cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A heterochromatin barrier partitions the fission yeast centromere into discrete chromatin domains.

Summary Background Centromeres are cis -acting chromosomal domains that direct kinetochore formation, enabling faithful chromosome segregation. Centromeric regions of higher eukaryotes are structurally complex, consisting of various epigenetically modified chromatin types including specialized chromatin at the kinetochore itself, pericentromeric heterochromatin, and flanking euchromatin. Although the features necessary for the establishment and maintenance of discrete chromatin domains remain poorly understood, two models have been proposed based either on the passive convergence of competing activities involved in individual domain formation or, alternatively, on the action of specific genomic sequences and associated proteins to actively block the propagation of one chromatin type into another. Results Functional analysis of centromeric sequences located at the intersection of Schizosaccharomyces pombe central core chromatin and outer repeat heterochromatin identified a chromatin barrier that contains a transfer RNA (tRNA) gene. Deletion or modification of the barrier sequences result in the propagation of pericentromeric heterochromatin beyond its normal boundary. The tRNA gene is transcriptionally active, and barrier activity requires sequences necessary for RNA polymerase III transcription. Moreover, absence of the barrier results in abnormal meiotic chromosome segregation. Conclusions The identification of DNA sequences with chromatin barrier activity at the fission yeast centromere provides a model for establishment of centromeric chromatin domains in higher eukaryotes.
Raman measurements of localized pressure variations in lubricants above the glass transition pressure

Spatial pressure variations in synthetic lubricants contained in a static high-pressure diamond anvil cell (DAC), as well as in a loaded model bearing contact device, have been measured using the frequency shift of the lubricant’s Raman vibrational modes. Long-lived pressure fluctuations of ±0.5 GPa, with a relaxation time of several days, are observed m the static high pressure systems at an average pressure of 2.5 GPa. Evidence for rapidly varying pressure fluctuations in a concentrated contact is inferred from the increase in lubricant Raman linewidths. These results raise questions about key assumptions made in modeling EHD contacts. It is suggested that the present results are closely linked to recent observations of shear localization made by Winer and Bair.
Physical activity assessment: A review of methods

In order to determine the actual threshold level of habitual physical activity necessary to obtain protective effects against degenerative diseases, valid, reliable, nonreactive, and precise instruments are needed. Because regular, low-intensity exercise provides prophylactic effects, the ability to distinguish activity patterns should be a primary consideration when choosing an instrument to assess activity in the field. Although self-report methods in the form of questionnaires are the instruments of choice when large populations are to be assessed, they are somewhat limited in their objectivity. The doubly labeled water (DLW) technique is a highly accurate and objective technique for assessing total daily energy expenditure that should be utilized more as a criterion measure for validating questionnaires that assess energy expenditure. However, the DLW technique remains too costly to be considered practical for large-scale studies. Supplementing questionnaires with a personal interview does elicit more detailed data, but activity monitors provide a more objective measure of activity that can be used as an adjunct to questionnaires. Several models of activity monitors are capable of collecting and storing data for many days, weeks, or even months. More importantly, the internal real-time clocks of these monitors allow the discrimination of activity patterns. Future studies should combine the use of these monitors with a suitable questionnaire.
Secured PCR (sPCR) for detection and correction of PCR calibration model failures induced by uncalibrated spectral features

Many spectroscopic monitoring techniques make use of chemometric algorithms such as principal component regression (PCR) for calibration and evaluation of optical spectra. However, standard techniques of chemometric calibration and evaluation suffer from uncalibrated spectral features which are contained in measured spectra but were not considered during the initial calibration. For two main reasons such uncalibrated spectral features have to be detected and corrected: (a) if unknown spectral features appear after calibration major errors of concentration prediction are encountered and (b) the detection of uncalibrated spectral features enables recognition and handling of failures occurring in chemical processes. Hence detection, correction and characterization of uncalibrated absorption features are of great importance in on-line spectroscopy. A novel approach is proposed here for this purpose. This algorithm performs a qualitative data analysis for detecting and correcting such uncalibrated spectral features. Following this qualitative data analysis and if necessary correction, a conventional PCR is used for calculating the concentration of the calibrated analytes. Both steps together set up a so-called secured PCR (sPCR). In the undisturbed case this sPCR algorithm is demonstrated to provide equivalent results as conventional PCR and to be superior in evaluating disturbed spectra. For testing purposes simulated spectra sets are used since the disturbance is known and the determined results can be validated with respect to the magnitude of the true disturbance. The errors averaged over 1000 disturbed test samples could be decreased up to 71% by sPCR compared with conventional PCR. In up to 94% of the test samples more accurate concentration values were obtained. The novel sPCR algorithm was also applied to experimental spectra measured with mid-infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy considering chlorinated hydrocarbons dissolved in water. sPCR is capable to extract uncalibrated features from these experimental data and to improve the concentration results. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An update on metacercarial excystment of trematodes.

This review updates an earlier one by Fried (Adv Parasitol 33:91–144, 1994) on metacercarial excystation of trematodes. Our coverage of the salient literature is mainly from 1995 to 2008 and includes significant studies on echinostomatid and non-echinostomatid trematodes. Most of the echinostomatid studies are on species of 37-collar spined Echinostoma, although one study is concerned with a species of Echinochasmus. The non-echinostomatid coverage includes work on species of Paragonimus, Haplorchis, Apatemon, Microphallus, Clonorchis, Riberoia, Maritema, Opisthorchis, and Zygocotyle. Most of the studies were concerned with methods used to excyst the metacercariae of the species being investigated. However, some studies were concerned with metacercarial excystation in order to use the excysted larvae for in vitro cultivation or morphometric studies. Other studies used the excysted larvae for physiological, biochemical, or behavioral work. Several studies were also concerned with elucidating both intrinsic and extrinsic factors which mediate chemical excystation of the metacercarial stage of digenetic trematodes
Timing and duration of North American glacial lake discharges and the Younger Dryas climate reversal

Radiocarbon-dated sediment cores from the Champlain Valley (northeastern USA) contain stratigraphic and micropaleontologic evidence for multiple, high-magnitude, freshwater discharges from North American proglacial lakes to the North Atlantic. Of particular interest are two large, closely spaced outflows that entered the North Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence estuary about 13,200–12,900 cal yr BP, near the beginning of the Younger Dryas cold event. We estimate from varve chronology, sedimentation rates and proglacial lake volumes that the duration of the first outflow was less than 1 yr and its discharge was approximately 0.1 Sv (1 Sverdrup = 106 m3 s−1). The second outflow lasted about a century with a sustained discharge sufficient to keep the Champlain Sea relatively fresh for its duration. According to climate models, both outflows may have had sufficient discharge, duration and timing to affect meridional ocean circulation and climate. In this report we compare the proglacial lake discharge record in the Champlain and St. Lawrence valleys to paleoclimate records from Greenland Ice cores and Cariaco Basin and discuss the two-step nature of the inception of the Younger Dryas.
Deep far-infrared surveys with ISO: evidence for strong evolution in the LIG population at intermediate redshift

Deep surveys at 90μm and 170μm carried out with the ISOPHOT detector onboard the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) satellite have detected a substantial number of faint sources, consistent with strong evolution in the far-infrared number counts down to flux levels (4σ) of f90 ∼ 50mJy and f170 ∼ 100mJy. Initial ground-based follow-up observations at 20 cm with the VLA have been used to identify the most plausible optical counterparts to the far-infrared sources, and optical spectroscopy using the Keck II telescope has provided secure redshifts for a flux-limited sample of the brighter far-infrared objects. The ISOPHOT sources are found to span the redshift range z ∼ 0–1.6, and have luminosities in the range log Lir ∼ 10.5–13.52. The luminosity function of these intermediate-redshift, luminous infrared galaxies (LIGs) supports an earlier finding of strong evolution [i.e. Φ(z) ∝ (1 + z)6.5±3, assuming pure number density evolution] in the more local (z < 0.3) population of ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIGs) found at the faintest levels in the IRAS survey. The faint ISOPHOT sources also provide the first good evidence for a possible link between the local population of LIGs and the more distant population of faint submillimeter sources recently detected by SCUBA at 850μm.
Investigations of the simplex

I am honored to be able to speak on the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Psychometric Society. I t would be appropriate for your president on this occasion to review the 25-year history of our society and of mathematical methods in psychology. Fortunately our committee headed by Charles Wrigley has taken care of this need, and speakers better qualified than I will speak to these issues. I shall turn to a less demanding problem. In limiting my topic I was faced with certain constraints arising from my training, background, and interests. One constraint arises from a misspent youth during which too many years were spent studying disciplines other than mathematics. A second constraint, which probably stems from my training in experimental psychology, is a tendency to be more interested in data than theory. Finally, there is the Air Force personnel research experience which developed in me an abiding interest in applied prediction problems. If you consider this combination to be an odd one for the President of the Psychometric Society, don't blame me. You elected me! Although I shall introduce my topic by discussing the weather, I am not trying to avoid coming to grips with a problem. My problem does have something to do with the weather, and it also has something to do with Guttman's simplex [5]. My discussion will be a little bit mathematical and quite a bit empirical. I t also has applied implications.
The effects on subsequent sleep of an acute restriction of sleep length.

This experiment was designed to test the effects on subsequent sleep of a restriction in sleep length on the previous night. Eight male subjects were studied. After baseline recordings were made, sleep was restricted to either a period between 4-8 am or to a period between 6–8 am. On the night following the restriction of sleep the subjects retired at 11 pm and they were permitted to sleep ad lib in the morning. The restricted sleep periods resulted in differential sleep deprivation. Stages REM and 2 were markedly reduced whereas stages 3 and 4 showed little or no reduction in amount. There were significant reductions in sleep latencies and in the amount of lime spent in stages 0 and 1. The first 8 hrs of ad lib sleep following the 2 restricted sleep periods did not differ in any significant way from the 8 hrs of baseline sleep. When sleep was permitted to continue until the subjects awakened spontaneously, the sleep after the restriction of sleep to‘i hrs was significantly longer and displayed significantly more of stages REM and 2 when compared with the baseline ad lib sleep condition. The ad lib sleep period following the 4 hr condition showed similar changes although the differences were not statistically significant. The significant reductions in stages KEM and 2 during the restricted sleep periods were attributed to the effects of reduced steep length per se. The increases in sleep length and specifically the increases in stages REM and 2 during the ad lib sleep periods were attributed to a differential sleep “debt” accruing from restricted sleep length.
Regulatory role of dynamin-2 in VEGFR-2/KDR-mediated endothelial signaling

SPECIFIC AIMSKDR is the key receptor that initiates signaling events for VPF/VEGF causing endothelial cell migration, proliferation, and tube formation leading to angiogenesis. Currently, there are at least 80 different drugs in clinical trials targeting KDR. Nonetheless, there is a huge gap in the understanding of mechanisms that regulate compartmentalization and thus signaling of this receptor. Dynamin-2 is a signal-transducing GTPase that has been widely reported to be involved in clathrin- and caveolin-mediated receptor endocytosis. Therefore, the aim of this project was to elucidate the role of dynamin-2 in KDR endocytosis, compartmentalization, and signaling.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS1. KDR is present on the plasma membrane and endosomes as well as in the perinuclear region in HUVECs and colocalizes with EEA1, caveolin-1, and dynamin-2Immunoflourescence in HUVECs, showed the presence of KDR on the membrane along with punctate staining distributed in the cytoplasm as well as distinct staining in the perinucl...
Rheumatic Diseases Among Civil War Troops

There are extensive existing medical records of Federal Civil War troops. More than 160,000 cases of "acute rheumatism" occurred among these soldiers, and acute rheumatic fever was known to be the main cause. Infectious arthritides were frequent but not understood; gout was rare. "Chronic rheumatism" was diagnosed more than 246,000 times; prolonged rheumatic fever and reactive arthritis following dysentery were probably the major causes. Over 12,000 soldiers were discharged because of chronic rheumatism, many with "lumbago," which was probably spondylarthropathy.
Hypoglycemic hemiplegia in an adolescent with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: A case report and a review of the literature

A case of hypoglycemic hemiparesis in a fifteen-year-old girl with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is described. The initial presentation included left facial paresis and muscular weakness of the left upper and lower extremities, associated with a blood glucose level of 31 mg/dL. The patient recovered completely after a glucose infusion. Her neurological examination became normal within 24 hours and remained so for a follow-up period of 6 months. Hypoglycemic hemiparesis is rarely described in children and adolescents.
The Trial of Socrates

The author set out to discover how a so-called free society, such as existed in Athens, could try and condemn to death its most renowned philosopher. His portrait of Socrates is not flattering, yet he shows that he was the victim of a witch-hunt.
The decarbonation and heat capacity of ZnCO3

Abstract The decarbonation curve for ZnCO 3 has been determined in the pressure range 3–20 kbar by using a combination of cold-seal vessels and piston-cylinder apparatus with NaCl assemblies. Heat capacities for both synthetic and natural ZnCO 3 samples were measured by differential scanning calorimetry at temperatures ranging from 340 to 497 K. The results of these experiments indicate that the enthalpy of formation for smithsonite, ΔH f (1,298.15), is approximately −817. kJ/mol. which is about 4 kJ more negative than most tabulated values.
Recombinant AAV as a Platform for Translating the Therapeutic Potential of RNA Interference

RNA interference has become a ubiquitous biological tool, and is being harnessed for therapeutic purposes as well. Therapeutic posttranscriptional gene silencing takes advantage of the endogenous RNAi pathway through delivery of either chemically synthesized siRNAs, or transgenes expressing hairpin-based inhibitory RNAs (e.g., shRNAs and artificial miRNAs). RNAi has expanded the field of viral gene therapy from gene replacement to gene knockdown. Here, we review various noncoding RNAs such as shRNAs, miRNAs, and miRNA decoys which can be utilized for therapeutic applications when expressed from recombinant adeno-associated vectors (AAV), and present examples of their basic design. In addition the basis of exploiting cellular miRNA profiles for detargeting AAV expression from specific cells is described. Finally, an overview of AAV-mediated RNAi preclinical studies is presented, and current RNAi-based clinical trials are reviewed.
Liver disease in cystic fibrosis

En las ultimas dos decadas, la sobrevida de los pacientes con fibrosis quistica ha mejorado notablemente, permitiendo la aparicion de complicaciones entre las cuales destaca el compromiso hepatico. Hasta ahora ha sido dificil detectar la hepatopatia de la fibrosis quistica y reconocer sus caracteristicas. En anos recientes se han conseguido progresos en la comprension de su patogenia, asi como una mayor experiencia con ciertas modalidades terapeuticas, lo que se discute en esta revision
Energetic and Structural Considerations for the Mechanism of Protein Sliding along DNA in the Nonspecific BamHI-DNA Complex

The molecular mechanism by which DNA-binding proteins find their specific binding sites is still unclear. To gain insights into structural and energetic elements of this mechanism, we used the crystal structure of the nonspecific BamHI-DNA complex as a template to study the dominant electrostatic interaction in the nonspecific association of protein with DNA, and the possible sliding pathways that could be sustained by such an interaction. Based on calculations using the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann method and Brownian dynamics, a model is proposed for the initial nonspecific binding of BamHI to B-form DNA that differs from that seen in the crystal structure of the nonspecific complex. The model is electrostatically favorable, and the salt dependence as well as other thermodynamic parameters calculated for this model are in good agreement with experimental results. Several residues in BamHI are identified for their important contribution to the energy in the nonspecific binding model, and specific mutagenesis experiments are proposed to test the model on this basis. We show that a favorable sliding pathway of the protein along DNA is helical.
A Quantitative Analysis of Tile Size Selection Algorithms

Loop tiling is an effective optimizing transformation to boost the memory performance of a program, especially for dense matrix scientific computations. The magnitude and stability of the achieved performance improvements are heavily dependent on the appropriate selection of tile sizes. Many existing tile selection algorithms try to find tile sizes which eliminate self-interference cache conflict misses, maximize cache utilization, and minimize cross-interference cache conflict misses. These techniques depend heavily on the actual layout of the arrays in memory. Array padding, an effective data layout optimization technique, is therefore incorporated by many algorithms to help loop tiling stabilize its effectiveness by avoiding “pathological” array sizes. In this paper, we examine several such combined algorithms in terms of cost-benefit trade-offs, and introduce a new algorithm. The preliminary experimental results show that more precise and costly tile selection and array padding algorithms may not be justified by the resulting performance improvements since such improvements may also be achieved by much simpler and therefore less expensive strategies. The key issues in finding a good tiling algorithm are (1) to identify critical performance factors and (2) to develop corresponding performance models that allow predictions at a sufficient level of accuracy. Following this insight, we have developed a new tiling algorithm that performs better than previous algorithms in terms of execution time and stability, and generates code with a performance comparable to the best measured algorithm. Experimental results on two standard benchmark kernels for matrix multiply and LU factorization show that the new algorithm is orders of magnitude faster than the best previous algorithm without sacrificing stability and execution speed of the generated code.
Cell signaling by reactive nitrogen and oxygen species in atherosclerosis

The production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species has been implicated in atherosclerosis principally as means of damaging low-density lipoprotein that in turn initiates the accumulation of cholesterol in macrophages. The diversity of novel oxidative modifications to lipids and proteins recently identified in atherosclerotic lesions has revealed surprising complexity in the mechanisms of oxidative damage and their potential role in atherosclerosis. Oxidative or nitrosative stress does not completely consume intracellular antioxidants leading to cell death as previously thought. Rather, oxidative and nitrosative stress have a more subtle impact on the atherogenic process by modulating intracellular signaling pathways in vascular tissues to affect inflammatory cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Furthermore, cellular responses can affect the production of nitric oxide, which in turn can strongly influence the nature of oxidative modifications occurring in atherosclerosis. The dynamic interactions between endogenous low concentrations of oxidants or reactive nitrogen species with intracellular signaling pathways may have a general role in processes affecting wound healing to apoptosis, which can provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
ORAL 1α, 25-DIHYDROXYCHOLECALCIFEROL (1,25 DHCC) IN THE TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD RENAL OSTEODYSTROPHY

Central to the development of renal osteodystrophy is the failure of the kidney to produce sufficient amounts of the most active natural vitamin D metabolite 1,25 DHCC. We have initiated oral therapy with 1,25 DHCC at 10-30 ngm/kg daily in 6 uremic children attempting to reverse bone disease or prevent further change. Patients with hypocalcemia or X-ray evidence of osteodystrophy while on high dose vitamin D2 or DHT were included in this study; none had primary glomerular disease. An improvement in gait and subjective improvement in muscle strength was noted in 4 patients. Mean serum calcium concentration rose from 7.5 ± 1.6 to 10 4 ± 3 mg/dl (P<.01) in all; serum phosphate rose from 5.1 ± 2.6 to 6.8 ± 2.0 mg/dl (N.S.) and serum alkaline phosphatase fell from 527 ± 214 to 250 ± 57 IU/L (P<.02). Serum irimunoreactive PTH levels fell from 864 ± 525 to 320 ± 51 pEq/ml (P<.05). X-ray evidence of osteodystrophy improved in 5. Bone mineral content, measured by single photon absorptiometry, improved by 10% in 3 patients. Serum levels of 1,25 DHCC rose in 3/3 patients. Although the follow-up period has been short, there has been an increase in growth rate. The complications found were hypercalcemia in younger patients, mild hypermagnesemia and hyperphosphatemia possibly related to the reduction in circulating PTH levels. The oral administration of 1,25 DHCC appears to be useful in the treatment of childhood renal osteodystrophy.
Confirming Two Conjectures About the Integer Partitions

For a given integer n, let ?n denote the set of all integer partitions ?1??2????m>0 (m?1), of n. For the dominance order “?” on ?n, we show that if two partitions ?, ? are both chosen from ?n uniformly at random, and independent of each other, then Pr(???)?0 as n?∞. This statement answers affirmatively a question posed by Macdonald in 1979. The proof is based on the limit joint distribution of the largest parts counts found by Fristedt. A slight modification of the argument confirms a conjecture made by Wilf in 1982, namely that, for n even, the probability of a random partition being graphical is zero in the limit. The proof of the latter follows the footsteps of Erdos and Richmond who saw that to confirm Wilf's conjecture it would be sufficient to show that the probability of the first k Erdos?Gallai conditions of a partition being graphical approaches 0 as n, and then k approach infinity. The reason that the proofs of two seemingly unrelated conjectures turned out to be so close is that, as the E-R analysis revealed, the (joint) distribution of the largest part sizes in a partition ? and its dual ?? coincides, in the limit, with the distribution of the largest part sizes for two independent partitions.
Hospital Consolidation, Competition, and Quality: Is Bigger Necessarily Better?

A wave of hospital mergers during the last several years has raised concerns among US policy makers, regulators, and employers that increasing market consolidation may lead to higher health care spending as larger systems with greater market power extract higher prices from private payers. The number of hospital mergers or acquisitions has doubled since 2009, and many observers have pointed to the Affordable Care Act for transforming the economics of health care in ways that incentivize the creation of larger hospital systems.1 Although regulators are concerned about the effects of consolidation on health care prices, hospitals seeking to merge argue that larger, integrated systems will be able to provide substantially better care and achieve greater efficiencies.2 Whether these benefits result from consolidation is unclear. As federal regulators and policy makers weigh these issues, an assessment of the arguments that underlie the consolidation of the medical marketplace, and the potential influence of these arguments on clinical care
Overcoming Exercise Barriers in Older Adults

Barriers to exercise among older adults include personal factors such as discomfort, fear of injury, and social isolation, plus environmental difficulties such as lack of access and unfavorable weather. When selecting tactics to overcome the barriers, it is helpful to consider the patient's position within the six stages of behavior change. Key measures include controlling pain, treating chronic conditions, explaining the benefits of exercise, dispelling misconceptions, identifying personal goals that exercise can help the patient attain, setting realistic exercise goals, and following up.
Ascending Aorta-Abdominal Aorta Bypass: Indications, Technique, and Report of 12 Patients

Use of the supraceliac segment of the abdominal aorta for ascending aorta-abdominal aorta bypass (AAAAB) offers a new technique for management of certain difficult surgical problems. Since 1973, we have performed AAAAB in 12 patients: 4 with recurrent coarctation of the thoracic aorta; 4 with coarctation of the thoracic aorta and associated cardiac lesions requiring a concomitant intracardiac procedure; 2 with recurrent aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD); 1 with interruption of the aortic arch requiring concomitant pulmonary artery banding; and 1 with coarctation of the abdominal aorta. In 3 of these patients (2 with recurrent AIOD and 1 with coarctation of the abdominal aorta) the distal anastomosis was made to the distal abdominal aorta or femoral arteries. Ten patients (83.3%) experienced satisfactory results; 2 patients (16.6%) died. The technique of AAAAB provides a practical solution to complex situations in which previous procedures preclude a standard operative approach, or when necessary concomitant procedures would otherwise require a two-stage operation.
BLADDER OUTLET OBSTRUCTION TREATED WITH TRANSURETHRAL ULTRASONIC ASPIRATION

Fifty-nine males with bladder outlet obstruction were treated with transurethral ultrasonic aspiration of the prostate. Utilizing a 26.5 French urethral sheath, surgery was accomplished with a 10 French, 0-700 micron vibration level ultrasonic tip with an excursion rate of 39 kHz. Complete removal of the adenoma was accomplished, followed by transurethral electrocautery biopsies of both lateral lobes to compare pathologic specimens. One-year follow-up revealed satisfactory voiding patterns in 57 of 59 men (96%). Two men developed bladder neck contractures. Pathologic comparisons showed 100% correlation between aspirated and TUR specimens (56 BPH, 3 adeno-carcinoma). Forty-sevel men were active sexually preoperatively (6 with inflatable penile prostheses). Post ultrasonic aspiration, 46 men had erectile function similar to preoperative levels with one patient suffering erectile dysfunction. Forty men (85%) had antegrade ejaculation while 7 (15%) experienced retrograde or retarded ejaculation. No patients were incontinent.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Writing for Cornell Quarterly: What I look for in a submission

Excerpt] In the last issue I provided some information on the review process for Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly. In this issue I am providing some information specifically on issues related to writing manuscripts and how the content can be communicated in such a way so as to improve the probability that papers will be accepted for publication.
Lipid-Encapsulated Echium Oil (Echium plantagineum) Increases the Content of Stearidonic Acid in Plasma Lipid Fractions and Milk Fat of Dairy Cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of feeding lipid-encapsulated echium oil (EEO) on animal performance and milk fatty acid profile. Twelve Holstein dairy cows were used in a 3 × 3 Latin Square design with 14 day periods. Treatments were a control diet (no supplemental fat), 1.5% dry matter (DM) as EEO and 3.0% DM as EEO. Treatments had no negative effect on animal performance (dry matter intake, milk yield, and fat yield). The milk fat content of total n-3 fatty acids and stearidonic acid (SDA) increased with EEO supplementation (P < 0.001). The proportion of SDA increased in all plasma lipid fractions with EEO supplementation (P < 0.001). Transfer of SDA from EEO into milk fat was 3.4 and 3.2% for the 1.5 and 3% EEO treatments, respectively. In conclusion, EEO increases the content of n-3 fatty acids in milk fat; however, the apparent transfer efficiency was low.
Tibia fractures in children sustained on a playground slide

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between children who sustain tibia fractures on a playground slide and the mechanism of injury. METHODS: This retrospective review included the chart and radiographs of all children diagnosed with a tibia fracture, over an 11-month period. All patients were originally seen in either the emergency room of a level 1 trauma center or the treating physician's office. RESULTS: During the period of study, 58 fractures of the tibia were found. Eight (13.8%) of the tibia fractures were sustained while playing on a playground slide. The 8 fractures identified are the focus of this study. The tibia fractures were nondisplaced, diaphyseal, with an intact fibula. There were 5 female and 6 male children included in the study. The age range of the patients with a tibia fracture sustained while going down a slide was 14 months to 32 months; the average age of the 8 children in this study was 20.6 months. The average age of boys sustaining a tibia fracture on a playground slide was found to be 20.7 months and the average age of girls was found to be 20.6 months. All tibia fractures associated with playing on a slide were sustained while going down the slide on the lap of an adult. None of the 8 children studied went down the slide alone. CONCLUSIONS: Children at risk for tibia fractures sustained while going down a playground slide, on the lap of an adult, were found to be less than 32 months of age. Many parents believe they are increasing the safety of their young child by placing the child on their lap while going down a playground slide. Parents should be educated not to go down a slide with a child on their lap. If the child is unable to use the slide independently, another activity would be more appropriate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level IV. Language: en
Cefmenoxime versus Cefoxitin in the Treatment of Serious Bacterial Infections

A comparative study was conducted using cefmenoxime, a new extended spectrum cephalosporin, versus cefoxitin. Entry into the study was based on a computer-generated randomization (two cefmenoxime to one cefoxitin). An intravenous dose of cefmenoxime (0.5 to 1 g every six hours) or cefoxitin (1 to 2 g every six hours) was administered to patients suspected of having serious bacterial infections. Six patients had urinary tract infections. Four who received cefmenoxime, including two with positive blood cultures, had eradication of bacteremia. One of the two who received cefoxitin had significant bacteriuria, and the urine was clear after treatment. Twenty-four patients were treated for lower respiratory tract infections. All 15 patients who received cefmenoxime had clinical and bacteriologic cures: Two of the nine patients who received cefoxitin continued to have the pathogens at the end of the treatment period. Both patients had a neoplasm of the lung. All 11 patients who had soft tissue infections (nine of whom received cefmenoxime) responded well. Both antibiotics were well tolerated.
Computational model of hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase: molecular dynamics and docking to understand resistant mutations

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA polymerase (HDP) is a pharmacological target of intense interest. Of the seven agents approved in USA for the treatment of HBV infections, five are HDP inhibitors. However, resistance development against HDP inhibitors, such as lamivudine and adefovir, has severely hurt their efficacy to treat HBV. As a step toward understanding the mechanism of resistance development and for gaining detailed insights about the active site of the enzyme, we have built a homology model of HDP which is an advance over previously reported ones. Validation using various techniques, including PROSTAT, PROCHECK, and Verify-3D profile, proved the model to be stereochemically significant. The stability of the model was studied using a 5 ns molecular dynamics simulation. The model was found to be sufficiently stable after the initial 2.5 ns with overall root mean squared deviation (RMSD) of 4.13 A. The homology model matched the results of experimental mutation studies of HDP reported in the literature, including those of antiviral-resistant mutations. Our model suggests the significant role of conserved residues, such as rtLys32, in binding of the inhibitors, contrary to previous studies. The model provides an explanation for the inactivity of some anti-HIV molecules which are inactive against HDP. Conformational changes which occurred in certain binding pocket amino acids helped to explain the better binding of some of the inhibitors in comparison to the substrates.
Inflammatory arthritides of the spine: surgical versus nonsurgical treatment.

Abstract Ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis are disorders that cause marked alterations in the structure and function of the axial skeleton. Ankylosing spondylitis causes calcification of spinal structures causing limited motion. Rheumatoid arthritis causes synovial hypertrophy, joint destruction, and spinal instability. Surgical therapy for patients with ankylosing spondylitis corrects angular deformities with spinal osteotomies, and stabilization for spinal fractures. Spinal operative therapy for rheumatoid arthritis concentrates on correction of abnormal motion in the cervical spine. Advances in the medical therapy of spondyloarthritis have resulted in control of the inflammation of the axial skeleton halting the damage to spinal structures. The new biologic therapies for ankylosing spondylitis prevent progression of disease. Similarly, these same biologic therapies can also control the progression of rheumatoid arthritis including the cervical spine. The new medical therapies are very effective in preventing joint damage. The need for surgical intervention for patients with ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis will become a rare event in the setting of the new medical therapies for these inflammatory arthropathies.
Beeswax: Structure of the esters and their component hydroxy acids and diols

Abstract Beeswax has been separated into hydrocarbons (14%), monoesters (35%), diesters (14%), triesters (3%), hydroxy monoesters (4%), hydroxypolyesters (8%), free acids (12%), acid monoesters (1%), acid polyesters (2%) and unidentified material (7%). The esters have been identified by thin layer chromatography, gas liquid chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and by comparison with synthetic mono-, di- and triesters, hydroxy mono- and diesters and acid esters. The compositions of the acids, hydroxy acids, alcohols and diols from each ester fraction have been determined by gas liquid chromatography. The major hydroxy acid (70%) obtained on hydrolysis was 15-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid, other hydroxy acids were 14-hydroxyhexadecanoic, 16-hydroxyoctadecanoic, 17-hydroxyoctadecanoic, 19-hydroxyeicosanoic, 21-hydroxydocosanoic and 23-hydroxytetracosanoic acids. The diols were 1,23-tetracosanediol, 1,25-hexacosanediol, 1,27-octacosanediol and 1,29-triacontanediol. Minor amounts of α, ω-C 24 -C 28 diols were also detected. The hydroxy acids and diols were mixtures of d - and l -isomers with the l -isomer predominating.
The Use of Barley in High-Efficiency Broiler Rations 3. Effect of Pellets and Reground Pellets on Growth and Efficiency of Feed Utilization

ABSTRACT Allred et al. (1956) have reported increased growth of chicks fed high-efficiency corn-type rations either in pelleted or reground pellet form. They suggest that a part of the observed response is due to a chemical change in the corn component of the ration rather than entirely to increased density of the feed. The experiments to be reported in this paper were an attempt, therefore, to determine if the marked improvement in performance following the pelleting of high-barley diets (Arscott et al., 1957) might not be attributable to such a chemical change resulting from the pelleting process. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Experiment 1 consisted of fifteen lots of sixteen day-old, sexed New Hampshire×Delaware chicks whereas experiment 2 involved eighteen lots of ten chicks from the same type mating. Each group was composed of an equal number of males and females. All chicks were raised to four weeks in batteries equipped with raised wire . . .
NUMERICAL STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF STEADY AXIAL FLOW DEVELOPMENT IN THE HUMAN AORTA ON LOCAL SHEAR STRESSES IN ABDOMINAL AORTIC BRANCHES

The three-dimensional flow through a rigid model of the human abdominal aorta complete with iliac and renal arteries was predicted numerically using the steady-state Navier—Stokes equations for an incompressible, Newtonian fluid. The model adapted for our purposes was determined from data obtained from cine-CT images taken of a glass chamber that was constructed based on anatomical averages. The iliac arteries had a bifurcation angle of approximately 35i and a branch-to-trunk area ratio of 1.27, whereas the renal arteries had left and right branch angles of 40i and an area ratio of 0.73. The numerical tool FLOW3D (AEA Industrial Technology, Oxfordshire, UK) utilized body-fitted coordinates and a finite volume discretization procedure. Purely axial velocity profiles were introduced at the entrance of the model for a range of cardiac outputs. The four-branch numerical model developed for this investigation produced flow and shear conditions comparable to those found in other reported works. The total wall shear stress distribution in the iliac and renal arteries followed standard trends, with maximum shear stresses occurring in the apex region and lower shear stresses occurring along the lateral walls. Shear stresses and flow rate ratios in the downstream arteries were more e⁄ected by inlet Re than the upstream arteries. These results will be used to compare further simulations which take into e⁄ect the rotational component of flow which is present in the aortic arch. ( 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Experimental studies of photon-echo pulse compression

Photon echoes generated by long (i.e., 400–800-nsec) frequency-chirped optical pulses are found to possess (after compensating for avoidable material relaxation) up to 25% of the energy of the first excitation pulse and to have a duration determined by the total chirp bandwidth of the excitation pulses. In our experiment, echoes 30 times shorter than the first excitation pulse were observed.
Myocyte apoptosis and reduced SR gene expression precede the transition from chronically stunned to hibernating myocardium.

Abstract A systematic transition from chronic stunning to hibernation occurs as coronary flow reserve decreases to a critical level. Hibernating myocardium exhibits apoptosis-induced myocyte loss and a reduction in the expression of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca 2+ ATPase but whether similar cellular changes occur in chronic stunning is unknown. Pigs with a chronic left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) stenosis were studied one ( n =9) or two ( n =10) months after instrumentation. Anterior hypokinesis with normal levels of resting perfusion developed at each time-point, consistent with chronic stunning. After 1 month, sub-endocardial flow reserve was moderately reduced (adenosine/rest, LAD: 3.60±0.91 v Remote: 6.00±0.54, P v 21±5 nuclei/10 6 myocyte nuclei, p-ns) and no regional myocyte loss (1976±44 v 1955±30 nuclei/mm 2 , p-ns). After 2 months, sub-endocardial flow reserve in chronically stunned myocardium was severely impaired (LAD: 1.41±0.21 v Remote: 5.59±0.96, P 2+ ATPase and phospholamban whereas calsequestrin was unchanged. In addition, regional myocyte apoptosis increased (127±24 v 55±9 nuclei/10 6 myocyte nuclei, P v 1394±32 nuclei/mm 2 , P
The Hyperemesis Beliefs Scale (HBS): a new instrument for assessing beliefs about severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.

Objective. The purpose of this research was to validate the Hyperemesis Beliefs Scale (HBS), a new instrument for assessing patient perception factors of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) that influence reported patient satisfaction with medical care.Methods. Patients' beliefs and their perception of their physicians' beliefs about the causal explanations of HG, seriousness of the illness, and the impact of the illness upon patients' daily lives were determined using a newly developed hyperemesis beliefs scale (HBS) in a sample of 96 women. Exploratory factor analyses of the patient and physician versions of the HBS were performed separately using principal factor analysis extraction and oblique rotation in SPSS.Results. Exploratory factor analyses of patient and physician versions of the HBS demonstrated broad support for the hypothesized factor structure. However, two key differences appeared in the two versions of the HBS. First, the patient items exhibited two causal factors (general and personal), whereas ...
Asymptotic stability of solutions of the generalized Burgers equation

Abstract This paper is concerned with the existence and stability analysis of the generalized Burgers equation. For the cylindrical case, the bounded solutions are found to be asymptotically stable to the similarity solution. For the super cylindrical case, the asymptotic limit of the generalized Burgers equation is an error function solution of the linearized Burgers equation. It is shown that this result generalizes the result of Scott [5].
Multiple-resolution segmentation of tone-dominated image

A new multiple resolution segmentation (MRS) technique for the tone-dominated images is presented. Pyramid structure is established to provide a series of images with the reduced size and the reduced resolution. A stochastic model-based image analysis technique -- our previous research work known as fixed resolution segmentation (FRS) -- is first applied at a selected higher level of pyramid, i.e., on an image with the coarse resolution. Then, the results obtained at this level are guided to the next (lower) level, i.e., the image with the finer resolution. This level-to-level downward operation is repeated until the base level of pyramid, i.e., the image with the original resolution is reached. Our studies show that MRS outperforms FRS in terms of its accuracy and speed. Examples are demonstrated and some theoretical analysis are included.
Convention nominating speeches: A product of many influences

In the national political conventions, the forces that have kept nominating speeches on the program have, at the same time, made this speech from one of American s worst.
Does Impurity-Induced Step-Bunching Invalidate Key Assumptions of the Cabrera−Vermilyea Model?

We show that the growth recovery mechanism of the {110} faces on crystals of the pharmaceutical paracetamol in the presence of its intrinsic impurity acetanilide occurs in the same way as in the growth of inorganic KH 2 PO 4 (KDP) crystals with Fe(III) and Al(III) impurities, by initial movement of macrosteps while elementary steps remain pinned. This suggests that the mechanism of recovery by activation of elementary step motion assumed by Cabrera and Vermilyea (C-V) is not applicable to a diverse set of common and technologically important crystal systems. Recognizing that impurity-driven macrostep formation depends on an imbalance in the concentration ahead and behind the step, we propose a general condition that must be met for a crystal-impurity system to behave according to the C-V predictions.