cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
58 – Vasopressin Receptors

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the structure of vasopressin receptors. The three-vasopressin receptors are heptahelical membrane proteins that activate intracellular effectors by activating G-proteins. Biochemical characterization of the VlaR protein has been severely hampered by the susceptibility of the protein to cellular proteases. The existence of hundred of naturally occurring mutations able to inactivate the V2R provided a unique source of information to evaluate the impact of missense mutations on the activity of a serpentine receptor. The definition of a Gs interactive domain that is available, identified by introducing short V2R segments via background, may not mimic the changes in receptor structure introduced by single amino-acid substitutions in the background of the V2R.
Posterior Glenohumeral Instability: Diagnosis and Management

Posterior glenohumeral instability can manifest as posterior shoulder pain and dysfunction, particularly among athletes. Repetitive, posteriorly-directed axial loads, as commonly encountered by contact athletes (American football linemen, rugby players), result in microtrauma that can induce posteroinferior labral tears. Alternatively, SLAP tears commonly seen in throwing athletes may propagate in a posteroinferior direction (i.e., a type VIII SLAP tear), owing to a complex pathologic cascade involving glenohumeral capsular contracture and imbalances among the dynamic stabilizing muscles of both the glenohumeral joint and shoulder girdle. The diagnosis of posterior glenohumeral instability is elucidated by a thorough history and physical examination. Posterior shoulder pain is oftentimes insidious in onset. The throwing athlete with posterior glenohumeral instability may complain of diminished control, accuracy, and generalized shoulder discomfort. A number of provocative physical examination maneuvers have been described (Kim test, Jerk test), which load the humeral head against the labral lesion and recreate patients' symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance arthrography can be of value in demonstrating avulsions of the labrum from the posteroinferior glenoid, and computed tomography is useful for quantifying the location and amount of attritional glenoid bone loss, although in contradistinction to anterior glenohumeral instability, clearly defined thresholds that would otherwise guide treatment have not been established. In the absence of substantial bone loss, arthroscopic posterior capsulolabral repair remains the gold standard for the surgical management of symptoms refractory to nonoperative treatment, and excellent clinical outcomes have generally been reported. However, high rates of return to play at the previous level of participation, particularly among throwing athletes, have been less consistently observed. Risk factors for the need for revision stabilization include surgery on the dominant extremity, female sex, and capsulolabral repairs involving either anchorless techniques or the use of less than 4 anchors.
Changes in the depression gender gap from 1992 to 2014: Cohort effects and mediation by gendered social position.

Abstract The depression gap (i.e., higher rates of depression among women than men) represents an important mental health disparity in the US. Differences in gendered social position (i.e., the roles, responsibilities, and opportunities available to women and men), which have been changing since the mid-20th Century may contribute to this gender gap. The present study examined the evidence for a changing depression gap across birth cohorts and tested the extent to which any changes over time were mediated by changes in relative social position between women and men. Data were from the National Longitudinal Surveys. The depression gap was defined as differences in mean CESD scores for women vs. men. The analytic sample included 13,666 respondents interviewed from 1992 to 2014. Hierarchical mixed models estimated the magnitude of the gender depression gap over time, its association with 10-year birth cohort (range: 1957–1994), and whether any variation was mediated by ratios among women relative to men of obtaining a college degree, being employed full-time, and the average number of hours spent doing housework per week, three indicators of gendered social position. There was a linear decrease in the depression gap by 0.18 points across birth cohort (95% CI = −0.26, −0.10). The results of the mediation analysis estimated that an increasing ratio of college degree attainment mediated 39% of the gender depression gap across cohorts (95% CI = 0.18, 0.78). There was no evidence of mediation due to changing employment or housework ratios. These findings partially support the hypothesis that the depression gap is changing over time and is meaningfully related to the social environment. Understanding the social causes of the depression gap can illuminate the fundamental processes through which depression disparities may be perpetuated or attenuated over time and may aid in the identification of strategies to reduce them.
On lengths of burn-off chip-firing games

We continue our studies of burn-off chip-firing games from [Discrete Math. Theor. Comput. Sci. 15 (2013), no. 1, 121-132; MR3040546] and [Australas. J. Combin. 68 (2017), no. 3, 330-345; MR3656659]. The latter article introduced randomness by choosing successive seeds uniformly from the vertex set of a graph $G$. The length of a game is the number of vertices that fire (by sending a chip to each neighbor and annihilating one chip) as an excited chip configuration passes to a relaxed state. This article determines the probability distribution of the game length in a long sequence of burn-off games. Our main results give exact counts for the number of pairs $(C,v)$, with $C$ a relaxed legal configuration and $v$ a seed, corresponding to each possible length. In support, we give our own proof of the well-known equicardinality of the set $\mathcal{R}$ of relaxed legal configurations on $G$ and the set of spanning trees in the cone $G^*$ of $G$. We present an algorithmic, bijective proof of this correspondence.
An Evaluation of Tension Measurements During Myofascial Release for Hernia Repair

Tension-free repairs have revolutionized the way we repair hernias. To help reduce undue tension when performing ventral hernia repair, multiple different techniques of myofascial releases have been described. The purpose of this project is to evaluate tension measurements for commonly performed myofascial releases in abdominal wall hernia repair. Patients undergoing myofascial release techniques for their ventral hernias were enrolled in a prospective Institutional Review Board-approved protocol to measure abdominal wall tension from June 1, 2011 to August 1, 2019. Abdominal wall tensions were measured using tensiometers before and after myofascial release techniques. Descriptive statistics were performed and data were analyzed. Thirty patients had tension measurements (5 anterior myofascial separation, 25 posterior myofascial separation with transversus abdominis release [TAR]). Average age was 60.1 years (range 29-81), 83% Caucasian, 53% female, and 42% recurrent hernias. The average hernia defect in patients undergoing anterior myofascial release was 117.3 cm2, and the average mesh size was 650 cm2. The reduction in tension after anterior release was 4.7 lbs (2.7 lbs vs 7.4 lbs). The average hernia defect in patients undergoing posterior myofascial release (TAR) was 183 cm2, and the average mesh size was 761.36 cm2. The reduction in tension after bilateral posterior rectus sheath incision was 2.55 lbs (5.01 lbs vs 7.56 lbs) with 0.66 lbs further reduction in tension after TAR (4.35 lbs vs 5.01). In this evaluation, abdominal wall tension measurements are shown to be a feasible adjunct during open hernia repair. Preliminary data show tension reductions associated with the different myofascial release techniques and, with further study, may be a useful intraoperative adjunct for decision making in hernia repair.
Quantitative trait loci and candidate genes associated with photoperiod sensitivity in lettuce (Lactuca spp.)

A population of lettuce that segregated for photoperiod sensitivity was planted under long-day and short-day conditions. Genetic mapping revealed two distinct sets of QTLs controlling daylength-independent and photoperiod-sensitive flowering time. The molecular mechanism of flowering time regulation in lettuce is of interest to both geneticists and breeders because of the extensive impact of this trait on agricultural production. Lettuce is a facultative long-day plant which changes in flowering time in response to photoperiod. Variations exist in both flowering time and the degree of photoperiod sensitivity among accessions of wild (Lactuca serriola) and cultivated (L. sativa) lettuce. An F6 population of 236 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was previously developed from a cross between a late-flowering, photoperiod-sensitive L. serriola accession and an early-flowering, photoperiod-insensitive L. sativa accession. This population was planted under long-day (LD) and short-day (SD) conditions in a total of four field and screenhouse trials; the developmental phenotype was scored weekly in each trial. Using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) data of the RILs, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping revealed five flowering time QTLs that together explained more than 20% of the variation in flowering time under LD conditions. Using two independent statistical models to extract the photoperiod sensitivity phenotype from the LD and SD flowering time data, we identified an additional five QTLs that together explained more than 30% of the variation in photoperiod sensitivity in the population. Orthology and sequence analysis of genes within the nine QTLs revealed potential functional equivalents in the lettuce genome to the key regulators of flowering time and photoperiodism, FD and CONSTANS, respectively, in Arabidopsis.
From Knowledge-Pools to Activated Networks: A Conceptual Approach to Absorptive-Capacities in a Rural Destination of Azerbaijan

The conception of tourist destinations as knowledge-creating systems still shows substantial gaps, especially when it comes to destinations in Developing Countries. Building upon a theoretical enha...
Ariadne: Barcoded Linked-Read Deconvolution Using de Bruijn Graphs

Abstract De novo assemblies are critical for capturing the genetic composition of complex samples. Linked-read sequencing techniques such as 10x Genomics’ Linked-Reads, UST’s TELL-Seq, Loop Genomics’ LoopSeq, and BGI’s Long Fragment Read combines 3′ barcoding with standard short-read sequencing to expand the range of linkage resolution from hundreds to tens of thousands of base-pairs. The application of linked-read sequencing to genome assembly has demonstrated that barcoding-based technologies balance the tradeoffs between long-range linkage, per-base coverage, and costs. Linked-reads come with their own challenges, chief among them the association of multiple long fragments with the same 3′ barcode. The lack of a unique correspondence between a long fragment and a barcode, in conjunction with low sequencing depth, confounds the assignment of linkage between short-reads. Results We introduce Ariadne, a novel linked-read deconvolution algorithm based on assembly graphs, that can be used to extract single-species read-sets from a large linked-read dataset. Ariadne deconvolution of linked-read clouds increases the proportion of read clouds containing only reads from a single fragment by up to 37.5-fold. Using these enhanced read clouds in de novo assembly significantly improves assembly contiguity and the size of the largest aligned blocks in comparison to the non-deconvolved read clouds. Integrating barcode deconvolution tools, such as Ariadne, into the postprocessing pipeline for linked-read technologies increases the quality of de novo assembly for complex populations, such as microbiomes. Ariadne is intuitive, computationally efficient, and scalable to other large-scale linked-read problems, such as human genome phasing. Availability The source code is available on GitHub: https://github.com/lauren-mak/Ariadne
Cholinergic control of striatal GABAergic microcircuits

Cholinergic interneurons (CINs) are essential elements of striatal circuits and behaviors. While acetylcholine signaling via muscarinic receptors (mAChRs) have been well studied, more recent data indicate that postsynaptic nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) located on GABAergic interneurons (GINs) are equally critical. One demonstration is that CINs stimulation induces large disynaptic inhibition of SPNs mediated by nAChR activation of striatal GINs. While these circuits are ideally positioned to modulate striatal output activity, the neurons involved are not definitively identified due largely to an incomplete mapping of CINs-GINs interconnections. Here, we show that CINs optogenetic activation evokes an intricate dual mechanism involving co-activation of pre- and postsynaptic mAChRs and nAChRs on four GINs populations. Using multi-optogenetics, we demonstrate the participation of tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing GINs in the disynaptic inhibition of SPNs likely via heterotypic electrical coupling with neurogliaform interneurons. Altogether, our results highlight the importance of CINs in regulating GINs microcircuits via complex synaptic/heterosynaptic mechanisms.
Quantification of Improved Left Ventricular Performance during Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Regional contraction asynchrony is the most common contractile abnormality seen clinically, accounting for much of the observed, clinically relevant increase in morbidity from heart disease. Regional myocardial dyssynchrony, characterized by regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA), commonly occurs in patients with both normal [1, 2, 3, 4] and abnormal [5, 6, 7] cardiac physiology. RWMA are monitored intraoperatively to detect regional myocardial ischemia [8, 9, 10]. The impact of RWMA on global left ventricular (LV) performance is difficult to quantify but it is important to have a quantitative measure of regional myocardial dysfunction to minimize subjective bias in the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia [2], and aid in the evaluation of treatments and titration of therapies used to restore regional myocardial function, including both revascularization and cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Definably extending partial orders in totally ordered structures

We show, for various classes of totally ordered structures , including o-minimal and weakly o-minimal structures, that every definable partial order on a subset of extends definably in to a total order. This extends the result proved in [5] for and o-minimal.
Looking for a few good mutants.

Certain fungi, such as the yeast species Candida albicans and Candida glabrata , are important pathogens of humans. Identifying the genes in medically important fungi that help the pathogens infect human cells has proved difficult. In a Perspective, [Goldman][1] discusses the synthesis of two genetic strategies that have yielded the identity of a virulence gene in C. glabrata called EPA1, as reported by [ Cormack et al .][2] in this issue. This gene encodes an adhesin that enables the yeast to bind to human epithelial cells. The genetic strategy should be valuable for identifying virulence genes in other pathogenic fungi. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/285/5427/539 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/285/5427/578
Abstract 3638: Vaccine-draining lymph nodes of cancer patients for generating anticancer antibodies

Human vaccine studies regularly demonstrate vaccine-induced antibodies in the blood. Characterization of these antibodies shows that they exhibit an extensive range of bioactive mechanisms. Unfortunately, there is not yet a reliable method by which to produce these important antibodies. Human antibodies may not require any molecular modification for therapeutic application and have a much faster pipeline to clinical studies than animal-derived antibodies. Lymph nodes are the primary destination of tumor or vaccine antigens. In the node, B cells undergo clonal expansion and somatic hypermutation, leading to the affinity-matured populations of effector B cells secreting antibodies that bind to the tumor or vaccine. The cancer vaccine-draining node is the ideal source of B cells that produce anticancer antibodies. Despite multiple human cancer vaccine studies, very little research has been done to recover the B cells responsible for vaccine-induced anticancer antibodies. In the present study, we used mononuclear cells from surgically removed vaccine-draining lymph nodes of melanoma patients vaccinated with 6 melanoma peptides derived from cancer-testis antigens and from melanocytic differentiation proteins for generating anti-vaccine peptide antibodies. The lymph node draining the vaccination site was localized by lymphatic mapping with a radiotracer. The development and maturity of B cells were assessed by determining phenotypic characters of lymph node cells using multicolor flow cytometry. The results showed that these vaccine-draining nodes contain high numbers of class-switched (CD19 + CD27 + IgD - IgM - ) B cells and plasmablasts (CD19 + CD38 + IgM - ). B-cell ELISpot assay was used to quantify the proportion of B cells in vaccine-draining lymph nodes that secrete anti-melanoma peptide antibodies. Positive ELISpot responses were observed in patients who also showed serum antibody-reactivity towards the vaccine peptides. The identification of lymph node cell samples exhibiting strong B-cell responses allows efficient generation and screening of hybridomas that secrete antibodies against cancer vaccine antigens. This study establishes a step-wise protocol for generating anti-cancer antibodies from vaccine-draining lymph nodes. We anticipate that the ability to reliably generate in vitro the same antibodies observed in the blood of vaccinated patients will further stimulate research to understand mechanisms of human antibody activity. Citation Format: Girja S. Shukla, Stephanie C. Pero, Yu-jing Sun, Chelsea L. Carman, Walter C. Olson, Craig L. Slingluff, David N. Krag. Vaccine-draining lymph nodes of cancer patients for generating anticancer antibodies. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3638. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3638
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in pediatric neuroradiology

This review reports on recent developments in proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and its potential clinical application in pediatric neuroradiology. An overview of the essential principles of the methodology including pulse sequences and their practical application is provided. Each of the major neurochemical compounds found in the pediatric brain and its potential clinical significance is reviewed. Special consideration is given to issues of quantitation and maturational changes in neurochemistry which are unique to the developing brain. Examples of potential clinical applications of proton MRS are given in a brief case report format. Finally, the direction of likely future developments and the need for further investigation of proton MRS in pediatric populations is discussed. This review will provide the reader with a basic foundation for deciding when a proton MRS exam may be helpful for diagnosis and for the interpretation of proton MRS findings in the pediatric neuroradiology setting.
Three-dimensional Color Doppler Sonography and Uterine Artery Arteriography of Fibroids Assessment of Changes in Vascularity Before and After Embolization

Objective. To assess the accuracy of three-dimensional color Doppler sonography and uterine artery arteriography in depicting changes in fibroid vascularity before and after embolization. Methods. Preembolization and postembolization three-dimensional color Doppler sonography and selective uterine artery arteriography were retrospectively compared in 15 patients who underwent uterine artery embolization for treatment of symptomatic fibroids. Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography was performed by using a scanner with color power angiographic imaging capability. Vascularity was quantified by using an estimation of power-weighted pixel density as described by our group in previously published studies. Uterine artery arteriography was performed by using a standard selective microcatheter embolization technique. For purposes of comparison, fibroids were classified as either hypervascular or hypovascular relative to myometrial vascularity before and minutes to several hours after uterine artery embolization. Changes in fibroid vascularity (i.e., from hypervascular to hypovascular) as depicted by three-dimensional color Doppler sonography were compared with those shown on uterine artery arteriography and classified as being in agreement or disagreement. Results. In 13 (87%) of 15 patients there was agreement; in 2 (13%) of 15 there was disagreement. In both cases of disagreement, three-dimensional color Doppler sonography showed collateral flow not depicted by uterine artery arteriography. The mean reduction in quantitated vascularity after uterine artery embolization was 44% (range, 19%‐78%). Conclusions. Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography accurately depicts fibroid vascularity and in some cases can reveal collateral flow not depicted by
Primary angiitis of the central nervous system: Unusual MR appearance

The MR findings of a biopsy-proved case of primary angiitis of the central nervous system are described and compared with previously reported cases. Multiple punctate and linear areas of gadopentetate dimeglumine enhancement were present in the brain stem and white matter and appear to correspond to the inflammatory reaction of the small perforating vessels and perivascular tissues seen in the pathologic specimen.
Nascent Entrepreneurs and Venture Emergence: Opportunity Confidence, Human Capital, and Early Planning

Nascent entrepreneurs continuously evaluate the merits of the opportunities they pursue and so can abandon those that lack promise and persist with those that remain attractive. This paper articulates this evolving judgment about the opportunity as the nascent entrepreneur's opportunity confidence. It situates this construct in the context of the nascent entrepreneur's human capital and early planning actions in respect to the pursued opportunity, and in respect to the emergence of the nascent venture. Analyses of PSED data show that opportunity confidence positively affects venture emergence and that, through it, entrepreneurial experience and early planning have only indirect effects on venture emergence. In contrast, industry experience has a direct, positive effect on venture emergence. These results provide some novel insights into the nascent entrepreneurial process as well as into the role of human capital and early planning in that process.
Semi-automatic solid-phase double-antibody radioimmunoassay for β2-microglobulin

Abstract Twenty-four samples could be processed simultaneously with a cell-harvester and a double-antibody radioimmunoassay system. β 2 -microglobulin was quantitated over a range of 1–100 ng by using goat anti- β 2 -microglobulin and Sepharose-bound rabbit anti-goat-immunoglobulin G.
Collagen fiber architecture of bovine pericardium

Small-angle light scattering (SALS) was used to quantify the collagen fiber architecture of 12 bovine pericardium (BP) specimens overlying the right and left anterior surfaces of the heart. The collagen fiber architecture was described in terms of preferred collagen fiber directions, volume fractions (Vf), and degree of orientation. To explore the relationship between BP collagen architecture and mechanical anisotropy, biaxial mechanical tests were performed on two specimens chosen for their extremes of collagen fiber architecture. About 38% of the SALS test locations showed the occurrence of two distinct collagen fiber populations, with the primary population Vf typically 90%. Structurally, the left anterior specimens appeared to be the most homogeneous, with an overall preferred direction close to the circumferential direction of the heart. The right side specimens were inconsistent, with a broad range of fiber orientations. The direction of greatest stiffness was consistent with the underlying collagen fiber architecture. Overall, these results suggest that 1) the mechanical behavior of BP is quantitatively consistent with its collagen fiber architecture; 2) the variability of BP mechanical anisotropy is caused by variations in collagen fiber preferred directions; and 3) the left anterior side of the bovine pericardial sac might be a good material selection site for bioprosthesis fabrication.
Adding video to your Web pages

If you write Web pages, especially instructional ones, you will probably at some point want to embed a movie in a page, perhaps to demonstrate or show an in-class experiment in near real time. This journey from hypertext to hypermedia can be quite bumpy; there are many problems to deal with. The article discusses how to hide the bumps from both yourself and your reader.
Self-efficacy and barriers to multiple behavior change in low-income African Americans with hypertension

Behavioral risk factors are among the preventable causes of health disparities, yet long-term change remains elusive. Many interventions are designed to increase self-efficacy, but little is known about the effect on long-term behavior change in older, low-income African Americans, especially when facing more problematic barriers. A cohort of 185 low-income African–Americans with hypertension reported barriers they encountered while undergoing a multiple behavior change trial from 2002 to 2006. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationships between self-efficacy, barriers, and multiple behavior change over time. Higher self-efficacy seemed to be partially helpful for smoking reduction and increasing physical activity, but not for following a low-sodium diet. Addiction was indirectly associated with less reduction in smoking through lower self-efficacy. Otherwise, different barriers were associated with behavior change than were associated with self-efficacy: being “too busy” directly interfered with physical activity and “traditions” with low-sodium diet; however, they were neither the most frequently reported barriers, nor associated with lower self-efficacy. This suggests that an emphasis on self-efficacy alone may be insufficient for overcoming the most salient barriers encountered by older African Americans. Additionally, the most common perceived barriers may not necessarily be relevant to long-term behavioral outcomes.
From Bureau to Trade Commission: Agency Reputation in the Statebuilding Enterprise

When studying the formation of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 1914, scholars have usually focused on interest groups and electoral politics. This essay, by contrast, suggests that the reputation and network influences of an existing federal agency, the Bureau of Corporations, also shaped the creation of its successor, the FTC. Building on the concept of bureaucratic autonomy, the essay examines the structure of the bureau, its connections, and its preferences. The bureau's leaders favored a clear separation from the Department of Justice and argued for a quasi-judicial process for antitrust, which they felt would be more effective than the courts. They advocated discretion in covering small firms and mandatory annual reports, while seeking to avoid being assigned authority to clear business agreements in advance. Well before the 1914 debates, leaders at the bureau directed substantial funds toward influencing trust legislation. They contacted academics and civic leaders, tracked existing legislative proposals, and analyzed key legal terms. Internal studies examined major questions, such as how to define and regulate unfair trade practices. Bureau officials came to argue Congress could never define these in legislation. Instead a bureaucracy with appropriate authority could adapt definitions of unfair practices to changes in business. When the bureau became the nucleus of the FTC, it received much of the discretionary power it sought.
Vibrational analyses and barriers to internal rotation of CH3CCl2F and CH3CHClF

Abstract The i.r. spectra of gaseous and solid CH 3 CCl 2 F and CH 3 CHClF have been recorded from 140 to 4000 cm −1 . The corresponding Raman spectra of the liquids have also been recorded and depolarization values have been measured for the CH 3 CCl 2 F molecule. Also the Raman spectrum of gaseous CH 3 CHClF has been recorded. All spectra have been interpreted in detail and the 18 normal vibrations of both molecules have been characterized. Hot bands of the internal torsional mode for CH 3 CCl 2 F were observed at 248(2 ← 1) and 232 cm −1 (3 ← 2) in the far-i.r. spectrum of the gas. These frequencies are in good agreement with those calculated using the 4·42 kcal/mole barrier obtained in an earlier Raman study. The internal torsional mode for CH 3 CHClF was observed at 261 cm −1 in the spectra of the solid and the three-fold periodic barrier was calculated to be 4·38 kcal/mole. The barriers are compared in a series of chloro, fluoro and bromo substituted ethane derivatives.
Early planetary metamorphism in chondritic meteorites

Abstract Lead isotope relations were studied in whole rock and separated phases of Mezo-Madaras (L3) and Sharps (H3) chondrites in order to study the record of early events in the solar system and to seek further information on the isotopic composition of primordial lead. The internal207Pb/206Pb ages are4.480 ± 0.011AE (1AE= 109 years) for Mezo-Madaras and4.472 ± 0.005AE for Sharps. The ages are not significantly changed when Canyon Diablo troilite lead is included in the data sets, suggesting that the initial Pb isotopic composition in both meteorites was the same as that in the troilite. U Pb data from both meteorites plot along chords in concordia diagrams that indicate recent disturbances inU/Pb ratios. The chords are poorly defined owing to the relatively non-radiogenic character of the lead isotopes. Rb Sr measurements on Sharps likewise fail to yield an isochron, in agreement with the U Pb data. Data from the literature indicate a similar disturbance in the Rb Sr system for Mezo-Madaras. The 4.48 AE ages could be caused by pre-analysis contamination with terrestrial lead, however statistical comparison of isotope correlations between the acid-washes of analyzed samples and the residual washed samples suggests that the ages are real and not due to terrestrial contamination. The 4.48 AE age, which is distinctly younger than the well-established ages of 4.54–4.56 AE for the Allende chondrite and Angra dos Reis achondrite, appears to date an early metamorphic event rather than the formation of the chondrites. Rb Sr, Sm Nd and K Ar ages in support of the 4.48 AE metamorphic event are reviewed. Such a metamorphic age is not necessarily in conflict with129I/129Xe data which indicate that the parent material of most chondrites, including those of type 3, cooled through temperatures sufficient to retain radiogenic Xe within a time interval of ca. 0.02 AE.
Tailoring electrode hydrophobicity to improve anode performance in alkaline media

Abstract Limitations in anode performance have been a major obstacle to widespread alkaline fuel cell usage. In contrast to water management in acidic cathodes, water management in alkaline anodes has not received a lot of attention. Here, we use a methodology based on individual electrode plots to analyze and improve anode performance, especially by changing the hydrophobicity. Specifically, we determine the role of hydrophobicity as it affects performance for backing layers, catalyst layers, and catalyst binders. We use both individual electrode plots and recirculating experiments to determine the optimal PTFE loading was 20 wt% in alkaline media. We investigated PTFE and Fumion binders, determining that their use yields higher overpotentials than when using Nafion in alkaline media. Furthermore, we determined that Nafion alternatives for application in alkaline media would require significant hydrophilicity and anion-conductivity to result in good fuel cell performance.
Threshold effects on the lectin-mediated aggregation of liposomes: Influence of the diameter of the liposomes

It had previously been found that small unilamellar liposomes of ca. 0.03 μm diameter which bear synthetic cholesterol-containing glycolipids may be aggregated by an appropriate lectin [8]. Where studied, threshold effects have been observed in that the amount of glycolipid incorporated in the liposomes must exceed a certain minimum concentration in order for aggregation to occur [3, 8, 9, 13, 14]. Threshold effects of this type may be important in mediating cell-cell and virus-cell interactions. However, before studies with small unilamellar liposomes are useful as a model for these recognition and binding phenomena, it must be shown that the observed threshold effects are not associated with the very small radius of curvature of these liposomes. This article reports that larger liposomes of average diameter 0.26 and 0.45 μm which contain the synthetic glycolipidl also show threshold effects when aggregated with the galactose binding lectin ricin agglutinin. Under conditions where more than 1% (mole) glycolipid is required to support the aggregation of the smallest liposomes, those of intermediate size require only 0.18% (mole) while the largest liposomes examined require between 0.095 and 0.15% (mole) depending on the method of preparation.
Measuring the cost of care in benign prostatic hyperplasia using time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC).

Abstract Background Determining ‘”value’” in health care, defined as outcomes per unit cost, depends on accurately measuring cost. We used time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) to determine the cost of care in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) – a common urologic condition. Methods We implemented TDABC across the entire care pathway for BPH including primary and specialist care in both inpatient and outpatient settings. A team of expert stakeholders created detailed process maps, determined space and product costs, and calculated personnel capacity cost rates. A model pathway was derived from practice guidelines and calculated costs were applied. Results Although listed as ‘optional’ in practice guidelines, invasive diagnostic testing can increase costs by 150% compared with the standalone urology clinic visit. Of five different surgical options, a 400% cost discrepancy exists between the most and least expensive treatments. Conclusions TDABC can be used to measure cost across an entire care pathway in a large academic medical center. Sizable cost variation exists between diagnostic and surgical modalities for men with BPH. Implications As financial risk is shifted toward providers, understanding the cost of care will be vital. Future work is needed to determine outcome discrepancy between the diagnostic and surgical modalities in BPH.
Computing deviations from convexity in polygons

Abstract Known measurements on planar figures that may be computed efficiently include the Hausdorff metric and the homotopy type. However, these allow two objects with radically different topological or geometric properties to be considered close. In this paper, we discuss measures for polygons that may be computed efficiently, and in which closeness implies similarity with respect to deviation from convexity.
HJURP Uses Distinct CENP-A Surfaces to Recognize and to Stabilize CENP-A/Histone H4 for Centromere Assembly

Centromeres are defined by the presence of chromatin containing the histone H3 variant, CENP-A, whose assembly into nucleosomes requires the chromatin assembly factor HJURP. We find that whereas surface-exposed residues in the CENP-A targeting domain (CATD) are the primary sequence determinants for HJURP recognition, buried CATD residues that generate rigidity with H4 are also required for efficient incorporation into centromeres. HJURP contact points adjacent to the CATD on the CENP-A surface are not used for binding specificity but rather to transmit stability broadly throughout the histone fold domains of both CENP-A and H4. Furthermore, an intact CENP-A/CENP-A interface is a requirement for stable chromatin incorporation immediately upon HJURP-mediated assembly. These data offer insight into the mechanism by which HJURP discriminates CENP-A from bulk histone complexes and chaperones CENP-A/H4 for a substantial portion of the cell cycle prior to mediating chromatin assembly at the centromere.
Survey of aspirin administration in systemic mastocytosis.

Abstract Background Previous recommended doses for aspirin use in systemic mastocytosis have been 3.9–5.2 g/d. Here, the aspirin doses and biochemical responses of patients with systemic mastocytosis given aspirin to decrease prostaglandin D2 levels and prevent symptoms were reviewed. Methods Twenty patients with systemic mastocytosis who had been given aspirin were identified, and their clinical and laboratory records were reviewed including changes in the excretion of the prostaglandin D2 metabolite 11β-prostaglandin F2α in response to aspirin. Results Two of 20 patients developed either a delayed reaction or flushing during outpatient updosing with aspirin. In 20 of 20 patients with elevated baseline urinary excretion of 11β-prostaglandin F2α, aspirin therapy caused a reduction to normal levels of excretion. Doses of aspirin required ranged from 81 mg twice daily to 500 mg twice daily. Conclusions Control of elevated prostaglandin D2 levels in systemic mastocytosis can be achieved with lower doses of aspirin than previously reported as necessary in this disorder.
The main features of value experience

This brings us not only to the conclusion of my list of eight features proposed as being common to all or most value experience, but also to a reminder of its purpose. First, I hope that, in the spirit of Husserl's dictum, “to the things themselves,” this proposal will initiate a discussion of a “basic research” type of question, namely: What are the main features of value experience? Second, I hope that the fruits of such a discussion might eventually contribute to the working out of a metatheory for value inquiry: a theory about criteria of adequacy for any general theory of value.
Therapeutic doses of amphetamine and methylphenidate selectively redistribute the vesicular monoamine transporter-2

High-dose administration of psychostimulants traffics the vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT-2), as assessed by subcellular fractionation of rat striatal tissue. This study demonstrates that administration of low doses of amphetamine or methylphenidate differentially traffic VMAT-2 within nerve terminals, with effects similar to those observed after high-dose administration. Trafficking of vesicular glutamate, acetylcholine, or GABA transporters was not altered by high-or low-dose amphetamine or methylphenidate treatment. These data represent the first report that amphetamine redistributes VMAT-2 protein. In addition, these data demonstrate that the trafficking of VMAT-2 after amphetamine or methylphenidate is selective for monoaminergic neurons.
Transmission of light through a periodic array of slits in a thick metallic film

Finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) computer simulations reveal interesting features of the transmission of a linearly polarized plane-wave through a periodic array of sub-wavelength slits in a thick metal film (incident E-field perpendicular to the slits' long axis). The results show that slit transmission has a quasi-periodic dependence on both the film thickness and the period of the slits. This indicates that resonant surface waves excited at the top and bottom facets of the metal film as well as resonant guided modes along the depth of the slits play major roles in determining the transmission efficiency of the array. When the slit periodicity is an integer-multiple of the surface-plasmon wavelength, transmission drops to zero regardless of film thickness; in other words, excitation of surface plasmons reduces the transmission efficiency. When the slit periodicity deviates from the aforementioned value, maximum transmission through the slits is achieved by adjusting the film thickness. In the thickness dimension, transmission maxima occur periodically, with a period of half the effective wavelength of the guided mode in each slit waveguide. Optimum transmission is thus achieved by simultaneously adjusting the film thickness and the period of the slits. Computed field profiles clarify the role played by the induced surface charges and currents in enhancing the light's coupling efficiency into and out of the slits.
QT dispersion as a noninvasive predictor of inducible ventricular tachycardia

Abstract The QT dispersion (QTD) on the surface electrocardiogram is a noninvasive marker of heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization. An increased QTD has been associated with spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias. We investigated the relationship of QTD to inducible reentrant sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) in 66 patients who underwent programmed electrical stimulation. Thirty-three patients had inducible VT and 33 had noninducible VT with up to three extra stimuli. The QTD was significantly longer in patients with inducible VT (79 ± 30 ms) compared with those in whom VT was noninducible (50 ± 20 ms, P
Testing MDP in a simulated space channel environment

The performance of the Multicast Dissemination Protocol (MDP) in a simulated satellite channel is investigated. The environment that is modeled is that to be expected in a small satellite communications environment including channel errors and link interruptions. The anticipated operating mode for these satellites is to transfer file-oriented sensor data to ground-based earth and space science investigators. The satellite link is simulated with a channel environment simulator. The performance of MDP is compared with file transfer protocol (ftp) acting as a standard basis. In these experiments, we find that MDP does not perform as well as ftp in the high-quality channel, although the performance difference is small. MDP does perform better than ftp in low-quality channels. MDP is also able to resume data transmissions when a link outage occurs. MDP is seen as being a viable option for use in small satellite communications systems.
Use of modified enzymes for the solubilization/liquefaction of bituminous coal in a fluidized-bed reactor

Biocatalysts allow the solubilization/liquefaction of coal at nearambient temperatures. This research has focused on the chemical modification of enzymes to enhance their solubility and activity in organic media, and on optimal reactor design for a biocatalyst coal liquefaction process. Modification of hydrogenase and cytochrome c using dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) or methoxypolyethylene glycolp-nitrophenyl carbonate (PEG-n) has effected increased solubilities up to 20 g/L in organic solvents ranging from dioxane to toluene. Use of these modified enzymes in a small fluidized-bed reactor (with H2 sparge) resulted in >40% conversion of bituminous coal in 24 h. Research using model compounds suggests that the conversion process may be in part owing to splitting at methyl or ethyl bridges, and perhaps saturation of ring structures. A new class of continuous columnar reactors will be necessary to achieve the high throughput and low inventory necessary for biocatalyst processes. The controlling mechanisms of particle transport in fluidized-bed systems using very small coal particulates are being studied. This has included the hydrodynamic modeling of coal segregation in fluidized-bed reactors, with direct microscopic visualization using fluorescence microscopy. A summary of our previously published work on enzyme modification and fluorescence visualization is presented.
Building an on-chip spectrum sensor for cognitive radios

Next generation cognitive radio networks require an RF and mixed signal hardware architecture that can achieve low-energy, very wideband spectrum sensing. We survey state-of-the-art low-power CMOS building blocks as potential candidates for realizing such an architecture. For the critical analog-to-digital converter, we compare time-interleaved and frequency- interleaved architectures, including system- level simulations, and frequency-interleaving is shown to provide significant advantages. Measurement results from a 3.8 mW 5 GHz bandwidth analog domain frequency interleaver are presented to confirm the possibility of a very low-energy frequency domain digitizer. Coupled with DSP for calibration and signal feature extraction, this architecture has significant promise for cognitive spectrum sensing.
Review: Oral antiviral drugs reduce clinical recurrence in recurrent genital herpes

Source Citation Le Cleach L, Trinquart L, Do G, et al. Oral antiviral therapy for prevention of genital herpes outbreaks in immunocompetent and nonpregnant patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 201...
Method of biopsy and incidence of positive margins in primary melanoma.

The publication of ‘‘Melanoma Biopsy Method and Positive Margins’’ by Stell et al. in this issue of the Annals provides the opportunity to highlight approaches to the biopsy of cutaneous melanoma. The first issue is whether an incisional biopsy into a melanoma could disrupt melanoma cells that would then metastasize. The generally accepted practice in some northern European countries up until a decade or so ago was that suspected melanomas were excised with wide excision margins under general anesthesia to avoid the potential spread of melanoma by either cutting into the tumor or otherwise dislodging tumor cells by the injection of local anesthetic. In 1985, Lederman and Sober provided data that demonstrated no adverse effect on prognosis from performing a partial biopsy of cutaneous melanoma (incisional or punch biopsy vs. excisional biopsy) after correcting for thickness. Subsequent multivariant analyses have not demonstrated an independent effect of biopsy on outcome. Thus, the most important principle here would be to promptly establish the diagnosis of melanoma by whatever biopsy type is appropriate for the specific lesion at hand followed promptly by definitive therapy for that specific melanoma. The second issue concerns the adequacy of each type of biopsy for establishing a correct diagnosis of melanoma and in accurately determining microstaging. There is no question that total excisional biopsy with narrow margins provides the pathologist with the ideal specimen for determining the above items and this has been recommend in published guidelines. In what situations may partial biopsy be inadequate in establishing the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma?