cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Janus-faced role of water in defining nanostructure of choline chloride/glycerol deep eutectic solvent

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as a set of intrinsically "designer solvents" for many bio-applications such as DNA nanotechnology and biocatalysis. However, the high viscosity of DESs tends to prevent bioactive components from being incorporated into the solvent. Although dilution with water may effectively reduce the viscosity of DES, the effect of water on its cooperative hydrogen-bonding network has not been evaluated systematically. This study conducted a series of molecular dynamics simulations on the DES made of choline chloride and glycerol at different hydration levels. We discovered a Janus-faced role of water in defining the interactive network between choline chloride and glycerol. Chloride played a critical role in bridging choline and glycerol in the anhydrous mixture. But the addition of water results in the decrease in the number of choline-chloride-glycerol supramolecular complexes and the number of hydrogen bonds between choline and glycerol, demonstrating the de-structuring effect of water. Interestingly, we also found that water could link choline to glycerol in place of chloride. The structuring role of water in bridging choline and glycerol reached its maximum in the presence of 35.8 wt% water. The findings in this study will provide valuable guidance to determine the optimal water content that can sufficiently "liquidize" DESs and meanwhile maintain the majority of the eutectic stoichiometry in the DESs, paving the way for tapping the full potential of DESs as the intrinsically "designer solvents".
Loos symmetric cones

In this paper we consider Loos symmetric spaces on an open cone $$\Omega $$ in the Banach space setting and develop the foundations of a geometric theory based on the (modified) Loos axioms for such cones. In particular we establish exponential and log functions that exhibit many desirable features reminiscent of those of the exponential function from the space of self-adjoint elements to the cone of positive elements in a unital $$C^*$$ -algebra. We also show that the Thompson metric arises as the distance function for a natural Finsler structure on $$\Omega $$ and its minimal geodesics agree with the geodesics of the spray arising from the Loos structure. We close by showing that some familiar operator inequalities can be derived in this very general setting using the differential and metric geometry of the cone.
Central line associated blood stream infections in gastroschisis patients: A nationwide database analysis of risks, outcomes, and disparities.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the risk of central line associated blood-stream infections (CLABSI) in neonatal gastroschisis patients, risk factors, outcomes, and financial implications. Methods The 2016 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)’s kid's inpatient database (KID), a national database of pediatric inpatient admissions across the United States, was used to obtain a large sample of gastroschisis admissions. Incidence of CLABSI in the gastroschisis patient population was compared to the incidence of CLABSI in the database. To further study the factors influencing CLABSI in gastroschisis, demographic and clinical features of patients were analyzed. Categorical variables were analyzed using Fisher's exact test or Pearson's chi-squared test. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for variables found to have significance (p Findings Incidence of CLABSI in this database for pediatric inpatients was 4449 out of 298,862 central line insertions [1.48%] and was 81 out of 2032 [3.9%] (OR 2.83, 95% CI 2.26–3.54, p Conclusions In gastroschisis patients, CLABSI incidence is high and adds great morbidity and expense. For uncertain reasons, premature and low birth weight babies appear to be protected. Level of Evidence Level III.
An immediate approach to balancing nodes in binary search trees

We present an immediate approach in hoping to bridge the gap between the difficulties of learning ordinary Binary Search Trees (henceforth BST) and their height-balanced variants in the typical data structures class. For each node in the tree, instead of balancing the heights of the two children, we balance the number of their nodes. The concepts and programming techniques required are much easier than the AVL tree or any other height-balanced alternatives. We also show that the height of a node-balanced tree is bounded by c log n with c a 1. Because of its simplicity, our approach is pedagogically worthwhile to be introduced in the class to smooth student's learning process. Our experimental results also show that node-balanced BST may also be considered for practical uses under some reasonable conditions.
Determining the Role of Rab7 in Constitutive and Ligand-Mediated Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Endocytic Trafficking Using Single Cell Assays

RAB proteins are essential for the proper membrane trafficking of a number of proteins. Each of the 60+ RABs that have been identified has a discrete role in coordinating the movement from one subcellular compartment to another. Early attempts at deciphering the roles of individual RAB proteins relied heavily on the use of activating and/or dominant negative mutants (Ceresa, Histol Histopathol 21:987-993, 2006). However, overexpression of mutant proteins can lead to misleading information; high levels of expression can drive low affinity (and possibly, nonphysiological) interactions as well as cause mislocalization. The use of RNAi for transient protein knock down will reveal which membrane trafficking steps absolutely require the attenuated RAB. When determining the role of RAB protein in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) membrane trafficking, there are special considerations. The EGFR undergoes constitutive and ligand-mediated endocytic trafficking. Both affect receptor signaling, but via different mechanisms. Here, we discuss how to experimentally dissect those two processes.
Serial hemoglobin monitoring in adult patients with blunt solid organ injury: less is more.

Background Patients who sustain blunt solid organ injury to the liver, spleen, or kidney and are treated nonoperatively frequently undergo serial monitoring of their hemoglobin (Hb). We hypothesized that among initially hemodynamically stable patients with blunt splenic, hepatic, or renal injuries treated without an operation, scheduled monitoring of serum Hb values may be unnecessary as hemodynamic instability, not merely Hb drop, would prompt intervention. Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients admitted to our urban Level 1 trauma center following blunt trauma with any grade III, IV, or V liver, spleen, or kidney injury from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016. Patients who were hemodynamically unstable and went directly to the operating room or interventional radiology were excluded. Patients who required any urgent or unplanned operative or angiographic intervention were compared with patients who did not require an intervention. Routine demographic and outcome variables were obtained and bivariate and multivariate regression statistics were performed using Stata V.10. Results A total of 138 patients were included in the study. Age (39.3 vs 41.4, p=0.51), mean injury severity score (26.7 vs 22.1, p=0.12), and admission Hb (11.9 vs 12.8, p=0.06) did not differ significantly between the two groups. The number of Hb draws (9.2 vs 10, p=0.69) and the associated change in Hb (3.7 vs 3.5, p=0.71) did not differ significantly between the two groups. Only splenic grade predicted need for urgent intervention (3.5 vs 2, p Discussion Among patients with blunt solid organ injury, a need for emergent intervention in the form of laparotomy or angioembolization occurs within the first hours of injury. Routine scheduled Hb measurements did not change management in our cohort. Level of evidence Level III.
Work, life, and the gender effect: Perspectives of ACVIM Diplomates in 2017. Part 2-The intersection of personal life and professional career.

Background In the field of veterinary surgery, women neither marry nor have children at the same rate as men, and those who do may experience more career disruption as a result. The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) is 1 of the few areas of specialized medicine that is predominantly female; it is unknown if such a demographic shift would produce a different environment for individuals cultivating their personal life. Hypothesis/objectives To report data regarding subjective and objective aspects of the intersection of the personal and professional lives of Diplomates of the ACVIM. Sample Eight hundred ninety-six surveys (781 completed) of ACVIM Diplomates, including cardiology, large and small animal internal medicine, neurology, and oncology. Methods An 82-item online survey was distributed to ACVIM Diplomates via Diplomate college listservs. Participation was voluntary. Results Men were more likely to be married and have children than were women. Women had or adopted their first child at a later career stage compared with men, and agreed more strongly that career stage was an influential factor in family planning. Those with children worked fewer hours compared with those without, and this effect was greater among women. Women were more likely to require external childcare, but most men and women shared childcare responsibilities equally outside of working hours. Conclusions and clinical importance The intersection of personal and professional life differs between men and women in the ACVIM, which may create different needs, preferences, or barriers to work-life balance in the workforce.
Nucleus accumbens cytoarchitecture predicts weight gain in children

The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents worldwide has quadrupled since 1975 and is a key predictor of obesity later in life. Previous work has consistently observed relationships between macroscale measures of reward-related brain regions (e.g., the nucleus accumbens [NAcc]) and unhealthy eating behaviors and outcomes; however, the mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. Recent work has highlighted a potential role of neuroinflammation in the NAcc in animal models of diet-induced obesity. Here, we leverage a diffusion MRI technique, restriction spectrum imaging, to probe the microstructure (cellular density) of subcortical brain regions. More specifically, we test the hypothesis that the cell density of reward-related regions is associated with obesity-related metrics and early weight gain. In a large cohort of nine- and ten-year-olds enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, we demonstrate that cellular density in the NAcc is related to individual differences in waist circumference at baseline and is predictive of increases in waist circumference after 1 y. These findings suggest a neurobiological mechanism for pediatric obesity consistent with rodent work showing that high saturated fat diets increase gliosis and neuroinflammation in reward-related brain regions, which in turn lead to further unhealthy eating and obesity.
Local-Ising-type magnetic order and metamagnetism in the rare-earth pyrogermanate Er 2 Ge 2 O 7

The recent discoveries of proximate quantum spin-liquid compounds and their potential application in quantum computing informs the search for new candidate materials for quantum spin-ice and spin-liquid physics. While the majority of such work has centered on members of the pyrochlore family due to their inherently frustrated linked tetrahedral structure, the rare-earth pyrogermanates also show promise for possible frustrated magnetic behavior. With the familiar stoichiometry ${R}_{2}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$, these compounds generally have tetragonal symmetry with a rare-earth sublattice built of a spiral of alternating edge and corner-sharing rare-earth site triangles. Studies on ${\mathrm{Dy}}_{2}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ and ${\mathrm{Ho}}_{2}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ have shown tunable low temperature antiferromagnetic order, a high frustration index, and spin-ice-like dynamics. Here we use neutron diffraction to study magnetic order in ${\mathrm{Er}}_{2}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ (space group $P{4}_{1}{2}_{1}2$) and find the lowest yet Ne\'el temperature in the pyrogermanates of 1.15 K. Using neutron powder diffraction, we find the magnetic structure to order with $k=(0,0,0)$ ordering vector, magnetic space group symmetry $P{4}_{1}^{{}^{\ensuremath{'}}}{2}_{1}{2}^{{}^{\ensuremath{'}}}$, and a refined Er moment of $m=8.1\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ near the expected value for the ${\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}$ free ion. Provocatively, the magnetic structure exhibits similar ``local Ising'' behavior to that seen in the pyrocholres where the Er moment points up or down along the short Er-Er bond. Upon applying a magnetic field, we find a first-order metamagnetic transition at $\ensuremath{\sim}0.35\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{T}$ to a lower symmetry $P{2}_{1}^{{}^{\ensuremath{'}}}{2}_{1}^{{}^{\ensuremath{'}}}2$ structure. This magnetic transition involves an inversion of Er moments aligned antiparallel to the applied field describing a class I spin-flip-type transition, indicating a strong local anisotropy at the Er site---reminiscent of that seen in the spin-ice pyrochlores.
Abstract 15011: Association of Pulmonary Hemodynamics and Right Ventricular Function With Incident Atrial Fibrillation: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Introduction: Higher pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction are associated with higher risk of heart failure (HF) and mortality. Whether higher PASP and lo...
Semiparametric copula-based regression modeling of semi-competing risks data

Semi-competing risks data often arise in medical studies where the terminal event (e.g., death) censors the non terminal event (e.g., cancer recurrence), but the non terminal event does not prevent...
Periodically driven small polarons

Small lattice polarons driven by strong external electric fields are considered. A time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation is integrated directly in time domain. The field agitates ions both directly and through modulation of carrier density. It is found that when the field is in resonance with local ion oscillations, the polaron is liberated from its self-induced trap and the tunneling frequency increases exponentially.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection as a Risk Factor for Infective Endocarditis

Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with relatively high morbidity and mortality and several risk factors have been identified in the past. Several predisposing factors for IE have been recognized in the literature, depending on the type of bacteria. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection causes coagulopathy-associated complications and damage to many organ systems due to the inflammatory response induced by this viral infection. COVID-19 emerged only about a year ago and there are many unknown post-COVID-19 complications at this time. Here, we present the case of Streptococcus mitis IE in a patient with no prior predisposing factors other than diagnosis with COVID-19 a month ago.
Burst asymmetric/unidirectional error correcting/detecting codes

Codes capable of correcting burst asymmetric and unidirectional errors are described. The proposed codes need approximately b+log/sub 2/k check bits to correct a burst of b asymmetric/unidirectional errors, where k is the number of information bits. In most cases, the proposed codes require fewer check bits than the equivalent burst symmetric error-correcting codes. The optimality of the codes is also considered. In addition, efficient codes capable of detecting double burst unidirectional errors are given. >
The Effect of Corporate Governance on Investment: Evidence from Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

This study investigates the relation between firms' investment choices and various governance mechanisms, using a sample of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). Since REITs provide a relatively accurate measure of Tobin's q, a transparent structure, and generally less asymmetric information about their investment opportunities, they provide an especially good sample to evaluate these issues. We find evidence that the responsiveness of REITs' investment expenditures to their opportunities depends on their corporate governance structures. Within the set of governance mechanisms that we examine, we find particularly strong links between investment behavior and ownership. Specifically, we find that the investment choices of REITs are more closely tied to Tobin's q if they have greater institutional ownership, or lower director and officer stock ownership. These results are consistent with institutional owners monitoring the firm's investment policies, and with high insider ownership allowing managers to follow their own investment agendas.
Achieving quadrilateral interoperability

The Quadrilateral Interoperability Program (QIP) has as its basic goal the exchange of messages between the command, control, and information systems (CCIS) of the four participating nations: France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Basing its work on ISO protocol standards, the QIP has defined a seven-layer communications protocol for a military message handling system. To supplement the horizontal definitions of the individual layers, a vertical view was developed of the entire stack, showing the dynamics of protocol functions. The authors describe this functional view or 'schema,' and conclude that it has been a valuable aid in implementing the protocol and in defining the test program. >
Dopamine modulation of spike dynamics in bursting neurons

The pyloric network of the lobster stomatogastric ganglion is a prime example of an oscillatory neural circuit. In our previous study on the firing patterns of pyloric neurons we observed characteristic temporal structures termed 'interspike interval (ISI) signatures' which were found to depend on the synaptic connectivity of the network. Dopamine, a well-known modulator of the pyloric network, is known to affect inhibitory synapses so it might also tune the fine temporal structure of intraburst spikes, a phenomenon not previously investigated. In the recent work we study the DA modulation of ISI patterns of two identified pyloric neurons in normal conditions and after blocking their glutamatergic synaptic connections. Dopamine (10-50 mu m) strongly regularizes the firing of the lateral pyloric (LP) and pyloric dilator (PD) neurons by increasing the reliability of recurrent spike patterns. The most dramatic effect is observed in the LP, where precisely replicated spike multiplets appear in a normally 'noisy' neuron. The DA-induced regularization of intraburst spike patterns requires functional glutamatergic inputs to the LP neuron and this effect cannot be mimicked by simple intracellular depolarization. Inhibitory synaptic inputs arriving before the bursts are important factors in shaping the intraburst spike dynamics of both the PD and the LP neurons. Our data reveal a novel aspect of chemical neuromodulation in oscillatory neural networks. This effect sets in at concentrations lower than those affecting the overall burst pattern of the network. The sensitivity of intraburst spike dynamics to preceding synaptic inputs also suggests a novel method of temporal coding in neural bursters.
Impact of Violence in the Lives of Women: Restriction and Resolve

The purpose of this study was to describe the influence of violence in the lives of women. Participants (N = 495) responded to an open-ended question asking them to describe how violence has influenced their lives. The data were analyzed using procedures of content analysis. The responses were divided into paragraphs, each reflecting a different experience with, or thought about, violence as described by the participants. The paragraphs were grouped in the following categories: childhood abuse, adult abuse, one-time stranger violence, specific risk for violence, abuse of friends or acquaintances, fear of random violence, reflections about violence in society, and no experiences with violence. The categories are described and direct quotes from the participants are included. Two themes that were salient in all categories, restriction and resolve, are identified and discussed.
Productivity differences between dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ; Asteraceae) clones from pollution impacted versus non-impacted soils

Common dandelions (Taraxacum officinale Weber, sensu lato; Asteraceae) introduced to North America form an assemblage of asexual (agamospermous), clonal lineages derived from Eurasian mixed sexual and asexual populations. We investigated whether selection for more pollution tolerant clonal lineages occurs at polluted sites and selection for more pollution intolerant lineages occurs at unpolluted sites. We tested the above hypothesis by performing reciprocal greenhouse productivity experiments in which unique dandelion clones (12 clones, identified by DNA fingerprinting, from each site type) sampled from two unpolluted and two polluted (moderately enhanced Cu, Pb and Zn soil concentrations) sites were grown pairwise in both unpolluted (nutrient solution only) and polluted (nutrient solution + Cu, Pb and Zn) media (n = 48 paired tests for each media type). Dandelion clones from polluted sites produced fewer and smaller leaves, shorter roots and smaller root diameters, reduced shoot and root dry weights, and reduced total biomass compared to clones from unpolluted sites when clones were grown in unpolluted-media (P ≤ 0.05). In contrast, clones taken from unpolluted sites were shown to produce significantly fewer and shorter leaves, shorter roots and smaller root diameters, reduced shoot and root dry weights, reduced total biomass, a reduced shoot : root biomass ratio, and have much lower survival compared to clones from polluted sites when both were grown in polluted-media (P ≤ 0.05). These results reveal that there was increased selection against unpolluted-site clonal lineages in polluted-media and against polluted-site clonal lineages in unpolluted-media. Across all treatments, clones from unpolluted sites growing in unpolluted-media had the highest proximate measures of fitness. Overall, these findings provide insight into the relationships among anthropogenic environmental contamination and the consequent effects of selective forces acting on dandelion clones and their population genetic architecture.
Synthesis and characterization of chiral stationary phases from amino acids and small peptides for liquid chromatography fractionations of a racemic alcohol

Abstract A series of amino acid and dipeptide bonded phases have been prepared and the performances of these chiral stationary phases for separation of R,S -2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(9-anthryl)ethanol have been examined. The elution order in n -hexane, that contained a small percentage of a polar solvent, was shown to reverse when a d -configuration containing stationary phase was substituted for l -configuration on the surface of silica. Eluents, which contained different polar solvents (2-propanol and methylene chloride) in percentages that gave approximately the same retention times, gave different separation factors. Increases in the percentages of the polar solvents in the eluents decreased the retention times; however, for a given solvent, the separation factors remained constant. In addition, the effects of removing the butyloxycarbonyl (BOC) group from the immobilized valine and substituting a benzyloxycarbonyl group resulted in a decrease with the separation factor. Bonding of second l -valine to the BOC- l -valine stationary phase gave an improved α value whereas additions of other amino acids usually decreased the separation factor, even when the acid had the same chirality.
Cardiovascular Anatomy, Physiology, and Disease of Rodents and Small Exotic Mammals

Cardiovascular disease in small exotic mammals is anecdotally common, but clinical reports of diagnosis and treatment of disease are rare. This article focuses on known causes of cardiovascular disease in the small exotic mammal. Normal anatomy and physiology, as it differs from the dog and cat, is also highlighted. Cardiomyopathy, dirofilariasis, atrial thrombosis, and other acquired and congenital cardiac and vascular diseases of rodents, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, raccoons, opossums, and skunks are reviewed. Expected clinical signs and diagnostic and treatment options, including a formulary, are provided for these species.
Growth of InP high electron mobility transistor structures with Te doping

InP high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) structures with In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As channels and In 0.5 2Al 0.48 As barriers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. A GaTe source was used as an n-type dopant. Conventional structures with 50-100 A InAlAs(Te) layers and Te-delta-doped structures were investigated. Both types of structures exhibited good transport characteristics, with mobilities of 8000-10,000cm 2 /V-s and sheet densities of 1-4 x 10 12 /cm 2 . Fluorination studies showed similar behavior for Si- and Te-doped HEMT structures, with donor deactivation resulting in substantial reductions in mobility and carrier density after exposure to fluorine.
Epitope spreading initiates in the CNS in two mouse models of multiple sclerosis

Chronic progression of two T cell–mediated central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating models of multiple sclerosis, relapsing EAE (R-EAE) and Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus–induced demyelinating disease (TMEV-IDD) is dependent on the activation of T cells to endogenous myelin epitopes (epitope spreading). Using transfer of carboxyfluorescein succinyl ester (CFSE)-labeled T-cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic T cells and mixed bone marrow chimeras, we show that activation of naive proteolipid protein (PLP)139–151-specific T cells in SJL mice undergoing PLP178–191-induced R-EAE or TMEV-IDD occurs directly in the CNS and not in the cervical lymph nodes or other peripheral lymphoid organs. Examination of the antigen-presentation capacity of antigen-presenting cell (APC) populations purified from the CNS of mice with PLP178–191-induced R-EAE shows that only F4/80−CD11c+CD45hi dendritic cells (DCs) efficiently present endogenous antigen to activate naive PLP139–151-specific T cells in vitro. In contrast, DCs as well as F4/80+CD45hi macrophages and F4/80+CD45lo microglia activate a PLP139–151-specific helper T cell line. The data suggest that naive T cells enter the inflamed CNS and are activated by local APCs, possibly DCs, to initiate epitope spreading.
Fourth Expansion and Glucose Perturbation of the Dictyostelium Kinetic Model

The kinetic model of carbohydrate metabolism has been expanded to include: (a) the accumulation of α and β-cellulose, insoluble cell-wall glycogen and mucopolysaccharide; (b) the role of RNA turnover as a source of carbon for end-product synthesis and as a buffer regulating the level of uridine nucleotides in this metabolic network; and (c) the role of purine-nucleoside phosphorylase, 5′-AMP nucleotidase, nucleosidediphosphate kinase and polynucleotide phosphorylase. One of many predictions based on this model is that cells differentiating in the presence of glucose will produce sorocarps with an abnormally high trehalose to cellulose ratio. External perturbation of either the model or of developing cells by glucose increases the levels of sorocarp trehalose and glycogen, 5-fold and 6-fold respectively. Evaluation of the experimental data and the simulation analyses have allowed several predictions to be made concerning the compartmentation of metabolites and the permeability of cells to glucose during differentiation.
Circadian regulation of pineal gland rhythmicity

The pineal gland is a neuroendocrine organ of the brain. Its main task is to synthesize and secrete melatonin, a nocturnal hormone with diverse physiological functions. This review will focus on the central and pineal mechanisms in generation of mammalian pineal rhythmicity including melatonin production. In particular, this review covers the following topics: (1) local control of serotonin and melatonin rhythms; (2) neurotransmitters involved in central control of melatonin; (3) plasticity of the neural circuit controlling melatonin production; (4) role of clock genes in melatonin formation; (5) phase control of pineal rhythmicity; (6) impact of light at night on pineal rhythms; and (7) physiological function of the pineal rhythmicity.
Growth hormone stimulates proliferation of old-aged regenerating liver through Forkhead Box m1b

The Forkhead Box (Fox) proteins are an extensive family of transcription factors that shares homology in the winged helix DNA-binding domain and the members of which play essential roles in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and longevity. Reduced cellular proliferation during aging is associated with a progressive decline in both growth hormone (GH) secretion and Foxm1b expression. Liver regeneration studies with 12-month-old (old-aged) transgenic mice indicated that increased hepatocyte expression of Foxm1b alone is sufficient to restore hepatocyte proliferation to levels found in 2-month-old (young) regenerating liver. GH therapy in older people has been shown to cause an increase in cellular proliferation, but the transcription factors that mediated this stimulation in proliferation remain uncharacterized. In this study, we showed that human GH administration to old-aged Balb/c mice dramatically increased both expression of Foxm1b and regenerating hepatocyte proliferation. This increase in old-aged regenerating hepatocyte proliferation was associated with elevated protein expression of Cdc25A, Cdc25B, and cyclin B1, with reduced protein levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1) (p27). GH treatment also was found to stimulate hepatocyte proliferation and expression of Foxm1b protein without partial hepatectomy (PHx). Furthermore, GH treatment of young Foxm1b -/- mice failed to restore regenerating hepatocyte DNA replication and mitosis caused by Foxm1b deficiency. These genetic studies provided strong evidence that the presence of Foxm1b is essential for GH to stimulate regenerating hepatocyte proliferation. In conclusion, our old-aged liver regeneration studies show that increased Foxm1b levels are essential for GH to stimulate hepatocyte proliferation, thus providing a mechanism for GH action in the elderly.
Riesz Bases and Multiresolution Analyses

Abstract Recently we found a family of nearly orthonormal affine Riesz bases of compact support and arbitrary degrees of smoothness, obtained by perturbing the one-dimensional Haar mother wavelet using B -splines. The mother wavelets thus obtained are symmetric and given in closed form, features which are generally lacking in the orthogonal case. We also showed that for an important subfamily the wavelet coefficients can be calculated in O ( n ) steps, just as for orthogonal wavelets. It was conjectured by Aldroubi, and independently by the author, that these bases cannot be obtained by a multiresolution analysis. Here we prove this conjecture. The work is divided into four sections. The first section is introductory. The main feature of the second is simple necessary and sufficient conditions for an affine Riesz basis to be generated by a multiresolution analysis, valid for a large class of mother wavelets. In the third section we apply the results of the second section to several examples. In the last section we show that our bases cannot be obtained by a multiresolution analysis.
A DNA Damage Response Screen Identifies RHINO, a 9-1-1 and TopBP1 Interacting Protein Required for ATR Signaling

The DNA damage response (DDR) is brought about by a protein kinase cascade that orchestrates DNA repair through transcriptional and posttranslational mechanisms. Cell cycle arrest is a hallmark of the DDR. We screened for cells that lacked damage-induced cell cycle arrest and uncovered a critical role for Fanconi anemia and homologous recombination proteins in ATR (ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related) signaling. Three DDR candidates, the RNA processing protein INTS7, the circadian transcription factor CLOCK, and a previously uncharacterized protein RHINO, were recruited to sites of DNA damage. RHINO independently bound the Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 complex (9-1-1) and the ATR activator TopBP1. RHINO was recruited to sites of DNA damage by the 9-1-1 complex to promote Chk1 activation. We suggest that RHINO functions together with the 9-1-1 complex and TopBP1 to fully activate ATR.
Development of a Rule-Based Method for the Assessment of Protein Druggability

Target selection is a critical step in the majority of modern drug discovery programs. The viability of a drug target depends on two components: biological relevance and chemical tractability. The concept of druggability was introduced to describe the second component, and it is defined as the ability of a target to bind a drug-like molecule with a therapeutically useful level of affinity. To investigate the rules that govern druggability, we developed an algorithm to isolate and characterize the binding pockets of protein targets. Using this algorithm, we performed a comparative analysis between the relevant pockets of 60 targets of approved drugs and a diverse set of 440 ligand-binding pockets. As a result, we defined a preferred property space for druggable pockets based on five key properties (volume, depth, enclosure, percentage of charged residues and hydrophobicity), and we represented it with a set of simple rules. These rules may be applicable in the future to evaluate the chemical tractability o...
Tower packing evaluation using linguistic variables

Abstract Real (numerical) and linguistic variables are used to evaluate and rank tower packings for general applications in the chemical industry. Using trapezoidal fuzzy numbers and three different term sets that express a packing's cost, its qualitative characteristics, and the relative importance of each characteristic combined with real number characteristics, the relative ranking of nine different packings were obtained. The packing ranks produced by the proposed method reflect both historical development and current practice in packing evaluation. We show that our results mirror those obtained by experience; and we conclude therefrom that this new technique appears to be worthwhile for selecting and comparing packings.
Dorsal-ventral signaling in limb development

Abstract In both Drosophila wings and vertebrate limbs, signaling between dorsal and ventral cells establishes an organizer that promotes limb formation. Significant progress has been made recently towards characterizing the signaling interactions that occur at the dorsal—ventral limb border. Studies of chicks have indicated that, as in Drosophila, this signaling process requires the participation of Fringe. Studies of Drosophila have indicated that Fringe functions by inhibiting the ability of Notch to be activated by one ligand, Serrate, while potentiating the ability of Notch to be activated by another ligand, Delta. Recent studies of both Drosophila and vertebrates have also shed new light on the signaling activity of the dorsal—ventral boundary limb organizer, and have highlighted how this organizer is maintained by feedback mechanisms with neighboring cells.
Pneumonectomy for malignant disease: factors affecting early morbidity and mortality.

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this report is to analyze factors affecting morbidity and mortality after pneumonectomy for malignant disease. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of all patients who underwent pneumonectomy for malignancy at the Mayo Clinic. Between January 1, 1985, and September 30, 1998, 639 patients (469 men and 170 women) were identified. Median age was 64 years (range 20 to 86 years). Indication for pneumonectomy was primary lung cancer in 607 (95.0%) patients and metastatic disease in 32 (5.0%). Factors affecting morbidity and mortality were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Cardiopulmonary complications occurred in 245 patients (38.3%; 95% confidence interval 34.6%-42.2%). Factors adversely affecting morbidity with univariate analysis included age ( P P =.04), associated respiratory ( P =.02) or cardiovascular disease ( P P =.02), decreased vital capacity ( P =.01), forced expiratory volume in 1 second ( P P =.002), diffusion capacity of the lung to carbon monoxide ( P =.005), oxygen saturation ( P 2 ( P =.007), preoperative radiation ( P =.02), bronchial stump reinforcement ( P =.007), crystalloid infusion ( P =.01), and blood transfusion ( P =.02). Factors adversely affecting morbidity with multivariate analysis included age ( P =.0001), associated cardiovascular disease ( P =.001), and bronchial stump reinforcement ( P =.0005). There were 45 deaths (7.0%; 95% confidence intervals 5.2%-9.3%). Factors adversely affecting mortality with univariate analysis included associated cardiovascular ( P P P =.004), preoperative chemotherapy ( P =.01), decreased diffusion capacity of lung to carbon monoxide ( P =.002), right pneumonectomy ( P =.0006), extended resection ( P =.04), bronchial stump reinforcement ( P =.007), and crystalloid infusion ( P =.01). Factors affecting mortality with multivariate analysis included hematologic disease ( P =.01), lower preoperative serum hemoglobin ( P =.003), and completion pneumonectomy ( P =.01). Conclusion: Multiple factors adversely affected morbidity and mortality after pneumonectomy for malignant disease. Appropriate selection and meticulous perioperative care are paramount to minimize risks in those patients who require pneumonectomy. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001;121:1076-82)
Enantioselektive Synthese des Nicht-Isoprenoid-Sesquiterpens (−)-Kumausallen

Eine Acyl-Radikalcyclisierung zur Bildung des bicyclischen Gerustes von (−)-Kumausallen 1 war der Schlusselschritt in dessen 14stufiger, enantioselektiver Synthese. Es zeigte sich, das die Bromalleneinheit robust genug ist, um in einer Vielzahl von Syntheseschritten den Reaktionsbedingungen standzuhalten. Die absolute Konfiguration der Bromalleneinheit konnte durch diese Synthese zweifelsfrei bestatigt werden.
Genetic analysis of response regulator activation in bacterial chemotaxis suggests an intermolecular mechanism

Response regulator proteins of two-component systems are usually activated by phosphorylation. The phosphorylated response regulator protein CheY-P mediates the chemotaxis response in Escherichia coli. We performed random mutagenesis and selected CheY mutants that are constitutively active in the absence of phosphorylation. Although a single amino acid substitution can lead to constitutive activation, no single DNA base change can effect such a transition. Numerous different sets of mutations that activate in synergy were selected in several different combinations. These mutations were all located on the side of CheY defined by alpha4, beta5, alpha5, and alpha1. Our findings argue against the two-state hypothesis for response regulator activation. We propose an alternative intermolecular mechanism that involves a dynamic interplay between response regulators and their effector targets.
A Quadruple Stain Combination for Plant Tissues

A new procedure for the quadruple staining of paraffin sections of plant tissues is offered, involving the use of safranin, methyl violet, fast green and orange G. Differentiation is practically automatic and is controlled by the use of special washing solutions. Striking color-contrast effects permit the identification of every type of cell structure and cytoplasmic inclusions.
Skin and liver lesions in rats fed a polychlorinated biphenyl mixture

The continuous feeding of the polychlorinated biphenyl mixture Aroclor 1254 to rats produced varying degrees of dermatitis, first on the ears and later on the nose, tail and feet. The lesions were first observed 10 weeks after the rats began eating chow in which the PCB was present. The lesion consisted of alopecia, and the skin was rough, reddened and thickened. Microscopically, there was hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis, and the subcutaneous tissue was edematous, and sometimes infiltrated with inflammatory cells. The lesions were encrusted by desiccated serum which had escaped through small fissures in the epithelium. This lesion was found in 15 of 60 animals fed the PCB at 100 ppm, 4 of 60 at 30 ppm and 1 of 60 at 10 ppm for 10 to 20 weeks. The livers of the PCB-treated rats were enlarged and fluoresced under ultraviolet light. Microscopically, the central lobular hepatocytes were enlarged, there was an accumulation of an iron positive brown pigment in Kupffer cells, and there were central and midzonal foci of necrosis accompanied by inflammation.
Cardiac and peripheral vascular effects of lidocaine and procainamide

Abstract Experimental studies of the effects of lidocame and procainamide on the mongrel dog heart and peripheral vasculature have been performed in intact animals and in those with completely separated cardiopulmonary and systemic circulations. When these drugs were administered to intact dogs, initial depression of myocardial contractile force and arterial blood pressure was seen after administration of both lidocaine and procainamide, but at low to moderate dosage levels myocardial contractile force increased above control levels with procainamide by the end of a recovery period. In divided circulation experiments, both drugs, when administered into the systemic circuit, caused a marked vasodilation and a simultaneous transient drop in myocardial contractile force. When administered centrally, lidocaine was found to be a myocardial depressant at all dosage levels; procainamide was found to be a positive inotropic agent in this preparation at low to moderate dosage levels and was depressant at higher drug levels.
Congenital glaucoma, deafness, mental deficiency, and cardiac anomaly following attempted abortion.

Summary A case is reported of congenital glaucoma, deafness, mental retardation, and heart anomaly occurring in a full-term infant following attempted abortion at four and one-half months of pregnancy. The relation of the malformations to the time in pregnancy when abortion was attempted is discussed. It is suggested that quinine may have caused some of the malformations.
An Information Processing Theory of Ambivalence

This paper analyzes the sources of ambivalence toward political parties and candidates. We propose and test an information-processing theory of ambivalence in which systematic processing is hypothesized to heighten partisan and candidate ambivalence. We show that ambivalence is linked to several dispositional sources of systematic processing, including individuals' information, motivation, and cognitive style. Specifically, we find that ambiva lence tends to be greater among the well informed and those who are high in need for cognition while it tends to be lower among those motivated by directional goals. Collec tively, our results suggest that levels of partisan and candidate ambivalence are greatest among those most likely to engage in effortful processing of information and that these effects are independent of value conflict. The results further suggest that the effects of effortful processing on ambivalence are moderated by attitude commitment.
Linear Approximations for Swing Leg Motion During Gait

The applicability of a linear systems analysis of two-dimensional swing leg motion was investigated. Two different linear systems were developed. A linear time-varying system was developed by linearizing the nonlinear equations describing swing leg motion about a set of nominal system and control trajectories. Linear time invariant systems were developed by linearizing about three different fixed limb positions. Simulations of swing leg motion were performed with each of these linear systems. These simulations were compared to previously performed nonlinear simulations of two-dimensional swing leg motion and the actual subject motion. Additionally, a linear system analysis was used to gain some insight into the interdependency of the state variables and controls. It was shown that the linear time varying approximation yielded an accurate representation of limb motion for the thigh and shank but with diminished accuracy for the foot. In contrast, all the linear time invariant systems, if used to simulate more than a quarter of the swing phase, yielded generally inaccurate results for thigh shank and foot motion.
Two-step method for evolving nonlinear acoustic systems to a steady state

A two-step method for evolving two-dimensional nonlinear acoustic systems with flow to a periodic steady state is presented. In the first step of the method, the full nonlinear system governing acoustic disturbances is integrated numerically starting with arbitrary initial conditions using the explicit predictor-corrector method developed by MacCormack. In the second step, the Fourier Time Transform of the computed field is calculated to determine its frequency components. The transient wave field is then filtered from the spectrum and the inverse transform taken to provide an approximation to the steady-state wave field. This approximate field provides a new initial condition for subsequent iterations on the method. The method is tested on a benchmark acoustic problem for which exact steady-state solutions are known and on a nonlinear problem for which a steady-state solution has not been given before. Excellent agreement with the benchmark acoustic solution was obtained within four iterations for planar and nonplanar sources. Convergence to a steady state for the nonlinear problem occurred in six iterations. The two-step method eliminates the need to develop nonreflecting boundary conditions in order to obtain periodic steady-state solutions of two-dimension al acoustic problems and is easily extended to any number of spatial dimensions and to other hyperbolic systems. The procedure is shown to be numerically stable and may provide the only alternative for obtaining steady-state solutions to problems for which nonreflecting boundary conditions are not known or are physically incorrect.
An automatic device for toilet training

Abstract A chain of subject-initiated toileting behavior was established and maintained in three enuretic and encopretic profoundly retarded adults through the use of an automatic device which both monitored eliminations and dispensed candy reinforcers. When the device reinforced elimination, the incidence of urinations and defecations in clothing was sharply reduced in each subject, while the frequency of appropriate toileting behavior increased. With the device nonoperative (extinction), the behavior relapsed toward pretraining levels. In reconditioning, with the device again functional, post-training levels were re-established. The device was reliable and was seen to eliminate many of the difficulties inherent in toilet training.
Evaluation of the splanchnic circulation with indocyanine green pharmacokinetics in liver transplant patients.

Abstract Although indocyanine green (ICG) can be used to estimate cardiac output (CO) and blood volume independently, a recirculatory multicompartmental ICG model enables description of these and additional intravascular factors. This model was used to describe the effect of end-stage liver disease (ESLD) on systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. ICG disposition was determined during the dissection phase in six patients with ESLD undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation and six healthy adult living liver donors. After injecting ICG, plasma concentrations were obtained for approximately 10 to 12 minutes by noninvasive pulse dye densitometry. The recirculatory model characterizes three distinct intravascular circuits: lumped parallel fast (presumably nonsplanchnic circulation) and slow peripheral (splanchnic) circuits and a central circuit (central blood volume). Mean transit time (MTT) in the fast peripheral circuit was not different in patients with ESLD and controls. However, ESLD resulted in a significant decrease in MTT in the central (0.11 ± 0.028 [SD] v 0.24 ± 0.094 minutes in controls; P v 1.37 ± 0.37 minutes in controls; P Liver Transpl 2002;8:476-481. )