cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DNA disentangling by type-2 topoisomerases.

Abstract A type-2 topoisomerase cleaves a DNA strand, passes another through the break, and then rejoins the severed ends. Because it appears that this action is as likely to increase as to decrease entanglements, the question is: how are entanglements removed? We argue that type-2 topoisomerases have evolved to act at “hooked” juxtapositions of strands (where the strands are curved toward each other). This type of juxtaposition is a natural consequence of entangled long strands. Our model accounts for the observed preference for unlinking and unknotting of short DNA plasmids by type-2 topoisomerases and well explains experimental observations.
Double Layer Capacities of Single Crystals of Gold in Perchloric Acid Solutions

The electrical double layer differential capacity has been measured by single pulse technique on single crystal gold electrodes exposing the (100) and (110) crystal plane in between about −0.9v (15 ma/cm2 maximum cathodic current) and +1.4v vs. SCE. A capacity maximum at +0.9 to + 1.3v, depending on concentration, is attributed to"oxygen" adsorption. This showed strong hysteresis, the corresponding desorption peaks being as much as 500 mv more negative. Some evidence for adsorption of a second "oxygen" species is presented. A maximum occurring at +0.4v has been ascribed to slight specific adsorption. A "hydrogen" adsorption peak is observed only on the (100) electrode at −0.2v. The complete absence of a profile during actual H2 evolution is taken as evidence that recombination of H atoms is not the rate‐determining step. A capacity minimum appears at the (110) electrode in and between two small maxima at the (100) electrode at −0.05v. These minima have been tentatively identified as the zero point of charge. The difference of 50 mv is reflected in an equal difference in the oxygen adsorption peaks. The zero point of charge potentials agrees satisfactorily with values interpolated from work function data.
Clonidine and Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome: Double‐blind study using objective rating methods

Clonidine has been suggested to be effective in Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome (GTS), but no double-blind study has ever evaluated its effects using objective measures. Thirty patients with GTS completed a 6-month placebo-controlled crossover study of the effectiveness of clonidine. Videotapes were obtained at each 3-week visit and were evaluated randomly at the end of the study for distribution, frequency, and severity of motor and vocal tics. Quantifiable psychometric examinations were performed as well. The use of clonidine did not significantly (p less than 0.05) reduce motor tics, vocalizations, or behavior. The effect of a low dose (0.0075 mg/kg/day) was no different from that of a high dose (0.015 mg/kg/day); children's responses were no different from adults'; and those also receiving neuroleptic agents showed the same lack of efficacy as seen in patients on no other medication. Dosing schedule did not affect the objective ratings; scores from clonidine given twice a day were equivalent to those for three times a day.
Environmental Biogeochemistry Studied by Second-Harmonic Generation: A Look at the Agricultural Antibiotic Oxytetracycline†

The binding behavior of the veterinary antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) to tailor-made environmental interfaces was investigated using second-harmonic generation (SHG). Specifically, four environmentally relevant chemical moieties were covalently tethered to fused quartz surfaces using silane and amide coupling chemistry to survey how amides, polyfunctional binding sites, and phenyl rings that are common in humic acids control OTC binding at pH 8. The model geochemical surfaces prepared for this study were the following: methylamide-terminated fused quartz as well as amide-linked carboxylic acid-, benzoic acid-, and benzyl-terminated fused quartz. We find that amide-linked benzoic acid-terminated silanes display the highest equilibrium binding constant (1.1 × 106 M-1) among the systems surveyed. A straightforward predictive method of using contact angle measurements and the corresponding interfacial energy densities to predict OTC mobility across humic acid-containing mineral/water interfaces is discusse...
A method for discriminating native protein-DNA complexes from decoys using spatial specific scoring matrices

Decoding protein-DNA interactions is important to understanding gene regulation and has been investigated by worldwide scientists for a long time. However, many aspects of the interactions still need to be uncovered. The crystal structures of protein-DNA complexes reveal detailed atomic interactions between the proteins and DNA and are an excellent resource for investigating the interactions. In this study, we profiled the spatial distribution of protein atoms around six structural components of the DNA, which are the four bases, the deoxyribose sugar and the phosphate group. The resultant profiles not only revealed the preferred atomic interactions across the protein-DNA interface but also captured the spatial orientation of the interactions. The profiles are a useful tool for investigating protein-DNA interactions. We tested the strength of profiles in two experiments, discrimination of native protein-DNA complexes from decoys with mutant DNA and discrimination of native protein-DNA complexes from near-native docking decoys. The profiles achieved an average Z-score of 7.41 and 3.22 respective on benchmark datasets for the tests, both are better than other knowledge-based energy functions that model protein-DNA interaction based on atom pairs.
Multispectral imager modeling

This paper describes the modeling of multispectral infrared sensors. The current NVESD infrared sensor model, NVTherm, models single spectral band sensors. The current NVTherm model is being updated to model third generation multispectral infrared sensors. A simple model for the target and its background radiance is presented here and typical results are reported for common materials. The proposed target radiance model supports band selection studies. Spectral atmospheric propagation modeling is accomplished using MODTRAN. Example radiance calculations are presented and compared to data collected for validation. The data supports rejecting the null hypothesis that the model is invalid.
Phase plane analysis of non-linear systems using weighted linearization

Abstract An analysis based on weighted linear approximations is developed for certain non-linear ordinary differential equations, and is applied to the description of singular points and trajectories in the phase plane. This technique is compared with the analysis of Poincare based on Taylor series linearization where the latter is applicable. Numerical results are obtained for a quadratic friction problem, and compared with the first-order Krylov-Bogoliubov-Mitropolsky result. The new technique is also successfully applied to problems of Lienard, Keil and Malgarini, and to a special case of a non-isolated singular point, where Taylor series linearizations are inapplicable or yield qualitatively incorrect results.
Property Tax Exportation and Its Effects on Local Business Establishments: The Case of Massachusetts Municipalities

This empirical study describes property tax exportation to business properties in Massachusetts and investigates its effects on the location of private establishments. The author uses panel econome...
Validation of a 26-point telephone version of the Mini-Mental State Examination.

The objective of this study was to assess the convergent validity of a 26-point Telephone Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in a longitudinal cohort of 46 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Paired in-person and telephone MMSE observations were collected within 35 days of each other. The setting was the Stanford/VA Alzheimer’s Center in Palo Alto, California, and patients’ residences. The 30-point Folstein MMSE was administered in-person, and a 26-point telephone version of the MMSE, adapted from the Adult Lifestyles and Function Interview (ALFI)-MMSE. Total scores for the in-person and telephone MMSE versions correlated strongly (Pearson’s r = .88, P < .001). Hearing impairment and education level did not significantly affect telephone-based performance. The Telephone MMSE can be used to validly estimate in-person MMSE scores of patients with AD. Use of this practical measure can enhance reassessment if returning to the clinic is difficult or if a change in the patient’s medical condition merits a chec...
DIS-INTEGRATING PERSPECTIVES OF LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

I wish to warn young men against the invincible attraction of theories which simplify and unify seductively. Ruled by the [reticularist] theory, we who were active in histology then saw networks everywhere [italics added].… This [reticularist theory] was admirably convenient, since it did away with all need for the analytical effort involved in determining in each case the course through the gray matter followed by the nervous impulse. It has rightly been said that the reticular hypothesis, by dint of pretending to explain everything easily and simply, explains absolutely nothing; and, what is more serious, it hinders and almost makes superfluous future inquiries regarding the intimate organization of the centers [italics added]. (Ramony Cajal, 1989, pp. 303–337)
Efficient Algorithms for Separated Continuous Linear Programs: The Multicommodity Flow Problem with Holding Costs and Extensions

We give an approximation scheme for separated continuous linear programming problems. Such problems arise as fluid relaxations of multiclass queueing networks and are used to find approximate solutions to complex job shop scheduling problems. In a network with linear flow costs and linear, per-unit-time holding costs, our algorithm finds a drainage of the network that, for given constants e > 0 and I´ > 0, has total cost (1 + e)OPT + I´, where OPT is the cost of the minimum cost drainage. The complexity of our algorithm is polynomial in the size of the input network, 1/e, and log(1/I´). The fluid relaxation is a continuous problem. While the problem is known to have a piecewise constant solution, it is not known to have a polynomially sized solution. We introduce a natural discretization of polynomial size and prove that this discretization produces a solution with low cost. This is the first polynomial time algorithm with a provable approximation guarantee for fluid relaxations.
The SDSU Broadband Ground‐Motion Generation Module BBtoolbox Version 1.5

Online Material: Descriptions of validation events and scenarios; fixed and region‐dependent parameters; additional goodness‐of‐fit plots for ground‐motion prediction equations (GMPEs) versus data, simulations versus GMPEs, and pseudospectral accelerations (PSA) bias versus distance; and comparison of rupture models with associated PSA bias and time histories for Landers. The Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) has completed phase 1 of its Broadband Platform (BBP) ground‐motion simulation results, evaluating the potential applications for engineering of the resulting 0.01–10 s pseudospectral accelerations (PSAs) generated by five different methods. The exercise included part A, in which the methods were evaluated based on the bias of simulation results to observations for 12 well‐recorded historical earthquakes: 7 in the western United States, 2 in Japan, and 3 in the eastern United States/Canada. In addition, part B evaluated simulation results for M w 5.5, 6.2, and 6.6 scenarios at 20 and 50 km from the fault. The methods were assessed based on the bias of the median PSA for the 12 events in part A and on a specified acceptance criterion compared with Next Generation Attenuation‐West (NGA‐West) ground‐motion prediction equations (GMPEs) in part B. The results were evaluated by the bias of mean PSA from simulations using 1D velocity models with ![Graphic][1] (see the electronic supplement of Goulet et al. , 2015) with respect to recorded data corrected for site effects. The part A events and part B scenarios are described in ![Graphic][2] Tables S1 and S2 (available in the electronic supplement to this article), respectively. One of the five methods evaluated was the Broadband Synthetics Generator Module BBtoolbox, a hybrid method combining deterministic low‐frequency (LF) synthetics with high‐frequency (HF) scatterograms (Mai et al. , 2010; Mena et al. , 2010). The LFs may be computed using deterministic or dynamic descriptions in 1D or 3D media. The HF scatterograms are generated for each component of motion … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif
AUTONOMY: The First Randomized Trial Comparing Two Patient-Driven Approaches to Initiate and Titrate Prandial Insulin Lispro in Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE To compare two self-titration algorithms for initiating and escalating prandial insulin lispro in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on basal insulin. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The trial was designed as two independent, multinational, parallel, open-label studies (A and B), identical in design, to provide substantial evidence of efficacy and safety in endocrine and generalist settings. Subjects were 18–85 years old (study A: N = 528; study B: N = 578), on basal insulin plus oral antidiabetic drugs for ≥3 months, and had an HbA 1c 7.0% to ≤12.0% (>53.0 to ≤107.7 mmol/mol). Once optimized on insulin glargine, subjects were randomized to one of two self-titration algorithm groups adjusting lispro either every day (Q1D) or every 3 days (Q3D) for 24 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in HbA 1c from baseline. The primary and secondary objectives were evaluated for the overall population and subjects ≥65 years old. RESULTS Baseline HbA 1c was similar (study A: Q1D 8.3% [67.2 mmol/mol] vs. Q3D 8.4% [68.3 mmol/mol], P = 0.453; study B: Q1D 8.3% [67.2 mmol/mol] vs. Q3D 8.4% [68.3 mmol/mol], P = 0.162). Both algorithms had significant and equivalent reductions in HbA 1c from baseline (study A: Q3D –0.96% [–10.49 mmol/mol], Q1D –1.00% [–10.93 mmol/mol], Q3D–Q1D 0.04% [0.44 mmol/mol] [95% CI –0.15 to 0.22 (–1.64 to 2.40)]; study B: Q3D –0.92% [–10.06 mmol/mol], Q1D –0.98% [–10.71 mmol/mol], Q3D–Q1D 0.06% [0.66 mmol/mol] [95% CI –0.12 to 0.24 (–1.31 to 2.62)]). The incidence and rate of hypoglycemia were similar for Q3D and Q1D in both studies. In general, no clinically relevant differences were found between the two algorithms in subjects ≥65 years old in either study. CONCLUSIONS Prandial insulin lispro can effectively and safely be initiated, by either of two self-titrated algorithms, in a variety of practice settings.
Recently reported inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2

Cyclooxygenase inhibitors exert their effect by preventing the conversion of arachidonic acid (AA) to prostaglandins (PGs), a primary class of mediators of inflammation. Recently, a second isoform of cyclooxygenase, now known as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), has been discovered which is produced in response to inflammatory stimuli. Selective COX-2 inhibitors have been demonstrated to be anti-inflammatory and analgesic without causing the gastrointestinal damage associated with current non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors. Mechanistically, selective COX-2 inhibitors decrease inflammation by preventing ‘overproduction’ of PGs while allowing COX-1 to produce the basal levels of PGs necessary for the health of certain tissues (e.g., the gastrointestinal tract). The realisation that the serious side-effect profile can be markedly reduced has led the pharmaceutical industry to expend much effort to discover novel selective COX-2 inhibitors for the worldwide market (estimated to be about US$5 bn). Many chemical c...
Interactions of molecules with nucleic acids. XII. Theoretical model for the interaction of a fragment of bleomycin with DNA

An intercalation model of a complex between DNA and a bleomycin fragment (BLMF), consisting of the bithiazole core and an amide and a protonated amino substituent, is presented. The model, which shows a preference for BLMF with the protonated amine in the minor groove and the acetyl terminal inserted into either the minor and major grooves, respectively, agrees with recently obtained nmr data. The selection of sites I and II, which have the smallest unwinding of the three theoretical intercalation sites, is consistent with the experimental unwinding angle of 12°. The bithiazole moiety stacks between two base pairs of the double helix, while the protonated substituent interacts ionically with the negatively charged regions of the backbone in the minor groove of the DNA. The protonated amine also forms an intramolecular hydrogen bond with the carbonyl oxygen of the amide group on the same substituent. Analysis of drug complexes with different base-pair sequences reveal four energetically defined groups. The relative energy of the dimer duplex complexes of BLMF correlates with bleomycin's observed base-sequence specificity upon cleavage. The most stable intercalation complexes form adjacent to the bases cleaved most readily. This correlation suggests a primary connection between intercalation and cleavage. A model cleavage site based on these preliminary theoretical calculations and the experimental observations is proposed. It consists of an intercalation site in a trimer duplex. Pyrimidine(p)purine sequences are the predominant sites for intercalation, and the base adjacent to the site at the (3′) end is cleaved.
Incorporation of radionuclides from the electrometallurgical treatment of spent fuel into a ceramic waste form.

An electrometallurgical process is being developed at Argonne National Laboratory to treat spent metallic nuclear fuel. In this process, the spent nuclear fuel is electrorefined in a molten salt to separate uranium from the other constituents of the fuel. The treatment process generates a contaminated chloride salt that is incorporated into a ceramic waste form. The ceramic waste form, a composite of sodalite and glass, contains the fission products (rare earths, alkalis, alkaline earth metals, and halides) and transuranic radionuclides that accumulated in the electrorefiner salt. These radionuclides are incorporated into zeolite A, which can fully accommodate the salt in its crystal structure. The radionuclides are incorporated into the zeolite by hightemperature blending or by ion exchange. In the blending process the salt and zeolite are simply tumbled together at >450°C (723 K), but in the ion exchange process, which yields a product more highly concentrated in fission products, the molten salt is passed through a bed of the zeolite. In either case, the salt-loaded zeolite A is mixed with glass frit and hot isostatically pressed to produce a monolithic leach resistant waste form.Zeolite is converted to sodalite during hot pressing. This paper presents experimental results on the experimental results on the fission product uptake of the zeolite as a function of time and salt composition.
Perspectives regarding disproportionate representation of culturally and linguistically diverse students in high-incidence special education programs in the United States

participants and procedure In this study, the author examines how some educators perceive and address culturally and linguistically diverse students in the U.S. A survey developed by the author was used to examine how educators perceive culturally and linguistically diverse student populations and how one Midwestern school system in the United States dealt with culturally and linguistically diverse students’ needs versus expected ideal practices.
Recognizing alcohol and drug abuse in patients with eating disorders

Eating disorders and alcohol/drug abuse are frequently comorbid. Eating-disordered patients are already at an increased risk for morbidity and mortality, so alcohol and drug use pose additional dangers for these patients. Restricting anorexics, binge eaters, and bulimics appear to be distinct subgroups within the eating-disordered population, with binge eaters and bulimics more prone to alcohol and drug use. Personality traits such as impulsivity have been linked to both bulimia nervosa and substance abuse. Many researchers have proposed that an addictive personality is an underlying trait that predisposes individuals to both eating disorders and alcohol abuse. Interviewing is generally the most useful tool in diagnosing alcohol and substance abuse disorders in individuals with eating disorders. It is essential for the physician to be non-judgmental when assessing for substance abuse disorders in this population. We discuss interviewing techniques, screening instruments, physical examination, and biological tests that can be used in evaluating patients with comorbid eating disorders and substance abuse. More studies are needed to understand psychobiological mechanisms of this comorbidity, and to develop treatments for individuals with comorbid eating disorders and substance misuse.
Right to Ride: Streetcar Boycotts and African American Citizenship in the Era of Plessy v. Ferguson – By Blair L. M. Kelley

Rosa Parks and the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955–1956 have achieved iconic status in American history. Far less well known are the African Americans across the South who challenged segregated trai...
Clinical Characteristics and Thrombolytic Outcomes of Infective Endocarditis-Associated Stroke

Objective: Our aim was to describe the clinical features of infective endocarditis (IE) in the acute stroke setting and outcomes following thrombolytic therapy. Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective, descriptive case series of IE-related stroke (IES). Infective endocarditis diagnosis was based on the modified Duke criteria. Results: From 2001 to 2007, 18 patients with acute stroke had definite or possible IE. Presenting stroke subtypes were: 11 ischemic stroke; 2 intracerebral hemorrhage; and 5 with a combination of ischemia and subarachnoid hemorrhage. On presentation, 6 had objective fever and 5 had subjective fever, 8 had heart murmur, and 3 had classic IE stigmata. The most common laboratory abnormalities were leukocytosis (n = 11) and anemia (n = 10). Sixteen patients had valvular vegetations on echocardiogram; 6 of 8 patients had vegetations visualized on transesophageal echocardiogram that were not detected by transthoracic echocardiogram. Two of the 3 patients with valve replacements had vegetations only on their native valves. Of 11 patients with pure ischemic stroke, 4 received thrombolytics and had hemorrhagic conversion. Overall mortality of IES was 56% (10 of 18). Mortality in pure ischemic IES patients was 29% (2 of 7, median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] 13) in those not receiving thrombolytics and 75% (3 of 4, median NIHSS 14) in those receiving thrombolytics. Conclusions: Though diagnosis of IE in the acute stroke setting is difficult, features of the history, examination, and laboratory data may raise concern for IE. In this case series, thrombolytics in patients with IE-associated stroke were associated with very poor outcomes.
The accuracy and precision of estimating tissue displacements from ultrasonic images

In many medical ultrasound imaging systems, clinical data are often presented in the form of tissue displacement and tissue velocity maps. The accuracy of tissue displacement estimates obtained using a well-established cross-correlation, speckle tracking technique is determined. The accuracy of the cross-correlation technique is evaluated as function of three parameters: (1) the magnitude of the tissue displacement; (2) the size of the region being tracked; and (3) of host tissue type. Three different sample types (porcine liver, porcine muscle and woolen sea sponge) are used to study the effect of different scattering media on displacement estimates. For identically sized target regions and displacements, liver samples produce estimates with the largest uncertainties. For all three sample types, the accuracy and precision of displacement estimates deteriorates with increasing sample displacements and decreasing target dimensions. >
Acne Vulgaris: Pathogenesis and Management

Acne, a problem well known to pediatricians and general practitioners alike, never should be dismissed as being of no consequence, with the reassurance that the patient will outgrow it. The psychological scars of individuals affected with severe forms of this disorder often are far deeper and more disastrous than the blemishes appearing on the cutaneous surface. For years the treatment of acne was hindered by: 1) mythical concepts of etiology, 2) a lack of concern for the physical and emotional trauma of those afflicted with severe forms of this disorder, and 3) the perpetuation of ineffective therapeutic regimens based on misconceptions and misinformation. Although the basic cause of acne remains unknown, considerable data concerning its pathogenesis and treatment accumulated in recent years now allow a rational and therapeutically successful approach to its management. Therapy must be individualized, however, with variations and modifications appropriate to the fluctuating severity of the disorder. Today, this goal can be achieved easily by proper selection of available medications, coupled with the cooperation of the patient and the knowledge, continued interest, and enthusiasm of the physician and his or her staff. Etiology Although generally considered a disorder of adolescence, acne vulgaris, a chronic inflammatory process at the pilosebaceous follicles, usually begins 1 or 2 years prior to the onset of puberty as a result of androgenic stimulation of the sebaceous glands.
Reconciling Bayesian and Frequentist Evidence in the One-Sided Testing Problem

Abstract For the one-sided hypothesis testing problem it is shown that it is possible to reconcile Bayesian evidence against H 0, expressed in terms of the posterior probability that H 0 is true, with frequentist evidence against H 0, expressed in terms of the p value. In fact, for many classes of prior distributions it is shown that the infimum of the Bayesian posterior probability of H 0 is equal to the p value; in other cases the infimum is less than the p value. The results are in contrast to recent work of Berger and Sellke (1987) in the two-sided (point null) case, where it was found that the p value is much smaller than the Bayesian infimum. Some comments on the point null problem are also given.
Zoning Out Payday Loan Stores and Other Alternative Financial Services Providers

Payday lenders and similar alternative financial services providers are primarily regulated at the state level, but local governments have increasingly begun to impose restrictions of their own on these fringe financial services providers. While some ordinances have focused on lending restrictions and other consumer protections, most municipal payday lender regulations are found in zoning and other land use laws.Zoning has long been used to restrict the siting of undesirable land uses – ranging from junkyards and landfills to tattoo shops and adult businesses – making it an ideal method for local governments to regulate payday lenders. Experience with other unwanted land uses has led to the development of various zoning techniques appropriate for controlling these businesses, such as separation and dispersal requirements, nonconforming use limitations, special permit procedures, and partial or total exclusions.This article provides an overview of these and other approaches that local governments have taken to regulate alternative financial services providers. After providing some background regarding the general functions and characteristics of these businesses in the first section, the second section discusses state-level financial regulations and preemption issues. The third section covers the different types of municipal controls that have been imposed on payday lenders and similar businesses, drawing on actual ordinances as well as on case law discussing their use and validity. Finally, the fourth section mentions several alternative, incentive-based non-zoning approaches that have been used to improve financial literacy and extend traditional banking services to a broader population. An appendix listing and briefly describing more than 60 payday lender ordinances is also included.
Erectile Dysfunction: The New Harbinger for Major Adverse Cardiac Events in the Diabetic Patient

Erectile dysfunction (ED) was once thought of as a primarily psychological problem. Although this is true in some men, in the majority of men over the ages of 40 to 50 the problem is likely due to vascular disease, including the early stage of atherosclerosis, specifically endothelial dysfunction.
Ongoing and stimulus-evoked activity of sympathetically correlated neurons in the intermediate zone and dorsal horn of acutely spinalized rats.

We have shown previously that in the acutely spinalized anesthetized rat the activities of many dorsal horn interneurons (DHN) at the T10 level are correlated positively with both ongoing and stimu...
Opening the Door: Reinterpreting Interior Space and Transpositions of Art in La Fille aux yeux d'or via Assia Djebar

The relationship between Honore de Balzac's short novel La Fille aux yeux d'or and painter Eugene Delacroix, to whom the tale is dedicated, has always been enigmatic. In this article, I argue for the importance of reading the connection between Balzac and Delacroix through another text inspired by one of the same visual sources for La Fille aux yeux d'or: Assia Djebar's Femmes d'Alger dans leur appartement. Through a discussion of Balzac, Delacroix, Djebar, and Picasso, I demonstrate how Balzac's story questions the concept of transposition d'art and foreshadows debates surrounding the relationship between text and image in nineteenth-century France.
The effect of simple imputation on inferences about population means when data are missing in biomedical research due to detection limits.

The sample geometric mean has been widely used in biomedical and psychosocial research to estimate and compare population geometric means. However, due to the detection limit of measurement instruments, the actual value of the measurement is not always observable. A common practice to deal with this problem is to replace missing values by small positive constants and make inferences based on the imputed data. However, no work has been carried out to study the effect of this naive imputation method on inference. In this report, we show that this simple imputation method may dramatically change the reported outcomes of a study and, thus, make the results uninterpretable, even if the detection limit is very small.
A Timber Rot Accompanying Hymenochaete Rubiginosa (Schrad.) Lév

1. Hymenochaete rubiginosa (Schrad.) Lev. is a common saprophyte on decorticated chestnut about Ithaca; it is found more rarely on oak.2. The fruit bodies are annual and quite xerophytic; spores ar...
Accelerating Systems Biology Computation: Enhanced Sampling of Spatially Realistic Stochastic Models using the Weighted Ensemble Approach

We apply the “weighted ensemble” (WE) simulation strategy, previously employed in the context of molecular dynamics and spatially homogeneous chemical kinetics simulations, to a number of three dimensional spatially resolved stochastic systems-biology models. WE is relatively easy to implement, does not require extensive hand-tuning of parameters, does not depend on the details of the underlying simulation algorithm, and can facilitate the unbiased sampling of extremely rare events.We study three systems of varying complexity and structure: a toy model in an artificial geometry with ∼10ˆ3 diffusing molecules, a spatially realistic cellular model with ∼10ˆ6 molecules, and a spatially realistic neuromuscular junction model with time-varying rate “constants” containing ∼10ˆ6 molecules. We are able to speed up the sampling of key events by many orders of magnitude and obtain unbiased estimates of event probabilities. Data is obtained using the publicly available “WESTPA” implementation of WE, which orchestrates MCell kinetic Monte Carlo trajectories of the various models.
The selection of judgment categories in color discrimination

An experiment was performed to investigate the influence of some response categories upon observers’ sensitivity to color differences. Inclusion of an “equal” category or requiring two criteria instead of one led to reduced sensitivity.
Spontaneous group B streptococcal bacteremia complicating hepatic cirrhosis. Report of two cases.

Two instances of Group B beta-hemolytic streptococcal sepsis accompanying hepatic cirrhosis are reported. The first patient is a 54-year-old female with postnecrotic cirrhosis (proved at autopsy), who manifested a primary bacteremia without a demonstrable septic focus; her infection was arrested with penicillin therapy, but she succumbed to the hemorrhagic complications of her underlying disease. The second patient, a chronic alcoholic female with probable Laennec's cirrhosis, entered in a hypothermic and leukopenic state with both a bacteremia and infected ascites; she quickly died of overwhelming sepsis despite specific therapy. It is emphasized that “primary” peritonitis and bacteremia accompanying hepatic cirrhosis are typically caused by coliform organisms and that these are presumed to be of enteric origin. The Group BStreptococcus, by contrast, is an uncommon and usually nonenteric species of low virulence that is implicated characteristically in neonatal sepsis and puerperal infection, and less commonly in diabetic gangrene. Its capacity to become a pathogen in the setting of hepatic cirrhosis is thus taken as further evidence for an as yet poorly understood defect of host defense mechanisms in this condition.
Influence of Gestational Age Estimated with Biparietal Diameter on Second Trimester Down Syndrome Screening

Objective To evaluate the impacts of 6 standard comparible tables of biparietal diameter(BPD)-gestational age to the second trimester Down syndrome screening and the individual risk rate for pregnant woman. Methods A total of 25 346 pregnant woman with gestational age between 12 to 20 weeks were recruited and analyzed in the study,including 32 Down syndrome. For each pregnant woman,we calculated the gestational age by six different BPD-gestational age tables,and the prenatal screening risk value of gestational age. Then ROC curve,detection rate and positive rate were used to evaluate the effect of different control tables on the screening results. In addition,individual risk rate was used to determine the influence of gestational age deviation on pregnant woman. Results According to the ROC,we found that our self-designed BPD table had the best AUC(0.972),while the table designed by a hospital in Shanghai had the least AUC(0.923). The difference was significant by statistic test(P =0.045). With the same detection rate of 75%,we found our self-designed table had the least positive rate with only 2.3%,and the cutoff was 1∶280,while the table of Chinese Obstetrics and Gynecology had the highest ratio(4.8%),and the cutoff was 1∶345. Our results suggest that once gestational age is estimated to be higher than actual age,the risk will be higher and the positive rate will increase. However,if gestational age is estimated to be smaller,the risk will be smaller and the negative rate will increase. Conclusion The impacts of different tables on Down syndrome screening are different. Our self-designed BPD table is the most effective to estimate gestational age,and the control table of Hongkong is ranked No.2. The wrong estimation of gestational age will largely affect the individual risk of pregnant woman.
Clinical response of local magnetic stimulation in treatment of obstetric Erb- Duchemce brachial plexus injury

Objective To investigate therapeutic effects of local magnetic stimulation on obstetric Erb- Duchemce brachial plexus injury( BPI). Methods Thirty children with obstetric Erb- Duchemce BPI were divided into observation group and control group( n = 15 in each group). The patients in the control group were treated with massage,acupuncture,acupoint injection with m NGF,nerve rehabilitation reconstruction therapy and nerve-muscle electric stimulation therapy. Besides these treatments,the patients in the observation group were also treated by TMS. Eualuation of BPI and recovery state of nerve potential in the two groups were compared. Results Functional assessment scores in the two groups before the treatment had no statistically significant difference( P 0. 05); after the treatment there was a significant rise in the functional assessment scores in both groups( P 0. 01) and the scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group( P 0. 05). Recovery rate in the observation group after the treatment was 88. 9%,while the recovery rate in the control group was 53. 3%( P 0. 01). Conclusion Local magnetic stimulation is effective in the regeneration of the nerve and the functional improvement of obstetrical lesion of superior trunk of brachial plexuss,which is worth clinical promotion.
Innovations in Monitoring Ocean History

Proxy tracers are the tools used to make paleoceanographic and paleoclimatological inferences, and they are therefore the backbone of paleoceanography. Research presented at ICP6 and in this volume demonstrate that development of new tracers and refinement of existing ones are both highly active research areas. Available proxies fall into three broad categories: biotic, chemical, and sedimentological. The chemical proxies are the largest group and can be further broken down into proxies for physical properties (temperature), seawater composition, and particle flux. Proxies have been developed for ice volume, surface and bottom water temperature, seasonality, salinity, nutrient concentration, pH and pCO2, circulation and current patterns, productivity and carbon export, sediment origin, and local ecology. These proxies, however, are not all equally reliable or at the same stage of development. For some targets, such as surface water temperature and productivity, multi-proxy studies allow cross-validation of results. Other targets, such as past pCO2 levels, remain more elusive, but systematic experimental and observational work is bringing researchers closer to such goals.
Regulation of Steroidogenesis

Steroidogenesis involves the conversion of cholesterol to glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and sex steroids, which regulate development and physiology. Steroidogenesis is often discussed in a gland-specific fashion, but is better understood as a single process that is repeated in each gland with cell type-specific variations. Thus, the regulation of steroidogenesis occurs by regulating the transcription and post-translational modification of the steroidogenic enzymes and co-factors, in a tissue-specific fashion. Most steroidogenic enzymes are either hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases or cytochrome P450 enzymes; the activities of these enzymes are modulated by post-translational modifications and co-factors, especially electron-donating redox partners. The first and rate-limiting steroidogenic step is catalyzed by P450scc in all steroidogenic tissues, determining steroidogenic capacity; the qualitative regulation of steroidogenesis determining the class of steroid produced is principally mediated by P450c17. Understanding steroidogenesis permits understanding disorders of sexual differentiation, reproduction, fertility, hypertension, obesity, and physiologic homeostasis, and is essential for rational steroid therapies.
Factors associated with time provided to children for physical activity in family child care: a cross-sectional study.

Childhood obesity has increased in the past 30 years, and physical inactivity is a major contributor. Factors related to physical activity promotion in the family child care context are understudied. A convenience sample of participants in a mid-sized city in the Midwestern U.S. was recruited through the local child care resource and referral agency and were invited through flyers and emails to take part in an online or paper survey. Survey results in a sample of 107 family child care providers indicate that many did not meet physical activity recommendations and are missing the opportunity to enable children’s physical activity via important practices and resources. Provider self-efficacy about being physically active, and indoor physical activity space positively associated with time provided for child physical activity. Health training is negatively associated with time provided for child physical activity. Practice implications include: (1) develop activities that promote physical activity in the tight confines of family child care homes and yard; (2) develop trainings that can influence the integration of suitable portable play equipment in the space constraints of family child care homes (3) Propose creative ideas for active free play even when in a shared space; (4) prioritize providing separate play areas by age group and strategize ways to do this in family child care contexts (for example, alternate access to spaces by age); (5) engage providers and children in joint activities that increase provider physical activity efficacy and physical activity time as well as that of children; (6) promote health and physical activity among family child care providers themselves.
Interactive effects of phosphorus and zooplankton grazing on cyanobacterial blooms in a shallow temperate lake

Cyanobacterial blooms are becoming increasingly common worldwide. These blooms can be moderated by grazing and/or nutrient availability, but the interactive effects of these processes are not well understood. We examined the interactive effects of phosphate and copepods on growth of phytoplankton (algae and cyanobacteria) in a shallow temperate lake. Field sampling of nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations was conducted weekly from May through October, 2013. Five two-factorial experiments, spanning pre-, mid-, and post-bloom periods, were conducted with unfiltered lake water incubated with amended copepods, phosphate, or both. Changes in chlorophyll a concentration were used to calculate net phytoplankton biomass growth rates, and cell counts were performed on selected experiments to calculate growth rates of six microplanktonic taxonomic groups. Field data revealed cyanobacterial bloom development in July and decline in September. Experimental results indicated that phytoplankton growth increased with added phosphate pre-bloom, and decreased with added copepod grazers post-bloom, but that a more complex interactive (phosphorus x copepods) effect was observed immediately prior to and during peak bloom times. More specifically, the addition of phosphate and copepods enhanced ciliate growth pre-bloom, while selective grazing by copepods reduced dinoflagellate growth mid-bloom, possibly enhancing cyanobacterial growth and bloom duration via trophic cascade effects.
Opportunities in physical computing driven by analog realization

In the past, discussions on the capability of analog or physical computing were only of theoretical interest. Digital computation's 80 year history starts from the Turings original model of computation to ubiquitous modern computational devices. The modern development of analog computation started with almost zero computational framework. Today, we have significant programmable and configurable physical computing systems. The focus of this paper is to have these discussions given the very real potential of ultra-low power physical computing systems. This work considers the current state of analog computation, energy efficient computation, and analog numerical analysis, moving towards starting a unified analog-computing framework, including quantum computing, as part of physical computing.
Efficacy of Zymogen Factor VII Is Comparable to Activated Factor VII for Nonviral Gene Therapy Treatment of Hemophilia A.

Abstract A major problem for clinical treatment of hemophilia A using factor replacement therapy is the high frequency formation of inhibitory antibodies against factor VIII. This problem is also predicted to occur following strategies currently aimed at targeted genetic correction of this disease. Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa, NovoSeven®, Novo Nordisk, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) has been successfully used as an effective alternative treatment for hemophilia patients who have developed inhibitors. In order to decrease the cost and fluctuation of FVIIa levels associated with frequent infusions of rFVIIa, nonviral gene transfer of factor VII (FVII) was attempted in a hemophilia A mouse model. In addition, to investigate the potential thrombotic risks associated with prolonged, high level of FVIIa expression following gene transfer, we compared the effects of gene transfer vectors encoding zymogen FVII with an engineered secreted FVIIa in hemophilia A mice. We inserted murine FVII (mFVII) cDNA into a liver-specific vector developed recently in our lab to generate pBS-HCRHPI-mFVII-A. The mFVII cDNA sequence was then modified by site-directed mutagenesis to insert a protease cleavage site in between Arg152-Ile153. The resulting construct of murine FVIIa (mFVIIa) encodes a modified protein, which can be cleaved by intracellular proteases of the furin family to secrete the activated form of mFVII. Fifty mg of either mFVII or mFVIIa the plasmid was delivered into hemophilia A mouse liver by a rapid, high volume (hydrodynamics-based) infusion method (n=8 mice/group). Phenotypic correction was evaluated using tail-clip assays by measuring the hemoglobin levels in the collected blood. This assay indicated that vectors carrying either mFVII or mFVIIa can partially correct clotting following gene transfer. Significant correction in PT and APTT was observed in mFVII or mFVIIa-treated mice. Plasma-based and platelet-based thrombin generation (TG) assays indicated that either mFVII or mFVIIa significantly shorten peak time and peak thrombin levels of TG. In addition, these effects lasted long-term in plasmid treated mice for at least three months (experimental duration). We also constructed vectors carrying human FVII (hFVII) or FVIIa (hFVIIa) to test their efficacy for correcting hemophilia A. Constructs produced supra-physiological levels (800–1200ng/ml) of hFVII or hFVIIa assayed by ELISA at days 1 and 4 post-injection. However, the levels of hFVII and hFVIIa dropped precipitously at day 14 post-injection shown by both ELISA and Western blot, most likely due to the formation of species-specific antibodies against hFVII. These results clearly demonstrate that nonviral gene therapy of either zymogene FVII or activated FVII can rescue bleeding in hemophilia A mice.
Ultrastructure of the First Component Of Human Complement

Although a substantial amount is known about the structures and functions of some of the components of the first component of complement, very little is known about how these are assembled or how they interact to express the C1 function. What is known includes, first, the stoichiometry, which finally appears to have been clarified1–3 as shown in Table 1. Two molecules of C1r and two molecules of C1s spontaneously reassemble at neutral pH to give the C1r2C1s2 tetrama4, and then one tetramer and a single C1q come together to form the 16S Cl, Moreover, Ziccardi and Cooper5,6 have provided evidence that it is this 16S component which also exists in sera, although a loose association between it and some other serum protein which would not survive sucrose gradient centrifugation cannot be ruled out.
Outpatient Hydrocele and Spermatocele Repair under Local Anesthesia

AbstractWe performed 20 hydrocele repairs and 18 spermatocelectomies using Lord’s techniques on outpatients under local anesthesia. The only complication was delayed wound healing early in the series when tight pressure dressings were used. We now use only a simple dressing and a scrotal support. This method for these operations reduces the cost by 74 per cent compared to inpatient procedures under general anesthesia. This safety and cost-effectiveness argue strongly for performance of most hydrocele repairs and spermatocelectomies as outpatient procedures under local anesthesia.