cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incorporation of α-methylated amino acids into Apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptides improves their helicity and cholesterol efflux potential.

Abstract Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) mimetic peptides are potential therapeutic agents for promoting the efflux of excess cellular cholesterol, which is dependent upon the presence of an amphipathic helix. Since α-methylated Ala enhances peptide helicity, we hypothesized that incorporating other types of α-methylated amino acids into ApoA-I mimetic peptides may also increase their helicity and cholesterol efflux potential. The last helix of apoA-I, peptide ‘A’ (VLESFKVSFLSALEEYTKKLNT), was used to design peptides containing a single type of α-methylated amino acid substitution (Ala/Aα, Glu/Dα, Lys/Kα, Leu/Lα), as well as a peptide containing both α-methylated Lys and Leu (6α). Depending on the specific residue, the α-helical content as measured by CD-spectroscopy and calculated hydrophobic moments were sometimes higher for peptides containing other types of α-methylated amino acids than those with α-methylated Ala. In ABCA1-transfected cells, cholesterol efflux to the peptides showed the following order of potency: 6α>Kα≈Lα≈Aα≫Dα≈A. In general, α-methylated peptides were resistant to proteolysis, but this varied depending on the type of protease and specific amino acid substitution. In summary, increased helicity and amphilicity due to α-methylated amino acid substitutions in ApoA-I mimetic peptides resulted in improved cholesterol efflux capacity and resistance to proteolysis, indicating that this modification may be useful in the future design of therapeutic ApoA-I mimetic peptides.
Empirically comparing flow, narrative engagement, and enjoyment as responses to a computer game

The psychological states of flow and transportation or narrative engagement are conceptually similar. Both are described as immersive, emotional states that lead to enjoyment or other similar outco...
Multiplexing of EEG signatures for temporal and spatial distance estimates

Abstract The perception and measurement of spatial and temporal dimensions have been widely studied. However, whether these two dimensions are processed independently is still being debated. Additionally, whether EEG components are uniquely associated with time or space, or whether they reflects a more general measure of magnitude remains unknown. While undergoing EEG, subjects traveled a randomly predetermined spatial or temporal interval and were then instructed to reproduce the interval traveled. In the task, the subject’s travel speed varied for the estimation and reproduction phases of each trial, so that one dimension could not inform the other. Behaviorally, subject performance was more variable when reproducing time than space, but overall, just as accurate; notably, behavior was not correlated between tasks. EEG data revealed during estimation the contingent negative variation (CNV) tracked the probability of the upcoming interval, regardless of dimension. However, during reproduction, the CNV exclusively oriented to the upcoming temporal interval at the start of reproduction. Further, a dissociation between relatively early frontal beta and late posterior alpha oscillations was observed for time and space reproduction, respectively. Our findings indicate that time and space are neurally separable dimensions, yet are hierarchically organized across task contexts within the CNV signal.
The Mechanism of High-Output Cardiac Hypertrophy Arising From Potassium Channel Gain-of-Function in Cantú Syndrome.

Dramatic cardiomegaly arising from gain-of-function (GoF) mutations in the ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels genes, ABCC9 and KCNJ8, is a characteristic feature of Cantu syndrome (CS). How potassium channel over-activity results in cardiac hypertrophy, as well as the long-term consequences of cardiovascular remodeling in CS, is unknown. Using genome-edited mouse models of CS, we therefore sought to dissect the pathophysiological mechanisms linking KATP channel GoF to cardiac remodeling. We demonstrate that chronic reduction of systemic vascular resistance in CS is accompanied by elevated renin-angiotensin signaling, which drives cardiac enlargement and blood volume expansion. Cardiac enlargement in CS results in elevation of basal cardiac output, which is preserved in aging. However, the cardiac remodeling includes altered gene expression patterns that are associated with pathological hypertrophy and are accompanied by decreased exercise tolerance, suggestive of reduced cardiac reserve. Our results identify a high-output cardiac hypertrophy phenotype in CS which is etiologically and mechanistically distinct from other myocardial hypertrophies, and which exhibits key features of high-output heart failure (HOHF). We propose that CS is a genetically-defined HOHF disorder and that decreased vascular smooth muscle excitability is a novel mechanism for HOHF pathogenesis.
Climate in the Boardroom: Struggling to Reconcile Business as Usual & the End of the World as We Know It

How does one witness to businesspeople about climate change? Climate change is a problem for the collective and the long term, whereas business often requires a ruthless focus on the individual and...
Reduced-cost hyperspectral convolutional neural networks

Hyperspectral imaging provides a useful tool for extracting complex information when visual spectral bands are not enough to solve certain tasks. However, processing hyperspectral images (HSIs) is usually computationally expensive due to the great amount of both spatial and spectral data they incorporate. We present a low-cost convolutional neural network designed for HSI classification. Its architecture consists of two parts: a series of densely connected three-dimensional (3-D) convolutions used as a feature extractor, and a series of two-dimensional (2-D) separable convolutions used as a spatial encoder. We show that this design involves fewer trainable parameters compared to other approaches, yet without detriment to its performance. What is more, we achieve comparable state-of-the-art results testing our architecture on four public remote sensing datasets: Indian Pines, Pavia University, Salinas, and EuroSAT; and a dataset of Kochia leaves [Bassia scoparia] with three different levels of herbicide resistance. The source code and datasets are available online. (Hyper3DNet codebase: https://github.com/GiorgioMorales/hyper3dnet.)
Characterization of Nef expression in different brain regions of SIV-infected macaques.

Objective HIV-associated CNS dysfunction is a significant problem among people with HIV (PWH), who now live longer due to viral suppression from combined anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Over the course of infection, HIV generates toxic viral proteins and induces inflammatory cytokines that have toxic effects on neurons in the CNS. Among these viral proteins, HIV Nef has been found in neurons of postmortem brain specimens from PWH. However, the source of Nef and its impact on neuronal cell homeostasis are still elusive. Methods and results Here, in using a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infected rhesus macaque model of neuroHIV, we find SIV Nef reactivity in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum of SIV-infected animals using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Interestingly, SIV-infected macaques treated with ART also showed frequent Nef positive cells in the cerebellum and hippocampus. Using dual quantitative RNAscope and IHC, we observed cells that were positive for Nef, but were not for SIV RNA, suggesting that Nef protein is present in cells that are not actively infected with SIV. Using cell specific markers, we observed Nef protein in microglia/macrophages and astrocytes. Importantly, we also identified a number of NeuN-positive neurons, which are not permissive to SIV infection, but contained Nef protein. Further characterization of Nef-positive neurons showed caspase 3 activation, indicating late stage apoptosis in the CNS neurons. Conclusions Our results suggest that regardless of ART status, Nef is expressed in the brain of SIV infected macaques and may contribute to neurological complications seen in PWH.
W∞andw∞Gauge Theories and Contraction

Abstract We present a general method of constructing W ∞ and w ∞ gauge theories in terms of d +2 dimensional local fields. In this formulation the W ∞ gauge theory Lagrangians involve non-local interactions, but the w ∞ theories are entirely local. We discuss the so-called classical contraction procedure by which we derive the Lagrangian of w ∞ gauge theory from that of the corresponding W ∞ gauge theory. In order to discuss the relationship between quantum W ∞ and quantum w ∞ gauge theory we solve d =1 gauge theory models of a Higgs field exactly by using the collective field method. Based on this we conclude that the W ∞ gauge theory can be regarded as the large N limit of the corresponding SU ( N ) gauge theory once an appropriate coupling constant renormalization is made, while the w ∞ gauge theory cannot be.
Tongue abnormalities on Brain MRI in patients with neuromuscular disorders (P2.128)

Objective: To systematically review the tongue appearance on brain MRIs in various neuromuscular disorders and study the frequency of tongue abnormalities, the type of tongue abnormalities and whether abnormalities were reported on the original radiological or neurological interpretation. Background: Brain MRIs are commonly obtained in the neurology clinic for a variety of symptoms. The tongue is easily visible on sagittal brain MRI and its appearance may give important clues on the patient diagnosis. Unfortunately, tongue abnormalities are usually missed by both neurologists and radiologists when evaluating brain MRIs. Design/Methods: We reviewed the charts of patients seen at the OHSU ALS and Neuromuscular Disease Center between 7/1/2006 to 7/1/2016. Only patients who had a sagittal T1 brain MRI that was available to us to review were selected. We reviewed the tongue appearance on T1-weighted MRI in the midsagittal brain. We looked specifically for abnormalities in the shape, size, position and internal structures of the tongue. Results: Thirty six patients were selected along with 36 control patients with other neurological disorders. In one patient there was severe motion artifact precluding interpretation and in another the tongue was cut off the view. Abnormalities of the tongue were observed in 11/34 of the patients. In only one patient, the tongue was reported as abnormal in the radiology report. Tongue abnormalities were seen in 3/7 of late onset Pompe, 5/17 ALS patients, 0/3 PLS, 0/1 FSHD, 0/4 IBM, 1/2 DM1. Increased t1 signal was more pronounced in late onset Pompe disease and atrophy was more pronounced in ALS patients. Conclusions: Tongue abnormalities on brain MRI are common in various neuromuscular disorders but are usually neglected. Although not specific to a particular neuromuscular disorder, tongue abnormalities appear to be more common in late onset Pompe disease and bulbar onset ALS. Disclosure: Dr. Karam has received personal compensation for activities with Patient Care America as speaker honorarium. Dr. Karam has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for WriteClick Neurology. Dr. Dimitrova has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yutan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chahin has nothing to disclose.
A Caveat to Using Wearable Sensor Data for COVID-19 Detection: The Role of Behavioral Change after Receipt of Test Results

Recent studies indicate that wearable sensors have the potential to capture subtle within-person changes that signal SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, it remains unclear the extent to which observed discriminative performance is attributable to behavioral change after receiving test results. We conducted a retrospective study in a sample of medical interns who received COVID-19 test results from March to December 2020. Our data confirmed that sensor data were able to differentiate between symptomatic COVID-19 positive and negative individuals with good accuracy (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.75). However, removing post-result data substantially reduced discriminative capacity (0.75 to 0.63; delta= -0.12, p=0.013). Removing data in the symptomatic period prior to receipt of test results did not produce similar reductions in discriminative capacity. These findings suggest a meaningful proportion of the discriminative capacity of wearable sensor data for SARS-CoV-2 infection may be due to behavior change after receiving test results.
HLA Allele Imputation with Multitask Deep Convolutional Neural Network

The Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system is a highly polymorphic gene complex encoding the major histocompatibility complex proteins in humans. HLA alleles are of strong epidemiological interest for their large effect sizes in associations with autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, severe drug reactions, and transplant medicine. Since HLA genotyping can be time-consuming and cost-prohibitive, methods to impute HLA alleles from SNP genotype data have been developed, including HLA Genotype Imputation with Attribute Bagging (HIBAG), HLA*IMP:02, and SNP2HLA. However, limitations of these imputation programs include imputation accuracy, computational runtime, and ability to impute HLA allele haplotypes. We present a deep learning framework for HLA allele imputation using a multitask convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture. In this approach, we use phased SNP genotype data flanking ±250 kb from each HLA locus to simultaneously impute HLA allele haplotyes across loci HLA-A, -B, -C, -DQA1, -DQB1, -DPA1, -DPB1, and -DRB1. We start by tokenizing phased genotype sequences into k-mers that serve as input to the model. The CNN architecture starts with a shared embedding layer for learning low-dimensional representations of k-mers, shared convolutional layers for detecting genotype motifs, and branches off into separate densely-connected layers for imputing each HLA loci. We present evidence that the CNN used information from known tag SNPs to impute HLA alleles, and demonstrate the architecture is robust against a selection of hyperparameters. On the T1DGC dataset, our model achieved 97.6% imputation accuracy, which was superior to SNP2HLA9s performance and comparable to HIBAG9s performance. However, unlike HIBAG, our method can impute an entire HLA haplotype sequence instead of imputing one locus at a time. Additionally, by separating the training and inference steps, our imputation program provides user flexibility to reduce usage time.
The Nourish Protocol: A digital health randomized controlled trial to promote the DASH eating pattern among adults with hypertension.

Abstract Introduction Over 100 million adults in the United States have hypertension. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating pattern is an evidence-based first-line treatment option for hypertension; however, adherence to the DASH eating pattern at a population level remains low. To address this gap, we will implement Nourish, a randomized controlled efficacy trial that will leverage a commercially-available smartphone application and evidence-based behavior change principles to improve adherence to the DASH eating pattern among adults with hypertension. Methods The Nourish trial is a two-arm, 12-month randomized control trial that will enroll adults (N = 300) with hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure of 120–159 mmHg; a diastolic blood pressure of 80–99 mmHg; and/or adults on blood pressure-lowering medication. Nourish will test the efficacy of a digital health intervention, as compared to the attention control arm, on DASH eating pattern adherence and blood pressure. Intervention components will include skills training, self-monitoring, personalized feedback, and responsive coaching. The primary outcome of the trial is 6-month changes in adherence to the DASH eating pattern, as measured by 24-h dietary recalls. Discussion Millions of Americans remain in need of effective behavioral interventions to manage and improve their hypertension and its adverse consequences. The ubiquity of smartphones offers a promising approach to disseminate the DASH eating pattern. By leveraging these widely used smartphone applications, combined with evidence-based behavior change principles and the DASH eating plan, Nourish will demonstrate the effectiveness of a digital health intervention to improve DASH adherence, and ultimately, to reduce blood pressure. Trial Number: NCT03875
Intrapartum antibiotics and childhood asthma and allergic rhinitis: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the association between intrapartum antibiotics (IABX) and asthma and allergic rhinitis among children by ages 6, 8 and 10 years. DESIGN Retrospective cohort. SETTING AND POPULATION Data were collected though Kaiser Permanente Northern California's (KPNC) integrated healthcare system. Children were eligible if they were born in a KPNC hospital between 1997 and 2012 and stayed enrolled through age 6. METHODS Modified Poisson regressions with robust error variances were used to estimate risk ratios for IABX and each outcome at each follow-up age during two separate time periods: 1997-2004 (n = 91 739) and 2005-2012 (n = 108 314). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Asthma and allergic rhinitis by ages 6, 8 and 10. RESULTS The proportion of women receiving IABX increased drastically over the study period (from 4% in 1997 to 49% in 2011), while the incidence of asthma (8%) and allergic rhinitis (6%) stayed relatively stable. In adjusted models, risk ratios for the association between IABX and asthma and allergic rhinitis were largely compatible with the null, with some slightly elevated risk ratios observed. For births from 1997 to 2004, risk ratios for asthma were 1.08 (95% CI 1.00-1.17) at age 6, 1.05 (95% CI 0.97-1.15) at age 8, and 1.08 (95% CI 0.99-1.18) at age 10. For births from 2005 to 2012, risk ratios were 1.00 (95% CI 0.95-1.04) at age 6, 1.07 (95% CI 1.01-1.12) at age 8, and 1.11 (95% CI 1.03-1.20) at age 10. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to intrapartum antibiotics is not a strong predictor of childhood asthma or allergic rhinitis risk. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT Exposure to intrapartum antibiotics is not a strong predictor of childhood asthma or allergic rhinitis risk.
Pathophysiologic consequences of human social disturbance

The previous chapter touched on the last step in a chain leading from environmental events to disease and considered that psychosocial stimulation induced disease in animals. This chapter is concerned with the evidence that subtle disturbances of human social relationships can be reliably associated with the onset of disease, such as coronary arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, and even cancer.
Further studies of detergent-induced conformational transitions in proteins. Circular dichroism of ovalbumin, bacterial alpha-amylase, papain, and beta-lactoglobulin at various pH values.

Abstract The conformational transitions of ovalbumin, bacterial α-amylase, papain, and β-lactoglobulin were studied in the absence and presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) between pH 2.75 and 12.0 by means of circular dichroism (CD) measurement. The weight ratios of SDS to protein in solutions were 14:1 in all experiments. The CD bands in the near-ultraviolet spectral region were strongly reduced by SDS, whereas those in the far-ultraviolet were enhanced. With the exception of the amylase, the mean residue ellipticities of the proteins at 222 nm were increased by SDS, especially in acidic solutions. At a pH of about 3.0, the [θ] 222 values approached −17 (±2) · 10 3 deg · cm 2 · dmol −1 . It is assumed that at a sufficiently low pH value the proteins which are complexed with SDS have a similar backbone conformation of moderate helical content. In alkaline solutions, the detergent effect was largely reduced due to electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged protein and dodecyl ions. The near-ultraviolet spectra of ovalbumin, papain, and β-lactoglobulin at pH 6.4 were analyzed. Assignment of the resolved bands to the appropriate chromophores was also attempted.
Biologic activities of naturally occurring human insulin receptor mutations. Evidence that metabolic effects of insulin can be mediated by a kinase-deficient insulin receptor mutant

Abstract We have studied insulin receptor-mediated signaling in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell transfectants that expressed either of two naturally occurring mutant human insulin receptors: Trp1200----Ser1200 and Ala1134----Thr1134. Compared with overexpressed normal human insulin receptors, both mutant receptors displayed normal processing and normal binding affinity; however, neither was capable of detectable insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation or tyrosine kinase activity toward endogenous (pp185) or exogenous substrates. Several biologic actions of insulin were evaluated in transfected cells. Compared with neomycin-only transfected CHO cells (CHO-NEO), cells expressing normal receptors demonstrated increased insulin sensitivity for 2-deoxyglucose uptake, [14C]glucose incorporation into glycogen, [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, and specific gene expression (accumulation of glucose transporter GLUT-1 mRNA). Cells expressing either Ser1200 or Thr1134 receptors showed no increase in insulin-stimulated thymidine incorporation or GLUT-1 mRNA accumulation compared with CHO-NEO. Surprisingly, cells expressing Ser1200 receptors showed increased insulin stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake and glucose incorporation into glycogen compared with CHO-NEO, whereas Thr1134 receptors failed to signal these metabolic responses. We conclude that 1) transfected kinase-deficient insulin receptor mutants derived from insulin-resistant patients have distinct defects in the ability to mediate insulin action in vitro; 2) divergence of insulin signaling pathways may occur at the level of the receptor; and 3) normal activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase by insulin is not necessarily required for signaling of certain important biologic actions.
Public Workers: Government Employee Unions, the Law, and the State, 1900–1962

From the dawn of the twentieth century to the early 1960s, public-sector unions generally had no legal right to strike, bargain, or arbitrate, and government workers could be fired simply for joining a union. Public Workers is the first book to analyze why public-sector labor law evolved as it did, separate from and much more restrictive than private-sector labor law, and what effect this law had on public-sector unions, organized labor as a whole, and by extension all of American politics. The author shows how public-sector unions survived, represented their members, and set the stage for the most remarkable growth of worker organization in American history.
Object-Oriented Programming with Visual Basic.NET: Database Programming Using ADO.NET

This chapter explains how to perform database programming in an object-oriented way. There are several techniques (patterns) we can use to make a VB.NET/ADO.NET program object-oriented. Many of these techniques were first discussed (though not necessarily first used) in Martin Fowler's book Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture (Fowler 2003). This chapter will distill some of the patterns he presents into working code that a VB.NET programmer will recognize, especially a programmer who now understands OOP. First, though, we'll provide you with an overview of how to use ADO.NET to access data stored in a database. AN OVERVIEW OF ADO.NET ActiveX Data Objects.NET (ADO.NET) is an object-oriented database API that allows a programmer to use one set of classes to access many different types of databases. ADO.NET Objects ADO.NET consists of a set of classes that encapsulate the behavior of the different aspects of a database. These classes include objects that represent the database, individual tables, columns within tables, and rows in tables. There are also specialized objects for making database connections and database commands. The following list highlights these objects DataSet represents a subset of a database and is a parent object to many of the other objects used in ADO.NET. DataTable is used to work with the contents of a single table. DataColumn is used to represent each column in a table. DataRow represents a row of data from a table. Row data are retrieved from the Rows collection of a DataTable object. DataAdapter is used as a bridge between a DataTable object and the physical data source, or database, the program is using. […]
RHO Cassiopeiae: A hyperbright radial pulsator?

These data of high resolution in velocity and time are conveniently interpretable in terms of classical radial pulsation of a supergiant photosphere. Based on spectra taken at McDonald during a 1400-days long interval, we infer a dominant quasiperiod of 520 days for Rho Cas with a formal error of less than 10%. Since this period is significantly longer than the radial fundamental mode predicted theoretically (see Sheffer and Lambert 1986, Lovy et al. 1984) this supergiant may well be on its way toward the blue side of the HRD following the end of its reddest evolutionary phase. Rho Cas is predicted to become a WR star within 7000 years. This established radial pulsation behavior of a Ia-0 yellow super-giant hints at the possible existence of a class of radial pulsators at the top of the HRD. Another similar supercepheid may be HR8752, but its behavior is more difficult to interpret (Sheffer and Lambert 1987).
The Chain-of-Bundles Probability Model For the Strength of Fibrous Materials I: Analysis and Conjectures

Analytical results are discussed for the chain-of-bundles probability model for the strength of fibrous materials. Two load sharing rules are considered for failed and nonfailed fibers in a bundle. The first is the equal load sharing rule of classical analysis, and the second is a local load sharing rule which is more realistic for composite materials. A rather detailed discussion of past statistical analysis is given. From a careful study of previous results, several conjectures and key questions about the behavior of the strength are generated. Also, an exact analysis of failure is per formed so that the properties of the strength distribution can be studied. Difficulties of a general analysis are discussed in detail. The sequel will contain a thorough numerical investigation of the model with emphasis on studying the convergence of certain transformed distributions and on answering key questions raised in this study.
Metal–chelator polymers as organophosphate hydrolysis catalysts

A copper-containing polymer was prepared by free radical polymerization of a copper(II)–vinylbipyridyl complex with trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate. Hydrolysis of a phosphate monoester, 4-nitrophenyl phosphate, a diester, bis-4-nitrophenyl phosphate, and a triester, methyl parathion (O,O-dimethyl O-p-nitrophenyl phosphorothioate), in water–methanol (85∶15) at pH 8.1 was investigated and compared to the hydrolytic ability of the analogous monomeric copper complex. Using the Michaelis–Menten formalism to characterize apparent catalytic constants, the rate of hydrolysis (kcat) for each phosphate ester substrate was found to be about an order of magnitude faster and the Km values up to two orders of magnitude lower for the polymeric catalysts compared to the homogeneous monomeric catalysts. The methyl parathion polymeric hydrolysis rate was 6.7 × 105 times faster than the uncatalyzed rate. Reasons for the enhanced catalytic activity, particularly at low substrate concentrations, are discussed.
Roles for claudins in alveolar epithelial barrier function

Terminal airspaces of the lung, alveoli, are sites of gas exchange that are sensitive to disrupted fluid balance. The alveolar epithelium is a heterogeneous monolayer of cells interconnected by tight junctions at sites of cell-cell contact. Paracellular permeability depends on claudin (cldn)-family tight junction proteins. Of over a dozen alveolar cldns, cldn-3, cldn-4, and cldn-18 are the most highly expressed; other prominent alveolar claudins include cldn-5 and cldn-7. Cldn-3 is primarily expressed by type II alveolar epithelial cells, whereas cldn-4 and cldn-18 are expressed throughout the alveolar epithelium. Lung diseases associated with pulmonary edema, such as alcoholic lung syndrome and acute lung injury, affect alveolar claudin expression, which is frequently associated with impaired fluid clearance due to increased alveolar leak. However, recent studies have identified a role for increased cldn-4 in protecting alveolar barrier function following injury. Thus, alveolar claudins are dynamically regulated, tailoring lung barrier function to control the air-liquid interface.
Hair-root adaptation to marasmus in Andean Indian children.

Abstract The morphological characteristics of hair-roots from 15 children with classical marasmus were compared with those in 13 normal children of the same age and ethnic group. In addition to the morphological changes found in marasmus, there was a striking shift to the telogen (resting) phase of hair-growth. This difference in hair-root adaptation between marasmus and kwashiorkor is believed to be more closely related to relative chronicity than to differences in dietary protein-calorie density.
Within-tree distribution of resident populations of citrus blackfly in Texas.

The within-tree distribution of live, developmental forms of the citrus blackfly (CBF), Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby, was studied on 1277 trees in 7 grapefruit groves in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. No consistent clumping was detected in 12 of 17 samples, though on 3 sample occasions significantly more CBF occurred in the NW tree-quadrants and on 2 occasions in the SW tree-quadrants. Generally, the tree-quadrant bearing the maximum mean no. CBF was the same quadrant bearing the maximum percent leaves infested. Most CBF were detected on inside foliage on 12 of 17 samples, significantly more than on outside foliage on 4 samples.
From Sugar to Blackberries: Restructuring Agro-export Production in Michoacán, Mexico

In recent years, economic crisis in the sugar industry and the closure of an important sugar mill in Michoacan, Mexico, have fostered the entry of transnational agribusinesses that contract with lo...
Economic freedom: a comparative study

This paper presents a comparative study of economic freedom in five groups of countries: Free, Mostly Free, Islamic, Latin American, and a subset of EU member countries. The study includes 103 countries, and uses data from the 2007 Index of Economic Freedom. The paper tests for the statistical significance of the difference between group means for each of ten measures of economic freedom and for the overall freedom score. The empirical evidence shows that the Islamic countries have significantly less economic freedom than the other groups, and that they are the only group with declining economic freedom in the last 13 years.
Basic residues within the Kruppel zinc finger DNA binding domains are the critical nuclear localization determinants of EKLF/KLF-1

EKLF/KLF-1 is an erythroid-restricted transcription factor essential for expression of the adult β-globin gene. EKLF/KLF-1 is a 358-amino acid nuclear protein with an amino-terminal proline-rich domain and a carboxyl-terminal DNA binding domain. The nuclear localization signal (NLS) of EKLF/KLF-1 has not been empirically determined. We generated a series of epitope-tagged deletion and point mutants and assessed their subcellular localization. Our results delimit the NLS to the 83-amino acid (amino acids 276–358) DNA binding domain that consists of three Kruppel zinc fingers. All three zinc fingers are necessary for efficient nuclear localization; deletion of any individual finger results in cytoplasmic accumulation. Fusion of the three zinc fingers to green fluorescent protein (GFP) targeted GFP to the nucleus, demonstrating that the zinc finger domain is sufficient for nuclear localization. EKLF/KLF-1 containing histidine to alanine mutations that disrupt the structure of all three fingers retains appropriate nuclear localization, indicating that neither the tertiary structure of the zinc fingers nor specific DNA binding are necessary for nuclear localization. We demonstrate that basic residues within the fingers are the critical determinants for nuclear localization; mutations of these basic residues to alanine resulted in cytoplasmic mislocalization. The basic residues of all mammalian Kruppel zinc fingers are highly conserved; therefore we propose that these basic residues are a common NLS shared by all Kruppel family members.
Teaching pedestrian skills to retarded persons: generalization from the classroom to the natural environment.

Little attention has been given to teaching adaptive community skills to retarded persons. In this study, five retarded male students were taught basic pedestrian skills in a classroom. Training was conducted on a model built to simulate city traffic conditions. Each subject was taught five specific skills involved in street crossing in sequence, viz. intersection recognition, pedestrian-light skills, traffic-light skills, and skills for two different stop-sign conditions. Before, during, and after training, subjects were tested on generalization probes on the model and under actual city traffic conditions. Results of a multiple-baseline design across both subjects and behaviors indicated that after receiving classroom training on the skills, each subject exhibited appropriate pedestrian skills under city traffic conditions. In addition, training in some skills appeared to facilitate performance in skills not yet trained.
Microwave plasma synthesis of carbon-supported ultrafine metal particles

Abstract Microwave plasma decomposition of metal carbonyls has been used to synthesize a series of carbon-supported monometallic (Fe, Co) and bimetallic (Co-Mo) materials. The average metal particle diameters in all cases were less than 10 nm. By using 10% H 2 /Ar instead of pure Ar as a carrier gas, the mean particle diameters could be decreased to less than 2 nm. Although the distribution of particles is slightly broader than those generated by other nanoparticle synthesis methods, the mean diameter of the particles generated using 10% H 2 /Ar is as small as any previously reported for Fe-, Co-, Ni-, or Mo-containing compounds. The ultrafine metal particles were dispersed on moderate surface area amorphous carbon support matrixes derived from the concomitant microwave decomposition of the toluene solvent.
Hypermineralized whale rostrum as the exemplar for bone mineral.

AbstractAlthough bone is a nanocomposite of mineral and collagen, mineral has been the more elusive component of study. A standard for bone mineral is clearly needed. We hypothesized that the most natural, least-processed bone mineral could be retrieved from the most highly mineralized bone. We therefore studied the rostrum of the toothed whale Mesoplodon densirostris, which has the densest recognized bone. Essential to establishment of a standard for bone mineral is the documentation that the proposed tissue is bone-like in all properties except for its remarkably high concentration of mineral. Transmitted-light microscopy of unstained sections of rostral material shows normal bone morphology in osteon geometry, lacunae concentration, and vasculature development. Stained sections reveal extremely low density of thin collagen fibers in most of the bone, but enrichment of thicker collagen fibers around vascular holes and in a minority of osteons. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy shows the rostru...
Patterns of condom use in urban males in Zimbabwe: evidence from 4,600 sexual contacts

The objective of this paper is to get detailed information on the dynamics of condom use with various partner types, including consistency of use, and to estimate the frequency of unprotected intercourse. The study is based on a prospective cohort study of 222 urban workers in urban Zimbabwe. Respondents' sexual behaviour and condom use were tracked for a period of six weeks using daily interviewer-administered questionnaires. In total, the observation period covers 9,324 person-days, during which 4,601 sexual contacts were reported. The results indicate that most sexual encounters with casual partners are protected, and condom use with these partners is very consistent. However, although the majority of sex acts with regular non-marital partners are protected, only four out of ten men with regular partners used condoms consistently. Because many men have both regular and casual partners, fewer than one in seven males used condoms in all their sex acts. We estimate that nearly half of all males have more than 85 unprotected sex acts per year. Although many of these acts are with spouses, who have comparatively low risk, we estimate that about one in five men have 25 or more unprotected acts with regular non-marital partners annually. We conclude that regular partners are likely to be a major source of HIV transmission in Zimbabwe, partly because condom use is inconsistent and partly because they account for a large share of all sex acts. Given that over one in four adults in the general population are HIV-positive, and that some studies show that married persons have the highest HIV prevalence, it is important for future HIV programmes to focus on increasing levels of protection with regular partners.
Determination of a cyclic hexapeptide (L-743 872), a novel pneumocandin antifungal agent in human plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

Abstract A method based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection for the determination of a novel peptide antifungal agent, L-743 872 (I), in human plasma and urine is presented. Drug and internal standard were extracted from plasma and urine using diol solid-phase extraction columns and selectively eluted using a solution of trifluroacetic acid and ammonium hydroxide in methanol. Chromatography was performed on a wide pore C8 column and detection was by fluorescence. Loss of drug from urine due to adsorption to plastic surfaces was prevented by the addition of bovine serum albumin (0.5% final concentration). The range of the standard line was 10 to 1000 ng/ml for both matrices. The recovery of drug from plasma and urine was 76% and 84%, respectively. The assay was used to measure drug concentrations in human plasma and urine after the administration of intravenous (IV) doses of I.
Lobule type and subsequent breast cancer risk: results from the Nurses' Health Studies.

Background Lobules in normal breast tissue can be classified based on their degree of development, which may affect their susceptibility to carcinogenesis; few epidemiologic studies, however, have addressed this.
Type 73 human papillomavirus in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a novel association.

BACKGROUND Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) commonly cause proliferative lesions of squamous epithelia, and infection with certain HPV types carries a high risk of malignant transformation, especially in the uterine cervix but also at other sites, including the esophagus. We used molecular techniques to detect and type HPV in an in situ squamous cell carcinoma in the esophagus of a 39-year-old woman. METHODS DNA was extracted from paraffin sections of the esophageal lesion and of the uterine cervix (which was removed several years earlier), and analyzed for HPV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Primers complementary to highly conserved regions of the open reading frame of most genital HPVs were used to amplify a ∼450 base pair product that contained both conserved and divergent regions. The PCR products were hybridized with probes specific for HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16, and HPV-18, and with a consensus probe. A conspicuous band in the esophageal sample failed to hybridize with any of the probes. The amplimer was subcloned and sequenced. The sequence was compared with other known HPVs. RESULTS The intraepithelial neoplasia in the patient's cervical cone biopsy contained HPV-16. The esophageal lesion contained HPV that did not hybridize with probes for types 6, 11, 16, or 18, but exhibited 98.3% homology with HPV-73. CONCLUSIONS Squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the esophagus may be associated with infection by HPV-73. Cancer 1996;77:2440-4.
Effects of white, blue, red light and darkness on pH of the apoplast in the Samanea pulvinus.

Leaflet movements in Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merrill are driven by fluxes of K+, anions, and water through membranes of motor cells in the pulvinus (R.L. Satter et al., 1974, J. Gen. Physiol. 64, 413–430). Extensor cells take up K+ and swell in white light (WL) while flexor cells take up K+ and swell in darkness (D). Excised strips of extensor and flexor motor tissue acidify their bathing medium under conditions that normally promote increase in K+ in the intact tissue, and alkalize the medium under conditions that normally induce decrease in K+ (A. Iglesias and R.L. Satter, 1983, Plant Physiol. 72, 564). To obtain information on pH changes in the whole pulvinus, we measured effects of light on pH of the apoplast, using liquid membrane microelectrodes sensitive to H+. We report the following: (1) The pH of the extensor apoplast was higher than that of the flexor apoplast in WL and in D (pH gradient of 1.0 units in WL and 2.0 units in D). Apoplastic pH might affect K+ transport through the plasma membranes of Samanea motor cells, since the conductance, gating, and selectivity of ionic channels in other systems depend upon external pH. (2) Extensor cells acidified and flexor cells alkalized their environment in response to irradiation with WL, while the reverse changes occurred in response to D. These results are consistent with the results of Iglesias and Satter (1983), and support the physiological relevance of data obtained with excised tissue. (3) The pH changes in response to irradiation with red light were similar to those obtained with D; also, the pH changes in response to blue light were similar to those obtained with WL. The pulvinus closed in red light as in darkness and opened in WL, but failed to open in blue light. The advantages and limitations of apoplastic pH measurements for assaying H+ transport are discussed.
Atmospheric fractals — A review

Abstract This paper reviews general fractal concepts, why those concepts are manifested in the atmosphere, the relationship of fractal dimension to roughness and space-fillingness, fdifferences between self-similar and self-affine fractals, and elliptical fractal dimension. Methods for calculating fractal dimension are presented. The review introduces examples of atmospheric physical processes that produce fractals, and relates them to classical descriptions of turbulence. The widespread applicability of fractal descriptions are illustrated with observations of turbulent diffusion, cloud shapes, and boundaries between turbulent and laminar flow. A brief assessment of the current status of practical fractal applications to atmospheric modeling ends the review.
Form factors and wave functions in Coulomb gauge

Abstract In the atatic approximation, the charge density distribution of the light in a heavy-light system is a physical observable. This form factor ( 〈|j q o ( χ )|B〉 ) may be extracted from the lattice by putting the current at the light propagator source and typing it to the static line a distance χ away at some positive and negative time slice. When the heavy line connection is smeared at both ends uing a source function derived from the Coulomb-gauge wave function, the result is a stable extraction of the charge density.
Time-scale separation redesigns for stabilization and performance recovery of uncertain nonlinear systems

In this paper we propose two different time-scale separation based robust redesign techniques which recover the trajectories of a nominal control design in the presence of uncertain nonlinearities. We first consider additive input uncertainties and design a high-gain filter to estimate the uncertainty. We then employ the fast variables arising from this filter in the feedback control law to cancel the effect of the uncertainties in the plant. We next extend this design to systems with uncertain input nonlinearities in which case we design two sets of high gain filters-the first to estimate the input uncertainty over a fast time-scale, and the second to force this estimate to converge to the nominal input on an intermediate time-scale. Using singular perturbation theory we prove that the trajectories of the respective two-time-scale and three-time scale redesigned systems approach those of the nominal system when the filter gains are increased. We illustrate the redesigns by applying them to various physically motivated examples.
Tendon grafting with glutaraldehyde fixed material

An evaluation of 0.2% buffered glutaraldehyde fixed tendon as a potential tendon replacement prosthesis was evaluated in rabbit and chicken models. In vivo implantations were done to determine compatability, function, and strength of grafts. Autogenous fresh grafts were used as controls in the strength evaluations. The fixed tendon elicits no cellular rejection response, is invaded and replaced by host tissues, and anastomosis strength in tension compares favorably to a fresh autogenous control. These preliminary evaluations indicate a useful potential for this fixed biomaterial as a tendon prosthesis.
Packages for ultra-high speed GaAs ICs

Two, 36-pin, chip-carrier packages are reported which meet the requirements of ultra-high-speed GaAs ICs with up to 3GHz clock rates and 100 picoseconds rise and fall times. The packaging requirements are analyzed on the basis of propagation delay, stub lengths, cross-talk and power supply regulation. Tw packages with internal groundplane, power-supply by-pass capacitors and a maximum package dimensions of 1cm×1cm are developed. The first packaging approach is based on a multilayer co-fired ceramic technology, whereas, the second approach utilizes a silicon IC as a chip-carrier upon which the GaAs IC die is mounted. In the later case the Si-chip provides shielded transmission lines, power supply regulation, terminating and damping resistors as well as lowers the thermal resistance of the package.
Gas gangrene secondary to Clostridium perfringens in pediatric oncology patients.

Objective: To report 2 cases of severe gas gangrene secondary to Clostridium perfringens in pediatric oncology patients. Methods: We describe 2 children with acute presentations of gas gangrene secondary to C. perfringens. Both children were initially seen and treated in a community hospital emergency department and subsequently were cared for in a pediatric intensive care unit in a tertiary care, university-based children's hospital. Results: Both children demonstrated severe and unrelenting decompensation and required operative intervention within the first hospital day, which included amputation of the infected limb. One child survived and one child expired despite heroic measures. Conclusions: Gas gangrene secondary to C. perfringens is an uncommon but life-threatening and limb-threatening condition in pediatric cancer patients. A high index of suspicion in a immunocompromised child with cancer who presents with extremity pain in combination with neutropenia is the key to early diagnosis and may lead to improved survival. This disease requires prompt recognition and aggressive treatment to allow any hope of recovery. Emergency medicine physicians who treat these children should be aware of this severe and potentially fatal infectious process and should not delay treatment or prompt orthopedic surgery consultation.