cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heterologous Catalysis of the Final Steps of Tetracycline Biosynthesis by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Developing treatments for antibiotic resistant bacterial infections is among the highest priority public health challenges worldwide. Tetracyclines, one of the most important classes of antibiotics, have fallen prey to antibiotic resistance, necessitating the generation of new analogs. Many tetracycline analogs have been accessed through both total synthesis and semisynthesis, but key C-ring tetracycline analogs remain inaccessible. New methods are needed to unlock access to these analogs, and heterologous biosynthesis in a tractable host such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a candidate method. C-ring analog biosynthesis can mimic nature's biosynthesis of tetracyclines from anhydrotetracyclines, but challenges exist, including the absence of the unique cofactor F420 in common heterologous hosts. Toward this goal, this paper describes the biosynthesis of tetracycline from anhydrotetracycline in S. cerevisiae heterologously expressing three enzymes from three bacterial hosts: the anhydrotetracycline hydroxylase OxyS, the dehydrotetracycline reductase CtcM, and the F420 reductase FNO. This biosynthesis of tetracycline is enabled by OxyS performing just one hydroxylation step in S. cerevisiae despite its previous characterization as a double hydroxylase. This single hydroxylation enabled us to purify and structurally characterize a hypothetical intermediate in oxytetracycline biosynthesis that can explain structural differences between oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline. We show that Fo, a synthetically accessible derivative of cofactor F420, can replace F420 in tetracycline biosynthesis. Critically, the use of S. cerevisiae for the final steps of tetracycline biosynthesis described herein sets the stage to achieve a total biosynthesis of tetracycline as well as novel tetracycline analogs in S. cerevisiae with the potential to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Telemedicine Use and Satisfaction Amongst Radiation Oncologists During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluation of Current Trends and Future Opportunities.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S): During the COVID-19 pandemic telemedicine became an attractive alternative to in person appointments. The role of telemedicine in patients who undergo frequent on-site treatment, such as radiation therapy, is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine telemedicine use, physician satisfaction and barriers to continued use in radiation oncology. MATERIALS/METHODS: An anonymous, electronic survey was distributed to radiation oncologists internationally. Participants described demographic and practice characteristics and a 5-point Likert scale assessed provider satisfaction, ease of use and overall utility of telemedicine. Analyses include descriptive statistics and subgroup comparisons using Chi-square and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: 232/5343 (4.3%) completed the survey, 63.8% of whom were male, 52.6% age 50 or younger and 78.0% from the United States (U.S.). Only 14.2% used Telemedicine previously, which increased to 93.1% during COVID-19. Amongst all telemedicine users, usage rates were 77.9% for initial consultations, 97.2% for follow-up visits, and 35.9% for on-treatment visits. 69.8% report that < 25% of patients requiring treatment experienced delays due to COVID-19. Most conducted appointments from the workplace, with 40.1% also doing so from home. Satisfaction was high at 73.8%, perceived usefulness was 76.9% and 81.5% hope to continue using telemedicine after the pandemic. However, 82.4% had concerns with the inability to examine patients. Although 82.1 % believed that telemedicine would improve patient access to health care services overall, 63.0% were concerned with patient ability to access required technology. 49.5% had concerns regarding continued billing/reimbursement; less commonly at government centers (18.8%) compared to academic/satellite facilities (52.7%) and free-standing centers/community hospitals (50.7%), Pâ¯=â¯0.039 for both comparisons. These concerns were also significantly higher amongst US physicians (53.2% vs 34.9%, Pâ¯=â¯0.048). CONCLUSION: Widespread adoption of telemedicine by radiation oncologists occurred during COVID-19 with high rates of satisfaction and interest in continued use. Sustained reimbursement for telemedicine services is a significant concern, particularly in the US and outside of government facilities.
Message Design, the Learning Sciences, and Social Learning Theory

Designing conversations is only possible in an indirect sense; even though conversational forms of instruction are desirable, designers can’t actually design them.
Characteristics of nuclear proteins during granulocyte development.

Alterations in nuclear proteins during maturation may be responsible for gene activation and repression. Study of these proteins requires: (1) a system for separating cells into varying degrees of maturity, and (2) a procedure for separating the nuclear proteins. The former was accomplished using Ficoll/Hypaque density gradients to separate rabbit granulocyte precursors. Erythrocytes and their precursors were removed by hypotonic lysis. Histones were extracted from purified nuclei with sulfuric acid, and analyzed on polyacrylamide gels containing urea. Residual non-histone proteins were separated by electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels.
Prohibition or Liberalization of Alcohol and Drugs

The “war against drugs,” and calls for increasing restrictions on the availability of alcoholic beverages, reflect a resurgence in the popularity of mandated formal controls and suspicion of informal controls. A small, but increasing countercurrent recommends various forms of liberalization of access to alcohol and drugs. Both viewpoints are being promulgated for their efficacy in reducing and/or preventing a broad range of problems “associated with” (and often assumed to be caused by) psychoactive substances.
Initiation of recA+-dependent recombination in Escherichia coli (λ): II. Specificity in the induction of recombination and strand cutting in undamaged covalent circular bacteriophage 186 and lambda DNA molecules in phage-infected cells☆

Abstract Covalent circular λ DNA molecules produced in Escherichia coli (λ) host cells by infection with labeled λ bacteriophages are cut following superinfection with λ phages damaged by exposure to psoralen and 360 nm light. This cutting of undamaged covalent circular molecules is referred to as “cutting in trans”, and could be a step in damage-induced recombination (Ross & Howard-Flanders, 1977). Similar experiments performed with the temperate phage 186, which is not homologous with phage λ, showed cutting in trans and damage-induced recombination to occur in homoimmune crosses with phage 186 also. Double lysogens carrying both λ and 186 prophages were used in a test for specificity in cutting in trans and in damage-induced recombination. The double lysogens were infected with 3H-labeled 186 and 32P-labeled λ phages. When these doubly infected lysogens containing covalent circular phage DNA molecules of both types were superinfected with psoralen-damaged 186 phages and incubated, the covalent circular 186 DNA was cut, while λ DNA remained intact. Similarly, superinfection with damaged λ phages caused λ, but not 186, DNA to be cut. Evidently, cutting in trans was specific to the covalent circular DNA homologous to the DNA of the damaged phages. Homoimmune phage-prophage genetic crosses were performed in the double lysogenic host infected with genetically marked λ and 186 phages. Damage-induced recombination was observed in this system only between the damaged phage DNA and the homologous prophage, none being detected between other homolog pairs present in the same cell. This result makes it unlikely that the damaged phage DNA induces a general state of enhanced strand cutting and genetic recombination affecting all homolog pairs present in the host cell. The simplest interpretation of the specificity in cutting and in recombination is as follows. When they have been incised, the damaged phage DNA molecules are able to pair directly with their undamaged covalent circular homologs. The latter molecules are cut in a recA + -dependent reaction by a recombination endonuclease that cuts the intact member of the paired homologs.
A Review of: “Making Population Geography”

Adrian Bailey has made an important contribution by summarizing and encapsulating the complicated beginnings, evolution, and the potential futures of the dynamic field of population geography in on...
E-mission: Automated transportation emission calculation using smartphones

Tracking travel patterns and modes is useful on many levels. Prior efforts to collect this information have been stymied by low accuracies or reliance on supplementary devices. One technique to overcome low accuracies is to use prompted recall, in which the user is prompted to supply the ground truth for automatically generated information. However, prompted recall increases the burden on the user, which could lead to low adoption or high drop out rates. Using techniques from behavioral economics, and prompting directly on the smartphone can reduce user burden, and also increase engagement for ongoing data collection. In this paper, we describe a system that improves accuracy by using behavioral techniques for prompted recall on the smartphone, and aggregates the information to help detect large scale patterns. We also present the evaluation of a prototype implementation that was used to collect data from 44 unpaid volunteers in the San Francisco Bay Area over 3 months and compute their transportation carbon footprint.
Globally Convergent Algorithms for Unconstrained Optimization

A new globalization strategy for solving an unconstrained minimization problem is proposed based on the idea of combining Newton's direction and the steepest descent direction WITHIN each iteration. Global convergence is guaranteed with an arbitrary initial point. The search direction in each iteration is chosen to be as close to the Newton's direction as possible and could be the Newton's direction itself. Asymptotically the Newton step will be taken in each iteration and thus the local convergence is quadratic. Numerical experiments are also reported. Possible combination of a Quasi-Newton direction with the steepest descent direction is also considered in our numerical experiments. The differences between the proposed strategy and a few other strategies are also discussed.
Transverse localization of the quinacrine binding site on the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor.

We demonstrated previously that a phencyclidine-displaceable quinacrine binding site exists at the lipid-protein interface of the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor (AcChR) (Valenzuela, C. F., Kerr, J. A., and Johnson, D. A. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 8238-8244). In this manuscript, we assess (1) the transverse position of this site in the lipid bilayer by examining the ability of a series of paramagnetic n-doxyl stearates (n-SALs) and iodide to quench receptor-bound quinacrine and membrane-partitioned octadecyl rhodamine B (C18-Rho) fluorescence and (2) the stoichiometry of histrionicotoxin- or phencyclidine-displaceable quinacrine binding. Initial experiments established what fraction of the n-doxyl stearates partitioned into the membranes and that the n-doxyl stearates do not interfere with quinacrine binding to the receptor at the concentrations used in the quenching studies. The n-doxyl stearate quenching experiments indicated relatively small ( or = 5-SAL > 12-SAL > 16-SAL. This contrasts with the n-doxyl stearate quenching of the membrane-partitioned C18-Rho which showed as much as an 8.6-fold difference between the various isomers with a rank order of quenching efficiencies of 5-SAL > 7-SAL > 12-SAL > or = 16-SAL. Iodide quenching measurements indicated significant solute accessibility to membrane-partitioned C18-Rho but not to receptor-bound quinacrine. The ratios of the bimolecular quenching rate constants for free to bound quinacrine and for free rhodamine B to membrane-partitioned C18-Rho were 53.4 and 6.6, respectively. Direct titration of quinacrine into suspensions of a high concentration of AcChR-associated membranes yielded an upper limit to the binding stoichiometry of 1.4 HTX- or PCP-displaceable quinacrine binding sites/AcChR functional units. The results suggest that there is a single phencyclidine- or histrionicotoxin-displaceable quinacrine binding site located at or somewhat below the level of the C5-C7 in the phospholipid acyl chains at the lipid-protein interface.
A New RNA Dimension to Genome Control

The discovery of small RNAs, microRNA and siRNA, has revolutionized thinking about the control of gene expression. Now a third new species of small RNA is shown to control gene expression in germline cells.
ASICs, processors, and configurable computing

Summary form only given. It is often suggested that configurable computing represents a new computational middle ground that fills the existing void between conventional microprocessors and ASICs. This point of view is based upon the observation that FPGAs share some similarities with both processors and ASICs. FPGAs are seen as similar to processors because they are customized in the field by the end user by downloading configuration data into the device. They can also be seen as similar to ASICs because they can implement high performance, application specific circuits. It is hoped that if configurable computing can be shown to be similar to conventional processors, it will be possible to borrow microprocessor architecture and compilation techniques for use in the configurable computing community.
Aneuploidy Underlies Rapid Adaptive Evolution of Yeast Cells Deprived of a Conserved Cytokinesis Motor

The ability to evolve is a fundamental feature of biological systems, but the mechanisms underlying this capacity and the evolutionary dynamics of conserved core processes remain elusive. We show that yeast cells deleted of MYO1, encoding the only myosin II normally required for cytokinesis, rapidly evolved divergent pathways to restore growth and cytokinesis. The evolved cytokinesis phenotypes correlated with specific changes in the transcriptome. Polyploidy and aneuploidy were common genetic alterations in the best evolved strains, and aneuploidy could account for gene expression changes due directly to altered chromosome stoichiometry as well as to downstream effects. The phenotypic effect of aneuploidy could be recapitulated with increased copy numbers of specific regulatory genes in myo1Delta cells. These results demonstrate the evolvability of even a well-conserved process and suggest that changes in chromosome stoichiometry provide a source of heritable variation driving the emergence of adaptive phenotypes when the cell division machinery is strongly perturbed.
Managing information resources and environmental turbulence

Using a sample of large industrial firms from two industries with differing external turbulence ‐ commercial banking and pharmaceutical ‐ hypothesizes that the need for a senior manager of information technology is essential in high‐turbulence industries (commercial banking). This hypothesis was tested by evaluating the performance (as measured by return on investment (ROI) of 50 commercial banking firms and 39 pharmaceutical firms, and the presence of a top level information manager. In the commercial banking industry, statistical analysis did not support the hypothesis of significant differences in performance between those companies with a top‐level information manager and those without. States that, in the pharmaceutical industry, the statistical test supported the hypothesis of significant differences in performance between companies with top‐level information managers and those without.
A Model for the Flexibility of the Distal Histidine in Dehaloperoxidase-Hemoglobin A Based on X-ray Crystal Structures of the Carbon Monoxide Adduct

Dehaloperoxidase hemoglobin A (DHP A) is a multifunctional hemoglobin that appears to have evolved oxidative pathways for the degradation of xenobiotics as a protective function that complements the oxygen transport function. DHP A possesses at least two internal binding sites, one for substrates and one for inhibitors, which include various halogenated phenols and indoles. Herein, we report the X-ray crystallographic structure of the carbonmonoxy complex (DHPCO). Unlike other DHP structures with 6-coordinated heme, the conformation of the distal histidine (H55) in DHPCO is primarily external or solvent exposed, despite the fact that the heme Fe is 6-coordinated. As observed generally in globins, DHP exhibits two distal histidine conformations (one internal and one external). In previous structural studies, we have shown that the distribution of H55 conformations is weighted strongly toward the external position when the DHP heme Fe is 5-coordinated. The large population of the external conformation of th...
A staged treatment plan for the management of Type II and Type IIIA open calcaneus fractures.

Objective: To assess the results of a standardized staged treatment strategy for displaced open calcaneal fractures with medial wounds. Design: Retrospective case series. Setting: Level I trauma center. Patients/Participants: Fourteen displaced open Type II or Type IIIA Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) 73 Type B or C calcaneal fractures treated between January 2000 and December 2007 who were managed with a standardized regimen. Intervention: Patients were treated in a staged fashion with antibiotics, irrigation, debridement, and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation followed by definitive open reduction and internal fixation when soft tissues were amenable to fixation. Main Outcome Measures: Data regarding demographics, injury characteristics, time to fixation, interventions, and treatment complications were documented. The complication rate, time to bony union, and additional procedures were determined. Results: There were four OTA 73B and 10 OTA 73C injuries with open Type II or Type IIIA wounds on the medial side. All patients had debridement, irrigation, and percutaneous fixation within 8 hours of presentation. Definitive fixation was carried out on average 18 days after initial presentation with 10 patients only requiring the initial debridement and stabilization procedure followed by definitive fixation All 14 patients underwent definitive fixation through an extensile lateral approach. A superficial infection developed in one patient and a deep infection in one patient. All patients went on to union at an average follow up of 19 months. Conclusion: Open Type II and IIA wounds associated with displaced OTA Type 73 B or C calcaneal fractures represent high-energy injuries with potential increased risk for wound complications. In our series, a staged treatment strategy consisting of urgent debridement, provisional internal stabilization, and late definitive reconstruction offers a protocol that may reduce infections associated with open calcaneal fractures.
Butane isomerization over platinum promoted sulfated zirconia catalysts

The isomerization of n-butane to i-butane has been studied at 11 bar in a microflow reactor over sulfated zirconia (SZ) and platinum containing sulfated zirconia (Pt-SZ) catalysts. In the presence of H2 a significantly higher temperature is required for isomerization over SZ than in its absence. The rate over SZ is higher with n-butane containing 33 ppm butene as an impurity than with a feed that is pre-equilibrated over a PtSiO2 catalyst to a much lower butene content. Over Pt-SZ the reaction rate is higher, because any butene consumed is rapidly regenerated; the conversion is perfectly stable in 83 h runs, selectivity to i-butane is 95%; i-pentane and propane are the main byproducts. The activation energy is 53 kJ mol−1. Upon increasing the pressure of H2 from 1.1 to 6.6 bar, the reaction rate was found to decrease in a perfectly reversible fashion. Kinetic analysis reveals that the reaction order is negative in H2 (−1.1 to −1.3 depending on the temperature) and positive in n-butane (+ 1.3 to +1.6), indicating that the mechanism of this isomerization is intermolecular: butene is formed and reacts with adsorbed C4-carbenium ions to adsorbed C8 intermediates which isomerize and undergo β-fission to fragments with i-C4 structure. This mechanism is confirmed over Pt-SZ by isotopic labelling experiments, though at much lower pressure, using double labelled 13CH3CH2CH213CH3. The primary reaction product consists of i-butane molecules, containing zero, one, two, three and four 13C atoms in a binomial distribution.
The effect of low larkspur (Delphinium spp.) co-administration on the acute toxicity of death camas (Zigadenus spp.) in sheep.

In most cases where livestock are poisoned by plants in a range setting, there is more than one potential poisonous plant in the same area. Two poisonous plants that are often found growing simultaneously in the same location are death camas (Zigadenus spp.) and low larkspur (Delphinium spp.). Sheep are known to be susceptible to death camas poisoning while they are thought to be resistant to larkspur. The objective of this study was to determine if co-administration of low larkspur would exacerbate the toxicity of death camas in sheep. A dose finding study was performed to find a dose of death camas that caused minimal clinical signs of poisoning. Sheep were observed for clinical signs of poisoning as well as changes in heart rate and muscle fatigue. Sheep dosed with 1.14 g of death camas per kg BW showed slight frothing and lethargy, whereas sheep dosed with death camas and low larkspur showed slightly more noticeable clinical signs of poisoning. Sheep dosed with only low larkspur, at 7.8 g/kg BW, showed no signs of poisoning. Although we observed a qualitative difference in clinical signs of intoxication in sheep co-treated with death camas and low larkspur we did not detect any quantitative differences in heart rate, exercise-induced muscle fatigue, or differences in serum zygacine kinetics. Consequently, the results from this study suggest that low larkspur does not affect the toxicity of death camas in sheep. The results from this study increase knowledge and understanding regarding the acute toxicity of death camas and low larkspur in sheep. As combined intoxications are most likely common, this information will be useful in further developing management recommendations for ranchers and in designing additional experiments to study the toxicity of death camas to other livestock species.
Effect of vancomycin on ristocetin and bovine PAF-induced agglutination of human platelets

Abstract Vancomycin, an antibiotic similar in bacterial properties and chemical structure to ristocetin, unlike ristocetin does not induce von Willebrand factor-dependent agglutination of human platelets. Conversely, it inhibits this reaction in a competitive manner suggesting that both antibiotics compete for the same binding site which is responsible for the induction of agglutination. Vancomycin does not inhibit bovine platelet aggregating factor-induced platelet agglutination of human platelets. Thus ristocetin induced and bovine platelet aggregating factor induced agglutination can be distinguished on the basis of vancomycin inhibition. The mode of this inhibition can be explained by either of two different mechanisms. 1) If the site of action of ristocetin is the platelet membrane, then two distinct binding sites exist, one for the von Willebrand factor and one for bovine platelet aggregating factor. Present evidence does not favor this hypothesis. 2) If the initial site of action for ristocetin is the von Willebrand factor, then vancomycin competes with ristocetin for a binding site on the von Willebrand factor. The initial interaction of the von Willebrand factor. The initial interaction of the von Willebrand factor with ristocetin can then be divided into at least two distinct phases, an initial binding phase in which both vancomycin and ristocetin can participate, and a transformation phase which occurs with only ristocetin. The transformation phase results in the modification of the von Willebrand factor such that it binds to a pre-existing site on the platelet membrane.
The Troll under the Bridge

Dealing with patent infringement lawsuits filed by non-practicing entities-derisively known as "patent trolls"-is part of the cost of doing business in the US business in the US.
Psychosocial therapies in bipolar disorder

The course of bipolar disorder is characterized by frequent recurrences, high levels of intermorbid symptoms, and poor psychosocial functioning even when patients take mood stabilizers. Psychosocial interventions have been developed as adjuncts to medication to prevent recurrences, enhance medication adherence, and enhance skills for coping with environmental stressors. This review of recent randomized clinical trials concludes that cognitive-behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy, interpersonal therapy, and group psychoeducation each have supportive evidence as adjuncts to pharmacotherapy in the outpatient maintenance of bipolar disorder.
Adequacy of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for distinguishing lesser forms of psychopathology.

The adequacy of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for distinguishing among lesser forms of psychopathology, as well as among the more serious forms, was investigated. 31 psychiatrists provided sym...
Early diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease

Abstract The diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease is often difficult to establish in the more subtle cases. A high index of suspicion is necessary with complete urologic evaluation of all cases of unexplained hypertension, uremia, or hematuria. Exploratory laparotomy may be necessary to unequivocally establish the diagnosis. The importance of making this diagnosis early is emphasized by the availability of renal transplantation for these patients and the improved prognosis for survival that transplantation offers.
Direct Manipulation and Interactive Sculpting of PDE Surfaces

This paper presents an integrated approach and a unified algorithm that combine the benefits of PDE surfaces and powerful physics-based modeling techniques within one single modeling framework, in order to realize the full potential of PDE surfaces. We have developed a novel system that allows direct manipulation and interactive sculpting of PDE surfaces at arbitrary location, hence supporting various interactive techniques beyond the conventional boundary control. Our prototype software affords users to interactively modify point, normal, curvature, and arbitrary region of PDE surfaces in a predictable way. We employ several simple, yet effective numerical techniques including the finite-difference discretization of the PDE surface, the multigrid-like subdivision on the PDE surface, the mass-spring approximation of the elastic PDE surface, etc. to achieve real-time performance. In addition, our dynamic PDE surfaces can also be approximated using standard bivariate B-spline finite elements, which can subsequently be sculpted and deformed directly in real-time subject to intrinsic PDE constraints. Our experiments demonstrate many attractive advantages of our dynamic PDE formulation such as intuitive control, real-time feedback, and usability to the general public.
Femtochemistry at high pressures. The dynamics of an elemantary reaction in the gas—liquid transition region

An extension of femtochemistry to the gas—liquid transition region is reported for an elemantary reaction, the dissociation and recombination of iodine in supercritical argon reaching a density of 30.5 mol l^(−1). Three phenomena are systematically studied in the range 0 to 2000 bar of argon: the change of the coherent nuclear motion with solvent density, the rate of predissociation, and the caging by the solvent. The approach offers a unique way for examining the dynamics in real time from the gas to the liquid density limit.
The effect of phenytoin on the action potential of a vertebrate spinal neuron

The effect of phenytoin (PTN) 20 microgram/ml was tested on the passive membrane properties and the action potential of the dorsal cells in the spinal cord of the river lamprey. Dorsal cells are primary sensory neurons with no synaptic input, and thus allow examination of membrane properties in the absence of contaminating synaptic currents. PTN did not affect the resting membrane potential and slightly raised the input resistance. However, it greatly raised the threshold voltage and current for activation of action potentials by intracellularly injected current. It also reduced the maximum rate of rise of the action potential, the spike overshoot and the spike undershoot, while increasing the spike duration. In contrast to findings in other vertebrate sensory neurons, dorsal cell action potentials were blocked in zero sodium or tetrodotoxin, and not affected by zero calcium or 1 mM manganese. Thus they PTN on dorsal cells is that it partially blocks the activated sodium conductance increase of the action potential. Because a long delay was observed for maximal effect of PTN and for washout, it is postulated that the drug may require partitioning into the lipid membrane, or entry into the cell for its pharmacological action.
Concentration-effect relationships for intravenous alfentanil and ketamine infusions in human volunteers: effects on acute thresholds and capsaicin-evoked hyperpathia.

The authors have extended preclinical studies on pain to human volunteers by examining the effects of intravenous alfentanil and ketamine on acute sensory thresholds and facilitated processing induced by intradermal capsaicin. Eleven healthy subjects received targeted plasma concentrations of alfentanil, ketamine, and placebo followed by neurosensory testing (thermal and von Frey hair thresholds). After completing the tests at the highest plasma level, intradermal capsaicin was injected into the volar aspect of the left forearm, and the flare response and hyperalgesia to von Frey hair, stroking, and heat were assessed. Alfentanil significantly elevated cool and warm thresholds and decreased capsaicin-induced stroking hyperalgesia. Ketamine significantly decreased capsaicin-induced von Frey hair hyperalgesia. Both drugs resulted in a significant elevation of von Frey hair-induced pain thresholds and a decrease in capsaicin-induced pain. These studies suggest that experimental human pain models may be used to study analgesic pharmacology and may serve as important methods for defining the analgesic efficacy of drugs in phase I clinical trials.
Place-based urban ecology: A century of park planning in Seattle

This research responds to calls from within the field of urban ecology to explicitly incorporate humanities-based research in order to achieve robust interdisciplinarity. Our research provides an example of a place-based urban ecological analysis. We use this framework to analyze over a century of park planning and development within the city of Seattle. We identify four eras of park planning that are linked by a comprehensive 100-year park plan. This case study examines how the political, cultural, and economic aspects of park planning have produced and been influenced by long-term trends and historical contingencies. This research also offers practical insights for effective contemporary urban planning, emphasizing the need for flexible and adaptive long-term plans when confronted with unpredictable events, emerging political arrangements, changing cultural priorities, and shifting fiscal climates.
A quantitative micro method for the estimation of amine oxides.

Abstract A method of estimating small amounts of the N-oxides of N,N-dimethylalkylamines and saturated N-methylheterocyclicamines is described. These amine oxides are known to react with SO2 in cold aqueous solution to produce an SO2 addition product that is immediately hydrolyzed to yield an aldehyde and a secondary amine. The aldehyde concentration, which can be estimated by a standard colorimetric method, is a function of the original amine oxide concentration. Amine oxides produced during enzymic N-oxidation of the tertiary amines can be quantitatively estimated by this method. The conditions required to extract quantitatively the amine oxide from the enzymic reaction mixture are described.
Volatile food attractants for Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) from oats

The sawtoothed grain beetle,Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Cucujidae), is attracted to certain volatile components that occur in whole and rolled oats as determined by a laboratory pitfall chamber bioassay. More than 100 components were detected in the attractive carbonyl-containing fractions; 14 of these, making up 60% of the total, were identified and bioassayed. Although hexanal, heptanal, octanal, (E)-2-heptenal, and 2-furaldehyde, at doses ranging variously from 1 to 100 μg, were all significantly attractive, only 1 /10 to 1 /100 as much (E)-2-nonenal or (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal was necessary to produce comparable insect response. In addition, propanal and formaldehyde (previously reported in oats but not detected by us) were bioassayed and found to be attractive.
The minimum discriminant of sixth degree totally complex algebraic number fields

Inspired by previous results of Kaur, Hunter, and Mayer we developed a new method of determining the minimum value of the discriminant in absolute value of totally complex sixth degree algebraic number fields. It is 9747 and is attained only by the algebraic number field Q(θ), where θ = (2ω2 + 5ω)13 − 1)(ω − 1)) is a root of the monic irreducible polynomial x6 − 3x5 + 4x4 − 4x3 + 4x2 − 2x + 1 with discriminant −9747 and ω is a primitive third root of unity.
Puzzle solver accelerators make excellent capstone design projects

We present a computer engineering capstone design project course focused on accelerating intensive computations via integration of application-specific co-processors with digital processor systems. We propose utilization of puzzle solvers as attractive, scalable and simple-to-understand applications to engage students with practicing a number of fundamental concepts in algorithm design, HW-SW co-design, computer architecture, and beyond. While advocating a contest setup for the course, we discuss several well-specified milestones that enable balancing students' creativity and freedom in design choices with ensuring timely progress towards the end goal of the class. We report our observations with the only offering of the class so far, which resulted in successful project completion by all students, and their supportive feedback.
Afferent and efferent pathways of the vibrissal region of primary motor cortex in the mouse.

The afferent and efferent connections of the vibrissal representation within the mouse primary motor cortex (MsI) were identified by using the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the anterograde transport of tritiated amino acids injected into MsI. Following aldehyde perfusion brains were frozen-sectioned at 40 microns and reacted for HRP using the 3-3' diaminobenzidine-cobalt chloride technique of Adams ('77). Alternate HRP reacted sections were processed for autoradiography. HRP-filled pyramidal cell somata and concentrations of developed silver grains above background levels were observed in both the vibrissal area of primary somatosensory cortex (SmI) cortex (i.e., the posteromedial barrel subfield; PMBSF cortex) and in the face region of SmII (area 40). In both regions labeled somata occurred predominantly in cortical layers II-III and V. Autoradiographic label was superimposed over the regions containing labeled somata but exhibited a less distinct laminar organization. A dense reciprocal projection connected the injection site with the homotopic area in contralateral MsI; somata occurred for the most part in layers III and V. Developed silver grains were uniformly dispersed over the area containing labeled cell bodies. HRP-labeled pyramidal somata were noted in contralateral PMBSF cortex, but no silver grains occurred in this region. Reciprocal projections linked MsI cortex with the ipsilateral thalamic nuclei: ventralis pars lateralis (VL) and centralis pars lateralis (CL) and with the zona incerta (ZI). Labeled cell bodies and developed silver grains were more dense in VL than in CL. The ipsilateral striatum and thalamic reticular nucleus (NRT) received afferents from the motor cortex but did not project to it. Thus, the vibrissal area of primary motor cortex is connected with a number of cortical and subcortical structures, each of which has been shown to play a role in motor performance. Identification of the afferent and efferent pathways of MsI cortex will now enable further investigation of the ultrastructural and synaptic organization of the vibrissal area of MsI.
Heats of reaction of HMo(CO)3C5H5 with CCl4 and CBr4 and of NaMo(CO)3C5H5 with I2 and CH3. Solution thermochemical study of the MoX bond for X = H, Cl, Br, I and CH3

Abstract The heats of reaction of HMo(CO) 3 C 5 H 5 with CX 4 (X = Cl, Br) producing XMo(CO) 3 C 5 H 5 have been measured by solution calorimetry and are −31.8±0.9 and −34.4±2.0 kcal/mole, respectively. The heats of reaction of NaMo(CO) 3 C 5 H 5 with I 2 and CH 3 I producing IMo(CO) 3 C 5 H 5 and H 3 CMo(CO) 3 C 5 H 5 are −32.3± 1.3 and −7.7± 0.3 kcal/mole. Oxidation with Br 2 CCl 4 yielding Br 3 Mo(CO) 2 C 5 H 5 was measured for the following complexes: (C 5 H 5 (CO) 3 Mo) 2 , (−92.0±1.0 kcal/mole), BrMo(CO) 3 C 5 H 5 (−24.9± 2.0 kcal/mole) and HMo(CO) 3 C 5 H 5 (−60.7± 2.0 kcal/mole). These and other data are used to calculate the Mo–X bond strength for X = H, Cl, Br, I, and CH 3 . These bond strength estimates are compared to those reported for X 2 Mo(C 5 H 5 ) 2 . Iodination of H 3 CMo(CO) 3 C 5 H 5 , reported in the literature to yield CH 3 I and IMo(CO) 3 C 5 H 5 , actually produces CH 3 C(O)I and I 3 Mo(CO) 2 C 5 H 5 .
Catalytic conversion of biomass pyrolysis vapors into hydrocarbon fuel precursors

We report on a new pyrolytic pathway for biomass conversion to hydrocarbon fuel precursors. The process entails the conversion of multifunctional oxygenates generated from biomass pyrolysis over a metal oxide catalyst into ketonic-rich monofunctional molecules suitable for making hydrocarbon fuel components for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. A number of catalysts were explored, for example, anatase TiO2 nanorods, CeOx–TiO2 mixed oxides, pure CeO2, ZrO2, and MgO. Under pyrolysis conditions, ceria-based catalysts were effective in the conversion of hydroxy-carbonyls, anhydrosugars, and carboxylic acids into acetone, 2-butanone, pentanones, C6/C7 ketones, cyclopentanone, and 2-cyclopentenones. The highest carbon yield (23.5%) of ketonic precursors was achieved on the pure CeO2.
Accuracy of cardiac function and volume status estimates using the bedside echocardiographic assessment in trauma/critical care.

Background: Critically ill patients often require invasive monitoring to evaluate and optimize cardiac function and preload. With questionable outcomes associated with pulmonary artery catheters (PACs), some have evaluated the role of less invasive monitors. We hypothesized that the Bedside Echocardiographic Assessment in Trauma (BEAT) examination would generate cardiac index (CI) and central venous pressure (CVP) estimates that correlate with that of a PAC. Methods: BEAT was performed on all SICU patients with a PAC in place. Prospective data included stroke volume and the inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter. The CI was calculated and correlated with that from the PAC. Each CI was then categorized as low, normal, or high. The IVC diameter was used to estimate the CVP. The association between the BEAT and PAC estimates of CI and CVP was evaluated using x 2 . Results: Eighty-five BEAT examinations were performed, 57% on trauma and 37% on general surgery patients. Fifty-nine percent of the CI examinations and 97% of the IVC examinations contained quality images. Of these, the overall correlation coefficient was 0.70 (p < 0.0001). When CI was categorized, there was a significant association between the BEAT and PAC (p = 0.021). There was a significant association between the CVP estimate from the BEAT examination and the PAC (p = 0.031). Conclusion: Our data show a significant correlation between the CI and CVP estimates obtained from the BEAT examination and that from a PAC. BEAT provides a noninvasive method of evaluating cardiac function and volume status. Bedside echocardiography is teachable and should become a part of future critical care curricula.
Energy use and conservation alternatives for airplanes

Abstract Domestic commercial airplane fuel use is examined and several energy conservation strategies are assessed. A fuel use model using eight of the most popular airplanes is described. The fleet's fuel use is very stage length dependent—shorter flights are very energy intensive. There are more of these inefficient short flights than one might expect—half the flights are for hops less than 260 miles. Airplane fuel efficiency can be increased in the short term by operational changes. The fuel savings for increasing load factors, reducing cruise speeds, increasing cruise altitudes, and changing ground operations are assessed. Other implications of such strategies are discussed. Since airplanes are the most energy intensive mode, shifts to other modes will reduce transportation energy use. Short airplane trips do not save substantial time and are expensive as well as fuel inefficient. Therefore, shifting short-stage flights to ground modes may be desirable. The net transportation energy savings for shifting stages under 200 miles to other modes is evaluated.
Alkylation reactions in near-critical water in the absence of acid catalysts

We report successful alkylation reactions in near-critical water in the absence of added acid catalysts. Water has a strong tendency to ionize as the temperature is increased, allowing water in the near-critical region (250−350 °C) to act as an effective acid catalyst. By simultaneously employing near-critical water as the reaction solvent and catalyst, the need for environmentally hazardous organic solvents and acid catalysts is eliminated. The high hydronium ion content of near-critical water proved to be sufficient to synthesize a variety of substituted phenols with tertiary, secondary, and even primary alcohols. The reaction products for each of these reactions are reported.
Anti-DNA antibody: Avidity and valence measurements, studies using sera from immunized rabbits and from two systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Abstract We have developed methods to characterize the relationship of single strand DNA and anti-DNA antibodies in terms of the immunochemical parameters of avidity and antigenic valence. In this report we present methods for the purification of anti-DNA antibodies obtained from the sera of hyperimmunized rabbits and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Three methods of avidity measurement using purified anti-DNA antibodies are compared. These are: (1) sedimentation of mixtures of DNA and anti-DNA antibody on sucrose gradients; (2) binding of anti-DNA antibody to DNA which is linked to Sepharose 4B followed by filtration; and (3) precipitation of DNA-anti-DNA complexes by polyethylene glycol. The values of avidity obtained by these direct methods are compared with values obtained indirectly from Farr tests using ammonium sulphate to precipitate labelled DNA which is antibody bound. The concentrations of free and antibody bound DNA at various total DNA concentrations are determined to utilize this method. The value for valence, as determined from work with the purified antibody, permits calculation of avidity from the Farr test data. To determine if purification of antibody alters the results of avidity determinations in the Farr assay, specimens from various stages of antibody purification were tested. These specimens were also utilized in determinations of avidity index from antibody dilution results in the Farr assay. Our results showed that all techniques give values of avidity in the range of 1–9 × 10 8 L/M for the rabbit antibodies, and significantly lower avidity of approximately 10 7 L/M for the human SLE sera. Whole sera as well as all of the more purified antibody fractions give similar results. A DNA valence of two antibody binding sites per molecule of mol. wt. 55,000 is found by all techniques for the rabbit antibodies, while the valence for SLE patient No. 1 is approximately 3, and for SLE patient No. 2 approximately 10. From this data it appears that the methods used are applicable' for determinations of DNA-anti-DNA avidity and antigenic valence. Such determinations may be important in determining which types of anti-DNA antibodies are prone to form DNA-anti-DNA complexes in vitro or in vivo which have a capacity to lodge at various tissue sites and produce tissue injury in SLE patients.
Management of the Difficult Colon Polyp Referred for Resection: Resect or Rescope?

Patients are frequently referred for resection of difficult colon polyps. Before colectomy the experienced surgeon has the option of repeating the colonoscopy to assess the polyp, tattoo the site, and potentially remove the polyp. The purpose of this study was to review our results with this approach. All new patients referred during a five-year period to an 11-physician colon and rectal surgical group with the diagnosis of colon polyp (CPT 211.3) that was not previously removed were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with rectal polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, previous cancer, or familial adenomatous polyposis were excluded. Patient demographics, details of the polyps, success of polypectomy, reasons for surgical resection, pathology, and complications were analyzed. The study population consisted of 252 patients with a mean age of 65 years. Eighty patients underwent resection upon referral without a repeat colonoscopy. Upon resection, invasive cancers were found in 13 cases. A total of 172 patients underwent at least one repeat colonoscopy by the colorectal surgeon. Of this group, 101 patients had successful polypectomy, thus avoiding major colectomy. The remaining 71 patients had a subsequent colon resection after at least one repeat colonoscopy. In 26 cases the polyp site was tattooed for later localization. There were nine postpolypectomy hemorrhages treated nonoperatively and two perforations. Repeat colonoscopy by an experienced surgeon leads to complete removal and avoidance of major colectomy in 58 percent of these cases. Patients with large difficult polyps referred for resection should be considered for repeat colonoscopy before surgery.
Use of cardiac pacing after the Mustard operation for transposition of the great arteries

The most frequent complication of the venous redirection (Mustard or Senning) operation for transposition of the great arteries is cardiac arrhythmia. Drug treatment of tachyarrhythmia often worsens bradyarrhythmia. Pacemakers can now treat both arrhythmias. The technique for implantation of pacemakers after redirection for transposition has changed over time from thoracotomy to subxiphoid to transvenous. Atrial pacing is almost always the mode of choice since the electrophysiologic abnormality is sinus node dysfunction with intact atrioventricular conduction. Twenty-nine patients aged 3 to 19 years (mean 9.6) had implantation of a pacemaker a mean of 5.5 years (range 1 to 14) after undergoing the Mustard operation for transposition of the great arteries. Symptoms referable to bradycardia were eliminated in each case. Four patients who received an antitachycardia pacemaker no longer have symptomatic tachycardia. Four patients have required reoperation, three because of lead problems and one because of traumatic erosion of the pacemaker. Pacemakers provide excellent relief of symptoms after the Mustard or Senning operation. Transvenous atrial automatic antitachycardia pacemakers offer the best combination of ease of implantation and symptomatic relief.