cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
20q13.2-q13.33 deletion syndrome: A case report

We report a 32-month-old female of Peruvian ethnicity identified with a rare 20q13.2-q13.33 deletion using microarray analysis. She presented with intellectual disability, absent speech, hypotonia, pre- and post-natal growth retardation and an abnormal face with a unilateral cleft lip. Clinical features and genetic findings with the loss of 30 genes, including GNAS, MC3R, CDH4 and TFAP2C, are described in relationship to the very few cases of 20q13 deletion reported in the literature. Deletion of this region may play an important role in neurodevelopment and function and in causing specific craniofacial features.
Differential risk for developmental reading disorders in the offspring of compensated versus noncompensated parents

When one or both parents have a history of developmental reading disorder (RD) in childhood, the risk to their offspring for developing reading problems is substantially increased. However, risk research has usually assumed a stability of reading problems across the lifespan (i.e., if a parent was affected in childhood, he or she remains affected in adulthood). Yet, some individuals with RD in childhood compensate for the disorder as they grow older. Both an environmental and genetic hypothesis would predict that the risk for RD in offspring will vary as a function of parental compensation. This study examined whether risk to offspring was dependent on the parents' successful or unsuccessful compensation for their childhood reading problems. Two large family data sets were analyzed (N=907). Diagnoses with either an age discrepant or IQ discrepant criteria essentially showed that having at least one still affected parent (i.e., RD both as a child and as an adult) put the offspring at a higher risk for RD than having at least one compensated parent (i.e., RD as a child but not as an adult). The lowest risk to an offspring occurred when both parents were never affected (i.e., not RD as a child or as an adult). The implications of these findings are discussed with regard to counseling and early diagnosis of reading problems.
Genetic structure of a native cyprinid in a reservoir‐altered stream network

Summary 1. Reservoirs modify riverine ecosystems worldwide, and often with deleterious impacts on native biota. The immediate effects of reservoirs on native fish species below dams and in impounded reaches have received considerable attention, but it is unclear how reservoirs may affect fish species at larger spatial and temporal scales. Documented declines of stream fish populations in direct tributaries of reservoirs suggest reservoir pools may reduce gene flow among historically connected populations. 2. Because of increased predator densities in reservoirs and the extent of habitat alteration in impounded reaches, I predicted reservoir habitats would reduce gene flow among small-bodied fish populations separated by reservoir habitat. I used microsatellite markers to assess the spatial genetic structure of populations of the red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis), in a reservoir-fragmented stream network (Lake Texoma, U.S.A.). I also tested the prediction that populations in two direct tributaries that have experienced population declines would have low genetic diversity. Individuals were collected from six sites upstream of the reservoir, three sites in the reservoir and three sites in direct tributaries of the reservoir during 2008 and 2009. 3. Results indicate that most populations were isolated by distance with little divergence among populations. In one direct tributary population, however, there was substantial genetic divergence, and genetic diversity was significantly lower than in other populations. Gene flow also seemed to be lower in reservoir habitats than in intact stream habitats, suggesting reservoir habitats may be reducing gene flow among the reservoir-separated populations. These results indicate that reservoirs may reduce gene flow among reservoir-fragmented stream fish populations, altering the evolutionary trajectories of fragmented populations.
Executive control mediates memory's association with change in instrumental activities of daily living: The freedom house study

Objectives: To assess the relative independent contribution of changes in executive control function (ECF) and memory to changes in functional status. Design: Three-year longitudinal cohort study. Setting: A comprehensive care retirement community. Participants: Five hundred forty-seven noninstitutionalized people aged 70 and older. Measurements: The California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) and Executive Interview (EXIT25). Functional status was assessed using instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Latent growth curves of CVLT, EXIT25, and IADLs were modeled. The rate of change in IADLs (adjusted for baseline IADLs and cognition) was regressed on the rate of change in each cognitive measure. Models were also adjusted for baseline age, level of care, and comorbid illnesses. Results: There was significant variability around the baseline means and slopes for all variables. The rate of change in EXIT25 was independently correlated with the rate of change in IADLs (correlation coefficient (r)=−0.52, P<.001). This remained significant after adjusting for baseline EXIT25 scores, IADLs, age, comorbid disease, and level of care. The EXIT25's effect on the rate of change in IADLs was stronger than those of age, baseline IADLs, comorbid disease, or level of care. The rate of change in CVLT scores was not significantly associated with the rate of change in IADLs. Conclusion: ECF is a strong, significant, and independent correlate of functional status in normal aging. In contrast, decline in memory, as measured using the CVLT, has no independent association with the rate of change in functional status. This suggests that amnestic mild cognitive impairment can be associated with dementia only though the subsequent or comorbid development of ECF impairment.
A cross-sectional study of exhaled carbon monoxide as a biomarker of recent household air pollution exposure.

Abstract Rationale Household air pollution causes 3.5 million deaths annually. Personal exposure assessments required for examining health associations are expensive and require technical expertize, limiting the quality of research in resource-poor settings Objectives To assess the feasibility of exhaled carbon monoxide and its relationship to continuous personal carbon monoxide monitoring and markers of respiratory health in female cooks primarily cooking with biomass fuels in Araihazar, Bangladesh Methods and measure For a 24-h period, exhaled carboxyhemoglobin (eCOHb) % saturation was measured before and after each cooking episode while simultaneous 24-h personal carbon monoxide monitoring was conducted. The Coburn–Forester–Kane (CFK) equation was used to convert continuous personal CO exposures to predicted COHb % saturation. Respiratory symptoms were assessed by St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, airway inflammation measured by exhaled breath condensate pH, and lung function determined by spirometry. Spearman's correlation was used to examine the relationship between eCOHb and CKF-derived COHb, EBC pH, and lung function variables. eCOHb % saturation was dichotomized around the median and odds ratios calculated for each respiratory symptom Main results Measurement of eCOHb % saturation is feasible in a resource-poor setting. eCOHb % saturation responds to cooking episodes and demonstrates consistency when measured at the same time point 24-h later, suggesting that eCOHb may be a sensitive biomarker of recent HAP exposures.
Ballistic focus light ion beams for an inertial confinement fusion reactor

The issues of ion beam transport are studied in the context of the LIBRA-LiTE reactor study. LIBRA-LiTE is a 1000 MWe power plant design consistent with ballistic ion focusing. The ion beam energy must be divided between many beams to provide proper illumination symmetry. The needs to keep the total beam energy low and the intensity at the required level lead to constraints on the transport system, particularly, a high degree of bunching and a low microdivergence. This paper will describe arguments leading to an operating point for light ion ICF with ballistic focusing. Calculations of heating of the background gas by the ion beams and the subsequent increase in the electrical conductivity of the gas will be presented. This is an important issue to the stability of the ion beam.
Prone positioning in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: the Vollman Prone Positioner.

ARDS continues to be associated with high mortality rates despite numerous advances in critical care. Improvements in oxygenation can be achieved by placing patients with ARDS prone. The Vollman Prone Positioner offers an easy, safe, and inexpensive method to turn patients prone (for more information: www.vollman.com).
Electrical characteristics and reliability of Pt/Ti/Pt/Au ohmic contacts to p-type GaAs

The ohmic contacts to p-type GaAs formed by GaAs/Pt/Ti/Pt/Au systems were investigated. The specific contact resistance below 8×10-7 Ωcm2 was achieved when the interface Pt between GaAs and Ti/Pt/Au was thicker than 50 A, which is about one-fourth of the conventional Ti/Pt/Au contact. The activation energies of the initial degradation of the Pt/Ti/Pt/Au electrodes correspond to the reaction of GaAs and Pt to form PtAs2. However, even after the initial degradation, Pt/Ti/Pt/Au with the thin Pt interface layer still shows lower contact resistivity. These systems are promising for practical p-tye ohmic contacts for AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors.
The effects of demographic factors on age composition and the implications for per capita income.

Multiple regression analysis techniques are used to measure the impact of variations in fertility and mortality rates on the population of labor-force age. The results of this analysis suggest that the impact of reductions in mortality on age composition are dependent on the level of mortality already attained, whereas reductions in fertility, as expected, increase the population in the nondependent age groups. The direct effect of vital rates on potential per capita income is assessed using the results of the regression equations, and such results suggest that variations in per capita income as large as 20 percent could be accounted for by variations in vital rates.
The evolution of cyclonic disturbances and lee waves over a topography in a rapidly rotating stratified flow

The temporal evolution of the flow patterns about a shallow bottom topography in a deep, rapidly rotating, stratified flow is studied on the basis of an inviscid Boussinesq model. The initial boundary-value problem, linearized for a thin three-dimensional obstacle, is solved for an impulsively started flow. The indicial response obtained reveals a window for the horizontal wavenumber spectra of the obstacle geometry. Only the portion of spectra within this window, which is shut at the start and widens linearly with increasing time, contributes to the solution. Thus, only the relatively large-scale, cyclonic feature associated with the wavenumber origin can dominate the flow in the early period, while the more familiar inertial wave system emerges much later. Examples of solutions computed via an FFT algorithm confirm that, except in the two opposite limits for the zero and infinite stratification, the cyclonic disturbance and inertial waves coexist, but a solitary pressure hill associated with the cyclonic disturbance remains dominant throughout most evolution stages. For a sufficiently strong stratification, the solution to the linear pressure equation suggests the emergence of a secondary eddy in the lee; its significance and validity are discussed.
Contribution of maternal smoking during pregnancy and lead exposure to early child behavior problems

Abstract Maternal smoking during pregnancy elevates risk for later child behavior problems. Because prior studies considered only Western settings, where smoking cooccurs with social disadvantage, we examined this association in Yugoslavia, a different cultural setting. Mothers enrolled in pregnancy as the low-exposure group in a prospective study of lead exposure were interviewed about health, including smoking history. A total of 199 children were assessed on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at ages 4, 4 1/2, and 5 years. Average cumulative blood lead (BPb) was determined from serial samples taken biannually since delivery. Longitudinal analyses were derived from 191 children with available data on behavior and covariates. Smoking was unrelated to social adversity. Controlling for age, gender, birthweight, ethnicity, maternal education, and Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Acceptance, smoking was associated with worse scores on almost all subscales; BPb concentration was related to small increases in the Delinquency subscale. Daughters of smokers received significantly higher scores on Somatic Complaints compared to daughters of nonsmokers, consistent with other work relating biological factors and internalizing problems in young girls. Because the present smoking/child behavior associations persist after control for individual and social factors also related to behavior problems, possible biological mediators are considered.
Eigenvalue effective population numbers for populations that vary cyclically in size

Abstract Four types of effective population numbers have been discussed in the literature on population genetics. It was shown by Wang and Pollak [Math. Biosci. 166 (2000) 1] that if a large random mating dioecious population varies cyclically in size and the population is followed over a whole cycle, the variance, inbreeding and mutation effective numbers are equal. It was also shown, in a special case, that the variance effective number, N eV , is equal to the eigenvalue effective number, N eE . The former is related to the long-term rate at which the variance between lines increases and the latter is computed from the largest non-unit eigenvalue of the matrix of transition probabilities governing the change with time of frequencies of an allele among males and females. It is shown in this paper that N eE is quite generally at least approximately the same as N eV if the numbers of males and females are always large. Both autosomal and sex-linked loci are considered and the theory allows for reproduction partially by a regular system of inbreeding.
Satisfying temporal consistency constraints of real-time databases

Abstract In addition to timing constraints, a real-time database has temporal consistency constraints for its temporal data. The temporal consistency constraints require the data to represent a state of the real-world that is up-to-date and also require data to represent past states of the real-world with values that are close in time. Factors, such as concurrency control, can cause transactions to miss their deadlines and data to become temporally inconsistent. Approximate query processing (AQP) has been proposed as a strategy to satisfy the timing constraints of real-time databases. Approximate answers are provided by AQP if it is not possible to produce an exact answer by a specified deadline. In this paper, we examine the temporal consistency of the data during traditional and AQP. Four metrics of temporal consistency are utilized to compare the age and dispersion of the data during traditional query processing (TQP) versus approximate query processing. Simulation results identify factors, such as the concurrency control algorithm, the number of transactions and the percentage of query transactions, that affect the temporal inconsistency of the data.
Popcorn—What's in the Bag?

Three independent activities explore microwave popcorn, the nature of the packaging, and the popcorn produced. The contents of the package before popping are examined to identify unique features of the packaging. (2) Popped popcorn is added to hot water to explore solubility behavior. (3) Mass loss on popping is investigated in a graphing exercise. The role of water is central to the results of each activity.
PERCEIVING REGIONS AS SCATTERED OBJECTS

It is possible to consider regions and concrete objects to be identical by defining both as scattered objects. The argument also maintains the role of mental abstraction, significance, and choice in discerning regions. This reconsideration of one of the field's major concepts asks geographers to think about ontological questions, and ponder the nature of regions and how they are to be presented and analyzed.
Quantitative Ultrasonic Imaging Using The Backward Propagation Method

In the past few decades the medical community has become increasingly adept at, as well as increasingly dependent upon, diagnosis by radiography. However, there exists a growing concern over the possibility that cellular and genetic damage is being done by the large amounts of x-radiation turned upon the populations of medically advanced countriesI . The state of the art has considerably reduced the dosages required to obtain satisfactory radiographic images in an attempt to reduce doses to a safe level. However, radiobiologists have studied the effects of low radiation doses on different cell lines in vivo in the hopes that some threshhold would be found below which permanent damage ceases to occur. Unfortunately there are now grounds for believing that the probability of genetic change follows the dose down to nearly zero.© (1971) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Deformation of the Central Andes (15°-27°S) derived from a flow model of subduction zones

A simple viscous flow model of a subduction zone is used to calculate the deformation within continental lithosphere above a subducting slab. This formulation accounts for two forces that dominate the deformation in the overriding lithosphere: tectonic forces and buoyancy forces. Numerical solutions, obtained by using a finite element technique, are compared with observations from the central Andes (15-27 deg S). The model predicts the observed deformation pattern of extension in the forearc, compression in the Western Monocline (corresponding to magmatic activity), extension in the Altiplano, compression in the Eastern Monocline and Subandes, and no deformation in the Brazilian Shield. By comparing the calculated solutions with the large-scale tectonic observations, the forces that govern the deformation in the central Andes are evaluated. The approximately constant subduction velocity in the past 26 million years suggests that the rate of crustal shortening in the Andes has decreased with time due to the thickening of the crust.
Divalent cations and inorganic phosphate metabolism in starved Tetrahymena

Abstract Tetrahymena pyriformis maintained under starvation conditions release orthophosphate into the suspension medium. Ca2+ and/or Mg2+ addition reduced the amount of orthophosphate excreted during a 3-h period. Cellular orthophosphate levels were not altered by divalent cation supplements; however, an increase in the pyrophosphate content was observed which was equivalent in amount to the reduction in orthophosphate efflux. These observations suggest that divalent cations are important not only in the acquisition of phosphorus during growth but also in the conservation of this element during starvation.
Characterization of -isoleucine crystal morphology from molecular modeling

An accurate prediction of the L-isoleucine crystal morphology is demonstrated through the application of a molecular mechanics simulation using a suitable force field. The model prediction is validated against crystals grown by several experimental methods and in multiple environments. Semiempirical quantum chemistry techniques were required for determination of the electronic structure of the isoleucine molecules. Stable simulated crystal morphologies were obtained upon application of the point atomic charges from these techniques. Additionally, no explicit hydrogen bonding energy term was needed for energy minimization or morphology prediction of the amino acid crystal when using these atomic charges. The significant nonbonded energy within the crystal demanded morphology calculation procedures that considered these contributions to the crystal lattice energy. Attachment energy morphology calculations performed on the potential energy minimized model using the generic DREIDING2.21 force field and developed minimization protocol with the derived partial charges ultimately proved successful in simulating the macroscopic L-isoleucine crystal shape.
Delayed operative intervention in the management of traumatic descending thoracic aortic rupture

Abstract Background Outcomes may be improved by purposefully delaying surgical intervention of the traumatically ruptured descending thoracic aorta. Methods Fifty-seven patient records identified through the Trauma Registry of a level 1 trauma center between January 1993 and April 2002 were retrospectively analyzed between groups who underwent "clamp-and-sew" versus partial left heart bypass repair techniques and between emergent versus delayed repair. Results Thirty-two (56%) of 57 patients were male. The mean age among survivors and nonsurvivors was 41 ± 18 (range 13 to 70) and 52 ± 23 (range 18 to 92; p = 0.04) years, and Injury Severity Score was 31 ± 13 (range 17 to 75) and 40 ± 16 (range 16 to 75; p = 0.04) points, respectively. Thirty-one (54%) underwent surgical intervention, 20 (35%) died during their initial resuscitation, and 6 (11%) were managed nonoperatively. Seventeen (55%) were repaired using partial left heart bypass and 14 (45%) using the clamp technique. Twenty-one (68%) had emergent repair and 10 (32%) had delayed repair. The rates of paraplegia, renal failure, and mortality were 12% (2 of 17), 0%, and 24% (4 of 17) in the bypass group, 0% ( p = 0.29), 0%, and 36% (5 of 14, p = 0.36) in the clamp group, 9.5% (2 of 21), 0%, and 38% (8 of 21) in the emergent group ( p = 0.45), 0%, and 10% (1 of 10, p = 0.12) in the delayed group (>24 hours after admission), respectively. Mean clamp times for the bypass and clamp groups were 44 ± 18 (21 to 90) and 30 ± 10 (14 to 52) minutes, respectively ( p = 0.02). Overall operative mortality was 29% (9 of 31). Conclusions Purposefully delaying surgical intervention in selected cases of descending thoracic aortic rupture and using the clamp technique does not increase mortality or morbidity over immediate operation and use of partial left hear bypass.
Masculinisation of the zebra finch song system: roles of oestradiol and the Z-chromosome gene tubulin-specific chaperone protein A.

Robust sex differences in brain and behaviour exist in zebra finches. Only males sing, and forebrain song control regions are more developed in males. The factors driving these differences are not clear, although numerous experiments have shown that oestradiol (E2) administered to female hatchlings partially masculinises brain and behaviour. Recent studies suggest that an increased expression of Z-chromosome genes in males (ZZ; females: ZW) might also play a role. The Z-gene tubulin-specific chaperone A (TBCA) exhibits increased expression in the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (LMAN) of juvenile males compared to females; TBCA+ cells project to the robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA). In the present study, we investigated the role of TBCA and tested hypotheses with respect to the interactive or additive effects of E2 and TBCA. We first examined whether E2 in hatchling zebra finches modulates TBCA expression in the LMAN. It affected neither the mRNA, nor protein in either sex. We then unilaterally delivered TBCA small interfering (si)RNA to the LMAN of developing females treated with E2 or vehicle and males treated with the aromatase inhibitor, fadrozole, or its control. In both sexes, decreasing TBCA in LMAN reduced RA cell number, cell size and volume. It also decreased LMAN volume in females. Fadrozole in males increased LMAN volume and RA cell size. TBCA siRNA delivered to the LMAN also decreased the projection from this brain region to the RA, as indicated by anterograde tract tracing. The results suggest that TBCA is involved in masculinising the song system. However, because no interactions between the siRNA and hormone manipulations were detected, TBCA does not appear to modulate effects of E2 in the zebra finch song circuit.
Suppressor-dependent frameshift mutants of bacteriophage P22.

Fourteen frameshift mutants of bacteriophage P22 have been isolated following mutagenesis by ICR-191. These mutants can grow only in hosts carrying a frameshift suppressor. Two of the mutants will grow on strains carrying sufA, the most efficient of the three suppressors which read the four base codon CCC·. Twelve other phage mutants can grow only in strains carrying the sufD suppressor, which reads the codon GGG·.
Error Free Compression Of Medical X-Ray Images

We present the results of a study of error free compression of digitized medical x-ray images. This study used high resolution (2048 x 1684), high quality (8 to 11 bits per pixel) images, each approximately 5 Mbytes before compression. Since the medical community is very reluctant to introduce unnecessary noise into their imaging, we require error-free compression or, equivalently, perfect reconstruction. In particular, we investigated the following error free methods: Huffman coding, arithmetic coding, Lempel-Ziv coding, runlength coding, ordinary quadtree coding, and a new quadtree method, multi-window quadtree.
Luminescence Properties and Analytical Figures of Merit of the Tetrols of Benzo(A)Pyrene-Dna Adducts Adsorbed on α-, β- and γ- Cyclodextrin/Nacl Mixtures

Several cyclodextrin/NaCl mixtures were investigated as solid matrices for obtaining room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) and room-temperature fluorescence (RTF). The optimum experimental conditions for obtaining both RTF and RTP for the four tetrols were explored. Also, luminescence spectra, limits of detection, and linear ranges for calibration curves were acquired. This is the first report of the solid-matrix luminescence analytical figures of merit for the tetrols on cyclodextrin solid matrices.
Postoperative acute respiratory failure following thoractomy in a patient with charcot-marie-tooth disease

We present the case of a patient with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease who required prolonged ventilatory support following a thoracotomy due to respiratory muscle weakness. Although CMT was traditionally believed to affect only skeletal muscles, recent evidence suggests that respiratory involvement is relatively common, even in the absence of pulmonary symptoms. Assessment of respiratory muscle strength using measurements of vital capacity and negative inspiratory force is helpful in evaluating pulmonary reserve in patients with CMT.
A partial error analysis for the solution of differential equations in simulation: a look at Fowler's z-transform Root-Locus method

A partial analysis is made of the types of error of Fowler's method, which uses the z-transform procedure for digital simulation of complex systems.
Violation of scaling in annihilation and electroproduction

Abstract It is speculated that there may be large violation of scaling in electroproduction, in the kinematic region of large ω. It reflects the large violation of scaling in e + e − -annihilation.
Litigation cells: their incidence and classification in gynecologic smears.

“Litigation cells” are defined as benign cells which may mimic dysplasia or cancer and might be used by plaintiffs' witnesses to imply that the cytotechnologist or pathologist “missed” cells of dysplasia or cancer. We reviewed 180 cervical smears from 166 patients who had hysterectomy for benign leiomyomas. All smears were performed within 12 months prior to hysterectomy. None of the uteri contained dysplasia or cancer on histologic examination. 90.6% of smears reviewed had at least one cell or cell group with atypia mimicking dysplasia or cancer. These “litigation cells” were classified as follows: parabasal cells, metaplastic squamous cells, degenerated endocervical cells, reactive endocervical cells, endometrial cells, neutrophils, histiocytes, and air-dried cells. Diseases mimicked by these cells included squamous cell carcinoma, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, adenocarcinoma, and glandular dysplasia. These “litigation cells” can be correctly classified by experienced cytotechnologists and cytopathologists and recognized as benign. We recommend that in all cases of alleged malpractice against cytotechnologists and/or pathologists the smears should be reviewed by a panel of individuals trained and experienced in cytopathology. The smears should be reviewed without knowledge of the clinical outcome and in an environment that simulates the normal screening practice. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2002;26:345–348. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
UV-C light inactivation kinetics of Penicillium expansum on pear surfaces: Influence on physicochemical and sensory quality during storage

Abstract UV-C inactivation kinetic data of Penicillium expansum on intact and wounded pear disks were determined. P. expansum conidia (0.5 mL, 1.6 × 10 7 CFU/mL) were spot inoculated onto intact and wounded pear tissue with skin (excised disks), treated with UV-C doses ranging 0.101–3.06 kJ/m 2 at 23 °C and surviving conidia were enumerated. Changes in selected physicochemical parameters and sensory quality following UV-C treatment of whole pears were determined immediately after treatment, and 4 and 8 weeks of storage at 4 °C. A greater UV-C intensity was required for similar inactivation levels of P. expansum populations on wounded pear disks (3.1 kJ/m 2 for 2.7 log reduction) compared to intact pear disks (1.7 kJ/m 2 for 2.8 log reduction). No significant difference in % weight loss, or soluble solids content and texture was observed between UV-C treated and untreated pears. However, browning was observed on UV-C treated pear surfaces after 4 and 8 weeks along with changes in flavor and texture. An increase in consumer preference was noticed for the untreated control pears after 4 weeks storage.
The Effect of a ΔK280 Mutation on the Unfolded State of a Microtubule-Binding Repeat in Tau

Tau is a natively unfolded protein that forms intracellular aggregates in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. To decipher the mechanism underlying the formation of tau aggregates, we developed a novel approach for constructing models of natively unfolded proteins. The method, energy-minima mapping and weighting (EMW), samples local energy minima of subsequences within a natively unfolded protein and then constructs ensembles from these energetically favorable conformations that are consistent with a given set of experimental data. A unique feature of the method is that it does not strive to generate a single ensemble that represents the unfolded state. Instead we construct a number of candidate ensembles, each of which agrees with a given set of experimental constraints, and focus our analysis on local structural features that are present in all of the independently generated ensembles. Using EMW we generated ensembles that are consistent with chemical shift measurements obtained on tau constructs. Thirty models were constructed for the second microtubule binding repeat (MTBR2) in wild-type (WT) tau and a ΔK280 mutant, which is found in some forms of frontotemporal dementia. By focusing on structural features that are preserved across all ensembles, we find that the aggregation-initiating sequence, PHF6*, prefers an extended conformation in both the WT and ΔK280 sequences. In addition, we find that residue K280 can adopt a loop/turn conformation in WT MTBR2 and that deletion of this residue, which can adopt nonextended states, leads to an increase in locally extended conformations near the C-terminus of PHF6*. As an increased preference for extended states near the C-terminus of PHF6* may facilitate the propagation of β-structure downstream from PHF6*, these results explain how a deletion at position 280 can promote the formation of tau aggregates.
Structural requirements for, and the effects of chemicals on, the rat pulmonary inactivation of prostaglandins.

Abstract We have investigated the removal of prostaglandins (PGs) from the pulmonary circulation using the isolated perfused rat lung in order to determine which parts of the PG molecule were essential for transport into the pulmonary tissue. From these studies we propose that three functional groups of the PG molecule are necessary for transport into the lung tissue: the carboxylic acid group at carbon 1, hydroxyl group at carbon 15, and an oxygen group at carbon 11. The geometrical relationship between these groups is important for transport since reduction of the 13,14-double bond reduced transport, and changing the C-15 hydroxyl from an S to R configuration abolished transport. Various chemicals, drugs, and PG antagonists were tested for their ability to inhibit the transport system responsible for PG removal from the circulation. Diphloretin phosphate and polyphloretin phosphate were effective inhibitors, whereas dexamethasone, bromocresol green, N-ethyl maleimide and imipramine were moderately effective inhibitors. The PG antagonist, SC-19220, 7-oxo-13-prostynoic acid, and hydrocortisone were ineffective.
ABSORPTION OF PELLETS OF CRYSTALLINE TESTOSTERONE, TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE, METHYL TESTOSTERONE, PROGESTERONE, DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE AND STILBESTROL IMPLANTED IN THE RAT

THE ADMINISTRATION of crystalline hormones by the implantation of pellets was first described by Deanesly and Parkes in 1937 (1). Since that date, these workers and others have published numerous observations on the efficiency of this method. The present report is concerned with the relative absorption rates of pellets of some of the crystalline hormones, together with certain supplementary observations. The author hopes to publish at a later date the results of his extension of the investigation to other hormones. The author prepared all pellets in a modification of the Hartman apparatus (2),the principle of this ingenious device being retained (fig. 1). The metal parts were were made of brass or steel. The upper (A) and lower (B) plates were carefully lapped. The 7 mm. deep holes in the upper plate were made with a 0.042 inch drill and then reamed so as to flare very slightly downward, as recommended by Hartman.
Exploring biology with small organic molecules

Small organic molecules have proven to be invaluable tools for investigating biological systems, but there is still much to learn from their use. To discover and to use more effectively new chemical tools to understand biology, strategies are needed that allow us to systematically explore ‘biological-activity space’. Such strategies involve analysing both protein binding of, and phenotypic responses to, small organic molecules. The mapping of biological-activity space using small molecules is akin to mapping the stars — uncharted territory is explored using a system of coordinates that describes where each new feature lies.
Neonatal handling alters the development of the adrenocortical response to stress in a wild songbird (eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis)

Abstract Neonatal handling of captive vertebrates can shape the development of their hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and alter their ability to respond to stressful stimuli later in life. However, the long-term effects of such handling on this endocrine axis in free-living species are not well understood. We investigated the effects of age and neonatal handling on corticosterone secretion in response to restraint in eastern bluebird ( Sialia sialis ) chicks. We found that unhandled (“naive”) and handled (“experienced”) chicks exhibited no corticosterone response to handling early in development. Thereafter, naive individuals exhibited the progressive development of a corticosterone response with age, and by day 12 post-hatch, the response resembled that of adult bluebirds. Experienced nestlings, which were handled every other day from the day of hatch, showed a similar pattern of HPA development until day 12 post-hatch, when their corticosterone response was significantly reduced compared to that of naive nestlings. In contrast, chicks that were handled only once, when 10 days old, did not show a reduced corticosterone response at 12 days old. Taken together, our data suggest that a certain threshold of accumulated neonatal handling episodes is necessary to depress corticosterone secretion, and/or that the cumulative effects of several handling episodes only manifest themselves once the HPA axis is fully developed. Our findings, in concert with studies on two other wild species, indicate that routine handling of nestlings in the field can alter their responses to stress in a species-specific manner, potentially leading to important fitness consequences.
How long to treat with antibiotics following amputation in patients with diabetic foot infections? Are the 2012 IDSA DFI guidelines reasonable?

SummaryWhat is known and Objective To the best of our knowledge, there has been no published study designed to identify the most appropriate duration of antibiotic therapy in lower extremity skin and skin structure infections in diabetic patients [aka “diabetic foot infections” (DFI)] post-amputation. However, recent guidelines published by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) provide recommendations for treatment duration in these patients. Therefore, our objective is to review the literature evaluating antibiotic treatment in DFI to determine if the IDSA guidelines are reasonable. Comment Evidence for the use of antibiotics after amputation comes largely from perioperative surgical prophylaxis studies evaluating the rate of infection after amputation. Three such studies were identified; 2 found a 5-day course of antibiotics post-amputation resulted in a reduction of infection rate, while 1 found no additional benefit. Comparative antibiotic studies in DFI also offers evidence for treatment duration, of which, 10 studies were identified. Five included patients who received amputations; however, only 1 reported treatment outcomes in a subset of diabetics requiring amputation. In this study, the authors concluded that antibiotic treatment is likely necessary after amputation. What is new and Conclusion Given the general lack of data, we recommend that post-operative treatment duration be individualized, and, until further studies are done, it seems reasonable to adhere to the recommendation provided by the 2012 IDSA DFI guidelines for a 2–5 day course of antibiotic therapy post-operatively when no residual infected tissue remains.
Perspectives on metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy growth: chemistry, structures and systems

Abstract The development of the metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) process has, until recently, been the result of the application of systematic empirical study. The MOVPE technique, as currently developed, has been successful in producing a large variety of important device structures. More aggressive materials structures required in the next generations of electronic and optical devices depend on the extension of the MOVPE technique beyond the realm achieved under the existing mode of process development. The future development of the technique will have to result from the application of an understanding of the basic underlying MOVPE chemistry, the establishment of useful models of the growth environment, and in situ monitoring and process control.
A general method for the determination of approximations to the spectral distributions from the dynamic response functions

A method, based on the logarithmic differentiation of the dynamic response functions with respect to frequency, is presented which is more general than the Stieltjes transform inversion method and yields approximations of both even and odd order from the storage functions and the loss functions. More than one approximation exists if the order, Jc, of the approximation (i.e. the order of the highest derivative) is ≥ 2 for approximations from the storage functions, or ≥ 1 for those from the loss functions. Of particular practical interest are the two first-order approximations from the loss functions and the two second-order approximations from the storage functions. The approximations are found by requiring that (1) the intensity function associated with a given approximation be normalized, and that (2) it have a single maximum only. If the maximum is not located at ωτ = 1, the time scale of the spectrum is adjusted accordingly. The choice of the most suitable approximation is discussed.
Source apportionment of fine particulate matter over the Eastern U.S. Part I: source sensitivity simulations using CMAQ with the Brute Force method

Abstract Exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is found to be associated with adverse effects on human health, climate change, and visibility. Identification of major sources contributing to PM2.5 is an important step in the formulation of effective reduction strategies. This study uses the U.S. EPA’s Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system with the brute–force method (BFM) to conduct source apportionment of PM2.5 for 10 source categories over the eastern U.S. at a 12 km horizontal grid resolution for both January and July of 2002. Biomass burning is found to be the greatest contributor to domainwide PM2.5 with a monthly–mean domainwide contribution of ~14% (1.1 µg m–3). The next two largest contributors in January are miscellaneous area sources and coal combustion with contributions of ~12% (0.9 µg m–3) and ~11% (0.9 µg m–3), respectively. In July, coal combustion, miscellaneous area sources, and industrial processes are the top three contributors (by ~31% (2.3 µg m–3), ~9% (0.7 µg m–3), and ~7% (0.5 µg m–3), respectively). Site–specific source contributions indicate that industrial processes and biomass burning are the most important sources of PM2.5 at urban and rural sites, respectively, in January, while coal combustion dominates at both sites in July. While the BFM is theoretically simple and can capture indirect effects resulting from the interactions among precursor and secondary pollutants in the real atmosphere, it is computationally expensive and assumes that the source contributions to each emission category are additive. This assumption does not hold for secondary PM components because of the highly non–linear relationships between precursor emissions and all secondary PM components and, therefore, source apportionment provides no useful information whatsoever on the possible effect of emission reductions on secondary PM.
Innovative strategies for co-delivering antigens and CpG oligonucleotides

Cytosine-phosphorothioate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN) is a recent class of immunostimulatory adjuvants that includes unmethylated CpG dinucleotide sequences similar to those commonly found in bacterial DNA. CpG ODN specifically triggers toll like receptor 9 (TLR9), which is found within phagoendosomes of antigen presenting cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells (DCs). CpG ODN triggers activation and maturation of DCs and helps to increase expression of antigens. CpG ODN can be used to induce polarized Th1 type immune responses. Several studies have shown that antigens and CpG ODN must be co-localized in the same APC to generate the most potent therapeutic antigen-specific immune responses. Delivery vehicles can be utilized to ensure co-delivery of antigens and CpG ODN to the same APCs and to significantly increase uptake by APCs. These strategies can result in antigen-specific immune responses that are 5 to 500-fold greater than administration of antigen alone. In this review, we discuss several recent and innovative strategies to co-delivering antigens and CpG ODN adjuvants to APCs. These approaches include the utilization of conjugate molecules, multi-component nanorods, liposomes, biodegradable microparticles, pulsatile release chips and cell-microparticle hybrids.
EBR-II unprotected loss-of-heat-sink predictions and preliminary test results

Abstract Two unprotected (i.e., no scram or plant protection system action) loss-of-heat-sink transients were performed on the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II in the Spring of 1986. One was initiated from full power (60 MW) and the other from half power. The loss of heat sink was accomplished in each test by essentially stopping the secondary-loop sodium coolant flow. Pretest predictions along with preliminary test results demonstrate that the reactor shuts itself down in a benign and predictable manner in which all of the reactor temperatures approach a quenching (or smothering) temperature at which the fission power goes to zero.
Ehrhart series of lecture hall polytopes and Eulerian polynomials for inversion sequences

For a sequence s=(s"1,...,s"n) of positive integers, an s-lecture hall partition is an integer sequence @l satisfying 0=<@l"1/s"1=<@l"2/s"2=<...=<@l"n/s"n. In this work, we introduce s-lecture hall polytopes, s-inversion sequences, and relevant statistics on both families. We show that for any sequence s of positive integers: (i) the h^@?-vector of the s-lecture hall polytope is the ascent polynomial for the associated s-inversion sequences; (ii) the ascent polynomials for s-inversion sequences generalize the Eulerian polynomials, including a q-analog that tracks a generalization of major index on s-inversion sequences; and (iii) the generating function for the s-lecture hall partitions can be interpreted in terms of a new q-analog of the s-Eulerian polynomials, which tracks a ''lecture hall'' statistic on s-inversion sequences. We show how four different statistics are related through the three s-families of partitions, polytopes, and inversion sequences. Our approach uses Ehrhart theory to relate the partition theory of lecture hall partitions to their geometry.
The effect of acetylcholine on adrenal function in the hypophysectomized dog.

Apres injection d'acetylcholine, les chiens hypophysectomises ne secretent pas d'hydrocortisone, mais presentent une elevation d'epinephrine et de norepinephrine dans le sang veineux surrenal. Aucun changement ne fut observe dans la concentration de la phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase dans ces glandes. Ces experiences indiquent que la relation medullaire surrenale corticale que nous avons mentionee precedemment fonctionne independamment de la secretion de catecholamines, engendree par l'Ach, de la glande surrenale.
Magnetic properties of M-doped (M=Ti, V, or Cr) GaN clusters

Abstract We study the magnetic properties of M-doped (M=Ti,V,Cr) (GaN) x ( x ⩽3) clusters using the first principles of density functional theory (DFT). Our calculations reveal that although the magnetic coupling between M atoms is ferromagnetic (with total magnetic moments ranging from 0 to 10 μ B ), the antiferromagnetic arrangements are favored for these clusters. Spin density analysis reveals that the stabilization of the antiferromagnetic phase is caused by the antiferromagnetic coupling between the d-states of M atoms and the p-states of N atoms. This also makes the M atoms tend to bind more strongly to N atoms than to Ga atoms. This study may explain the role of the anions in diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS).