cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Behavioural and Physical Stressors on Immune Responses

Research in animals over the past several decades had indicated that the relationship between the effects of physical and behavioral stressors and the immune response was unidirectional and thus, imposition of unfavorable environments could suppress normal antibody and cell mediated responses. Evidence indicated that a significant part of this suppression was mediated through hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal neuroendocrine pathways. However, research now indicates that this pathway may not be unidirectional; that information also flows from elements of the immune system toward central control. Extrapituitary, extrahypothalamic “ACTH-like” and “β-endorphin-like” peptides are produced by cells of the immune system that may be initiators of immunity and interact with central mechanisms.
The 10th Bielschowsky Lecture. Changes in strabismus over time: the roles of vergence tonus and muscle length adaptation.

Abstract Patients with long-standing unilateral strabismus, such as "sensory" exotropia in the absence of fusion, or esotropia with unilateral amblyopia, typically show bilateral deviations under anesthesia, often symmetric. Forced ductions usually show symmetric muscle tightness. Changes in extraocular muscle lengths thus appear to occur primarily bilaterally, whether fusion is present or not. With skeletal muscles responding to changes in stimulation by the gain or loss of sarcomeres, it is likely that abnormal or unguided vergence tonus, which changes the lengths of the extraocular muscles bilaterally, is largely responsible for changes in the angle of strabismus over time. This mechanism helps explain the development of [1] increasing "basic" deviations in accommodative esotropia; [2] torsional deviations with apparent oblique muscle "overaction/underaction" and A and V patterns; [3] recurrent esotropia with early presbyopia; [4] occasional divergence insufficiency in presbyopes; and [5] basic cyclovertical deviations that mimic superior oblique muscle paresis.
Isoenzyme contribution to economy of contraction and relaxation in normal and hypertrophied hearts

In heart muscle, substantial sarcomere shortening and lengthening occurs during the rise and fall of isometric tension (6–9 %). If heart muscle behaves like skeletal muscle, then energetically the contraction phase should be less economical than the relaxation phase. Experiments we carried out on normal (N), pressure overload hypertrophied (P), and thyrotoxic hypertrophied (T) heart muscle using rapid myothermal techniques and isolated papillary muscles to test this hypothesis.
Evaluating biological activity of compounds by transcription factor activity profiling

Assessing the biological activity of compounds is an essential objective of biomedical research. We show that one can infer the bioactivity of compounds by assessing the activity of transcription factors (TFs) that regulate gene expression. Using a multiplex reporter system, the FACTORIAL, we characterized cell response to a compound by a quantitative signature, the TF activity profile (TFAP). We found that perturbagens of biological pathways elicited distinct TFAP signatures in human cells. Unexpectedly, perturbagens of the same pathway all produced identical TFAPs, regardless of where or how they interfered. We found invariant TFAPs for mitochondrial, histone deacetylase, and ubiquitin/proteasome pathway inhibitors; cytoskeleton disruptors; and DNA-damaging agents. Using these invariant signatures permitted straightforward identification of compounds with specified bioactivities among uncharacterized chemicals. Furthermore, this approach allowed us to assess the multiple bioactivities of polypharmacological drugs. Thus, TF activity profiling affords straightforward assessment of the bioactivity of compounds through the identification of perturbed biological pathways.
Vocal Fold Paralysis and Dysphagia: Challenges and Controversies

The term vocal fold paralysis (VFP) has a spectrum of entities within the literature, including vocal fold motion impairment, vocal fold immobility, adductor or abductor paralysis, and vocal fold paresis. VFP is known to be a major cause of dysphagia, dysphonia, and respiratory problems. The degree to which these are manifested often depends on whether the patient has unilateral VFP or bilateral VFP, as well as etiology of the VFP, patient age, and other patient characteristics. While the majority of pediatric studies that have focused on the management of VFP have emphasized respiratory and voice outcomes, dysphagia and impaired swallowing function are important consequences of VFP. This chapter focuses on the relationship between VFP and dysphagia in the pediatric patient, focusing specifically on the challenges the otolaryngologist faces in the workup and management of this entity.
Trends and Characteristics of Proposed and Enacted State Legislation on Childhood Vaccination Exemption, 2011–2017

Objectives. To examine trends and characteristics of proposed and enacted state legislation that would directly affect states' immunization exemption laws.Methods. We performed content analysis of proposed bills in state legislatures from 2011 to 2017. We classified bills as provaccination or antivaccination.Results. State legislators proposed 175 bills, with the volume increasing over time: 92 (53%) bills expanded access to exemptions, and 83 (47%) limited the ability to exempt. Of the 13 bills signed into law, 12 (92%) limited the ability to exempt. Bills that expanded access to exemptions were more likely to come from Republican legislators and Northeastern and Southern states.Conclusions. Although most proposed legislation would have expanded access to exemptions, bills that limited exemptions were more likely to be enacted into law. Legal barriers to exempt one's children from vaccination persist despite vaccine hesitancy, which is encouraging for public health.Public Health Implications. Most vaccine exemption laws introduced in state legislatures would pose threats to the public's health. There is a need for constituents to engage their elected legislators and advocate provaccination policies.
A combinatorial duality between the weak and strong Bruhat orders

Abstract In recent work, the authors used an order lowering operator ∇, introduced by Stanley, to prove the strong Sperner property for the weak Bruhat order on the symmetric group. Hamaker, Pechenik, Speyer, and Weigandt interpreted ∇ as a differential operator on Schubert polynomials and used this to prove a new identity for Schubert polynomials and a determinant conjecture of Stanley. In this paper we study a raising operator Δ for the strong Bruhat order on the symmetric group, which is in many ways dual to ∇. We prove a Schubert identity dual to that of Hamaker et al. and derive formulas for counting weighted paths in the Hasse diagrams of the strong order which agree with path counting formulas for the weak order, providing a strong order analog of Macdonald's reduced word identity. We also show that powers of ∇ and Δ have the same Smith normal forms, which we describe explicitly, answering a question of Stanley.
Online Pursuit in the Twilight Zone: Cyberstalking Perpetration by College Students

The author provides one of the first empirical examinations of cyberstalking perpetration. The extent and nature of cyberstalking are investigated using a sample of college students from a large un...
Evidence of a clinically significant drug-drug interaction between cannabidiol and tacrolimus.

Cannabidiol (CBD), a major purified nonpsychoactive component of cannabis with anticonvulsant properties, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2018 as an adjuvant treatment for refractory epilepsy (Epidiolex; GW Pharmaceuticals). CBD is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 and CYP2C19 with a growing body of evidence suggesting it is also a potent inhibitor of these pathways. We report for the first time a significant drug-drug interaction between the purified CBD product and tacrolimus. A participant in a CBD clinical trial for epilepsy who was also receiving tacrolimus showed an approximately 3-fold increase in dose-normalized tacrolimus concentrations while receiving 2000-2900 mg/day of CBD. Our report delineates an important concern for the transplant community with the increasing legalization of cannabis and advent of an FDA-approved CBD product. Larger studies are needed to better understand the impact of this drug-drug interaction in solid organ transplant recipients.
From Treatment to Containment to Enterprise: An Ethno-history of Therapeutic Communities in Puerto Rico, 1961–1993

Unpaid work is now a central therapy in Puerto Rican therapeutic communities, where substance users reside and seek to rehabilitate each other, often for years at a time. Once a leading treatment for addiction in mainland United States, therapeutic communities were scaled back in the 1970s after they lost federal endorsement. They continue to flourish in Puerto Rico for reasons that have less to do with their curative powers than with their malleability as multi-purpose social enterprises and their historical co-option by state, market and family actors who have deployed them for a variety of purposes. Their endurance from the 1960s to the neoliberal present obliges us to recognize their capacities as what Mizruchi calls abeyance mechanisms whereby ‘surplus’ populations, otherwise excluded from labor and home, are absorbed into substitute livelihoods. Having initially emerged as a low-cost treatment, in a context of mass unemployment and prison-overcrowding they now thrive as institutions of containment and informal enterprise.
Immediate Postoperative Extubation Decreases Pulmonary Complications in Liver Transplant Patients.

BACKGROUND Fast-track anesthesia in liver transplantation (LT) has been discussed over the past few decades; however, factors associated with immediate extubation after LT surgery are not well defined. This study aimed to identify predictive factors and examine impacts of immediate extubation on post-LT outcomes. METHODS A total of 279 LT patients between January 2014 and May 2017 were included. Primary outcome was immediate extubation after LT. Other postoperative outcomes included reintubation, intensive care unit stay and cost, pulmonary complications within 90 days, and 90-day graft survival. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors that were predictive for immediate extubation. A matched control was used to study immediate extubation effect on the other postoperative outcomes. RESULTS Of these 279 patients, 80 (28.7%) underwent immediate extubation. Patients with anhepatic time >75 minutes and with total intraoperative blood transfusion ≥12 units were less likely to be immediately extubated (odds ratio [OR], 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26-0.89; P = 0.02; OR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.05-0.21; P 0.9) and 90-day graft survival rates (95.8% versus 98.6%; P = 0.31) were similar. CONCLUSIONS Immediate extubation post-LT in appropriate patients is safe and may improve patient outcomes and resource allocation.
Individual Differences in Trust in Autonomous Robots: Implications for Transparency

The introduction of increasingly intelligent and autonomous systems raises novel human factors challenges for human–machine teaming. People utilize differing mental models in understanding the functioning of complex systems that may be capable of social agency. Operators may perceive the machine as either a complex tool or a humanlike teammate. When the “advanced tool” mental model is adopted, operator trust may reflect individual differences in expectations of automation. By contrast, when the “teammate” mental model is activated, trust may depend on evaluative attitudes to robots. This article investigates predictors of trust in an autonomous robot detecting threat on either a physics-based or psychological basis. Distinct dimensions of physics-based and psychological trust are identified, corresponding to advanced tool and team mental models, respectively. Dispositional perceptions of automation, measured with the perfect automation schema scale, are associated with both aspects of trust. By contrast, the negative attitudes toward robots scale is specifically associated with lower psychological trust. The findings suggest that transparency information should be designed for compatibility with the operator's mental model in order to support accurate trust calibration and situation awareness. Transparency may be personalized to emphasize either the machine's data-analytic capabilities (advanced tool) or its humanlike social functioning (teammate).
Cultural sensemaking and the implementation of edTPA technological tools: lessons for the field

Since 2009, one-third of all US teacher preparation programs have implemented a new, technology-based teacher assessment—edTPA. Intended to replace traditional measures of initial teaching competency, edTPA utilizes a candidate-curated video lesson and ePortfolio. While research shows that these technology-based tools enhance professional practice, the authors demonstrated that unintended consequences occurred when such tools were incompatible with the cultural contexts implementing them. Employing a multiple-embedded case study, qualitative interviews, focus groups, and field observations (N = 75) were conducted across eight teacher preparation programs. Findings indicate that policy design and organizational factors influenced how programs culturally made sense of and implemented edTPA’s videotaping and ePortfolio tasks for teacher candidates—substantively or instrumentally. In the process, the authors developed a theoretical and practical understanding of how, and under what conditions, large-scale, technology-based policy tools may be implemented successfully across education contexts.
Conceptions of Language and Rhetoric in Ancient and Medieval Judaism

This study explores conceptions of language and rhetoric in ancient and medieval Jewish life and writings which relate to Hebrew, other languages, and language per se, reflecting both ‘religious’ n...
Cavitation-induced erosion in liquid metal spallation targets – A comparison between a predictive method and measured erosion damage to stainless steel target modules at the Spallation Neutron Source

Abstract Neutrons are produced for neutron scattering instruments at the Spallation Neutron Source by bombarding liquid mercury with a pulsed high-energy proton beam. The liquid mercury target material flows through a replaceable stainless-steel target vessel and cavitates during operation due to the extremely high heating rate caused by each proton pulse. Cavitation-induced erosion damage to the mercury-facing surfaces of target vessels is a key concern for target lifetime and has been the subject of considerable research. While numerous experiments have studied and modeled the progression of cavitation erosion damage to liquid metal target containers, direct quantitative measurements of actual erosion of a spallation target vessel were previously not available. Recently, the erosion damage to multiple target vessels operated at the Spallation Neutron Source was measured using a high-resolution laser scanning system, which provided an opportunity to study the efficacy of a cavitation damage progression model. In this paper, a cavitation progression modeling procedure developed using empirical observations is compared to measurements of samples from target vessels after operation. The strengths and limitations of the technique are discussed and methods for improving future modeling and predictive accuracy are proposed.
Migrants into Humanitarians: Ethnic Solidarity and Private Aid-Giving during Romania’s Historic Flood of 1970:

This article studies the involvement of Western diaspora communities of Transylvanian Saxons in the humanitarian campaign for Romania during the flood disaster in 1970. It shows how the Saxons’ pri...
Supplemental CO2 improves oxygen saturation, oxygen tension, and cerebral oxygenation in acutely hypoxic healthy subjects.

Oxygen is viewed in medicine as the sole determinant of tissue oxygenation, though carbon dioxide homeostasis is equally important and clinically often ignored. The aims of this study were as follows: (a) to examine the effects of different acute hypoxic conditions on partial pressure of arterial oxygen ( Pa O 2 ), arterial oxygen saturation of hemoglobin ( Sa O 2 ), and regional cerebral saturation of hemoglobin (rSO2 ); and (b) to evaluate supplemental CO2 as a tool to improve oxygenation in acutely hypoxic individuals. We hypothesized that exposure to gas mixtures with added CO2 would improve oxygenation in hypoxic human subjects. Twenty healthy subjects were exposed to 5-min intervals of two gas mixtures: hypoxic gas mixture containing 8% oxygen, and a CO2 -enriched mixture containing 8% oxygen plus either 3% or 5% CO2 . Ten subjects received the 3% CO2 -enriched mixture, and the remaining 10 subjects received the 5% CO2 -enriched mixture. The order of exposure was randomized. Blood gases, pulse oximetry, end-tidal CO2 , and cerebral oximetry were measured. Compared to the purely hypoxic gas group, Pa O 2 was increased in the 3% and 5% CO2 -enriched groups by 14.9 and 9.5 mmHg, respectively. Compared to pure hypoxia, Sa O 2 was increased in the 3% and 5% CO2 -enriched groups by 16.8% and 12.9%, respectively. Both CO2 -enriched gas groups had significantly higher end-exposure rSO2 and recovered to baseline rSO2 within 1 min, compared to the pure hypoxic gas group, which returned to baseline in 5 min. These results suggest that in acutely hypoxic subjects, CO2 supplementation improves blood oxygen saturation and oxygen tension as well as cerebral oxygenation measures.
Anesthetic and subanesthetic doses of isoflurane conditioning provides strong protection against delayed cerebral ischemia in a mouse model of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Abstract Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is identified as one of the significant contributors to poor patient outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We previously reported that a supratherapeutic dose of isoflurane conditioning (2%) provided robust protection against SAH-induced DCI. The aim of our current study is to compare the efficacy of the supratherapeutic dose of isoflurane to that typically used to establish general anesthesia or sedation. After IRB approval for animal studies, ten to fourteen-week-old wild-type male mice (C57BL/6) were divided into five groups – sham, SAH alone, or SAH with isoflurane conditioning (0.5%, 1%, and 2%). Conditioning was performed with one-hour of isoflurane initiated one-hour after induction of SAH via endovascular perforation technique. Vasospasm measurement in the middle cerebral artery was assessed 72 h after SAH. Neurological assessment was performed at baseline and for next three days after SAH. It was identified that all tested doses of isoflurane conditioning (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) significantly attenuated large artery vasospasm and markedly improved neurological deficits following SAH. No significant differences in neurovascular outcome were noted between the three doses of isoflurane conditioning. Our data show that isoflurane dosing typically used for general anesthesia (1%) or sedation (0.5%) provide similar levels of DCI protection in SAH as that provided by a supratherapeutic dose (2%). This result has important implications for future translational studies. Additional studies examining the therapeutic potential of anesthetic conditioning for SAH are therefore warranted.
MRI-Proton Density Fat Fraction Treatment Response Criteria in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of leading causes of chronic liver disease in the United States(1). NASH can lead to cirrhosis, end stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma and has become one of the leading indications for liver transplant in the United States(2). Reversal of NASH and improvement of NASH-related fibrosis is a major unmet need in the field of liver disease. Several therapies have shown promise in the treatment of NASH-related fibrosis but there are no food and drug administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved therapies.
Some Thoughts Concerning the Radiation Damage Resulting from Measurements of Inner Shell Excitation Spectra Using Electron and Photon Beams

In an earlier paper,1 we compared the efficiency of electron and photon beams for determining microchemical environment. The conclusion, that electron beam systems might have higher sensitivity than a photon beam system when analyzing submicron size areas, is in fair agreement with the assessment by J. Kirz2 in which various beam spectroscopies were compared with regard to elemental identification of biomaterials. Estimates concerning the relative damage imparted to the sample by ionizing beams were made in (1) and (2) using somewhat different assumptions. However, no effort was made to assess the radiation damage due to a spectroscopic measurement. [Although in (3), comparisons (for electrons) of doses necessary to acquire given statistics in a spectroscopic measurement were compared to the doses at which manifestations of damage occurred.]
The Pipeline Case: Cross-Disciplinary Learning and Pedagogical Lessons from the Mountain Valley Pipeline

We present a nested case study that highlights the pedagogical opportunities and challenges of implementing a single teaching case, the Mountain Valley Pipeline, across multiple courses and in co-curricular activities within an interdisciplinary Environmental Studies program. Our pedagogy focused on connecting environmental changes, including climate change, with political choices, institutions, ideologies, and cultural practices, as well as addressing issues of avoidance and disengagement among students. We first describe the various activities through which the pipeline case was incorporated in our courses, then offer a panoramic, program-level analysis of the advantages and challenges of this interdisciplinary pedagogical project, highlighting practical, theoretical, and community-building aspects.
Playing in Church: Insights from the Boundaries of the Sermon Genre

Any God I ever felt in church I brought in with me. And I think all the other folks did too. They come to church to share God, not find God.1—Alice Walker As a child growing up in the African Metho...
A Flexible Resonant Converter Based Battery Charger with Power Relays

Battery charger applications require constant current (CC) charging stage and constant voltage (CV) charging stage. From the output voltage profile, the converter is required to work in a wide gain range. Due to wide switching frequency operation range, the performances for traditional LLC converter are degraded. The circulating current and conduction loss for traditional LLC converter are increased to satisfy the voltage gain requirement. To improve the converter performance, a flexible resonant converter topology is proposed. With the aid of power relays, the proposed converter is operating as traditional LLC converter with resonant frequency operation during CV charge stage. During CC charging stage, the LCL-T resonant tank is connected in the secondary side to provide constant output current. Thanks to the high accuracy characteristics of two resonant tanks, almost fixed frequency operation is achieved to satisfy the charging profile. Comparisons have been made with traditional LLC converter to demonstrate the advantages. Experimental results are provided to validate the proposed converter.
Designing for persuasion: toward ambient eco-visualization for awareness

When people are aware of their lifestyle’s ecological consequences, they are more likely to adjust their behavior to reduce their impact. Persuasive design that provides feedback to users without interfering with their primary tasks can increases the awareness of neighboring problems. As a case study of design for persuasion, we designed two ambient displays as desktop widgets. Both represent a users’ computer usage time, but in different visual styles. In this paper, we present the results of a comparative study of two ambient displays. We discuss the gradual progress of persuasion supported by the ambient displays and the differences in users’ perception affected by the different visualization styles. Finally, Our empirical findings lead to a series of design implications for persuasive media.
Spacelab Experiments on Convection in A Rotating Spherical Shell with Radial Gravity

Experiments on thermal convection in a rotating, differentially-heated hemispherical shell of fluid with a radial gravity field were carried out in the microgravity environment of Spacelab 3 which was flown on the space shuttle Challenger in May 1985. Such global-scale convection interacting with rotation has bearing on flows within the Sun and the giant planets, all of which rotate and possess deep shells of convection. The radial force of gravity is modelled by imposing a strong electric field across the shell, with dielectric polarization forces producing radial accelerations proportional to temperature. The thermally-driven circulations result from imposed radial and latitudinal temperature gradients on the bounding surfaces. When the rotation is rapid and its influence strong, the experiments with spherically-symmetric heating yield north-south oriented columnar convection (“banana cells”) in equatorial and sub-equatorial regions. As the radial heating is increased, these roll-like cells interact with mid-latitude waves, ultimately being destroyed by more isotropic convection that moves down from the pole. When a significant equator-to-pole temperature difference is imposed, “spiral waves” develop on top of a strong meridional circulation. Intricate, nonaxisymmetric, convective patterns that propagate in longitude and evolve in time are observed, including some “triangular waves” that couple mid-latitude and equatorial disturbances. Schlieren visualizations of these laboratory flows are compared briefly to three-dimensional nonlinear simulations that can be conducted at the more modest heating rates.
GROWTH HORMONE LEVELS IN NORMOGLYCEMIC AND HYPOGLYCEMIC INFANTS BORN SMALL FOR GESTATIONAL AGE

Recent investigations have raised the possibility that growth hormone (GH) influences intra-uterine weight and length. Moreover, the hypoglycemic tendency of small for gestational age (FSGA) infants and their small size could result from GH deficiency. To verify these hypotheses, a prospective study of daily serum GH and glucose levels was conducted in 46 newborn infants, including 18 FSCA infants, 18-full-term, appropriate for gestational age (FAGA), and 10 premature (PR) infants. Two FSGA babies became hypoglycemic. Both manifested normal GH competence as evidenced by normal daily GH levels, adequate GH response to arginine provocation, and satisfactory growth for over 2 years. Eleven of 12 FSGA babies followed from 14 to 26 months showed no evidence of impaired linear growth. The FSGA babies had GH values similar in magnitude and pattern to those of FAGA and PR infants. During the second half of the first postnatal day, a significant rise in serum GH occurred in all infants regardless of their size or gestational age; this rise may be the result of the stimulating effect of early milk feedings. GH deficiency does not appear to contribute to either the small size or hypoglycemic tendency of FSGA newborn infants.
The Pereyra procedure in the management of urinary stress incontinence

Abstract Results are presented and discussed of 186 consecutive patients with well-documented urinary stress incontinence who were treated by Pereyra urethrovesical neck suspension combined with a vaginal plastic procedure. The technique combines simplicity and low morbidity and yields a success rate comparable to that of the standard abdominal operations for stress incontinence.
The Dialectics of Dignity: Clinical Applications: Reply to Commentaries

This response paper explores the discussants’ questions about the role of dignity and value in analytic work. Utilizing a clinical vignette, the author highlights several key dialectics central to the therapeutic application of dignity—the dialectic between agentic and selfic freedom, the dialectic between uniqueness and universality, and the dialectic between conscious and unconscious valuing. An argument is made for the constant and inescapable role of valuing in analytic work. Far from being an impediment to clinical process, when utilized productively, this capacity can be seen as the main vehicle for therapeutic change.
Genetics of Host-Controlled Restriction and Modification of Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Escherichia coli

Lederberg, Seymour (Brown University, Providence, R.I.). Genetics of host-controlled restriction and modification of deoxyribonucleic acid in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 91:1029–1036. 1966.—The locus for the host specific restriction and modification of deoxyribonucleic acid in Escherichia coli has been mapped by matings between mutants for these characters in strains K-12, C600, and B. Linkage analysis and kinetics of marker transfer indicate that a single or closely linked multiple chromosomal site located about 4 min counterclockwise to leucine is responsible for these activities. Secondary factors which affect the quantitative level of restriction also were detected. Wild-type recombinants were isolated in crosses between rm− (restriction or modification, or both) mutants. The expression in zygotes of the restrictionless character of a rm− donor is masked by a separate, physiological impairment of restriction, which results from mating and is independent of the modification state of the donor. The relevance of the restriction character to mating incompatibilities in these and other bacterial strains is considered.
Looped Actin Structures for Testing Processive Molecular Motors

A method is described for constructing looped actin filaments. Circular islands of nitrocellulose were patterned onto a microscope cover slip by micro-contact printing. A flow cell was then constructed over the patterned surface. Skeletal myosin was introduced into the assay which non-specifically attached to the nitrocellulose islands. Labeled actin filaments were added to the assay and self assembled along the perimeter of the islands to form circular loops of around 4-6 mum in diameter. By altering the biochemical conditions in the assay, the bound myosin acted as a linker to hold the assembled filament in this looped configuration. Regions of the loop with enhanced fluorescent intensity suggest "closed loops" were formed from single filaments with overlapping ends. Adaptations of this assembly technique can be used for in vitro motility assays with highly processive actin based motor proteins such as myosin V. A more complete understanding of the factors that influence the processivity of myosin V may ultimately assist in efforts to exploit the molecule's unique functionality in engineered micro- and nano-fluidic devices
Lessons learned from the analysis of gender effect on risk factors and procedural outcomes of lower extremity arterial disease

Introduction Despite overall improvement, there is still a gender-related disparity in the outcomes of lower extremities peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We analyzed sex-related variability among factors that are known to influence outcomes. Methods Data on PAD inpatient hospitalizations from New York, New Jersey, and Florida state hospital discharge databases (1998-2007) were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results Of the 372,692 surgical hospitalizations identified, 162,730 (43.66%) involved women. Men and women undergoing vascular procedures differed in that more men smoked (18% vs 14%; P Conclusion Female gender continues to be an important risk factor that negatively influences the outcomes of vascular interventions; however, these effects vary between different high-risk groups and procedures. Gender effect on mortality dissipates in elderly patients. Prompt recognition of the associations between gender and various risk factors of cardiovascular disease and aggressive modification of these risk factors in female patients may improve gender-related disparity in the outcomes of vascular disease.
THE FEMALE GAMETOPHYTE OF MACHAERANTHERA PATTERSONII (ASTER PATTERSONII) AND OF M. TANACETIFOLIA

A B S T R A O T The nucellus of Machaeranthera pattersonii (A. Gray) Greene (Aster pattersonii A. Gray) contains only one megaspore mother cell, and the female gametophyte develops from the chalazal megaspore of a row of four, thus conforming to the Polygonum type of development. These observations are contrary to the older work of Palm. Three nuclear divisions produce the typical eight nuclei with the egg apparatus, primary endosperm cell with two polar nuclei, and two antipodal cells, the micropylar one containing two nuclei. Usually no more antipodal cells are formed, although there is further ntuclear division, apparently followed by nuclear fusion. The antipodal cells remain about the same size without forming an antipodal hauistorium. Cell division accompanies the first division of the primary endosperm nucleus. The early stages of the embryo resemble those of other Compositae. Machaeranthera tanacetifolia (HBK) Nees also shows the Polygonum type of development of the female gametophyte. It is suggested that Palm may have been working on some species of Eriqeron that had been wrongly identified, which would account for the difference in observations.
Comparison of GaAs MESFET and GaAs p-i-n diodes as switch elements

The Kurokawa-Schlosser quality factor Q is used to compare the GaAs MESFET switch with the GaAs p-i-n diode switch. The MESFET device parameters are governed by the power handling capability and the specified pinchoff voltage, and the switch Q is calculated from an approximate expression. The GaAs p-i-n has been characterized using a simple diode model which is derived from detailed simulations. The comparison for typical devices shows that the GaAs pin has the higher Q and therefore should have improved characteristics as a switch in terms of insertion loss and isolation.
Helix-helix interconversion rates of short 13C-labeled helical peptides as measured by dynamic NMR spectroscopy.

The rates at which a peptide hexamer and a peptide octamer interconvert between left- and right-handed helical forms in CD2Cl2 solution have been characterized by 13C dynamic NMR (DNMR) spectroscopy. The peptide esters studied are Fmoc–(Aib)n–OtBu (n = 6 and 8), where Fmoc is 9-fluorenylmethyoxycarbonyl and Aib is the strongly helix-forming residue α-aminoisobutyric acid. Because the Aib residue is itself achiral, homooligomers of this residue form a 50/50 mixture of enantiomeric 310-helices in solution. It has been demonstrated (R.-P. Hummel, C. Toniolo, and G. Jung, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 1987, Vol. 26, pp. 1150–1152) that oligomers of Aib interconvert on the millisecond timescale. We have performed lineshape analysis of 13C-NMR spectra collected for our peptides enriched with 13C at a single residue. Rate constants for the octamer range from 6 s−1 at 196 K to about 56,500 s−1 at 320 K. At all temperatures, the hexamer interconverts about three times faster than the octamer. Eyring plots of the data reveal experimentally indistinguishable ΔH‡ values for the hexamer and octamer of 37.8 ± 0.6 and 37.6 ± 0.4 kJ mol−1 respectively. The difference in the rates of interconversion is dictated by entropic factors. The hexamer and octamer exhibit negative ΔS‡ values of −29.0−1 ± 2.5 and −37.3 ± 1.7 J K−1 mol−1, respectively. A mechanism for the helix–helix interconversion is proposed. and calculated ΔG‡ values are compared to the estimate for a decamer undergoing a helix–helix interconversion. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 78: 87–95, 2005
The effects of glucose on myocardial substrate utilization in acute myocardial infarction or angina pectoris.

Abstract Infusion of glucose-insulin-potassium during acute myocardial infarction has favorable clinical and hemodynamic effects, presumably as a result of decreased myocardial utilization of free fatty acids. In 14 patients with coronary artery disease, hypertonic glucose (a bolus of 10 g followed by infusion of a 30% glucose solution at a constant rate of 10 mg/ kg/min) was infused and arterial and coronary sinus levels of glucose, lactate and free fatty acids were measured before and after 15 and 30 minutes of infusion. Arterial glucose and lactate levels increased significantly after glucose infusion, whereas free fatty acid levels decreased significantly. Modest but significant correlations also existed between glucose arterial levels and the arterial-coronary sinus glucose difference (r = 0.53, p
Budget Balancing in Difficult Times: The Case of the Two New Yorks

The objective of governments is to efficiently provide essential services and infrastructure to their jurisdictions at a competitive tax rate within the constraint of a balanced budget. In recent years, several states have found it difficult to maintain this standard. This article examines the nature of the problem in the overlapping jurisdictions of New York City and New York State. Specifically, it explains the nature of projected budget gaps that have emerged in New York, and describes how the two New Yorks' political leaders have managed their budgets in recent years. Furthermore, this article demonstrates that expenditures significantly exceed revenues, thus leading to inevitable budget gaps, and that policies designed to close the gap have harmful consequences.
UV-autoxidized linolenic acid in high yield for cancer study.

Aqueous emulsions of linolenic acid were exposed repeatedly to UV light in an oxygen atmosphere. After each exposure, a dense, yellow liquid formed which was insoluble in petroleum ether, poorly soluble in water, but highly soluble in ethyl ether. After 5 cyclic 90 min exposures, linolenic acid was almost quantitatively converted to autoxidation products which had the following properties: average mol wt, 510; 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive (pink derivative); peroxidase-reactive; peroxide no., 1100 meq/kg; hydrogen no., 404 mg/mmole H2; C, 61%; H, 9.0%; and O, 30%. Only trace amounts of free aldehydes were present. After treatment with BF3-methanol, the major, volatile products found were methyl acetal-esters of azelaic semialdehyde and azelaic acid. These products did not vary qualitatively from one UV exposure to another as shown by gas liquid chromatographic analyses. Ca. 90% of the autoxidized material did not appear on gas liquid chromatography even after methylation. Our technique allows the rapid preparation of high yields of autoxidized linolenic acid sufficient to study chemical properties and anticancer activities of the autoxidation products.
Single crystal EPR determination of the spin Hamiltonian parameters for Fe8 molecular clusters

Abstract We use a multi-high-frequency resonant cavity technique to obtain EPR spectra for single crystal samples of the biaxial molecular magnet Fe 8 [(tacn) 6 O 2 (OH) 12 ]Br 8 ·9H 2 O (Fe 8 ). By performing measurements at many closely spaced frequencies, we are able to extrapolate data back to zero magnetic field and, thereby, obtain accurate estimates of the zero-field splittings. Furthermore, from the (low-) field dependence of these splittings, with the magnetic field parallel to the easy axis, we can directly measure the g z -value. Measurements performed with the magnetic field parallel to the intermediate and hard axes may be used to constrain further the Hamiltonian parameters. Our results are in broad agreement with recent inelastic neutron scattering data. In addition, analysis of individual resonances (which we can assign to known transitions) reveals a pronounced M S dependence of the resonance line widths. Furthermore, the line positions exhibit complex (again M S dependent) temperature dependences that cannot be reconciled with the standard spin Hamiltonian.
A COMPARISON OF FIVE CURE PROCEDURES FOR SMOKED TURKEYS

Four methods of curing-smoking turkeys were compared to a conventional brine-smoked turkey process for their effects on product yield, salt and moisture levels, pH, color, shelf life, and sensory attributes. Dry curing followed by smokehouse cooking provided a moist acceptable product. Liquid smoke brining for smoked turkey was not as well received. Treatments of dry curing plus smoking and conventional brining plus roasting resulted in low bacterial counts and high TBA values; conventional brining plus roasting provided a less desirable external appearance.
Desensitizations for Chemotherapy and Monoclonal Antibodies: Indications and Outcomes

Acute infusion reactions to both chemotherapeutic agents and humanized monoclonal antibodies can occur, which may limit therapeutic options for treatment of malignancies and chronic inflammatory diseases. Many of these acute infusion reactions are consistent with a type I hypersensitivity reaction, including anaphylaxis. If a patient experiences a significant acute infusion reaction, often the recommendation is to discontinue the medication and find an alternative agent. However, the "second-line" agent may be more toxic or inferior. If the reaction is likely a type I or type IV hypersensitivity reaction, one option is to undergo desensitization to the offending drug. Drug desensitization is the process of readministering a needed drug in incremental doses over hours or days until a full therapeutic dose is tolerated. This article will review the current literature on indications and outcomes for drug desensitization in the management of allergy to either chemotherapeutic agents or monoclonal antibodies.
Characterization of IL-22 and antimicrobial peptide production in mice protected against pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a significant cause of fungal meningitis in patients with impaired T cell-mediated immunity (CMI). Experimental pulmonary infection with a C. neoformans strain engineered to produce IFN-γ, H99γ, results in the induction of Th1-type CMI, resolution of the acute infection, and protection against challenge with WT Cryptococcus. Given that individuals with suppressed CMI are highly susceptible to pulmonary C. neoformans infection, we sought to determine whether antimicrobial peptides were produced in mice inoculated with H99γ. Thus, we measured levels of antimicrobial peptides lipocalin-2, S100A8, S100A9, calprotectin (S100A8/A9 heterodimer), serum amyloid A-3 (SAA3), and their putative receptors Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in mice during primary and recall responses against C. neoformans infection. Results showed increased levels of IL-17A and IL-22, cytokines known to modulate antimicrobial peptide production. We also observed increased levels of lipocalin-2, S100A8, S100A9 and SAA3 as well as TLR4+ and RAGE+ macrophages and dendritic cells in mice inoculated with H99γ compared with WT H99. Similar results were observed in the lungs of H99γ-immunized, compared with heat-killed C. neoformans-immunized, mice following challenge with WT yeast. However, IL-22-deficient mice inoculated with H99γ demonstrated antimicrobial peptide production and no change in survival rates compared with WT mice. These studies demonstrate that protection against cryptococcosis is associated with increased production of antimicrobial peptides in the lungs of protected mice that are not solely in response to IL-17A and IL-22 production and may be coincidental rather than functional.
Efficient Computational Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis Using Modal Modification Response Technique

Generally, structural systems contain nonlinear characteristics in many cases. These nonlinear systems require significant computational resources for solution of the equations of motion. Much of the model, however, is linear where the nonlinearity results from discrete local elements connecting different components together. Using a component mode synthesis approach, a nonlinear model can be developed by interconnecting these linear components with highly nonlinear connection elements.
Inside money and the effects of inflation

Abstract This paper studies inflation in a model of inside money, where inside money is a debt instrument that shares the same liquidity properties as outside money. The explicit modeling of inside money allows for the standard Tobin effect of inflation to be combined with the transaction costs of inflation. Thus the net effect of inflation may be positive, negative, or zero. However, it is demonstrated that if the net effect is positive, it is likely to be small in magnitude and appear only at small inflation. Furthermore, numerical simulations reveal that the net effect may be substantially negative for even moderate inflation. These results are consistent with empirical observations.
Application of nonlinear programming to water quality control

Planning the design of an efficient waste treatment system can be aided through the use of mathematical models and optimization theory. This paper attempts to illustrate this point of view by formulating a model and applying it to a specific river basin. While the models give useful insights, questions still remain concerning limitations inherent in the models. We present some comments on this point and suggestions for resolving some of the resulting economic questions.
A sieve for entailments

The validity of an entailment has nothing to do with whether or not the components are true, false, necessary, or impossible; it has to do solely with whether or not there is a necessary connection between antecedent and consequent. Hence it is a mistake (we feel) to try to build a sieve which will “strain out” entailments from the set of material or strict “implications” present in some system of truth-functions, or of truth-functions with modality. Anderson and Belnap (1962, p. 47).
Polarization in p-α scattering from 17 to 27 MeV

Abstract The proton polarization in p-α scattering has been measured for proton energies between 17.5 and 27 MeV at six laboratory scattering angles from 45° to 115°. The 3He(d, p)4He reaction was used as the source of polarized protons. The measured extremes of polarization at 17.5 MeV are −0.68±0.03 at 75° and 0.92±0.04 at 115°. The magnitude of the polarization decreases slowly with increasing energy except near 23 MeV, where an anomaly, attributed to the 3 2 + state in 5Li, is observed. A phase shift analysis of all available p-α scattering data was made at 14.3, 17.5, 20.6, 26.1, 27.7 and 31.0 MeV. These phase shifts together with resonance parameters for the 3 2 + state obtained by analysing the 3He(d, p)4He total cross-section data were used to calculate the energy dependence of the p-α polarization and the cross section near the resonance. The results are in good agreement with the measurements.
Solutions to the equations for corotating magnetospheric convection

The equations of centrifugally driven convection appropriate to a treatment of the transport of Io plasma in Jupiter's magnetosphere are solved for two special cases of the source distribution. The results show that, in the corotating frame of Jupiter, the mass flows outward from the source, forming spirallike streamlines. It is found that the pitch of a spiral depends on the amount of resident mass and the ionospheric conductivity and that the outflow speed depends on the size of the source region, the resident mass, and the source strength of new ions. An example of a wide source and slow outflow is presented. It is noted that, in the limit of a narrow source, the outflow is rapid and the streamlines are nearly radial.