cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infant formula and neurocognitive outcomes: impact of study end-point selection

Assessing validity and reliability of end points used in docosahexanoic and arachidonic acids (DHA and ARA) infant formula supplementation trials as an example for addressing the impact of end-point selection and critical need for well-defined, reliable and validated clinical outcome assessments for neurocognitive assessment in neonates and infants. We searched eight electronic databases and reviewed all randomized, controlled human trials using DHA/ARA supplements with neurodevelopment clinical outcomes. We systematically evaluated the validity and reliability of end-point measures based on the criteria for studying nutritional additives recommended by the Institute of Medicine, criteria described in the Food and Drug Administration guidance for clinical outcome assessment, development and literature review. We identified 29 articles that met the selection criteria. The end points that were used for neurodevelopment measures in 23 out of 29 original short-term studies included the Bayley Scale of Infant Development (BSID)-I and -II (n=12), Brunet-Lezine test (n=2), videotape infant's movements (n=1), record time to milestones including sitting, crawling, standing and walking (n=1), problem-solving test (n=2), brainstem auditory-evoked potential (n=1), Touwen examination (n=1), Fagan test of infant intelligence (n=2) and visual habituation protocol (n=1). None of these end points have a long-term predictive property for neurocognitive assessment. Compared with standard infant formula, the beneficial effects of DHA/ARA supplementation on neurodevelopment were reported in 2 out of 12 studies using BSID vs 8 out of 11 studies using other end-point measures. In addition, 6 out of 29 long-term follow-up studies used the end points including Stanford–Binet IQ test (n=1), Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (n=4) and Bracken Basic Concept Scale (n=1), which are generally scales of intellectual ability and typically do not change substantively in the short term. None of these long-term follow-up studies demonstrated beneficial effects of DHA/ARA supplementation on neurodevelopment. The choice of end-point measures affects the outcomes of DHA/ARA-supplemented infant formula trials. Available data are currently inadequate to conclude that DHA/ARA supplementation has a clinically meaningful beneficial effect upon neurological development. Although BSID is validated to assess early developmental delays, it is not designed to predict long-term neurocognitive outcome. A well-defined, valid and reliable clinical outcome assessment that measures neurocognitive function in neonates and infants is essential to provide the scientific evidence required for future clinical trials.
Investigations of analog VLSI visual transduction and motion processing

This thesis is a detailed description of a neuromorphic visual-motion processing chip and its component parts. The chip is the first two-dimensional silicon retina with a full set of direction-selective, velocity-tuned pixels. The architecture for the chip is based on the biological correlation-type motion detector, with the addition of a novel spatiotemporal aggregation. All the processing on the chip is analog and occurs in parallel. Novel, on-chip, continuous-time, adaptive, logarithmic photoreceptor circuits are used to couple temporal image signals into the motion processing network. These continuous-time photoreceptor circuits have also been used in a wide variety of other vision chips. The photoreceptor circuits center their operating point around the history of the illumination, simultaneously achieving high sensitivity and wide dynamic range. The receptor circuits are characterized and analyzed carefully for their temporal bandwidth and detection performance. Noise properties are analyzed, resulting in a simple and intuitive understanding of the limiting parameters. Novel adaptive elements are described that are insensitive to light-generated minority carriers. Novel measurements are presented of the spectral response properties of phototransducers that can be built in ordinary CMOS or BiCMOS processes. A novel nonlinear circuit that measures similarity and dissimilarity of signals is described and characterized. These bump circuits are used on the motion chip to extract the motion energy signal, and have also been used in other chips in numerous ways.
Is percutaneous vertebroplasty without pretreatment venography safe? Evaluation of 205 consecutives procedures

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vertebral venography has been advocated before bone cement injection when performing percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) for benign or malignant lesions of the spine. Although venography can document sites of potential leakage during subsequent cement application, stagnant contrast agent renders the cement injection more difficult to monitor, and an allergic reaction to contrast agent remains a potential risk. We evaluated our experience with PV without prior venographic evaluation. METHODS: Two hundred five consecutive PV procedures performed in 137 patients without pretreatment venography were evaluated for complications linked to bone cement injection. Treated lesions were 172 benign compression fractures, 27 metastases, two hemangiomas, and four multiple myelomas. PV was performed with a single-pedicle technique in 146 cases and a two-pedicle technique in 59 cases. RESULTS: No major complication occurred in our series. Three minor complications (1.5%) were documented: One patient had a transient episode of arterial hypotension during cement injection, without cement leak; one patient had a spontaneously resolving patch of cutaneous hypoesthesia at the puncture site; and one patient had a radiculopathy four levels above the treated level, not caused by cement deposition, and successfully treated with a nerve block. None of these three minor complications were related to cement leakage. CONCLUSION: PV can, in our experience, be performed safely without prior angiographic evaluation of the vertebral venous system.
Applying learning style theory to Web page design

Library Web sites can be instructional tools, especially for those patrons who utilize library resources from their homes. Many libraries are developing online tutorials, but there is an opportunity for Web instruction on another level. The organization and design of a Web site can act as an instructional tool in itself. This paper is a call to library Web designers to assess their work in terms of learning style preferences. Learning style theory is based on how people process information and learn new material. Applying these ideas to Web page design can make library resources more accessible and improve the patron's comprehension of how the library works.
Multiple Pathways to Functional Impairment in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and debilitating condition that is relatively common in both children and adults, and it is associated with a wide range of functional impairments. Mental health researchers and practitioners have placed considerable attention on OCD over the past two decades, with the goal of advancing treatment and understanding its etiology. Until recently, it was unknown to what extent this disorder was associated with functional impairment. However, recent research shows that the condition has significant social and occupational liabilities. This article discusses etiology, common symptom presentations (including comorbid and ancillary symptoms), basic OCD subtypes, neuropsychological functioning, and the relation these have with functional disability in OCD. Recommendations for future research are also considered.
Differential cardiovascular effects of pharmacological agents in chickens selected for high and low body weight.

This study was conducted to investigate whether there are differences in the autonomic nervous system function of chickens from lines selected for high (HWS) or low body weight (LWS). The cardiovascular response to various pharmacological agents was used as an indicator of autonomic nervous system response. Ten individuals from each line and sex were used in the study. Catheters were introduced into the left brachial artery and vein and connected to a MP100-BIOPAC system to record blood pressure and heart rate (HR). Chickens were injected with phenylephrine, atropine, propranolol, and tetraethylammonium chloride (TEAC). The LWS birds exhibited a greater increase in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and a lesser increase in HR than the HWS birds following atropine. The response to atropine showed a line and sex interaction in which male birds had a greater increase in HR than females and LWS females had a lower increase in HR than the HWS females. Injection of phenylephrine following pretreatment with atropine caused a baroreceptor reflex in which males showed a greater decrease in HR than females. In response to the β-adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol, females displayed a greater decrease in MABP than males and LWS birds had a greater decrease in HR than HWS birds. In response to the autonomic ganglionic blocker TEAC, MABP and HR decreased equally in both lines. The percentage of adrenal and sympathetic impact on regulation of HR showed that LWS females required greater adrenal activity than those from the other subclasses. Although changes in HR and MABP ratios in response to phenylephrine were different between lines, these responses were not different when phenylephrine was given following atropine. This pattern of response suggested that HWS birds had greater parasympathetic nervous system activity in order to maintain cardiovascular function. These results demonstrate that selection for HWS or LWS has resulted in greater parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system tone in birds from the HWS and LWS birds, respectively, and suggest that differences between the lines could be at the level of the chromaffin tissue in the adrenal gland.
Abnormal complement-mediated immune clearance in MRL-lpr/+ heterozygote mice: dose-dependent effect of the Fas antigen mutation.

We have previously demonstrated decreased complement-mediated clearance of IgG-opsonized erythrocytes in mice homozygous for the lpr mutation of the fas gene (BALB/c-lpr/lpr, C57BL/6-lpr/lpr, and MRL-lpr/lpr). To further test the hypothesis that the lpr mutation leads to a series of events resulting in selectively decreased complement-mediated immune clearance, in vivo clearance rate data were obtained from MRL-lpr/+F1, F2, and reciprocal backcross mice. Southern analysis of genomic DNA extracted from F2 and backcross mice was used to correlate the presence of the normal fas gene or the lpr mutation with normal or decreased complement-mediated clearance, respectively. Mean clearance rate constants for complement-dependent sequestration and phagocytosis were significantly decreased in the group of F1, F2, and backcross mice compared to control BALB/c mice (P 0.98), with heterozygote mice expressing mean values approximately half of those observed in +/+ homozygotes. These data demonstrate that the presence of the lpr mutation of the fas gene is strongly correlated in a dose-dependent manner with abnormal complement-mediated immune clearance. This clearance defect may be one mechanism through which the lpr mutation acts as an enhancer of autoimmune disease. Reduced clearance of immune complexes would increase the likelihood of tissue deposition and immune-mediated damage.
Vagotomy-pyloroplasty for prevention of gastric ulcer in pig liver transplantation

Morphophysiological similarities of the livers of the pig and human make the pig an ideal model for the study of liver transplantation. Frequent gastric ulcers after transplantation, however, are troublesome. Although vagotomy-pyloroplasty prevents pig gastric ulcer very effectively [4], peculiarities of the pig anatomy hinder its application. The present communication reports a simple method for vagotomy and its results in pig liver transplantation.
Early androgens, activity levels and toy choices of children in the second year of life

Abstract The hypothesis that stronger preferences for active play styles contribute to stronger preferences for male-typical toys was examined in 47 boys and 37 girls at 19-months of age using ambulatory monitoring technology (i.e., actigraphy) to measure activity levels during contact with male-typical, female-typical, and gender-neutral toys. Digit ratios and salivary testosterone levels were measured earlier in children at 3–4 months of age. There were no significant sex differences in digit ratios, salivary testosterone levels, or overall activity levels during toy play. In contrast, contact times showed large sex differences in infants' toy preferences. The within-sex comparisons showed that infant girls had significant preferences for female-typical toys over male-typical toys, whereas infant boys showed only a small preference for male-typical toys over female-typical toys. More male-typical digit ratios in early infancy predicted higher activity counts during toy play and less female-typical toy preferences in girls. However, in both sexes, activity levels were unrelated to toy preferences suggesting that factors other than activity level preferences contribute to the early emergence of gender-linked toy preferences.
Sensor management for landmine detection

A method known as active sensing is applied to the problem of landmine detection. The platform utilizes two scanning sensor arrays composed of ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic induction (EMI) metal detectors. Six simulated confirmation sensors are then dynamically deployed according to their ability to enhance information gain. Objects of interest are divided into ten class types: three classes are for metal landmines, three classes for plastic landmines, three classes for clutter objects, and one final class for background clutter. During the initial scan mode, a uniform probability is assumed for the ten classes. The scanning measurement assigns an updated probability based on the observations of the scanning sensors. At this point a confirmation sensor is chosen to re-interrogate the object. The confirmation sensor used is the one expected to produce the maximum information gain. A measure of entropy called the Renyi divergence is applied to the class probabilities to predict the information gain for each sensor. A time monitoring extension to the approach keeps track of time, and chooses the confirmation sensor based on a combination of maximum information gain and fastest processing time. Confusion matrices are presented for the scanning sensors showing the initial classification capability. Subsequent confusion matrices show the classification performance after applying active sensing myopically and with the time monitoring extension.
Effect of insulin on clearance of emulsified fat from the blood in depancreatized dogs.

SummaryEmulsified fat infused into pancreatectomized dogs is cleared from the blood at a normal rate if the animal is receiving insulin whereas without insulin the injected fat is cleared slowly. It thus appears that the clearance of fat from the blood is dependent upon normal carbohydrate utilization. Serum cholesterol levels rise following infusion of fat in diabetic animals deprived of insulin. Serum cholesterol concentration falls following infusion of fat into pancreatectomized animals receiving insulin. Observations on fat metabolism in which the fat is administered intravenously give data comparable to those obtained following oral administration of fat and the mechanisms of clearance seem identical by the two methods.
Pyogenic abscess after hepatic artery embolization: a rare but potentially lethal complication.

Abstract Purpose Hepatic artery embolization (HAE) is used commonly to treat liver tumors or hemorrhage. Infectious complications are rare but carry high rates of morbidity and mortality. Identification of clinical factors associated with postembolization abscess may improve management and outcome. Materials and Methods Clinical and pathologic variables of patients treated with HAE were collected and analyzed to determine the etiology, incidence, and outcome of pyogenic hepatic abscess. Results From January 1998 to January 2010, 971 patients underwent 2,045 HAE procedures. Fourteen patients developed a pyogenic hepatic abscess after embolization, for an overall rate of 1.4%. Thirty-four patients (4%) had a history of bilioenteric anastomosis (BEA) and 21 patients (2%) lacked a competent sphincter of Oddi because of the presence of a biliary stent ( n = 19) or a previous sphincterotomy ( n = 2). Eleven of the 34 patients with a BEA (33%) and two of 21 patients with an incompetent sphincter (10%) developed abscesses, in contrast to only one abscess (0.05%) among the 916 patients with apparently normal sphincters (0.1%; odds ratio, 437.6; 95% CI, 54.2–3,533; P Conclusions Pyogenic hepatic abscess is rare after HAE. A history of BEA or an incompetent sphincter of Oddi caused by a biliary stent or previous sphincterotomy substantially increases the likelihood of this highly morbid and potentially fatal complication.
BINGE-EATING DISORDER AND OBESITY: A Combined Treatment Approach

Patients presenting with both obesity and BED face multiple challenges: normalizing their eating, improving their physical health, and working to enhance their own acceptance of their body image. In an effort to feel better about themselves, they often have become trapped in a cycle of desperately attempting to diet, then losing control, binge eating, and gaining even more weight. Several psychological and pharmacologic treatment approaches have been used in this population. Most suppress binge eating in the short term, and some seem promising in the long term as well. However, sustained weight loss remains a largely unrealized goal. More recently, BED treatment programs have attempted to address these goals sequentially or in combination. In either approach, it is clear that adopting a long-term focus and promoting enhanced self-acceptance, which have so often been missing from these patients' previous attempts at recovery, are important tasks of treatment that are likely to lead to beneficial lifestyle changes and long-term improvements in physical and psychological health.
Overview of amino acid geochronology

Abstract Amino acid geochronology is an increasingly important chronostratigraphic tool than can be used in a wide range of Quaternary geologic settings. The technique has been applied to deep-sea and coastal marine deposits, terrestrial deposits and archeological sites. Although a wide variety of preserved organic remains have been used, most recent studies have focused on marine molluscs and foraminifera. Studies utilizing bone remain controversial. The most successful applications rely on d l ratios as relative-age indices that are independent of assumptions regarding post-depositional temperatures. As a relative-age tool, d l ratios provide a basis for identifying unconformities in stratigraphic sequences, resolving mixed populations of reworked material and evaluating stratigraphic correlations between disjunct exposures. d l ratios, combined with independent paleoenvironmental evidence, can be used to constrain the reasonable time/temperature range of a stratigraphic unit. Where the ages of units are known from independent determinations, d l ratios can be used to evaluate the overall temperature history of a deposit. A newly emerging and particularly promising application of the amino acid geochronology is in dating eggshell from archeological sites. The outstanding potential of this application is derived from the integrity of the eggshell carbonate matrix which, better than any other carbonate system, approximates a closed system for the retention of amino acids.
DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A TEST OF INFORMATION STORAGE DURING READING1

Previous research has suggested potential advantages for a new type of item for measuring comprehension in reading and listening. The test items are called “chunked” and consist of groups of meaningfully related words in which certain groups have been changed in meaning from the original passage. A chunked type of test, designed to indicate information stored during reading, was developed and analyzed in two studies. The results of Study 1, indicated that the constructed test items were successful in differentiating between readers and nonreaders of the newly composed reading passages. “Using the results of Study I, test items were revised and two forms of a test were produced, complete with standardized instructions. The major purpose of Study 2 was to evaluate the extent to which the revised and standardization test could discriminate between a group of individuals who took the test in its standard form and another group which was given the same amount of time to work on the test items but was not given the benefit of reading the passages. The major result in Study 2 was that individuals who had not read the passages experienced a 75% decrement in their performance on Form A of the Chunked Reading Test as compared to individuals who had read the passages, and for Form B, nonreaders experienced a 78% decrement. From these re- sults, it was concluded that the Chunked Reading Test is a valid test of information storage during reading in terms of its utility in measuring the differences in information stored between readers and nonreaders of passages, and that it offers many advantages over the traditional standardized reading tests.
Reappraisal of the optic nerve hypoplasia syndrome.

BackgroundOptic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) has been described as an increasingly prevalent cause of congenital blindness. Its association with hypopituitarism and absent septum pellucidum has been recognized for more than 40 years as “septo-optic dysplasia” or “de Morsier syndrome.” More recent studies
Tolerability of oral loading of divalproex sodium in the treatment of acute mania.

Objective To conduct a pilot study on the safety and tolerability of a dosage strategy for divalproex sodium beginning with 30 mg/kg/day. It is hypothesized that loading at this level will reach therapeutic levels of valproate more quickly, which in turn will decrease the latency of the therapeutic effect. Method We conducted a retrospective chart review of all acutely manic patients admitted to our facility over a 12-month period. Those inpatients treated with initial divalproex sodium dosages of 30 mg/kg/day for 2 days, followed by 20 mg/kg/day thereafter, were then included in the study. The serum valproate levels and daily Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores were documented for each subject. Any adverse changes in daily vital signs, serum liver enzymes, and blood cell counts were noted as well. Nursing and physician notes were then reviewed for any observed or reported adverse effects. Results Twelve acutely manic inpatients were enrolled in the study. Three subjects did not complete the treatment and are not included in this analysis. The remaining nine subjects completed the treatment, had a mean decrease in BPRS scores of 33.3%, and were discharged at least in partial remission. Six subjects had serum valproate levels drawn within 48–72 h of the initial dose, with a mean valproate level of 93.5 mcg/ml. All nine subjects tolerated the treatment reasonably well, with one subject reporting sedation, one reporting sedation and constipation, and one reporting nausea, emesis, and urinary frequency. A transient, asymptomatic decrease in white blood cell count and a low granulocyte count were also noted in one subject. Conclusion A divalproex dosage strategy beginning with 30 mg/kg/day for 2 days, followed by 20 mg/kg/day thereafter, was reasonably well tolerated in this group of acutely manic patients, even with the concurrent use of other psychotropic medications. Blood levels of 56 to 124 mcg/ml were observed within 3 days after initating treatment. Depression and Anxiety 7:83–86, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces and the law of the iterated logarithm for Gaussian processes

In this paper, we find the limit set of a sequence (2 log n)−1/2X n (t), n≧3) of Gaussian processes in C [0,1], where the processes X n (t) are defined on the same probability space and have the same distribution. Our result generalizes the theorems of Oodaira and Strassen, and we also apply it to obtain limit theorems for stationary Gaussian processes, moving averages of the type \(\int\limits_0^t {f\left( {t - s} \right)dW\left( s \right)} \), where W(s) is the standard Wiener process, and other Gaussian processes. Using certain properties of the unit ball of the reproducing kernel Hubert space of X n (t), we derive the usual law of the iterated logarithm for Gaussian processes. The case of multidimensional time is also considered.
Distribution of Collagenase in Rat Tissues

THE demonstration, recently reported from this laboratory1–3, of a collagenolytic system in rat bone-cell homogenates raised several questions regarding its importance in the physiology and pathology of connective tissues4. Since the activity was largely confined to a subcellular particulate fraction exhibiting a number of the features of lysosomes2,3, it became important to know whether collagenase should be included in the growing list of hydrolases which seem to be characteristically contained in these bodies. By the same token it could be asked whether particle-bound collagenase was to be found equally in all tissues in which collagen turnover occurs or whether it was confined to bone-cells and thus had to be regarded as a part of a remodelling mechanism unique to bone.
Oral allergy syndrome in children

Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is an allergic reaction that occurs after consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in patients with allergy to pollen. It is mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies and symptoms arise as a result of cross-reactivity between pollen and plant-derived food. OAS is rarely seen in young children, but the prevalence increases with age. The objectives of the study were to identify the prevalence of OAS and probable risk factors in children and adolescents with seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR). One-hundred and twenty patients with seasonal AR were included. Patients were diagnosed based on their clinical history, skin prick test outcome and specific IgE. In patients describing OAS, prick-by-prick tests with fresh fruit or vegetables were carried out. Thirty-two patients had OAS and it was more frequent in female patients than in male patients. OAS was more frequent in adolescents than in small children and in patients with higher total IgE. OAS was significantly more prevalent in patients with AR and asthma (P=0.0016), as was the case in patients with AR and atopic dermatitis (P=0.0004). OAS is rarely diagnosed in small children, partly because of an inadequate clinical history. Patients with OAS may have some risk factors in addition to pollen allergy, and those with more severe atopy are more likely to develop OAS.
Chromosome 16-specific repetitive DNA sequences that map to chromosomal regions known to undergo breakage/rearrangement in leukemia cells.

Abstract Human chromosome 16-specific low-abundance repetitive (CH16LAR) DNA sequences have been identified during the course of constructing a physical map of this chromosome. At least three CH16LAR sequences exist and they are interspersed, in small clusters, over four regions that constitute more than 5% of the chromosome. CH16LAR sequences were observed in one unusually large cosmid contig (number 55), where the ordering of clones was difficult because these sequences led to false overlaps between noncotiguous clones. Contig 55 contains 78 clones, or approximately 2% of all the clones contained within the present cosmid contig physical map. Fluorescent in situ hybridization of multiple clones, including cosmid and YAC contig 55 clones, mapped the four CH16LAR-rich regions to bands p13, p12, p11, and q22. These regions are of biological interest since the pericentric inversion and the interhomologue translocation breakpoints commonly found in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) subtype M4 fall within these bans. Sequence analysis of a 2.2-kb Hin dIII fragment from a cosmid containing a CH16LAR sequence indicated that one of the CH16LAR elements is similar to a minisatellite sequence in that the core repeat is only 40 bp in length. Additional characterization of other repetitive elements is in progress.
Further Studies on the Accumulation and Binding of Androgen in Rat Epididymis

Two epididymal androgen binding components were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and examined in relation to nuclear uptake and binding of androgen after injection of l,2,6,7,3H-testosterone (3H-T) in vivo. The slower moving binding component (CR) was similar to the cytoplasmic receptor in the ventral prostate and was shown to remain in the epididymis after castration or hypophysectomy. The faster moving component, identified as the intraluminal androgen binding protein (ABP), disappeared from the epididymis within 8 days after castration or 10 days after hypophysectomy. The accumulation of androgen in nuclei remained active after the disappearance of ABP, indicating that binding to ABP is not involved in this process. Binding to CR, on the other hand, appeared to be essential for nuclear accumulation. Cyproterone acetate inhibited androgen binding to CR and decreased the nuclear accumulation of androgen without affecting binding to ABP. When rats were castrated for various time intervals (...
Theoretical and experimental studies of optical nonlinearities of haloforms CHX3, X=F, Cl, Br, I

In this paper, we present ab initio calculations of static polarizability α and static first and second hyperpolarizabilities β and γ for the haloform series CHX3, where X=F, Cl, Br, and I using the effective core potential (ECP) approach. The microscopic optical nonlinearities α, β, and γ are calculated as the derivatives of the energy with respect to the electric field, with the energy determined by means of the self‐consistent‐field approach (SCF), and nonlinearities calculated by means of the coupled perturbed Hartree–Fock (CPHF) formalism. To test the approximation introduced by the ECP method, nonlinear optical responses for the lighter members of the series CHF3 and CHCl3 are compared with all electron calculations. The effects due to basis set size and inclusion of diffuse and polarization functions of d and f type are examined. The ECP technique is then used to calculate optical nonlinearities for CHBr3 and CHI3. Although very good agreement is found between calculated and experimental polarizabi...
Bowenoid papulosis in a penile epidermal inclusion cyst.

SUMMARY We report a case of bowenoid papulosis occurring in an epidermal inclusion cyst. This is, to our knowledge, the first reported case of these lesions occurring in an inclusion cyst.
The estradiol pharmacophore: Ligand structure-estrogen receptor binding affinity relationships and a model for the receptor binding site

The accumulated knowledge on the binding of estradiol (E2) and its analogs and the results of affinity-labeling studies have been reviewed and are used herein to derive a binding site model for the estrogen receptor (ER). Estradiol is nonpolar and hydrophobic, except at its molecular termini. Most of its skeletal flexibility resides in the B-ring, and it probably binds in a low-energy conformation. The phenolic OH group in the A-ring contributes about 1.9 kcal/mol to the binding free energy and probably acts primarily as a hydrogen bond donor. The 17 beta-hydroxyl group in the D-ring contributes approximately 0.6 kcal/mol to the binding and probably acts as a hydrogen bond acceptor, either directly or via a water molecule. There also seems to be a degree of flexibility in the region of the receptor that encompasses the D-ring. The aromatic ring contributes about 1.5 kcal/mol, probably through weak polar interactions with receptor residues that contact the beta-face of the steroid. The receptor seems to surround the ligand, so that all four rings contribute significantly to binding. Small hydrophobic substituents enhance binding affinity at positions 4, 12 beta, 14, and 16 alpha; whereas, larger hydrophobic substituents are tolerated at positions 7 alpha, 11 beta, and 17 alpha. In general, the ER is intolerant of polar substituents. Based on E2 analogs bearing affinity-labeling groups, cysteine residues might be present in the binding site in the area of C-4, C-17 alpha, and C-17 beta, and a lysine residue might be located near C-16. Models that represent the limits of deformability of the ligand binding site, the position of preformed pockets, and space occupied by the receptor are presented. The various elements in this model for the binding of steroidal estrogens by the estrogen receptor are consistent with evidence emerging from the crystal structures of related nuclear hormone receptor ligand complexes.
SPONTANEOUS CP-VIOLATION AND STABILITY OF THE HIGGS POTENTIAL IN MSSM

We study the stability properties of the one-loop corrected Higgs potential in MSSM. For the gaugino–higgsino dominated case, the assumptions allowing spontaneous CP-violation lead to the potential which has neither global nor local minima. The incorporation of a scalar SUSY soft-breaking mass can rectify this problem.
A Study of the Effect of Normal Stiffness on Kinetic Friction Forces Between Two Bodies in Sliding Contact

This work determined what effect stiffness in the direction normal to the plane of contact between surfaces in sliding contact had on the phenomenon of stick-slip. The results showed that the amplitude if stick-slip vibrations could be reduced by increasing the normal stiffness with contacting surfaces of mild steel. It was also observed that with the above mentioned surfaces some wear had to take place before stick-slip would occur. This was attributed to the initial presence of oxide on the surfaces. Presented at the 24th ASLE Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, May 5–9, 1969.
Joint source-channel coding with allpass filtering source shaping for image transmission over noisy channels

In this paper, we proposed a fixed-length robust joint source- channel coding (JSCC) scheme for image transmission over noisy channels. Three channel models are studied: binary symmetric channels (BSC) and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels for memoryless channels, and Gilbert-Elliott channels (GEC) for bursty channels. We derive, in this research, an explicit operational rate-distortion (R-D) function, which represents an end-to-end error measurement that includes errors due to both quantization and channel noise. In particular, we are able to incorporate the channel transition probability and channel bit error rate into the R-D function in the case of bursty channels. With the operational R-D function, bits are allocated not only among different subsources, but also between source coding and channel coding so that, under a fixed transmission rate, an optimum tradeoff between source coding accuracy and channel error protection can be achieved. This JSCC scheme is also integrated with allpass filtering source shaping to further improve the robustness against channel errors. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme can achieve not only high PSNR performance, but also excellent perceptual quality. Compared with the state-of-the-art JSCC schemes, this proposed scheme outperforms most of them especially when the channel mismatch occurs.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Computational verb systems: a new paradigm for artificial intelligence

Abstract Computational verb systems can help machines to implement, understand and use verbs as human perception of dynamics. By using computational verbs we can embed dynamical experiences of human experts into artificial intelligence. Computational verbs, which are models of verbs in nature languages, are basic building blocks of computational verb systems. In this paper, computational verbs are used to represent dynamical knowledge embedded by verbs as a new framework of knowledge representation. BE-transformations are used to transform statements containing dynamical verbs into statements only containing static verb BE; namely, BE-propositions. Based on BE-transformations, the computational verb logic can be built. Furthermore, reasoning with computational verbs can be built based on BE-transformations and basic verb logic operations.
Long-term prognosis in biliary atresia after hepatic portoenterostomy: Analysis of 35 patients who survived beyound 5 years of age

The long-term prognosis in 35 patients with biliary atresia, who had undergone successful hepatic portoenterostomy and survived beyond 5 years of age, was studied. Eighteen (51%) patients developed ascending cholangitis after surgery. Jaundice recurred or increased in half of the patients, mainly as a result of ascending cholangitis. Another serious problem was the development of portal hypertension. Esophageal varices developed in 16 (46%) patients, with rupture and massive hemorrhage in seven. Leukopenia resulting from hypersplenism was common. Eighteen patients had WBC counts
Assessment of right ventricular diastolic and systolic function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy using cine magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract Cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide clear endocardial margins of the entire right ventricle, and Simpson's algorithm can be applied to obtain the volumes at multiple phases of the cardiac cycle. Time-volume curves of the right ventricle were obtained by using cine MRI in 10 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and eight normal volunteers to assess right ventricular function. There were no significant differences in volumes and ejection fraction of the right ventricle between the group with DCM and the normal group. In the group with DCM the time to peak filling rate was increased ( p p
Do Women Candidates Play to Gender Stereotypes? Do Men Candidates Play to Women? Candidate Sex and Issues Priorities on Campaign Websites

While previous research indicates that voters hold gender-based stereotypes of women and men candidates for elected office, the degree to which candidate actions contribute to these views is less w...
Smoking and cancer in the United States.

Abstract Based on the mortality experience of over one million Americans who have been followed in a prospective epidemiologic study since 1959, it is estimated that from 25 to 35% of cancer mortality in the U.S. male population and 5 to 10% in the female population are mainly due to smoking of tobacco products and cigarettes. These estimates are remarkably close to those derived from other U.S. studies and similar studies in the United Kingdom and Japan. While it is clear that several factors contribute to the causation of smoking-related cancer mortality, it is unlikely that the excess in deaths would occur in the absence of tobacco usage. The contribution of smoking is hence considered as the preponderant risk, and one that could be controlled by combined actions of individuals' responses to education, legislation, and modification of cigarettes toward less hazardous characteristics.
On the Form for the Plastic Velocity Gradient Lp in Crystal Plasticity

It is usual to assume that the "velocity gradient" Lp associated with slip is KZ 1 a, 0 nK, where y, is the rate of shear of the Kth slip system defined by the slip direction so and the normal to the plane n,. The above expression, written directly as the linear superposition of instantaneous rates of shear over all the active slip systems, is motivated both by experiments and the single slip case. On the other hand, one might assume that the deformation gradient Fp has a multiplicative decomposition, but here the sequence of activation of the slip systems becomes important. These representations for Fp and Lp should be viewed as constraints, and they are consistent for linearized theories and proportional deformations but not for all deformations; that is, not all deformations for which LP has the above form can one express Fp as a product of deformation gradients associated with each of the slip systems. In this paper, we discuss sufficient conditions under which the two constraints are equivalent, and ...
Double Beat-Wave Particle Acceleration

Described are two mechanisms which make it possible for an accelerated charged particle to stay in phase indefinitely with a moving accelerating potential well set up by electromagnetic radiation in a plasma beat-wave accelerator. 1) Double beat-wave mechanism, in which interference between two beatwaves cancel a) the fields in the interfering electromagnetic waves, b) the electron oscillations which would otherwise be set up by those waves. 2) Alternating density mechanism, in which one or each of two beat-waves set up resonant electron oscillations in alternate plasma regions, but not in others.
Host plants influence parasitism of forest caterpillars

Patterns of association between herbivores and host plants have been thought to reflect the quality of plants as food resources1,2 as influenced by plant nutrient composition3, defences4,5, and phenology6. Host-plant-specific enemies, that is, the third trophic level, might also influence the distribution of herbivores across plant species7,8,9,10. However, studies of the evolution of herbivore host range11,12,13,14,15 have generally not examined the third trophic level, leaving unclear the importance of this factor in the evolution of plant–insect herbivore interactions16. Analysis of parasitoid rearings by the Canadian Forest Insect Survey shows that parasitism of particular Lepidoptera species is strongly host-plant-dependent, that the pattern of host-plant dependence varies among species of caterpillars, and that some parasitoid species are themselves specialized with respect to tree species. Host-plant-dependent parasitism suggests the possibility of top-down influence on host plant use. Differences in parasitism among particular caterpillar–host plant combinations could select for specialization of host plant ranges within caterpillar communities. Such specialization would ultimately promote the species diversification of Lepidoptera in temperate forests with respect to escape from enemies.
Indexing of common carp populations in large palustrine wetlands of the Northern Plains

We evaluated gill netting and trapnetting as tools to index relative abundance of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in two national wildlife reguges in North and South Dakota. Trap net catch rates were low (1.4/net night) and required much effort to obtain reliable sample sizes. Gill nets had mesh sizes of 51, 76, and 102 mm (bar measure). Each gill net had only one mesh size and three nets were thus needed to sample the entire length range of adult common carp for one unit of effort (one complement). The mesh sizes were suitable for capturing 30-cm and longer common carp and precluded the need for intermediate mesh sizes. Catch rates (number of common carp caught per net complement night) from May samples consistently had lower coefficients of variation than samples in June, July, or August. Based on the mean and variance from our sampling, 125–684 net complement nights would provide reliable catch-rate data at the 95% confidence level. More realistically, 8–43 net complement nights would provide reliable estimates at the 80% confidence level. Accordingly, we recommend that an optimum sampling schedule would involve sampling in May and that each gill net have all three mesh sizes within one net.
Amazonian Dark Earth and Ring Ditches in the Central Llanos de Mojos, Bolivia

Forest islands in the Llanos de Mojos, Bolivia, have distinctive soils that fit published definitions of terra mulata, a kind of Amazonian Dark Earth (ADE). The same soils also contain ceramics and burned clay. ADE is widely distributed in Amazonia, and Mojos is an important comparative case because ADE is found far from the floodplains of the major Amazonian tributaries, alongside and within agricultural earthworks. Although Mojos soils differ from Brazilian examples, they are relevant to larger discussions of ADE. In this particular case, ADE seems to be the product of dense settlement associated with ring ditches, which may have included intensively managed kitchen gardens. Pre-Columbian Mojenos used other strategies (such as raised fields) to improve soils for cultivation. Modern Bolivian farmers cultivate those improved soils intensively. Creation, maintenance, and use of ADE were part of a wide range of agricultural ways of life in pre-Columbian Mojos. Relationships between modern farmers and Amazonian soils are framed by these agricultural systems.
Early changes of right heart geometry after pulmonary thromboendartcrectomy

Abstract To determine the changes in right heart hemodynamics and geometry early after surgery for chronic pulmonary hypertension due to large vessel thromboembolic occlusion, 30 patients were evaluated 8 ± 8 days (mean ± SD) before and 6 ± 4 days after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy by two-dimensional echocardiography and right heart catheterization. Surgery resulted in an early significant improvement in hemodynamic variables including mean pulmonary artery pressure (48 ± 12 to 28 ± 8 mm Hg, p Similarly, echocardiographic variables of right heart structures, which were well outside the normal range preoperatively, improved significantly early after throm-boendarterectomy. These included diameters of the pulmonary artery (2.8 ± 0.3 to 2.4 ±0.4 cm, p Thus, marked reduction in right heart pressure overload is seen early after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy and results in early marked changes in right heart geometry as assessed by two-dimensional echocardiogrsphy. The long-term clinical improvement of patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy may be in part due to these early cardiac changes.
Synthesis, characterization, and analytical applications of 1,3-dimethyl-4-acetyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one

Abstract The synthesis of a new chelating reagent, 1,3-dimethyl-4-acetyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (DMAP), is described. The reagent is characterized by physical, spectral and thermal methods. The reagent is soluble in water and forms neutral, water-soluble complexes with a number of metal ions, including Zr(IV), Th(IV), and U(VI). The complexed metal ions can be concentrated from dilute aqueous solution by adsorption onto a small column of Amberlite XAD-4 resin. The synthesis and characterization of the uranium (VI) complex of DMAP are described. The complex has the formula UO2 (DMAP)2, with a logarithmic formation constant of 8.64. A procedure is given for concentrating trace levels of U(VI) from solution by complexation with DMAP and sorption on XAD-4 resin. The method shows good recovery and precision for the concentration of trace U(VI) from artificial seawater.