cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potential advantage of constant pressure versus constant flow gradient chromatography for the analysis of small molecules.

A recent model designed to predict the variation of the flow rate with time in constant pressure (cP) gradient chromatography was validated from an experimental viewpoint for non-retained gradients (methanol–water), incompressible eluent (P < 250 bar), and in absence of pressure effects on the analyte retention pattern (small molecules). Experimental data confirmed that cP and constant flow (cF) gradients are strictly equivalent if the analysis time is kept constant. The same model was also used to predict the gradient kinetic performance of cP versus cF gradients when the constraint was the maximum inlet pressure at which the column and/or the HPLC system can safely be run. For linear volume gradients of methanol in water (5–95% in volume) and a maximum pressure of 250 bar, the same peak capacity as that in cF mode is predicted in cP mode. Also, a reduction of the analysis time by 17.3% was expected. These theoretical results were confirmed by separating a real mixture of about twenty small molecules on either one or two 4.6 mm × 150 mm columns packed with 3.5 μm Bridge Ethylene Hybrid (BEH) C18 particles and run at flow rates smaller than 0.8 mL/min and at a maximum inlet pressure of 250 bar. The experimental gain in analysis time was 17.6% (1 column) and 20.1% (2 columns in series) for a virtually insignificant loss of peak capacity (−4%).
The phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity in different types of tea

Summary Phenolics are suggested to be the major bioactive compounds responsible for the health benefits of tea. Seven types of tea were extracted using boiling water. The extraction kinetics was investigated. To more fully characterise the antioxidant profiles and possible associated health benefits of these tea types, the total water-soluble solid content, phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant and antiproliferative activities were quantified. Green tea leaves (GTL) were found to have the highest phenolic content (128.7 ± 1.7 mg g−1, P < 0.05), followed by teas of decaffeinated green tea bag (dGTB), green tea bag (GTB), black tea bag (BTB), decaffeinated BTB, black tea leaves and oolong tea leaves (OTL). Among the three leaf teas, GT displayed the greatest antioxidant activity (4850.2 ± 60.7 μmol g−1, P < 0.05), followed by black tea (BT) and oolong tea (OT). As for the four bag teas, decaffeinated GT possessed the strongest antioxidant activity (4431.1 ± 335.0 μmol g−1, P < 0.05), followed by GT, BT and decaffeinated BT. The results display that phenolic/flavonoid content well correlated with antioxidant activity. Proliferation of three human cancer cells was significantly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner after exposure to some tea extracts. This may influence consumers in selecting the type of tea and tea brewing times, exhibiting greater health benefits.
Maternal-fetal ABO/Rh antigenic relationships and human fetal development.

Abstract Six hundred ninety-nine primigravid mothers and their neonates were grouped into three distinct classes on the basis of maternal-fetal antigenic relationships for the ABO and Rh blood groups. Maternal-fetal units were classified as maternal dominant if the mother possessed more antigens than the neonate, equivalent if both possessed the same number of antigens, and fetal dominant if the neonate possessed more antigens than the mother. After confounding variables were controlled, a significant increase in adjusted mean birth weight was observed from maternal-fetal equivalence to fetal dominance and there was a significant increase in adjusted crown-heel length from maternal dominance to fetal dominance. No trends were observed for adjusted head circumference. However, when the sample was stratified on the basis of sex of the neonate, a highly significant increase in adjusted mean head circumference was observed for female infants from maternal dominance through fetal dominance. These observations suggest maternal-fetal ABO Rh relationships are associated with differential fetal growth trends.
Small Molecule Mediated Proliferation of Primary Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells form a monolayer adjacent to the retina and play a critical role in the visual light cycle. Degeneration of RPE cells results in retinal disorders such as age-related macular degeneration. Cell transplant strategies have potential therapeutic value for such disorders; however, risks associated with an inadequate supply of donor cells limit their therapeutic success. The identification of factors that proliferate RPE cells ex vivo could provide a renewable source of cells for transplantation. Here, we report that a small molecule (WS3) can reversibly proliferate primary RPE cells isolated from fetal and adult human donors. Following withdrawal of WS3, RPE cells differentiate into a functional monolayer, as exhibited by their expression of mature RPE genes and phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments. Furthermore, chemically expanded RPE cells preserve vision when transplanted into dystrophic Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats, a well-established model of retinal...
Towards the improvement of textual anatomy image classification using image local features

Image classification methods based on text utilize terms extracted from image annotations (image caption, image-related article, etc.) to achieve classification. For images involving different anatomical structures (chest, spine, etc.), however, the precision of pure textual classification often suffers from highly complex text contents (e.g. text terms extracted out of two MR abdomen images may be quite different from each other: terms from one image may concerns gastroenteritis while the other contains terms involving hysteromyoma). This paper tackles the anatomy image classification problem using a hybrid approach. First, a mutual information (MI) based filter is applied to select a set of terms with top MI scores for each anatomical class and help reduce the noise existing in the raw text. Second, local features extracted from the images are transformed as visual descriptors. Last, a hybrid scheme on the results from the textual and visual methods is applied to achieved further improvement of the classification results. Experiments show that this hybrid scheme improves the results over the sole textual or visual method on different anatomical class settings.
Nisoldipine inhibits adrenergic responses in the hindquarters vascular bed of the cat.

Abstract The effects of the calcium entry blocking agent nisoldipine on adrenergic vasoconstrictor responses were investigated in the hindquarters vascular bed of the cat under conditions of controlled blood flow. Nisoldipine dilated the hindquarters vascular bed and inhibited vasoconstrictor responses to Bay K 8644, a nifedipine analog which promotes calcium entry. During infusion of nisoldipine, vasoconstrictor responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation, norepinephrine, and tyramine were inhibited in a reversible manner. In addition to blocking responses to nerve-released and exogenous norepinephrine, the calcium entry antagonist decreased responses to methoxamine and BHT 933, α 1 - and α 2 -adrenoceptor agonists. Responses to methoxamine were reduced by prazosin, an α 1 -adrenoceptor antagonist, but not by yohimbine, an α 2 -adrenoceptor blocking agent, whereas responses to BHT 933 were decreased by yohimbine but not by prazosin. The results of these studies suggest that vasoconstrictor responses to neuronally released and exogenous norepinephrine, as well as to selective α 1 - and α 2 -adrenoceptor agonists, are dependent in part on an extracellular source of calcium in resistance vessels of the feline hindquarters vascular bed. The inhibitory effect of nisoldipine on vasoconstrictor responses to neuronally released norepinephrine may be important in the antihypertensive actions of calcium entry blocking agents.
Localization of 5-bromodeoxyuridine distribution in rat DNA as determined by single-strand specific nucleases.

Summary Secondary cultures of rat embryo cells were synchronized by a double thymidine block. Following release from synchrony, the first entire S phase (7.5 hrs) was pulsed with either 10 −7 M [ 3 H]thymidine (TdR) or 10 −7 M [ 3 H]5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) in order to determine the localization and distribution of the thymidine analog in DNA. The DNA was extracted, purified by hydroxyapatite column chromatography, and dialyzed against a sodium acetate buffer at pH 4.5. Each DNA sample was then reacted with the single-strand specific nuclease of Aspergillus oryzae (S1 nuclease) and assayed over hydroxy-apatite. Nearly 25% of the DNA was physically lost from all the samples following nuclease treatment. However, 21% of the [ 3 H]TdR moieties were digested, as compared to 62% of the [ 3 H]BrdU residues. Reaction of native DNA samples with the Neurospora crassa endonuclease at pH 8.0 resulted in little degradation. Dialysis of [ 3 H]guanosine-labeled rat embryo DNA against the acetate buffer alone caused a 24% level of depurination. These results suggest that mild depurination creates artifactual single-stranded regions in rat DNA which are apparently enriched in [ 3 H]BrdU as compared to [ 3 H]TdR.
DYNAMICAL EFFECT OF QUANTUM HAIR

We show that quantum hair can alter the relation between the temperature and the mass of a black hole. A ZN electric charge on a black hole generates an electric field that is non-perturbative in ħ. A ZN magnetic charge on a black hole can be described classically, and can support a stable remnant. For global quantum hair, in contrast to gauge hair, we find no dynamical effects.
Why There Can Be No Sustainable National Healthcare IT Program Without a Translational Health Information Science

Health information technology research has historically suffered from the persistence of paper-based systems as a barrier to research and refinement of information models. While the field of (non-medical) information science offers a potentially rich source of data, there exist relatively few theoretical links between medical and non-medical information models. This paper argues that the establishment of an integrated translational research pathway is not only useful, but is a critical and necessary step in the realization of a national health information infrastructure in the USA.
Propulsion and Automation Equipment for PATCO's Rapid Transit Cars

Increased performance, increased passenger comfort, and a high level of automated operation have been achieved in the new design equipment applied to the new PATCO cars. The SCM IV (static-cam-magnetic) control system combined with a higher capacity GE 1255 motor achieves high performance with smooth operation. The automatic train control (ATC) system has achieved safe and consistent train operation with a minimum number of trains.
Effects of ethanol concentration and stripping temperature on continuous fermentation rate.

The operation of a pilot plant consisting of a 14-l fermentor, 10-cm packed column and condenser for continuous fermentation and stripping of ethanol was stable for more than 100 days. The feed consisted of a non-sterile solution of 560 g/l glucose with 100 g/l corn steep water. Fouling of the packing in the column with attached growth of yeast cells was controlled by in situ washing at intervals of 3–6 days. A computer simulation of the pilot plant was developed and used to analyze the data. The productivity of the continuous fermentor varied from 14 g ethanol to 17 g ethanol l−1 h−1. The yield was equal to the maximum theoretically possible: 0.51 g ethanol/g glucose consumed. Results are fit to linear models for the effects of ethanol concentration on specific growth rate and cell yield, and for the effect of stripping temperature on specific growth rate.
Bad Seeds Sprout Perilous Dynamics: Stochastic Thermostat Induced Trajectory Synchronization in Biomolecules

Molecular dynamics simulations starting from different initial conditions are commonly used to mimic the behavior of an experimental ensemble. We show in this article that when a Langevin thermostat is used to maintain constant temperature during such simulations, extreme care must be taken when choosing the random number seeds to prevent statistical correlation among the MD trajectories. While recent studies have shown that stochastically thermostatted trajectories evolving within a single potential basin with identical random number seeds tend to synchronize, we show that there is a synchronization effect even for complex, biologically relevant systems. We demonstrate this effect in simulations of alanine trimer and pentamer and in a simulation of a temperature-jump experiment for peptide folding of a 14-residue peptide. Even in replica-exchange simulations, in which the trajectories are at different temperatures, we find partial synchronization occurring when the same random number seed is employed. We...
Supplemental enteral arginine is metabolized to ornithine in injured patients.

Background Arginine has been added to immune enhancing diets that may improve patient outcomes, but little is known about the metabolic fate of supplemental arginine. We hypothesize that supplemental enteral arginine in injured patients is metabolized to ornithine by increased activity of the enzyme arginase. Materials and methods Twenty-five adult patients with injury severity scores ≥20 received up to 14 days of enteral nutrition supplemented with arginine (30 g/day) or placebo in a prospective, randomized, blinded study. Plasma arginine, citrulline, and ornithine concentrations and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) arginase activity were measured at baseline and on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14. Clinical data collected included demographics, injury patterns, lengths of stay, and infectious complications. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and t test. Results PBMC arginase activity was elevated in all patients. In the supplemented group, plasma arginine concentrations increased at days 7, 10, and 14 when compared to baseline (P Conclusions Supplemental enteral arginine is absorbed in injured patients and increases arginine levels. Supplemental arginine appears to be metabolized to ornithine. Increased arginase enzyme activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells may be a contributor.
The Stochastic Dynamics of Filopodial Growth

A filopodium is a cytoplasmic projection, exquisitely built and regulated, which extends from the leading edge of the migrating cell, exploring the cell's neighborhood. Commonly, filopodia grow and retract after their initiation, exhibiting rich dynamical behaviors. We model the growth of a filopodium based on a stochastic description which incorporates mechanical, physical, and biochemical components. Our model provides a full stochastic treatment of the actin monomer diffusion and polymerization of each individual actin filament under stress of the fluctuating membrane. We investigated the length distribution of individual filaments in a growing filopodium and studied how it depends on various physical parameters. The distribution of filament lengths turned out to be narrow, which we explained by the negative feedback created by the membrane load and monomeric G-actin gradient. We also discovered that filopodial growth is strongly diminished upon increasing retrograde flow, suggesting that regulating the retrograde flow rate would be a highly efficient way to control filopodial extension dynamics. The filopodial length increases as the membrane fluctuations decrease, which we attributed to the unequal loading of the membrane force among individual filaments, which, in turn, results in larger average polymerization rates. We also observed significant diffusional noise of G-actin monomers, which leads to smaller G-actin flux along the filopodial tube compared with the prediction using the diffusion equation. Overall, partial cancellation of these two fluctuation effects allows a simple mean field model to rationalize most of our simulation results. However, fast fluctuations significantly renormalize the mean field model parameters. The biological significance of our filopodial model and avenues for future development are also discussed.
Numerical and Mesh Resolution Requirements for Accurate Sonic Boom Prediction

A careful study is conducted to assess the numerical mesh resolution requirements for the accurate computation of sonic boom ground signatures produced by complete aircraft configurations. The details of the ground signature can depend heavily on the accurate prediction of the pressure distribution in the near field of the aircraft. It is, therefore, important to accurately describe the geometric details of complete configurations (including the wing, fuselage, nacelles, diverters, etc.) and to precisely capture the propagation of shock and expansion waves at large distances from the aircraft. Unstructured, adaptive mesh technologies are ideally suited for this purpose as they use mesh points only in the appropriate locations within the flowfield. In this work, we consider a supersonic business jet configuration that was tested at the NASA Langley Research Center. Near-field data were measured at several locations underneath the flight track. The propagation of these near-field signatures from different altitudes can be shown to result in near N-wave ground booms. To examine the effect of both nacelles and empennage, results for three test cases are presented. These test cases represent the complete configuration, the configuration without the nacelles, and the configuration without the nacelles and empennage. Inviscid solution-adaptive unstructured meshes with up to 7.2 million nodes and 42.1 million tetrahedra are used to calculate the pressure distributions at several locations below each configuration where comparisons with experimental data are performed. All near-field pressure distributions are propagated to the ground (from an altitude of 50,000 ft) to predict the ground boom and the perceived noise level of the ground signature. Both the near-field overpressures and ground boom signatures are compared between experimental data and computational fluid dynamics simulation, and the results show good agreement in all cases. The minimum number of mesh nodes and elements and the levels of refinement needed for the accurate computations of near-field pressure distribution and ground boom signature are discussed for each of the three cases.
Use of images in instructional technology for children with attentional difficulties

Students with attentional problems have difficulty in learning mathematics due to their inability to maintain attention on task. The current study proposed that using images during mathematics instruction would provide stimulation for students with characteristics of an attentional problem (ADHD-I and ADHD-C) and thereby enhance their attention and/or time on task. 2nd to 4th grade elementary schools students with and without attentional difficulties participated in the study. The study assumed that those students who use a computer to learn geometry would perform better with: (1) a combination images with Low-level Visual Cues (Images-LVC) and images with Additional Visual Cues (Images-AVC) than no images and (2) Images-AVC than Images-LVC. Different conditions were compared against the control group with no images presented during the instruction.
A Within-trial Contrast Effect and its Implications for Several Social Psychological Phenomena.

Contrast refers to a comparison between two conditions of reward such that the relation between them is magnified (relative to an appropriate control condition). It is an effect that is opposite in direction from generalization (which is a form of averaging). Three kinds of contrast have received substantial empirical attention: Incentive contrast in which a sudden change in reward (either an increase or a decrease) results in an overreaction to the change, relative to a control condition; anticipatory contrast in which an anticipated improvement in reward results in less consumption of an initial reward; and differential or behavioral contrast in which a change in reward associated with one stimulus results in a change in behavior associated with a second stimulus in the opposite direction. Here I discuss a fourth kind of contrast that I call within-trial contrast. In this form of contrast a discriminative stimulus is preferred when it follows a less appetitive event (effort, delay, or the absence of reward). A model of this kind of contrast is proposed that is based on a presumed change in the hedonic state of the organism between the end of the less appetitive event and the reward (or stimulus signaling the reward). It is distinguished from an account based on the relative reduction in delay to reinforcement. Finally, I suggest that a general form of this within-trial contrast may help to explain various complex human social phenomena including cognitive dissonance, justification of effort, the effect of extrinsic rewards on behavior that is maintained by intrinsic rewards, and learned industriousness.
Science to Practice: Photoacoustic Imaging—Can It Let Us See Color and Function Deep Inside the Body?

The study by Erpelding et al illustrates the concepts of photoacoustic imaging and the possibilities for translation to clinical application by using a series of experiments in rats.
Why Strict Churches Are Strong

The strength of strict churches is neither a historical coicidence nor a statiscal artifact. Strictness makes organizations stronger an more attractive because it reduces free riding. It screens ou...
Interrelationship between periodontics and adult orthodontics

The purpose of this review article is to provide the dental practitioner with an understanding of the interrelationship between periodontics and orthodontics in adults. Specific areas reviewed are how periodontal tissue reacts to orthodontic forces, influence of tooth movement on the periodontium, effect of circumferential supracrestal fiberotomy in preventing orthodontic relapse, effect of orthodontic bands on the periodontium, specific microbiology associated with orthodontic bands, mucogingival considerations and time relationship between orthodontic and periodontal therapy. In addition, the relationship between orthodontics and implant restorations (e.g., using dental implants as orthodontic anchorage) will be discussed.
Smoke-free policies in U.S. prisons and jails: A review of the literature

Introduction Despite progress in limiting exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in the United States, little is known about the impact of smoke-free polices in prisons and jails. SHS exposure in this setting may be great, as smoking prevalence among inmates is more than three times higher than among non-incarcerated adults. To inform the implementation of smoke-free policies, this article reviews the literature on the extent, nature, and impact of smoke-free policies in U.S. prisons and jails. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, EconLit, and Social Services Abstracts databases. We examined studies published prior to January 2014 that described policies prohibiting smoking tobacco in adult U.S. correctional facilities. Results Twenty-seven studies met inclusion criteria. Smoke-free policies in prisons were rare in the 1980s but, by 2007, 87% prohibited smoking indoors. Policies reduced SHS exposure and a small body of evidence suggests they are associated with health benefits. We did not identify any studies documenting economic outcomes. Non-compliance with policies was documented in a small number of prisons and jails, with 20%-76% of inmates reporting smoking in violation of a policy. Despite barriers, policies were implemented successfully when access to contraband tobacco was limited and penalties were enforced. Conclusion Smoke-free policies have become increasingly common in prisons and jails, but evidence suggests they are not consistently implemented. Future studies should examine the health and economic outcomes of smoke-free policies in prisons and jails. By implementing smoke-free policies, prisons and jails have an opportunity to improve the health of staff and inmates.
Temporal Variations of Land Surface Microwave Emissivities over the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program Southern Great Plains Site

Land surface microwave emissivities are important geophysical parameters for atmospheric, hydrological, and biospheric studies. This study estimates land surface microwave emissivity using an atmospheric microwave radiative transfer model and a combination of the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) satellite observations and data from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program southern Great Plains (SGP) site during October of 1995. Emissivities are retrieved for both clear and cloudy conditions. Emissivity standard deviations of ;0.035 were found at the SGP site. Much of the variability is produced by a distinct diurnal cycle. The emissivity variability at each SSM/I overpass time (0630, 1100, 1730, and 1000 local time) is about half that for all four times combined. Early morning emissivities are ;0.06 less than those at other times, and the polarization differences at the four times are similar. This behavior is likely the result of dew and surface rewetting effects. Ground observations of dewpoint and temperature difference between air and skin support this theory. The surface emissivities have a significant negative correlation with soil moisture, which can explain about 60%‐ 80% of the emissivity variance when pentad running means are used. Strong correlations among all seven SSM/I channels indicate that the emissivities need to be determined directly for only two or three channels.
High-Speed Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Pilocarpine in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

A specific method for the direct determination of pilocarpine in aqueous pharmaceuticals in the presence of decomposition products, methylcellulose, and other ingredients usually present in pharmaceuticals is described. The method involves separation by high-speed liquid chromatography using, in series, octadecylsilane bonded to silica and cyanopropylsilane bonded to silica columns and a tetrahydrofuran-pH 9.2 borate buffer (3:7) eluant. Quantitation is achieved by monitoring the absorbance of the effluent at 254 nm and using a pyridine internal standard and a calibration curve prepared from known concentrations of pilocarpine nitrate. The reproducibility of the retention time and peak area was better than 2.0%.
Synthesis of Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Orphan Nuclear Receptor Steroidogenic Factor-1 (NR5A1) Based on Isoquinolinone Scaffolds

Abstract Three synthetic routes were developed for structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies of HTS-derived isoquinolinone inhibitor probes for the orphan nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor-1 (NR5A1). Among the new analogs reported herein, 31 and 32 have improved potency, lower cellular toxicity, and improved selectivity compared to the initial HTS-derived leads 1 and 2.
A Pilot Study of the Management of Uncomplicated Candidemia with a Standardized Protocol of Amphotericin B

We evaluated an amphotericin treatment strategy on the basis of duration of candidemia and clinical findings. Patients without neutropenia who had uncomplicated candidemia received 200 mg of amphotericin B over 5-7 days if they had had 1 day of positive cultures (PC group). The clinical cure rate was 93% (95% confidence interval [CI], 77%-99%; n=29 episodes) in the SC group, with no relapses (median follow-up, 272 days). The clinical cure rate was 83% (95% CI, 64%-94%; n=29 episodes) in the PC group, with 1 relapse (4.2%). The results of this pilot study suggest that patients with candidemia may be stratified into risk groups on the basis of the duration of positive blood cultures and other clinical findings. Decisions about the duration of therapy can be made 4-7 days after initiation of treatment. Carefully selected patients with transient uncomplicated candidemia may be safely treated with a short course of amphotericin B. Further prospective validation of this concept should be undertaken particularly to evaluate the impact on low-frequency late complications (e.g., endophthalmitis).
Familial hypophosphatemia: report of two cases.

Two cases of hypophosphatemic vitamin D refractory rickets occurring in Negro children are reported. They presented with vitamin D refractory rickets, had hypophosphatemia, exhibited a familial pattern of inheritance, and responded to large doses of vitamin D. As in most reported cases, the male was more seriously affected. He had a greater degree of rachitic changes and deformities, a lower serum phosphate level, and needed larger doses of vitamin D to show a favorable response. A review of the genetic studies done in this entity revealed the majority to be of sex-linked dominance with complete penetrance for hypophosphatemia, but other modes of inheritance have occurred. The genetic study in this pedigree demonstrated normal serum phosphates in the parents; an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance was suggested and offered as an explanation of the rarity of hypophosphatemic vitamin D rickets in the Negro race.
Treatment Response Assessment for Bladder Cancer on CT Based on Computerized Volume Analysis, World Health Organization Criteria, and RECIST.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of our autoinitialized cascaded level set 3D segmentation system as compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) for estimation of treatment response of bladder cancer in CT urography. MATERIALS AND METHODS. CT urograms before and after neoadjuvant chemo-therapy treatment were collected from 18 patients with muscle-invasive localized or locally advanced bladder cancers. The disease stage as determined on pathologic samples at cystectomy after chemotherapy was considered as reference standard of treatment response. Two radiologists measured the longest diameter and its perpendicular on the pre- and posttreatment scans. Full 3D contours for all tumors were manually outlined by one radiologist. The autoinitialized cascaded level set method was used to automatically extract 3D tumor boundary. The prediction accuracy of pT0 disease (complete response) at cystectomy was e...
Site-Directed Dichroism As a Method for Obtaining Rotational and Orientational Constraints for Oriented Polymers

We present the theory of site-directed dichroism and its application to the determination of rotational and orientational constraints for oriented polypeptides such as transmembrane helices. Infrared spectroscopy dichroism measurements of single amide I vibrational modes corresponding to 13 C-labeled sites within the polypeptide contain information about the helix tilt and rotation angles. This information is readily extracted by analysis of the dichroism of a set of sites along the peptide sequence. Data for just two consecutive sites in the dimeric transmembrane domain of glycophorin A yield the tilt of the helix axis with respect the membrane normal and the rotation of the helix about its axis. By using dichroism data from three consecutive sites, the helix orientation parameters and the orientation of the amide I transition dipole moment, R, can be obtained; the parameters are in close agreement with the solution NMR structure of the glycophorin A peptide dimer and literature values for R. The approach provides orientational information about selectively labeled peptides even under conditions of modest fractional sample order.
Laminitis in horses: through the lens of systems theory.

Abstract Systems theory is a way of describing complex and dynamic relationships. We applied systems theory to the structure and function of the equine foot in an effort to better understand laminitis and, in so doing, reconcile the various theories of its etiopathogenesis and find more universally effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. The foot is described as an open system, and its inherent vulnerabilities are explored. Cascade failure is discussed as a potentially unifying theory of laminitis. The fundamental failure in laminitis is failure of the lamellar dermal−epidermal bond, but that endpoint can be reached via vascular, enzymatic, inflammatory, or mechanical mechanisms, or any combination thereof. Inflammation is discussed as a common denominator, making anti-inflammatory therapy of greater importance than just pain management. Multimodal anti-inflammatory therapy is discussed, including selective COX-2 inhibitors, heparin, nutraceuticals, and inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Multimodal analgesic therapy also is important and may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opiates, epidural analgesics, physical therapy, relief of weight bearing, diligent nursing care, deep digital flexor tenotomy, and case-appropriate trimming and shoeing. Preventing laminitis still comes down to risk management: knowing the risk factors applicable to an individual horse and adjusting the management accordingly. Examples include weight management and control of carbohydrate intake in overweight horses and ponies, the use of pergolide in patients with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), and distal limb cryotherapy in high-risk patients. It is anticipated that application of molecular biologic techniques will further advance treatment and prevention of laminitis.
Modulation of calcium phosphate formation by phosphatidate-containing anionic liposomes

Liposomes prepared from 7∶2∶1 molar mixtures of phosphatidylcholine, dicetyl phosphate, and cholesterol to which 1–20 mole % dioleoylphosphatidic acid (DOPA) was added were used to examine the effect of membrane-bound monoester phosphatidate phosphate anions on calcium phosphate formation in aqueous solutions at 22°C, pH 7.4, and 240 mOsm. Results showed that up to 20 mole % DOPA in the liposomal envelope did not initiate mineralization in solutions made meta-stable with 2.25 mM CaCl2 and 1.50 mM KH2PO4. Results also revealed that precipitation induced in metastable solutions by the seeding action of intraliposomally formed mineral was measurably reduced with as little as 1 mole % DOPA and completely suppressed with 5 mole % DOPA. In contrast, 10 mole % concentrations of diester phosphate lipids either had no effect on extraliposomal precipitation (e.g., phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol) or, as reported previously for phosphatidylserine, only partially reduced the amount of precipitate formed. Transmission electron microscopical analysis suggests that DOPA-containing lipid bilayers adhering to the seed crystals inhibited extraliposomal mineralization by encapsulating the crystals within the liposomes and/or by blocking potential growth sites on the crystal faces. The polar head group of DOPA, being more negatively charged and sterically less encumbered than diester phosphate ligands, most probably was responsible for this adherence of the lipid bilayers to the crystal surfaces.
Children’s Perceptions of Their Play: Scale Development and Validation

A wealth of research has been conducted on children’s play, yet the vast majority has relied on others’ accounts to define, describe, and characterize their play. This study presents a successful effort to generate a scale to measure third through fifth grade children’s perceptions of their play. Items were generated from children’s unrestricted accounts of how they viewed their play, and the reliability (internal consistency, stability), content, and construct (convergent and discriminant) validity of the Children’s Perceptions of Their Play (CPTP) scale were all high. Across two independent samples, children defined their play in terms of six factors: opportunities to choose what to do and with whom (Child’s Choice), play interactions with friends (Social Play), structured recreation activities in which they chose to participate (Planned Activities), their involvement and absorption in play (Engagement), how physically active they are (Active Play), and freedom from school obligations when they were able to play as they desired (Free Time). No differences between boys and girls, the three grade levels, or children attending public versus private school were found.
Effects of Carbon Dioxide Enrichment on Leaf Chemistry and Reproduction by Twospotted Spider Mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) on White Clover

Plant growth and yield responses to carbon dioxide (CO2) enrichment are well es- tablished. Much less is known of the response of arthropod pests to CO2 enrichment. Reproductive response of twospotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch) on white clover (Trifolium repens L.) to a range of CO2 concentrations was measured. The CO2 treatments were applied for 24 h d 1 at395, 484, 570, 657, and 748 LL 1 on the 14 d before and 26 Ð27 d after infestation with mites. Eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adult mites were removed from leaves and counted 27Ð29 d after infestation. Leaf area and weight were measured, and leaves were analyzed to measure structural and nonstructural carbohydrates, N, amino acids and digestibility. Carbon dioxide enrichment caused linear increases in plant growth and foliar nonstructural carbohydrates, but caused linear decreases in foliar N. Carbon dioxide enrichment signiÞcantly increased the rate of mite reproduction on both clover clones. Correlations between mite population increase were signiÞcantly positive for foliar nonstructural carbohydrates and signiÞcantly negative for foliar N. Concentrations of ambient CO2 expected in the 21st century may increase the risk of mite population damage on some plant species.
Concierge Club: Series a Round

Concierge Club is an early-stage company looking to raise $6 million of additional funding in a Series A financing in December 1999. Mary Naylor, the founder and CEO of Concierge Club, is a dynamic and energetic leader who has previously received backing from a Washington, D.C.-- based angel investor group. She established her business in 1987 as an on-site "brick and mortar" concierge service providing concierge services to commercial office buildings, residential buildings, and corporate headquarters. With the subsequent growth in on-line technology, Naylor is seeking funding in 1999 to become the "first nationwide concierge service to offer full Internet capabilities to companies seeking to offer these services as a customer or employee benefit." The case includes materials from Concierge Club's business plan and pitch to investors, which allows students to assess the reasonableness for her forecasts, the level of competition, the adequacy of the $6 million in funding, and the value of the company. A key issue is whether the company can perform on the national level with a service based on exceptional local knowledge and assistance. The case is designed as a negotiation exercise in which teams of students are assigned to play the role of investor and entrepreneur (Naylor).
Concurrency attacks

Just as errors in sequential programs can lead to security exploits, errors in concurrent programs can lead to concurrency attacks. Questions such as whether these attacks are feasible and what characteristics they have remain largely unknown. In this paper, we present a preliminary study of concurrency attacks and the security implications of real world concurrency errors. Our study yields several interesting findings. For instance, we observe that the exploitability of a concurrency error depends on the duration of the timing window within which the error may occur. We further observe that attackers can increase this window through carefully crafted inputs. We also find that four out of five commonly used sequential defenses become unsafe when applied to concurrent programs. Based on our findings, we propose new defense directions and fixes to existing defenses.
UQTk version 2.0 user manual

The UQ Toolkit (UQTk) is a collection of libraries and tools for the quanti cation of uncer- tainty in numerical model predictions. Version 2.0 o ers intrusive and non-intrusive methods for propagating input uncertainties through computational models, tools for sensitivity anal- ysis, methods for sparse surrogate construction, and Bayesian inference tools for inferring parameters from experimental data. This manual discusses the download and installation process for UQTk, provides pointers to the UQ methods used in the toolkit, and describes some of the examples provided with the toolkit.
Evaluation of the Scored Questionnaire to Identify Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease in a Community-based Screening Program in Rural North Carolina.

Background: Just over 10 percent of US adults over twenty years of age have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Early detection is essential to delay or halt CKD’s progression, but screening and early detection of CKD in high risk populations is inconsistent, especially in rural and underserved communities. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Screening for Occult Renal Disease questionnaire as a simple, self-report tool to identify individuals with increased likelihood of prevalent CKD in a rural North Carolina setting. Methods: Over an eight month period, in the context of the Kidney Education Outreach Program (KEOP), sixteen CKD screenings were conducted in two underserved, rural NC communities. For this study, the SCORED questionnaire was administered prior to the execution of the regular KEOP screening protocol. Results: For 172 participants for whom both blood and urine specimens were collected, there were fifteen (8.7%) who demonstrated less than normal kidney function. The SCORED sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 42%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 14% and the negative predictive value was 100%. The positive likelihood ratio for low eGFR was 1.7 and conversely, the negative likelihood ratio for low eGFR was zero. Conclusion: In this study, the SCORED performed comparably to previous settings in established datasets and cohort studies, with high sensitivity and negative predictive values that allow for ruling out the presence of disease. SCORED appears to provides a practical alternative to the administration of regular CKD screening protocols that can be difficult to organize and administer in rural settings. The need for further evaluation of SCORED in underserved, high-risk communities is recommended.
Epidemiology of mumps outbreaks in Beibei district, 2005-2012

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of the outbreaks of mumps in Beibei district of Chongqing from 2005 to 2012. Method Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted on the outbreaks data of mumps collected from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. Results A total of 27 outbreaks and 1 388 cases of mumps were reported accumulatively in Beibei district during 2005-2012,with the annual average incidence of 80.51 / 105.The incidence peak of outbreaks were May and December,and the average time of duration of the outbreaks was(70.5±25.8)days. All outbreaks incidents were occurred in schools, and up to 74.71% of the cases occurred in children aged 7-12 years old.The attack rate in the students of the primary school with 5.52% was higher than the rate of the middle school,and which in autumn spring semester with 5.33% was higher than that in autumn semester. Conclusions The incidence of mumps in Beibei district was high,and outbreaks happened very often.It is necessary to improve the mumps vaccination rate for the children to reduce the outbreaks in school.
Identification of Treatment Targets in a Genetic Mouse Model of Voluntary Methamphetamine Drinking

Methamphetamine has powerful stimulant and euphoric effects that are experienced as rewarding and encourage use. Methamphetamine addiction is associated with debilitating illnesses, destroyed relationships, child neglect, violence, and crime; but after many years of research, broadly effective medications have not been identified. Individual differences that may impact not only risk for developing a methamphetamine use disorder but also affect treatment response have not been fully considered. Human studies have identified candidate genes that may be relevant, but lack of control over drug history, the common use or coabuse of multiple addictive drugs, and restrictions on the types of data that can be collected in humans are barriers to progress. To overcome some of these issues, a genetic animal model comprised of lines of mice selectively bred for high and low voluntary methamphetamine intake was developed to identify risk and protective alleles for methamphetamine consumption, and identify therapeutic targets. The mu opioid receptor gene was supported as a target for genes within a top-ranked transcription factor network associated with level of methamphetamine intake. In addition, mice that consume high levels of methamphetamine were found to possess a nonfunctional form of the trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1). The Taar1 gene is within a mouse chromosome 10 quantitative trait locus for methamphetamine consumption, and TAAR1 function determines sensitivity to aversive effects of methamphetamine that may curb intake. The genes, gene interaction partners, and protein products identified in this genetic mouse model represent treatment target candidates for methamphetamine addiction.
Aluminum exposure through parenteral nutrition formulations: mathematical versus clinical relevance.

Aluminum exposure from parenteral nutrition (PN) formulations was first associated with osteomalacia some 25 years ago.[1,][1][2][2] Aluminum contamination in these formulations impaired normal osteoblast proliferation and calcium uptake by bone, thereby contributing to adynamic bone disease.
Aggressiveness Niche: Can It Be the Foster Ground for Cancer Metastasis Precursors?

The relationship between tumor initiation and tumor progression can follow a linear projection in which all tumor cells are equally endowed with the ability to progress into metastasis. Alternatively, not all tumor cells are equal genetically and/or epigenetically, and only few cells are induced to become metastatic tumor cells. The location of these cells within the tumor can also impact the fate of these cells. The most inner core of a tumor where an elevated pressure of adverse conditions forms, such as necrosis-induced inflammation and hypoxia-induced immunosuppressive environment, seems to be the most fertile ground to generate such tumor cells with metastatic potential. Here we will call this necrotic/hypoxic core the “aggressiveness niche” and will present data to support its involvement in generating these metastatic precursors. Within this niche, interaction of hypoxia-surviving cells with the inflammatory microenvironment influenced by newly recruited mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and other types of cells and the establishment of bidirectional interactions between them elevate the aggressiveness of these tumor cells. Additionally, immune evasion properties induced in these cells most likely contribute in the formation and maintenance of such aggressiveness niche.