cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors in immortalized luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neurons.

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been shown both to stimulate and inhibit LH secretion in vivo. GABA apparently exerts these effects at the hypothalamic level by regulating the release of LHRH. In this study, we have investigated the effect of GABAergic agents on LHRH secretion from an immortalized hypothalamic neuronal cell line (GT1-7). LHRH secretion was stimulated in a dose-dependent manner with increasing concentrations of GABA. This effect was mimicked by the GABAA receptor agonist, muscimol, and was blocked by the selective antagonist, bicuculline. The stimulatory effect of muscimol on LHRH secretion was synergistic with low concentrations of [K+]. By comparison, neither activation of the GABAB receptors with baclofen nor blockade with phaclofen influenced basal LHRH secretion. Baclofen, however, did depress [K+]-induced LHRH release. Binding studies confirmed the presence of GABAA and GABAB receptors on GT1-7 cells. In addition, Northern blots with probes to the GABAA receptor alpha 1, beta 3, a...
Is inflammatory bowel disease an important risk factor among older persons with colorectal cancer in the United States? A population-based case-control study.

While ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) are thought to predispose to colorectal cancer (CRC), the association has not been well studied in an older population. The objective of our study was to evaluate the association of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease and colorectal cancer in a population-based, case–control study. We also wished to estimate the incidence rates of colorectal cancer among older individuals with UC/CD. All cases of colorectal cancer in persons 67 and older in the SEER catchment area and in the Medicare claims database were compared with cancer-free controls residing in the same geographic area. We used multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for demographic and other factors. We identified 47,543 cases of CRC and 142,273 controls. We found a modest association between UC and CRC (OR 1.93; 95% CI 1.54–2.49; P-value < 0.001) and a significant, albeit modest, association between CD and CRC (OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.08–1.91; P-value 0.01). We found the incidence of CRC to be 8.2 per 10,000 person-years (95% CI 6.5–10.1/10,000 person-years) among those with UC/CD, and 6.1 per 10,000 person-years (95% CI 4.6–7.8/10,000 person-years) among those without UC/CD, resulting in an incidence rate ratio of 1.34. Among older persons ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are modest risk factors for CRC, and the incidence rate ratio for CRC is modest, suggesting that risk of CRC in patients with IBD may be lower than previously thought.
Gestational diabetes mellitus: Antenatal variables as predictors of postpartum glucose intolerance

Objective To determine whether antepartum variables can predict postpartum glucose intolerance. Methods Glucose tolerance was assessed 6 weeks postpartum in 94 of 238 women with gestational diabetes using a 2-hour, 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (GTT). Selected antepartum variables were analyzed for predictive ability for postpartum glucose intolerance. Results Of 238 patients, 94 (39%) returned for a GTT. Those returning and those not returning were similar in all variables. Postpartum glucose intolerance occurred in 34%: impaired glucose tolerance in 18%, overt diabetes in 16%. No single maternal, intrapartum, or neonatal variable was predictive of postpartum glucose intolerance in all cases. Predictive variables included: requirement for insulin (insulin versus diet: 25 versus 3% impaired glucose tolerance, 26 versus 0% diabetes; P = .001), poor glycemic control (any 2-hour postprandial blood sugar level of 150 mg/dL or higher: 34 versus 5% diabetes; P = .005), and the 50-g GTT value (200 mg/dL or higher: 32 versus 6% diabetes; P = .01). For insulin requirement, the relative risk (RR) was 17.28 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.46–121.45), and for the above three variables combined, the RR was 19.68 (95% CI 2.88–134.42). When the insulin dose was at least 100 U/day, all patients had abnormal glucose tolerance postpartum (RR = 34.00, 95% CI 4.93–234.39). Conclusions Postpartum glucose screening is not warranted for women at low risk who do not require insulin during pregnancy. The incidence of postpartum glucose intolerance in this group is very low. Women with risk factors should receive postpartum screening. Patients receiving at least 100 U/day of insulin have a 100% incidence of postpartum glucose intolerance.
Estimating the center of symmetry: Is it always better to use larger sample sizes?

Abstract We show that for symmetric stable distributions with index γ 1 , the performance of the sample mean, as an estimator of the center of symmetry, worsens as the sample size increases, where performance is measured by concentration around the estimand. We look at order statistics and show that for symmetric distributions (not necessarily stable), the performance of the sample median as an estimator of the center of symmetry improves as the sample size increases.
Old age and inheritance in two social formations: The Alexanderwohl Mennonites in Russia and the United States

Abstract Although many researchers have examined the relationship between old age and inheritance, few have succeeded at locating these in the context of the broader political economy. This article explores the differences between the Russian feudal and U.S. capitalist social formations to reveal how the Alexanderwohl Mennonites differentially arranged for inheritance and retirement. Using diaries, letters, family genealogies, photographs, census and land records, and interviews, the article will show how, as community production shifted to the private, independent household, the latter replaced the community institutions which had negotiated retirement and inheritance.
Halomethyl-metal compounds XXII. The preparation of trihalomethyl and other halogenated organotin compounds

Abstract The compounds Me3SnCCl3, Me3SnCCl2H, Me3SnCCl2Ph and Me3SnCCl2-Me have been prepared by reaction of the appropriate organolithium reagent with trimethyltin chloride at low temperature. The reaction of phenyl(bromodichloromethyl)mercury with trimethyltin bromide in refluxing benzene solution produced Me3SnCCl2Br in 63% yield. An experiment in which this mercury reagent was allowed to react with trimethyltin chloride gave both Me3SnCCl3 and Me3SnCCl2Br, which suggests that this route to trihalomethyl-tin compounds proceeds both by CCl2 insertion into the SnX bond and by substituent exchange between mercury and tin.
Histopathology of periodontal disease in gnotobiotic rats monoinfected with Eikenella corrodens.

The histopathology of periodontal disease was studies in gnotobiotic rats monoinfected with Eikenella corrodens, a Gram-negative rod isolated from a human periodontitis lesion. Animals were sacrificed in pairs from 2–14 weeks after infection and the molar segments scored for severity of periodontal disease by visual inspection. the lesions first appeared in the maxillary molars and were after infection in the maxilla than in the mandible. Specimens taken 2 weeks after infection showed hair impaction in the coronal part of the junctional epithelium and some leukocyte emigration, but no evidence of a cellular infiltrate or vascular anomalies in the connective tissue. Between 3–5 weeks, a crater-like depression developed interdentally within the connective tissue, the surface of which was Covered by a continous epitheliel lining disrupted by impacted debris. Little mogrationof the epithelial attachment was noted apical to the cemento-enamel junction. Between 6–8 weeks. The interdental epithelial lining became ulcerated. Impacted hair and other debris were commonly noted within the connective tissue which, however, remained free of plasma cells and only contained isolated lymphocytes. Bone destruction was characterized by marked osteoclastic activity. The tooth Surfaces remained remarkably free of adherent bacteria. In fact, bacteria were only observed in one 13-week specimen, in association with impacted debris. Contrary to the progress of periodontal breakdown in man and some other species, the most apical extent of the disease process in these animals was located along the central portion of the interdental tissues, rather than along the root surfaces. No correlation or possibly an inverse correlation seemed to exist between the severity of priodontal disease in these animals and their cell-madiated immune response to the infecting organism.
Ion Diffusion and DNA Stretching in an Open Nanofluidic System

The ion diffusion in an open nanofluidic system is studied by using an array of nanochannels. The mechanism of the ion diffusion was described through electrowetting-based nanofluidics. An ion diffusion experiment was conducted to validate the theoretical study of the relationship between the diffusion length and the ionic concentration using sodium chloride and phosphate buffer solutions. Shadow edge lithography was utilized to fabricate an array of open nanochannels, which allowed for a direct observation of the molecular diffusion through optical microscopy. The open channel configuration was then applied to stretching λ-DNA molecules in the nanochannels. The stretched length was measured by fluorescence microscopy. The presented nanofluidic device can be applied to the single-molecule study, which can benefit nanoengineered medicine and biology.
Exploring Virtual Worlds With Head-Mounted Displays

For nearly a decade the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been conducting research in the use of simple head-mounted displays in "real-world" applications. Such units provide the user with non-holographic true three-dimensional information, since the kinetic depth effect, stereoscopy, and other visual cues combine to immerse the user in a "virtual world" which behaves like the real world in some respects. UNC's head-mounted display was built inexpensively from commercially available off-the-shelf components. Tracking of the the user's head position and orientation is performed by a Polhemus Navigation Sciences' 3SPACE* tracker. The host computer uses the tracking information to generate updated images corresponding to the user's new left eye and right eye views. The images are broadcast to two liquid crystal television screens (220x320 pixels) mounted on a horizontal shelf at the user's forehead. The user views these color screens through half-silvered mirrors, enabling the computer-generated image to be superimposed upon the user's real physical environment. The head-mounted display has been incorporated into existing molecular modeling and architectural applications being developed at UNC. In molecular structure studies, chemists are presented with a room-sized molecule with which they can interact in a manner more intuitive than that provided by conventional two-dimensional displays and dial boxes. Walking around and through the large molecule may provide quicker understanding of its structure, and such problems as drug-enzyme docking may be approached with greater insight. In architecture, the head-mounted display enables clients to better appreciate three-dimensional designs, which may be misinterpreted in their conventional two-dimensional form by untrained eyes. The addition of a treadmill to the system provides additional kinesthetic input into the understanding of building size and scale.
ADHD Subtypes and Comorbid Anxiety, Depression, and Oppositional-Defiant Disorder: Differences in Sleep Problems

Objective Sleep problems were analyzed in children with ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). Methods Scales were completed by parents of 135 control children and 681 children with ADHD combined type (ADHD-C) or inattentive type (ADHD-I) with or without comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), anxiety, or depression. Results Children with ADHD-I alone had the fewest sleep problems and did not differ from controls. Children with ADHD-C had more sleep problems than controls and children with ADHD-I. Comorbid anxiety/depression increased sleep problems, whereas ODD did not. Daytime sleepiness was greatest in ADHD-I and was associated with sleeping more (not less) than normal. Medicated children had greater difficulty falling asleep than unmedicated children. Conclusions Differences in sleep problems were found as a function of ADHD subtype, comorbidity, and medication.
Molecular cloning and domain structure of human myosin-VIIa, the gene product defective in Usher syndrome 1B.

Abstract Myosin-VIIa is an unconventional myosin with relatively restricted expression. Cloned first from an intestinal epithelium cell line, it occurs most notably in the testis, in the receptor cells of the inner ear, and in the pigment epithelium of the retina. Defects in myosin-VIIa cause the shaker-1 phenotype in mice and Usher syndrome 1B in human, which are characterized by deafness, lack of vestibular function, and (in human) progressive retinal degeneration. Because the described cDNAs encode less than half of the protein predicted from immunoblots, we have cloned cDNAs encoding the rest of human myosin-VIIa. Two transcripts were found, one encoding the predicted 250-kDa protein and another encoding a shorter form. Both transcripts were found in highest abundance in testis, although the shorter transcript was much less abundant. Both could be detected in lymphocytes by RT-PCR. The myosin tail encoded by the long transcript includes a long repeat of ∼460 amino acids. Each repeat contains a novel “MyTH4” domain similar to domains in three other myosins, and a domain similar to the membrane-associated portion of talin and other members of the band-4.1 family.
Delivery of Colloidal Particles and Red Blood Cells to Tissue Through Microvessel Ruptures Created by Targeted Microbubble Destruction With Ultrasound

Background—We have previously shown that the application of ultrasound to thin-shelled microbubbles flowing through small microvessels (<7 μm in diameter) produces vessel wall ruptures in vivo. Because many intravascular drug- and gene-delivery vehicles are limited by the endothelial barrier, we hypothesized that this phenomenon could be used to deliver drug-bearing vehicles to tissue. Methods and Results—An exteriorized rat spinotrapezius muscle preparation was used. Intravascular fluorescent red blood cells and polymer microspheres (PM) (205 and 503 nm in diameter) were delivered to the interstitium of rat skeletal muscle through microvessel ruptures created by insonifying microbubbles in vivo. On intravital microscopy, mean dispersion areas per rupture for red blood cells, 503-nm PM, and 205-nm PM were 14.5×103 μm2, 24.2×103 μm2, and 27.2×103 μm2, respectively. PM dispersion areas were significantly larger than the mean dispersion area for red blood cells (P<0.05). Conclusions—Microvessel ruptures caus...
Digital paint systems: an anecdotal and historical overview

The history of digital paint systems derives from many things-chance meetings, coincidences and boredom, artistic license, brilliant researchers, a wealthy benefactor, and, of course, lawsuits. The author tells the fascinating story-facts first, then anecdotes-in his own words.
THE GEOTROPIC CONDUCT OF YOUNG GUINEA PIGS.

Young guinea pigs while progressing on an inclined surface orient upward in a way such that the path of progression is at a mean angle θ to the intersection of the plane with the horizontal. The angle θ increases as the angle α of the inclination of the plane increases. The results of this experiment indicate that in principle the formulation of similar behavior in the cases of young rats and mice holds essentially for young guinea pigs, and further supports a general muscle tension theory of the limitation of geotropic orientation. The relation of θ to log sin α is sigmoid in character and cos θ is a nearly rectilinear function sin α. It is notable however that in this case the functions are in reality compound, being made up of two curves with a break occurring at a slope of α = 45°. Observation of a blinded guinea pig in light upon an inclined plane reveals the fact that in the neighborhood of 45° the mode of progression changes. Below this angle the animal walks with the feet on the two sides of the body moving forward alternately, while above α = 45° the animal hops in such a way that both front feet and both hind feet move forward together. This change in the mode of progression clearly involves a change in the organization of muscular tensions, and in all probability accounts for the change in the relation of the values of θ to the magnitudes of the slope. The behavior of the mean θ's is closely paralleled by that of their P.E.'s, an automatic check being in this way given upon the significance of the measurements.
NXY-059: Review of Neuroprotective Potential for Acute Stroke

Objective:To review available literature on the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability of NXY-059, an Investigational agent with a potential role in the treatment of acute stroke.Data Sources:Information was obtained from a MEDLINE search (1966–February 2006) of English-language literature utilizing the following search terms: NXY-059, cerovive, nitrones, neuroprotection, free radical trapper, and secondary neurologic injury.Study Selection and Data Extraction:Data from animal and human trials were evaluated to summarize the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of NXY-059. All published and unpublished trials and abstracts citing NXY-059 were selected.Data Synthesis:NXY-059 is an intravenous, nitrone-based, free radical trapping agent in Phase III trials for treatment of acute stroke. In various animal models, NXY-059 has shown reductions in infarct volume and neurologic deficits. Pharmacokinetic studies indicate that NXY-059 displays a predictable pharmacokinetic profile and prim...
Synergistic interactions between tamoxifen and trastuzumab (Herceptin)

Purpose: HER-2/ neu and estrogen receptor (ER) are critical in the biology of breast carcinoma, and both are validated therapeutic targets. Extensive interactions between the signaling pathways of these receptors have been demonstrated. This suggests that targeting both receptors simultaneously may have a dramatic effect on the biology of breast cancer. This hypothesis was tested in cell culture experiments. Experimental Design: ER-positive, HER-2/ neu -overexpressing BT-474 human breast carcinoma cells were cultured in the presence of the anti-HER-2/ neu therapeutic antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin), the antiestrogen tamoxifen, or both. The effects on cell growth, cell cycle distribution, clonogenicity, survival, and the level and activity of HER-2/ neu were examined. Results: The combination of tamoxifen and Herceptin resulted in synergistic growth inhibition and enhancement of cell accumulation in the G 0 -G 1 phase of the cell cycle, with a decrease in cells in S phase. Clonogenicity was inhibited in the presence of each drug and more so by the combination, although prior exposure to drugs did not affect subsequent clonogenicity in drug-free media, and neither drug nor the combination induced apoptosis. Herceptin, but not tamoxifen, inhibited signaling by HER-2/ neu . Conclusions: The combination of tamoxifen and Herceptin is formally demonstrated to result in synergistic growth inhibition and enhancement of G 0 -G 1 cell cycle accumulation. In vitro , the individual drugs or combination produces a cytostatic effect. These results suggest that combined inhibition of ER and HER-2/ neu signaling may represent a powerful approach to the treatment of breast cancer.
Ultrasonics in geology

Ultrasonics is used in geology for the determination of elastic properties of rocks and minerals. For measurements on rocks, techniques with precisions of a few percent have come into use; these measure delay times of elastic waves propagating through specimens several inches long. For single crystals, the techniques are the same as those used in solid-state physics; they are basically interferometric methods. Techniques of measurement are reviewed. An extensive bibliography is included.
Opposite-polarity motors activate one another to trigger cargo transport in live cells

Intracellular transport is typically bidirectional, consisting of a series of back and forth movements. Kinesin-1 and cytoplasmic dynein require each other for bidirectional transport of intracellular cargo along microtubules; i.e., inhibition or depletion of kinesin-1 abolishes dynein-driven cargo transport and vice versa. Using Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells, we demonstrate that replacement of endogenous kinesin-1 or dynein with an unrelated, peroxisome-targeted motor of the same directionality activates peroxisome transport in the opposite direction. However, motility-deficient versions of motors, which retain the ability to bind microtubules and hydrolyze adenosine triphosphate, do not activate peroxisome motility. Thus, any pair of opposite-polarity motors, provided they move along microtubules, can activate one another. These results demonstrate that mechanical interactions between opposite-polarity motors are necessary and sufficient for bidirectional organelle transport in live cells.
Taxometric Analysis as a General Strategy for Distinguishing Categorical from Dimensional Latent Structure.

Statistical analyses investigating latent structure can be divided into those that estimate structural model parameters and those that detect the structural model type. The most basic distinction among structure types is between categorical (discrete) and dimensional (continuous) models. It is a common, and potentially misleading, practice to apply some method for estimating a latent structural model such as factor analysis without first verifying that the latent structure type assumed by that method applies to the data. The taxometric method was developed specifically to distinguish between dimensional and 2-class models. This study evaluated the taxometric method as a means of identifying categorical structures in general. We assessed the ability of the taxometric method to distinguish between dimensional (1-class) and categorical (2-5 classes) latent structures and to estimate the number of classes in categorical datasets. Based on 50,000 Monte Carlo datasets (10,000 per structure type), and using the comparison curve fit index averaged across 3 taxometric procedures (Mean Above Minus Below A Cut, Maximum Covariance, and Latent Mode Factor Analysis) as the criterion for latent structure, the taxometric method was found superior to finite mixture modeling for distinguishing between dimensional and categorical models. A multistep iterative process of applying taxometric procedures to the data often failed to identify the number of classes in the categorical datasets accurately, however. It is concluded that the taxometric method may be an effective approach to distinguishing between dimensional and categorical structure but that other latent modeling procedures may be more effective for specifying the model.
Learning Data-Driven Patient Risk Stratification Models for Clostridium difficile.

Although many risk factors are well known (eg, healthcare-associated exposure, age, underlying disease, use of antimicrobial agents, etc), Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) continues to be a significant problem throughout the world. Despite much effort, CDI rates in the United States have increased in recent years [1]. In the United States, from 1996 to 2009, CDI rates for hospitalized patients ages ≥65 years increased by 200% [2]. Beyond causing significant morbidity and mortality, each case of CDI is associated with the addition of several thousand dollars in hospital costs for primary infections and tens of thousands of dollars per case for recurrent infections [3]. A conservative estimate of the financial burden of CDI in the United States is $1.1 billion annually [4]. Costs stem in part from (1) the lack of cost-effective proactive interventions and (2) the lack of means for focusing such interventions based on risk [5]. In this study, we consider the challenge of building a clinical tool for predicting the risk of inpatients testing positive for pathogenic C difficile during a hospital admission. We explore the development of hospital-specific risk stratification based on data that are readily drawn from local electronic health records. This process allows for straightforward integration into the health information system and the automatic calculation of patient risk. In contrast to previous risk stratification models for CDI, we do not limit ourselves to the set of known risk factors but consider over 10 000 variables automatically extracted from the electronic medical record (EMR). Using machine learning techniques, we develop the model on admissions from a single year and validate the model on a holdout set of admissions from the following year. The holdout set consists of cases that are withheld from the process used to construct the predictive model. We compare our proposed model with one based on a small set of known risk variables. We show that the addition of information not usually considered can lead to a significant improvement in discrimination performance compared with a model based on a small set of known risk variables. Although building and using such data-driven models may seem more complex than using a simple rule, we argue that the accuracy and hospital specificity makes them more appropriate. Moreover, the growing ubiquity of electronic health systems provides the necessary infrastructure to automate data-driven risk methods, making them easy to construct and use.
The unusual X-ray pulse timing of AE Aquarii

X-ray data for AE Aqr are reanalyzed by using a refined analysis technique and different approaches. The results obtained indicate that X-rays are produced at the same site as the optical, and there is no evidence for the direct X-ray beam from the white dwarf. The optical period was found to be the most significant X-ray period. The direct X-ray beam from the white dwarf is at least four times weaker than the pulsed X-ray signal at the optical period. Given the above-mentioned correlations with the optical, it is inferred that the X-ray pulsations must originate at the same target in the orbit responsible for the optical pulsations. There is a possible orbital modulation of the optical pulse-timing and emission-line orbits. It is shown that the X-ray pulse has slipped at least twice in phase by more than 30 percent in two years' time.
Hepatic failure, neonatal hemochromatosis and porto-pulmonary hypertension in a newborn with trisomy 21 - a case report

Liver failure in neonates is a rare but often fatal disease. Trisomy 21 is not usually associated with significant infantile liver disease. If present, hepatic dysfunction in an infant with Trisomy 21 is likely to be attributed to transient myeloproliferative disorder with hepatic infiltration by hematopoietic elements and may be associated with secondary hemosiderosis. A less commonly recognized cause of liver failure in neonates with Trisomy 21 is neonatal hemochromatosis (NH); this association has been reported in nine cases of Trisomy 21 in literature. NH is a rare, severe liver disease of intra-uterine onset that is characterized by neonatal liver failure and hepatic and extrahepatic iron accumulation that spares the reticuloendothelial system. NH is the most frequently recognized cause of liver failure in neonates and the commonest indication for neonatal liver transplantation. Although porto-pulmonary hypertension (PPH) has been reported as a complication of liver failure in adults and older children, this has not been reported in neonates with liver failure of any etiology. This is probably due to the rarity of liver failure in newborns, delayed diagnosis and high mortality. The importance of recognizing PPH is that it is reversible with liver transplantation but at the same time increases the risk of post-operative mortality. Therefore, early diagnosis of PPH is critical so that early intervention can improve the chances of successful liver transplantation. We report for the first time the association of liver failure with porto-pulmonary hypertension secondary to NH in an infant with Trisomy 21.
Discovery in Cognitive Psychology: New Tools Inspire New Theories

Scientific tools—measurement and calculation instruments, techniques of inference—straddle the line between the context of discovery and the context of justification. In discovery, new scientific tools suggest new theoretical metaphors and concepts; and in justification, these tool-derived theoretical metaphors and concepts are morelikely to be accepted by the scientific community if the tools are already entrenched in scientific practice.Techniques of statistical inference and hypothesis testing entered American psychology first as tools in the 1940s and 1950s and then as cognitive theories in the 1960s and 1970s. Not only did psychologists resists statistical metaphors of mind prior to the institutionalization of inference techniques in their own practice; the cognitive theories they ultimately developed about “the mind as intuitive statistician” still bear the telltale marks of the practical laboratory context in which the tool was used.
Unique structure and property of dendrimers in biomedical applications

Dendrimers are the few types of synthetic polymers that can be precisely controlled in size and structure. The well-defined structure renders dendritic macromolecules unique properties for versatile applications, especially in the biomedical field. For example, phosphorus-containing dendrimers have
Comparing function and structure between entire proteomes

More than 30 organisms have been sequenced entirely. Here, we applied a variety of simple bioinformatics tools to analyze 29 proteomes for representatives from all three kingdoms: eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and archaebacteria. We confirmed that eukaryotes have relatively more long proteins than prokaryotes and archaes, and that the overall amino acid composition is similar among the three. We predicted that ∼15%–30% of all proteins contained transmembrane helices. We could not find a correlation between the content of membrane proteins and the complexity of the organism. In particular, we did not find significantly higher percentages of helical membrane proteins in eukaryotes than in prokaryotes or archae. However, we found more proteins with seven transmembrane helices in eukaryotes and more with six and 12 transmembrane helices in prokaryotes. We found twice as many coiled-coil proteins in eukaryotes (10%) as in prokaryotes and archaes (4%–5%), and we predicted ∼15%–25% of all proteins to be secreted by most eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Every tenth protein had no known homolog in current databases, and 30%–40% of the proteins fell into structural families with >100 members. A classification by cellular function verified that eukaryotes have a higher proportion of proteins for communication with the environment. Finally, we found at least one homolog of experimentally known structure for ∼20%–45% of all proteins; the regions with structural homology covered 20%–30% of all residues. These numbers may or may not suggest that there are 1200–2600 folds in the universe of protein structures. All predictions are available at http://cubic.bioc.columbia.edu/genomes.
Method for analyzing spike patterns with Markov transition matrices and Kullback-Leibler divergence

We describe a novel method for analyzing neural data that uses a combination of Markov transition matrices and Kullback-Leibler divergence to characterize spike history and spike patterns. For this method, the interspike intervals (ISIs) are divided into bins by quantiles, and a Markov transition matrix is computed for the ISI sequence. This Markov transition matrix is then compared to another Markov transition matrix constructed under the assumption of independent spiking. We then compute the Kullback-Leibler divergence between the distributions of ISI transition probabilities for each bin. The purpose of this method is to quantify the effects of spike history on neuron output and to help better characterize the flaws associated with assuming independent spiking. We test this method on both simulated data and experimental data from primary visual cortex of cats, publicly available through CRCNS [1-3]. Interspike intervals are simulated based on exponential and gamma distributions fit to the corresponding experimental ISI distributions.
Society of Pediatric Psychology Presidential Address: Back to the Future in Pediatric Psychology: Promoting Effective, Accessible, and Affordable Interventions

Pediatric psychologists have been affected by the political and economic changes in health care during the last few years. The changes manifested in the new models of health care delivery (i.e., managed care) have stressed practitioners (Roberts & Hurley, 1997). While trying to maintain quality of care, practitioners must also attempt to contain cost and provide unencumbered access to services. This situation has created questions about the value of our services. Defining the value of pediatric psychology interventions is complex since it involves the interrelationship between cost, quality, and access. Pediatric psychology has historically emphasized engaging in more applied intervention research, analyzing the benefit and cost of interventions, and looking toward prevention as the most cost-effective of all possible interventions. Thus, the historical roots of pediatric psychology may help to provide a practical template by which the question of value in health care delivery can be understood and effectively negotiated in the future. This article will examine the value of the services provided by pediatric psychologists in terms of the interface between accessibility (i.e., fast), cost (i.e., cheap), and quality (i.e., good). Although the
The effects of cultural differences between the west and Saudi Arabia on emergency evacuation—clothing effects on walking speed

Summary Evacuation analysis is an integral part of safety when dealing with the increasing number of complex building designs around the world. During such analysis, engineers use predetermined input values based on experiments for factors such as alarm reaction time and walking speed. However, much of the data currently in use were collected in Western countries, such as the UK and the USA, and were applied regardless of where the building will be constructed. This research explores the suitability of applying such data cross-culturally, with a focus on Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is of particular interest because of cultural differences in traditional clothing, personal space, fire training, and religious requirements, such as gender segregation. Because these factors could impact evacuation behavior and movement speeds, data were collected and analyzed on the effects of traditional Saudi clothing on movement speeds of different genders in Saudi Arabia. Outcomes of our analysis indicate that the length and type of clothing worn by women in Saudi Arabia have a significant effect on their walking speeds on flat surfaces and when ascending and descending stairways. This paper highlights the effects of cultural differences and presents a set of data that can be used when conducting an evacuation analysis within Saudi Arabia. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Double-stranded and single-stranded RNA viruses of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Yeast RNA viruses include L-A (and its toxin-encoding satellites M1, M2, ...) and L-BC dsRNA viruses and the single-stranded replicons 20S RNA and 23S RNA. L-A has a single-segment 4.6-kb linear genome encoding a major coat protein (gag) and its RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (pol), the latter expressed as a gag-pol fusion protein formed by a -1 ribosomal frameshift. In vitro replication, transcription, and binding systems for L-A have been used to define cis sites necessary for packaging and replication of viral RNA. Cellular functions that promote viral replication include the MAK3-encoded N-acetyltransferase whose modification of the gag N terminus is necessary for L-A virus assembly. The toxins encoded by the M satellite RNAs are processed by enzymes (KEX1 and KEX2, for killer expression) whose study led to discovery of mammalian hormone-processing enzymes. 20S RNA is an apparently naked circular RNA replicon (with a dsRNA form called W) encoding a RNA polymerase-like molecule. Its copy number is induced 10,000-fold in 1% potassium acetate, and it is subject to the same SKI antiviral system that represses L-A, L-BC, and M dsRNA copy number.
Design and Performance of PRAN: A System for Physical Implementation of Ad Hoc Network Routing Protocols

Simulation and physical implementation are both valuable tools in evaluating ad hoc network routing protocols, but neither alone is sufficient. In this paper, we present the design and performance of PRAN, a new system for the physical implementation of ad hoc network routing protocols that unifies these two types of evaluation methodologies. PRAN (physical realization of ad hoc networks) allows existing simulation models of ad hoc network routing protocols to be used - without modification - to create a physical implementation of the same protocol. We have evaluated the simplicity and portability of our approach across multiple protocols and multiple operating systems through example implementations in PRAN of the DSR and AODV routing protocols in FreeBSD and Linux using the standard existing, unmodified ns-2 simulation model of each. We illustrate the ability of the resulting protocol implementations to handle real, demanding applications by describing a demonstration with this DSR implementation transmitting real-time video streams over a multihop mobile ad hoc network; the demonstration features mobile robots being remotely operated based on the real-time video stream transmitted from the robot over the network. We also present a detailed performance evaluation of PRAN to show the feasibility of our architecture
Injection Therapy in the Management of Musculoskeletal Injuries of the Knee

Injections of the knee joint and the surrounding structures are one of the most common interventions performed by providers of musculoskeletal care. With appropriate patient selection, injections may provide substantial short-term relief with infrequent complications. Longer-term outcomes, including modification of the underlying disease processes, are debated within the literature. In this review, we provide an overview of injection therapy in and around the knee, with a focus on the indications, complications, pertinent techniques (including preparation, approaches, and aftercare), types of injectables (corticosteroids, viscosupplementation, and platelet-rich plasma), and evidence-based recommendations for roles of injection therapy in both intra- and extra-articular disease processes.
The Geolinguistic Framework for Planning and Urban Development in Belgium

All states have regional differences of an economic, social, and cultural character that cannot be ignored in a consideration of their experiences with planning and urban development. Despite the expanding reach of the modem state into all facets of human affairs, local and regional differences play a fundamental role in social and political life (Agnew, 1987). Nowhere is this more clearly seen than in societies where linguistic or religious differences have taken on political and territorial significance. In such societies, cultural divisions frequently influence the choices that are made by central planning authorities and shape the power and outlook of those responsible for planning at the local level.
Typologies in Women

Historically, there has been considerable interest in developing alcoholic typologies with the belief that typologies would facilitate treatment development and stimulate meaningful research. Most of the existing typologies can be classified into one of two broad camps: the behavioral typologies and the family history/genetic typologies. Recent work has focused on the integration of these two strategies into comprehensive typological systems. This chapter provides an overview of the major typologies, noting their various strengths and weaknesses. Common weaknesses among existing typologies are that female alcoholics have not been adequately studied and/or are stereotyped. Behavioral heterogeneity within the female alcoholic population is discussed and suggestions for typological development are noted.
Free Speech on the Internet: Beyond 'Indecency'

The early returns from the courts in Internet speech cases have been curiously mixed. Despite euphoria over the first CDA case, and several other notable victories on issues including federal encryption export regulation and state content curbs, there is a darker side to this quite incomplete picture. The risk of adverse early precedent is well illustrated by the Sixth Circuit's Thomas decision, uncritically applying print obscenity standards to digital material, and the tenth Circuit's Loving decision, which sustained a state university's denial of faculty access to many alt.sex newsgroups. Perhaps most troubling are two recent district court cases now on appeal -- a judgment in San Francisco sustaining the "virtual child pornography" provisions of the 1996 Hatch Bill, and one in Cleveland upholding the encryption export restrictions (in direct conflict with the earlier decision of a San Francisco federal judge broadly protective of cryptography). While differences of various sorts exist between the favorable and unfavorable early returns, most striking is the careful preparation and documentation reflectd in cases filed by groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Library Association, Electronic Frontier Foundation and others. Success in challenging future threats to speech in cyberspace will depend substantially on the strength and coordination of such efforts.
Large Angle Reorientation of a Solar Sail Using Gimballed Mass Control

This paper proposes a control strategy for the large angle reorientation of a solar sail equipped with a gimballed mass. The algorithm consists of a first stage that manipulates the gimbal angle in order to minimize the attitude error about a single principal axis. Once certain termination conditions are reached, a regulator is employed that selects a single gimbal angle for minimizing both the residual attitude error concomitantly with the body rate. Because the force due to the specular reflection of radiation is always directed along a reflector’s surface normal, this form of thrust vector control cannot generate torques about an axis normal to the plane of the sail. Thus, in order to achieve three-axis control authority a 1-2-1 or 2-1-2 sequence of rotations about principal axes is performed. The control algorithm is implemented directly in-line with the nonlinear equations of motion and key performance characteristics are identified.
Problems of Implementing Change in Two Hospital Settings

Abstract The design and the implementation of hospital management information systems are often identified as the separable domains of the technical and behavioral scientist respectively. By recognizing the three requirements of a successful implementation, (technically sound innovation, favorable attitudes, thorough learning of new techniques) the nature of the interdependence between design and implementation is made more explicit, as is the need for negotiations between the original change designers, and those who will use the innovation. The sequential nature of the negotiations is identified, and problems in making the negotiation/renegotiation process successful are discussed.
A MELUS Interview: Wendy RoseInterviewer

Wendy Rose was born in Oakland, California in 1948. She is a descendent through her mother's ancestry of the almost extinct Miwok tribe of California. Herfather, an artist, is a member of the Hopi Indian tribe in Arizona. Her poems allude to this experience of a mixed-blood Hopi Indian living outside of matriarchal social culture and reservation life. One of her most recent books, The Halfbreed Chronicles & Other Poems, presents a similar theme of alienation. More recently, however, she has focused less on ethnicity and more on universal human cooperation for ecology. In 1980 her book of poems Lost Copper was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Rose's work includes several other books of poetry: Hopi Roadrunner Dancing; Long Division: A Tribal History; Academic Squaw: Reports to the World from the Ivory Tower; Poetry of the American Indian Series; Builder Kachina: A Home-going Cycle; What Happened When the Hopi Hit New York. She began her writing career while a teenager in the '60s after dropping out of high school at El Cerrito, California. Her earliest poems, published in anthologies comprised of young American Indian poets, were written under the penname Cheron Khanshendel. Currently, she is a Ph.d. candidate in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is completing her dissertation, a voluminous bibliography and social analysis of books written by Native Americans. Besides writing poetry, she also paints. As well, she is the acting editor of the American Indian Quarterly, a publication sponsored by the Native American Studies Department at Berkeley.
Telephone Intervention for Pregnant Smokers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction Pregnant smokers are advised to quit; however, many struggle to do so. Behavioral counseling can increase quitting success, but the efficacy of telephone counseling for pregnant smokers has not been established. This study tests the efficacy of pregnancy-specific counseling, embedded in the ongoing operations of a state quitline. Design In this two-group RCT, participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (telephone counseling plus self-help materials, n =584) or the control group (self-help materials only, n =589). Setting/participants Participants were pregnant smokers (N=1,173) in the first 27 weeks of gestation who called a state quitline between September 2000 and May 2003 for help with quitting. Intervention The primary component of the intervention was telephone counseling using a semi-structured protocol developed specifically for pregnant smokers. It drew its basic structure and clinical content from a previously tested counseling protocol for adult quitline callers, while including pregnancy-specific content and additional counseling sessions (nine rather than the standard five). Main outcome measures Subjects were evaluated on prolonged abstinence at the third trimester (about 29 weeks' gestation) and at 2 and 6 months postpartum. Data were analyzed in 2015. Results Abstinence was higher for the intervention than the control group at the end of pregnancy (30-day abstinence, 29.6% vs 20.1%; p p p p Conclusions A pregnancy-specific counseling protocol, embedded in a state quitline, was effective in helping pregnant smokers quit and stay quit postpartum. Wide adoption of this intervention could help reduce the rate of maternal smoking and prevent its devastating health consequences. Trial Registration This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT02144883.
Investigations of the Electrochemical Behavior of Hydrocarbons in Adiponitrile

The very wide 8-volt potential range of adiponitrile/0.20 M tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate has been exploited for the investigation of hydrocarbon electrochemistry. Naphthalene undergoes reversible one-electron reduction in this solvent system at glassy carbon; however, naphthalene oxidation is irreversible. The reduction of benzene is not observed, but its oxidation is also irreversible. The electrochemical oxidation of cyclohexene can also be observed in this system, but addition of cyclohexane caused only a slight (+0.1 V) shift in the positive potential limit. A comparison with results in other solvent systems is presented.