cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Methylation of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Mexican Americans Highlights Genes Involved in Synaptic Transport, Alzheimer’s Disease-Precursor Phenotypes, and Metabolic Morbidities

The Mexican American population is among the fastest growing aging population and has a younger onset of cognitive decline. This group is also heavily burdened with metabolic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, limited research has been conducted in this group. Understanding methylation alterations, which are influenced by both genetic and lifestyle factors, is key to identifying and addressing the root cause for mild cognitive impairment, a clinical precursor for dementia. We conducted an epigenome-wide association study on a community-based Mexican American population using the Illumina EPIC array. Following rigorous quality control measures, we identified 10 CpG sites to be differentially methylated between normal controls and individuals with mild cognitive impairment annotated to PKIB, KLHL29, SEPT9, OR2C3, CPLX3, BCL2L2-PABPN1, and CCNY. We found four regions to be differentially methylated in TMEM232, SLC17A8, ALOX12, and SEPT8. Functional gene-set analysis identified four gene-sets, RIN3, SPEG, CTSG, and UBE2L3, as significant. The gene ontology and pathway analyses point to neuronal cell death, metabolic dysfunction, and inflammatory processes. We found 1,450 processes to be enriched using empirical Bayes gene-set enrichment. In conclusion, the functional overlap of differentially methylated genes associated with cognitive impairment in Mexican Americans implies cross-talk between metabolically-instigated systemic inflammation and disruption of synaptic vesicular transport.
Identification of quantitative trait loci for stem-end chip defect and potato chip color traits in a 'Lenape'-derived full-sib population.

Chipping potatoes are bred for their ability to produce light-colored, defect-free chips. Chips with stem-end chip defect (SECD) have dark blemishes and are undesirable to consumers and chip processors. The heritability of SECD is not known and genetic loci linked to defect formation have not been identified. Chip processing varieties ‘Wauseon’ and ‘Lenape’ were crossed and tubers from parents and 191 progeny were evaluated over four years for chip color descriptors L*, a*, and b* and SECD score in January, March, and May. Broad sense heritability for SECD was 0.64 or greater at each sampling time. Genotype data were used to construct a 1282 cM linkage map. Nine quantitative trait loci (QTL) for SECD were detected, and seven overlapped QTL for chip color traits. The QTL identified are starting points for developing molecular markers that are used to select genotypes that produce light-colored chips and have resistance to SECD formation.
Planar GHz Ultrasonic Lens for Fourier Ultrasonics

This paper presents GHz ultrasonic wave propagation through materials with embedded microfabricated planar lenses. The combination of lens, incoming images and output images at the output plane is important to compute Fourier Transforms using the wave propagation properties of ultrasonic waves [1]. Two Fresnel zone plate lenses are investigated, one made of thin multiple height steps, and another consisting of spatially varying densities of pillars made of different materials. The design space of lenses as a function of lens size, focal length, and transmittance is calculated. The simulation code is used to verify the effectiveness of lens design to obtain Fourier transforms and investigate the potential of electronically controlling the phase of pixel designs.
ALI's Restatement of the Law of Consumer Contracts: Perpetuating a Legal Fiction?

The American Law Institute’s proposed Restatement of the Law of Consumer Contracts has undergone a lengthy process of drafts and discussions, but the road to completion has been rocky. Indeed, only one of nine proposed sections have thus far been adopted by the ALI membership, despite years of work on the project. Much of the criticism centered on the proposal’s definition of consumer assent to (or adoption of) standard contract terms, which as currently drafted states that consumers are bound by contract terms of which they have had notice and an opportunity to review, and have manifested assent in some reasonable form. This principle would apply regardless of the fact that almost no consumers read or understand standard contract terms beyond the core terms of the transaction, especially when the terms are part of online commerce. This model perpetuates a “legal fiction” that would allow judges to assume assent even though such assent is neither informed nor meaningful. The Reporters proffer the defenses of unconscionability and deception to protect consumers from business overreach, but this approach puts an undue burden on consumers who put their faith in the law to protect them from unfair or deceptive contract clauses. At this point, the ALI should either terminate the project, reframe the project to something other than a restatement, or make some major amendments to the section on adoptions of standard terms, as suggested in this article.
Acoustic emissions in vertebral cortical shell failure.

Abstract Understanding the initiation of bony failure is critical in assessing the progression of bone fracture and in developing injury criteria. Detection of acoustic emissions in bone can be used to identify fractures more sensitively and at an earlier inception time compared to traditional methods. However, high rate loading conditions, complex specimen-device interaction or geometry may cause other acoustic signals. Therefore, characterization of the isolated local acoustic emission response from cortical bone fracture is essential to distinguish its characteristics from other potential acoustic sources. This work develops a technique to use acoustic emission signals to determine when cortical bone failure occurs by characterization using both a Welch power spectral density estimate and a continuous wavelet transform. Isolated cortical shell specimens from thoracic vertebral bodies with attached acoustic sensors were subjected to quasistatic loading until failure. The resulting acoustic emissions had a wideband frequency response with peaks from 20 to 900 kHz, with the spectral peaks clustered in three bands of frequencies (166 ± 52.6 kHz, 379 ± 37.2 kHz, and 668 ± 63.4 kHz). Using these frequency bands, acoustic emissions can be used as a monitoring tool in biomechanical spine testing, distinguishing bone failure from structural response. This work presents a necessary set of techniques for effectively utilizing acoustic emissions to determine the onset of cortical bone fracture in biological material testing. Acoustic signatures can be developed for other cortical bone regions of interest using the presented methods.
Biotin Supplementation Creates the Misleading Diagnosis of Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency

Introduction: Biotin (vitamin B7) is a water-soluble vitamin and an essential cofactor for the metabolism of fatty acids, glucose, and amino acids. Cases of biotin interference with laboratory testing have been described, most of which involve interference with thyroid function tests. Interference with gonadal steroids, adrenal, and pituitary hormones are rare. We report a case of T3 thyrotoxicosis in which biotin supplementation created the appearance of secondary adrenal insufficiency (AI). Case: A 66-year-old woman was referred for the evaluation of low TSH. She had chronic fatigue, low libido, and dizziness on standing. Vitals were stable with BP 135/64 mmHg and BMI 23.5. No evidence of mucosal or cutaneous hyperpigmentation. Laboratory evaluation revealed low ACTH <5 (7.2–63.3 pg/mL), low morning cortisol 3.8 and high DHEA-S 174 (13–130 ug/dL). TSH was low at 0.32 (0.32–5.60 uIU/mL) with normal prolactin and appropriately elevated FSH and LH. The labs raised concern for secondary AI. Cosyntropin stimulation test (CST) was done with a peak cortisol of 17.4 ug/dL. In the setting of suppressed ACTH and failed CST, she was started on Hydrocortisone therapy. Subsequently, CT of abdomen was obtained due to high DHEA-S which showed normal appearance of both adrenals. Pituitary MRI was normal. A detailed review of the medication list revealed that the patient was taking a Biotin containing multivitamin. Repeat labs 1 week after stopping biotin showed normalization of ACTH 13.8 (7.2–63.3). Repeat CST showed a peak cortisol response of 24 ug/dL. Hydrocortisone was discontinued and the patient remained stable on subsequent follow-ups, without the need for further glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Thyroid lab abnormalities persisted after biotin cessation which led to the diagnosis of T3 thyrotoxicosis, the treatment of which caused resolution of the patient’s symptoms. Discussion: The recommended daily intake of biotin for adults is 30 µg/d. Many over-the-counter products, specifically those marketed for hair, skin, and nail growth, contain biotin 100-fold higher than the recommended intake. Biotin interference with competitive immunoassays can cause falsely elevated hormone levels, whereas biotin interference with immunometric “sandwich” assays falsely lowers hormone levels. In our case, low ACTH was clinically misleading, prompting numerous unnecessary radiographic and laboratory testing and treatment with hydrocortisone. The US Food and Drug Administration issued a safety communication regarding biotin interference with laboratory tests. Education and communication between laboratorians, providers, and patients play an important role in investigating potential lab interference and the need for alternative lab assays for an accurate diagnosis. Patients should be asked to stop taking biotin supplements for at least 48 hours prior to specimen collection if possible.
Gastric Cancer Epidemiology

In the United States, the incidence of gastric cancer has decreased over the past five decades. However, despite overall decreasing trends in incidence rates of gastric cancer, rates of noncardia gastric cancer among adults aged less than 50 years in the United States are increasing, and most cases of gastric cancer still present with advanced disease and poor resultant survival. Epidemiologic studies have identified the main risk factors for gastric cancer, including increasing age, male sex, non-White race, Helicobacter pylori infection, and smoking. This article summarizes the current epidemiologic evidence with implications for primary and secondary prevention of gastric cancer.
THE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR AN UNATTENDED ENGINE ROOM STEAM PROPULSION PLANT

This paper is a summary of a report prepared by the Office of Ship Construction to provide a base reference document from which a detailed design for an automated steam propulsion plant will be developed for unattended engine room operation. As the design details are developed, it may be anticipated that some of the concepts and preliminary design requirements discussed herein may be modified and/or changed to reflect these developments. It should also be noted that the concepts and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Maritime Administration.
Composite Feedback Control of Nonlinear Singularly Perturbed Systems

This note summarizes the concept and properties of the two-time-scale composite control recently developed in a series of papers by the same authors.
Characterization of Molybdena Catalysts

Publisher Summary The term molybdena is used in this chapter to denote a composite catalyst consisting of molybdenum oxide supported on an activated support, commonly alumina. Early it was found that certain transition metals, notably cobalt and nickel, promote the molybdena catalyst for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) reactions. The chapter discusses the various characterization techniques, which have been applied to this catalyst system. The chapter aims to relate what each technique reveals about the nature of the catalyst, and to present an overall picture of the state of the catalyst as it now appears. The chapter mentions some selective catalyst activity tests that were designed to give some fundamental insights into the catalyst state or active sites present. The chapter provides a comparison of their properties to the catalyst systems to assess to what degree they may be present in the catalyst.
An Analysis of Forest Fire History on the Little Firehole River Watershed, Yellowstone National Park

Fire is now recognized as a major process in Rocky Mountain coniferous forests, with many ecosystem patterns and processes being affected as much by fire as by climate and soil. For this reason there is a move toward reinstating fire as a natural process within our National Parks and Wilderness Areas, a move which is proceeding cautiously, however, because there is still much that we do not know about fire's natural role in ecosystems. In Yellowstone National Park, where a fire management plan is now in effect, an important question is: What is the natural frequency and size of wildfires in different Park ecosystems? An understanding of natural fire frequency and size is important not only in formulating and evaluating fire management plans, but also in evaluating long-term effects of fire on wildlife habitat, productivity, nutrient cycling, and other ecosystem processes.
Effects of liquid versus solid diet on colonic transit in humans. Evaluation by standard colonic transit scintigraphy.

Abstract The effects of liquid versus solid diet on human colonic transit were investigated, and transit following cecal instillation of tracer was compared with transit following instillation in the proximal jejunum. In a randomized cross-over, single-blind fashion, 6 normal volunteers ingesting either normal solid foods or a liquid diet were studied using colonic transit scintigraphy. 111 In-DTPA was instilled either into the cecum via a long intestinal tube or into the proximal jejunum via a feeding tube. Compared with the liquid diet, the solid diet slowed transit in the cecum and ascending colon (p 111 In-DTPA was instilled into the proximal jejunum or into the cecum. Transit from the terminal ileum to the cecum was assessed in an additional 5 volunteers following jejunal instillation of 99m Tc-DTPA. Cecal filling was rapid (T12 = 0.49 h) and complete in all subjects before the onset of cecal emptying. These results suggest that colonic transit is slower on a solid than a liquid diet and that jejunal instillation of radiopharmaceuticals should be suitable for colonic transit studies in most subjects.
Injuries resulting when small children fall out of bed

Children frequently fall out of bed but seldom incur serious injury. When such a fall raises parental concern, the pediatrician is consulted; even in this group, the child is rarely found to have a severe injury. There is a clinical impression that skull radiographs, when taken in these situations, are of extremely low yield and are not necessary as a routine. Occasionally a child who is reported to have fallen out of bed presents with a skull fracture, cerebral edema, retinal hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, and/or epidural hemorrhage. These severe injuries are discrepant with the history; it is often this discrepancy
Lens-specific expression of PDGF-A in transgenic mice results in retinal astrocytic hamartomas.

PURPOSE To investigate the possibility that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) might regulate aspects of mouse retinal development in vivo. METHODS In situ hybridization was used to study the expression patterns of PDGF-A and PDGF-B and their receptors during normal mouse eye development. Transgenic mice that express human PDGF-A in the lens under the control of alpha A-crystallin promoter were generated by pronuclear microinjection. The effects of PDGF overexpression on eye development were analyzed by ocular histology, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridizations. RESULTS The PDGF genes are expressed by cells in close contact with retinal astrocytes. The PDGF-A messenger RNA is upregulated in the retinal ganglion neurons after birth, and PDGF-B is expressed by the blood vessel cells in the hyaloid vasculature. The authors found that lens-specific expression of PDGF-A in the eye can induce hyperplasia of retinal astrocytes, which express PDGF-alpha receptor (PDGF-alpha R) during development. The retinal alterations in the PDGF-A transgenic mice closely resemble the retinal astrocytic hamartomas found in human tuberous sclerosis (TSC) disease. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that proliferation of retinal astrocytes is regulated by PDGF during normal eye development. The authors speculate that proliferation of retinal astrocytes is mediated through a PDGF signaling pathway, which may involve the TSC gene product.
Lhcb Transcription Is Coordinated with Cell Size and Chlorophyll Accumulation (Studies on Fluorescence-Activated, Cell-Sorter-Purified Single Cells from Wild-Type and immutans Arabidopsis thaliana)

To study the mechanisms that integrate pigment and chlorophyll a/b-binding apoprotein biosynthesis during light-harvesting complex II assembly, we have examined [beta]-glucuronidase (GUS) enzyme activities, chlorophyll contents, and cell sizes in fluorescence-activated, cell-sorting-separated single cells from transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type and immutans variegation mutant plants that express an Lhcb (photosystem II chlorophyll a/b-binding polypeptide gene)/GUS promoter fusion. We found that GUS activities are positively correlated with chlorophyll content and cell size in green cells from the control and immutans plants, indicating that Lhcb gene transcription is coordinated with cell size in this species. Compared with the control plants, however, chlorophyll production is enhanced in the green cells of immutans; this may represent part of a strategy to maximize photosynthesis in the green sectors to compensate for a lack of photosynthesis in the white sectors of the mutant. Lhcb transcription is significantly higher in pure-white cells of the transgenic immutans plants than in pure-white cells from norflurazon-treated, photooxidized A. thaliana leaves. This suggests that immutans partially uncouples Lhcb transcription from its normal dependence on chlorophyll accumulation and chloroplast development. We conclude that immutans may play a role in regulating Lhcb transcription, and may be a key component in the signal transduction pathways that control chloroplast biogenesis.
The Bastille day Shocks and Merged Interaction Region

Near 1 AU the solar wind structure associated with the solar flare of 14 July 2000 (Bastille Day) consisted of a large high-speed stream of 15 July and five nearby small streams during a 10-day period. At the leading edge of the large high-speed stream, in less than 6 hours, the flow speed increased from 600 km s−1 to 1100 km s−1, the magnetic field intensity increased from 10 nT to 60 nT, and an interaction region was identified. The interaction region was bounded between the pair of a forward shock F and a reverse shock R. Additional forward shocks were also identified at the leading edge of each of the five smaller streams. This paper presents a magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulation using ACE plasma and magnetic field data near 1 AU as input to study the radial evolution of the Bastille Day solar wind event. The two shocks, F and R, propagated in opposite directions away from each other in the solar wind frame and interacted with neighboring shocks and streams; the spatial and temporal extent of the interaction region continued to increase with the heliocentric distance. The solar wind was restructured from a series of streams at 1 AU to a huge merged interaction region (MIR) extending over a period of 12 days at 5.5 AU. Throughout the interior of the MIR bounded by the shock pair F and R the magnetic field intensity was a few times stronger than that outside the MIR. The simulation shows how merging of shocks, collision of shocks, and formation of new shocks contributed to the evolution process.
Seeing Galaxies through Thick and Thin. III. Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of the Dust in Backlit Spiral Galaxies

We present analysis of Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 imaging of two spiral galaxies partially backlit by elliptical or S0 systems in the pairs AM 1316-241 and AM 0500-620, as well as the (probably spiral) foreground system in NGC 1275. Images in B and I are used to determine the reddening curve of dust in these systems. The foreground spiral component of AM 1316-241 shows dust strongly concentrated in discrete arms, with a reddening law very close to the Milky Way mean [R = AV/E(B-V) = 3.4 ± 0.2]. The dust distribution is scale-free between about 100 pc and the arm dimension, about 8 kpc. The foreground spiral in AM 0500-620 shows dust concentrated in arms and interarm spurs, with measurable interarm extinction as well. In this case, although the dust properties are less well-determined than in AM 1316-241, we find evidence for a steeper extinction law than the Milky Way mean (formally, R ≈ 2.5 ± 0.4, with substantial variation depending on data quality in each region). The shape of the reddening law suggests that at least in AM 1316-241 we have resolved most of the dust structure. In AM 0500-620 it is less clear that we have resolved most of the dust structure, since the errors are larger. In AM 0500-620, the slope of the perimeter-scale relation (associated with fractal analysis) steepens systematically when going from regions of low to high extinction. A perimeter-smoothing length test for scale-free (fractal) behavior in AM 1316-241 shows a logarithmic slope typically -0.4 on 100–1000 pc scales. However, we cannot determine a unique fractal dimension from the defining area-perimeter relation, so the projected dust distribution is best defined as fractal-like. For scales above 2–4 pixels (120–250 pc), the box-counting estimate yields a fractal dimension close to 1.4, but the perimeter-area relation yields a dimension of 0.7 on large scales and inconsistent results for small scales, so that the distribution shows only some aspects of a fractal nature. In neither galaxy do we see significant regions, even on single-pixel scales in spiral arms, with AB > 2.5. The measurements in NGC 1275 are compromised by our lack of independent knowledge of the foreground system's light distribution, but masked sampling of the absorption suggests an effective reddening curve much flatter than the Milky Way mean (but this may indicate that the foreground system has been affected by immersion in the hot intracluster gas or is inside the stellar distribution of NGC 1275). The bright blue star clusters trace the absorption in this system quite closely, indicating that these clusters belong to the foreground system and not to NGC 1275 itself.
Light‐driven cycling of dimethylsulfide (DMS) in the Sargasso Sea: Closing the loop

[1] The factors driving dimethylsulfide (DMS) cycling in oligotrophic environments are isolated using a time-series of DMS sampled in the Sargasso Sea. The observed distribution of DMS is inconsistent with bottom-up processes related to phytoplankton production, biomass, or community structure changes. DMS concentrations and estimates of net biological community production are most highly correlated with physical and optical properties, with the dose of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) accounting for 77% of the variability in mixed layer DMS concentrations. Physiological stresses associated with shallow mixed layers and high UVR are the first order determinant of biological production of DMS, indicating that DMS cycling in open-ocean regions is fundamentally different than in eutrophic regions where phytoplankton blooms provide the conditions for elevated DMS concentrations. The stress regime presented here effectively closes the DMS-climate feedback loop for open-ocean environments. This response may also provide a climatic role for phytoplanktonic processes in response to anthropogenic forcing.
Synthesis of Optimal Inputs for Multiinput-Multioutput (Mimo) Systems with Process Noise Part I: Frequenc Y-Domain Synthesis Part II: Time-Domain Synthesis

Publisher Summary The problem of input design has been the subject of several recent studies. Most of the results obtained have been confined to single-input systems without process noise. However, many of the industrial applications involve multiple inputs and process noise. This chapter presents a complete treatment of such systems along with practical algorithms for the computation of optimal input designs. The procedure for obtaining the information matrix is more general and yields results not easily derived from the previous approach. The min–max conditions for single-input systems are replaced by min–max–max conditions. An asymptotic expression for the average per sample information matrix is derived and certain important properties of the set of information matrices, which are used to show the equivalence of the D-optimal design to a min–max design, are discussed. An algorithm for the computation of optimal inputs is also given. Time-domain input design is considered and results similar to frequency domain results are obtained in the chapter.
Individual values and business ethics

The necessity for considering individual values when attempting to institutionalize ethics is discussed. Techniques for individual values examination are outlined in the context of their organizational application. Suggestions are made concerning possible mechanisms through which organizations can encourage individual values awareness and concluding remarks emphasize the importance of managerial commitment to the overall effort.
Estradiol is responsible for reduced renal prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity in female rats

Abstract The contribution of sex steroids to sex-related differences in renal prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity and urinary prostaglandin excretion was examined in 7–8-week-old male and female rats subjected to sham-operation or gonadectomy at 3 weeks of age. Rats were injected subcutaneously twice over a 6-day interval with vehicle (peanut oil, 0.5 mg/kg) or with depot forms of testosterone (10 mg/kg), estradiol (0.1 mg/kg), progesterone (5 mg/kg), or with estradiol and progesterone combined (0.1 and 5 mg/kg). After the second injection, 24-h urine samples were collected for prostaglandin measurement by radioimmunoassay; the rats were killed, and renal and pulmonary prostaglandin dehydrogenase activities were determined by radiochemical assay. Renal prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity was 10-times higher in intact male rats than in intact females. Gonadectomy increased renal prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity 4-fold in females, but had no effect in males; estradiol, alone or combined with progesterone, markedly suppressed renal prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity in both sexes, while testosterone or progesterone alone had no effect. Pulmonary prostaglandin dehydrogenase did not differ between the sexes and was unaffected by gonadectomy or sex-steroid treatment. Intact female sham-operated rats excreted 70–100% more prostaglandin E 2 , prostaglandin F 2α , and 6-keto-prostaglandin F 1α in urine than did males; gonadectomy abolished the difference in urinary prostaglandin E 2 excretion. Estradiol decreased urinary prostaglandin E 2 in females but not in males; treatment with other sex steroids did not alter urinary prostaglandin excretion.
Endorsement frequencies and factor structure of DSM-III-R and DSM-IV Generalized Anxiety Disorder symptoms in women: implications for future research, classification, clinical practice and comorbidity

We investigated dimensions of liability to Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and whether evidence exists for distinct pathological versus normal clusters in the population. Structured interviews were administered to a general population sample of 2,163 female twins in a cross-sectional design. Endorsement rates were estimated using full information maximum likelihood factor analyses of the DSM-III-R and DSM-IV GAD symptoms, which provides appropriate treatment of the stem-probe structure of the clinical interview. Endorsement rates were highest for symptoms retained in DSM-IV. For both DSM-III-R and DSM-IV, a two-factor model fit the data better than a single-factor model. There was no evidence for non-normality in the liability to GAD. For DSM-III-R, autonomic symptoms loaded on a factor with panic disorder, while fatiguability, difficulty concentrating and hypervigilance loaded on a factor with major depression. For DSM-IV, all items loaded on one factor, and muscle tension also loaded on a second. Major depression, panic, phobias and alcohol dependence diagnoses also loaded on the first factor. Conclusions: future research involving structured interviews should take into account the stem-and-probe format and focus on common factors rather than separate disorders; GAD is not a unidimensional construct and pathological anxiety may differ only quantitatively from normal anxiety. Copyright © 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Determination of hepatitis B virus DNA in serum using the polymerase chain reaction: Clinical significance and correlation with serological and biochemical markers

Sera from 98 patients with various stages of chronic hepatitis B virus infection were studied to determine the clinical significance of hepatitis B virus DNA in serum detected by the polymerase chain reaction. Patients were divided into three groups according to their HBsAg and HBeAg status. Group I (n = 31) had detectable HBsAg and HBeAg, group II (n = 46) had HBsAg but not HBeAg and group III (n = 21) consisted of patients who were once chronic hepatitis B virus carriers but had lost HBsAg during follow-up. Group I patients usually had significant liver disease (raised serum aminotransferases), had higher titers of HBsAg and had been infected with hepatitis B virus for a shorter period than patients in the other two groups. All patients in group I had hepatitis B virus DNA detectable by polymerase chain reaction and 94% had sufficient hepatitis B virus DNA present for detection by dot-blot hybridization. Group II patients had lower mean serum aminotransferase activities and titers of HBsAg than those in group I. Serum hepatitis B virus DNA was detectable by polymerase chain reaction in 78% but in only 30% of group II patients by dot-blot hybridization. Group II patients who did not have hepatitis B virus DNA detectable by polymerase chain reaction had mean serum aminotransferase levels within the normal range and had a younger mean age than those with hepatitis B virus DNA. Group III patients generally had no evidence of active liver disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Surface oxides of boron and B12O2 as determined by XPS

Mound Laboratoires has been investigating pyrotechnic materials for several years. Prior studies on the mechanism of ignition have been performed on Ti/KCIO4 and Ti/2B mixtures. These studies have shown the importance of the surface oxides of these materials in determining the mechanism of ignition. In the present study, XPS spectra of fused metal, oxidized fused boron and boron metal powder have been recorded. The spectra are interpeted by including the presence of a continuous boron suboxide layer. The results presented here are different from those previosuly reported, which suggests that the formation of boron oxide occurs in islets. The predominant suboxide will be shown to be BxOy, where x/y = 3. This oxide was found to be present independent of the degree of oxidation. Including this oxide in thickness calculations shows the oxidation of powders to be five layers or so thick, and also aids in understanding Ti/2B ignition.
Plate Tectonics and Mineral Resources of Pacific: ABSTRACT

Maps have been compiled of the geologic framework of the Pacific Ocean basin and surrounding continents including lithospheric plate boundaries, volcanic activity, geologic age provinces, geothermal sites and heat flow, gravity, and sediment thickness. On a common base also have been compiled maps of Pacific energy resources (oil, gas, coal, lignite, uranium, hydroelectric, geothermal) and material resources (iron and ferro-alloy metals, base metals, light metals, rare metals, precious metals, chemical and fertilizer minerals, metal-bearing mud, and manganese nodules and crusts). Analysis reveals patterns of distribution of the different Pacific resources. Many of the patterns may be related to lithospheric-plate boundaries and associated processes. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1456------------
Melanin concentrating hormone innervation of caudal brainstem areas involved in gastrointestinal functions and energy balance.

Abstract Neural signaling by melanin-concentrating hormone and its receptor (SLC-1) has been implicated in the control of energy balance, but due to the wide distribution of melanin-concentrating hormone-containing fibers throughout the neuraxis, its critical sites of action for a particular effect have not been identified. The present study aimed to anatomically and functionally characterize melanin-concentrating hormone innervation of the rat caudal brainstem, as this brain area plays an important role in the neural control of ingestive behavior and autonomic outflow. Using retrograde tracing we demonstrate that a significant proportion (5–15%) of primarily perifornical and far-lateral hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone neurons projects to the dorsal vagal complex. In the caudal brainstem, melanin-concentrating hormone-ir axon profiles are distributed densely in most areas including the nucleus of the solitary tract, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, and sympathetic premotor areas in the ventral medulla. Close anatomical appositions can be demonstrated between melanin-concentrating hormone-ir axon profiles and tyrosine hydroxylase, GABA, GLP-1, NOS-expressing, and nucleus of the solitary tract neurons activated by gastric nutrient infusion. In medulla slice preparations, bath application of melanin-concentrating hormone inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner the amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic currents evoked by solitary tract stimulation via a pre-synaptic mechanism. Fourth ventricular administration of melanin-concentrating hormone (10μg) in freely moving rats decreased core body temperature but did not change locomotor activity and food and water intake. We conclude that the rich hypothalamo-medullary melanin-concentrating hormone projections in the rat are mainly inhibitory to nucleus of the solitary tract neurons, but are not involved in the control of food intake. Projections to ventral medullary sites may play a role in the inhibitory effect of melanin-concentrating hormone on energy expenditure.
Steric titration of arylthiolate coordination modes at pseudotetrahedral nickel(II) centers.

Several derivatives of the pseudotetrahedral phenylthiolate complex TpMe,MeNi-SPh (1), TpMe,Me- = hydrotris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate, were prepared incorporating substituted arylthiolates, i...
Bush's nuclear hypocrisy

If the next administration wants to be seen as serious about nonproliferation, it'll have to undo a lot of Bush administration practices.
Synthesis of phosphonic acid ester functionalized arene chromium tricarbonyl complexes

Abstract The thermal reaction of Cr(CO)6 with (a) diethyl phenylphosphonate and (b) tetraethyl α,α′-p-xylenediphosphonate gives the arene complexes [η6-C6H5(PO3Et2)]Cr(CO)2 (1a, 34%) and [η6-p-C6H4(CH2PO3Et2)2]Cr(CO)3 (1b, 46%). The spectroscopic properties of 1a and 1b are studied in detail. Reactions of 1a and 1b with bromotrimethylsilane give [η6-C6H5(PO3(SiMe3)2)]Cr(CO)3 (2a) and [η6-p-C6H4(PO3(CH2SiMe3)2)2]Cr(CO)3 (2b) as evidenced by 31P NMR.
The intellectual legacy of Laud Humphreys: his impact on research and thinking about men’s public sexual encounters

Highlights Laud Humphreys as one of those thinkers and researchers who, having spawned a succession of scholars, is seldom recognized for such. Posits that Humphreys has also indirectly contributed to social theory development. States that although various authors have tried to replicate Tearoom Trade while trying to modify data, all they have done is to validate Humphrey’s findings. Investigates the various contact areas for sexual acts, as discussed by various authors.
Fast and accurate methods for phylogenomic analyses.

Background Species phylogenies are not estimated directly, but rather through phylogenetic analyses of different gene datasets. However, true gene trees can differ from the true species tree (and hence from one another) due to biological processes such as horizontal gene transfer, incomplete lineage sorting, and gene duplication and loss, so that no single gene tree is a reliable estimate of the species tree. Several methods have been developed to estimate species trees from estimated gene trees, differing according to the specific algorithmic technique used and the biological model used to explain differences between species and gene trees. Relatively little is known about the relative performance of these methods.
Toward a Comprehensive Understanding of Readiness for Change: The Case for an Expanded Conceptualization

One important factor influencing the successful implementation of system-wide change is initial readiness. Readiness is defined as the degree to which those involved are individually and collectively primed, motivated and technically capable of executing the change. We present a conceptual framework that highlights how the extant understanding of readiness has addressed three broad areas that include individual factors (i.e. characteristics of those being asked to change), structural factors (i.e. circumstances under which the change is occurring) and the level of analysis (i.e. individual and organizational levels). Following on from this, we provide an outline of how the articles making up this Special Issue are contributing to this understanding offering theoretical support which will provide for meaningful and substantial extensions as readiness research advances.
Automatic selection of catheter ablation sites based on dynamic changes in reentry circuit geometry

Abstract Background: Visualization of the reentrant ventricular tachycardia circuit with existing methodology is a difficult task because of the large volume of data that must be displayed. Activation maps provide information about the reentry circuit characteristics during a single cardiac cycle; however, it is difficult to visualize dynamical changes that occur in the circuit pathway over many cardiac cycles when using this approach. Methods and Results: Data was acquired from 196[ndash ]312 sites using a canine model of a reentry circuit with figure-8 conduction pattern occurring in the epicardial border zone. Activation maps, which were used as the gold standard for describing changes in the activation pattern throughout the course of reentry were constructed for all cardiac cycles during episodes of reentry occurring in several canine experiments. Any alterations in the conduction pattern of the circuit were measured by computer algorithm, including position and the precise changes that occurred. Site-to-site difference in both activation and voltage levels were used to visualize the evolution of the conduction pattern and the relationship between activation at neighboring sites during the course of tachycardia. Conclusions: Visualization of dynamical changes in the reentry circuit are enhanced by quantitative methods that accentuate cycle-to-cycle differences in the data that are present between neighboring sites where electrograms are acquired. Over many cardiac cycles, large-scale evolution of the reentry circuit may occur that would not be evident by inspection of a single activation or isopotential map, or even a short series of these maps. Visualization of dynamical changes in the reentry circuit may be useful for targeting catheter ablation sites during reentry. These quantitative approaches can also readily be applied to represent any evolution in conduction pattern that might occur during sinus rhythm; for example that which might occur after administration of antiarrhythmic drugs, or during pacing with single or multiple extra-stimuli.
Changing habits of practice. Transforming internal medicine residency education in ambulatory settings.

PURPOSE: The majority of health care, both for acute and chronic conditions, is delivered in the ambulatory setting. Despite repeated proposals for change, the majority of internal medicine residency training still occurs in the inpatient setting. Substantial changes in ambulatory education are needed to correct the current imbalance. To assist educators and policy makers in this process, this paper reviews the literature on ambulatory education and makes recommendations for change. METHODS: The authors searched the Medline, Psychlit, and ERIC databases from 2000 to 2004 for studies that focused specifically on curriculum, teaching, and evaluation of internal medicine residents in the ambulatory setting to update previous reviews. Studies had to contain primary data and were reviewed for methodological rigor and relevance. RESULTS: Fifty-five studies met criteria for review. Thirty-five of the studies focused on specific curricular areas and 11 on ambulatory teaching methods. Five involved evaluating performance and 4 focused on structural issues. No study evaluated the overall effectiveness of ambulatory training or investigated the effects of current resident continuity clinic microsystems on education. CONCLUSION: This updated review continues to identify key deficiencies in ambulatory training curriculum and faculty skills. The authors make several recommendations: (1) Make training in the ambulatory setting a priority. (2) Address systems problems in practice environments. (3) Create learning experiences appropriate to the resident’s level of development. (4) Teach and evaluate in the examination room. (5) Expand subspecialty-based training to the ambulatory setting. (6) Make faculty development a priority. (7) Create and fund multiinstitutional educational research consortia.
Dynamic O-Glycosylation of Nuclear and Cytosolic Proteins FURTHER CHARACTERIZATION OF THE NUCLEOCYTOPLASMIC β-N-ACETYLGLUCOSAMINIDASE, O-GlcNAcase

beta-O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is an abundant and dynamic post-translational modification implicated in protein regulation that appears to be functionally more similar to phosphorylation than to classical glycosylation. There are nucleocytoplasmic enzymes for the attachment and removal of O-GlcNAc. Here, we further characterize the recently cloned beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, O-GlcNAcase. Both recombinant and purified endogenous O-GlcNAcase rapidly release free GlcNAc from O-GlcNAc-modified peptide substrates. The recombinant enzyme functions as a monomer and has kinetic parameters (K(m) = 1.1 mm for paranitrophenyl-GlcNAc, k(cat) = 1 s(-1)) that are similar to those of lysosomal hexosaminidases. The endogenous O-GlcNAcase appears to be in a complex with other proteins and is predominantly localized to the cytosol. Overexpression of the enzyme in living cells results in decreased O-GlcNAc modification of nucleocytoplasmic proteins. Finally, we show that the enzyme is a substrate for caspase-3 but, surprisingly, the cleavage has no effect on in vitro O-GlcNAcase activity. These studies support the identification of this protein as an O-GlcNAcase and identify important interactions and modifications that may regulate the enzyme and O-GlcNAc cycling.
Selective alteration of Sargassum lipids in anoxic sediments of the Orca basin

Abstract The Orca Basin represents a unique depositional environment where sediments are overlain by several hundred meters of anoxic brine. Layers of the seaweed Sargassum are found as discrete layers within the sediments, and appear intact by visual examination. To examine lipid diagenesis in this environment, major lipid classes, sterols, fatty acids and alcohols in plants collected in the water column were compared to those of plants found in sediments and dated at 380 years old by 14 C measurements. Plant fronds, stipes and air bladders were analyzed separately to compare the preservation of lipids among major Sargassum tissues. All lipids showed significant changes in distribution and abundance in preserved plants with a general loss of unsaturated components. The concentration of several saturated fatty acids, however, remained unchanged or increased in older plant tissues, suggesting that thet were more resistant to decomposition and that reduction of unsaturated acids to saturated forms may have occurred over time. Sterols showed contrasting results, with nuclear saturated sterols (stanols) decreasing in abundance by an average of 62% in preserved tissues while nuclear unsaturated sterols (stenols) showed only a mean decrease of 41%. Two major sterols, cholest-5-en-3β-ol and cholesta-5,24-dien-3β-ol were reduced on average by 92.2 and 93.5%, respectively, while the major sterol in all Sargassum tissues [24-ethylcholesta-5,24(28)E-dien-3β-ol] showed no significant change in concentration over time. Results of lipid analysis for preserved and fresh Sargassum suggests that selective degradation may occur in anoxic marine environments counter to pathways typically seen in other systems.
The crystal structure of calcium- and integrin-binding protein 1: Insights into redox regulated functions

Calcium- and integrin-binding protein 1 (CIB1) is involved in the process of platelet aggregation by binding the cytoplasmic tail of the αIIb subunit of the platelet-specific integrin αIibβ3. Although poorly understood, it is widely believed that CIB1 acts as a global signaling regulator because it is expressed in many tissues that do not express integrin αIibβ3. We report the structure of human CIB1 to a resolution of 2.3 A, crystallized as a dimer. The dimer interface includes an extensive hydrophobic patch in a crystal form with 80% solvent content. Although the dimer form of CIB1 may not be physiologically relevant, this intersub-unit surface is likely to be linked to αIIb binding and to the binding of other signaling partner proteins. The C-terminal domain of CIB1 is structurally similar to other EF-hand proteins such as calmodulin and calcineurin B. Despite structural homology to the C-terminal domain, the N-terminal domain of CIB1 lacks calcium-binding sites. The structure of CIB1 revealed a complex with a molecule of glutathione in the reduced state bond to the N-terminal domain of one of the two subunits poised to interact with the free thiol of C35. Glutathione bound in this fashion suggests CIB1 may be redox regulated. Next to the bound GSH, the orientation of residues C35, H31, and S48 is suggestive of a cysteine-type protein phosphatase active site. The potential enzymatic activity of CIB1 is discussed and suggests a mechanism by which it regulates a wide variety of proteins in cells in addition to platelets.
Hepatitis B virus reactivation risk varies with different chemotherapy regimens commonly used in solid tumours

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation may occur with chemotherapy and has significant morbidity and mortality. The United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recommends pre-chemotherapy hepatitis B screening for all cancer patients, while the American Society of Clinical Oncology finds that there is insufficient evidence currently to support such a recommendation. Apart from anthracyclines, HBV reactivation rates from other commonly used chemotherapy regimens in solid tumours are not well described. We compared HBV reactivation risk in patients receiving several commonly used chemotherapy regimens for solid tumours associated with different immunosuppression risk at a tertiary cancer centre in an HBV endemic region. A total of 1149 patients were identified, including 434, 196, 245 and 274, respectively, who received doxorubicin-based, oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based, carboplatin/gemcitabine, and capecitabine chemotherapy. HBV screening rate was 39% overall. Thirty out of 448 (7%) screened patients were HBsAg positive and 28 out of 30 received prophylactic antiviral therapy with no reactivation. Three out of 1149 patients overall (0.3%) developed HBV reactivation, all from the unscreened doxorubicin group (3 out of 214, 1.4%). No unscreened patients (0 out of 487) in the other three treatment groups developed reactivation (P<0.001). Not all chemotherapy regimens result in HBV reactivation. Routine hepatitis B screening for low- or moderate-risk regimens may not be warranted.