cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ADAMTS13 TSP1 Repeat Domains Promote HUVEC Angiogenesis Via Phosphorylation of VEGFR2.

Abstract Abstract 2182 The primary role of ADAMTS13 (A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with ThromboSpondin type 1 motifs, 13) is to cleave unusually large von Willebrand factor (ULVWF) multimers under shear stress. Recently, we reported that ADAMTS13 may be a potent mitogen and chemoattractant, and it modulates angiogenesis in vitro (Microvas Res. 2012, 84, 109–115). However, the structural components and mechanism of ADAMTS13 modulating angiogenesis are not understood. Herein, we report the effect of ADAMTS13 variants on cell proliferation, migration, and, tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). In addition, we determined the signaling pathways by which ADAMTS13 promotes angiogenesis. ADAMTS13 fragments containing TSP1 repeat (i.e. MDT, MDTCS, TSP1 2–8, TSP1 5–8 plus CUB, and TSP1 2–8 plus CUB) were used in this study. In the proliferation model, TSP1 2–8 at the concentration of 34.6 ng/mL (651 pM) increased endothelial cell proliferation by 267 %. In the chemotaxis assay, TSP1 2–8 at the concentration of 27.7 ng/mL (521 pM) increased endothelial cell migration across a gelatinized polycarbonate membrane by 71 %. Similarly, TSP1 2–8 at the concentration of 55.4 ng/mL (1.0 nM) induced endothelial cell tube formation in Matrigel by 45 %. In all three models, the TSP1 2–8 induced angiogenic responses with similar efficacy to full-length ADAMTS13. MDT and MDTCS fragments did not affect proliferation, migration, or tube formation significantly, as compared to the negative control. To determine the mechanism by which ADAMTS13 induces angiogenesis, we incubated endothelial cells with ADAMTS13 at the concentration of 147 ng/mL (1.0 nM). We showed that ADAMTS13 increased the phosphorylation of VEGFR2, Akt, and, P44/42 MAPK, which may trigger downstream activation to promote cell proliferation and migration. Addition of anti-VEGF antibody in the culture system significantly blocked the ADAMTS13-induced effect, indicating that ADAMTS13 plays a role in promoting angiogenesis by inducing VEGF secretion from endothelial cells ( Fig 1 ). The biological role of ADAMTS13 in angiogenesis was further demonstrated in a chick embryo model. Collagen onplants supplemented with EBM-2 (as negative control), 40 ng/mL VEGF165 (2.1 nM) (as positive control), and 306 ng/mL ADAMTS13 (2.2 nM) were placed on the chorioallantoic membrane of day 8 fertilized white leghorn chicken embryos. Localized and sustained release of VEGF and ADAMTS13 over a course of 72 hours resulted in 8-fold increase in capillary migration into the collagen onplants. Together, our findings suggest that the TSP1 repeats of ADAMTS13 metalloprotease promote angiogenesis by inducing VEGF secretion and VEGFR2 phosphorylation. Download : Download high-res image (25KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Inpatient burden of hidradenitis suppurativa in the United States: analysis of the 2016 National Inpatient Sample.

Dear Editor,Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a relapsing, chronic cutaneous disease characterized by acutely painful flares, which significantly reduce patient quality of life. Limited therapeutic ...
Infrastructure Interdependency Failures From Extreme Weather Events as a Complex Process

The loss of infrastructure services under extreme weather events from climate change emerges from complex interactions between the social, environmental, and technological system variables which drive the behavior of infrastructure systems. The complexity of interactions causes failures to cascade in unpredictable ways, often between different infrastructure systems. A common approach to managing this unpredictability is to attempt to characterize the cause-and-effect relationships of infrastructure interdependencies, whether it be related to the resource flows, geographic proximity, logical connections, or the common use of cyber infrastructure. We posit that though a reductive approach toward characterization of interdependencies produces useful insights, it is an insufficient strategy by itself due to the complexity and unpredictability involved in the occurrence and magnitude of cascades of failure across systems. We present historical case studies which demonstrate that cascades from interdependencies display essential tenets of complexity—namely non-linearities, path dependence, and emergence. The Cynefin decision-making framework suggests that management of systems that are in the complex domain include strategies such as Decision Making Under Uncertainty and Safe-to-Fail, which address uncertainty by probing, testing, collecting and analyzing data, and lastly deploying solutions with a commitment to reassessing the systems as conditions change. We therefore recommend that in order to mitigate the surprise from cascades of failure across systems from extreme weather events, infrastructure managers supplement their planning efforts with these types of strategies.
The Impact of Palatal Fistulae on the Success of Alveolar Bone Grafting.

Palatal fistulae are common complications of cleft palate surgery with a frequency of 5% to 29% and are challenging to repair. Optimal timing to repair palatal fistulae, in a staged fashion before alveolar bone grafting, or at the same time, still remains controversial. The primary aim of this study is to compare outcomes of 2 groups with regard to successful alveolar bone grafting in patients with cleft lip and palate and palatal fistulae. We describe a review of 85 consecutive patients identified as undergoing bone grafting from a single institution craniofacial team during 2003 to 2018. Twenty-eight required palatal fistula repair. All patients had a diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral complete cleft lip and palate. Patients with cleft lip and palate repairs were stratified based on preoperative or simultaneous palatal fistula repair. Panoramic radiographs were reviewed by 2 physicians to evaluate success of bone grafting. Comparison between cohorts was made by statistical analysis. Of the 28 that required palatal fistula repair, 15 (53.6%) patients underwent prebone grafting palatal fistula repair and 13 (46.4%) patients underwent simultaneous bone grafting with palatal fistula repair. Mean age at time of bone grafting and palatal fistula repair were 10.60 years old and 9.39 years old, respectively. Length to follow-up was 54.82 months. The average height of the healed alveolar cleft site for patients in the prebone grafting or simultaneous groups was 10.57 mm and 11.46 mm, respectively. Patients who underwent palatal fistula repair and simultaneous bone grafting had similar outcomes as those with palatal fistula repair preoperatively.
Stable dechlorination of Trichloroacetic Acid (TCAA) to acetic acid catalyzed by palladium nanoparticles deposited on H2-transfer membranes

Trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) is a common disinfection byproduct (DBP) produced during chlorine disinfection. With the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the use of chlorine disinfection has increased, raising the already substantial risks of DBP exposure. While a number of methods are able to remove TCAA, their application for continuous treatment is limited due to their complexity and expensive or hazardous inputs. We investigated a novel system that employs palladium (Pd0) nanoparticles (PdNPs) for catalytic reductive dechlorination of TCAA. H2 was delivered directly to PdNPs in situ coated on the surface of bubble-free hollow-fiber gas-transfer membranes. The H2-based membrane Pd film reactor (H2-MPfR) achieved a high catalyst-specific TCAA reduction rate, 32 L/g-Pd/min, a value similar to the rate of using homogeneously suspended PdNP, but orders of magnitude higher than with other immobilized PdNP systems. In batch tests, over 99% removal of 1 mM TCAA was achieved in 180 min with strong product selectivity (≥ 93%) to acetic acid. During 50 days of continuous operation, over 99% of 1 mg/L influent TCAA was removed, again with acetic acid as the major product (≥ 94%). We identified the reaction pathways and their kinetics for TCAA reductive dechlorination with PdNPs using direct delivery of H2. Sustained continuous TCAA removal, high selectivity to acetic acid, and minimal loss of PdNPs support that the H2-MPfR is a promising catalytic reactor to remove chlorinated DBPs in practice.
Bayesian Persuasion and Authority in Organizations

We consider a persuasion model in which a sender wants to persuade an organization to implement a project of unknown quality. We analyze whether the principal of the organization can benefit from delegating authority to a biased agent who is uninformed about the merits of the project. We show that the principal can use delegation as a commitment device to incentivize the sender to produce more informative evidence about the merits of the project. Although delegation allows the agent to implement projects that the principal does not like, the improvement of evidence quality can dominate the costs, making the organization better off.
Monolithic focusing metasurfaces

All-dielectric focusing metasurfaces have attracted a lot of attention in recent years because of their lightweight, superior performance, and compact form factor. Traditionally, metasurfaces are fabricated from dielectric material shaped into pillar-like structures. Pillars are fragile and tend to fall, especially for high aspect ratio structures. We have developed and characterized a monolithic metasurface in the infrared spectral range. The monolithic design of realized metasurfaces allows for the creation of rugged structures that can withstand harsh cleaning and handling, while maintaining good focusing performance. This metasurface platform thus widens the range of practical applications for metalenses.
Chimeric RNA:DNA Donorguide Improves HDR in vitro and in vivo

Introducing small genetic changes to study specific mutations or reverting clinical mutations to wild type has been an area of interest in precision genomics for several years. In fact, it has been found that nearly 90% of all human pathogenic mutations are caused by small genetic variations, and the methods to efficiently and precisely correct these errors are critically important. One common way to make these small DNA changes is to provide a single stranded DNA (ssDNA) donor containing the desired alteration together with a targeted double-strand break (DSB) at the genomic target. The donor is typically flanked by regions of homology that are often ~30-100bp in length to leverage the homology directed repair (HDR) pathway. Coupling a ssDNA donor with a CRISPR-Cas9 to produce a targeted DSB is one of the most streamlined approaches to introduce small changes. However, in many cell types this approach results in a low rate of incorporation of the desired alteration and has undesired imprecise repair at the 59 or 39 junction due to artifacts of the DNA repair process. We herein report a technology that couples the spatial temporal localization of an ssDNA repair template and leverages the nucleic acid components of the CRISPR-Cas9 system. We show that by direct fusion of an ssDNA template to the trans activating RNA (tracrRNA) to generate an RNA-DNA chimera, termed Donorguide, we recover precise integration of genetic alterations, with both increased integration rates and decreased imprecision at the 59 or 39 junctions relative to an ssODN donor in vitro in HEK293T cells as well as in vivo in zebrafish. Further, we show that this technology can be used to enhance gene conversion with other gene editing tools such as TALENs.
Blocking Short-Form Ron Eliminates Breast Cancer Metastases through Accumulation of Stem-Like CD4+ T Cells That Subvert Immunosuppression.

Immunotherapy has potential to prevent and treat metastatic breast cancer, but strategies to enhance immune-mediated killing of metastatic tumors are urgently needed. We report that a ligand-independent isoform of Ron kinase (SF-Ron) is a key target to enhance immune infiltration and eradicate metastatic tumors. Host-specific deletion of SF-Ron caused recruitment of lymphocytes to micro-metastases, augmented tumor-specific T cell responses, and nearly eliminated breast cancer metastasis in mice. Lack of host SF-Ron caused stem-like TCF1+ CD4+ T cells with type I differentiation potential to accumulate in metastases and prevent metastatic outgrowth. There was a corresponding increase in tumor-specific CD8+ T cells, which were also required to eliminate lung metastases. Treatment of mice with a Ron kinase inhibitor increased tumor-specific CD8+ T cells and protected from metastatic outgrowth. These data provide strong pre-clinical rationale to pursue small molecule Ron kinase inhibitors for prevention and treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
Role of the Nerve in Regeneration

This chapter discusses a wide range of dependencies of regenerative processes on nerves. On innervation, the invading nerves suppress the production of trophic substance by the peripheral nonneural tissues, resulting in the limbs becoming “addicted” to nerves. Only after prolonged denervation of the transplanted limbs, the ability of the limb tissues to produce sufficient trophic substance is restored in some of the limbs. Denervated neurogenic limb stumps or blastemas may actually produce a factor that inhibits regeneration, at least in aneurogenic limbs. Regeneration of the amphibian or lizard tail involves an added degree of complexity with respect to the role of the nervous system, because both the peripheral and central nervous systems are present at the surface of an amputated tail. Invertebrates possess a variety of forms of nervous systems, ranging from generalized neural networks that are mainly neurosecretory in the most primitive phyla to well defined nerve cords and pathways in the arthropods. Annelids, the most extensively investigated group, have a ventral nerve cord that contains ganglia for each body segment.
Localization of Calmodulin and Calmodulin Acceptor Sites by Fluorescence Methods

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the fluorescence methods used for the localization of endogenous calmodulin (CaM) and CaM acceptor or binding sites within fixed tissue sections and cells and in living cells. Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) consists of incubating fixed tissue sections or cultured cells with a primary antibody directed against the protein of interest—in this case, CaM. Unbound antibody is washed away. A second antibody, directed against the IgG of the animal species in which the primary antibody was developed, is then incubated with the tissue or cells. This second antibody is conjugated with a fluorescent molecule, generally fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) or tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate (RITC). The fluorochrome conjugated to the second antibody is the entity actually seen in the microscope. After washing to remove unbound antibodies, the preparation is mounted on a microscope slide for viewing. Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) differs from IIF in that the primary antibody is conjugated with fluorochrome rather than a secondary antibody. DIF has the advantage of being a more rapid procedure consisting of only one incubation step. But DIF has several disadvantages. DIF does not give as bright a fluorescence emission as IIF. In addition, DIF necessitates the commitment of primary antibody to fluorescent conjugation; primary antibody cannot be then used for other purposes and its purification is mandatory to maintain acceptably low levels of nonspecific binding.
Distant homolog identifies novel viral immune evasins from herpesvirus proteome (VIR5P.1031)

Viruses have evolved a number of mechanisms to avoid host immune responses. Herpesviruses have been known as a rich source in viral evasion genes including homologs mimicking the structures and functions of host immune proteins. Using a rapid high throughput computational structural mimicry analysis, we have screening the whole proteome of human herpesviruses that includes nearly 2,000 proteins. We discovered a number of novel distant viral homologs in herpesvirus proteome that are previously uncharacterized. This includes homologs involving MHC class I pathways and NK immune defense, or chemokine and cytokine mimics. Sequence identities between viral mimics and native host ligands/receptors can be as low as 9-25%. Two novel distant homologs are of particular interests as they are predicted to be involved in MHC class I modulation. These novel homologs are being expressed and produced and are undergone further characterization to determine their structural and functional characteristics and their roles in viral immune evasion. From these herpesviral homologs and their predicted structures, we hypothesize that herpesviruses utilize a variety of binding mechanisms to regulate a class of key MHC I molecules including MICA/B.
HCC Patients Suffer Less From Geographic Differences in Organ Availability

It has been suggested that the number of exception model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) points for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) overestimates mortality risk. Average MELD at transplant, a measure of organ availability, correlates with mortality on an intent-to-treat basis and varies by donation service area (DSA). We analyzed Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data from 2005 to 2010, comparing transplant and death parameters for patients transplanted with HCC exception points to patients without HCC diagnosis (non-HCC), to determine whether the two groups were impacted differentially by DSA organ availability. HCC candidates are transplanted at higher rates than non-HCC candidates and are less likely to die on the waitlist. Overall risk of death trends downward by 1% per MELD point (p = 0.65) for HCC, but increases by 7% for non-HCC patients (p < 0.0001). The difference in the change of mortality with MELD is statistically significant between HCC and non-HCC candidates p < 0.0001. Posttransplant risk of death trends downward by 2% per MELD point (p = 0.28) for HCC patients, but increases by 3% per MELD point in non-HCC patients (p = 0.027), with the difference being statistically significant with p < 0.005. In summary, increasing wait time impacts HCC candidates less than non-HCC candidates and under increased competition for donor organs, HCC candidates' advantage increases.
Assessment of the Stirling power option for space science applications

Free-piston Stirling technology efforts in the past typically were intended to address power needs in the multi-kilowatt range. The Stirling power option was attractive primarily because of the high conversion efficiency and potential for long life. In recent years, several technology efforts have focused on the free-piston Stirling power convertor for space power applications, however the more recent efforts are intended to provide power at levels far below one kilowatt. Through a variety of projects funded by both NASA and DOE, the free-piston Stirling convertor technology has successfully demonstrated high efficiency and long life. Other areas of concern, such as control of multi-convertor systems, and vibration reduction have also been addressed. Efforts are being initiated to address issues such as EMI, radiation tolerance of organic materials, and the ability to operate through launch loads and survive with integrity. The status of the technology in these areas is briefly discussed.
A MATRIX Q-ANALOGUE OF THE PARIKH MAP

We introduce an extension of the Parikh mapping called the Parikh q-matrix mapping, which takes its values in matrices with polynomial entries. The morphism constructed represents a word ω over a κ-letter alphabet as a κ-dimensional upper-triangular matrix with entries that are nonnegative integral polynomials in variable q. We show that by appropriately embedding the κ-letter alphabet into the κ+1)-letter alphabet and putting q=1, we obtain the extension of the Parikh mapping to (κ+1)-dimensional (numerical)matrices introduced by Mateescu, Salomaa, Salomaa, and Yu. The Parikh q-matrix mapping however, produces matrices that carry more information about ω than the numerical Parikh matrix. The entries of the q-matrix image of ω under this morphism is constructed by the q-counting number of occurrences of certain words as scattered subwords of ω
Alcohol consumption among urban, suburban, and rural Veterans Affairs outpatients.

Purpose: United States rural residents tend toward poorer health than urban residents. Although alcohol use is associated with multiple medical conditions and can be reduced via brief primary care-based interventions, it is unknown whether alcohol consumption differs by rurality among primary care patients. We sought to describe alcohol consumption among urban, suburban, and rural Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatients. Methods: Outpatients from 7 VA facilities responded to mailed surveys that included the validated Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption (AUDIT-C) screening questionnaire. The ZIP code approximation of the US Department of Agriculture's rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes classified participants into urban, suburban, and rural areas. For each area, adjusted logistic regression models estimated the prevalence of past-year abstinence among all participants and unhealthy alcohol use (AUDIT-C ≥ 3 for women and ≥ 4 for men) among drinkers. Findings: Among 33,883 outpatients, 14,967 (44%) reported abstinence. Among 18,916 drinkers, 8,524 (45%) screened positive for unhealthy alcohol use. The adjusted prevalence of abstinence was lowest in urban residents (43%, 95% CI 42%-43%) with significantly higher rates in both suburban and rural residents [45% (44%-46%) and 46% (45%-47%), respectively]. No significant differences were observed in the adjusted prevalence of unhealthy alcohol use among drinkers. Conclusions: Abstinence is slightly more common among rural and suburban than urban VA outpatients, but unhealthy alcohol use does not vary by rurality. As the VA and other health systems implement evidence-based care for unhealthy alcohol use, more research is needed to identify whether preventive strategies targeted to high-risk areas are needed.
Social science and social policy and the care of young children: Head start and after

Abstract The relative influence of social science research in the formulation of social policy is reviewed through historical case studies of Head Start and federally funded day care within the United States. It is concluded that economic, social, and political factors are the principal initiators of broad program efforts and that social science research is influential in specifying the problem and the “fine-tuning” solution alternatives. The subjectivity of social science research is addressed by analyzing both the nature of the research questions asked and the advocacy role played by social scientists.
Tumoricidal effect of interleukin-2-activated killer cells in canines.

We investigated the effect of both partially purified (TCGF) and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) on the tumor-directed cytotoxic activity of canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using three normal canines. No cytotoxic activity was displayed by unstimulated effector cells at 3 h of incubation; however, the cytotoxic effect was observed in a 16-h assay. PBMC of all canines displayed significant levels of lytic activity after stimulation for 4 to 7 days with both types of IL-2 against a variety of allogeneic and xenogeneic neoplastic cells in 3-h 51Cr release assay. The cytotoxic activity of cultured cells increased proportionally in the 16-h assays. Morphological examination of the May-Grunwald and Giemsa stained cytocentrifuged slides of cultured cells on each day of assay showed an increase in large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) beginning on day 4 and reaching a peak on day 7 of culture.
Leta Stetter Hollingworth's contributions to the study of art talent

Historical development of the consideration of art talent and of testing for it. The role of Hollingworth in this work paralleled her concern for special abilities and their nurture.
Late Quaternary environments in Ruby Valley, Nevada

Palynological data from sediment cores from the Ruby Marshes provide a record of environmental and climatic changes over the last 40,000 yr. The modern marsh waters are fresh, but no deeper than ∼3 m. A shallow saline lake occupied this basin during the middle Wisconsin, followed by fresh and perhaps deep waters by 18,000 to 15,000 yr B.P. No sediments were recovered for the period between 15,000 and 11,000 yr B.P., possibly due to lake desiccation. By 10,800 yr B.P. a fresh-water lake was again present, and deeper-than-modern conditions lasted until 6800 yr B.P. The middle Holocene was characterized by very shallow water, and perhaps complete desiccation. The marsh system deepened after 4700 yr B.P., and fresh-water conditions persisted until modern times. Vegetation changes in Ruby Valley were more gradual than those seen in the paleolimno-logical record. Sagebrush steppe was more widespread than at present through the late Pleistocene and early Holocene, giving way somewhat to expanded shadscale vegetation between 8500 and 6800 yr B.P. Shadscale steppe contracted by 4000 yr B.P., but had greater than modern coverage until 1000 to 500 yr ago. Pinyon-juniper woodland was established in the southern Ruby Mountains by 4700 yr B.P.
Neuropsychological differentiation of Alzheimer's disease from vascular dementia

The purpose of this study was to determine whether cognitive test performances alone could distinguish patients with probable Alzheimer's disease from those with probable vascular dementia. Sixty-eight outpatients with clinical diagnoses of either Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia were administered a brief battery of neuropsychological tests. Scores from the Boston Naming Test and the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test were identified as most discriminating of the groups. Seventy-seven per cent of the sample was correctly classified by a stepwise discriminant function analysis. Results of this study indicate that selected neuropsychological tests have moderate concurrent utility in the differential diagnosis of dementia.
Medication Errors in Neonates

Prevention of harm from medication errors has become a national priority. Medication errors in the neonatal intensive care unit are common, and most can be avoided. This article reviews the prevalence and types of medication errors affecting the care of the neonate and summarizes approaches that have been used to reduce these errors. Safety initiatives applicable to minimizing medication errors also are discussed.
Capabilities, Contractual Hazards, and Governance: Integrating Resource-Based and Transaction Cost Perspectives

We address independent and joint effects of contractual hazards and technological capabilities on governance, arguing that strong technological capabilities improve a firm's ability to govern trans...
Spectrum of Pneumococcal Serotype 11A Variants Results from Incomplete Loss of Capsule O-Acetylation

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a significant bacterial pathogen that expresses >90 capsule serotypes. Conventional serotyping methods assume that each serotype is a genetically and antigenically distinct entity; however, recent investigations have revealed pneumococcal isolates that cannot be unambiguously serotyped because they share the properties of more than one serotype. Here, we employed a novel serotyping method and NMR spectroscopy to examine clinical isolates sharing properties of serotypes 11A and 11E. These ambiguous clinical isolates were provisionally named 11A variant (11Av) isolates. Serotype 11A pneumococci characteristically express capsule β-galactose-6-O-acetylation (βGal6OAc) mediated by the capsule synthesis gene wcjE, while 11E strains contain loss-of-function mutations in wcjE and completely lack the expression of βGal6OAc. Although 11Av isolates also contained mutated wcjE alleles, 11Av clinical isolates were composed of antigenically homogeneous bacteria expressing reduced amounts of 11A-specific capsule antigen. NMR data confirmed reduced but detectable amounts of βGal6OAc on 11Av capsule polysaccharide. Furthermore, the transformation of strains with wcjE alleles from 11Av strains was sufficient to restore partial βGal6OAc in an 11E background. We conclude that, instead of being distinct entities, serotypes 11A and 11E represent two extremes of an antigenic spectrum resulting from variable capsule O-acetylation secondary to heterologous wcjE mutations. These findings challenge whether all clinically relevant pneumococci can be definitively categorized into distinct serotypes.
Cost-Effective Mission Design for a Small Solar Probe

The Small Solar Probe Mission is designed to characterize the Solar Corona as close as three solar radii above the sun's surface. Until 1992 studies generated concepts with large spacecraft launched on large launch vehicles and requiring nearly a decade to reach their initial perihelion.
Reverse mutation in Drosophila and the status of the particulate gene.

Following the discussion and examination of relevant experimental observations, it is proposed that the identity between spontaneous phenotypic reversion and reverse (back) mutation is established only after a number of criteria are fulfilled. These criteria include the demonstration that the reverting mutant itself as well as the reversions are not associated with chromosomal rearrangements, that reversion occurrs in the absence of crossing over, that independent suppressor or modifier mutants are not involved, that the phenonomenon of “gene conversion” does not occur and that the reversion represents and autonomous event.
On Almost Everywhere Complex Recursive Functions

Let h be a recursive function. A partial recursive function p is i.o. (infinitely often) h-complex if every program for p requires more than h(k) steps to compute p(k) for infinitely many inputs k. A more stringent notion is that of p being a.e. (almost everywhere) h-complex: p is a.e. h-complex if every program for p requires more than h(k) steps to compute p(k) for all but finitely many inputs k.These two definitions of h-complex functions do not yield the same theorems. Although it is possible to prove of every i.o. h-complex recursive function that it is i.o. h-complex, it is not possible to prove of every a.e. h-complex recursive function that it is a.e. h-complex. Similarly, recursive functions not i.o. h-complex can be proven to be such, but recursive functions not a.e. h-complex cannot be so proven.The construction of almost everywhere complex recursive functions appears much more difficult than the construction of infinitely often complex recursive functions. There have been found no “natural” examples of recursive functions requiring more than polynomial time for all but finitely many inputs. It is shown that from a single example of a moderately a.e. complex recursive function, one can obtain a.e. very complex recursive functions.
On the extended-range predictability of large-scale quasi-stationary patterns in the atmosphere

A principal objective of this article is to establish theoretically the result that, contrary to some previously held beliefs, internal nonlinear processes (wave-wave and wave-mean interactions) among the large scales not likely to be the dominant mechanisms that lead to unpredictability of the low-frequency portion of the large-scale waves in the extra-tropical atmosphere. It is further argued that theoretically quasi-stationary long waves can probably be predicted at extended ranges if boundary forcings and tropical influence can be treated as known during the range of prediction. The problem of long-range predictability of quasi-stationary long waves is studied here using a three-dimensional quasi-geostrophic channel model of the atmosphere, with lateral and lower boundary forcings prescribed. The low-frequency component of the flow is isolated by taking the running-time mean with an averaging period taken to be longer than the typical lifecycle of synoptic-scale baroclinic waves. When this period is chosen to be 10 days or longer, it is found that the evolution of the large-scale flow is not governed by a regular initial-value problem and detailed information of the initial condition is not “remembered‘ by the quasi-stationary waves beyond the predictability limit for the atmosphere as a whole. Instead, it is found that the extended-range evolution of the stationary waves responds to the corresponding evolution of the zonal index, which measures the total zonal geostrophic angular momentum in the channel. Some issues of theoretical predictability, such as the effect of small errors in the initial condition and of small uncertainties in our knowledge of the transient eddy fluxes, are addressed. It is argued that, since the evolution of the zonal index is found to be governed by a remarkably simple first order nonlinear differential equation of a single scalar function of time, whose solution has predictable properties, the quasi-stationary long waves, whose evolution is determined by the prognostic information contained in the zonal index, are perhaps also predictable beyond the “predictability limit”. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0870.1986.tb00419.x
Maternal Health Care Services in the Himalayas

ABSTRACT The state of health of the people in developing countries does not show a very good trend. They are faced with the double burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases as well as other sociocultural factors that need to be addressed, especially in rural areas. The present study was conducted in a rural area with the dual purpose of training the undergraduate medical student in the field and exposing or sensitizing them toward the need of the rural masses and provision of services in the form of medical aid or health education and awareness. It was a camp-based approach where an intense phase was planned for a week and a follow-up phase every month. The present article is the result of the week-long intense phase. The intensive phase is basically the period when this camp was run for 7 days with the involvement of specialists from various departments providing their services. In the next phase there were follow-up activities and services that were provided once a month. The study generated a...
Male-male association patterns and female proximity in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata

If males differ in their ability to attract potential mates, and are able to perceive such differences, theory predicts they should distribute themselves in a manner that increases their probability of obtaining potential matings. The relationship between male-male association patterns and the proximity of females in social groups, however, remains virtually unexplored. Experimental analysis of this relationship in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata, demonstrates that in preference tests males showed a strong tendency to associate with other males that were further away from potential mates than they were themselves. Male guppies pursue a behavioral strategy that involves categorizing other males based on their proximity (and possibly relative attractiveness) to females, remembering the identity of such individuals, and using this information when choosing between other males as associates. Such a strategy may increase a male's chances of being the individual chosen by a female assessing nearby males.
The role of private payers in payment reform.

In September, one of California’s largest private payers, Anthem Blue Cross, joined 7 Los Angeles health systems in a new managed care contract with savings and risks shared among the payer and health systems. In a state where premiums have increased at a rate 5 times faster than inflation over the past decade, the new partnership aims to slow spending through mutual price control and clinical coordination among the narrow network of prior rivals, while offering employers and individuals lower premiums and zero deductibles.
Measurement of the size and refractive index of a small particle using the complex forward-scattered electromagnetic field

We have previously shown that interferometry may be used to detect the phase shift of a focused beam caused by a small particle [ Appl. Phys. Lett.55, 215 ( 1989)]. This is a useful method for detecting small particles in liquids and with the ability to distinguish bubbles from particles. In that measurement, however, only the phase shift, given by the real part of the forward-scattered field, was detected. By measurement of both the real and imaginary parts of the forward-scattered field, additional information is obtained so that the refractive index and size of a nominally spherical particle may be determined. This measurement is analogous to ellipsometric measurements of thin films, where knowledge of both a phase and amplitude quantity allows one to determine a thin-film refractive index and thickness. Using an optical system based on Nomarski optics, we have shown that it is possible to distinguish four classes of particulate material in liquids within the noise constraints of our system. Thus low dielectrics (e.g., SiO2), moderate dielectrics (e.g., Si3N4), bubbles, and metals–absorbers (e.g., Al, C) can be differentiated as well as sized more accurately.
Dynamic Analysis of Compliant Mechanisms

A systematic method for dynamic analysis of compliant mechanisms is presented including basic formulations for natural frequencies, modes, dynamic response, and frequency characteristics. Methods for design sensitivity analysis are developed to investigate the effect of various design parameters on the dynamic performance of compliant mechanisms. A micro compliant stroke amplifier mechanism, for MEMS actuator application, is presented as a design example to demonstrate significant differences between static and dynamic performance of compliant mechanisms.
Hydroxamate siderophore-promoted reactions between iron(II) and nitroaromatic groundwater contaminants

Abstract Recent studies show that ferrous iron (FeII), which is often abundant in anaerobic soil and groundwater, is capable of abiotically reducing many subsurface contaminants. However, studies also demonstrate that FeII redox reactivity in geochemical systems is heavily dependent upon metal speciation. This contribution examines the influence of hydroxamate ligands, including the trihydroxamate siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB), on FeII reactions with nitroaromatic groundwater contaminants (NACs). Experimental results demonstrate that ring-substituted NACs are reduced to the corresponding aniline products in aqueous solutions containing FeII complexes with DFOB and two monohydroxamate ligands (acetohydroxamic acid and salicylhydroxamic acid). Reaction rates are heavily dependent upon solution conditions and the identities of both the FeII–complexing hydroxamate ligand and the target NAC. Trends in the observed pseudo-first-order rate constants for reduction of 4-chloronitrobenzene (kobs, s−1) are quantitatively linked to the formation of FeII species with standard one-electron reduction potentials, E H 0 (FeIII/FeII), below −0.3 V. Linear free energy relationships correlate reaction rates with the E H 0 (FeIII/FeII) values of different electron-donating FeII complexes and with the apparent one-electron reduction potentials of different electron-accepting NACs, E H 1 ′ (ArNO2). Experiments describing a redox auto-decomposition mechanism for FeII–DFOB complexes that occurs at neutral pH and has implications for the stability of hydroxamate siderophores in anaerobic environments are also presented. Results from this study indicate that hydroxamates and other FeIII-stabilizing organic ligands can form highly redox-active FeII complexes that may contribute to the natural attenuation and remediation of subsurface contaminants.
Angiotensin II Subtype 2 Receptor: Potential Therapy

The angiotensin II type 2 (AT2R) receptor is highly expressed during fetal development but rapidly declines with aging and is limited to certain organs. However, this receptor is reexpressed in response stress or injury. AT2R is believed to play a protective role by counteracting the effects of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor. AT2R enhances vasodilation, renal sodium excretion, and nitric oxide production. AT2R also has antiproliferation, antihypertrophy, and anti-inflammation effects. The role of AT2R in human health and disease is not well established yet, mainly due to the lack of tools to manipulate this receptor. With the recent development of an AT2R nonpeptide agonist, the function of this receptor and its role in disease management is being investigated.
Use of fluorescent sphingolipid analogs to study lipid transport along the endocytic pathway.

Abstract Sphingolipids (SLs) are concentrated at the plasma membrane where they play important roles in cell–cell communication, host–pathogen interactions, and cell signaling events. Our laboratory has used fluorescent SL analogs and SL-binding toxins to elucidate mechanisms by which SLs are internalized by endocytosis and subsequently sorted and transported to various intracellular compartments. These studies have relied on the use of temperature shift protocols, co-localization studies with compartment-specific markers, selective biochemical treatments that inhibit specific endocytic mechanisms, and the expression of dominant negative proteins (e.g., rabs) that block specific steps in transport. These methods are presented here so that they can be utilized by others for the study of endocytic trafficking of lipids and other molecules.
NAD+-pyridoxine and NAD+-pyridoxamine complexes

Abstract 1. 1. NAD+-pyridoxamine complexes were studied by fluorescence techniques at 30° over a pH range of 8.4–10.0. 2. 2. The polarization factor was seen to increase with increasing NAD+ concentration in all cases. 3. 3. Fluorescence quenching studis established large complex formation constants for both complexes. 4. 4. The NAD+-pyridoxine complexes are endothermic in nature while the NAD+-pyridoxamine complexes are strongly exothermi.
Phyletic coevolution between subterranean rodents of the genus Ctenomys (Rodentia: Hystricognathi) and nematodes of the genus Paraspidodera (Heterakoidea: Aspidoderidae) in the Neotropics: temporal and evolutionary implications

Coevolution was studied in six species of rodents of the genus Ctenomys and their parasitic nematodes of the genus Paraspidodera, collected in Bolivia. Representatives of the families Octodontidae and Caviidae were used as outgroups for the mammals, and nematodes from caviids were used as outgroups of the nematodes from ctenomyids. For the nematodes, quantitative and qualitative morphological characteristics of both males and females and electrophoretic characters of both sexes were used to generate phylogenetic hypotheses of evolutionary relationships of the OTes occurring in hosts of different species. Concordance estimates of cladograms generated from biochemical-genetic and morphological data of the nematodes show a percentage incongruence (Mickevich-Farris Incongruence Statistic or 1"r) of 8.23"0 in the character sets. Parsimony mapping, testing concordance of topologies between the trees derived from both analysis of both morphological and biochemical-genetic data indicates an overall agreement of82.3° 0 . Comparisons of topologies of the host and parasite cladograms, as measured with parsimony mapping, showed 70. 8 o/" concordance, indicating substantially more cospeciation than host-switching in the Ctenomys-Paraspidodera host-parasite system. Nematodes of the genus Paraspidodera appear to have invaded the Ctenomys lineage from an origin in caviids sometime before the ctenomyids began to diversify in early Pleistocene time.
Structures for Facilitating Student Reflection.

The goal of this article is to describe a continuum of levels of reflection. It briefly focuses on Deanna Kuhn's research into the development of scientific thinking and Robert Kegan's Object-Subject Theory of Development applied to the problems of inspiring students to be able to reflect. Assignments for improving students' ability to reflect are presented. Examples of student reflections are provided. These may be especially helpful for faculty in a wide range of courses.
Aptitude- versus content-treatment interactions

Interest in adapting instructional methodology to accommodate individual learner characteristics has been stimulated by the recent popularity of aptitude-by-treatment interaction research. While relevant to a descriptive theory of learning, ATI has failed to provide an adequate conceptual or empirical basis for a prescriptive set of adaptive instructional designs. The validity of adaptive designs as a focus for interaction research is questioned. Based upon cognitive task analysis and content analysis, the search for content-treatment interactions and their applications to instructional development should make adaptive designs more feasible, efficient, and consistent as well as developing important cognitive skills that may be short-circuited by learner-adaptive designs. Examples of research-based content-treatment interactions are provided.
Visual and somesthetic influences on postural orientation in the median plane

We investigated optic and somesthetic contributions to perceived body orientation in the pitch dimension. In a within-subject factorial design, each of 12 subjects attempted to set his/her body erect or 45 degrees back from erect while restrained in a movable bed surrounded by an adjustable box. The box provided a visual environment consisting of either a grid pattern, two luminous lines, or complete darkness. Both the grid pattern and the luminous lines were effective at biasing settings of body position when the box was pitched; the pitched grid was more effective than the pitched lines. Although the pitch of the box influenced orientation to both goals, the effect was greater for the diagonal goal than for the erect goal. We present a model of postural orientation in the median plane that involves vestibular, somatosensory, and visual inputs.
Radiotherapy for Rhabdomyosarcoma: Indications and Outcome

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood. Improvements in the clinical outcomes of rhabdomyosarcoma have been secondary to the intensification and refinement of treatment investigated by the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group. Advances in diagnostic imaging techniques have led to improvements in staging and contribute to precision in radiation field design. Radiation treatment has been integrated into the primary treatment of most patients with rhabdomyosarcoma. Each treatment site has special considerations with regards to prognosis, outcomes and potential morbidities that affect the choice of local therapy. Advanced radiotherapy techniques using conformal treatment with intensity-modulated radiotherapy and proton therapy are particularly advantageous for the treatment of sites close to critical structures, such as the head and neck and genitourinary system. Active investigation is underway to develop strategies to reduce the radiation dose and volume in an effort to minimise late toxicity and improve the therapeutic ratio.
Sex Ratio and Family Structure in the Nonmetropolitan United States

The sex ratio hypothesis maintains that the ratio of marriageable men to marriageable women can have major implications for family formation and structure. Despite extensive research attention, the sex ratio hypothesis has yet to be tested on general nonmetropolitan populations. This study of nonmetropolitan counties in the United States found strong support for the sex ratio hypothesis. Counties with low sex ratios (shortage of men) had lower proportions of married couple households and a corresponding higher proportion of female-headed households. These low sex ratio counties also had fewer adults married, and a lower proportion of their children living in married couple households with a higher proportion of children living in female-headed households.