cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative analysis of Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis proteome in response to antibiotics and during exposure to different environmental conditions

Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) belongs to the clinically important non-tuberculous mycobacterial group that infects immunocompromised patients and individuals with underling lung conditions. The need for prolonged therapy is a major challenge of MAH treatment, influencing the development of persistent and drug-resistant infections. The reason why bactericidal drugs take several months to eliminate MAH is unknown. To investigate MAH proteome remodeling under aerobic, anaerobic and biofilm conditions (as it is encountered in patient lungs) and identify metabolic changes potentially associated with bacterial persistent state, we performed the relative protein quantitative analysis using Tandem Mass Tag Mass Spectrometry sequencing. MAH was exposed to amikacin (4 μg/ml) and clarithromycin (16 μg/ml) under aerobic, anaerobic or biofilm condition for 24 h and the response was compared with bacterial proteomics of the corresponding conditions. Overall, 4000 proteins were identified out of 5313 MAH proteome of across all experimental groups. Numerous sets of de novo synthesized proteins belonging to metabolic pathways not evidenced in aerobic condition were found commonly enriched in both anaerobic and biofilm conditions, including pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, glycerolipid metabolism, nitrogen metabolism and chloroalkene degradation, known to be associated with bacterial tolerance in M. tuberculosis. The common pathways observed in anaerobic and biofilm conditions following drug treatments were peptidoglycan biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism and protein export. The LprB lipoprotein, highly synthesized in MAH biofilms during drug treatments and shown to be essential for M. tuberculosis virulence and survival in vivo, was selected and overexpressed in MAH. Results demonstrate that LprB is secreted in MAH biofilms and the overexpression clone is more tolerant to antimicrobials than the wild-type strain. Our study identified promising metabolic pathways that can be targeted to prevent the bacterial tolerance mechanism and, subsequently, reduce the length of MAH therapy.
Hybrid mixture theory-based modeling of moisture transport coupled with quality changes in strawberries and carrots

Hybrid mixture theory-based multiscale fluid transport equations were solved for drying of strawberries and carrots to predict the moisture transport during the process. The fluid transport equatio...
Radiation Hardened by Design Subsampling Phase-Locked Loop Techniques in PD-SOI

This article presents the radiation hardened by design (RHBD) techniques applied to a 15-GHz quadrature subsampling phase-locked loop (PLL) at a sub-50 nm partially depleted silicon-on-insulator technology node. Radiation-hardening techniques are integrated into a subsampling architecture for robust noise and radiation performance. Experimentally validated bias-dependent single-event models are used to characterize the radiation response, and the applicability of existing RHBD techniques to subsampling PLLs is examined. A significant vulnerability introduced in dual-loop architectures such as subsampling is identified and mitigated with a proposed technique. Favorable noise and loop perturbation suppression characteristics of the subsampling architecture are leveraged to develop a high-performance RHBD PLL, maintaining performance specifications comparable to unhardened designs.
Characterization of chain alignment at buried interfaces using Mueller matrix spectroscopy

The stiffness of conjugated polymers should lead to chain alignment near buried interfaces, even if the polymer film is nominally amorphous. Although simulations predict that this alignment layer is approximately 1.5 times the persistence length, chain alignment at buried interfaces of amorphous polymers has not been experimentally measured. Using Mueller matrix spectroscopy, the optical response of regiorandom poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) was modeled in order to extract the aligned layer thickness. By approximating the optical properties of the aligned layer as that of regioregular P3HT, the data can be effectively modeled. When the film is thicker than 150 nm, optical properties are best described with a 4-nm aligned layer, which is quantitatively consistent with previous predictions.
CHAPTER NINE – SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses some of the basic methods for solving systems of linear equations. It discusses both Gaussian elimination and Gauss–Jordan elimination, methods that can be extended to systems of linear equations of any size. Similar techniques can be applied to systems of equations that include at least one second-degree equation. The chapter presents a graphical technique for solving systems of linear inequalities. When one solves a system of linear equations by graphing, one must estimate the coordinates of the point of intersection. If one requires the answers to be accurate to, say, five decimal places, it is clear that graphing would not suffice. The method of substitution provides one with exact answers but suffers from the disadvantage that it is difficult to program for use in a digital computer. The method of elimination overcomes these difficulties. The strategy of the method is to obtain an equation in just one variable that is easily solved. The method of substitution and the method of elimination can both be applied to systems of linear equations in three unknowns and, more generally, to systems of linear equations in any number of unknowns. There is a method known as Gaussian elimination that is ideally suited for computers and can be applied to solving linear systems in three unknowns. The objective of Gaussian elimination is to transform a given linear system into triangular form.
Impact of Teleneonatology On Transfer Rates: Do Birth Hospital Level Of Care And Patient Gestational Age Matter?

Background: Teleneonatology allows neonatologists to establish real-time audio-video telemedicine connections with community hospital care teams when neonates require advance resuscitation or critical care. Teleneonatology has been shown to reduce a newborn’s odds of transfer to a higher level of care (LOC) by nearly 30%. It is unknown whether the impact of teleneonatology on transfer rates is influenced by the level of neonatal care in the birth hospital (Level I well-baby nursery versus Level II special care nursery) or the gestational age (GA) of the neonate. In addition, it is unclear if the effect of …
Conservation Across Aquatic-Terrestrial Boundaries: Linking Continental-Scale Water Quality to Emergent Aquatic Insects and Declining Aerial Insectivorous Birds

Larval aquatic insects are used to assess water quality, but less attention is paid to their adult, terrestrial life stage, which serves as an important food resource for declining aerial insectivorous birds. We used open-access water-quality, aquatic invertebrate, and bird-survey data to study how impaired water quality can emanate from streams and lakes through changes in aquatic insect communities across the contiguous United States. In general, the relative abundance of emergent insects was highest across the West, in northern New England, and in the Carolinas. The relative abundance of emergent insects declined with sedimentation, roads, and elevated ammonium concentrations in streams, but not lakes. The odds that a given taxon would be non-emergent increased by 1.7× as a function of pollution tolerance, underscoring the heightened sensitivity of emergent aquatic insects to water quality impairment. However, relationships between bird populations and emergent insects were generally weak for both streams and lakes. For streams, we observed the strongest positive relationships for a mixture of upland and riparian aerial insectivorous birds such as Western Wood-Pewee, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Acadian Flycatcher and the strongest negative association for Purple Martin. Different avian insectivores responded to emergent insect abundances in lakes (e.g., Barn Swallow, Chimney Swift, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Common Nighthawk). In both streams and lakes, we observed stronger, but opposing, relationships between several aerial insectivores and the relative abundance of sensitive insect orders (E)phemeroptera, (P)lecoptera, and (T)richoptera (positive), and pollution tolerant individuals (negative). Overall, our findings indicate that emergent insects are negatively correlated with pollution tolerance, suggesting a large-scale loss of this nutritional subsidy to terrestrial environments from impaired aquatic ecosystems. While some bird populations tracked scarcities of emergent aquatic insects, especially EPT taxa, responses varied among species, suggesting that unique habitat and foraging behaviors likely complicated these relationships. Strengthening spatial and temporal concordance between emergent-insect and bird-survey data will improve our ability to interpret species-level responses over time. Thus, our analysis highlights the need for interdisciplinary research that develops new conservation and biomonitoring strategies focused on the repercussions of cross-ecosystem effects of water quality declines for threatened insectivorous avifauna and other terrestrial wildlife.
Diamonds, Cloverleafs, and SPUIs: The Geography of Freeway Interchanges in the United States

Freeway interchanges are a fundamental component of freeway networks and provide nodes for economic development. They take a wide range of forms, including diamonds, cloverleafs, and stacks, depend...
Girls with guns : the disarmament and demobilization of female ex-combatants in Africa.

In Africa today, women and girls can make up as much as thirty percent of active fighting forces. The passing of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 in October 2000 was meant to incorporate these women into peacebuilding processes and aid them in transitioning back into civilian lives. However, many African states are still struggling to craft policies that properly integrate female ex-combatants into disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programs. Much of the literature on this subject focuses on the latter — how are females reintegrated into civilian society? However, why aren't more women participating in disarmament and demobilization? Are they simply not interested? If they are interested, what are the barriers restricting female access to these processes? Utilizing the Peace Accords Matrix, I analyze a number of recent cases in Africa — including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burundi, and South Sudan — to examine ways in which DDR policy can be improved to provide females with better, safer access to the cantonment sites where the DDR process initiates. Until women and girls are granted access to disarmament and demobilization, they will not benefit fully from DDR programs. The most important changes that must take place include removing the label of “dependent” from female ex-combatants and ensuring that cantonment sites are designed to promote human security for male and female ex-combatants.
Preventive Treatment of Episodic Migraine

Frequent and disabling migraines should be treated with preventive therapies, whether pharmacologic or natural supplements. Many options are available, and the treatment should be tailored to the consideration of each patient’s comorbidities. It is by trial and error that one finds the most effective drug with the least amount of side effects for each patient. Successful treatment will decrease disability and improve quality of life for the patient. This chapter lists preventive medications with instructions on how to administer them along with careful consideration of adverse effects.
Availability to rats of iron in ferric hydroxide polymers

Availability to rats of Fe in isolated ferric hydroxide polymers was assessed. Polymers were prepared by hydrolyzing an 59Fe-labeled ferric nitrate solution with base (KHCO3). After isolation by gel filtration, the polymers were characterized by spectrophotometric, dialysis, and ultracentrifugation methods. In a split-plot design experiment, Fe-adequate (Hb 11.4-14.0 g/dl) or Fe-deficient (Hb 4.7-9.6 g/dl) male Sprague-Dawley rats (10/treatment) were dosed by stomach tube with one of the following 59Fe-labeled solutions: polymers, Fe(NO3)3 (low-molecular-weight control), polymers + citrate, or Fe(NO3)3 + citrate. As expected, Fe-deficient animals absorbed more Fe than adequate animals (P less than 0.01). There was no difference in absorption of Fe between polymers and low-molecular-weight control doses (P greater than 0.05). In Fe-adequate animals, citrate significantly depressed the uptake of Fe both from Fe(NO3)3 and polymers. These results indicate 1) that polymerization of Fe species prior to ingestion is not a likely means by which Fe is rendered unavailable and 2) that the effect of citrate on Fe absorption may depend on the Fe status of the animal.
Bursting bubbles: On the rationality of hyperinflations in optimizing models

Abstract It is well known that perfect foresight maximizing models frequently possess a continuum of equilibria. In some of these equilibria the price level is explosive even in models in which the money supply is constant. This paper shows that a sufficient condition to rule out these unstable paths is given by the assumption that there is a smallest non-zero unit of output.
Spatial and Temporal Boundaries in Global Teams

While spatial boundaries include the geographic differences among team members (different cities), temporal boundaries include the workday differences among team members (different time zones). In global teams members have to deal with both spatial and temporal boundaries since their co-workers are often located in cities within and across time zones. For global team members with high spatial boundaries and low temporal boundaries (those in different cities in the same time zone), synchronous communication technologies such as the telephone and instant messenger provide a means for real-time interaction. However, for global team members with high spatial boundaries and high temporal boundaries (those in different cities in different time zones), asynchronous communication technologies, such as e-mail and web software, provide a way to interact intermittently. Using social network data from 625 team members (representing 5986 pairs) across 137 global teams in a multi-national semiconductor firm, we explore the impact of spatial and temporal boundaries on coordination delay. We also illustrate how member awareness can reduce coordination delay, thus increasing the likelihood of better global team performance.
Abstract 178: The Early Resuscitation Protein PBEF Is Released from Human Neutrophils via an Unconventional Pathway

Introduction: Our previous work suggests that PBEF, encoded by the NAMPT gene, is an early blood marker inversely related to hypothermia protection and resuscitation survival in a mouse model of hemorrhagic shock. Higher mouse blood PBEF concentrations were related to acute inflammation and cardiovascular collapse. More recently, clinical work by others demonstrated a correlation between high PBEF blood concentrations and acute heart failure exacerbation. Given that neutrophils are a potential high-concentration source of blood PBEF, we studied mechanisms of release from isolated human neutrophils that could help design novel resuscitation strategies. Methods: Human blood neutrophils were isolated by Percoll density gradient. PBEF secretion into neutrophil supernatant was measured by ELISA. Neutrophil PBEF protein expression was measured by Western blot analysis. Results: PBEF in unstimulated neutrophil supernatant was observed at 5 min and plateaued after 30 min at 37oC (8.6 ± 0.7 vs. 0.9 ± 0.3 ng/ml, p < 0.01). This release was not due to cell injury since LDH was unchanged, nor was it blocked by the classical secretion inhibitors, brefeldin A (blocks ER-Golgi transport) or nocodazole (blocks microtubule polymerization). However, PBEF secretion was attenuated by decreased temperature (4oC), suggesting a release mechanism other than passive diffusion. Indeed, glyburide an inhibitor of the ATP-binding cassette 1 (ABC 1) transporter reduced PBEF secretion by 55%. The calcium chelator EGTA completely blocked PBEF secretion. PBEF release was also dose-dependently blocked by extracellular ATP. Exogenous ATP induced the degradation of intracellular PBEF, which was blocked by pretreatment with a proteasomal inhibitor MG132, suggesting intracellular PBEF stability also regulates its secretion. Conclusions: PBEF is constitutively released from neutrophils via an unconventional secretion pathway. Its release is regulated by the ABC1 membrane transporter, calcium, and intracellular proteasome degradation. Changes in human neutrophil microenvironment result in significant change of PBEF release within a timeframe that could account for the blood changes seen during mouse cardiovascular resuscitation.
Mapping of rfa Genes in Salmonella typhimurium by ES18 and P22 Transduction and by Conjugation

Loci termed rfa, determining biosynthesis of somatic lipopolysaccharide core, have been mapped in Salmonella typhimurium LT2. The smooth-specific phage P22 co-transduced two leaky rfa alleles with cysE and with pyrE; one of the leaky alleles is perhaps rfaG, and the other is an unidentified gene concerned with synthesis of the heptose-containing part of the core. The lipopolysaccharide-indifferent phage ES18 (or its variant ES18.h1) co-transduced rfaF, rfaG, rfaL, rfa(R-res-1), and rfa(R-res-2) alleles with cysE and with pyrE, at rates indicating the order cysE-rfaF-(rfa[R-res-1], rfa[r-res-2], rfaL)-rfaG-pyrE. One proven (and two suspected) rfaE alleles and five proven rfaH alleles were not co-transduced with cysE or pyrE. Hfr crosses indicated that the proven rfaE allele mapped between serA and strA.
Prognostic Value of Late Gadolinium Enhancement in Clinical Outcomes for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Objectives The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the predictive value of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for future cardiovascular events and death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Background The utility of LGE for detecting myocardial fibrosis is well established. The prognostic value of LGE in HCM has been described in several studies, but controversy exists given the limited power of these studies to predict future events. Methods We searched multiple databases including PubMed for studies of LGE in HCM that reported selected clinical outcomes (cardiovascular mortality, sudden cardiac death [SCD], aborted SCD, and heart failure death). We performed a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis to determine pooled odds ratios for these clinical events. Results Four studies evaluated 1,063 patients over an average follow-up of 3.1 years. The pooled prevalence of LGE was 60%. The pooled odds ratios (OR) demonstrate that LGE by CMR correlated with cardiac death (pooled OR: 2.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01 to 8.42; p = 0.047), heart failure death (pooled OR: 5.68, 95% CI: 1.04 to 31.07; p = 0.045), and all-cause mortality (pooled OR: 4.46, 95% CI: 1.53 to 13.01; p = 0.006), and showed a trend toward significance for predicting sudden death/aborted sudden death (pooled OR: 2.39, 95% CI: 0.87 to 6.58; p = 0.091). Conclusions Late gadolinium enhancement by CMR has prognostic value in predicting adverse cardiovascular events among HCM patients. There are significant relationships between LGE and cardiovascular mortality, heart failure death, and all-cause mortality in HCM. Additionally, LGE and SCD/aborted SCD displayed a trend toward significance. The assessment of LGE by CMR has the potential to provide important information to improve risk stratification in HCM in clinical practice.
(E)- and (Z)-1-benzenesulfonyl-4-trimethylsilyl-2-butenes as (E)-1-(1,3-butadienyl) synthons

Abstract (E)- and (Z)-1-benzenesulfonyl-4-trimethylsilyl-2-butenes (E/Z=9), prepared from 4-trimethylsilyl-1-buten-3-ol, n -butyllithium and benzenesulfenyl chloride and oxidation of the intermediate (E)- and (Z)-1-benzenesulfinyl-4-trimethylsilyl-2-butenes with hydrogen peroxide, react with n -butyllithium and then primary halides to give 4-benzenesulfonyl-1-trimethylsilyl-2-alkenes which are rapidly 1,4-debenzenesulfonyltrimethylsilated to (E)-1,3-alkadienes by tetra- n -butylammonium fluoride at O°C.
Tellurium Analogues of Rosamine and Rhodamine Dyes: Synthesis, Structure, 125Te NMR, and Heteroatom Contributions to Excitation Energies

The first tellurium-containing analogues of the rosamine and rhodamine dyes were prepared by the addition of Grignard or organolithium reagents to telluroxanthone precursors. The 125Te spectra of both the dyes and the telluroxanthone precursors are reported. One derivative was characterized by X-ray crystallography and was found to have a nearly planar telluroxanthylium core with a 9-aryl substituent held nearly orthogonal to the core. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations were performed to analyze the trends for the excitation wavelengths observed experimentally. The computations indicated that participation of the heteroatom lone pair orbitals is responsible for this trend.
Ganglioside glycosyltransferase assay using ion-exchange chromatography

Abstract A rapid method for determination of ganglioside glycosyltransferase activity has been developed employing ion-exchange chromatography. Using 13-day chick brain as a source of uridine diphospho- N -acetyl- d -galactosamine: ganglioside GM 3 N -acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (ganglioside GM 2 synthetase), we were able to accurately measure transfer of N -[ 3 H]acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) from UDP-[ 3 H]GalNAc to GM 3 by application of the reaction mixture to small columns of DEAE-Sepharose and elution of radiolabeled GM 2 reaction product with 10 m m potassium acetate in methanol. This method proved to be as reliable and sensitive as previously published assays but requires less time and fewer manipulations.
Matching users and user languages in information retrieval

A review is made of research in the design and use of languages for computer programming, with emphasis on one of its specialized applications, information retrieval, and on the end‐user directly interacting with the computer. It is shown that we lack the criteria for determining what is the best fit of a language to a particular user, although some research has suggested that there is a means by which this can be done, offering the users a wide range of language choice and using the computer as a means of helping him learn and adapt to the language.
Neuropsychological changes and treatment compliance in older adults with sleep apnea.

Abstract Introduction: Apnea is a common disorder in older adults and has been shown to affect cognition. Some studies suggest that treatment for apnea improves certain cognitive deficits, but few studies have examined the relationship between compliance and cognitive improvement. We designed a study to answer the following questions about sleep apnea, cognition and treatment in older adults: (1) Which neuropsychological (NP) variables are differentially associated with measures of sleep fragmentation and oxygen desaturation? (2) Does compliant use of CPAP provide a cognitive advantage over noncompliant use? (3) Does NP performance at baseline predict compliance at 3 months? Method: Twelve participants were recruited for the study. All had polysomnographically defined sleep apnea with an RDI of 10 or greater. All were also at least 55 years of age, had no other diagnosable sleep disorder and had no previous treatment for sleep apnea syndrome (SAS). Participants were administered a full NP battery before and 3 months after treatment with CPAP. RDI at baseline was associated with delayed verbal recall, while oxygen desaturation was associated with both delayed recall and constructional abilities. Compliant use of CPAP at 3 months was associated with greater improvements in attention, psychomotor speed, executive functioning and nonverbal delayed recall. Finally, attention measures predicted compliance at 3 months suggesting that those who were least vigilant at baseline were more likely to comply with treatment. Discussion: Results are discussed in terms of the relevance to targeting special populations for compliance interventions, the ways that treatment may specifically affect older adults and the possible dose–response relationship of CPAP.
RESEARCH NOTE Behavioural Category Ratings of Adolescents on an Inpatient Psychiatric Unit

ABSTRACT Accurate assessment of children's behaviour and level of adaptiveness is essential to the development of therapeutic nursing care plans. It is hypothesised that assessments made subsequent to admission, following a period of observation will be more accurate than initial, comprehensive admission assessment. The purpose of the present study was to determine the consistency of assessments made by adolescents one week after admission with the initial admission assessment.
Clomipramine vs desipramine crossover trial in body dysmorphic disorder: selective efficacy of a serotonin reuptake inhibitor in imagined ugliness.

Background Body dysmorphic disorder (preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in appearance) is a common and disabling disorder associated with high rates of delusional symptoms and suicide attempts. Although preliminary studies suggest that serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be effective for body dysmorphic disorder, to date no controlled treatment studies have been published. Methods Forty patients were enrolled and 29 were randomized into a 16-week, double-blind, crossover-design study of clomipramine, a potent serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and active control desipramine, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Outcome measures included specific ratings of body dysmorphic disorder severity, delusionality, and functional impairment. Results Clomipramine was superior to desipramine in the acute treatment of body dysmorphic disorder symptoms as measured by assessment of patients' obsessive preoccupation with perceived body defects, repetitive behaviors in response to this preoccupation, and global ratings of symptom severity. Treatment efficacy was independent of the presence or severity of comorbid diagnoses of obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, or social phobia. Likewise, clomipramine was equally effective regardless of whether the patients had insight or held their dysmorphic misperception with delusional intensity. Clomipramine was also superior to desipramine in improving functional disability. Conclusions Clomipramine is more effective than desipramine in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder and is effective even among those patients who are delusional.
Generalized full-information item bifactor analysis.

Full-information item bifactor analysis is an important statistical method in psychological and educational measurement. Current methods are limited to single group analysis and inflexible in the types of item response models supported. We propose a flexible multiple-group item bifactor analysis framework that supports a variety of multidimensional item response theory models for an arbitrary mixing of dichotomous, ordinal, and nominal items. The extended item bifactor model also enables the estimation of latent variable means and variances when data from more than one group are present. Generalized user-defined parameter restrictions are permitted within or across groups. We derive an efficient full-information maximum marginal likelihood estimator. Our estimation method achieves substantial computational savings by extending Gibbons and Hedeker’s (1992) bifactor dimension reduction method so that the optimization of the marginal log-likelihood only requires two-dimensional integration regardless of the dimensionality of the latent variables. We use simulation studies to demonstrate the flexibility and accuracy of the proposed methods. We apply the model to study cross-country differences, including differential item functioning, using data from a large international education survey on mathematics literacy.
CALPAINS ARE ACTIVATED IN NECROTIC FIBERS FROM MDX DYSTROPHIC MICE

Death of dystrophin-deficient muscle purportedly results from increases in [Ca]in that cause the activation of calpains. We have tested whether calpains play a role in this process by assaying for changes in calpain concentration and activation in peak necrotic mdx mice (4 weeks of age) and in completely regenerated mdx mice (14 weeks of age). Biochemical fractionation and immunoblotting with epitope-specific antisera allowed measurement of the concentrations of m- and μ-calpains and the extent of autoproteolytic modification. Our findings show that total calpain concentration is elevated in both 4-week and 14-week mdx mice. This increase in concentration was shown to result primarily from a significant increase in m-calpain concentration at 4 weeks. Northern analysis demonstrated that neither m- nor μ-calpain mRNA concentrations differed between mdx and controls suggesting that the increased calpain concentration results from post-translational regulation. Immunoblotting with antibodies directed against amino-terminal peptides revealed an increase in autoproteolysis of μ-calpain, indicative of increased activation. The extent of autoproteolysis of μ-calpain returns to control levels during regeneration. This is not a consequence of increased calpastatin mRNA or protein. The findings reported here support a role for calpains in both the degenerative and regenerative aspects of mdx dystrophy.
The Protein Kinase—Interacting Domain in the Hepatitis C Virus Envelope Glycoprotein—2 Gene Is Highly Conserved in Genotype 1—Infected Patients Treated with Interferon

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoprotein-2 inhibits the interferon (IFN)-induced, double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR) via the PKR eukaryotic initiation factor-2alpha phosphorylation homology domain (PePHD). The present study examined the genetic variability of the PePHD in patients receiving IFN therapy. The PePHD from 12 HCV genotype 1 (HCV-1)-infected patients receiving daily IFN therapy was amplified by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and analyzed by direct and clonal sequencing. The PePHD was highly conserved in 38 HCV GenBank isolates. There was no difference in pretreatment PePHD sequences isolated from IFN responders versus nonresponders. The major PePHD quasi-species variant did not change after 6 weeks of daily IFN therapy, and in 1 patient the major quasi-species variant did not change during 9 months of observation. Sequencing of 25 pretreatment PePHD clones from 3 patients confirmed that there was extremely low sequence variability surrounding the PePHD. The PePHD is highly conserved in HCV-1-infected IFN responders and nonresponders and does not appear to evolve in response to IFN therapy.
Changes in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Since 1963 from Declassified Satellite Photography

Comparison of declassified satellite photography taken in 1963 with more recent satellite imagery reveals that large changes have occurred in the region where an active ice stream enters the Ross Ice Shelf. Ice stream B has widened by 4 kilometers, at a rate much faster than suggested by models, and has decreased in speed by 50 percent. The ice ridge between ice streams B and C has eroded 14 kilometers. These changes, along with changes in the crevassing around Crary Ice Rise, imply that this region's velocity field shifted during this century.
Repression and the Spread of Ethnic Conflict in Kurdistan

Why do ethnic conflicts spread to neighboring states? This article examines the effect of transborder ethnic groups on the spread of ethnic conflict. It argues that when a transborder ethnic group is in conflict in one state, neighboring states perceive a threat from members of that ethnic group residing in their own territory, leading the state to take preemptive repressive action. This repression in turn changes the ethnic group's security situation within the state and can result in violence and thus ethnic conflict. Ethnic conflict spread is not determined by the actions of either the ethnic group or the state alone, but is a product of threat perception and interaction between the two groups. This argument is tested in a set of cases in a region where an ethnic conflict seems to have spread—the Kurds in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey from 1961–2003.
Holocene aggradation of the Dry Tortugas coral reef ecosystem

Radiometric age dating of reef cores acquired at the Dry Tortugas coral reef ecosystem (DTCRE) was merged with lidar topographic mapping to examine Holocene reef development linked to spatial variation in growth and erosion under the control of sea level. Analysis of variance of lidar topography confirmed the presence of three distinct terraces on all three major DTCRE banks (Loggerhead Bank, Garden Bank, and Pulaski Bank). Reef building on the middle terrace (T2) began atop Pleistocene edifices on Loggerhead Bank by 8.0 ka (thousands of years ago) and on Garden Bank by 7.2 ka at elevations of about −16.0 m and −11.9 m, respectively, relative to present mean sea level. Following this initiation at different elevations, T2 aggraded vertically on both banks at different rates during the early Holocene under foundering conditions until a highstand at 5.2 ka, resulting in a 2.21 m offset in present mean T2 elevation between these banks. Initiation of an upper terrace (T1) occurred on both Loggerhead Bank and Garden Bank in association with sea-level fall to a lowstand at near 4.8 ka. This upper terrace initiated on Garden Bank at about 5.0 ka and then grew upward at rate of 2.5 mm year−1 until approximately 3.8 ka. On Loggerhead Bank, the upper T1 terrace formed after 4.5 ka at a higher vertical aggradation rate of 4.1 mm year−1, but at a lower elevation than on Garden Bank. Terrace T1 aggraded on Loggerhead Bank below the elevation of lowstands during late Holocene sea-level oscillation, and consequently erosion on Loggerhead Bank was minimal and likely limited to the crest of the upper terrace. In contrast, after 3.8 ka terrace T1 on Garden Bank likely tracked sea level and consequently underwent erosion when sea level fell to second, third and fourth lowstands at 3.3, 1.1, and 0.3 ka.
Reduction formulas for coherent states

The Lehmann-Symanzik-Zimmermann reduction formulas consistent with the use of asymptotic coherent states to model external fields are developed for the case that the in-state external field differs from the out-state external field. It is shown for the specific choice of coherent state considered that the reduction formulas deviate from the standard forms presented in textbooks. The coherent states are not reduced directly but instead are incorporated into the perturbative representation of the time-ordered product. An effective potential created by the coherent state is found which self-consistently determines the form of the asymptotic field. An application is made to the case of nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics in a laser pulse.
Human-induced stream channel abandonment/capture and filling of floodplain channels within the Atchafalaya River Basin, Louisiana

article i nfo The Atchafalaya River Basin is a distributary system of the Mississippi River containing the largest riparian area in the lower Mississippi River Valley and the largest remaining forested bottomland in North America. Reductions in the area of open water in the Atchafalaya have been occurring over the last 100 years, and many historical waterways are increasingly filled by sediment. This study examines two cases of swamp channels (b85 m 3 /s) that are filling and becoming unnavigable as a result of high sediment loads and slow water velocities. The water velocities in natural bayous are further reduced because of flow capture by chan- nels constructed for access. Bathymetry, flow, suspended sediment, deposited bottom-material, isotopes, and photointerpretation were used to characterize the channel fi ll. On average, waterflowing through these two channels lost 23% of the suspended sediment load in the studied reaches. Along one of the studied reaches, two constructed access channels diverted significant flow out of the primary channel and into the adjacent swamp. Immediately downstream of each of the two access channels, the cross-sectional area of the studied channel was reduced. Isotopic analyses of bottom-material cores indicate that bed filling has been rapid and occurred after detectable levels of Cesium-137 were no longer being deposited. Interpreta- tion of aerial photography indicates that water is bypassing the primary channels in favor of the more hy- draulically efficient access channels, resulting in low or no-velocity flow conditions in the primary channel. These swamp channel conditions are typical in the Atchafalaya River Basin where relict large chan- nel dimensions result in flow velocities that are normally too low to carry fine-grained sediment. Constructed channels increase the rate of natural channel avulsion and abandonment as a result of flow capture.
Surgical treatment of left ventricular aneurysm: experience with excision of postinfarction lesions in 80 patients.

Abstract Left ventricular aneurysm is a serious complication of myocardial infarction and reduces the chances of survival. Paradoxical motion of the aneurysm reduces left ventricular output and may result in intractable heart failure. Embolization from mural thrombus is an ever-present hazard. Diagnosis of ventricular aneurysm can be readily established and severity of cardiac impairment assessed by clinical means and by cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography. Operation is performed at normothermia using disposable plastic bubble oxygenators primed with 5 per cent dextrose in distilled water. Eighty patients underwent excision of post-infarction left ventricular aneurysms at our hospital with a 20 per cent hospital mortality (16 deaths). Satisfactory rehabilitation of survivors was achieved. The longest survivor is doing well 10 years after aneurysmectomy. The outlook for the patient with ventricular aneurysm and advanced deterioration of surrounding heart muscle is enhanced by the availability of cardiac transplantation.
Glial growth factor-2 promotes the survival, migration and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation of mammalian neural crest cells in caudal neural tube explant cultures

Using an in vitro assay system, we found that GGF-2 increases the number of nascent trunk neural crest cells (NCC) present in the dorsal outgrowth derived from E12 caudal neural tube explants. Data is presented which suggests that this increased outgrowth was due to a combination of GGF-2 mediated effects, including its ability to promote (A) NCC survival by decreasing the percentage of NCC that undergo cell death via a mechanism involving DNA fragmentation, (B) the initial phases of NCC migration, (C) mitosis of peripherally migrating NCC. We also show that GGF-2 can promote the long-term survival of NCC in the absence of the neural tube. An immunohistochemical analysis indicates that NCC express erbB-2 and erbB-4 neuregulin receptors.
Use of Externally Recorded Radioisotope- Dilution Curves for Quantitation of Left to Right Shunts*

Abstract This study evaluated the use of radioisotope-dilution curves as a method for estimating the magnitude of left to right shunts. Following injection of radiohippuran into the proximal right pulmonary artery, curves were recorded during monitoring over the right lung. The curves were analyzed by comparing area ratios which were derived following extrapolation of the initial exponential disappearance slope. Statistical analysis indicated a good correlation between estimation of the magnitude of left to right shunts by the radioisotope as compared to the Fick method. Additionally, it was shown that (1) an improved correlation was obtained with the use of the quadratic regression equation as compared to linear regression; (2) an improved regression coefficient and decrease in the standard error of estimate was obtained by separating individual defects (ventricular defect, atrial defect and patent ductus) into separate groups as compared to the total group; and (3) estimation of the left to right shunt was obtained equally well in infants as compared to older children.
A further look at catholic fertility.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the extent to which suburbanization has influenced the traditional fertility differences observed between Catholics and Protestants. It is hypothesized that suburbanization has served to decrease religious differences in fertility, since in the more advanced stages of urbanism, that is, suburbanization, the Catholic population is likely to adopt the fertility patterns of the larger and more secularized society. Attention is focused on two objectives: (1) to examine selected aspects of fertility for Catholic8 and Protestants living in metropolitan areas and (2) to analyze religious differentials in fertility among residents in different parts of the metropolitan community.
Effects of cell adhesion to the substratum on the growth of chick embryo fibroblasts

Abstract Chick embryo fibroblasts were plated on Petri dishes that had not been treated for use in tissue culture (bacteriological dishes). On these dishes the cells grow at the same exponential rate as cells plated on tissue culture dishes, but their growth becomes inhibited sooner after plating, and therefore at a lower cell number per dish. The inhibition of cell growth on bacteriological dishes is correlated with the formation of cell clumps. Clump formation is reversible by mechanical transfer of the clumps to a tissue culture dish: the cells migrate out of the clumps, form a monolayer, and cell growth resumes. Clump formation was studied by time-lapse cinematography, and was found to be due to reduced adhesion of the cells to the bacteriological dish surface. This reduced adhesiveness of the substratum is due to a lower number of negatively-charged residues on the bacteriological dish surface, which can be measured by the binding of crystal violet. The number of negatively-charged residues, and therefore the adhesiveness of the substratum can be altered by treatment of the dishes with sulfuric acid. Serum components of the medium were found to affect cell adhesion to the bacteriological dishes, consequently altering the efficiency of cell attachment, the extent of cell growth and the pattern of clump formation. The cells in clumps were compared with those in confluent monolayers on tissue culture dishes. Growth-inhibited cells on both types of dish were found to be equally viable. Cells in clumps on bacteriological dishes were found to be inhibited in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, as are cells in density-inhibited monolayers. Infection by the oncogenic virus, Rous sarcoma virus, can release the cells from growth-inhibition on both types of dish. Cell-induced alterations of the medium are not involved in the growth inhibition of cells on bacteriological dishes.
Phylogenetics of the Tetraplasandra Group (Araliaceae) Inferred from ITS, 5S-NTS, and Morphology

Tetraplasandra, Reynoldsia, and Munroidendron form a complex of closely related genera (14 species) distributed from Tahiti, Samoa, and the Marquesas, to the Hawaiian archipelago. In this paper, we investigate evolutionary relationships within this group using morphological and DNA sequence variation to test the monophyly of the Hawaiian species (the Tetraplasandra group), generic limits of Tetraplasandra, Reynoldsia, and Munroidendron, and the validity of current classifications. Parsimony analyses using two molecular markers, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the 5S non-transcribed spacer (5S-NTS) of the nuclear rDNA genes, and 39 morphological and anatomical characters were conducted using all species of Tetraplasandra (excluding the recently resurrected species T. lydgatei), Reynoldsia, and Munroidendron, plus three species (four for morphological data) of the outgroup genus Gastonia. The results support a monophyletic Hawaiian Tetraplasandra group, a sister relationship between Munroidendron and R. sandwicensis, and a polyphyletic Reynoldsia. Here we build on previous molecular analyses of the Tetraplasandra group and propose the next steps necessary to recognize new generic boundaries. Changes in floral morphology within Tetraplasandra correspond to monophyletic groupings. Species with hypogynous flowers cluster together and species with floral characters suggestive of ornithophily cluster together.
Inflammasomes are important mediators of cyclophosphamide-induced bladder inflammation

Bladder inflammation (cystitis) underlies numerous bladder pathologies and is elicited by a plethora of agents such as urinary tract infections, bladder outlet obstruction, chemotherapies, and cath...
A 24-hour Approach to the Study of Health Behaviors: Temporal Relationships Between Waking Health Behaviors and Sleep

Background Although sleep is often associated with waking health behaviors (WHB) such as alcohol consumption, caffeine use, smoking, and exercise, the causal direction of these relationships is unclear.
Planetary science: Early start for rocky planets

The chemical composition of stars that host small planets seems to be more varied than that of large planets. This finding may push back the clock for the start of rocky planets and of life around stars other than the Sun. See Letter p.375
Variables influencing intravenous catheter insertion difficulty and failure: an analysis of 339 intravenous catheter insertions.

Background Inserting an intravenous catheter (IV) is one of the most frequently performed invasive procedures by nurses. Little research has been conducted on ways to reduce the difficulty and failure, and enhance the ease and success, of IV insertion. We conducted this study to determine variables associated with IV insertion difficulty, failure, and success, and to learn special techniques nurses use to facilitate IV insertion. Methods Data were collected on 339 IV insertions in hospitalized patients by 34 registered nurses. The data included information about the nurse (eg, age, education, and self-rated IV insertion skill); the patient (eg, age and race); the IV (eg, site, gauge, and type); and the IV insertion, (eg, duration and difficulty). Data were analyzed to determine the effects of these variables on IV insertion outcome. In addition, nurses were asked to describe special techniques they used to facilitate IV insertion. Results A total of 77% of the IV insertions were successful. Nurses who were older, had more years of experience, were certified in a specialty, and rated themselves higher in insertion skill had significantly more successful insertions than their younger and less-experienced and less-skilled counterparts ( P P P Conclusion Approximately one fourth of the 339 IV insertions in this study were unsuccessful. Repeated insertion attempts are painful and costly. This study identified nurse, patient, and IV variables associated with IV insertion success and failure. Future research is needed to confirm and expand these findings and to develop interventions to improve IV insertion skills and outcomes.