cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visualizing myosin's power stroke in muscle contraction

The long-standing swinging crossbridge or lever arm hypothesis for the motor action of myosin heads finds support in recent results from 3-D tomograms of insect flight muscle (IFM) fast frozen during active contraction and from both fluorescence polarization and X-ray diffraction during rapid stretches or releases of isometrically contracting fibers. The latter provide direct evidence for lever arm movements synchronous with force changes. Rebuilding the atomic model of nucleotide-free subfragment 1 (S1) to fit fast-frozen, active IFM crossbridges suggests a two-stage power stroke in which the catalytic domain rolls on actin from weak to strong binding; this is followed by a 5-nm lever arm swing of the light chain domain, which gives a total interaction distance of approx. 12 nm. Comparison of S1 crystal structures with in situ myosin heads suggests that actin binding may be necessary in order to view the full repertoire of myosin motor action. The differing positions of the catalytic domains of actin-attached myosin heads in contracting IFM suggest that both the actin-myosin binding energy and the hydrolysis of ATP may be used to cock the crossbridge and drive the power stroke.
Critical Care of the Cardiac Patient

As the spectrum of cardiac surgeries has grown, the diversity and complexity of postoperative cardiac surgical care has also increased. This article examines 4 areas in critical care where clinical practice is evolving rapidly. Among these are management of mechanical ventilation, thresholds for blood transfusion, strategies for hemodynamic monitoring, and processes for central line insertion. Also reviewed are current approaches to common dilemmas in postoperative cardiac care: diagnosis of tamponade, and the diagnosis and management of low cardiac output states in patients with a ventricular assist device.
Discussion of Bruno de Finetti’s Paper ‘Initial Probabilities: A Prerequisite for any Valid Induction’

I should like to say first how much I appreciate the invitation to comment on Professor de Finetti’s paper at this distinguished gathering. As he said, his basic philosophy of probability and statistics is extremely close to my own. We both believe that subjective probabilities must be used in every practical problem that involves probabilities, but in applications to statistics I find it at least convenient to talk as if physical probabilities exist. Whereas de Finetti regards physical probabilities as mental constructs, I tend to believe that they exist independently of the existence of intelligent entities. I think they cannot be measured except in terms of subjective probability, but I am not convinced that they can be satisfactorily defined in terms of subjective probability. Moreover, even if they can be so defined, in my opinion it is useful to employ a great variety of judgments, including judgments of inequalities between utilities, expected utilities, ‘weights of evidence’ (see below), and subjective probabilities both of events and of hypotheses. Moreover I often make use of non-Bayesian methods as an aid to judgment, but then extra care must be exercised in order to avoid contradicting the axioms of the theory of rationality. [By a ‘Weight of Evidence’ I mean the logarithm of what A. M. Turing called a ‘factor in favor of a hypothesis’, namely the ratio of the final to the initial odds of a hypothesis.
UV spectroscopic identification and thermodynamic analysis of protonated third strand deoxycytidine residues at neutrality in the triplex d(C+-T)6:[d(A-G)6d(C−-T)6]; evidence for a proton switch

Abstract Near-UV difference spectral analysis of the triplex formed from d(C-T)6 and d(A-G)6.d(C-T)6 in neutral and acidic solution shows that the third strand dC residues are protonated at pH 7.0, far above their intrinsic pKa. Additional support for ion-dipole interactions between the third strand dC residues and the G.C target base pairs comes from reduced positive dependence of triplet stability on ionic strength below 0.9 M Na+, inverse dependence above 0.9 M Na+ and strong positive dependence on hydrogen ion concentration. Molecular modeling (AMBER) of C:G.C and C+:G.C base triplets with the third strand base bound in the Hoogsteen geometry shows that only the C+:G.C triplet is energetically feasible. van't Hoff analysis of the melting of the triplex and target duplex shows that between pH 5.0 and 8.5 in 0.15 M NaCl/0.005 M MgCl2 the enthalpy of melting (delta H degree obs) varies from 5.7 to 6.6 kcal.mol-1 for the duplex in a duplex mixture and from 7.3 to 9.7 kcal.mol-1 for third strand dissociation in the triplex mixture. We have extended the condensation-screening theory of Manning to pH-dependent third strand binding. In this development we explicitly include the H+ contribution to the electrostatic free energy and obtain [formula: see text]. The number of protons released in the dissociation of the third strand from the target duplex at pH 7.0, delta n2, is thereby calculated to be 5.5, in good agreement with approximately six third strand dc residues per mole of triplex. This work shows that when third strand binding requires protonated residues that would otherwise be neutral, triplex formation and dissociation are mediated by proton uptake and release, i.e., a proton switch. As a by-product of this study, we have found that at low pH the Watson-Crick duplex d(A-G)6.d(C-T)6 undergoes a transition to a parallel Hoogsteen duplex d(A-G)6.d(C(+)-T)6.
An analysis of the equity risk premium

The authors analyse the equity risk premium over 1926–2000, extending the results of Clinebell et al. (1994) who use simple regression to test for autoregression, random variation and random walk. The present authors find that Clinebell et al.'s significant autocorrelation in the first half is restricted to the behaviour of July 1932, and it is insignificant otherwise. The slope co-efficient for October is insignificant over 1926–1950 and indicates negative (positive) autocorrelation over 1951–1975 (1976–2000). A small autoregressive component is detected for the remaining months over 1926–1975 which the authors relate to a lead-lag pattern consistent with market efficiency.
Fossil New World monkeys dispute the molecular clock

New World monkeys offer an empirical test of the accuracy of molecular clocks. A phylogenetic reconstruction based upon craniodental morphology suggests that platyrrhine clades and generic lineages are far, older than albumin and transferrin “clocks” indicated. It is unjustified to accept the molecular clock's timescale when protein and morphological evidence do not generate symmetrical cladograms. Such a dichotomy in evidence for New World anthropoids exists and, by implication, casts doubt upon molecular divergence dates of Old World monkeys, apes and hominids.
Social interactions among epithelial cells during tracheal branching morphogenesis.

Genetic mosaic analysis in Drosophila melanogaster shows that there are two classes of cells in the budding tracheal branches: those that migrate to the tip, and those that follow these lead cells and form a tube. The position of the cell results from competition within the population, with those expressing the highest level of FGF taking the lead positions at the tip, and the others forming the branch stalk. Many organs are composed of tubular networks that arise by branching morphogenesis in which cells bud from an epithelium and organize into a tube1,2,3. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and other signalling molecules have been shown to guide branch budding and outgrowth4,5,6,7, but it is not known how epithelial cells coordinate their movements and morphogenesis. Here we use genetic mosaic analysis in Drosophila melanogaster to show that there are two functionally distinct classes of cells in budding tracheal branches: cells at the tip that respond directly to Branchless FGF and lead branch outgrowth, and trailing cells that receive a secondary signal to follow the lead cells and form a tube. These roles are not pre-specified; rather, there is competition between cells such that those with the highest FGF receptor activity take the lead positions, whereas those with less FGF receptor activity assume subsidiary positions and form the branch stalk. Competition appears to involve Notch-mediated lateral inhibition that prevents extra cells from assuming the lead. There may also be cooperation between budding cells, because in a mosaic epithelium, cells that cannot respond to the chemoattractant, or respond only poorly, allow other cells in the epithelium to move ahead of them.
The effects of visual loss on lizard, Gerrhonotus multicarinatus, activity

Blinded foothill alligator lizards, Gerrhonotus multicarinatus, exhibited significantly less closed-field activity than those that had normal vision. The results supported the hypothesis that, with a decrease in sensory input, there would be a concomitant decrease in nonmammalian locomotor activity.
Effect of flow rate on stability of unconsolidated producing sands

Stabilization of unconsolidated sand during production by sand arching was confirmed with a sandpack model of a well completion. Fluid was flowed radially through a sand pack which was loaded vertically to simulate overburden pressure. Flow rates were gradually increased to the point at which sand flowed and the arch then examined. Larger arches resulted from higher flow rates. Critical rate for the sand production depended on rate history as well as rate magnitude and arch size.
Synthesis and alkylation of [Fe(CN)2(C5H5)(CO)]−, [Mo(CN)2(C5H5)(CO)2]−, [W(CN)2(C2H5)(CO)2]− and [W(CN)(C5H5)(CO)3]−

Abstract [Fe(CN)2(C5H5)(CO)]− was best prepared by reacting [FeBr(C5H5)(CO)2] with potassium cyanide in aqueous ethanol. Two other syntheses were also found. Alkylation of the anion with alkyl halides gave two series of isocyanide complexes: neutral [Fe(CN)(C5H5)(CO)(CNR)] and cationic [Fe(C5H5)(CO)(CNR)]+. The reaction of potassium cyanide with [WCl(C5H5)(CO)3] gave [W(CN)(C5H5)(CO)3] and K[W(CN)2(C5H5)(CO)2]; [MoCl(C5H5)(CO)3] gave only K[Mo(CN)2·(C5H5)(CO)2]. Alkylation of the tungsten monocyanide complex with methyl iodide gave the isocyanide complex [W(C5H5)(CO)3(CNCH3)]I and alkylation of the molybdenum dicyanide complex gave [Mo(C5H5)(CO)2(CNCH3)2]I. Attempts to form other cyclopentadienyl-carbonyl-cyanide complexes were unsuccessful.
An Unusual Cause of Acute Chest Pain During Epidural Anesthesia

Background and Objectives Selective sympathetic denervation during epidural anesthesia results in a small, active gut. These changes can also result in selective activity in one segment of the gut that is absent in other segments. Case Report A 61-year-old male was scheduled for bilateral total knee replacement during epidural anesthesia. Following onset of the epidural block, he experienced severe left-sided chest pain. Surgery was canceled. A portable chest radiograph revealed a widened mediastinum, and he underwent angiography to rule out a dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm. The left subclavian artery could not be visualized, and an MRI was obtained, which was normal. After his return to the intensive care unit, he had a large bowel movement and his chest pain resolved. Conclusion Selective activity of the gastrointestinal tract during the onset of epidural anesthesia created a visceral pain, which effectively simulated pain with a cardiovascular origin.
The Blood Supply to the Great Toe Sesamoids

The purpose of this study was to define the intraosseous and extraosseous blood supply of the hallucal sesamoids by studying a total of 10 fresh-frozen, below-knee specimens with no evidence of vascular disease. Most specimens were injected with high grade India ink, cleared using a standard Spalteholz technique, and processed to delineate the extraosseous and intraosseous blood supply to include soft tissue dissection and coronal sectioning. Two additional specimens were injected with blue Mercox acrylic solution to further define the extraosseous vasculature. The major extraosseous blood supply to the sesamoids is via the posterior tibial artery. This vessel then branches into the medial plantar artery which further divides upon entering the medial and lateral sesamoids in their proximal poles. Vessels in the peripheral soft tissues, although abundant, do not seem to penetrate the cortex of the sesamoids. The intraosseous blood supply to the sesamoids seems to be threefold. Mainly, sesamoid arteries enter the lateral and medial sesamoids from the proximal aspect via a single vessel. This proximal vessel proceeds distally with a network of branching. Plantar, nonarticular vessels enter the sesamoids, constituting a second source of vascularity. Finally, small vessels also enter the sesamoids through medial and lateral capsular attachments. Based on this study, a possible explanation for avascular necrosis and nonunion of sesamoids is proposed, and an optimal surgical approach is discussed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Role of Stress Exposure and Family Functioning in Internalizing Outcomes of Urban Families

Although research suggests that stress exposure and family functioning are associated with internalizing problems in adolescents and caregivers, surprisingly few studies have investigated the mechanisms that underlie this association. To determine whether family functioning buffers the development of internalizing problems in stress-exposed families, we assessed the relation between stress exposure, family functioning, and internalizing symptoms among a large sample of inner-city male youth and their caregivers living in poverty across five waves of data collection. We hypothesized that stress exposure and family functioning would predict development of subsequent youth and caregiver internalizing problems and that family functioning would moderate this relation, with higher functioning families demonstrating greater resiliency to stress exposure. We used a longitudinal, prospective design to evaluate whether family functioning (assessed at waves one through four) activated or buffered the effects of stress exposure (assessed at wave one) on subsequent internalizing symptoms (assessed at waves four and five). Stress from Developmental Transitions and family functioning were significant predictors of depressive symptoms and anxiety in youth; however, family functioning did not moderate the relation. Family functioning mediated the relation between stress from Daily Hassles and internalizing outcomes suggesting that poor parenting practices, low structure, and low emotional cohesion activate depression and anxiety in youth exposed to chronic and frequent everyday stressors. Surprisingly, only family functioning predicted depressive symptoms in caregivers. Results validate the use of a comprehensive, multi-informant assessment of stress when investigating internalizing outcomes in youth and support using family-based interventions in the treatment and prevention of internalizing.
Thrombomodulin activity on human saphenous vein grafts prepared for coronary artery bypass

Abstract Thrombomodulin, a membrane glycoprotein present on normal vascular endothelium, binds circulating thrombin and is important in protein C activation. These functions contribute to the nonthrombogenic nature of endothelium. Damage during harvest and ex vivo storage of vein grafts may result in dysfunction of this endothelial anticoagulant barrier and possibly contribute to early graft thrombosis. We studied the functional activity and antigenic expression of thrombomodulin on saphenous veins before (initial) and after (harvested) harvest and storage for coronary artery bypass grafting in 15 patients. Also, fresh saphenous vein was studied after mechanical endothelial stripping. After storage for 2.7 ± 0.6 hours at room temperature in heparinized saline, thrombomodulin functional activity in harvested vein segments was 28% less than initial segments ( p = 0.08). Endothelial stripping resulted in a 79% reduction in thrombomodulin activity compared with initial segments ( p = 0.04). Immunohistochemical staining confirmed thrombomodulin antigen on vein grafts after harvest and storage, but not on segments stripped of endothelium. Thrombomodulin functional activity and antigenic expression on human saphenous vein grafts is not significantly changed by harvest and relatively short periods of storage at room temperature in heparinized saline. (J VASC SURG 1991;14:147-51.)
Catalyzed combustion of H2/air mixtures in a flat plate boundary layer: II. Numerical model

Abstract A computer program has been developed to solve the boundary layer equations for laminar flow over a heated catalytic plate with H 2 /air combustion. The objectives are to investigate the importance of homogeneous as opposed to surface reactions during high-temperature surface catalyzed combustion and to determine the roles of heat and mass transfer and their effect on the combustion process. Realistic transport properties and a detailed kinetic mechanism have been included in the program. Results are presented for the combustion of H 2 /air at an equivalence ratio of 0.1 during flow over a noncatalytic plate with a surface temperature of 1100K. The results indicate the existence of an initial region near the plate leading edge in which radical concentrations increase with little associated heat release, and a downstream region where heat release due to gas phase combustion results in a significant increase in thermal boundary layer thickness. Boundary conditions are formulated for a catalytic surface and the resulting calculations show that surface reaction has a strong quenching effect on the initiation of gas phase combustion in the boundary layer due to removal of H 2 near the plate surface and quenching of radical species generated in the gas phase. This results in a significant reduction in gas phase heat release rates and a smaller increase in thermal boundary layer thickness than found with a noncatalytic surface.
Chronic ethanol enhances ectodomain shedding in T cells and monocytes.

Background: Chronic ethanol (EtOH) has been shown to augment tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production, and this has been associated with EtOH-induced liver injury. We have recently described a chronic in vitro cell culture model where chronic ethanol exposure results in significantly augmented TNF production in Mono Mac 6 cells, a human monocytic cell line. This enhanced TNF production was redox regulated and associated with increased levels of TNF messenger RNA (mRNA) as well as increased processing of TNF by TNF converting enzyme (TACE), the enzymatic activity of which is regulated by the cellular redox state. We hypothesized that chronic ethanol through oxidative stress activates TACE-mediated ectodomain shedding of the preformed substrates p75 and p55 TNF receptors in Mono Mac 6 cells and L-selectin in Jurkat T cells. Methods: Mono Mac 6 or Jurkat T cells were treated with EtOH (0, 50, or 100 mM) for 4 to 6 days. Shedding of p75 and p55 TNF receptors (Mono Mac 6 cells) or L-selectin (Jurkat T cells) was induced by stimulation with lipopolysaccharide and phorbol myristate acetate for Mono Mac 6 cells and PMA alone for Jurkat T cells. Shedding was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for shed molecules in the cell supernatant as well as the cell-associated proteins recovered from cell pellets. Steady-state mRNA levels for p75 TNF receptor and L-selectin were determined by ribonuclease protection assay. Cell surface L-selectin and TACE were measured by flow cytometry, and cell associated p55 and p75 TNF receptors were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Chronic EtOH exposure for 6 days resulted in a significant dose-dependent increase in shedding of p75 and p55 TNF receptors from Mono Mac 6 cells and L-selectin from Jurkat T-cells. The enhanced shedding was correlated with an alcohol-induced increase in mRNA levels and cell surface protein levels for these TACE substrates. Although chronic EtOH exposure increased the total amount of p75 and p55 TNF receptor and L-selectin shed into the media, the efficiency of shedding was suppressed by EtOH. In the case of Mono Mac 6 cells, the EtOH exposure increased superoxide production. Inhibition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced form) oxidase and hydrogen peroxide partially prevented the increased production of p75 TNF receptor in these cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that chronic EtOH up-regulates p75 and p55 TNF receptors on monocytes and L-selectin on T-cells. However, the TACE-mediated shedding efficiency of these substrates may be inhibited in the presence of EtOH. These results may have implications in monocyte signaling and T-cell trafficking, which may, in part, contribute to immune dysregulation associated with chronic ethanol.
Computational Modeling of Granuloma Formation in Tuberculosis Yields Insights into both Infection and Treatment

Tuberculosis (TB), a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), results in 1-2 million deaths/year. Disease control is hampered by our limited understanding of the relevant biology and by development of antibiotic resistance. Granulomas, organized collections of immune cells and bacteria that form in lungs, are central features of TB and serve as sites of host-pathogen interaction. Cytokines influence the behavior of immune cells, directing granuloma function and maintenance. Granuloma structure helps determine bacterial phenotypes, antibiotic distribution and efficacy. There is a critical need for an in silico platform to provide cost-effective means of understanding the immune response during Mtb infection and testing and optimizing new treatment strategies.We developed a multi-scale computational model of the immune response to Mtb. Molecular, cellular and tissue behavior over minutes to years can be computed, validated with in vitro and in vivo data, and used to understand and predict system behavior. The model incorporates tuneable resolution, allowing us to vary the aspect and level of detail for virtual experiments. We present two examples of model use. First, we study how concentrations of a pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α, and an anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10, control granuloma formation and function. We find that a balance of concentrations defines a granuloma environment that may benefit both host and pathogen. Second, we explore the role of granuloma structure in antibiotic distribution and action. Antibiotic concentration gradients form within granulomas and could contribute to development of resistance. We compare dosing regimens of two first-line antibiotics, isoniazid and rifampicin, and demonstrate that intermittent high doses are less effective than daily low dose regimens. Our computational approach represents a critical step towards understanding the complex phenomena involved in Mtb infection and developing successful treatment strategies.
Solubility of Chlordiazepoxide, Diazepam, and Lorazepam in Ethanol + Water Mixtures at 303.2 K

Experimental solubilities of three benzodiazepines (chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, and lorazepam) in ethanol + water mixtures at 303.2 K are reported. The solubility of drugs was increased with the addition of ethanol and reached the maximum value of a volume fraction of 90 % of ethanol. The Jouyban-Acree model was used to fit the experimental data, and the solubilities were reproduced using previously trained version of the Jouyban-Acree model and the solubility data in monosolvents in which the overall mean relative deviations (OMRDs) of the models were 8.6 %, 21.9 % and 19.3 %, respectively, for the fitted model, the trained version for ethanol + water mixtures and generally trained version for various organic solvents + water mixtures.
Bayesian high-dimensional screening via MCMC

Abstract We explore the theoretical and numerical properties of a fully Bayesian model selection method in the context of sparse high-dimensional settings, i.e., p ≫ n , where p is the number of covariates and n is the sample size. Our method consists of (1) a hierarchical Bayesian model with a novel prior placed over the model space which includes a hyperparameter t n controlling the model size and (2) an efficient MCMC algorithm for automatic and stochastic search of the models. Our theory shows that, when specifying t n correctly, the proposed method yields selection consistency, i.e., the posterior probability of the true model asymptotically approaches one; when t n is misspecified, the selected model is still asymptotically nested in the true model. The theory also reveals insensitivity of the selection result with respect to the choice of t n . In implementations, a reasonable prior is further assumed on t n . Our approach conducts selection, estimation and even inference in a unified framework. No additional prescreening or dimension reduction step is needed. Two novel g -priors are proposed to make our approach more flexible. The numerical advantages of the proposed approach are demonstrated through comparisons with sure independence screening (SIS).
What asset forfeiture teaches us about providing restitution in fraud cases

Purpose – In today's global economy, the public routinely engages in international financial transactions via the internet. This has created opportunities for online fraud. The paper aims to explain what policymakers who are serious about providing crime victims with an effective restitution remedy can learn from the US Government's experience with forfeiture.Design/methodology/approach – The paper, by an Assistant US Attorrney, combines narrative with argument and analysis.Findings – Existing restitution law is ineffective. Prosecutors have used forfeiture laws as an indirect mean of providing compensation for crime victims, but forfeiture law has its limits. The better approach would be for Congress to authorize the pretrial seizure and restraint of assets directly for restitution, utilizing standards comparable to those that exist in current forfeiture law. To address situations where a defendant places money overseas to avoid restitution, Congress should enact international restitution laws comparable...
Multicolored simplified asthma guideline reminder (MSAGR) for better adherence to national/global asthma guidelines.

Background Clinicians in general have not widely and consistently used asthma guidelines in their practices around the world. This study identifies reasons for the poor adherence to asthma guidelines by primary care physicians (PCPs), and simultaneously introduces multicolored simplified asthma guideline reminder (MSAGR) as a practical tool to enhance adherence to asthma guidelines. Methods Sixty-nine PCPs were given a simple, one-page, fill-in-the-blank questionnaire on the classification of asthma severity as defined in National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines, using patients' symptoms, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)/forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) value, PEFR variability, and step therapy based on asthma severity. Also, they were given a questionnaire on barriers to using asthma guidelines and MSAGR for evaluation. In one targeted community, free copies of MSAGR were made available to PCPs, and data on emergency room visits and hospitalization of asthmatic patients were analyzed. Results Of the PCPs, 16% correctly classified mild, intermittent asthma, 13% mild, persistent asthma, 8% moderate, persistent asthma, and 8% severe, persistent asthma based on the combined patient's symptoms, PEFR or FEV 1 value and PEFR variability as defined in National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines. One hundred percent of the PCPs chose inhaled β 2 -agonists as quick relief medication. Fifty percent of the PCPs chose inhaled steroids, leukotriene antagonists, oral theophylline, and long acting β-agonists in various combinations for different severity of asthma. Eighty percent of the physicians failed to select the appropriate dosages of inhaled steroids for different severities of asthma. Ninety-five percent of PCPs reported that MSAGR made using the guidelines easier for them. In the targeted community, asthma-related emergency room visits decreased 22.5% and hospitalizations by 26.9%. Conclusions This is the first study that identified the reasons for poor adherence to asthma guidelines by PCPs, and introduced MSAGR as a practical "low-tech" tool to promote better adherence to asthma guidelines. MSAGR presents patient-specific recommendations, based on asthma guidelines in a user-friendly format that can save the physician time in real-world primary care settings, where such information is often needed instantly. The overwhelming majority of PCPs strongly agreed that MSAGR helped them recall the classification of asthma severity in a timely manner, to inquire about various triggers, and to use step therapy accurately and confidently. In one targeted community, MSAGR helped clinicians in primary care settings to achieve better asthma outcomes and to reduce both emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
A Simple Method of Analysis for Tradescantia Anthocyanins

Acylated B-ring substituted anthocyanins with a 41-keto structure may be of interest as food colorants because at pH values above 4.0 they show an extra absorption band at 583 nm. This makes the pigments highly colored at pH >4.0. The extra band also provides a simple method of analysis based on the difference between the absorption at 583 nm at pH 5.5 and 2.0. The Delta E 1% 1 cm for the major anthocyanin in Tradescantia pallida was 97.
Middle Turbinate Headache Syndrome

Sinus headaches are attributed to inflammatory disease of the sinus mucosa or ostium. In 1948 H.G. Wolff first recognized that sinus headaches may occur in the absence of inflammatory sinusitis, an...
Structural Analysis and Mutation Detection Strategy for the Human LamC3 Gene

Abstract Laminins are heterotrimeric extracellular matrix molecules, present in a wide range of basement membranes within human tissues. They consist of a combination of different α, β, and γ subunits. Three different γ subunits have been described to date. Two of them, the γ1 and γ2 chains are constituents of basement membrane related laminins, while the γ3 chain was detected in skin, heart, lung, reproductive tract, brain, and in the retina. Unlike other laminins, the expression of the γ3 chain was localized to peripheral nerves and to the apical surface of ciliated epithelial cells and in the retina. To further investigate the function and the possible pathogenic role of laminin γ3 in human disease, we elucidated the structure of the corresponding LAMC3 gene which encodes this polypeptide. Here we report the genomic organization of the LAMC3 gene and a mutation detection strategy for use in genetic studies.
Affinity targeting of membrane vesicles to cell surfaces

Abstract A general methodology has been developed for immunospecific attachment of sealed erythrocyte ghosts or liposomes to selected cell surface antigens. Antibody or avidin is coupled to a red cell or liposome membrane by one of several simple chemical procedures. Membrane vesicles bearing anti-hapten antibody or avidin form clusters exclusively around cells that have been labeled with first-layer hapten- or biotin-modified antibodies. Such targeting methods should be useful in studies aimed at facilitating vesicle-cell fusion and microinjection of selected molecules into cells. The new protein-membrane coupling procedures are also readily applied to the preparation of selectively modified red cells for use in plaque assays to detect cells secreting immunoglobulin or a specific anti-protein antibody.
New lattice model for adsorption of small molecules in zeolite micropores

A new adsorption model is developed for small molecules in zeolites whose form is based on features revealed by molecular simulation. Adsorption is assumed to occur onto a 3-D polyhedral lattice, and both the energy and entropy of the lattice sites are accounted for using a statistical mechanics approach. Energetic interactions are described by an Ising model with both 2- and multibody nearest-neighbor in-teractions. Entropic interactions are included by an adsorption site volume term which accounts for the loss of traslational freedom associated with lattice crowding. The model is applied to a system of small molecules (xenon, methane) adsorbed in idealized zeolite NaA, where adsorption has been shown by computer simulation to occur on finite, cuboctahedral lattices (Van Tassel et al., 1992). The model quantitavely predicts the simulated isotherm over the entire pressure range. Comparison is made with a Langmuir model and a van der Waals gas model which, although valid at low pressures, fail at high pressures due to overestimation of translational entropy and inaccurate portrayal of sorbate-sorbate interaction energy.
Dynamic Simulation and Control Strategy of Centrifugal Flying Shear

Centrifugal Flying Shear is one of the most advanced equipments, which is widely used in tandem mill production lines because of its simple structure and high shearing precision. In this paper, the working principle of the centrifugal flying shear was introduced; the three-dimensional model of the centrifugal flying shear was established; the structural analysis and the dynamic simulation of the flying shear, with the movement rule and trajectory, were made based on MATLAB/SimMechanics and Solidworks/COSMOS Motion; and the control strategy of realizing scale shearing was proposed. The results obtained provide theoretical basis for design of the electronic control system, and facilitate further analysis of the shearing process and parameter optimization design of similar flying shears.
Prevention of Growth Deceleration after Withdrawal of Growth Hormone Therapy in Idiopathic Short Stature

The treatment of children with idiopathic short stature by daily injections of human GH (hGH) is followed after its withdrawal by a growth deceleration with normal serum GH and IGF-I levels. The present study was designed to understand and prevent growth deceleration. We hypothesized that this phenomenon is due to tolerance at the target organ level, that tolerance develops in response to the unphysiological pharmacokinetics of daily-injected hGH, and that alternate day hGH therapy will prevent it. Thirty-eight prepubertal children with idiopathic short stature, aged 3.3–9.0 yr, were studied. Their heights were less than −2 sd score, growth rate was above the 10th percentile for age, bone age was less than 75% of chronological age, and the stimulated serum GH concentration was greater than 10 μg/liter. The children were matched for sex, height, and growth velocity sd score to receive daily or alternate day hGH at the same weekly dose of 6 mg/m2 for a period of 2 yr. The 1st and 2nd year mean growth veloci...
Dual role of (-)-sparteine in the palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols.

The mechanistic details of the palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols have been elucidated. (−)-Sparteine was found to have a dual role as a chiral ligand and an exogenous base. Saturation kinetics were observed for the dependence on (−)-sparteine concentration. A first-order dependence on [alcohol] and [catalyst] as well as inhibition by addition of (−)-sparteine HCl were observed. These results are consistent with rate-limiting deprotonation under low (−)-sparteine concentrations and rate-limiting β-hydride elimination using saturating (−)-sparteine concentrations. This conclusion is further supported by a kinetic isotope effect of 1.31 ± 0.04 under saturation. The enantioselectivity events are also controlled by addition of (−)-sparteine in which high concentrations afford a more selective kinetic resolution.
Heart disease during pregnancy. Which cardiovascular changes reflect disease

Primary care physicians have an important role in timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment of gravid patients with cardiac disorders. Health of the mother and child can be optimized with thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of cardiac disorders during pregnancy, especially those with potentially serious effects, such as peripartum cardiomyopathy and acute myocardial infarction. Mitral stenosis often manifests for the first time during pregnancy. Mitral valve prolapse is usually benign but in some cases necessitates antibiotic prophylaxis for delivery. Pregnancy in women with prosthetic cardiac valves may expose mother and child to risks that can be minimized with appropriate safeguards.
Return rates and outcomes from ethnicity-specific mental health programs in Los Angeles.

OBJECTIVES. The present study compared the return rate, length of treatment, and treatment outcome of ethnic minority adults who received services from ethnicity-specific or mainstream programs. METHODS. The sample consisted of 1516 African Americans, 1888 Asian Americans, and 1306 Mexican Americans who used 1 of 36 predominantly White (mainstream) or 18 ethnicity-specific mental health centers in Los Angeles County over a 6-year period. Predictor variables included type of program (ethnicity specific vs mainstream), disorder, ethnic match (whether or not clients had a therapist of the same ethnicity), gender, age, and Medi-Cal eligibility. The criterion variables were return after one session, total number of sessions, and treatment outcome. RESULTS. The study indicated that ethnic clients who attended ethnicity-specific programs had a higher return rate and stayed in the treatment longer than those using mainstream services. The data analyses were less clear cut when treatment outcome was examined. CONC...
Analysis of the effects of cell spacing and liquid depth on nitric oxide and its oxidation products in cell cultures.

A series of reaction−diffusion models was developed to describe spatial and temporal variations in the concentrations of NO and related species (O2-, peroxynitrite, and N2O3) in a cell culture conf...
A survey of obstetrician-gynecologists on their patients' alcohol use during pregnancy.

Abstract Objective: To examine knowledge, attitudes, current clinical practices, and educational needs of obstetrician–gynecologists regarding patients’ alcohol use during pregnancy. Methods: A 20-item, self-administered questionnaire on patients’ prenatal alcohol use was sent to 1000 active ACOG fellows. Responses were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical techniques. Results: Of the 60% of the obstetrician–gynecologists who responded to the survey, 97% reported asking their pregnant patients about alcohol use. When a patient reports alcohol use, most respondents reported that they always discuss adverse effects and always advise abstinence. One fifth of the respondents (20%) reported abstinence to be the safest way to avoid all four of the adverse pregnancy outcomes cited (ie, spontaneous abortion, central nervous system impairment, birth defects, and fetal alcohol syndrome); 13% were unsure about levels associated with all of the adverse outcomes; and 4% reported that consumption of eight or more drinks per week did not pose a risk for any of the four adverse outcomes. The two resources that respondents said they needed most to improve alcohol-use assessment were information on thresholds for adverse reproductive outcomes (83%) and referral resources for patients with alcohol problems (63%). Conclusion: Efforts should be made to provide practicing obstetrician–gynecologists with updates on the adverse effects of alcohol use by pregnant women and with effective methods for screening and counseling women who report alcohol use during pregnancy.
Gaussian derivative wavelets identify dynamic changes in histone modification

Epigenetic landscapes reveal how cells regulate genes in a cell-type or condition specific manner. Genome-wide surveys using histone modification showed cell-type specific regulatory regions. A number of computational methods were designed to identify cell-type specific regulatory regions using epigenome data. Most of them were designed to identify the enrichment of histone modification or their changes. However, they did not consider the shape of epigenetic signals, which represents the condition for protein binding at gene regulatory regions. We present a computational method to detect epigenetic changes using the shape of the signals for histone modification. Employing a Gaussian Derivative Wavelet (CGDWavelet) approach, the proposed method models a nucleosome with a Gaussian and detects the peak and the edges of the Gaussian. Using the detected parameters across two samples, CGDWavelet classifies epigenetic changes. We applied CGDWavelet to the histone modification data from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and neural progenitor cells (mNPCs) and identified four groups of epigenetic changes. Associating each group with gene expression, we found that gene expression is affected by chromatin structure as well as the intensity of histone modification. We found that Smad1, Sox2 and Nanog but not Oct4 bind to the epigenetically variable regions for H3K4me3. Software is available at http://wonk.med.upenn.edu/CGDWavelet Keywords-component; wavelet, epigenome, histone modification, nucleosome
Use of adrenocorticotropin challenges to indicate chronic stress responses of laying hens in several housing alternatives

Abstract The use of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) challenges was tested as an indicator of the level of physiological stress response of laying hens in several housing alternatives. Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) hens were challenged with intravenous ACTH injections (either .33, 1.0 or 3.0 IU/kg body weight). Plasma corticosterone (CORT) concentrations taken at intervals from 10 to 180 min following ACTH challenges revealed CORT response curves which peaked within 30 min at 34-, 54- and 60-fold increases over pre-challenge CORT levels with doses of .33, 1.0 and 3.0 IU/kg ACTH, respectively. Peak CORT levels for 1.0 and 3.0 IU/kg of ACTH did not differ; however, CORT levels for 1.0 IU/kg ACTH were significantly elevated above the peak for .33 IU/kg ACTH. Laying hens housed in cage and floor management alternatives were challenged with .33 and 1.0 IU/kg of ACTH after 10 months of lay. Cage management treatments were 3, 4 or 5 hens per cage and floor treatments with hens kept at 2 densities. Significant differences in the ACTH-induced CORT response between management alternatives could be detected following injection of .33 IU/kg ACTH, but not with the higher ACTH dose (1.0 IU/kg). These studies demonstrated that the CORT response to the lower dose of ACTH seemed to be more effective in assessing management differences, but further clarification may be necessary before ACTH challenges can be accurately used to evaluate physiological stress responses of laying hens housed in different conditions.
Targeting base excision repair for chemosensitization.

In both bacteria and eukaryotes the alkylated, oxidized, and deaminated bases and depurinated lesions are primarily repaired via an endogenous preventive pathway, i.e. base excision repair (BER). Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are two important modes of cancer treatment. Many of those therapeutic agents used in the clinic have the ability to induce the DNA damage; however, they may also be highly cytotoxic, causing peripheral toxicity and secondary cancer as adverse side effects. In addition, the damage produced by the therapeutic agents can often be repaired by the BER proteins, which in effect confers therapeutic resistance. Efficient inhibition of a particular BER protein(s) may increase the efficacy of current chemotherapeutic regimes, which minimizes resistance and ultimately decreases the possibility of the aforementioned negative side effects. Therefore, pharmacological inhibition of DNA damage repair pathways may be explored as a useful strategy to enhance chemosensitivity. Various agents have shown excellent results in preclinical studies in combination chemotherapy. Early phase clinical trials are now being carried out using DNA repair inhibitors targeting enzymes such as PARP, DNA-PK or MGMT. In the case of BER proteins, elimination of N-Methylpurine DNA glycosylase (MPG) or inhibition of AP-endonuclease (APE) increased sensitivity of cancer cells to alkylating chemotherapeutics. MPG-/- embryonic stem cells and cells having MPG knock-down by siRNA are hypersensitive to alkylating agents, whereas inhibition of APE by small molecule inhibitors sensitized cancer cells to alkylating chemotherapeutics. Thus, MPG and other BER proteins could be potential targets for chemosensitization.
Reply to Professor Baker

Premiss (a) is, of course, flagrantly question-begging, and (a) and (b) would, if they constituted a sound argument, obviate the necessity of finding a special proof of (c). But there is nothing in my paper2 which provides a basis for even the slightest suspicion that I am using "experience" in its achievement sense, and, indeed, minimal interpretive charity would have yielded the opposite conclusion. On page 227 Baker says that "the existence of hallucinations and other nonveridical perceptions requires Dore to admit the compatibility of S's seeming experience of P and P's non-existence." This implies that I would rather not. But, again, my paper makes it perfectly plain that I intend to use "experience" in such a way that "S experiences P" is compatible with "S merely seems to perceive P" and, hence with "P does not exist." This is all that is required by my central thesis that one cannot have even an hallucination of square circles and other such logically impossible objects.
Complications in hysteroscopy: prevention, treatment and legal risk.

Purpose of reviewFortunately, gynecologists are enthusiastically embracing diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy as a means to evaluate women with menstrual disorders, infertility, post-menopausal bleeding, recurrent pregnancy loss, and for ultrasound images. In general, operative hysteroscopy is a
Who Built Irvine? Private Planning and the Federal Government

The Irvine Ranch in Southern California is the largest privately master-planned 'new community' or satellite new town ever to be built in the US. The development was led by the private sector but government played an important role. This paper traces how the federal government shaped the Irvine development through a range of policies and programmes from defence to habitat protection. In turn, the developers of Irvine were cast in a role of co-ordinating parts of government. This analysis highlights some of the problems likely to be faced as governments promote similarly phased, co-ordinated and mixed-use proposals under the rubric of smart growth or sustainable development.
Applications and performance of the non-numerical ranking preferences method for post-Pareto optimality

Abstract Most real-world engineering optimization problems are implicitly or explicitly multi-objective, and approaches to find the best feasible solution to be implemented can be quite challenging for the decision-maker. In this kind of problem, either the analyst determines a single solution or identifies a set of nondominated solutions, often referred to as Pareto-optimal set. Although, several methods for solving multi-objective optimization problems have been developed and studied, little prior work has been done on the evaluation of results obtained in multi-objective optimization. This selection stage is often referred as post-Pareto optimality. This paper presents a method based on preferences rankings provided from the decision-maker. The method is clearly advantageous because there is no need to provide specific weight values; the only requirement is to provide a non-nominal ranking. Several examples are used to show the performance of the algorithm.