cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inverted repeats direct repair of adenovirus minichromosome ends

Abstract Adenovirus DNA initiates strand-displacement replication from origins located in identical inverted terminal repetitions (ITRs). Panhandle structures, formed by base pairing between ITRs on the displaced strands, have been proposed as replication intermediates for complementary strand synthesis. We have used a model system, which separates adenovirus replication origin sequences from those involved in panhandle formation, to study the length and sequence integrity of panhandles. By making a series of unidirectional deletions in the panhandle sequence, we show that 31 by are necessary for panhandle formation. Removal of long stretches of 3′-unpaired nucleotides distal to the panhandle is extremely efficient. Our results argue for the formation of panhandles during adenovirus DNA replication and provide a mechanism for maintaining sequence identity between distantly located inverted repetitions. The size constraint may explain why the adenovirus ITRs are larger than the viral DNA replication origins.
Drug Interaction: Meperidine and Chlorpromazine, a Toxic Combination

: To determine the effect of chlorpromazine on the serum concentration—time curve and metabolism of meperidine, 10 healthy volunteers were injected on two separate days in a two-way crossover design with 26 mg/m2 meperidine hydrochloride combined with either 30 mg/m2 chlorpromazine or a placebo. The subjects demonstrated the same serum meperidine concentration—time curves after meperidine plus placebo and meperidine plus chlorpromazine. The excretion of the metabolites normeperidine and normeperidinic acid, however, showed a significant increase with the meperdine—chlorpromazine combination. A marked lethargy was observed after the administration of the meperidine—chlorpromazine combinations in most subjects, which was quite debilitating and may have resulted from the alteration of meperidine metabolism by chlorpromazine. The meperidine—chlorpromazine combination also caused a greater mean depression of the systolic and diastolic pressures than the meperidine—placebo combination. The differences in the blood pressure and symptomatology were significant and represent a potential toxicity that may result from the use of the chlorpromazine—meperidine combination.
The Interaction of Blood Osmolality and Blood Volume in Regulating Plasma Vasopressin in Man

The effect of blood volume on the osmotic control of the antidiuretic hormone, arginine vasopressin (AVP), has been studied in 18 healthy young adults. Changes in blood osmolality and/or volume were produced by each of 3 procedures--fluid deprivation, orthostasis, and hypertonic saline infusion--and the resultant changes in plasma AVP were measured by radioimmunoassay and expressed as a function of the simultaneous level of plasma osmolality. When the subjects were hydropenic and recumbent, a highly significant correlation between plasma AVP and osmolality was observed that was described by the regression equation y = 0.35 (x -281.0) where y represents the plasma AVP concentration in pg/ml and x the plasma osmolality in mosmol/kg. When these same hydropenic subjects were studied in the upright position, a maneuver that reduces intrathoracic blood volume, plasma AVP and osmolality still showed a significant correlation, but the regression equation describing this relation, y = 0.31 (x -277.8), occupied a position significantly to the left of that found during recumbency. Conversely, when the same subjects were studied during infusion of hypertonic saline, a procedure that increases blood volume, plasma AVP and osmolality again correlated significantly but the regression equation describing this relation, y = 0.32 (x -282), now occupied a position significantly to the right of that obtained during recumbent and hydropenic conditions. These results indicate that moderate increases or decreases in blood volume do influence the osmoregulation of AVP in man, but the effects are relatively small and limited to adjustments in the set of the receptor toward higher or lower levels of osmolality.
Frontal brain activity pattern predicts depression in adolescent boys

Limited research has explored the relationship between frontal brain activity and depression in adolescent boys. This study examined whether frontal brain activity predicted depressive symptoms in 41 adolescent boys one year later. A step-wise hierarchical regression analysis was conducted using frontal brain activity as predictors and depressive symptoms as the dependent variable, controlling for depressive symptoms at baseline. Results revealed that greater relative right-sided activity predicted depressive symptoms in adolescent boys one year later.
Activation of hepatocyte growth factor by urokinase-type plasminogen activator is ionic strength-dependent.

The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multifunctional cytokine that is produced as latent scHGF (single chain HGF). Various proteases reportedly cleave scHGF to generate the active two-chain form (HGF), including u-PA (urokinase-type plasminogen activator), t-PA (tissue-type plasminogen activator), kallikrein, Factor XIa, Factor XIIa, HGF activator and matriptase. Considerable evidence indicates that, in vivo, u-PA activates scHGF in the liver; however, the in vivo results have not been uniformly supported by in vitro experiments. We now report that cleavage of scHGF by high-molecular-mass u-PA (abbreviated u-PA throughout) is sensitive to ionic strength. scHGF cleavage by u-PA was accelerated as the ionic strength was decreased. This result was equivalent irrespective of whether the predominant anion was chloride or acetate. Lmw-u-PA (low-molecular-mass u-PA) was ineffective at cleaving scHGF, regardless of ionic strength. Although scHGF shares homology with plasminogen, EACA (ϵ-amino-caproic acid) did not regulate u-PA-mediated scHGF cleavage. Soluble HGF receptor (MET) and soluble u-PAR (u-PA receptor) inhibited the scHGF cleavage. These results support a model in which the ability of u-PA to activate scHGF in vivo may be highly dependent on local conditions within the extracellular space.
Rational Design of Ca2+ Biosensor

Ca2+, the most ubiquitous signaling molecule in human body, regulates numerous biological functions by fluxing between the subcellular compartments. Quantitative and real-time detection of Ca2+ concentration fluctuation in specific cellular environments such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is essential to explore the mechanism of Ca2+-dependent cellular signaling. Currently the reported Ca2+ sensors based on natural Ca2+ binding proteins are limited due to the perturbation of Ca2+ signaling. To overcome these limitations, we report the rational design of Ca2+ biosensors by engineering a Ca2+ binding site into a single enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). These developed Ca2+ sensors exhibit a ratiometic fluorescent signal change after binding to Ca2+, with a Kd value optimal for the measurement of Ca2+ in the ER. Metal selectivity of the sensors for Ca2+ in comparison with Ln3+, and excessive biological metal ions such as Mg2+, K+, Na+ has also been examined. In addition, these developed sensors can be targeted to the ER, and exhibit high potential for living cell imaging. Further, their optical and conformational properties have been investigated using various spectroscopic methods. Moreover, pulsed-field-gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been applied to probe their oligomeric state in solution and conformational changes of specific ligands due to Ca2+ binding were investigated using heteronuclear-labeled proteins with different 2D and 3D NMR techniques.
An improved program-synthesizing algorithm and its correctness

An improved program-synthesizing algorithm based on the algorithm proposed by Waldinger and Lee in 1969 is given. In the old algorithm, the program-synthesizing problem is translated into a theorem-proving problem, and a program is obtained by analyzing a proof. For the improved algorithm, the analysis is not necessary, and a program is obtained as soon as the proof is completed. This is achieved by using a modified variable tracing mechanism invented by Green in 1969. The correctness of the improved algorithm is also proved; i.e. the program thus obtained always satisfies the specification.
THE CONCEPT OF COMPETITION IN ROBERT PARK'S SOCIOLOGY*

This article examines Robert Park's concept of competition and the way in which it appears in his analysis of civilization and social change. Conventional interpretations of his writings have tende...
A determination of interfacial energy and interfacial composition in CuPb and CuPbX alloys by solid state wetting measurements

Abstract Solid state wetting studies have been used to measure interfacial energies and also to estimate interfacial composition. The approach is applicable to systems where one phase forms partially wetting islands on a substrate of the other phase, and requires that the compositions of all surfaces be carefully monitored so as to allow surface energies to be corrected for adsorption effects. The CuPb interface was studied by this technique with the wetting of Pb islands on polycrystalline Cu, CuAg and CuAu polycrystalline alloys. The results show that Au lowers the CuPb interfacial energy, indicating the presence of Au segregation at the interface, whereas Ag does not change the interfacial energy. Both of the above results are also correctly predicted, quanlitatively, by a simple nearest neighbor bond model used in conjunction with the regular solution approximation. Studies of Pb on monocrystalline (001)- and (111)-oriented substrates of Cu have been carried out. These yield values of 926 and 1016 mJ/m2 for the two interfacial energies, respectively. Similar studies of Pb on (001)Cu-5 at.% Au, and (111)Cu-8 at.% Au yield interfacial energies of 889 and 959 mJ/m2, respectively, indicating interfacial excesses of Au of 0.22 and 0.34 monolayers at those interfaces.
Attenuation of collagen production with small interfering RNA of SPARC in cultured fibroblasts from the skin of patients with scleroderma

Objective Recently, it was observed that SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) is overexpressed in the fibroblasts of skin biopsy specimens obtained from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma), and that specific inhibition of SPARC expression in normal human fibroblasts attenuated the profibrotic effect of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ). The purpose of this study was to examine whether inhibition of SPARC with small interfering RNA (siRNA) can be used to ameliorate the overproduction of major extracellular matrix components in SSc fibroblasts. Methods Fibroblasts obtained from biopsy specimens of the unaffected skin of 3 patients with diffuse SSc and 3 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were cultured and transfected with SPARC siRNA. Before and after transfection, real-time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, immunostaining, and Western blotting were used to examine the transcription and/or protein levels of SPARC, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), type I collagen, type II collagen, TGFβ receptor 1 (TGFβR1), and Smad3. Student's paired t-tests were used to determine the significance of the results. Results SSc fibroblasts showed overexpression of SPARC, COL1A2, COL3A1, and CTGF, which is consistent with an activated fibroblast phenotype. Upon inhibition of SPARC with siRNA, these activated SSc fibroblasts showed decreased gene expression of COL1A2, COL3A1, and CTGF (43%, 54%, and 58%, respectively). In addition, the overproduction of type I collagen protein in SSc fibroblasts was inhibited and was shown to parallel levels of SPARC expression. In contrast, the expression of TGFBR1 and Smad3 did not change significantly nor was the level of phosphorylation of Smad3 reduced upon SPARC siRNA silencing in unstimulated cultured SSc fibroblasts. Conclusion Overproduction of collagens in SSc skin fibroblasts can be attenuated through SPARC silencing. This inhibition may be associated either with direct interaction between SPARC and collagens or with inhibition of CTGF, which is a downstream effector of TGFβ signaling. However, SPARC silencing in SSc fibroblasts appears not to be associated with TGFBR1- and Smad3-dependent processes. Application of SPARC silencing represents a potential therapeutic approach to SSc.
Money Funds or Markets? Valuing Intermediary Services

Recent market developments, such as on-line trading of Treasury securities and the reduction of the minimum Treasury bill denomination to $1,000, facilitate creation of a viable alternative to U.S. Treasury money funds for investors. Comparison of a direct investment in Treasury bills to U.S. Treasury money funds shows that money fund intermediary services such as check writing, telephone exchange privileges, payroll and automatic transfers, retirement plans, and minimum initial and subsequent purchases are worth an estimated 43 basis points per year, and investors pay an additional 11 basis points for active portfolio management. An analysis of fund net cash flows shows evidence consistent with arbitrage activity between money funds and the direct investment in Treasury bills, especially for investors with few ties to the money fund manager.
Raman spectroscopic studies of the fast proton conductor lithium hydrazinium sulfate

Abstract The temperature dependence of several low frequency external modes of lithium hydrazinium sulfate have been examined. The temperature dependent bandwidth and frequency of the 53 cm −1 mode have been studied over the temperature range 11–300 K. The significance of breaks observed in plots of spectral parameters vs. temperature for this mode are discussed.
Market share and warranty costs for renewable warranty programs

Abstract A majority of consumer products is associated with some type of warranty. The nature and extent of the warranty affect the sales, market share, costs and profits of many businesses. A warranty can be defined as an assurance from a seller to a buyer that the product sold is guaranteed to perform satisfactorily up to certain length of time, which is the warranty period. In case of product failure within the warranty period, it is assumed that the seller will conform to a rebate policy. In this paper the rebate policy is selected to be linear pro-rata or lump sum. The paper investigates warranty programs that offer customers the option to renew warranty, after an initial period, for a certain premium. The effect of such programs on market share and warranty costs is explored.
Modulation of Sp1 and Sp3 in Lung Epithelial Cells Regulates ClC-2 Chloride Channel Expression

ClC-2 is a pH- and voltage-activated chloride channel, which is highly expressed in fetal airways and downregulated at birth. The ClC-2 promoter contains consensus binding sites within the first 237 bp, which bind transcription factors Sp1 and Sp3(1). This study directly links Sp1 and Sp3 with ClC-2 protein expression by demonstrating: (i) induction of ClC-2 protein by transient overexpression of each transcription factor in adult rat Type II cells, which have low levels of ClC-2; and (ii) reduction of ClC-2 expression by incubation with a competitive inhibitor of Sp1 and Sp3 in fetal rat Type II cells, which have high levels of endogenous ClC-2. Endogenous fetal lung Sp1 is differentially expressed as two major species of 105 kD and 95 kD. Although low-level expression of Sp1 in adult cells is almost exclusively the 105-kD species, overexpression of Sp1 results in increased expression of the 95-kD band. These experiments suggest that the mechanism for postnatal reduction of ClC-2 expression in lung epithelia is based on decreased interaction of Sp1 and Sp3 with the ClC-2 promoter.
Predictors of maternal child-feeding style: maternal and child characteristics

We investigated relationships among maternal and child characteristics, and two aspects of maternal child-feeding styles that may place daughters at risk for developing problems with energy balance. Participants included 104 overweight (BMI> or =25) and 92 non-overweight (BMI<25) mothers and their 5-year-old, non-Hispanic, White daughters. Child-feeding styles included (a) restriction of daughters' intake of energy-dense snack food, and (b) pressure to eat more food. Predictors of child-feeding styles included measures of (1) maternal investment in weight and eating issues, including dietary restraint and weight concern, (2) child adiposity, (3) maternal perceptions of the child as underweight or overweight, and (4) maternal concern for child weight. Mothers reported using more restrictive feeding practices when they were invested in weight and eating issues, when they perceived daughters as overweight, when they were concerned about daughters' weight, and when daughters were heavier. Mothers reported using more pressure in child feeding when daughters were thinner, and when mothers perceived daughters as underweight. Further analyses examined whether relationships among child-feeding styles were different for overweight and non-overweight mothers. Overweight mothers' child-feeding styles appeared to be influenced by observable child weight characteristics, concerns for the child's weight status, and mothers' own history of overweight. Non-overweight mothers' child-feeding styles appeared to be influenced by distorted perceptions of and concerns for children, as well as distorted self-perceptions.
Quantified risk-adaptive access control for patient privacy protection in health information systems

In traditional access control systems, security administrators determine whether an information consumer can access a certain resource. However, in reality, it is very difficult for policy makers to foresee what information a user may need in various situations. In hospitals, failing to authorize a doctor for the medical information she needs about a patient could lead to severe or fatal consequences. In this paper, we propose a practical access control approach to protect patient privacy in health information systems by taking the realities in healthcare into consideration. First, unlike traditional access control systems, our proposed access control model allows information consumers (i.e. doctors) to make access decisions, while still being able to detect and control the over-accessing of patients' medical data by quantifying the risk associated with doctors' data-accessing activities. Second, we do not require doctors to do anything special in order to use our system. We learn about common practices among doctors and apply statistical methods and information theory techniques to quantify the risk of privacy violation. Third, occasional exceptions on information needs, which is common in healthcare, is taken into account in our model. We have implemented a prototype of our solution and performed simulations on real-world medical history records.
Extraction and quantification of microphytobenthic Chl a within calcareous reef sands.

Calcareous reef sands are characterized by high concentrations of photosynthetic pigments that extend well below the sediment surface, as well as by high variability in concentrations between study sites. An important contributor to the observed variability may be differences in extraction protocols, further complicated by variability in calcareous sand characteristics. We tested the effects of freeze-drying, grinding, sonication, extraction temperature, and extraction time on quantification of Chl a content within calcareous sands. The resulting optimized extraction protocol consists of freeze-drying, grinding with a mortar and pestle for 30 s, and extracting with 100% acetone at −20°C for at least 20 h, yielding a 39% increase in Chl a content over frozen, unground samples. Using this protocol, we measured and compared ten sedimentary Chl a profiles taken in close proximity to test for relationships between surface and sub-surface concentrations. Sedimentary Chl a content at a back-reef location on the south shore of O'ahu varied between 4.33-14.25 µg g−1 dw, with distinctly higher values occurring in a relatively enriched surface layer (0–1 cm). Surface Chl a concentrations varied between 86-307 mg m−2, depending on the depth of integration (0.5–2 cm), with 73% of the full-core (0-8 cm) Chl a concentration occurring below 2 cm. The concentrations of surface and subsurface layers were significantly correlated between cores, allowing for the use of plug sampling when profile generation is not feasible or necessary to determine the magnitude of the subsurface microphytobenthic biomass and its variability over scales of meters.
Effect of antibiotics on polymorphonuclear neutrophil apoptosis.

Study Objective. To evaluate the effects of various antibiotics—direct and indirect as a result of bacterial killing—on polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) apoptosis. Design. In vitro analysis. Setting. Research laboratory. Intervention. Whole blood collected from healthy human subjects was incubated with and without Klebsiella pneumoniae (1.0 × 105 colony-forming units [cfu]/ml) plus ceftazidime 50 μg/ml, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, trovafloxacin, tetracycline, doxycycline, erythromycin, azithromycin (each 5 μg/ml), or lipopolysaccharide 10 μg/ml. After staining with fluorescein-conjugated annexin V, red blood cells were lysed, and the remaining white blood cells were assessed by flow cytometry with gating on PMNs. Measurements and Main Results. In the absence of K. pneumoniae infection, antibiotic exposure directly decreased PMN apoptosis by 17.8% (range −25.0% to −13.9%, p=0.008) compared with untreated cells. In the presence of K. pneumoniae, all antibiotic treatments, even those with poor in vitro activity for the bacterial isolate, decreased PMN apoptosis by 26.2% (range ×38.0% to −17.8%, p>0.001) compared with untreated control cells and by 36.6% compared with untreated (no antibiotic) K. pneumoniae-stimulated cells (range −46.2% to −28.0%, p>0.001). Conclusions. All tested antibiotics in clinically relevant concentrations resulted in modest yet consistent decreases in PMN apoptosis. The magnitude of this change increased slightly in the presence of K. pneumoniae infection. In vivo studies are needed to determine whether antibiotic-associated prolongation of PMN survival improves host response to infection.
PREDICTING the COOLING TIME FOR IRREGULAR SHAPED FOOD PRODUCTS

A new method for calculating the cooling time for fresh fruits and vegetables and processed foods is presented. the method uses the truncated analytical solution of the governing partial differential equation to define a cooling curve with two parameters. One parameter is the lowest eigenvalue for the product. the second parameter is a constant multiplier similar to the one that occurs in the analytical solution. the lowest eigenvalue is evaluated using a finite element analysis. the multiplying constant is evaluated using a finite element solution in time. Cooling curves for a Rome apple and a Bartlett pear are presented and discussed.
Medicaid Nursing Facility Utilization

This study uses a longitudinal California data set (1995 to 2000) to address two concerns about Medicaid nursing facility (NF) utilization. First, to consider the impact of national cost-control policies, the authors analyze data trends in Medicaid NF participants, days of care, and expenditures. Second, the authors investigate the percentage of Medicaid days of care (%MDOC) using a panel regression model to consider resident, facility, and county market predictors. The findings show that although statewide Medicaid NF participants, expenditures, and%MDOC remain stable, Medicaid market segmentation persistes, with program participants distributed unevenly among facilities. Factors associated positively with facility%MDOC are the proportion of minority residents, a larger facility size, for-profit status, the percentage of aged Black persons in the county, and market concentration. The factors associated negatively with%MDOC are the percentages of resident men, residents aged 85 or older, residents with Alzheimer’s disease, Medicaid reimbursement rates, and county wealth.
Atopic dermatitis: an evidence-based treatment update.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory disorder of skin with significant comorbidities. AD care often requires a combination of treatment approaches, including emollients, topical steroids, systemic immunosuppressants and/or phototherapy. Our purpose was to review recent randomized controlled trials (RCT) and systematic reviews of AD treatments. A MEDLINE search was performed focusing on RCTs of AD treatments, with a sample size ≥15, and systematic reviews published from 2011 to 2013, limited to the English language. A total of 53 manuscripts met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, including 44 RCTs and nine systematic reviews. Investigator-initiated RCTs support the use of the systemic agents cyclosporine, methotrexate, azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil. In one RCT, petrolatum was found to be as effective as creams containing ceramides or glycyrrhetinic acid. Additional therapeutic approaches supported by RCTs include balneotherapy, oral and/or topical probiotics, nutritional interventions, vitamin D with or without vitamin E supplementation, as well as several new topical and complementary medicines. Advances have been made with respect to AD treatment in the past few years through the use of well designed RCTs and comparative efficacy studies. However, more well designed RCTs and investigator-initiated studies are needed in order to improve the care of AD patients.
High-Activity Barley \bold\ralpha-Amylase by Directed Evolution

Barley α-amylase isozyme 2 was cloned into and constitutively secreted by Saccharomyces cervisiae. The gene coding for the wild-type enzyme was subjected to directed evolution. Libraries of mutants were screened by halo formation on starch agar plates, followed by high-throughput liquid assay using dye-labeled starch as the substrate. The concentration of recombinant enzyme in the culture supernatant was determined by immunodetection, and used for the calculation of specific activity. After three rounds of directed evolution, one mutant (Mu322) showed 1000 times the total activity and 20 times the specific activity of the wild-type enzyme produced by the same yeast expression system. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of this mutant with the wild type revealed five substitutions: Q44H, R303K and F325Y in domain A, and T94A and R128Q in domain B. Two of these mutations, Q44H and R303K, result in amino acids highly conserved in cereal α-amylases. R303K and F325Y are located in the raw starch-binding fragment of the enzyme molecule.
The public health benefits of air pollution control.

The US Congress is currently engaged in a debate regarding restriction of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority under the Clean Air Act. The discussion has been focused on the cost to business to complywith the CleanAir Act and the potential negative effect on employment. As heath care professionals, we believe it is necessary to review some of the facts since the Clean AirActwas initiated and the role of theCleanAirAct in the future. In the past year, the House of Representatives has passed a number of bills that would stop, delay, or weaken the EPA rules issued under the authority of the Clean Air Act. The House has passed legislation that would prevent or delay clean up of emissions from cement kilns, coarse particulate matter pollution, industrial boilers, mercury and toxic pollutants from power plants, and pollution from power plants that blow across state borders to neighboring downwind states. Additionally, the House has passed legislation that would subject all future EPA/Clean Air Act rules to a cost/benefit assessment that is heavily tilted in favor of the regulated industry. Why is the House engaged in this attack on the Clean Air Act? Opponents of the EPA have portrayed the agency as a prime example of government overreach and a bureaucratic agency run amok. Opponents of the EPA say the rules are ‘‘job-destroying regulations’’ that create regulatory uncertainty and hurt the overall US economy. Supporters of the EPA counter that complying with the Clean Air Act rules will create new jobs, largely in sectors that install and maintain pollution control equipment. What is missing from the discussion are the health effects of air pollution and the potential health gains that can be made by reducing air pollution. We believe that an analysis of available health and economic data show that air pollution standards have significant net benefits for our society at large. There is compelling evidence that air pollution has severe adverse health effects, particularly for respiratory health. Several
Biological monitoring with atomic spectroscopy

Abstract Atomic spectroscopy holds a central role in biological monitoring. With this powerful and mature analytical tool, meaningful measurements can be made of a number of important elements in biological specimens. These measurements are useful in two general settings: (1) with toxic elements, by measurement of concentrations in excess of “expected” ranges; and (2) with essential elements, in which deficiencies may be observed. Several considerations are of major importance to effectively apply atomic spectroscopy to these measurements; (1) choice of an appropriate specimen; (2) selection of the most appropriate analytical method; (3) collection and preservation of the specimen; (4) analysis of the specimen; and (5) evaluation of the data generated. The usefulness of the various forms of atomic spectroscopy will be shown with two illustrative examples, and some evaluation will be provided of the future directions of research and upcoming issues in biological monitoring.
Cost-effectiveness of multimodal CT for evaluating acute stroke

Objective: Multimodal CT, including noncontrast CT (NCCT), CT with contrast, CT angiography (CTA), and perfusion CT (CTP), is increasingly used in acute stroke patients to identify candidates for endovascular therapy. Our goal is to explore the cost-effectiveness of multimodal CT as a diagnostic test. Methods: A Markov model compared multimodal CT to NCCT in a hypothetical cohort of nonhemorrhagic stroke patients presenting within 3 hours of symptom onset who were potential IV tPA candidates. Patients who failed to improve after IV tPA or in whom IV tPA was contraindicated were candidates for endovascular therapy. Direct costs (2008 USD), outcomes, and probabilities were obtained from the literature. Results: For the 3-month time horizon, multimodal CT had lower costs (−$1,716), had greater quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs, 0.004), and was the cost-effective choice 100% of the time for a willingness-to-pay of $100,000/QALY (probabilistic sensitivity analysis). The number needed to screen with multimodal CT to avoid 1 diagnostic angiogram was 2. Over a lifetime, multimodal CT had lower costs (−$2,058), had greater QALYs (0.008), and was cost-effective, with a 90.1% likelihood, for a willingness-to-pay of $100,000/QALY. Conclusions: Multimodal CT appears to be a cost-saving screening tool over the short term. However, additional data regarding clinical outcomes following multimodal CT–guided intra-arterial treatment are needed before the long-term cost-effectiveness can be suitably addressed. This analysis can be incorporated into future discussions of multimodal CT as a diagnostic test for unselected patients, within and beyond the 3-hour IV tPA time window.
Cancer and other disorders related to certain perceptual tests.

The rate of reversals possibly experienced in observing ambiguous figures and in binocular rivalry are shown to distinguish at a statistically significant level among cancer patients, patients with duodenal ulcers, rheumatoid arthritics, and a control group with miscellaneous disorders; also between matched groups of schizophrenic patients with and without cancer. These results are discussed in terms of the part played by the integrative systems of the organism both in relationship to the test results and the disorders experienced.
Uterine Glycogen Metabolism in Mink during Estrus, Embryonic Diapause and Pregnancy

We have determined uterine glycogen content, metabolizing enzyme expression and activity in the mink, a species that exhibits obligatory embryonic diapause, resulting in delayed implantation. Gross uterine glycogen concentrations were highest in estrus, decreased 50% by diapause and 90% in pregnancy (P ≤ 0.05). Endometrial glycogen deposits, which localized primarily to glandular and luminal epithelia, decreased 99% between estrus and diapause (P ≤ 0.05) and were nearly undetectable in pregnancy. Glycogen synthase and phosphorylase proteins were most abundant in the glandular epithelia. Glycogen phosphorylase activity (total) in uterine homogenates was higher during estrus and diapause, than pregnancy. While glycogen phosphorylase protein was detected during estrus and diapause, glycogen synthase was almost undetectable after estrus, which probably contributed to a higher glycogenolysis/glycogenesis ratio during diapause. Uterine glucose-6-phosphatase 3 gene expression was greater during diapause, when compared to estrus (P ≤ 0.05) and supports the hypothesis that glucose-6-phosphate resulting from phosphorylase activity was dephosphorylated in preparation for export into the uterine lumen. The relatively high amount of hexokinase-1 protein detected in the luminal epithelia during estrus and diapause may have contributed to glucose trapping after endometrial glycogen reserves were depleted. Collectively, our findings suggest to us that endometrial glycogen reserves may be an important source of energy, supporting uterine and conceptus metabolism up to the diapausing blastocyst stage. As a result, the size of uterine glycogen reserves accumulated prior to mating may in part, determine the number of embryos that survive to the blastocyst stage, and ultimately litter size.
Cardiovascular complications of pediatric chronic kidney disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality is a leading cause of death in adult chronic kidney disease (CKD), with exceptionally high rates in young adults, according to the Task Force on Cardiovascular Disease. Recent data indicate that cardiovascular complications are already present in children with CKD. This review summarizes the current literature on cardiac risk factors, mortality and morbidity in children with CKD.
Assessing Damage to Airport Pavement Structure due to Complex Gear Loads

The Federal Aviation Administration’s National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF) was constructed to generate high-quality, full-scale accelerated test data from pavements subjected to dynamic simulated heavy aircraft traffic. During the first round of testing, the flexible pavement sections were subjected to dual-tridem Boeing 777 gear and dual-tandem Boeing 747 gear trafficking to study and compare their effect on pavement structural responses and rutting performance. This paper presents the results from traffic testing on a low-strength subgrade flexible pavement section with a substantially thick unbound granular subbase layer. Data from in situ instrumentation and heavy weight deflectometer (HWD) testing were analyzed at different stages of trafficking to evaluate the pavement structural deterioration imposed by the test gears. At the end of traffic testing, posttraffic forensic investigation studies were conducted to investigate the failure mechanism of pavement structures. The results showed th...
The rare earth element geochemistry of hydrothermal sediments from the East Pacific Rise: Examination of a seawater scavenging mechanism

Abstract The sediments recovered during DSDP Leg 92 (Site 598) include a complete 16 m.y. record of hydrothermal sedimentation along the western flank of the East Pacific Rise at 19°S. Fifty samples from this sediment column were analyzed to test the hypothesis that the REE composition of the hydrothermal component is primarily acquired via scavenging from seawater. Site 598 provides an ideal sample suite for this purpose: the sediments are lithologically “simple,” primarily consisting of a mixture of hydrothermal materials and biogenous carbonates; the composition of the hydrothermal component is essentially constant through space and time; and the sediments have undergone minimal diagenetic alteration. The following observations suggest the above-stated hypothesis is true. The Ce anomaly as well as key indices of light and heavy REE behavior all show that the REE pattern of hydrothermal sediments approaches that of seawater with increasing paleodistance from the rise crest. Moreover, shale-normalized REE patterns are similar to that of seawater, varying only in absolute REE content: the REE content increases with distance from the paleo-rise crest and exhibits a pronounced increase in sediments deposited below the paleolysocline. Based on significant correlative relationships between paleodistance from the rise crest and both the concentration and mass accumulation rates (MARs) of REEs and Fe, we conclude the REEs in the hydrothermal component are derived from the interaction of seawater and Fe in the hydrothermal plume.
Observation of Oscillations in Resonance Absorption from a Coherent Superposition of Atomic States

A technique is described for high-resolution spectroscopy using resonance absorption from a laser to monitor the time evolution of a coherently excited superposition of atomic states. As a demonstration a measurement was made of the $3^{2}P_{\frac{1}{2}}$ hyperfine splitting in sodium.
Relative yields of electronically excited iodine atoms, I(5 2P12), in the photolysis of alkyl iodides

Abstract The fraction of electronically excited iodine atoms, I(5 2P 1 2 ), formed in the broadband flash photolysis of several alkyl iodides has been determined using time-resolved atomic absorption spectroscopy. By monitoring the temporal profile of the ground state, I(5 2P 1 2 ), following the photolytic pulse, the initial yields of ground and electronically excited atoms may be obtained. Deactivation rates of I(5 2P 1 2 ) by these alkyl iodides are also reported.
Biomedical Informatics for Computer-Aided Decision Support Systems: A Survey

The volumes of current patient data as well as their complexity make clinical decision making more challenging than ever for physicians and other care givers. This situation calls for the use of biomedical informatics methods to process data and form recommendations and/or predictions to assist such decision makers. The design, implementation, and use of biomedical informatics systems in the form of computer-aided decision support have become essential and widely used over the last two decades. This paper provides a brief review of such systems, their application protocols and methodologies, and the future challenges and directions they suggest.
Increased levels of hemoglobin-derived and other peptides in Alzheimer's disease cerebellum

Several studies point to the importance of peptides and proteolysis in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Because of its ability to study small proteins and peptides, reverse-phase HPLC was employed to study these species in AD. Cerebellum was chosen for these initial studies because it does not show significant neuronal loss but does show some pathology in AD. Examination of over 600 peptide peaks per case revealed 15 that were elevated in AD. Nine were fragments of hemoglobin, and the remainder included two species of calmodulin, two of myelin basic protein, and one each of 67 kDa neurofilament protein and PEP-19. The cleavage sites on hemoglobin were after hydrophobic residues and immunolocalization was seen preferentially around blood vessel walls and granule cells. The elevation of the non-serum-derived peptides was characteristic of general metabolic changes that occurred in AD cerebellum, and the presence of elevated hemoglobin polypeptides indicated either possible disruption of the blood-brain barrier or selective evasion of it by peptidaceous products. Further studies are required to establish whether hemoglobin fragments have a role in neurodegenerative processes such as AD.
More than a matter of time.

Few topics in graduate medical education have provoked as much comment and controversy as the recent decision of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to limit resident “duty hours,” defined as all clinical and academic activities related to the residency program. Regulations that went into effect July 1, 2003, limit duty hours to 80 hours per week, averaged over a 4-week period. In addition, residents may spend no more than 24 consecutive hours on duty, although they may remain on duty for up to 6 additional hours, for a total of 30 hours, to participate in didactic activities, transfer care of patients, conduct continuity clinics, and maintain continuity of inpatient medical care. No new patients, defined as any pa-tient for whom the resident has not provided care during the previous 24-hour period (except for patients who are part of the resident’s continuity panel or the panel of the resident’s continuity team), may be accepted after 24 hours of continuous duty.1 One might ask: “Why the fuss in pediatrics?” Many pediatric training programs have been close to 80 hours per week for some time. The requirement that housestaff take on new … Reprint requests to (M.D.J.) Children’s Hospital, B065, 1056 E 19th Ave, Denver, CO 80218. E-mail: jones.doug{at}tchden.org
Cantigas d'escarnho and serranillas:: The Allegory of Careless Love

More than two decades ago, Keith Whinnom listed as one of his ‘three forms of distortion’ in medieval Spanish literary historiography the failure of critics to come to terms with the large body of obscene literature written in late-medieval Spain: The critics who have had something to say about the tradition of obscenity in medieval literature tend to throw in the phrase ‘the reverse of the medal’; it suggests that there are two rigidly separate kinds of writing, and that the historian can, without prejudicial consequences, ignore the matter which disturbs and embarrasses him. The traditions, I believe, are more integrated than this image suggests, and the ignoring of the obscene produces consequential distortions.1 It is safe to say, I believe, that the distortion Whinnom spoke of still exists. Although today's critics are, perhaps, more willing to deal with the obscene in medieval Castilian literature than were those of twenty years ago, the tendency to treat this material as distinct from, not in commu...
Multitasking With Smartphones in the College Classroom

Although the concept of multitasking itself is under debate, smartphones do enable users to divert attention from the task at hand to nongermane matters. As smartphone use becomes pervasive, extending into our classrooms, educators are concerned that they are becoming a major distraction. Does multitasking with smartphones impede learning? Can they be used to enhance learning instead? This article reviews current literature, provides suggestions for further investigation, and proposes an approach to incorporate smartphone multitasking in the classroom to enhance learning.
A NEW EIMERIID (APICOMPLEXA) SPECIES FROM ENDANGERED ATTWATER'S PRAIRIE CHICKENS (TYMPANUCHUS CUPIDO ATTWATERI) IN TEXAS

abstract: The Attwater's prairie chicken (APC; Tympanuchus cupido attwateri Bendire, 1894) has been a federally listed endangered species since 1967. Several captive propagation programs consisting of small populations are being used to keep this species from extinction. Fecal samples were collected from APCs in April 2007 and again in August 2008 from 2 separate captive propagation facilities in Texas after clinical signs of coccidiosis were observed. One Eimeria species was observed (Eimeria attwateri), which we describe as a putative new species. Sporulated oocysts are ellipsoidal, 30.0 × 18.4 (27.4–31.3 × 16.0–22.4) µm. Oocysts have a smooth wall 0.7 µm thick and lack both a micropyle and oocyst residuum, but 1 ellipsoidal polar granule is present, 2.3 × 1.9 (2.1–2.4 × 1.7–2.0) µm. Sporocysts have a nipple-like Stieda body with a rounded opposite end and are 14.0 × 7.1 (10.2–16.8 × 6.0–9.2) µm. The sporocysts contain a sporocyst residuum usually consisting of 2–4 dispersed globules, and each sporozoi...
Investigation of the role of the domain linkers in separate site catalysis by Clostridium symbiosum pyruvate phosphate dikinase.

Pyruvate phosphate dikinase (PPDK) catalyzes the reversible reaction: ATP + Pi + pyruvate T AMP + PPi + PEP using Mg 2+ and NH4 + ions as cofactors. The reaction takes place in three steps, each mediated by a carrier histidine residue located on the surface of the central domain of this three- domain enzyme: (1) E-His + ATP T E-His-PP‚AMP, (2) E-His-PP‚AMP + Pi T E-His-P + AMP + PPi, (3) E-His-P + pyruvate T E-His + PEP. The first two partial reactions are catalyzed at an active site located on the N-terminal domain, and the third partial reaction is catalyzed at an active site located on the C-terminal domain. For catalytic turnover, the central domain travels from one terminal domain to the other. The goal of this work is to determine whether the two connecting linkers direct the movement of the central domain between active sites during catalytic turnover. The X-ray crystal structure of the enzyme suggests interaction between the two linkers that may result in their coordinated movement. Mutations were made at the linkers for the purpose of disrupting the linker-linker interaction and, hence, synchronized linker movement. Five linker mutants were analyzed. Two of these contain 4-Ala insertions within the solvated region of the linker, and three have 3-residue deletions in this region. The efficiencies of the mutants for catalysis of the complete reaction as well as the E-His + ATP T E-His-PP‚AMP partial reaction at the N-terminal domain and the E-His + PEP T E-His-P + pyruvate reaction at the C-terminal domain were measured to assess linker function. Three linker mutants are highly active catalysts at both active sites, and the fourth is highly active at one site but not the other. These results are interpreted as evidence against coordinated linker movement, and suggest instead that the linkers move independently as the central domain travels between active sites. It is hypothesized that while the linkers play a passive role in central domain-terminal domain docking, their structural design minimizes the conformational space searched in the diffusion process.
ANAESTHESIA FOR PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Safe anaesthetic management techniques for patients with coronary artery disease have been devised. Thorough familiarity with the underlying pathophysiological principles, and the techniques for circulatory monitoring and anaesthetic management is required if optimal anaesthetic care is to be assured.
An Integrated Approach to Educating Professionals for Careers in Innovation

There is an increasing realization of the difficulties professionals in innovation-related jobs face in bridging the interface of technology and business. Further, the use of technology for busines...
Bit error rate performance of antenna diversity systems with channel correlation

Wireless communication channels such as mobile radio or indoor wireless channels suffer from a number of impairments including signal fading which causes severe performance degradation. The adverse effects of fading can be mitigated by employing space (spaced antennas) diversity techniques at the mobile and/or at the base station. This paper derives the bit-error-rate equations for BPSK using maximal-ratio-combining with correlated fading as an explicit function of the bit energy-to-noise density ratio, the signal envelope cross correlation coefficient, and the diversity order. The special case of dual diversity is studied in detail. In addition, results from the literature for predicting the signal cross-correlation between antennas can be used with the expressions derived to predict BER performance as a function of antenna separation.