cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The influence of specific binding of collagen-silk chimeras to silk biomaterials on hMSC behavior

Collagen-like proteins in the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes adopt a triple-helix structure with a thermal stability similar to that of animal collagens, can be expressed in high yield in Escherichia coli and can be easily modified through molecular biology techniques. However, potential applications for such recombinant collagens are limited by their lack of higher order structure to achieve the physical properties needed for most biomaterials. To overcome this problem, the S. pyogenes collagen domain was fused to a repetitive Bombyx mori silk consensus sequence, as a strategy to direct specific non-covalent binding onto solid silk materials whose superior stability, mechanical and material properties have been previously established. This approach resulted in the successful binding of these new collagen–silk chimeric proteins to silk films and porous scaffolds, and the binding affinity could be controlled by varying the number of repeats in the silk sequence. To explore the potential of collagen–silk chimera for regulating biological activity, integrin (Int) and fibronectin (Fn) binding sequences from mammalian collagens were introduced into the bacterial collagen domain. The attachment of bioactive collagen–silk chimeras to solid silk biomaterials promoted hMSC spreading and proliferation substantially in comparison to the controls. The ability to combine the biomaterial features of silk with the biological activities of collagen allowed more rapid cell interactions with silk-based biomaterials, improved regulation of stem cell growth and differentiation, as well as the formation of artificial extracellular matrices useful for tissue engineering applications.
High-performance liquid chromatography with ion pairing and electrochemical detection for the determination of the stability of two forms of vitamin C

Abstract An ion-pair method with sodium octanesulfonate and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid was used for the analysis of extruded salmon and trout feeds for ethyl cellulose-coated l -ascorbic acid and one of its more stable analogues, dipotassium ascorbyl-2-sulfate dihydrate. For enhanced sensitivity electrochemical detection was used. The procedure used to extract the vitamin C from the feeds played a vital role in obtaining good recoveries. When the ascorbic acid was extruded manually, the recovery was poor. However, when a polytron homogenizer was employed, the vitamin C recoveries were greatly improved.
F1 Coat protein synthesis and altered phospholipid metabolism in f1 infected Escherichia coli.

Abstract The phospholipid composition of cytoplasmic membranes prepared from bacteria grown in the presence of [32P]phosphate and infected with f1 wild type and f1 amber mutant bacteriophages was determined. Ninety minutes after infection with f1 amber mutants in genes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 the percentage of cardiolipin was increased from the level in uninfected bacteria of 5% to about 20–35%, and the percentage of phosphatidylethanolamine was decreased from 70% to about 50–60%. The phospholipid composition of cytoplasmic membranes from bacteria infected with a phage containing an amber mutation in the coat cistron (gene 8) did not differ from that of uninfected bacteria. Although late in infection there were no detectable alterations in phospholipid metabolism in wild type infected bacteria, transient alterations in phospholipid metabolism occurred in these bacteria 10 to 20 min after infection. During this time period, the f1 coat protein was found to be rapidly synthesized but was not being packaged into mature phage and released from bacteria. Both the long-term alterations of phospholipid metabolism found in the amber mutant infected bacteria and the transient alterations found in wild-type infected bacteria resulted from an increase in the rate of synthesis of phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin and a decrease in the rate of synthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine. These results are discussed in terms of the relationship between the accumulation of f1 coat protein in infected bacteria and the observed alterations in phospholipid metabolism.
A rapid and sensitive method for the analysis of cyanophycin.

Abstract A method has been devised for the quantitative analysis of cyanophycin, based on 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, allowing determination of the nitrogen status of cyanobacteria. Cyanophycin is extracted with minimal washing from small volumes of cells and quantified by integration of the NMR peak attributed to the protons attached to the δ-carbon of arginine. Linear relationships were found between the amount of cyanophycin determined by this method and both known concentrations of cyanophycin solutions and the amount of cyanophycin determined using the standard chemical arginine assay.
VERIFICATION OF SMOM AND QMOM POPULATION BALANCE MODELING IN CFD CODE USING ANALYTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR BATCH PARTICULATE PROCESSES

For many processes of industrial significance, due to the strong coupling between particle interactions and fluid dynamics, the population balance must be solved as part of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. In this work, a CFD based population balance model is tested using a batch crystallization reactor. In this CFD model, the population balance is solved by the standard method of moments (SMOM) and the quadrature method of moments (QMOM). The results of these simulations are compared to analytical solutions for the population balance in a batch tank where 1) nucleation, 2) growth, 3) aggregation, and 4) breakage are taking place separately. The results of these comparisons show that the first 6 moments of the population balance are accurately predicted for nucleation, growth, aggregation and breakage at all times.
Computing for humans

In his editorial on Computing for Humans, Vardi [1] discusses computing as being an "instrument of the human mind," having the primary goal to enhance what we as humans are able to do. Nowhere is such a computing goal more evident than in the field of accessibility where we seek to create devices and software to serve people with extreme needs. In creating novel accessibility tools, research has advanced the state of the art in many areas from design of environmental spaces, to physical interfaces, to software aspects of computing. There are several cross-cutting issues that accessibility research can address. For example, there are issues of language and communication. Communication is fundamental to being human. People who have hearing loss, aphasia, cerebral palsy, autism, or dyslexia are among those who experience communication difficulties. How can we drive computing forward to provide solutions for these communication problems? Mobility and independence are other important issues. People with visual impairments, cognitive disability, or physical impairment often face difficulties in independent navigation. How can technology help? The needs of users can and should inform the agenda for new research in areas such as augmented memory, physical interactions, and human communication.
Preliminary design of a ducted fan propulsion system for general aviation aircraft

Recently, a significant level of interest has been expressed in the development and application of ducted fan propulsion systems, similar to those used in radio controlled scale model jets', for experimental replica jet aircraft' and possibly for certified aircraft. The authors have developed a preliminary design tool from methodology previously developed and calibrated for the McDonnell-Douglas NOTARTM helicopter pneumatic anti-torque system. The design tool, PDF (Preliminary Design Ducted Fan), is an aero/thermodynamic analysis program which simulates the internal flow of the fan/duct systems in a systematic component build-up approach.
Certain mathematical aspects of the susceptibility of erythrocytes to lysis.

SummaryAn approximate curve reprecenting the distribution of susceptibility to hemolysis among the erythrocytes of a given population is obtained by differentiation of the van Krogh equation. The von Krogh constant 1/n is shown to be an inverse measure of the uniformity of distribution. Variations in the value of 1/n are concluded to be indicative of variations in the uniformity of the cell suspension with respect to its susceptibility to hemolysis.
Cardiovascular disease prevalence and risk factors of persons with mental retardation

This paper reviews the recent literature on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence, CVD-related mortality, physiological CVD risk factors, and behavioral CVD risk factors in adults with mental retardation (MR). The literature on the potential influences of modifiable behavioral CVD risk factors and the physiological CVD risk factors are also reviewed. Adults with mild to moderate MR residing in community settings appear to have an elevated disease prevalence, elevated CVD-related mortality, more adverse physiological CVD risk factors, and elevated behavioral risk compared to others with and without MR. Preliminary evidence supports the benefits of participating in the recommended physical activity levels and consuming the recommended diets to reduce the risk for CVD. The lack of large-scale longitudinal or experimental research indicates a gap in the research. The development of research-based, appropriate, primary prevention programs and intervention strategies aimed at lowering the risk for CVD is highly recommended. Programs should focus on educating individuals with MR along with direct care providers and family members on the importance of appropriate dietary concepts, physical activity habits, and regular health screenings by physicians. Programs should be individualized to regional and cultural issues.
Laboratory comparison of relative performance of gas phase filtration media at high and low O3/NO2 challenge concentrations (ASHRAE RP-1557)

To guide the selection and design of air filter/cleaning devices for improving indoor air quality (IAQ), it is important to be able to assess the performance and characteristics of filter media within a reasonable/practical testing period for low concentration conditions (∼50 ppb) under which they are applied. Our study objectives were to investigate whether filter media showing good performance at high concentrations per ASHRAE Standard 145.1 (ASHRAE 2008) would also perform well at low concentrations, typically indoors, and to explore whether and how existing models for filtration media beds can be applied to predict and extrapolate the experimental performance results obtained under high concentrations. Six filter media having different filtration properties, pellet shape and size, and target compound were selected for this investigation. Experiments were performed at both high (∼1 ppm/100 ppm) and low (∼50 ppb) levels of O3/NO2 concentration for all media selected. Existing models were evaluated for t...
Cerebrospinal fluid homovanillic acid and iso-homovanillic acid: a gas-liquid chromatographic method.

Abstract— The hexafluoroisopropyl esters of trifluoroacetylated homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenylacetic acid (iso-HVA) were the derivatives chosen for assay of these phenolic acids in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from 65 control subjects. The mean value obtained in these specimens was 40.0 ± 23.5 ng/ml. Recovery of added HVA and iso-HVA was 94 ± 2 per cent and reproducibility was ±5 per cent. CSF from Parkinson's disease patients undergoing treatment with l-DOPA showed significant increases in HVA. Iso-HVA was detected in those CSF samples obtained during l-DOPA therapy.
Attribute-distributed learning: The iterative covariance optimization algorithm and its applications

This paper introduces a framework for multivariate regression with attribute-distributed data on a distributed system with a fusion center. Unlike other types of algorithms for attribute-distributed learning that directly refit the ensemble residual or average among the predictions of the agents, the new algorithm, the iterative covariance optimization algorithm (ICOA), coordinates the agents to reshape the covariance matrix of the individual training residuals so that the ensemble estimator, a linear combination of the individual estimators, minimizes the ensemble training error. Moreover, ICOA empirically demonstrates strong insusceptibility to overtraining, especially compared with residual refitting algorithms. Extensive simulations on both artificial and real datasets indicate that ICOA consistently outperforms weighted averaging algorithms and residual refitting algorithms.
Nuclear receptor/AP-1 interaction.

I. Introduction NUCLEAR receptors mediate the signals of a broad variety of fat-soluble hormones, including the steroid and vitamin D3 hormones, thyroid hormones, and vitamin A-derived hormones and analogs (retinoids). The receptors represent one of the largest transcription factor families known (reviewed in Refs. 1–3). Only some of the members are ligand-binding receptors, while others are “orphan receptors” for which specific ligands have not yet been identified and may not exist. These proteins may therefore function as constitutive or negative transcription factors, or coregulators of ligand-binding receptors. The receptors regulate gene transcription by interacting with specific DNA sequences (called response elements) that are usually located in the promoter regions of the responsive genes. All receptors contain a highly conserved cysteine-rich region, the DNA- binding domain (DBD) that forms two “zinc-finger” structures that allow protein-DNA as well as proteinprotein interaction (4). A second but...
Discerning the Role of Bacteroides fragilis in Celiac Disease Pathogenesis

Celiac disease (CD) is associated with intestinal dysbiosis, which can theoretically lead to dysfunctions in host-microbe interactions and contribute to the disease. In the present study, possible differences in Bacteroides spp. and their pathogenic features between CD patients and controls were investigated. Bacteroides clones (n = 274) were isolated, identified, and screened for the presence of the virulence genes (bft and mpII) coding for metalloproteases. The proteolytic activity of selected Bacteroides fragilis strains was evaluated by zymography and, after gastrointestinal digestion of gliadin, by high-pressure liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry. The effects of B. fragilis strains on Caco-2 cell culture permeability and inflammatory response to digested gliadin were determined. B. fragilis was more frequently identified in CD patients than in healthy controls, in contrast to Bacteroides ovatus. B. fragilis clones carrying virulence genes coding for metalloproteases were more abundant in CD patients than in controls. B. fragilis strains, representing the isolated clones and carrying metalloprotease genes, showed gelatinase activity and exerted the strongest adverse effects on the integrity of the Caco-2 cell monolayer. All B. fragilis strains also showed gliadin-hydrolyzing activity, and some of them generated immunogenic peptides that preserved or increased inflammatory cytokine production (tumor necrosis factor alpha) and showed increased ability to permeate through Caco-2 cell cultures. These findings suggest that increased abundance of B. fragilis strains with metalloprotease activities could play a role in CD pathogenesis, although further in vivo studies are required to support this hypothesis.
Chains and fixing blocks in irreducible binary sequences

Abstract A fixing block in an irreducible word is a square, segment of the form XX, and the period is the length of X. An occurrence of a block C in an irreducible word, W = XCY, is called a chain if XA having an infinite irreducible extension implies A is an initial segment of C. The length of such a chain is the length of C. It is shown that every fixing block has period equal 2k or 3(2k), and fixing blocks are produced having these periods. To each of these fixing blocks is associated a chain. The length of the chain which corresponds to the fixing block with period 2k is 3(2k−1)−1, and the length of the chain which corresponds to the fixing block of length 3(2k) is 2k+2−1. Moreover, these chains occur in words which contain no square longer than the associated fixing block.
Adaptive graphical approach to entity resolution

Entity resolution is a very common Information Quality (IQ) problem with many different applications. In digital libraries, it is related to problems of citation matching and author name disambiguation; in Natural Language Processing, it is related to coreference matching and object identity; in Web application, it is related to Web page disambiguation. The problem of Entity Resolution arises because objects/entities in real world datasets are often referred to by descriptions, which might not be unique identifiers of these entities, leading to ambiguity. The goal is to group all the entity descriptions that refer to the same real world entities. In this paper we present a graphical approach for entity resolution. It complements the traditional methodology with the analysis of the entity-relationship graph constructed for the dataset being analyzed. The paper demonstrates that a technique that measures the degree of interconnectedness between various pairs of nodes in the graph can significantly improve the quality of entity resolution. Furthermore, the paper presents an algorithm for making that technique self-adaptive to the underlying data, thus minimizing the required participation from the domain-analyst and potentially further improving the disambiguation quality.
Interstate competition and Chinese ascendancy: The political construction of the global cotton market, 1973–2012

This article argues that interstate competition over the organization of the world economy shapes the spatial configuration of commodity chains. This departs from much of the literature that emphasizes firm- and sector-level dynamics. To illustrate this argument, we use formal network methods in conjunction with a historical analysis to examine the evolution of the global cotton trade between 1973 and 2012. Through this analysis, we demonstrate that changes in the spatial configuration of the cotton market were shaped by changes in the nature of competition among the most powerful states in the world economy. While the cotton trade was once characterized by a bipolar network reflecting the nature of interstate competition under the Cold War, by the early 2000s China’s accession to the World Trade Organization and the end of the Multi-Fiber Arrangement had dramatically reshaped the global cotton market. The result was a binodal network in which trade flows were increasingly concentrated between China and t...
ADRIAMYCIN CONTINUOUS I.V. INFUSION-HYPERFRACTIONATED RADIATION THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF RECURRENT PEDIATRIC SOLID TUMORS

The prognosis of most pediatric solid tumors is poor upon development of recurrent disease. The study was designed to test the efficacy of Adriamycin (ADR) I.V. continuous infusion (CI) given simultaneously with hyperfractionated (HFT) radiation therapy (XRT) to such patients. The rationale for the study was: 1. ADR enhances XRT lethality of human cancer cells In vitro by inhibiting XRT repair process. 2. Small doses of XRT when given more than once daily may prevent tumor repopulation to a greater extent than higher doses given once daily. The study consists of ADR I.V. CI 12mg/m2/day x5 days and XRT tumor dose 100 rads twice a day at 6 hours intervals x5 days. Courses were repeated at 3-4 weeks intervals. Three children have been treated; 1 Ewing's sarcoma (ES), 1 fibrosarcoma and 1 hemangiopericytoma, all have previously received ADR 480, 60 and 460mg/m2 respectively. The patient with ES has also received 5400 rads to the primary tumor. All 3 patients achieved partial remission after 2 courses of ADR I.V. CI-HFT-XRT and complete surgical excision of primary tumor was performed in the patient with ES after the 3rd course. Two patients developed progressive disease outside the XRT field 3 and 6 months post-therapy. The 3rd patient's tumor is still under control while receiving the 3rd dose of therapy. This preliminary data suggests that the simultaneous administration of ADR I.V. CI-HFT-XRT can be an effective therapy for recurrent pediatric malignancies and should be tested in a larger number of patients.
Somnolence syndrome after focal radiation therapy to the pineal region: case report and review of the literature.

Somnolence syndrome classically occurs in children after cranial irradiation for acute lymphocytic leukemia. Symptoms include somnolence, fever, nausea and vomiting, and headache. The authors report a 29 year-old female who developed symptoms compatible with the somnolence syndrome after completing radiation therapy for a benign meningioma near the pineal region. Five weeks after completing conformal radiation therapy (54 Gy), she developed profound fatigue, headaches, and 102° fevers. Physical examination and routine laboratory work were unrevealing. Imaging was not performed. Prednisone was prescribed and within 1 week her symptoms had largely resolved. This is the first report of the somnolence syndrome after focal radiation therapy. The possible etiology of the somnolence syndrome is discussed.
Diagnosis of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, including multifocal osseous KI-1 lymphoma, by fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

We present the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) findings of 4 cases of anaplastic (Ki-1) large-cell lymphoma (ALCL). A primary diagnosis of ALCL was made on FNA material in 2 cases, of which one was a multifocal osseous Ki-1 lymphoma. In the other 2 patients who had a known history of ALCL, FNA was used to detect recurrent disease. In all cases, large discohesive pleomorphic cells in the absence of lymphoglandular bodies in the background raised the possibility of a nonhematopoietic neoplasm. Immunochemical staining for CD30 was positive in all cases. The cytomorphologic and immunochemical features are discussed, along with the differential diagnosis of Ki-1 lymphoma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;21:174-179.
Site specific N6-(2-hydroxy-3,4-epoxybut-1-yl)adenine oligodeoxynucleotide adducts of 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane: synthesis and stability at physiological pH.

1,2,3,4-Diepoxybutane (DEB) is an important metabolite of 1,3-butadiene, a high volume industrial chemical classified as a human and animal carcinogen. DEB is a bifunctional alkylating agent that e...
Binding phenomena and fluorescence quenching. II: Photophysics of aromatic residues and dependence of fluorescence spectra on protein conformation

Abstract The three amino acids with aromatic ring side chains—phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine (Tyr), and especially tryptophan (Trp) have played a long and productive role in helping unlock the secrets of protein behavior by optical spectroscopy (absorption, fluorescence, circular dichroism, etc.) In principle, an appropriately placed Trp will undergo fluorescence wavelength and/or intensity changes upon whatever functional process a protein performs. Although perceived to be enigmatic and not well understood, Trp is arguably now better understood than many of the extrinsic probes currently in use. Basic principles of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence quenching and wavelength shifts in proteins are presented, with strong emphasis on the importance of electrostatics. The condensed description of findings from recent experiments and simulations of tryptophan fluorescence and intrinsic quenching in proteins is designed to help authors in planning and interpreting experimental results of ligand binding studies.
Complete caries removal may not be indicated in symptomless deep lesions

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Ricketts DNJ, Kidd EAM, Innes N, Clarkson J. Complete or ultraconservative removal of decayed tissue in unfilled teeth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006;3:CD003808. Level of Evidence 1a Purpose This review tested the null hypothesis that there would be no difference between minimal caries removal and complete caries removal with regard to damage or disease of the pulp, progression of decay, or longevity of restorations. Source of Funding None noted Type of Study/Design Systematic review
The effects of exercise on the bones of postmenopausal women

The effects of walking and aerobic dancing on the bones of 73 recently postmenopausal women have been compared by photon absorptiometry of the distal radius with a control group who did not exercise. The period of observation was six months. Results showed that the control group and the walking group lost statistically significant amounts of bone mineral content (1.6%, and 1.7% respectively), but that the dancing group did not (0.8%). The control group did not show a significant increase in the bone width (0.9%), but both the dancing (1.3%) and walking (1.6%) groups did. Changes in the cross-sectional moment of inertia of the radius were estimated for each subject based on bone mineral content and bone width values. Both exercise groups experienced significant increases in this variable, while the control group did not. Plasma oestrogen levels were not influenced by exercise. The results support the hypothesis that mechanical loading due to exercise may be effective in preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis.
An Analysis of the Wear Behavior of SiC Whisker-Reinforced Alumina from 25° to 1200°C

A model is described for predicting the wear behavior of whisker reinforced ceramics. The model was successfully applied to a silicon carbide whisker reinforced alumina ceramic composite subjected to sliding contact. The model compares the friction forces on the whiskers due to sliding, which act to pull or push them out of the matrix, to the clamping or compressive forces on the whiskers due to the matrix, which act to hold the whiskers in the composite. At low temperatures, the whiskers are held strongly in the matrix and are fractured into pieces during the wear process along with the matrix. At elevated temperatures differential thermal expansion between the whiskers and matrix can cause loosening of the whiskers and lead to pullout during the wear process and to higher wear. The model, which represents the combination of elastic stress analysis and a friction heating analysis, predicts a transition temperature at which the strength of the whiskers equals the clamping force holding them in the matrix. Above the transition the whiskers are pulled out of the matrix during sliding, and below the transition the whiskers are simply fractured. The existence of the transition gives rise to a dual wear mode or mechanism behavior for this material which was observed in laboratory experiments. The results from this model correlate well with experimentally observed behavior indicating that the model may be useful in obtaining a better understanding of material behavior and in making material improvements.
Structural properties of the amorphous phases produced by heating crystalline MgHPO4·3H2O

Abstract The crystalline phosphate MgHPO 4 ·3H 2 O (newberyite) undergoes an unusual crystalline-to-amorphous transition when heated. The structural alterations associated with this transition have been investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The dehydration of newberyite on heating results in amorphous XRD patterns that remain essentially unchanged over the interval between 150 and 600°C. Over the same temperature interval, however, HPLC results reveal a dramatic continuous evolution in the distribution of phosphate chains of corner-linked PO 4 tetrahedra leading to the formation of chains up to 13 PO 4 tetrahedra in length. Above 600°C, crystalline Mg 2 P 2 O 7 is formed. At each annealing temperature in the interval from 150 to 600°C, the measured distribution of phosphate anions is in quantitative agreement with theory. During the dehydration-induced crystalline-to-amorphous transition, the original faceted crystal shape is preserved even though the crystals lose up to 36% of their original weight. High-pressure DSC experiments in which the waters of hydration were retained in the specimens during heating resulted in the formation of a unique new crystalline phosphate phase that contained equal amounts of orthophosphate and pyrophosphate anions. The results of HPLC, DSC, and XRD measurements on CaHPO 4 ·2H 2 O, SrHPO 4 , and BaHPO 4 are also reported.
Unsuccessful treatment of CAPD peritonitis caused by Alcaligenes xylosoxidans subsp. denitrificans

(1995). Unsuccessful Treatment of CAPD Peritonitis Caused by Alcaligenes xylosoxidans subsp. denitrificans. Renal Failure: Vol. 17, No. 5, pp. 611-614.
An attempt to improve the Suicide Opinion Questionnaire (SOQ)

Domino's Suicide Opinion Questionnaire (SOQ) was administered in three different answer formats. The original answer format used by Domino produced the highest reliabilities for five subscales. Correlates with measures of religiosity and manic-depressive tendencies indicated that the original format and a full Likert-type format gave similar results.
Further evidence of the reliability and validity of the body esteem scale

Results of the present study indicate that over a 3-month period, the multidimensional Body Esteem Scale (BES) exhibits high test-retest reliability. Findings further indicate that the BES is not susceptible to a tendency to unrealistically deny negative self-attributes and is only very slightly susceptible to a tendency to unrealistically attribute positive self-attributes. Overall, the present study supports the continued use of the BES as a reliable and valid measure of male and female body esteem.
Chronic transvenous pacemaker lead removal using a unique, sequential transvenous system.

Abstract Transvenous removal of 43 consecutive chronic pacemaker leads was successful in 28 patients. For leads not removed by traction at the pacemaker connection terminal, a unique locking stylet was advanced through the inner coil lumen and engaged at the tip to allow traction without lead elongation. Leads not extracted with the locking stylet alone had traction maintained on the stylet as sheaths were advanced over the lead to dilate and detach any fibrous tissue adherent to the lead. By applying traction at the pacemaker connection terminal, 2 leads were removed. The locking stylet alone extracted 9 leads. Both the locking stylet and sheaths were necessary to expiant 32 leads. There were 15 right atrial and 22 right ventricular leads completely removed. Additionally, 6 right ventricular leads were subtotally removed leaving only the tip in the right ventricular apex. Avulsed myocardium was removed with the lead in 1 patient without sequelae. A subacute hemothorax developed in 1 patient 18 days after discharge requiring drainage, and subclavian vein thrombosis developed in another, which was successfully treated with anticoagulation. Hypotension occurred in 1 patient during final positioning of new leads, which responded to conservative treatment. Chronic pacemaker leads can be reliably removed without thoracotomy. Both a unique locking stylet to allow traction without lead elongation and a sheath to dilate and detach adherent fibrous tissue are needed for consistent success. Recognized complications included myocardial avulsion without sequelae, subacute hemothorax, subclavian vein thrombosis and transient hypotension.
Diversity of two forms of DNA methylation in the brain

DNA methylation 5-methylcytosine (5mC) predicts a compacting chromatin inaccessible to transcription. The discovery of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), which is derived from 5mC, adds a new dimension to the mechanism and role of DNA methylation in epigenetics. Genomic evidence indicates that the 5hmC is located in the alternate regions to 5mC. However, the nature of 5hmC, as compared with classical 5mC remains unclear. Observing the mouse brain through embryonic development to the adult, first, we found that 5hmC is not merely an intermediate metabolite of demethylation, but is long lasting, chromatically distinct, and dynamically changing during neurodevelopment. Second, we found that 5hmC distinctly differs from 5mC in its chromatin affiliation during neural stem cell (NSC) development. Thirdly, , we found both 5mC and 5hmC to be uniquely polarized and dynamic through the NSC development. 5mC was found to progressively polarize with MBD1 and MeCP2, and recruits H3K9me3 and H3K27me3; while 5hmC progressively co-localizes with MBD3 and recruits H3K4me2. Critical differential binding of 5mC with MBD1, and 5hmC with MBD3 was validated by Resonance Energy Transfer technique FLIM-FRET. This transition and polarization coincides with neuroprogenitor differentiation. Finally, at the time of synaptogenesis, 5mC gradually accumulates in the heterochromatin while 5hmC accumulates in the euchromatin, which is consistent with the co-localization of 5hmC with PolII, which mediates RNA transcription. Our data indicate that 5mC and 5hmC are diverse in their functional interactions with chromatin. This diversity is likely to contribute to the versatile epigenetic control of transcription mediating brain development and functional maintenance of adult brain.
On-Transient of Insect Electroretinogram: Its Cellular Origin

Electrical responses to light stimuli were recorded intracellularly from the retinula cells and the laminar cells of the wild type and the x-7 mutant of Drosophila melanogaster in order to determine the cellular origin of the on-transient of the insect electroretinogram. The response of the retinula cell of the mutant x-7 closely resembles that of the wild type even though the ontranstent is absent from the electroretinogram of x-7. Neither contains a spike-like component that can be identified with the on-transient of the electroretinogram. However, a spike-like response resembling the on-transient in latency and time course has been obtained from one of the several types of cells in the lamina of the wild type. Moreover, the same response could not be obtained from the laminar cells of the mutant x-7. Thus, the on-transient does not appear to originate from the retinula cell but probably from one or more of several types of cells in the lamina.
Occlusal indexes as judged by subjective opinions.

Introduction An orthodontic index is validated by comparing its scores with a gold standard, commonly the consensus opinion of a group of experienced orthodontists. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate contemporary occlusal indexes against the subjective opinions of people with varying levels of dental knowledge. Methods Randomly selected orthodontic study models (n = 25) with full permanent dentitions were scored according to the peer assessment rating (PAR) index, the index of complexity, outcome, and need (ICON), and the occlusal index (OI). The models were also scored according to the subjective opinion of orthodontists (n = 10), general dentists (n = 10), and social workers (n = 10) by using a Q-sort assessment. Results High correlation coefficients were found between the panelists and the occlusal indexes. The average correlation was about 0.8. Conclusions Regardless of background and clinical experience, people with various levels of dental knowledge have similar opinions when quantifying relationships of teeth and dental arches.
Representations of science within children's trade books

The use of trade books in science instruction, particularly in the elementary and middle school grades, invites scrutiny into the ways in which trade books represent science and its practitioners to learners. Forty-four trade books were examined for their explicit and implicit representations of science. The majority of the sample was comprised of informational texts, followed by experiment books and artistic books. Scientific knowledge was generally represented as facts, with limited connections to the producers of those facts. Scientists and their practice were represented as experiment or observation, in descriptions that blurred the distinctions between levels of participation in science, and emphasized empirical data collection over analysis or theory development. Artistic books focused on nature encouraged an aesthetic approach to nature, primarily through creative observation. These books are not likely to convey a sophisticated image of the nature of science to young children without contextualization by teachers and other knowledgeable adults. However, they have potential as tools within inquiry contexts, if used in a manner authentic to goals for scientific literacy. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 43: 214–235, 2006
Architecture and design automation for application-specific processors

Application-specific instruction-set processors (ASIPs) are specialized to meet the performance and energy needs of individual or small sets of applications. Of particular importance is the inclusion of custom instruction set extensions (ISEs) that accelerate the performance of the applications from which they are derived. This manuscript reviews the architectural features of ASIPs that facilitate high performance and low energy consumption, and provides an overview of compiler algorithms to automatically identify and synthesize ISEs from an application specified using a high-level language.
Strongyloides ratti: Dissociation of the rat's protective immunity into systemic and intestinal components

Abstract Analysis of the early stages of a challenge infection with Strongyloides ratti has shown that protection is expressed against the developing third-stage larval worms (L3) and prevents the maturation to adulthood of most larvae. Challenge after an immunizing infection that was restricted to the parenteral L3 migratory phase showed that some 10–40% of overall protection could be ascribed to systemic antilarval immunity. Some larvae were trapped in the skin at the site of injection whereas others failed to migrate to the head and lung of immune rats. Larvae arriving in the intestine at Days 3, 4, and 5 did not persist beyond Day 7 and 8. Studies using [75Se]methionine-labeled L3 showed a significant increase in fecal label in rats immunized by a complete infection. This loss did not occur to the same extent in rats immunized only with parenteral larvae. Significant rejection of worms transplanted to the intestine also indicated intestinal protection. The possible existence of large numbers of worms in a state of “arrested development” was excluded by their failure to appear after cortisone treatment and the absence of worm accumulation in radiolabeling studies. It is concluded that at least two responses operate against larval S. ratti, one is systemic and the other operates in the intestine against larvae in a manner that resembles the “rapid expulsion” rejection of Trichinella spiralis in immune rats.
What can post market registries tell us about the use of cardiac resynchronization therapy

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has become an established therapeutic option for patients with dilated cardiomyopathies and New York Heart Association class III congestive heart failure symptoms who also have a widened QRS complex on their electrocardiograms (generally > 120 ms). Results from a number of clinical trials have shown that CRT improves patients’ exercise tolerance, quality of life, and survival. There is further evidence that CRT has structural effects on the heart with improved cardiac function. Despite these salutary results, clinical trials in CRT study prespecified populations that fit the inclusion criteria for these trials. Many patients have been excluded from these clinical trials and yet may potentially benefit from CRT. Evaluation of the effects of CRT on these populations might reveal the potential to expand the use of this therapy in larger numbers of patients to CRT who may not have been included in the clinical trial. This review article will assess the limitations of some of the clinical trials in CRT and will discuss the potential for CRT registries that are presently underway to extend the patient population that may benefit from this therapeutic option.
On The Ultra-Violet Light Theory of Aurorae and Magnetic Storms

The ultra-violet light theory of aurorae and magnetic storms suggests (1) that because of winds and unusual production of ions the ionized region of the high atmosphere may be in violent agitation during the day of a magnetic storm, that it grows calmer at night and becomes agitated the next day if the storm continues, (2) that there may be auroral displays in polar regions with no magnetic storms in temperate latitudes, (3) that auroral displays in temperate latitudes should as a rule be accompanied by magnetic storms, and (4) that polar aurorae should follow several hours or a day after strong magnetic disturbances observed in temperate latitudes. These inferences are shown to be in agreement with the data from magnetic observatories and observations of aurorae in temperate and polar latitudes.
An improved algorithm for fractal estimation from noisy measurements

The authors first show that when the increments of sampled fractional Brownian motion (fBm), also known as discrete fractional Gaussian noise (DFGN), are set equal to the finest scale wavelet approximation coefficients and when the Haar basis is selected, the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) coefficients are weakly correlated and have a variance that is exponentially related to scale. The observation motivates a new fractal estimation algorithm, which is a variant of an algorithm introduced by Wornell and Oppenheim (IEEE Trans. vol.SP-40, no.3, p.611-23, March 1992) with the sampled fBm replaced by the increments of the sampled fBm. The performance of the new algorithm is compared with that of Wornell and Oppenheim's algorithm in numerical simulation results. >
The ImaginePA Project: The First Large-Scale, Public Sector ERP Implementation

While large-scale ERP deployments have been prevalent in the private-sector, there have been few attempts to deploy them in the public sector. This paper describes the first large-scale, public-sector ERP implementation, which integrates systems for over 50 different agencies in the state of Pennsylvania government. Over 20 individuals were interviewed during three years to identify and describe issues, success factors, implementation strategies, and lessons learned as compared to private-sector ERP implementations.
Long-term outcome in patients with Guillain–Barré syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation

We aimed to determine long-term disability and quality of life in patients with Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) who required mechanical ventilation (MV) in the acute phase. Our retrospective cohort study included 110 GBS patients admitted to an intensive care unit and requiring MV (01/1999–08/2010) in nine German tertiary academic medical centers. Outcome was determined 1 year or longer after hospital admission using the GBS disability scale, Barthel index (BI), EuroQuol-5D (EQ-5D) and Fatigue Severity Scale. Linear/multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze predicting factors for outcome. Mean time to follow up was 52.6 months. Hospital mortality was 5.5 % and long-term mortality 13.6 %. Overall 53.8 % had a favorable outcome (GBS disability score 0–1) and 73.7 % of survivors had no or mild disability (BI 90–100). In the five dimensions of the EQ-5D “mobility”, “self-care”, “usual activities”, “pain” and “anxiety/depression” no impairments were stated by 50.6, 58.4, 36.4, 36.4 and 50.6 % of patients, respectively. A severe fatigue syndrome was present in 30.4 % of patients. Outcome was statistically significantly correlated with age, type of therapy and number of immunoglobulin courses. In GBS-patients requiring MV in the acute phase in-hospital, and long-term mortality are lower than that in previous studies, while long-term quality of life is compromised in a large fraction of patients, foremost by immobility and chronic pain. Efforts towards improved treatment approaches should address autonomic dysfunction to further reduce hospital mortality while improved rehabilitation concepts might ameliorate long-term disability.
Interactional Theory and the Sustainable Nature-Based Tourism Experience

Two complementary studies were conducted to investigate both the immediate and long-term influence of Grand Canyon National Park multi-day commercial whitewater rafting experiences on participants' knowledge of the host protected area, attitudes toward management issues facing the host protected area, and environmental behaviors and future intentions. Through the use of multiple regression models, this investigation also explored the influence of tour and tourist characteristics on these outcomes to test and refine an interactional model. Results suggest that nature-based tourism operators can be efficacious partners for resource managers in providing experiences that educate the public to the importance of protected areas. In addition, the interactional model provided a useful framework for investigating the influence of tourist and tour characteristics on experiential outcomes and ultimately the sustainability of protected areas.
An equiconsistency result on partial squares

We prove that the following two statements are equiconsistent: there exists a greatly Mahlo cardinal; there exists a regular uncountable cardinal κ such that no stationary subset of κ+ ∩ cof(κ) carries a partial square.
The Kidney in Congestive Heart Failure

As a more detailed picture of the pathogenesis of salt and water retention in congestive heart failure evolves, it appears that increased tubular reabsorption of sodium occurs very early in heart disease, with further enhancement of the fluid accumulation as filtration rate decreases later in the disease process. Increase in sympathetic activity in the kidney can be demonstrated before the development of frank failure, and probably is initiated reflexly by decreased baroreceptor activity, a response that occurs in various types of circulatory insufficiency. Blocking the adrenergic nerves of the kidney produces profound diuresis and natriuresis. Evidence is presented that the pressoreceptors may also play an important role in regulating aldosterone secretion. Thus, the change in body fluids seen in congestive heart failure may be part of the normal reflex adjustments maintaining blood pressure.
Modeling and development of a low frequency contactless dielectrophoresis (cDEP) platform to sort cancer cells from dilute whole blood samples

Abstract Contactless dielectrophoresis (cDEP) devices are a new adaptation of dielectrophoresis in which fluid electrodes, isolated from the main microfluidic channel by a thin membrane, provide the electric field gradients necessary to manipulate cells. This work presents a continuous sorting device which is the first cDEP design capable of exploiting the Clausius-Mossotti factor at frequencies where it is both positive and negative for mammalian cells. Experimental devices are fabricated using a cost effective technique which can achieve 50 μm feature sizes and does not require the use of a cleanroom or specialized equipment. An analytical model is developed to evaluate cDEP devices as a network of parallel resistor-capacitor pairs. Two theoretical devices are presented and evaluated using finite element methods to demonstrate the effect of geometry on the development of electric field gradients across a wide frequency spectrum. Finally, we present an experimental device capable of continuously sorting human leukemia cells from dilute blood samples. This is the first cDEP device designed to operate below 100 kHz resulting in successful manipulation of human leukemia cells, while in the background red blood cells are unaffected.