of gender, race, and class in US animation

AbstractChildren are exposed to animated cartoons at an early age, and the gender, class, and race-related messages are likely to be influential in the development of children’s beliefs and attitudes about gender roles, class, and racial groups. Although representations of females and minority children in animated cartoons have improved over the years, stereotypical and racially biased portrayals of females and racial minority groups remain. Using an intersectionality theoretical lens, a textual analysis was conducted to examine the representation of the two current leading, minority female characters in children’s animated cartoons: Doc McStuffins and Dora the Explorer. Character portrayals, stereotypes, challenges to traditional stereotypes, and the intersecting role of race, gender, and class on the representations of the characters are explored in this analysis.
Human t(4;11)(q21;q23) acute lymphoblastic leukemia in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency

Mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) were injected intravenously with primary bone marrow blasts from 12 children with newly diagnosed t(4;11)(q21;q23) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Blasts from eight patients caused overt disseminated leukemia, whereas blasts from the other four patients produced occult leukemia that was detectable only by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Only one patient among eight whose blasts caused disseminated leukemia in SCID mice remains alive and disease-free at 48.4 months postdiagnosis. In contrast, three of the other four patients whose blasts did not cause overt leukemia in SCID mice remain alive and disease-free at 6.1, 23.6, and 35.9 months, respectively. Thus, the occurrence of overt leukemia in SCID mice may be a predictor of patients' disease-free survival. The described SCID mouse model system may prove useful for designing more effective treatment strategies against therapy-refractory t(4;11) ALL.
Pulmonary Vascular Responses To Selective Lung Cooling in Intact Dogs

SummarySelective rapid cooling, to 22°, of blood perfusing a hemodynamically separated pulmonary lobe produced abrupt, but transient lobar arterial and venous pressor responses. Abruptly cooling a dextran perfusate produced a sustained pressor response while gradually cooling blood or rapidly cooling saline did not change lobar vascular pressures. In addition, isolated pulmonary arterial strips abruptly relaxed when the bathing medium was suddenly cooled to 22°. These data suggest that increased blood viscosity is largely responsible for the pressor responses to cold blood, but these responses are opposed by the direct vasodilating effect of cold on the vessel wall, and the inhibition of the effects of circulating vasopressor substances by cold.
Reconfigurable snap-together sculpting

A mixture of general-use and of some custom-designed plastic parts, fabricated on inexpensive layered manufacturing machines, is used to construct a variety of sculptural maquettes. This article describes the design and fabrication of a set of modular parts that permit the assembly of tubular sculptures as well as constructivist realizations of mathematical knots and links.
Analysis on Unreliable Problems of Mine Ventilation System with Fault Tree

In this paper,some unreasonable features of the mine ventilation system were analyzed and the fault tree numbering rules were formulated.Based on the "Coal Mine Safety Regulations","Coal Mine Safety Supervision Regulations","Mine Safety Law"and other relevant state laws,regulations and standards,deep analysis and evaluation were carried out on some unreliable problems of the mine ventilation system by using the method of fault tree and its minimum path sets were obtained.The structure importance degree rank of each basic event was acquired according to the intuitive judgment criterion of structure importance degree.The risk factors affecting the stability and reliability of the mine ventilation system can be identified to the maximum extent so that corresponding prevention and control measures can be taken.
New Explanation of Probability Wave

In this article,we analyze the factors which affect valence electrons in solid materials and the quantum mechanical depiction of valence electrons' state in order to provide demonstration of probability wave's meaning with a physical image.discuss the difficulties in the development of Condensed Matter Physics theory and consider it is appropriate to use quantum mechanical measure to describe condensed matter system.Maybe,the real obstacles of the development of Condensed Matter Physics theory are the problems in calculate tools,measures,or models etc.
Inhibiting Hexamer Disassembly of Human UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase by Photoactivated Amino Acid Cross-Linking.

The enzyme UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UGDH) catalyzes the reaction of UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronate through two successive NAD+-dependent oxidation steps. Human UGDH apoprotein is purified as a mixture of dimeric and hexameric species. Addition of substrate and cofactor stabilizes the oligomeric state to primarily the hexameric form. To determine if the dynamic conformations of hUGDH are required for catalytic activity, we used site-specific unnatural amino acid incorporation to facilitate cross-linking of monomeric subunits into predominantly obligate oligomeric species. Optimal cross-linking was achieved by encoding p-benzoyl-l-phenylalanine at position 458, normally a glutamine located within the dimer–dimer interface, and exposing the enzyme to long wavelength ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the presence of substrate and cofactor. Hexameric complexes were purified by gel filtration chromatography and found to contain significant fractions of dimer and trimer (approximately 50%) along with another 10% h...
Prolonged febrile neutropenia in the pediatric patient with cancer.

Overview:Infectious diseases continue to be major causes of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients with cancer. Yet not all pediatric patients with cancer with fever and neutropenia are at e...
Gene editing can drive science to openness

The fast-moving field of gene-drive research provides an opportunity to rewrite the rules of the science, says Kevin Esvelt.
Interaction of contractile responses in canine tracheal smooth muscle

Concentration-response curves for norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine were obtained in vitro alone and after precontraction with histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, or acetylcholine....
Dimensions of prenatal anxiety and their influence on pregnancy outcome.

Abstract With the use of perinatal data from a prospective study of 73 primigravid women and their newborn infants, we determined that prenatal anxiety is not a unitary construct, but that it is useful to consider the distinct concerns of pregnancy. From interviews with the pregnant women, three dimensions of anxiety were identified: (1) anxiety about the pregnancy and approaching birth, (2) anxiety about anticipated care of the child, and (3) psychiatric symptomatology. Correlations of the three anxiety dimensions with background and perinatal outcome variables reveal the strongest associations between anxiety about pregnancy and birth with maternal age, education, and preparation for childbirth. Anxieties about pregnancy and birth and about parenting are related to administration of anesthesia during childbirth and the motor maturity of the neonate. The findings thus give evidence that even in a m8dically uncomplicatEid population, emotional states of pregnancy are rooted in the woman’s background and may have an impact on perinatal events and infant functioning. (AM. J. OBSTET. GYNECOL. 135:22, 1979.)
The Sonographic Posterolateral Rotatory Stress Test for Elbow Instability: A Cadaveric Validation Study

Abstract Background Although clinical tests can detect posterolateral rotatory instability (PLRI) of the elbow, the ability of ultrasound to evaluate PLRI has not been assessed. Objective To determine whether increasing stages of posterolateral rotatory subluxation of the elbow could be assessed accurately with a sonographic posterolateral rotatory stress test. Design Cadaveric study. Setting Laboratory. Patients Ten, unpaired, cadaveric upper limbs. Methods Posterolateral ulnohumeral distance was measured by ultrasound at rest and during manual sonographic posterolateral rotatory stress testing at 4 stages of increasing instability: (1) intact elbow, (2) extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) release, (3) ECRB release + lateral collateral ligament complex (LCLC) release to produce a positive posterolateral drawer test, and (4) ECRB release + LCLC and capsule release to produce a positive lateral pivot-shift test. Mean values for sonographic resting ulnohumeral distance, stressed ulnohumeral distance, and laxity were calculated for each stage and compared between stages. Main Outcome Measures Posterolateral ulnohumeral laxity. Results Mean ulnohumeral laxities were 1, 3, 6, and 10 mm ( P P Conclusions The sonographic posterolateral rotatory stress test detected increasing posterolateral ulnohumeral laxity as a function of increasing clinical PLRI. This test may be used as an adjunct to history, examination, and static imaging to assess ulnohumeral laxity in patients with lateral elbow pain syndromes. Within the limits of this investigation, sonographic posterolateral ulnohumeral laxity of >4 mm should raise suspicion of underlying instability. Level of Evidence IV
Cancer surgeons' attitudes and practices about discussing the chance of operative “cure”

Background While physician attitudes about treatment goals have been examined around end-of-life care, surgeon attitudes regarding communication of therapeutic goals prior to cancer-directed operations have not been investigated. We examined how surgeons discuss the potential for cancer “cure” prior to operative treatment and how surgeons perceive patient priorities and treatment goals. Methods Surgeons were invited to complete a Web-based survey about attitudes and practices when discussing cancer-directed operations, including how they defined cancer cure and whether and how they discussed cure as a treatment goal. Results A total of 551 e-mail invitations were sent and opened; 205 responses were received (response rate 37.2%). While 44.9% of surgeons reported being asked about cure in all or most discussions, only 37.6% used the word cure as often. When discussing cure, an equal number of surgeons reported using qualitative versus quantitative language to express probability of cure (45.7% and 47.4%, respectively). Roughly one third of surgeons ( n = 65, 31.7%) defined cure as 5-year, disease-free survival; 36.1% ( n = 74) defined cure as absence of recurrence over the patient's lifetime; and 21 (10.2%) defined cure as return to baseline population risk for that specific cancer. Over half of surgeons ( n = 112, 56.9%) perceived that to “be cured” was among the top 2 priorities of patients presenting for operative treatment. Conclusion When discussing relative benefits and goals of therapy, surgeon self-reported discussions of cure varied considerably. Despite identifying cure as a top priority for patients, surgeons were not inclined to incorporate cure into discussions of risks, benefits, and goals of therapy.
Buckling of Continuously Supported Beams

The effect of gravity forces upon the buckling of concrete highways or airfield runways as well as upon the stability of a thin layer embedded in a continuous medium suggest the study of a longitudinally compressed infinite beam which is continuously supported by a relatively soft foundation and is subjected to a uniform lateral load. It was found that if the response of a continuous foundation model is assumed linear, then the uniform lateral load, irrespective of its magnitude, has no effect upon the determined buckling force. It is then shown, using the Winkler model, that if the response is assumed nonlinear, which is usually observed in real situations, then the lateral load does affect the buckling force. The larger the uniform lateral pressure, the more stable the continuously supported beam.
Treatment of Hypereosinophilic Syndrome with Cutaneous Involvement with the JAK Inhibitors Tofacitinib and Ruxolitinib.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by persistent peripheral blood eosinophilia, eosinophil-mediated end-organ damage, and absence of other infectious or allergic causes of eosinophilia.(Gotlib, 2014, Valent et al., 2012) Treatment of HES is challenging and usually relies on corticosteroids, which have significant adverse effects.(Klion, 2015, Klion et al., 2006) There are 3 categories of HES: primary, secondary, and idiopathic. Primary HES is a myeloproliferative disease with clonal eosinophils. In secondary HES and idiopathic HES, other cells produce Th2 cytokines that promote polyclonal expansion and activation of eosinophils.(Roufosse, Cogan and Goldman, 2007) Lymphocytic variant HES (L-HES) is a subtype of secondary HES wherein the source of Th2 cytokines is a phenotypically abnormal CD4+ T cell (typically CD3-CD4+).(Simon, Plotz, Dummer and Blaser, 1999, Walker et al., 2015) We recently demonstrated the importance of Janus kinase-Signal transducer and activation of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling in L-HES.(Walker, et al., 2015) Specifically, we showed a gain-of-function mutation in STAT3 and overexpression of STAT3 gene targets that were necessary and sufficient for the production of eosinophil-promoting Th2 cytokines. Based on these data, we hypothesized that inhibitors of this pathway, namely the JAK inhibitors tofacitinib (JAK1/3 inhibitor) and ruxolitinib (JAK1/2 inhibitor), would be effective treatment of secondary HES.
Municipal Wastewater Treatment by Membrane Bioreactors

While the population and therefore the demand for water keep increasing alarmingly, the type and quantity of water source remains the same. This leads the world to water scarcity. In this chapter, the need for wastewater recycling and stringent rules to control water pollution, instigated by water scarcity, is identified as the main driving force for the current and future increase in the use of advanced wastewater treatment systems. The types and sources of wastewater, water pollution, and pollutants along with the available treatment technologies are described. The need to continue to develop new strategies for water management is recommended. In most scenarios water reuse and/or recycling are deemed to be financially feasible approaches and hence are discussed as vital in this chapter. Municipal wastewater represents a large volume of wastewater released from different sources. The wastewater is rich in organic and inorganic compounds with high biodegradability. This chapter discusses Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) process with a special focus on biomass-based MBRs and its suitability for municipal wastewater treatment/reclamation in comparison with the existing conventional treatment technologies. Selected groups of microbes isolated and described in the literature as efficient for use in MBR systems are highlighted. The effort, desire, and market trends on MBR for municipal/domestic wastewater treatment and valorization are commentated by reviewing a wide range of projects funded by EU and other reports. It is also noted that, although there is progressive development and significant rise in the use of MBRs, severe membrane fouling and presence and retention of emerging micropollutants limited its further success. Remark is given to the importance of integrating MBR with emerging membrane operations and the simultaneous use of enzyme membrane reactors and mixed community of microbes to reclaim municipal wastewater with a desirable quality.
Maternal depression affects child asthma, mediated by insecure attachment and autonomic dysrsegulation (vagal bias)

Background and Aims: Maternal depression is associated with child depression and poor asthma control. We examined whether insecure attachment and autonomic dysregulation (specifically vagal bias) mediates the effect of maternal depression on child asthma. Methods: Asthmatic children (N=94;age7-17) and mothers were studied. Maternal and child depression were assessed by self-report (BDI and CDI respectively), attachment by child report (RQ), and disease activity was assessed using symptoms and pulmonary function tests. Children were studied in a laboratory film stress protocol to determine whether insecure attachment predicted autonomic dysregulation (specifically vagal bias) and pulmonary compromise under stress. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) method measured vagal activation and pre-ejection period (PEP) of the heart cycle measured sympathetic activation. Vagal Bias was indexed by the formula (Zrsa –Zpep). . Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) tested the pathways of effect. Results: Maternal depression contributed to child depression and insecure attachment, which each contributed to asthma disease activity, (Χ2(24)= 31.03, p =.15;IFI .97, CFI.97, RMSEA (.04). Lab findings showed that insecurely attached asthmatic children showed greater vagal bias (p Conclusions: Maternal depression affects child asthma through insecure attachment mediated by accompanying vagal bias.
First report of an atypical new Aspergillus parasiticus isolates with nucleotide insertion in aflR gene resembling to A. sojae

Aflatoxins are toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced primarily by the filamentous fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus and cause toxin contamination in food chain worldwide. Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus sojae are highly valued as koji molds in the traditional preparation of fermented foods, such as miso, sake, and shoyu. Koji mold species are generally perceived of as being nontoxigenic and are generally recognized as safe (GRAS). Fungal isolates were collected from a California orchard and a few were initially identified to be A. sojae using β-tubulin gene sequences blasted against NCBI data base. These new isolates all produced aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 and were named as Pistachio Winter Experiment (PWE) strains. Thus, it is very important to further characterize these strains for food safety purposes. The full length of aflR gene of these new isolates was sequenced. Comparison of aflR DNA sequences of PWE, A. parasiticus and A. sojae, showed that the aflatoxigenic PWE strains had the six base insertion (CTCATG) similar to domesticated A. sojae, but a pre-termination codon TGA at nucleotide positions 1153–1155 was absent due to a nucleotide codon change from T to C. Colony morphology and scanning microscopic imaging of spore surfaces showed similarity of PWE strains to both A. parasiticus and A. sojae. Concordance analysis of multi locus DNA sequences indicated that PWE strains were closely linked between A. parasiticus and A. sojae. The finding documented the first report that such unique strains have been found in North America and in the world.
Effect of food deprivation on hydrilla tip mining midge survival and subsequent development

Hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle (Hydrocharitaceae), is an invasive aquatic macrophyte found in fresh water. The introduction of hydrilla by the aquarium plant trade has led to its invasion throughout much of the southern US and its current listing as a federal noxious weed. Hydrilla employs many pathways of reproduction and once established can rapidly fill the water column, impeding recreation and negatively affecting the environment. Waterways infested with hydrilla typically experience matting of vegetation at the surface that results in less light penetration, and changes in dissolved oxygen levels, which disturb native species richness and diversity. Efforts to minimize hydrilla populations include using biological control agents such as the hydrilla tip mining midge, Cricotopus lebetis Sublette (Diptera: Chironomidae). The larvae of C. lebetis feed on the apical meristem of hydrilla tips, disabling further vertical growth and forcing growth into a branched horizontal direction. Currently, a colony of C. lebetis is being mass-reared to augment midge populations throughout hydrilla-infested waters. In order to maintain colony viability for effective releases, midge eggs must be collected and placed on hydrilla before larvae exhaust endogenous nutrient reserves. To understand the effects of larval starvation on survival and subsequent development to adult eclosion, neonates at 0, 1, 2, and 3 d post-hatch were studied with and without access to food. Midge survival and adult eclosion decreased significantly after continued starvation post-hatch. Larvae starved for 2 d post-hatch did not eclose. Highest survival to adult eclosion occurred when midge larvae were placed on hydrilla as soon as they hatched (48 h post-oviposition). This study highlights fundamental information necessary for efficient midge rearing for effective biological control of hydrilla.
Humane Euthanasia and Carcass Disposal

Euthanasia is ending life in a way that minimizes or eliminates pain and distress. It requires techniques that induce loss of consciousness followed by cardiac and respiratory arrest and loss of brain function. Although euthanasia is the objective for uncontrollable animal suffering, it is not always possible. Euthanasia of animals using barbiturates or barbituric acid derivatives is impractical for situations that require mass euthanasia of multiple animals. Selection of the most appropriate disposal method depends on number of carcasses, potential environmental impact, climatic conditions, and other factors. Preplanning and training are requirements for proper application of euthanasia procedures and disposal of carcasses.
Properties of Compatible Blends of Polycarbonate and a Copolyester

Blending of existing polymers to obtain a miscible mixture is widely being considered as a low capital cost route to new materials. Miscible mixtures of amorphous polymers are single phase and optically transparent, and they usually show improved mechanical properties of the pure components (1,2). Above all, miscible blends are characterized by a single, composition dependent, glass transition temperature, Tg.