cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laboratory evaluation of women experiencing reproductive failure.

Reproductive life table analysis indicates that the majority of reproductive failures result from post fertilization failures, whether before or after implantation. It is important to have a set of tests to clarify the diagnosis of the reproductive failure so that appropriate therapy can be instituted. To determine the frequency of abnormal immunologic tests among women experiencing reproductive failure, 108 patients were evaluated for the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) ; lupus anticoagulant (LA) ; thyroid-thyroglobulin and microsomal antibodies (TGT) ; embryotoxic factor (ETA) ; and systemic CD56+/CD16- cells. The frequency of abnormal results obtained from testing for APA, LA, TGT, ETA, and CD56+/CD16- cells among 108 patients with diagnoses of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL)(n=45), unexplained infertility (n=45) including IVF failure (n=10), endometriosis (n=10), premature ovarian failure (n=5), and polycystic ovaries (n=3) were compared with 15 normal controls. Seventy of one hundred eight (65%) women experiencing reproductive failure had at least one positive test, compared to 1 of 15 (7%) controls (P=0.0001). Presence of phospholipid antibodies was the most frequently abnormal result followed by elevated CD56+/CD16 cells. The prevalence of a particular abnormal test varied among the diagnoses. The most frequent abnormal test among women with RPL was an increased percentage of CD56+/CD16- cells (40%), followed by APAs (29%), TGT (9%), and ETA (7%). The most frequent abnormal result among women with unexplained infertility was the presence of APAs (42%), followed by CD56+/CD16- cells (16%), ETA (16%), and TGT (9%). APA, CD56+/CD16- cells, ETA, and TGT are useful tools to assist in the diagnosis of reproductive failure.
Three Dimensional Picture Processing And Its Use In Bio-Medical Applications

With the increasing availability of three dimensional data, a need has arisen for three dimensional picture processing systems. One possible use for such systems is the simulation of surgery, which can make use of data collected via tomography and standard X-rays. Once the data is collected it needs to be reconstructed, organized, and displayed. To this end, we outline the design and focus of a three dimensional system, and suggest some key algorithms. Each phase of processing in this system may use a different data representation, and so the shift in representation between phases is highlighted. Finally, we present a scenario for the simulation of surgery using the described system.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Kinematic analysis of reaching in the cat

The present study examines the kinematic features of forelimb movements made by cats reaching for food in horizontal target wells located at different heights and distances. Wrist paths consisted of two relatively straight segments joined at a “via-point” in front of the aperture of the food well. In the initial lift phase, the paw was raised to the via-point in front of the target. In the second, or thrust phase, the paw was directed forward into the food well. During the lift, the paw was moved toward the target primarily by elbow flexion, accompanied by a sequence of biphasic shoulder and wrist movements. Thrust was accomplished primarily by shoulder flexion while the wrist and the paw were maintained at near-constant angles. The animals varied the height of the reach primarily by varying elbow flexion with proportional changes in elbow angular velocity and angular acceleration and with corresponding variations in wrist speed. Thus, cats reached for targets at different heights by scaling a common kinematic profile. Over a relatively large range of target heights, animals maintained movement duration constant, according to a simple “pulse-height” control strategy (isochronous scaling). For reaches to a given target height, animals compensated for variability in peak acceleration by variations in movement time. We examined the coordination between the shoulder and the wrist with the elbow. Early during the lift, peak shoulder extensor and peak elbow flexor accelerations were synchronized. Late during the lift phase, wrist extensor acceleration was found to occur during the period of elbow flexor deceleration. We hypothesize that these linkages could, in part, be due to passive mechanical interactions. To determine how the angular trajectories of the different joints were organized in relation to target location, we plotted joint kinematic changes directly on the wrist and MCP joint paths. These plots revealed that for all target heights and movement speeds, wrist extensor deceleration occurred at approximately the same spatial location with respect to the target. This analysis also demonstrated that the second phase of MCP flexion occurred when the paw was below the lower lip of the food well, while the subsequent extension occurred after the tip cleared this obstacle. During thrust, wrist and MCP angles were maintained, reflecting the need to align the paw within the food well. Our findings suggest that cats plan the reaching phase of prehension as a sequence of discrete movement segments, each serving a particular goal in the task, rather than as an single unit. The presence of straight trajectory segments suggests that cats, like humans, plan movements of their paw in extrinsic rather than joint space.
DECREASED SWEAT VOLUME IN CYSTINOSIS

Sweat tests by pilocarpine iontophoresis were performed on 13 children age 2-9 years with nephropathic cystinosis; controls were 100 children age 1-18 years examined consecutively because of respiratory symptoms or failure to thrive, but not having cystic fibrosis. The mean amount of sweat for the cystinotic children was 97 mg ± 35 SEM (range 25-450) compared with 281 mg ± 12 SEM (range 86-587) for 100 controls (p<0.001). Ten of 13 cystinotics, but only 3 of 100 controls, had sweat volumes less than 100 mg. One 12-year old benign cystinotic produced 420 mg of sweat. For 5 nephropathic cystinotics from whom an adequate amount of sweat for analysis was obtained, sweat chlorides were normal (range 15-23 mEq/1). Sweat volume was not related to the patient's age or history of cysteamine therapy. Symptoms did correlate with decreased sweat production. Eight cystinotic children, with sweat volumes of 25-87 mg each, experienced severe flushing and vomiting or practiced heat avoidance, while the remaining five (mean sweat volume 188 mg) had no clinically significant heat intolerance. Light microscopy of several skin biopsies revealed no sweat gland abnormalities. Cystinosis now joins fucosidosis as a lysosomal storage disorder with sweat abnormalities. Precautions against excessive heat exposure should be considered for children with nephropathic cystinosis.
Transport behavior of particulate solids in rotary drums: scale-up of residence time distribution using the axial dispersion model

Abstract This paper deals basically with the development of a scale-up criterion for the residence time distribution of material flowing in rotating drums. A characteristics time was deduced from the dimensionless holdup and feed rate of material. The time was used to calculate a scale-up variance which depends only on the characteristics time scale. This criterion can be used to predict the residence time distribution under various operating conditions for drums of different dimensions. The predicted RTD agreed well with the experimental values.
Ethanol has thyrotropin-like activity in cultured porcine thyroid follicles

We describe TSH-like activity of ethanol for thyroid hormone formation in the physiological culture system. Porcine thyroid follicles were preincubated with 0-100 mM (0-0.58%) ethanol in the presence of 0-1280 microU/ml bovine TSH for 24 h; these follicles were then incubated with the mixture of Na125I and NaI to measure iodide uptake, iodine organification, and de novo thyroid hormone formation. Ethanol stimulated iodide uptake in a dose-response manner in TSH-free medium. Ethanol augmented the effect of TSH on iodide uptake, iodide organification, and thyroid hormone formation in the presence of 20-80 microU/ml TSH. When TSH concentration was 320 microU/ml or greater, ethanol no longer stimulated iodide uptake and thyroid hormone formation. Ethanol mediated iodide uptake and iodine organification were inhibited by potassium perchlorate and propylthiouracil respectively. The effect of ethanol on the thyroid follicle was reversible 24 h after removal of ethanol from the medium. The mechanism of TSH-like a...
Analysis of the linkage of MYRIP and MYO7A to melanosomes by RAB27A in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

The apical region of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) typically contains melanosomes. Their apical distribution is dependent on RAB27A and the unconventional myosin, MYO7A. Evidence from studies using in vitro binding assays, melanocyte transfection, and immunolocalization have indicated that the exophilin, MYRIP, links RAB27A on melanosomes to MYO7A, analogous to the manner that melanophilin links RAB27A on melanocyte melanosomes to MYO5A. To test the functionality of this hypothesis in RPE cells, we have examined the relationship among MYRIP, RAB27A and MYO7A with studies of RPE cells in primary culture (including live-cell imaging), analyses of mutant mouse retinas, and RPE cell fractionation experiments. Our results indicate that the retinal distribution of MYRIP is limited to the RPE, mainly the apical region. In RPE cells, RAB27A, MYRIP, and MYO7A were all associated with melanosomes, undergoing both slow and rapid movements. Analyses of mutant mice provide genetic evidence that MYRIP is linked to melanosomes via RAB27A, but show that recruitment of MYRIP to apical RPE is independent of melanosomes and RAB27A. RAB27A and MYRIP also associated with motile small vesicles of unknown origin. The present results provide evidence from live RPE cells that the RAB27A-MYRIP-MYO7A complex functions in melanosome motility. They also demonstrate that RAB27A provides an essential link to the melanosome. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Amine Attack on the Carbonyl Ligands of the Protonated Dicyclopentadienyl-Bridged Diruthenium Complex [{(η5-C5H3)2(SiMe2)2}Ru2(CO)4(μ-H)]+

Complexes [{(η5-C5H3)2(SiMe2)2}Ru2(CO)4(μ-H)]+ (1H+BF4-, 1D+TfO-), with a protonated Ru−Ru bond, were prepared by protonation of {(η5-C5H3)2(SiMe2)2}Ru2(CO)4 (1) with HBF4·Et2O or CF3SO3D. The bridging proton in 1H+ is removed only very slowly by amine bases even though it is thermodynamically acidic (pKaAN = 6.5 (±0.2)). This remarkable kinetic inertness of the bridging proton allows amines (NH3, NH2CH3, NH(CH3)2, morpholine, piperidine, pyrrolidine) to react with 1H+ by attacking the CO ligand to give a formamide (HC(O)NR2) and the CO-substituted product {(η5-C5H3)2(SiMe2)2}Ru2(CO)3(NHR2) (2). Thus, protonation of the metal−metal bond in 1H+ promotes reactions of the CO ligand that are not possible in the unprotonated 1. A proposed mechanism for these reactions is supported by kinetic studies of the reaction of 1D+TfO- with morpholine in nitromethane at 20.0 °C, as well as by deuterium-labeling experiments. The molecular structure of {(η5-C5H3)2(SiMe2)2}Ru2(CO)3(NH2CH3) (2f), as determined by an X-ray d...
Treatment of aortoiliac aneurysms with use of single-piece tapered stent-grafts.

Purpose The authors describe their experience with the use of single-piece, tapered stent-grafts for the treatment of abdominal aortic or aortoiliac aneurysms. Materials and Methods Single-piece, tapered stent-grafts were placed in 15 patients for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms with small distal necks ( n = 13), and aortoiliac aneurysms ( n = 2). There were 13 men and two women who ranged in age from 59 to 83 years (mean, 71 years). Usual open surgery was considered high risk in all patients because of comorbid medical conditions. The stent-grafts were made of Z stents covered with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Additional stent-grafts needed to treat perigraft leaks were made of Z stents covered with woven polyester ( n = 5), Wallstents covered with PTFE ( n = 2), Z stents covered with PTFE ( n = 1), and a PTFE-covered Palmaz stent ( n = 1). After stent-graft placement, the contralateral iliac artery was occluded by a blocking device composed of either a PTFE-covered Palmaz ( n = 1) or Z stent ( n = 13), and a femoral-femoral bypass was created. Results After placement of the stent-grafts, immediate perigraft leaks were observed in eight patients (53%). These were at the proximal ( n = 5) or the distal end ( n = 3). All, except one, were treated successfully with additional stent-grafts. The one failure was in a patient who developed aortic rupture after balloon dilation, requiring open surgical repair. Second procedures were required in four patients (27%), including three leaks treated successfully with coil embolization and/or a back-up stent-graft, and one stent-graft migration and thrombosis treated by thrombolysis and placement of an additional stent-graft. One patient died of respiratory failure 23 days after placement of the stent-graft. The mean follow-up was 12 months (range, 4–26 months). On the last follow-up, the aneurysms in the 13 living patients remained thrombosed. Conclusion Treatment of aortoiliac aneurysms with use of single-piece, tapered stent-grafts is feasible in selected patients. The morbidity and mortality rates compare favorably with those of the open surgical procedures in a high-risk population. Further improvements in the technique and longer follow-up data are needed before this procedure can be recommended for the treatment of all aortoiliac aneurysms.
Receiver performance evaluation using photocounting cumulants with application to atmospheric turbulence.

A new technique for evaluating optical communication system performance directly from the photocounting cumulants is presented. This technique is most useful in situations where exact, explicit, closed form solutions exist for the photocounting cumulants, but do not exist for the photocounting distribution, such as in the generalized case of communication through lognormal atmospheric turbulence. Using this technique, theoretical probability of error curves are presented for communication through lognormal atmospheric turbulence, for a superposed coherent-in-chaotic signal, embedded in additive independent Poisson noise, with arbitrary ratio of sampling time to source coherence time, arbitrary ratio of coherent to chaotic component, arbitrary mean frequencies of the coherent and chaotic components, and where the chaotic component need not be stationary and may have arbitrary spectral distribution. Since no solution exists for the photocounting distribution itself in this generalized case, the corresponding performance calculation has not previously been possible. The case described applies to the detection of radiation originating from a multimode laser or scattered from a rough target, and passing through atmospheric turbulence. A special case of these results is shown to be in excellent agreement with previous calculations [ Rosenberg Teich , Applied Optics12, 2625 ( 1973)] for a lognormally modulated coherent signal.
Dependence of phonation threshold pressure and frequency on vocal fold geometry and biomechanics

Previous studies show that phonation onset occurs as two eigenmodes of the vocal folds are synchronized by the interaction between the vocal folds and the glottal flow. This study examines the influence of the geometrical and biomechanical properties of the vocal folds on this eigenmode-synchronization process, with a focus on phonation threshold pressure and frequency. The analysis showed that phonation threshold pressure was determined by the frequency spacing and coupling strength between the two natural modes that were synchronized by the fluid-structure interaction. The phonation frequency at onset was the root mean square value of the two natural frequencies plus a correction due to the added stiffness of the glottal flow. When higher-order modes of the vocal fold structure were included, more than one group of eigenmodes was synchronized as the system moved toward phonation onset. Changes in vocal fold biomechanics may change the relative dominance between different groups and cause phonation onset to occur at a different eigenmode, which was often accompanied by an abrupt change in onset frequency. Due to the synchronization of multiple pairs of eigenmodes and the mode-switching possibility, a complete and accurate description of vocal fold biomechanical properties is needed to determine the final synchronization pattern and obtain a reliable calculation of the dependence of phonation threshold pressure and frequency on vocal fold geometry and other biomechanical properties.
Gas-phase organics in environmental tobacco smoke: 2. Exposure-relevant emission factors and indirect exposures from habitual smoking

Abstract Sorption of emitted gas-phase organic compounds onto material surfaces affects environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) composition and exposures indoors. We have introduced a new metric, the exposure relevant emission factor (EREF) that accounts for sorptive uptake and reemission to give the mass of individual ETS constituents available for exposure over a day in which smoking occurs. This paper describes month-long experiments to investigate sorption effects on EREFs and potential ETS exposures under habitual smoking conditions. Cigarettes were smoked in a 50-m3 furnished room over a 3-h period 6–7 days per week, with continuous ventilation at 0.3, 0.6, or 2.1 h−1. Organic gas concentrations were measured every few days over 4-h “smoking”, 10-h “post-smoking” and 10-h “background” periods. Concentration patterns of volatile ETS components including 1,3-butadiene, benzene and acrolein were similar to those calculated for a theoretical non-sorbing tracer, indicating limited sorption. Concentrations of ETS tracers, e.g. 3-ethenylpyridine (3-EP) and nicotine, and lower volatility toxic air contaminants including phenol, cresols, and naphthalene increased as experiments progressed, indicating mass accumulation on surfaces and higher desorption rates. Daily patterns stabilized after week 2, yielding a steady daily cycle of ETS concentrations associated with habitual smoking. EREFs for sorbing compounds were higher under steady cycle versus single-day smoking conditions by ∼50% for 3-EP, and by 2–3 times for nicotine, phenol, cresols, naphthalene, and methylnaphthalenes. Our results provide relevant information about potential indirect exposures from residual ETS (non-smoker enters room shortly after smoker finishes) and from reemission, and their importance relative to direct exposures (non-smoker present during smoking). Under the conditions examined, indirect exposures accounted for a larger fraction of total potential exposures for sorbing versus non-sorbing compounds, and at lower versus higher ventilation rates. Increasing ventilation can reduce indirect exposures to very low levels for non-sorbing ETS components, but indirect routes accounted for ∼50% of potential nicotine exposures during non-smoking periods at all ventilation rates.
Use of anesthesia on the rise in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Conscious sedation has been the standard of care for many years for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures. As procedures have become more complex and lengthy, additional medications became essential for adequate sedation. Often time’s deep sedation is required for procedures such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiography which necessitates higher doses of narcotics and benzodiazepines or even use of other medications such as ketamine. Given its pharmacologic properties, propofol was rapidly adopted worldwide to gastrointestinal endoscopy for complex procedures and more recently to routine upper and lower endoscopy. Many studies have shown superiority for both the physician and patient compared to standard sedation. Nevertheless, its use remains highly controversial. A number of studies worldwide show that propofol can be given safely by endoscopists or nurses when well trained. Despite this wealth of data, at many centers its use has been prohibited unless administered by anesthesiology. In this commentary, we review the use of anesthesia support for endoscopy in the United States based on recent data and its implications for gastroenterologists worldwide.
Ontological musings on how nature computes

Abstract Modern physical theory and modern computational techniques are used to provide conjecture on how nature computes. I utilize time-domain simulation of physical phenomena and build analogies between elements of computation and the “things” of Universe computation, resulting, for example, in the identification of the quantum vacuum as the power source for Universe computation. While reviewing how Universe can be viewed as a computation, we find the need for Negative Universe (which is a part of the quantum vacuum mechanism). This idea is compared with Penrose’s current model which utilizes a separate Platonic world outside of physical Universe. Lastly, in the Discussion, I present an updated version of computational cosmography as a model for Universe as computation.
A fast, scalable mutual exclusion algorithm

This paper is concerned with synchornization under read/write atomicity in shared memory multi-processors. We present a new algorithm forN-process mutual exclusion that requires only read and write operations and that hasO(logN) time complexity, where “time” is measured by counting remote memory references. The time complexity of this algorithm is better than that of all prior solutions to the mutual exclusion problem that are based upon atomic read and write instructions; in fact, the time complexity of most prior solutions is unbounded. Performance studies are presented that show that our mutual exclusion algorithm exhibits scalable performance under heavy contention. In fact, its performance rivals that of the fastest queue-based spin locks based on strong primitives such as compare-and-swap and fetch-and-add. We also present a modified version of our algorithm that generates onlyO(1) memory references in the absence of contention.
Effectiveness of behavioral safety belt interventions

A wide variety of approaches have been developed to promote safety belt use. This paper evaluates the relationship of types of behavioral safety belt programs to short- and long-term safety belt use rates. Five types of programs were examined: Law, Incentive, Education, Monitoring, and Prompt. Programs were generally effective in increasing use rates, with a median increase of 17.0% (95% CI = 13.4%, 20.1%). Program type differentially affected use rates, with Law and Incentive producing the highest increase in rates. Length of intervention and number of interventions within one program were not significantly related to use rates. Immediately after intervention ended, safety belt use declined but soon stabilized, with rates remaining significantly higher than baseline.
Ventilation techniques for 1-lung anesthesia

Summary One-lung anesthesia with its attended unique physiologic considerations provides various clinical challenges to the anesthesiologist. Hypoxemia during 1-lung anesthesia remains a major clinical problem. Although it is difficult to prescribe a single ventilation technique that is ideal for all, preoperative patient characteristics and the nature of the surgery should be taken into account to develop a safe strategy for the patient and avoid catastrophic hypoxemia. Pharmacologic agents may be used to favorably manipulate the pulmonary circulation. The importance of high vigilance and clear communication with the surgeon cannot be over emphasized.
A dynamic Mills heritage model with replaceable capital

A general equilibrium, linear programming model of urban land use formulated in the heritage of Edwin Mills is reformulated for dynamic solution. This multiperiod extension identifies discontinuous land use as an optimal market strategy under reasonably general conditions of economic change. Information about future economic conditions is assumed to be complete, and capital is assumed to be replaceable at finite cost. As a result, land uses and export mixes adjust over time in response to exogenous shifts in export prices. It is noted that discontinuous land uses can constitute long-run outcomes, and a distinction is drawn between the assumptions associated with static and long-run perspectives.
Existence of two histone H3 variants in dicotyledonous plants and correlation between their acetylation and plant genome size.

Histone H3 proteins were purified to near homogeneity from callus cultures of dicotyledonous plants alfalfa, soybean, Arabidopsis, carrot and tobacco to determine the number of histone H3 variants. In every species two histone H3 variants were identified by gradient gel electrophoresis and reversed-phase chromatography. They were named H3.1 and H3.2 in order of increasing mobility in acid-urea-Triton gels. Co-electrophoresis of histone H3.2 proteins of all species in this gel system and HPLC cochromatography suggest that all histone H3.2 variants have a primary protein sequence identical to alfalfa H3.2. Two distinct H3.1 variant forms were identified, represented by alfalfa. and Arabidopsis H3.1 proteins which differ only at residue 90. Soybean H3.1 resembles H3.1 of alfalfa. Carrot and tobacco H3.1 appear identical to the Arabidopsis H3.1 histone variant. All H3 proteins were acetylated to multiple levels and in each plant the histone H3.2 forms were more highly acetylated. An inverse relationship was observed between plant genome size and the relative abundance of histone variant H3.2 and also with the level of acetylation of both histone H3 variants. This correlation matches the general tendency that in plants with smaller genomes a larger fraction of the genome is transcriptionally active.
Perceptual learning in tactile hyperacuity: complete intermanual transfer but limited retention

We investigated intermanual transfer and long-term retention of practice-related perceptual learning in the domain of tactile hyperacuity. Subjects discriminated a row of three dots in which the central dot was offset laterally from a row without such offset. Performance at the right index fingerpad improved with practice. Practice effects transferred essentially completely to the left index fingerpad. When tested some months later at the right index fingerpad, long-term retention of learning was limited and further practice was required to stabilize discrimination thresholds. Intermanual transfer of tactile learning appears to be a general phenomenon, while long-term retention appears to be limited in hyperacuity tasks.
Dopamine Metabolism in Hypoxanthine‐Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase‐Deficient Variants of PC12 Cells

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome results from a deficiency of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltrans-ferase (HPRT). It is manifest by behavioral abnormalities, including self-mutilation, and evidence of abnormal 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine) metabolism. To assess whether an HPRT deficiency in a dopaminergic cell can adversely affect dopamine metabolism in that cell, dopamine metabolism was examined in HPRT-defi-cient variants of PC12 pheochromocytoma cells and in cells that had regained HPRT activity by virtue of transformation with a recombinant retrovirus containing the human gene for HPRT. There was no correlation between HPRT activity and endogenous dopamine levels, dopamine uptake, dopamine release, or monoamine oxidase activity. Transformation with the HPRT retrovirus did not adversely affect dopamine metabolism.
Three Dimensional Neuronal Cell Cultures More Accurately Model Voltage Gated Calcium Channel Functionality in Freshly Dissected Nerve Tissue

It has been demonstrated that neuronal cells cultured on traditional flat surfaces may exhibit exaggerated voltage gated calcium channel (VGCC) functionality. To gain a better understanding of this phenomenon, primary neuronal cells harvested from mice superior cervical ganglion (SCG) were cultured on two dimensional (2D) flat surfaces and in three dimensional (3D) synthetic poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and polystyrene (PS) polymer scaffolds. These 2D- and 3D-cultured cells were compared to cells in freshly dissected SCG tissues, with respect to intracellular calcium increase in response to high K+ depolarization. The calcium increases were identical for 3D-cultured and freshly dissected, but significantly higher for 2D-cultured cells. This finding established the physiological relevance of 3D-cultured cells. To shed light on the mechanism behind the exaggerated 2D-cultured cells’ functionality, transcriptase expression and related membrane protein distributions (caveolin-1) were obtained. Our results support the view that exaggerated VGCC functionality from 2D cultured SCG cells is possibly due to differences in membrane architecture, characterized by uniquely organized caveolar lipid rafts. The practical implication of use of 3D-cultured cells in preclinical drug discovery studies is that such platforms would be more effective in eliminating false positive hits and as such improve the overall yield from screening campaigns.
Stimulus-response compatibility affects auditory Stroop interference

The contribution of stimulus-response compatibility to Stroop interference was tested in an auditory version of the Stroop test. The words “high” and “low” were presented in high and low pitches with either the pitch or the word designated as the relevant dimension. College students categorized the relevant stimulus dimension with a verbal response, a buttonpress, or a pitched hum. Significant interference occurred in the incompatible conditions (pitch-verbal, word-hum, pitch-button), but not in the compatible conditions (pitch-hum, word-verbal, word-button). The results indicated that stimulus-response compatibility was an important determinant of observed interference. It was suggested that stimulus-response incompatibility contributed to the response competition that presumably occurs in Stroop tasks.
Direct numerical simulation of laboratory experiments in isotropic turbulence

Massively parallel computers are now large enough to support accurate direct numerical simulations (DNSs) of laboratory experiments on isotropic turbulence, providing researchers with a full description of the flow field as a function of space and time. The high accuracy of the simulations is demonstrated by their agreement with the underlying laboratory experiment and on checks of numerical accuracy. In order to simulate the experiments, requirements for the largest and smallest length scales computed must be met. Furthermore, an iterative technique is developed in order to initialize the larger length scales in the flow. Using these methods, DNS is shown to accurately simulate isotropic turbulence decay experiments such as those of Comte-Bellot and Corrsin [J. Fluid Mech. 48, 273 (1971)].
Nutrient Enrichment of Chesapeake Bay and Its Impact on the Habitat of Striped Bass: A Speculative Hypothesis

Abstract Stocks of striped bass Morone saxatilis have declined in the Chesapeake Bay system over the last decade. We present evidence for the working hypothesis that the decline has resulted, in part, from loss of deep-water habitat for adults, caused by limiting concentrations of dissolved oxygen that are related, in turn, to nutrient enrichment and greater planktonic production. A related hypothesis is that changes in the near-shore habitat for juvenile striped bass, involving severe declines in submerged aquatic vegetation due to nutrient-driven planktonic shading, also have contributed to the decline of striped bass. Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and chlorophyll a, an indicator of phytoplankton biomass, have increased in many areas of the bay and tributaries over the past 20 to 30 years. These trends are qualitatively correlated with greater deoxygenation of the deep channel in the mid and upper bay. During the late 1970s, summer oxygen concentrations as low as 2 ml/liter approached to within 7–...
Characterization of Testis-specific Isoenzyme of Human Pyruvate Dehydrogenase

Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), the first component of the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, has two isoenzymes, somatic cell-specific PDH1 and testis-specific PDH2 with 87% sequence identity in the α subunit of α2 β2 PDH. The presence of functional testis-specific PDH2 is important for sperm cells generating nearly all their energy from carbohydrates via pyruvate oxidation. Kinetic and regulatory properties of recombinant human PDH2 and PDH1 were compared in this study. Site-specific phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of the three phosphorylation sites by four PDH kinases (PDK1-4) and two PDH phosphatases (PDP1-2) were investigated by substituting serines with alanine or glutamate in PDHs. PDH2 was found to be very similar to PDH1 as follows: (i) in specific activities and kinetic parameters as determined by the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex assay; (ii) in thermostability at 37 °C; (iii) in the mechanism of inactivation by phosphorylation of three sites; and (iv) in the phosphorylation of sites 1 and 2 by PDK3. In contrast, the differences for PDH2 were indicated as follows: (i) by a 2.4-fold increase in binding affinity for the PDH-binding domain of dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase as measured by surface plasmon resonance; (ii) by possible involvement of Ser-264 (site 1) of PDH2 in catalysis as evident by its kinetic behavior; and (iii) by the lower activities of PDK1, PDK2, and PDK4 as well as PDP1 and PDP2 toward PDH2. These differences between PDH2 and PDH1 are less than expected from substitution of 47 amino acids in each PDH2 α subunit. The multiple substitutions may have compensated for any drastic alterations in PDH2 structure thereby preserving its kinetic and regulatory characteristics largely similar to that of PDH1.
Goodwill, triggering events, and impairment accounting

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the assessment process for goodwill impairment. The paper evaluates compliance with goodwill impairment tests required under the Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 142 and International Accounting Standard 36, highlighting challenges encountered in complying with these standards. The paper explores areas in which improvements might be made in both goodwill‐impairment compliance and disclosures and identifies areas for future research.Design/methodology/approach – The method is exploratory in nature. A combination of data collection, analysis, and interpretation is employed.Findings – The research highlights a number of features of the impairment testing and measurement process that make implementation a challenge. Triggering events are many and vary greatly in significance and severity. Different valuation models are used and there is little conformity in the selection of discount rates. In some cases, though not consistently, control premiums are ...
Change intolerance to shifts in methadone formulation: a preliminary investigation.

Some patients in methadone maintenance treatment programs have substantial difficulty adjusting to changes in methadone formulation and shifts in other program policies. Clinicians can benefit from the ability to identify individuals who are "at risk" for methadone formulation and other change intolerance. By studying a cohort of 177 patients who were receiving methadone maintenance in a program that changed methadone dispensing formulations, this study revealed significant differences between two underlying patient groups (i.e., change tolerant or intolerant). These patients were distinguished by personal characteristics prior to the formulation change and methadone dose level shifts after the formulation change. Change-intolerant patients experienced formulation-related narcotic withdrawal whereas change-tolerant patients adapted to the new medication format. Gender, treatment history, and methadone abuse were three sociodemographic variables that significantly predicted patients who were intolerant to a methadone formulation change. These findings suggest the need for more research, including plasma and metabolic studies, to clarify the potential biological effects of changes in methadone formulations. In addition, the treatment implications for patients who experience change intolerance are discussed.
22-trans-cholesta-5,22,24-trien-3β-OL — An intermediate in the conversion of stigmasterol to cholesterol in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (Johannson)

Abstract A new sterol, 22- trans -cholesta-5,22,24-trien-3β-ol, was isolated and identified as an intermediate in the conversion of stigmasterol to cholesterol in the tobacco hornworm. This intermediate, which is normally present in stigmasterol-fed insects, accumulates when the conversion of stigmasterol to cholesterol is inhibited by 20,25-diazacholesterol. Synthetic 22- trans -cholesta-5,22,24-trien-3β-ol supported normal growth and development and was converted to cholesterol by the tobacco hornworm.
Chromosomal gene transfer elements of the Bacteroides group.

Many human colonicBacteroides strains carry large (> 60 kbp) chromosomal elements that can transfer themselves from the chromosome of the donor to the chromosome of the recipient. Most of these elements carry a tetracycline resistance gene (tetQ) and many also carry an erythromycin resistance gene (ermF), but at least one cryptic member of the family has been identified. Molecular analysis of excision and integration events has shown that the self-transmissibleBacteroides elements are not transposons but may represent a new class of integrating elements. TheBacteroides elements are most similar to the streptococcal conjugative transposons, such as Tn916. TheBacteroides Tcr/TcrEmr elements can mobilize DNA that is not contained within the elements themselves. They not only mobilize co-resident plasmids but also cause the excision, circularization and mobilization of discrete unlinked 10–11 kbp segments of chromosomal DNA. Self-transfer and other activities of the Tcr/TcrEmr elements are regulated by tetracycline. Thus, tetracycline not only selects for acquisition of an element but also stimulates element transfer in the first place.
Utility of pH/Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance Probe in Identifying Operative Patients in Infants with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Abstract Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux is a common clinical problem in infants, but identifying which infants may benefit from a fundoplication remains a conundrum. Esophageal pH and multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) measurements are useful diagnostic tools in adults and older children, but their diagnostic efficacy in infants is unclear. Therefore, we reviewed our experience with the combined pH/MII probe in this population. Subjects and Methods: A retrospective review of patients ≤6 months of age who were studied with the pH/MII probe from 2006 to 2010 was performed. Test results, interventions, and outcomes were reviewed. Patients were divided into operative and nonoperative groups, and pH probe and MII results were compared. Results: Fifty-seven patients (53% male) were identified. Mean age at the time of pH/MII probe was 3.1 months. Regarding the operative group (n=33), 21% had an abnormal pH probe, and 100% had an abnormal MII; 97% had symptom improvement at a mean follow-up of 16 mo...
Methionine motifs of copper transport proteins provide general and flexible thioether-only binding sites for Cu(I) and Ag(I).

Cellular acquisition of copper in eukaryotic organisms is primarily accomplished through high-affinity copper transport proteins (Ctr). The extracellular N-terminal regions of both human and yeast Ctr1 contain multiple methionine residues organized in copper-binding Mets motifs. These motifs comprise combinations of methionine residues arranged in clusters of MXM and MXXM, where X can be one of several amino acids. Model peptides corresponding to 15 different Mets motifs were synthesized and determined to selectively bind Cu(I) and Ag(I), with no discernible affinity for divalent metal ions. These are rare examples of biological thioether-only metal binding sites. Effective dissociation constant (K D) values for the model Mets peptides and Cu(I) were determined by an ascorbic acid oxidation assay and validated through electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and range between 2 and 11 μM. Affinity appears to be independent of pH, the arrangement of the motif, and the composition of intervening amino acids, all of which reveal the generality and flexibility of the MX1–2MX1–2M domain. Circular dichroism spectroscopy, 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy were also used to characterize the binding event. These results are intended to aid the development of the still unknown mechanism of copper transport across the cell membrane.
Ion–molecule reactions of trimethylborate allow the mass spectrometric identification and counting of functional groups in protonated bifunctional oxygen-containing compounds and polyols

Abstract A mass spectrometric method has been developed for the identification of functional groups in unknown bifunctional oxygen-containing compounds and for the identification and counting of the hydroxyl groups in polyols. This method utilizes gas-phase ion–molecule reactions of protonated analytes with neutral trimethylborate (TMB) in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer. The diagnostic reaction sequence involves proton abstraction from the protonated analyte by TMB, followed by the addition of the analyte to TMB and elimination of methanol. The functional groups in bifunctional oxygen-containing compounds are identified based on the total number of TMB molecules that have added to the protonated analyte and/or the number of methanol molecules lost, or by sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-activated dissociation (SORI-CAD) of the reaction products. The number of hydroxyl groups in polyols is revealed by the number of methanol molecules lost during their reactions with TMB. Reactions of protonated carboxylic acids with TMB also lead to elimination of a methanol molecule. However, carboxylic acids can be differentiated from the isomeric hydroxyketones based on the loss of HO-B(OCH3)2 upon SORI-CAD of the reaction product. Reactions of protonated amides with TMB also lead to elimination of a methanol molecule. However, amides can be differentiated from bifunctional oxygen-containing compounds based on the loss of O B R from the reaction product upon SORI-CAD. Protonated amines do not react with TMB.
Simple constitutive equations for steel at high temperature

This work develops and investigates simple unified constitutive equations to model the mechanical behavior of plain carbon steel in the austenite temperature region for use in finite element stress analysis of processes such as continuous casting. Four different forms of constitutive relations are considered: constant structure, time-hardening, strain-hardening, and simultaneous time- and strain-hardening models. Each relation is judged on its ability to reproduce experimental data from both tensile and creep tests and its ability to exhibit reasonable behavior under complex loading conditions. Three of the equations appear suitable for small strain monotonic loading conditions for a wide range of low strain rates (10−3 to 10−6 s−1), high temperatures (950 °C to 1400 °C), and varying carbon contents (0.005 to 1.54 wt pct C).
A deterministic approach to generation and transmission maintenance scheduling with network constraints

Abstract Most unit maintenance scheduling packages consider the preventive maintenance schedule of generating units over a 1 or 2 year operational planning period in order to minimize the total operation cost while satisfying system energy requirements and maintenance constraints. In a global maintenance scheduling problem, we propose to consider transmission line maintenance scheduling in generation maintenance scheduling. The inclusion of network constraints in generation unit maintenance will increase the complexity of the problem, so we propose to decompose the global generator/transmission scheduling problem into a master problem and sub-problems using Benders decomposition. In the first stage, a master problem is solved to determine a solution for maintenance schedule decision variables. In the second stage, sub-problems are solved to minimize operation costs while satisfying the network constraints. Benders cuts based on the solution of the sub-problem are introduced to the master problem for improving the existing solution. The iterative procedure continues until an optimal or near optimal solution is found.
Identity Construction and Reconstruction: Naming and Manchu Ethnicity in Northeast China, 1749–1909

Abstract The authors reconstruct processes of ethnic identification among residents of rural northeast China from the end of the eighteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth through an analysis of naming behavior. They apply discrete-time event-history techniques to individual life histories compiled from longitudinal, nominative household-register data from state farms in what is now Liaoning Province to identify the individual and household circumstances associated with the adaptation of Han or Manchu names, focusing on the role of heredity and status. Ethnic identification in late imperial northeast China was potentially fluid. Many residents were descended from migrants from Shandong who became hereditary tenants on state land administered by a system of Manchu government known as the Eight Banners. As banner people, or qiren, these residents could legitimately claim to be Manchu. As descendants of Shandong migrants, they could also claim to be Han. They could express their choice of ethnic id...
Microfluidic device for mechanical dissociation of cancer cell aggregates into single cells

Tumors tissues house a diverse array of cell types, requiring powerful cell-based analysis methods to characterize cellular heterogeneity and identify rare cells. Tumor tissue is dissociated into single cells by treatment with proteolytic enzymes, followed by mechanical disruption using vortexing or pipetting. These procedures can be incomplete and require significant time, and the latter mechanical treatments are poorly defined and controlled. Here, we present a novel microfluidic device to improve mechanical dissociation of digested tissue and cell aggregates into single cells. The device design includes a network of branching channels that range in size from millimeters down to hundreds of microns. The channels also contain flow constrictions that generate well-defined regions of high shear force, which we refer to as “hydrodynamic micro-scalpels”, to progressively disaggregate tissue fragments and clusters into single cells. We show using in vitro cancer cell models that the microfluidic device significantly enhances cell recovery in comparison to mechanical disruption by pipetting and vortexing after digestion with trypsin or incubation with EDTA. Notably, the device enabled superior results to be obtained after shorter proteolytic digestion times, resulting in fully viable cells in less than ten minutes. The device could also be operated under enzyme-free conditions that could better maintain expression of certain surface markers. The microfluidic format is advantageous because it enables application of well-defined mechanical forces and rapid processing times. Furthermore, it may be possible to directly integrate downstream processing and detection operations to create integrated cell-based analysis platforms. The enhanced capabilities enabled by our novel device may help promote applications of single cell detection and purification techniques to tumor tissue specimens, advancing the current understanding of cancer biology and enabling molecular diagnostics in clinical settings.