cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hematologic Manifestations of Trisomy 21

The most common human chromosome aneuploidy, trisomy 21 (Down syndrome [DS] and Down syndrome mosaic), is associated with a wide spectrum of hematologie abnormalities in the three hematopoietic lines. Included in these abnormalities are peculiar hematologie findings in the neonate, transient leukemia (TL), high mean corpuscular volume throughout life, high incidence of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) in infancy, increased incidence of leukemia throughout life, and abnormalities of the immunologie system. Most of the newborns with any of the above-mentioned hematologie abnormalities may not have any other clinical sign or symptom. However, some infants with TL may present with massive hepatosplenomegaly, cutaneous infiltrates, hydrops fetalis (Zipursky et al. 1999) or liver fibrosis (Yagihashi et al. 1995; AlKasim et al. 2002). Although, TL is thought to be a benign self-limited disorder, it can be fatal at initial presentation. Moreover, leukemia may develop in one-third of the patients who initially recover from TL (Homans et al. 1993).
Creating Symmetry: The Cultural Landscape in the Sand Canyon Locality, Southwestern Colorado

Public architecture provides one important line of evidence for examining how people organized themselves and interacted through time. The constellation of these public buildings across cultural landscapes also provides information about how different groups of people mediated relations at different social scales ranging from individual communities to regional networks. This paper uses the location of public buildings to suggest close intercommunity ties between two large ancestral Pueblo communities in southwestern Colorado. It is argued here that the composition, location, and orientation of public structures relative to each other in these two communities reflect a supracommunity level of planning and social organization that was rooted in the Chaco regional system. The suggested dualism of this system mirrors modern social divisions apparent in some Pueblo villages today.
Contrast-Enhanced Chest Computed Tomography Reveals Treatable Causes of Cerebral Abscesses in Patients without Antecedent Surgery or Trauma

Objective Brain abscesses cause substantial morbidity and mortality even after appropriate therapy, and no underlying cause is found in 25% of cases. We investigated the added utility of contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) in the diagnostic work-up of patients presenting with cerebral abscesses and no history or prior trauma or cranial surgery. Methods All patients presenting to a single institution with a surgically proven brain abscess were reviewed. Concurrent contrast-enhanced chest CT imaging results were reviewed when available to identify treatable predisposing causes of intracranial suppuration. Results This study included 31 patients with biopsy-proven abscesses. Multiple abscesses were present in 8 patients (26%). Contrast-enhanced CT was performed in 15 patients (48%). Of these 15 patients, 2 had pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, 1 had an intrapulmonary shunt, and 3 had empyemas. Definitive therapy for the chest findings was provided to 6 of the 15 patients (40%). In the remaining 9 patients, 3 had pulmonary abscesses, for which diagnostic aspiration was requested. Another patient had an incidental pulmonary embolism, resulting in same-day placement of an inferior vena caval filter (not included in chest analysis, given that the finding was incidental). Conclusions Contrast-enhanced chest CT is useful for identifying treatable causes of cerebral abscesses in patients with a cerebral abscess and no history of surgery or trauma.
TBX5: A Key Regulator of Heart Development

TBX5 is a member of the T-box transcription factor family and is primarily known for its role in cardiac and forelimb development. Human patients with dominant mutations in TBX5 are characterized by Holt-Oram syndrome, and show defects of the cardiac septa, cardiac conduction system, and the anterior forelimb. The range of cardiac defects associated with TBX5 mutations in humans suggests multiple roles for the transcription factor in cardiac development and function. Animal models demonstrate similar defects and have provided a useful platform for investigating the roles of TBX5 during embryonic development. During early cardiac development, TBX5 appears to act primarily as a transcriptional activator of genes associated with cardiomyocyte maturation and upstream of morphological signals for septation. During later cardiac development, TBX5 is required for patterning of the cardiac conduction system and maintenance of mature cardiomyocyte function. A comprehensive understanding of the integral roles of TBX5 throughout cardiac development and adult life will be critical for understanding human cardiac morphology and function.
Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves: review of methods with applications in diagnostic medicine

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis is a tool used to describe the discrimination accuracy of a diagnostic test or prediction model. While sensitivity and specificity are the basic metrics of accuracy, they have many limitations when characterizing test accuracy, particularly when comparing the accuracies of competing tests. In this article we review the basic study design features of ROC studies, illustrate sample size calculations, present statistical methods for measuring and comparing accuracy, and highlight commonly used ROC software. We include descriptions of multi-reader ROC study design and analysis, address frequently seen problems of verification and location bias, discuss clustered data, and provide strategies for testing endpoints in ROC studies. The methods are illustrated with a study of transmission ultrasound for diagnosing breast lesions.
Problems with Forfeiture

The best theory of killing under non-consequentialism, forfeiture theory, has serious problems. At the heart of morality is an attempt to tell people how to behave when there is conflict (for example, threats and violence). If forfeiture is the best non-consequentialist theory and it fails to provide an adequate account of conflict, then non-consequentialism fails at a task that is central to morality.
Approximation and Perturbation of Semigroups

This paper surveys some particular developments of the last ten years in the theory of approximation of semigroups of operators. There is also a little new material in the form of examples that do not fit into the existing theory. Among general references, perhaps the most convenient are Yosida [58], Kato [26], and the new text by Reed and Simon [42]. Several of the topics are treated concisely and elegantly in lecture notes of Nelson [37].
Interest in "organic," "natural," and "additive-free" cigarettes after hearing about toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke

Introduction The US Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act requires the government to disseminate information about the toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke. We sought to understand how the descriptors “organic,” “natural,” or “additive-free” affect smokers’ interest in cigarettes in the context of information about chemicals in cigarette smoke. Methods Participants were a national probability sample of 1,101 US adult (ages ≥18) smokers recruited in 2014–2015. A between-subjects experiment randomized participants in a telephone survey to 1 of 4 cigarette descriptors: “organic,” “natural,” “additive-free,” or “ultra-light” (control). The outcome was expected interest in cigarettes with the experimentally assigned descriptor, after learning that 2 chemicals (hydrogen cyanide and lead) are in cigarette smoke. Experimental data analysis was conducted in 2016–2017. Results Smokers indicated greater expected interest in “organic,” “natural,” and “additive-free” cigarettes than “ultra-light” cigarettes (all p <.001) after learning that hydrogen cyanide and lead were in cigarette smoke. Smokers who intended to quit in the next 6 months expressed greater expected interest in the 4 types of cigarettes (“organic,” “natural,” “additive-free,” and “ultra-light”) compared to smokers not intending to quit (p <.001). Conclusions Smokers, especially those intending to quit, may be more inclined towards cigarettes described as “organic,” “natural,” and “additive-free” in the context of chemical information. An accumulating body of evidence shows that the US should fully restrict use of “organic” and “natural” descriptors for tobacco products as it has done for “additive-free” and “light” descriptors.
The Net Carbon Emissions from Historic Land Use and Land Use Change

Deforestation from timber harvests and farmland conversions have led to 565 GtCO2 (billion tons of carbon dioxide) being emitted into the atmosphere. Taking into account natural regeneration on forestland, Houghton (2003, 2008) and Houghton et al. (2012) estimate that deforestation has caused a net loss of 484 GtCO2 since 1900 which is about one third of all manmade emissions. However, these estimates do not take into account the substantial investment into fire management, plantations, and replanting since 1950, as well as the effect of carbon fertilization on a younger forest. We compare the outcome of a deforestation scenario with subsequent forest management with what would have happened if the natural forest in 1900 had not been harvested thereafter. Deforestation plus forest management suggests current forests actually hold about 94 GtCO2 more today than they did in 1900. However, natural forests would have held an additional 186 GtCO2. Human activities on forestland have therefore caused about 92 GtCO2 of net emissions since 1900. The effect of manmade land use and land use change is relatively small compared to the 1294 GtCO2 from industrial emissions over the same time period (Marland et al., 2008).
Functional organization of the primary auditory cortex of the free-tailed bat Tadarida brasiliensis

The Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis, is a fast-flying bat that hunts by biosonar at high altitudes in open space. The auditory periphery and ascending auditory pathways have been described in great detail for this species, but nothing is yet known about its auditory cortex. Here we describe the topographical organization of response properties in the primary auditory cortex (AC) of the Mexican free-tailed bat with emphasis on the sensitivity for FM sweeps and echo-delay tuning. Responses of 716 units to pure tones and of 373 units to FM sweeps and FM–FM pairs were recorded extracellularly using multielectrode arrays in anesthetized bats. A general tonotopy was confirmed with low frequencies represented caudally and high frequencies represented rostrally. Characteristic frequencies (CF) ranged from 15 to 70 kHz, and fifty percent of CFs fell between 20 and 30 kHz, reflecting a hyper-representation of a bandwidth corresponding to search-phase echolocation pulses. Most units showed a stronger response to downward rather than upward FM sweeps and forty percent of the neurons interspersed throughout AC (150/371) showed echo-delay sensitivity to FM–FM pairs. Overall, the results illustrate that the free-tailed bat auditory cortex is organized similarly to that of other FM-type insectivorous bats.
Radiomics-based texture analysis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis for genetic and survival predictions

This study aims to combine differences in radiomic features between internal and peripheral portions of lungs diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and with TOLLIP and MUC5B genetic mutations to predict patient prognosis. A database of computed tomography (CT) scans from 169 IPF patients was selected from the INSPIRE study along with the corresponding genomic and demographic datasets. Three CT sections per patient were chosen to represent the superior, middle, and inferior portions of the lungs. Twelve regions of interest (ROIs) were placed in central and peripheral portions at each level of the lungs, and 142 radiomics features were calculated within each ROI. Based on feature reproducibility, 30 features were used with logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to classify patients with various genetic mutations. Kaplan-Meier survival curve models quantified the ability of each feature to differentiate between survival curves based on a feature-specific threshold. Nine first-order features and one fractal feature were found to be predictive of TOLLIP-1 (rs4963062) mutation (AUC 0.54-0.74). Five Laws’ filter features were predictive of TOLLIP-2 (rs5743905) mutation (AUC 0.53-0.70), while no feature was found to be predictive for MUC5B mutations. First-order and fractal features reflected the greatest discrimination between Kaplan-Meier curves. A radiogenomic approach for predicting patient genetic mutations based on radiomics features extracted from thoracic CT images of patients with IPF has potential as a biomarker. These same features can also serve as predictors of patient prognosis using a survival curve modeling approach.
Epidemic Model Guided Machine Learning for COVID-19 Forecasts in the United States

Abstract We propose a new epidemic model (SuEIR) for forecasting the spread of COVID-19, including numbers of confirmed and fatality cases at national and state levels in the United States. Specifically, the SuEIR model is a variant of the SEIR model by taking into account the untested/unreported cases of COVID-19, and trained by machine learning algorithms based on the reported historical data. Besides providing basic projections for confirmed and fatality cases, the proposed SuEIR model is also able to predict the peak date of active cases, and estimate the basic reproduction number (). In particular, the forecasts based on our model suggest that the peak date of the US, New York state, and California state are 06/01/2020, 05/10/2020, and 07/01/2020 respectively. In addition, the estimated of the US, New York state, and California state are 2.5, 3.6 and 2.2 respectively. The prediction results for all states in the US can be found on our project website: https://covid19.uclaml.org, which are updated on a weekly basis, and have been adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for COVID-19 death forecasts (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/forecasting-us.html).
Abstract B05: Sox10 differentially regulates receptor tyrosine kinase expression in melanomas

Targeting the ErbB3-ErbB2 pathway increases the efficacy of MEK inhibitors in melanoma. Given the inter- and intratumor heterogeneity of melanoma, identifying biomarkers for cells within tumors that will respond effectively to MEK inhibitor-anti-ErbB3 cotargeting is crucial. To this end, we sought to identify transcriptional regulators of ErbB3. Several transcription factors (TFs) are predicted to bind to the promoter region of ErbB3. Using correlation analysis, SOX10 was positively correlated with ErbB3 expression in the RNA-seq data from TCGA cutaneous melanoma dataset. By contrast, an inverse correlation existed between SOX10 and other receptor tyrosine kinases, EGFR and PDGFR, which have been associated with a slow-growing phenotype and resistance to BRAF and MEK inhibitors. siRNA and CRISPR knockdown/out experiments confirmed that SOX10 positively regulates ErbB3 but negatively regulates PDGFR, suggesting plasticity between SOX10-positive and SOX10-negative populations with regard to RTK expression. Overall, this study suggests that SOX10 is a potential biomarker of responsiveness to MEK inhibitor plus ErbB3 targeting antibody in melanoma. Citation Format: Claudia Capparelli, Timothy Purwin, Andrew Aplin. Sox10 differentially regulates receptor tyrosine kinase expression in melanomas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Melanoma: From Biology to Target; 2019 Jan 15-18; Houston, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(19 Suppl):Abstract nr B05.
Perceiving power: A study of spatial relations as perceptual symbols

The Perky Effect (from Perky, 1910) broadly concerns the interaction of imagined and perceived stimuli. Typically this interaction has been interference, although some recent research has suggested language evoked spatial representations could actually facilitate perceptual task performance at corresponding spatial locations. The current study explored whether comprehending language interfered with or facilitated the perceptual task at the implied spatial locations as a matter of language length. In Study 1, participants read power words followed by a figure recognition task that appeared at either the upper or lower part of the screen. It was found comprehending power words interfered with perception of the visual stimulus at the implied spatial locations. Study 2 used the same paradigm but with power sentences. We failed to observe the interaction between the power sentences and the visual figure spatial location. The combined results of Study 1 and Study 2 suggest that the spatial mental representations of language are consistent with past perceptual research on the Perky Effect, but only as a short-lived phenomenon.
Pandemic Priorities: The Impact of South Korea’s COVID-19 Policies on Vulnerable Populations

The South Korean government’s COVID-19 policies prioritized effective and efficient containment of the virus, which can accompany the risk of marginalizing vulnerable populations. Using a single-si...
Simultaneous equations for hazards: marriage duration and fertility timing.

Abstract The concept of simultaneous equations has been a fundamental contribution of econometrics. While the concepts have been extended quite fruitfully to limited and qualitative dependent variable models, they have been rarely applied to hazard or duration (failure time) models. This paper develops an approach to simultaneity among hazard equations which is similar in spirit to simultaneous Tobit models. It introduces a class of continuous time models which incorporates two forms of simultaneity across related processes - when the hazard rate of one process depends (1) on the hazard rate of another process or (2) on the actual current state of or prior outcomes of a related multi-episode process. This paper also develops an approach to modeling the notion of ‘multiple clocks’ in which one process may depend on the duration of a related process, in addition to its own. Maximum likelihood estimation is proposed based on specific parametric assumptions. The model is developed in the context of and empirically applied to the joint determination of marital duration and timing of marital conceptions.
The Concept of ‘Psychologism’ in Frege and Husserl

Both Frege and Husserl are well-known to have campaigned against a philosophical position known as psychologism. In this essay, I will begin by focusing upon the nature of psychologism in general, and then on the specific sort or sorts of psychologism Frege and Husserl were up against, before looking at the arguments they pressed against that position. Finally, I will ask if a radical anti-psychologistic position is a defensible one.
Accelerating convolution quadrature

Convolution quadtrature (CQ) is a method for discretizing continuous convolution integrals by substituting a discrete Ƶ domain approximation for the Laplace domain frequency parameters. The model CQ provides is inherently dispersive, and so gives rise to a discrete Green's function with expanding temporal support. This work investigates two approaches to alleviating this problem: dispersion halting and fast Fourier transform methods. Numerical results will be used to compare the methods with each other in both dispersive and nondispersive media.
Gadolinium-induced fibrosis is counter-regulated by CCN3 in human dermal fibroblasts: a model for potential treatment of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

We recently show that CCN3 is a counter-regulatory molecule for the pro-fibrotic protein CCN2, and a potentially novel fibrosis therapy. The goal of this study was to assess the role of CCN3 in fibroproliferative/fibrotic responses in human dermal fibroblasts exposed to Omniscan, one of the gadolinium-based contrast agents associated with development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) a rare but life-threatening disease thought to be complication of NMR diagnostics in renal impaired patients. Human dermal fibroblasts were exposed to Omniscan; or to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) as controls. Proliferation was assessed along with matrix metalloproteinase-1, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 and type 1 procollagen in the absence and presence of CCN3. In parallel, CCN3 production was assessed in control and Omniscan-treated cells. The results showed that PDGF stimulated fibroblast proliferation, production of Timp-1 and MMP-1 whereas exogenous CCN3 inhibited, in a dose response manner, cell proliferation (approx. 50 % max.) and production of MMP-1 (approx 35 % max.) but had little effect on TIMP-1. TGF-β stimulated type 1 procollagen production but not proliferation, Timp-1 or MMP-1 compared to non-TGF-s treated control cells, and CCN3 treatment blocked (approx. 80 % max.) this up-regulation. Interestingly, untreated, control fibroblasts produced high constitutive levels of CCN3 and concentrations of Omniscan that induced fibroproliferative/fibrogenic changes in dermal fibroblasts correspondingly suppressed CCN3 production. The use of PDGF and TGF-β as positive controls, and the study of differential responses, including that to Omniscan itself, provide the first evidence for a role of fibroblast-derived CCN3 as an endogenous regulator of pro-fibrotic changes, elucidating possible mechanism(s). In conclusion, these data support our hypothesis of a role for fibroblast-derived CCN3 as an endogenous regulator of pro-fibrotic changes in these cells, and suggest that CCN3 may be an important regulatory molecule in NSF and a target for treatment in this and other fibrotic diseases.
Spatiotemporal pH dynamics following insertion of neural microelectrode arrays

Insertion trauma is a critical issue when assessing intracortical electrophysiological and neurochemical recordings. Previous reports document a wide variety of insertion techniques with speeds ranging from 10 microm/s to 10 m/s. We hypothesize that insertion speed has an effect on tissue trauma induced by implantation of a neural probe. In order to monitor the neural interface during and after probe insertion, we have developed a silicon-substrate array with hydrous iridium oxide microelectrodes for potentiometric recording of extracellular pH (pH(e)), a measure of brain homeostasis. Microelectrode sites were sensitive to pH in the super-Nernstian range (-85.9 mV/pH unit) and selective over other analytes including ascorbic acid, Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+). Following insertion, arrays recorded either triphasic or biphasic pH(e) responses, with a greater degree of prolonged acidosis for insertions at 50 microm/s than at 0.5 mm/s or 1.0 mm/s (p<0.05). Spatiotemporal analysis of the recordings also revealed micro-scale variability in the pH(e) response along the array, even when using the same insertion technique. Implants with more intense acidosis were often associated histologically with blood along the probe tract. The potentiometric microsensor array has implications not only as a useful tool to measure extracellular pH, but also as a feedback tool for delivery of pharmacological agents to treat surgical brain trauma.
Tree species differentiation using intensity data derived from leaf-on and leaf-off airborne laser scanner data

Tree species identification is important for a variety of natural resource management and monitoring activities including riparian buffer characterization, wildfire risk assessment, biodiversity monitoring, and wildlife habitat assessment. Intensity data recorded for each laser point in a LIDAR system is related to the spectral reflectance of the target material and thus may be useful for differentiating materials and ultimately tree species. The aim of this study is to test if LIDAR intensity data can be used to differentiate tree species. Leaf-off and leaf-on LIDAR data were obtained in the Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle, Washington, USA. Field work was conducted to measure tree locations, tree species and heights, crown base heights, and crown diameters of individual trees for eight broadleaved species and seven coniferous species. LIDAR points from individual trees were identified using the field-measured tree location. Points from adjacent trees within a crown were excluded using a procedure to separate crown overlap. Mean intensity values of laser returns within individual tree crowns were compared between species. We found that the intensity values for different species were related not only to reflective properties of the vegetation, but also to a presence or absence of foliage and the arrangement of foliage and branches within individual tree crowns. The classification results for broadleaved and coniferous species using linear discriminant function with a cross validation suggests that the classification rate was higher using leaf-off data (83.4%) than using leaf-on data (73.1%), with highest (90.6%) when combining these two LIDAR data sets. The result also indicates that different ranges of intensity values between two LIDAR datasets didn't affect the result of discriminant functions. Overall results indicate that some species and species groups can be differentiated using LIDAR intensity data and implies the potential of combining two LIDAR datasets for one study.
Crinoid stalk flexibility: theoretical predictions and fossil stalk postures

Flexibilities in Lower Mississippian crinoid stalks were inferred from preserved postures and shown not to conform with predictions of a cantilever beam model. Flexibilities were not correlated with hard-part characters such as stalk diameter, stalk length, or columnal height. The lack of correspondence between the predictions of the cantilever model and observed flexibilities implies that the most likely control of stalk flexibility is the ligament, more specifically, its non-constant, mutable properties. Although a few Lower Mississippian crinoids, such as Gilbertsocrinus, Platycrinites, and Camptocrinus, have enhanced flexibility achieved by radical modifications of columnal facet morphology, this study has failed to identify any general morphological characters that consistently predict flexibility. It appears that skeletal morphology is a poor guide to stalk flexibility; mutable collagenous tissue is the key.Crinoidea, taphonomy, constructional morphology, Lower Carboniferous, connective tissues.
Educational developers: The multiple structures and influences that support our work

Recognizing that educational development is an important strategic lever for ensuring institutional quality, this chapter examines aspects of the careers of educational developers, including the kinds of positions they hold, the influences on their educational practice, and the factors that affect their programmatic priorities.
The genotype of the human cancer cell: Implications for risk analysis

An extremely large database describes genotypes associated with the human cancer phenotype and genotypes of human populations with genetic predisposition to cancer. Aspects of this database are examined from the perspective of risk analysis, and the following conclusions and hypotheses are proposed: (1) The genotypes of human cancer cells are characterized by multiple mutated genes. Each type of cancer is characterized by a set of mutated genes, a subset from a total of more than 80 genes, that varies between tissue types and between different tumors from the same tissue. No single cancer-associated gene nor carcinogenic pathway appears suitable as an overall indicator whose induction serves as a quantitative marker for risk analysis. (2) Genetic defects that predispose human populations to cancer are numerous and diverse, and provide a model for associating cancer rates with induced genetic changes. As these syndromes contribute significantly to the overall cancer rate, risk analysis should include an estimation of the effect of putative carcinogens on individuals with genetic predisposition. (3) Gene activation and inactivation events are observed in the cancer genotype at different frequencies, and the potency of carcinogens to induce these events varies significantly. There is a paradox between the observed frequency for induction of single mutational events in test systems and the frequency of multiple events in a single cancer cell, suggesting events are not independent. Quantitative prediction of cancer risk will depend on identifying rate-limiting events in carcinogenesis. Hyperproliferation and hypermutation may be such events. (4) Four sets of data suggest that hypermutation may be an important carcinogenic process. Current mechanisms of risk analysis do not properly evaluate the potency of putative carcinogens to induce the hypermutable state or to increase mutation in hypermutable cells. (5) High-dose exposure to carcinogens in model systems changes patterns of gene expression and may induce protective effects through delay in cell progression and other processes that affect mutagenesis and toxicity. Paradigms in risk analysis that require extrapolation over wide ranges of exposure levels may be flawed mechanistically and may underestimate carcinogenic effects of test agents at environmental levels. Characteristics of the human cancer genotype suggest that approaches to risk analysis must be broadened to consider the multiplicity of carcinogenic pathways and the relative roles of hyperproliferation and hypermutation. Further, estimation of risk to general human populations must consider effects on hypersusceptible individuals. The extrapolation of effects over wide exposure levels is an imprecise process.
Glucose Binding Isotope Effects in the Ternary Complex of Brain Hexokinase Demonstrate Partial Relief of Ground-State Destabilization

Isotope effects can yield detailed information about contacts made between a bound compound and its host receptor or enzyme. In this study, we have measured isotope effects upon the equilibrium constant for the association of glucose and human brain hexokinase [E.C.2.7.1.1] in the presence of β,γ-CH2-ATP and compared these with data for the same equilibrium in the absence of ATP-analogue. We have found isotope effects of 1.012, 0.929, 1.031, 1.052, 0.998, and 1.032 for the competitive binding of [1-3H]-, [2-3H]-, [3-3H]-, [4-3H]-, [5-3H]-, or [6,6-3H2]- and either [2-14C]- or [6-14C]glucose to brain hexokinase. We observed changes only at H1, H5, and H6, and we attribute these to a slight change in the position of Asn683 and Glu742 due to nucleotide binding and to partial satisfaction of activated OH6 by the terminal nucleotide phosphorus.
Collision-free multiple photon ionization of atoms and molecules at 193 nm.

The nonlinear coupling of 193-nm radiation to a range of atomic and molecular materials has been experimentally explored up to a maximum intensity on the order of \ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{17}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. Studies of collision-free ion production clearly exhibit anomalous behavior which strongly implies that the atomic shell structure is the principal determinant in the observed response. On the basis of the observed coupling strength and the measured atomic-number (Z) dependence, the experimental evidence points to a coherent atomic motion involving several electrons, possibly an entire shell, as the main physical mechanism enabling the scale of energy transfers seen. Therefore, states representing multiple excitations appear to play a central role in the coupling, a consideration that fundamentally distinguishes the nonlinear interaction of a multielectron atom from that of a single-electron system. Comparison of the experimental findings with standard theoretical treatments, of either a perturbative or nonperturbative nature, does not produce satisfactory agreement. Conversely, the formulation of a simple classical estimate qualitatively conforms to several features of the observed behavior including the shell character of the interaction, the maximum energy transfer, the dependence of the average energy transfer on the intensity of irradiation, the frequency dependence of the observed energy transfer, and the weak influence of polarization.
α-Neo-endorphin: Receptor binding properties of the tritiated ligand

Abstract Tritiated porcine α-neo-endorphin has been prepared from its corresponding iodinated analog. The iodinated analog (diiodotyrosine at position 1) was synthesized, along with its non-iodinated counterpart, by the solid-phase method. Catalytic exchange of this iodinated analog in the presence of tritium yielded tritiated porcine α-neo-endorphin having a specific activity of 45.5 Ci/mmole. Both the native, iodinated and tritiated α-neo-endorphin analogs were shown to be homogenous by chromatography on carboxymethylcellulose, paper chromatography, paper electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography and amino acid analysis. For the first time binding of α-neo-endorphin to rat membrane preparations is described using [ 3 H 2 Tyr 1 ]α-neo-endorphin as the ligand. The binding is time-dependent and saturable with respect to α-neo-endorphin. Scatchard analysis was bi-phasic with K D s of 0.20 and 3.75 nM. Displacement binding studies indicate that the receptor for α-neo-endorphin has “kappa” and possibly “epsilon” binding characteristics.
Professional Services Marketing: Does Understanding Your Customers Really Improve Sales?

ABSTRACT Dentists from Jacksonville, Florida, participated in a mail questionnaire, the purpose of which was to examine the effect of understanding customer expectations on sales/revenues for professional service providers. The findings support the idea that a better understanding of customer expectations does appear to have a relationship with sales revenues. In addition to this primary question, correlates of sales revenues, correlates of marketing activity among dentists, and a qualitative analysis of dental marketing issues were conducted.
Investigations of ion radiation effects at metal/liquid interfaces

Unique interactions of radiation effects and interfacial chemistry processes are possible when an energetic ion beam passes through the interface between a solid metal surface and a liquid. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new ion beam method to investigate some of these effects. A liquid mercury target and a water target contained in a block with a steel foil window on one end have been irradiated through the foil with 2 MeV protons. The initial results for mercury show no interaction detectable above background; the initial results for water indicate radiation enhanced corrosion on the foil surface.
Comparison of two identical continuous flow nucleus counters

Abstract A review of the literature on the comparison of identical nucleus counters showed that only Pollak counters exhibit a high degree of agreement. In view of the difficulties encountered by early investigators in obtaining good agreement, we subjected two Sinclair continuous flow nucleus counters to similar tests using room aerosol. Our results indicate that under normal operating conditions the continuous flow counters can agree to within 10% of concentration measurements. We also inferred from our measurements that these counters have good reproducibility.
Effect of weathering on the water sorption of GRP sheet material

Water sorption-desorption isotherms of glass-reinforced polyester (GRP) surface material, unweathered and weathered for periods of up to 6 1/2 years, have been determined over the entire relative vapour pressure range. The equilibrium sorbed water content of the weathered surface material is higher than that of the sheet exposed outdoors for the same length of time, by a factor of up to two. Also, the equilibrium sorbed water content of the degraded surface material increases with weathering time much faster than that of the GRP sheet.
The Distinction between Intrinsic and Extrinsic Properties

I propose an analysis of the metaphysically important distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic properties, and, in the process, provide a neglected model for the analysis of recalcitrant distinctions generally. First, I recap some difficulties with Kim's well-known (1982) proposal and its recent descendants. Then I define two independence relations among properties and state a 'quasi-logical' analysis of the distinction in terms of them. Unusually, my proposal is holistic, but I argue that it is in a certain kind of equilibrium and so probably pins down the target distinction uniquely. Finally, I suggest diagnoses of the previous failed attempts to analyse the distinction.
The Ethnomusicology Archive, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

When I became editor of this column, the previous editor, on hearing of my institutional affiliation, said, “That is a collection I have long admired and had hoped to write about in the column.” He...
Thermpregulatory mechanisms and ethanol hypothermia

The mechanisms underlying the hypothermic effect of ethanol have been investigated in rats. At an ambient temperature of 26 degrees C, at which tail skin blood flow will normally be expected to play a role in regulating core temperature, no change in tail cutaneous temperature occurred during the period in which the core temperature was falling after administration of ethanol. As the drug effect waned tail skin temperature fell below the initial temperature as the hypothermia was corrected. This last observation confirms earlier results indicating a shift in the thermoregulatory set point after administration of ethanol. There was no significant change in oxygen consumption related to the ethanol induced fall in core temperature so decreased heat production would not appear to be a factor in the thermal imbalance. Neither was there any change in respiratory rate or minute volume to account for an increase in convective or evaporative heat loss via the lungs. From these results it is not clear by what mechanism the ethanol induced lowering of the set point leads to a fall in core temperature. Other avenues of heat loss, for example from other cutaneous surfaces, and further detailed thermal balance studies will be needed to resolve this problem.
Zeolites Containing Mixed Cations for Air Separation by Weak Chemisorption-Assisted Adsorption

NaX zeolite was ion-exchanged to obtain LiX and AgX zeolites. The LiX form was further exchanged to replace 20% of the Li+ cations by Ag+, to obtain a LiAgX zeolite. Equilibrium adsorption isotherm...
Toxicity of Excipients—A Food and Drug Administration Perspective:

Excipients are essential components of drug products. They are also potential toxicants. Examples of known excipient-induced toxicities include renal failure and death from diethylene glycol, osmotic diarrhea caused by ingested mannitol, hypersensitivity reactions from lanolin, and cardiotoxicity induced by propylene glycol. Proposals to test or market new drug products in the United States should adequately address the safety of the proposed exposure to the excipients in those products. The specific safety data that may be needed will vary depending upon the clinical situation, including such factors as the duration, level, and route of exposure, but may include acute, repeat-dose, reproductive, and genetic toxicity data, carcinogenicity data, and specialized toxicology information, such as sensitization or local irritation data. Many guidances exist to aid in the development of pharmaceuticals, including the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) documents and various Food and Drug Administration/Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (FDA/CDER) pharmacology and toxicology guidances. The FDA/CDER has recently adopted a new guidance for industry, "Nonclinical Studies for Development of Pharmaceutical Excipients," which focuses on issues associated with development of safety databases that will support clinical use of excipients in drug products. The new guidance document is introduced and discussed in this article.
On a generalized potential vorticity equation for quasi-geostrophic flow

It is shown that the general nonlinear potential vorticity equation for viscous and conductive fluid in a rotating system can be expressed in terms of the geostrophic stream function for the horizontal velocity alone, provided that the motions are hydrostatic and quasi-geostrophic and the Richardson number is much larger than unity. The form of this equation is identical with that obtained from an asymptotic expansion for a small Rossby number.
Management of Complications Relating to Complex Traumatic Hand Injuries

Complex hand injuries result in local trauma to osseous, neurovascular, and soft tissue structures. The large amount of energy imparted to these tissues may result in complex regional pain syndrome, stiffness, or infection. Unfortunately, a good outcome may not only depend on the technical aspects of the procedure but on the expectations, occupation, age, and other factors that are out of the surgeon's control. The best treatment for these complications is prevention; however, this review offers strategies to combat the complications once they arise.
Effective area and nonlinear coefficient measurements of single-mode fibers : Recent interlaboratory comparisons

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has recently administered two interlaboratory comparisons, coordinated within the Fiber Optics Committees ofthe Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), of measurements on single-mode optical fibers. The first dealt with Effective Area (Aeff) but also included Mode-Field Diameter (MFD) measurements; the second concerned Nonlinear Coefficient (n2/Aeff). The Aeff comparison included five participants. Standard deviations, per fiber, for all participants' measurements, ranged from 0.4 % to 0.7 % for MFD and from 1.3 % to 3.9 % for Ae. The fl2/Aeff comparison included data from six participants. Differences in measurement test sets required different participants to use wide ranges of specimen lengths and input powers. Standard deviations, per fiber, for all participants' measurements of n2/A ranged from 9.6 % to 18.7 %.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Neural mechanisms of rhythmic masking release in monkey primary auditory cortex: implications for models of auditory scene analysis

The ability to detect and track relevant acoustic signals embedded in a background of other sounds is crucial for hearing in complex acoustic environments. This ability is exemplified by a perceptu...
Impact of reducing duodenobiliary reflux on biliary stent patency: an in vitro evaluation and a prospective randomized clinical trial that used a biliary stent with an antireflux valve

Background The mechanisms leading to occlusion of plastic biliary stents (PBS) are not known. Objective To evaluate the impact of reducing duodenobiliary reflux on stent patency rate. Design A newly designed antireflux PBS (AR-PBS) was tested in vitro by using ox bile. A prospective randomized trial in human beings was conducted. Setting Tertiary medical center. Patients Patients with malignant bile-duct strictures were studied. Interventions A PBS or an AR-PBS stent was placed by using standard techniques, and the patients were followed at regular intervals. Patients presenting with stent occlusion underwent re-stent placement with either a PBS or a metal stent. Main Outcome Measurements In vitro: resistance to retrograde flow and comparison of the basal and peak antegrade flow pressures between the 2 stents. In vivo: stent patency rates, complications, and the efficacy of the stents in improving the liver test. Results The AR-PBS stent could withstand a retrograde pressure gradient of >320 mm Hg compared with P P = .002). Both stents were equally effective in improving the liver test, and complication rates were similar in the 2 groups. Limitations The occluded stents were not examined microscopically. Conclusions The antireflux biliary stent remains patent for a longer time and hence duodenobiliary reflux may be contributing to stent occlusion.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Developmental Disorders of the Cerebral Cortex

Developmental disorders of the neocortex are commonly associated with epilepsy. The development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has advanced our understanding of these disorders by permitting accurate recognition and clinical correlation during life. These disorders have multiple etiologies and are dependent on the time of injury to the developing nervous system. MRI has permitted the classification of these malformations in three major groups: generalized disorders, unilateral hemispheric, and focal disorders. Generalized disorders include lissencephaly, pachygyria, band heterotopia, and subependymal heterotopias. Hemimegalencephaly comprised the unilateral disorder. Focal lesions include focal cortical dysplasia, polymicrogyria, schizencephaly, and focal subcortical heterotopias. The information provided by MRI, in conjunction with the clinicoelectrographic features, is extremely important in the recognition of these syndromes and for the appropriate medical and surgical management of those patients with epilepsy.
Post-injury multiple organ failure: the role of the gut.

Despite intensive investigation, the pathogenesis of post-injury multiple organ failure (MOF) remains elusive. Laboratory and clinical research strongly suggests that the gastrointestinal tract (i.e., the gut) plays a pivotal pathogenic role. Since its inception in 1988, the Trauma Research Center (TRC) at the University of Texas-Houston Medical School (UTHMS) has focused its efforts on elucidating the role of the gut in post-injury MOF. On the basis of our observations and those of others, we believe that 1) shock with resulting gut hypoperfusion is an important inciting event, 2) the reperfused gut is a source of proinflammatory mediators that can amplify the early systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and thus contribute to early MOF, 3) early gut hypoperfusion causes an ileus in both the stomach and small bowel that sets the stage for progressive gut dysfunction so that the proximal gut becomes a reservoir for pathogens and toxins that contribute to late sepsis-associated MOF, and 4) late infections cause further worsening of this gut dysfunction. Thus, the gut can be both an instigator and a victim of MOF. The purpose of this article is to provide the rationale behind these beliefs and to provide a brief overview of the ongoing research projects in the TRC at UTHMS.
Fluorescent-protein-based probes: general principles and practices

An important application of fluorescent proteins is to derive genetically encoded fluorescent probes that can actively respond to cellular dynamics such as pH change, redox signaling, calcium oscillation, enzyme activities, and membrane potential. Despite the large diverse group of fluorescent-protein-based probes, a few basic principles have been established and are shared by most of these probes. In this article, the focus is on these general principles and strategies that guide the development of fluorescent-protein-based probes. A few examples are provided in each category to illustrate the corresponding principles. Since these principles are quite straightforward, others may adapt them to create fluorescent probes for their own interest. Hopefully, the development of the ever-growing family of fluorescent-protein-based probes will no longer be limited to a small number of laboratories specialized in senor development, leading to the situation that biological studies will be bettered assisted by genetically encoded sensors.
Giant intracranial calcification associated with new onset focal seizure.

We present a case of a 10-year-old boy with a 2-week history of focal seizures involving the right side of his face. His medical history was remarkable for pulmonary tuberculosis at 5 years of age without central nervous system involvement. A CT of the head showed a large 2 cm subcortical calcification in the left frontal lobe with surrounding oedema (figure 1A–C). MRI revealed characteristics of a heavily calcified mass with associated oedema and cortical thinning (figure 1D–F). Lumbar puncture was normal. EEG demonstrated left frontocentral epileptiform discharges. Owing to the size of the mass and the associated …