cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Read Clouds Uncover Variation in Complex Regions of the Human Genome

The rapid advance of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has decreased the cost of genomic sequencing dramatically, enabling accurate variant discovery across whole genomes of many individuals. Current large-scale and cost-effective resequencing platforms produce reads of limited length, and as a result, reliable identification of variants within highly homologous regions of a target genome remains challenging.
Local conversations 2.0

In this paper, we describe Colloki, a web based local conversation system. Colloki aims to utilize a set of social and organizational features for a conversational environment that we believe is more effective than prevalent alternatives like forums and collaborative blogs.
Rhodium cluster complexes containing bridging phenylgermanium ligands.

The reaction of Rh4(CO)12 with Ph3GeH at 97 °C has yielded the first rhodium cluster complexes containing bridging germylene and germylyne ligands: Rh8(CO)12(μ4-GePh)6, 9, and Rh3(CO)5(GePh3)(μ-GePh2)3(μ3-GePh)(μ-H), 10. When the reaction is performed under hydrogen, the yield of 9 is increased to 42% and no 10 is formed. Compound 9 contains a cluster of eight rhodium atoms arranged in the form of a distorted cube. There are six μ4-GePh groups bridging each face of this distorted cube. Four of the rhodium atoms have two terminal carbonyl ligands, while the remaining four rhodium atoms have only one carbonyl ligand. Compound 10 contains a triangular cluster of three rhodium atoms with one terminal GePh3 ligand, three bridging GePh2 ligands, and one triply bridging GePh ligand. There is also one hydrido ligand that is believed to bridge one of the Rh−Ge bonds. Compound 9 reacted with PPhMe2 at 25 °C to give the tetraphosphine derivative Rh8(CO)8(PPhMe2)4(μ4-GePh)6, 11. The structure of 11 is similar to 9 e...
O-GlcNAc transferase and O-GlcNAcase: achieving target substrate specificity.

O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) catalyze the dynamic cycling of intracellular, post-translational O-GlcNAc modification on thousands of Ser/Thr residues of cytosolic, nuclear, and mitochondrial signaling proteins. The identification of O-GlcNAc modified substrates has revealed a functionally diverse set of proteins, and the extent of O-GlcNAcylation fluctuates in response to nutrients and cellular stress. As a result, OGT and OGA are implicated in widespread, nutrient-responsive regulation of numerous signaling pathways and transcriptional programs. These enzymes are required for normal embryonic development and are dysregulated in metabolic and age-related disease states. While a recent surge of interest in the field has contributed to understanding the functional impacts of protein O-GlcNAcylation, little is known about the upstream mechanisms which modulate OGT and OGA substrate targeting. This review focuses on elements of enzyme structure among splice variants, post-translational modification, localization, and regulatory protein interactions which drive the specificity of OGT and OGA toward different subsets of the cellular proteome. Ongoing efforts in this rapidly advancing field are aimed at revealing mechanisms of OGT and OGA regulation to harness the potential therapeutic benefit of manipulating these enzymes’ activities.
Mouse models for dissecting vertebrate planar cell polarity signaling in the inner ear

Planar cell polarity (PCP) refers to coordinated polarization of cells in the plane of a cell sheet. In Drosophila, the stereotypical arrangement of the eight photoreceptor cells in each of the ommatidia of the fly compound eye and the uniform orientation of the hairs in all the wing cells are two representative forms of PCP. Using these powerful Drosophila model systems, a set of genes was identified to constitute the invertebrate PCP signaling pathway. In vertebrates, the inner ear sensory organs display distinctive forms of PCP. In particular, the auditory sensory organ in the cochlea, adorned with precisely patterned sensory hair cell arrays and uniformly oriented hair bundles, has served as an excellent model system to complement other vertebrate PCP models and has illustrated a genetic pathway that consists of genes conserved from the Drosophila model as well as genes uniquely required for vertebrate PCP regulation. This review will focus on the mouse models that have made valuable contributions to our current understanding of PCP signaling in the vertebrates.
Effect on health outcomes of a community-based medication therapy management program for seniors with limited incomes.

Aging is closely linked to a broad array of risk factors that are associated with chronic disease and declining health. With increasing age, most individuals will have a growing and sustained need for a variety of prescription drug therapies. In a survey of noninstitutionalized adults, 94% of women
Micromagnetics of magnetisation reversal mechanism in Permalloy chain-of-sphere structure with magnetic vortices

Magnetisation reversal mechanism in a chain of closely spaced Permalloy nanospheres is presented using 3D micromagnetic simulation. While smaller spheres (d ∼ 20 nm) containing single domain reverses via domain switching mechanism, the larger sphere (d ∼ 50 nm) possessing magnetic vortices changes the orientation through vortex creation and annihilation (VCA) mechanism. The effect of total number of spheres (comprising the chain structure) and incidence angle of externally applied field on the VCA mechanism is explained in detail. The variation in coercivity, remanence, exchange energy and vortex parameters are discussed for the Permalloy chain-of-sphere system with uniform sphere size.
Low density of small mammals at Las Cuevas, Belize

Summary Small mammal ( Marmosa mexicana , Heteromys desmarestianus and Ototylomys phyllotis accounted for 68% of mammals ( Didelphis marsupialis dominated captures of mammals >200 g. Trap success increased with litter fall across grids. Trap success and density tended to be higher at the onset of the dry season. More females were breeding and more animals were in poor body condition at the onset of the wet season. Across studies using grid trapping in the neotropics, diversity and density were positively related to trapping effort. Despite this effect, small mammal densities at Las Cuevas were 2.7 per ha for mammals Didelphis densities had a negative effect on densities of all other small mammals across studies; however, this relationship was driven largely by our study. A combination of poor soil, high Didelphis densities, and high predator densities is hypothesized for such low densities of small (
Pressure ejection system for quantitative focal application of neuroactive substances from micropipettes.

A pressurised, pusled, drug ejection system is described. The system uses a laboratory 60 psi (414 kPa) air source, in conjunction with other components, to pressure-eject known amounts of neuroactive chemicals from micropipettes onto tissue cultured neurons. A potential-driven solenoid valve switches the flow on and off, while an electronic pressure transducer, along with associated circuitry, provides parameters of application (pressure amplitude, onset and duration). The pressure switching action has a risetime of 5–10 ms. The quantity of compound ejected can be quantitatively predetermined.
Physician Roles in Tactical Emergency Medical Support: The First 20 Years

Abstract Background The benefits of Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) elements are providing injury prevention, immediate care of injuries, and medical augmentation of the success of dangerous law enforcement operations. TEMS is recognized by civilian Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and various other law enforcement agencies around the country as a vital addition to such SWAT teams. The integration of specially trained TEMS personnel has become a key component of law enforcement special operations. Objective Our aim was to review the published literature to identify if there is a role for physicians within TEMS elements with regard to its establishment and progression, and to characterize the level of physician-specific support provided in the tactical environment for civilian tactical law enforcement teams. Discussion Physician presence as part of TEMS elements is increasing in number and popularity as the realization of the benefits provided by such physicians has become more apparent. The inclusion of physicians as active and participating members of TEMS elements is a critical measure to be taken for tactical law enforcement units. Physicians provide an added level of medical expertise to TEMS elements in rural and urban settings compared with law enforcement personnel with medic training. Conclusions Physician involvement is an essential element of a successful TEMS program. There is a need for more physicians to become involved as TEMS personnel for specialized tactical teams to spread the time commitment and increase their availability to tactical units on a daily basis.
The Finite-Population Linear Regression Estimator and Estimators of its Variance—An Empirical Study

Abstract The usual variance estimator for the linear regression estimator of a finite population total is examined under some prediction (superpopulation) models. Its bias is compared with that of the least squares variance estimator. Also described are three bias-robust alternatives, one of which is the jackknife variance estimator. The theoretical results are supported by an empirical study in which simple and restricted random samples as well as some purposive (nonrandom) samples are drawn from six real populations. The results illustrate the need for prediction models, and the inadequacy of randomization per se, in providing a theoretical framework for robust inferences.
Thermal proteinoids as excitability-inducing materials.

Abstract The deposition of thermal copolyamino acids on planar lipid membranes causes oscillations and action potentials upon electrical stimulation. Results are reported for compositionally simple thermal copoly(asp,glu) and for a more heterotonic polyamino acid. The data conform to the inference that electrical activity of cellular membranes is due to the polypeptide components, not to the lipid components. Because of the ease and controllability of producing polypeptides by thermal copolymerization of amino acids, new possibilities in investigation of structure-excitability relationships are provided.
Observations on destruction of spermatozoa in the cauda epididymidis and proximal vas deferens of non‐seasonal male mammals

The electron microscope has been used to examine luminal spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis and proximal vas deferens of rats, mice, hamsters and guinea pigs. Free in the lumen of all species are accumulations of a dense material within which are vesicles, granules and dense bodies, as well as spermatozoa. The spermatozoa are undergoing a process of degeneration as judged by a loss of plasma membrane from both heads and tails and further disruption of acrosomal membranes, mitochondrial sheaths and outer dense fibers. Disruption of spermatozoa also occurs outside these obvious dense masses when the luminal protein precipitated by the fixation procedure has contact with the spermatozoon. Intact spermatozoa are separated from luminal material by a clear "halo".
Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in a Model for Tyrosine Oxidation in Photosystem II

Theoretical calculations of a model for tyrosine oxidation in photosystem II are presented. In this model system, an electron is transferred to ruthenium from tyrosine, which is concurrently deprotonated. This investigation is motivated by experimental measurements of the dependence of the rates on pH and temperature (Sjodin et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 3932). The mechanism is proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) at pH 10 when the tyrosine is initially deprotonated. The PCET rate increases monotonically with pH, whereas the single ET rate is independent of pH and is 2 orders of magnitude faster than the PCET rate. The calculations reproduce these experimentally observed trends. The pH dependence for the PCET reaction arises from the decrease in the reaction free energies with pH. The calculations indicate that the larger rate for single ET arises from a combination of factors, including the smaller solve...
Prosocial behaviors of five-year-old children in sixteen learning/activity centers

Abstract Prosocial behaviors that occurred when five-year-olds interacted within different learning/activity centers in a multi-age preschool setting were investigated. Using field observations and interviews, researchers examined the prosocial behaviors of nine target five-year-old children. The children and their 20 younger classmates were observed for a total of 45 hours. The 415 observed prosocial behaviors occurred in 16 learning/activity centers. There were significantly more proximity seeking, helping, and sharing behaviors than other kinds of prosocial behaviors in the centers. The children were most prosocial in the creating type centers. The authors share reasons for the findings and implications for classrooms.
A Smithsonian jewel: biological collections.

One of the “jewels in the crown” of the Smithsonian Institution—the national biological collections and their associated systematics research programs—is overlooked in the News Focus article about Smithsonian science (“Turmoil behind the exhibits” by E. Pennisi, 13 Jul., p. [194][1]). At
Effects of atrial natriuretic factor on urinary concentration of catecholamines and renin secretion in dogs

This study evaluated the effects of synthetic atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on renal hemodynamics, urinary excretion of electrolytes, norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA); and renal production of renin in anesthetized dogs. Following a bolus (1 μg/kg body weight) and infusion (0.1 μg/kg/min) for 30 min, there was significant increase in urine flow (220 ± 41%), glomerular filtration rate (72 ± 14%), and urinary sodium excretion (170 ± 34%). There was a decrease in renin secretory rate and the concentration ratio of urine NE to DA following ANF was decreased (p
Microwave, infrared, and Raman spectra, structural parameters, vibrational assignments and theoretical calculations of 1,1,3,3-tetrafluoro-1,3-disilacyclopentane

Abstract The FT-microwave spectrum of 1,1,3,3-tetrafluoro-1,3-disilacyclopentane ( c -C 3 H 6 Si 2 F 4 ) has been recorded and 339 transitions for 6 isotopologues have been assigned for the twist conformation. The ground state rotational constants were determined with values for the normal species: A = 2102.74026(68), B = 751.34319(32), C = 736.51478(31). Adjusted r 0 parameters are reported with distances (A): r C α –Si = 1.859(2), r Si–C β = 1.864(2), r Si–F 1 = 1.583(3), r Si–F 2 = 1.578(3), and r C β –C β = 1.559(3), and angles (°): ∠SiC α Si = 102.8(3), ∠C α SiC β = 104.3(3), ∠SiC β C β ′ = 106.6(3), τ C β SiC α Si = 10.7(3), and τ SiC β C β ′ Si = 40.8(3). The conformational stabilities have been predicted from ab initio calculations utilizing several various basis sets. Vibrational assignments have been provided for the observed bands for the twist conformer which are supported by ab initio calculations to predict harmonic force constants, vibrational wavenumbers, infrared intensities, Raman activities and depolarization ratios. The results are discussed and compared to the corresponding properties of some related molecules.
Multiple receptor tyrosine kinases promote the in vitro phenotype of metastatic human osteosarcoma cell lines

The survival rate for osteosarcoma patients with localized disease is 70% and only 25% for patients with metastases. Therefore, novel therapeutic and prognostic tools are needed. In this study, extensive screening and validation strategies identified Axl, EphB2, FGFR2, IGF-1R and Ret as specific receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) that are activated and promote the in vitro phenotype of two genetically different metastatic osteosarcoma cell lines. Initial phosphoproteomic screening identified twelve RTKs that were phosphorylated in 143B and/or LM7 metastatic human osteosarcoma cells. A small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen demonstrated that siRNA pools targeting ten of the twelve RTKS inhibited the in vitro phenotype of one or both cell lines. To validate the results, we individually tested the four siRNA duplexes that comprised each of the effective siRNA pools from the initial screen. The pattern of phenotype inhibition replicated the pattern of mRNA knockdown by the individual duplexes for seven of the ten RTKs, indicating the effects are consistent with on-target silencing. Five of those seven RTKs were further validated using independent approaches including neutralizing antibodies (IGF-1R), antisense-mediated knockdown (EphB2, FGFR2, and Ret) or small molecule inhibitors (Axl), indicating that those specific RTKs promote the in vitro behavior of metastatic osteosarcoma cell lines and are potential therapeutic targets for osteosarcoma. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that Axl is frequently activated in osteosarcoma patient biopsy samples, further supporting our screening and validation methods to identify RTKs that may be valuable targets for novel therapies for osteosarcoma patients.
Intranuclear inclusions in neurons of the cat primary olfactory system.

Abstract The ultrastructure of two diverse types of intranuclear inclusions are described for neurons of the cat olfactory system. One is a rod or spindle-shaped structure of densely packed parallel filaments and the other has a crystalline lattice appearance. Apparently, both inclusions are more widespread in the olfactory brain than many other brain regions. Three-dimensional analysis was carried out using serial section methods to assess the solid geometry of the rodlet and lattice and the relationship of these intranuclear structures to the nucleolus and nuclear membrane. By this technique it is demonstrated that the rodlet crosses the nucleoplasm from pole to pole but does not penetrate the nuclear membrane. The lattice is also extensive in its intranuclear arrangement. From analytical measurements obtained from micrographs through different orientation planes of the lattice, an interpretative model is proposed that accords with all the various structural features of this extraordinary intranuclear body. The prevalence of both of these intranuclear inclusions in the cat anterior olfactory nucleus affords an opportunity for conducting cytochemical experiments attempting to understand the fundamental nature of these structures.
Measuring the Capacitance of Electrical Wiring and Humans for Proximity Sensing with Existing Electrical Infrastructure

In a recent series of electric field sensing experiments, a Theremin was used to measure the mutual capacitance between a human being and a length of electrical wiring. The instrument, based on the LM555 circuit, measures the deflections in capacitance due to the proximity of a human. The measurements are repeatable, and the difference in capacitance for a person at one-half meter with a person at one meter is consistent with the difference computed assuming the human acts as a ground plane for the wiring. Much of the current literature in electric field sensing focuses on measures and models of mutual capacitance for humans interacting with plate conductors [1,2], especially fingers near touch screens [3]. Our investigation considers conducting wires to allow development of portable, rapidly deployable human proximity sensing systems that exploit existing electrical infrastructure in buildings. The experiment described here demonstrates that sensing with wires is possible at ranges on the order of a meter and provides evidence that modeling the person as a ground plane of finite extent provides a rough estimate of the change in mutual capacitance.
The effect of 4-aminopyridine on acetylcholine release.

The effect of 2-, and 4-aminopyridine (4-APYR) on the release mechanism of acetylcholine (ACh) from the nerve terminals of the Auerbach plexus-longitudinal muscle preparation of the guinea-pig ileum, suspended in eserinized Krebs' solution, was investigated. 2- and 4-APYR increased the release of ACh from the nerve terminals at rest and at both low and high frequency stimulation. The enhanced ACh release was found to be due to increased volley output. At lower frequency of stimulation, the potentiation of ACh release was much higher than at higher rate of stimulation. 4-APYR was able to increase ACh release in the absence of [Ca2+]0. However, when a Ca-chelating agent, EDTA, was also added to the Ca-free Krebs' solution, 4-APYR was entirely ineffective. The depression of ACh release induced by Mg-excess was completely antagonized by 4-APYR. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) prevented augmentation of ACh release by 4-APYR. It is suggested that 4-APYR lowers the demand of nerve terminals for [Ca2+]0 required for the excitation-secretion coupling process. The presence of a low concentration [Ca2+]0, however, is essential for the action of 4-APYR.
Talking about internal states in mother–child reminiscing influences children's self-representations: A cross-cultural study

Abstract This study examined the relation of mother–child discussions of internal states during reminiscing to the development of trait and evaluative self-representations in 131 European American and Chinese immigrant 3-year olds. Mothers and children discussed one positive and one negative event, and children were interviewed for self-descriptions. Euro-American mothers and children made more references to internal states and focused more on causal talk than did Chinese, and Euro-American children were more likely than Chinese children to describe their own traits and evaluative characteristics. Mothers’ and children's use of internal state language during reminiscing of the negative event uniquely predicted children's trait and evaluative self-representations, independent of culture. Explanations of internal states and conversing in the negative event context were particularly effective in predicting children's self-representations. Discussions of internal states further mediated cultural influences on children's self-representations. The findings provide new insight into the contribution of parent–child reminiscing to the development of self.
On the location of β-turns

β-Turns are a common feature of cyclic peptides, but judging from recent x-ray and solution studies of cyclic hexapeptides it is not always possible to predict in advance the type of turn and the position of the turns in the sequence. Two or more backbone conformations containing β-turns may be of comparable energy and in rapid solvent- and temperature-dependent equilibrium in solution. The use of differential relaxation effects produced by a nitroxyl radical to locate β-turns with only minor perturbation of such equilibria is noted. Examination of the effect of a nitroxyl on the N-H resonances of the decapeptide hormone luteinizing hormone releasing hormone supports a dominant conformation with a β-turn at Gly6-Leu7. Although this turn is probably part of the biologically active conformation, it is not obvious in the more active [D-Ala6] analog.
Acid DNAase activity from Dictyostelium discoideum.

Abstract We have isolated and partially characterized an acid endonuclease activity from the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum . This activity comprises more than 90% of the nonspecific DNA-endonuclease activity of the vegetative cells. Its molecular weight is about 44000, and its activity is enhanced 7-fold by Mg 2+ . The pH optimum for the nicking activity depends upon NaCl concentrations, being at pH 5.0 in 207 mM NaCl, and at pH 5.8 in 7 mM NaCl. Large quantities of this enzyme activity are released into the growth medium or buffer, with detectable amounts appearing within 15 min of incubation.
A decision-making approach to the operation of flexible manufacturing systems

This paper introduces a generic decision-making framework for assigning resources of a manufacturing system to production tasks. Resources are broadly defined production units, such as machines, human operators, or material handling vehicles; and tasks are activities performed by resources. In the specific context of FMS, resources correspond to individual machines; tasks correspond to operations to be performed on parts. The framework assumes a hierarchical structure of the system and calls for the execution of four consecutive steps to make a decision for the assignment of a resource to a task. These steps are 1) establishment of decision-making criteria, 2) formation of alternative assignments, 3) estimation of the consequences of the assignments, and 4) selection of the best alternative assignment. This framework has been applied to an existing FMS as an operational policy that decides what task will be executed on which resource of this FMS. Simulation runs provide some initial results of the application of this policy. It is shown that the policy provides flexibility in terms of system performance and computational effort.
Hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States: Prognostic features, treatment outcome, and survival

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to investigate prognostic factors at presentation and the survival of North American patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS A retrospective analysis of medical records was performed for 314 patients identified through the Tumor Registry as having been evaluated for hepatocellular carcinoma at the Deaconess Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, from 1986 through 1995. Clinical characteristics were noted, including age, sex, TNM staging, serum biochemistries, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), patency of portal vasculature, cirrhosis, history of alcohol abuse, hepatitis-B or C positivity, hemochromatosis, treatment received, and ultimate survival from the date of diagnosis. RESULTS Overall median survival was 10 months. The presence of cirrhosis, a history of alcohol abuse, low albumin, high bilirubin, abnormal AFP, and portal vein obstruction (PVO) were each associated with significantly shorter survival, as was advanced stage. Only albumin, AFP, and PVO were independent risk factors by multiple regression analysis. Patients undergoing surgery had the longest median survival (45 months), followed by those receiving chemoembolization (14 months). Those patients who were untreated or received systemic chemotherapy alone had significantly shorter survivals (2-4 months). CONCLUSIONS Despite the difference in the underlying etiology of HCC in this population compared with Asian patients, poor prognostic indicators are similar. In this large series of patients at a single Northeastern hospital, analysis of presenting clinical characteristics was found to offer useful prognostic information. Cancer 1996;77:2217-22.
Alternative target functions for protein structure prediction with neural networks

The prediction and modeling of protein structure is a central problem in bioinformatics. Neural networks have been used extensively to predict the secondary structure of proteins. While significant progress has been made by using multiple sequence data, the ability to predict secondary structure from a single sequence and a single prediction network has stagnated with an accuracy of about 75%. This implies that there is some limit to the accuracy of the prediction. In order to understand this behavior we asked the question of what happens as we change the target function for the prediction. Instead of predicting a derived quantity, such as whether a given chain is a helix, sheet or turn, we tested whether a more directly observed quantity such as the distance between a pair of α-carbon atoms could be predicted with reasonable accuracy. The α-carbon atom position is central to each residue in the protein and the distances between them in sequence define the backbone of protein. Knowledge of the distances between the α-carbon atoms is sufficient to determine the three dimensional structure of the protein. We have trained on distance data derived from the complete protein structure database (pdb) using a multi-layered perceptron (MLP) feedforward neural network with back propagation. It shows that the root of mean square error is 4.4 A while the mean of actual output is 11.5 A with orthogonal coding of protein primary sequence. Other coding schemes including BLOSUM62 coding and linear coding were tested with another two target functions of cutoff accuracy and correlation coefficient. The best correlation coefficient was achieved with BLOSUM62 coding scheme and the cutoff accuracy reached about 60%.
The Politics of Diversity: Immigration, Resistance, and Change in Monterey Park, California/ American Dreaming: Immigrant Life on the Margins/ Multiculturalism from the Margins: Non‐Dominant Voices on Difference and Diversity

The Politics of Diversity: Immigration, Resistance, and Change in Monterey Park, California. JOHN HORTON, with the assistance of JOSE CALDERON, MARY PARDO, LELAND SAITO, LINDA SHAW, and YEN-FEN TSENG. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1995 x+ 273 pp., illustrations, index. American Dreaming: Immigrant Life on the Margins. SARAH J. MAHLER. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1995. xiv + 268 pp., illustrations, maps, index. Multiculturalism from the Margins: Non-Dominant Voices on Difference and Diversity. DEAN A. HARRIS, ed. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey, 1995. xvii + 193 pp., index.
Isolation and culturing of primary human colonocytes

In our laboratory, human cells and tissues are used as experimental models to understand the pathogenesis of human diseases. A reproducible method for the isolation and culturing of colonocytes from human surgical specimens has been developed. This method involves the dissection of the colon specimen to expose the mucosa, cleaning of the mucosa surface, and digestion of the mucosa with a mixture of pronase and collagenase. The dissociated colonocytes are then quantified and cultured on collagen-coated plastic. Our procedure yields approx. 30–40 million viable colonocytes per gram of tissue, with a viability of approx. 90%. We believe that the primary colonocyte cultures can be used to study important human diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Pulse Oximetry During Helicopter Transport

The study objective was to determine if pulse oximetry readings obtained during helicopter transport were indicative of subsequent arterial blood-gas measured saturations. A prospective study design was chosen. Data were gathered on a convenience sample of patients 18 years and older not under cardiopulmonary resuscitation; 101 patients were used for the study. Pulse oximeter readings of oxygen saturation and heart rate were recorded along with simultaneous vital signs. Arterial saturation in blood gases drawn in the emergency department were added to the patient record. Improper functioning of the pulse oximeter was recorded on 10 (9.9%) of the patients. No correlation was found between the probe type and the documented problems (PHI=0.009). The pulse oximeter saturation readings were not significantly different from arterial saturation in blood gases when compared by paired samples t-test (t=0.880, p=0.383). There was also no significant difference between the patient's heart rate sensed by the pulse oximeter and the simultaneous palpated pulse rate. Percent saturation readings by repeated measures were statistically different (p
A Discrete Site Modulates Activation of I Domains APPLICATION TO INTEGRIN αMβ2

A central characteristic of integrin adhesion receptors is their capacity to become activated, thereby enhancing their affinity for ligands. Here, we report the identification of a discrete site within the I domain of integrin alphaMbeta2, which modulates the adhesive activity of this receptor. Based upon the crystal structure, this region is composed of two short and spatially proximal loops, E162QLKKSKTL and Q190NNPNPRS. Mutations in these loops yield receptors which support spontaneous cell adhesion to fibrinogen, whereas mutation of an adjacent region and wild-type receptors require activation to adhere to this substrate. An activating monoclonal antibody enhanced the adhesive activity of one but not the other loop mutants, suggesting that the activation states of these two mutant receptors were not identical. Given that similar I domains exist in several other integrin alpha subunits and non-integrin proteins, and possibly in all integrin beta subunits, these two loop segments may represent a universal target for controlling integrin activation and the function of other I domain-containing proteins. In support of this hypothesis, several naturally occurring mutations that activate von Willebrand factor map to the same loops of its I(A) domain.
Electrolytic capacitors produced from deformation-processed two-phase alloys

Arc cast Cu-Ta and powder processed Al-Ta and Al-Nb composite alloys have been examined as potential materials for making electrolytic capacitors. These two phase alloys can be severely cold-worked, deformation-processed, to produce Ta surface areas considerably larger than those possible with the powder processing used in current Ta capacitors. The three alloys were deformation-processed into sheet and rod form and then processed through anodization, electrolyte formation and cathode fabrication steps to make prototype capacitors. The capacitors were tested for capacitance, effective series resistance and leakage. The figure of merit,CVg−1, (capacitance × voltage per gram) values obtained closely approached those of currently manufactured capacitors but d.c. leakage values were unacceptably high using a solid electrolyte. To realize the full potential of this new method for fabricating Al-Ta capacitors further research is required to improve the deformation of the Ta powders and to find methods of anodization and solid-state electrolyte formation capable of maintaining oxide film integrity.
Addressing the Grand Challenges in Energy Storage

The editorial summarizes the contents of the special issue for energy storage in Advanced Functional Materials.
Optimization of encoding configuration in scalable multiple description coding for rate-adaptive P2P video multicasting

It is well-known that in peer-to-peer (P2P) streaming from a single source, single point of failure can be avoided by multiple description coding over multiple multicast trees since it provides path diversity. In this scenario, we propose using scalable multiple description coding (SMDC), where each description is scalable so that all descriptions can be efficiently adapted to the available rate of each link for effective congestion control. We also propose a multiple objective optimization (MOO) framework for selection of the best encoding configuration for SMDC from a set of candidates, which will strike the best balance between minimizing average end-to-end rate-distortion performance of each description given a set of packet loss probabilities, while minimizing overall redundancy and maximizing the range of extraction points of each scalable description. The optimization variables are some SVC encoding parameters and MD generation alternatives that result in different levels of redundancy at a fixed total rate for all descriptions. The framework can be used for optimization over other SVC encoding variables and MD generation methods if desired. Results of Monte-Carlo simulation of SMDC streaming of videos demonstrate the performance of the proposed method.
Effect Of Sub-Pixel Sized Cloud On Vegetation Assessment From Satellite Data

The visible and reflected infrared channels of the NOAA-7 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) are used for environmental monitoring, including agricultural crop assessment. An index consisting of a combination of digital data from these channels is used to screen the AVHRR data for cloud. The effects on spectral signature of sub-pixel sized cloud, which does not fill the entire IFOV of the instrument, are considered. It is shown that, for two different targets, for clear and turbid atmospheric conditions and for various scan angles, cloud which would not be detected during the screening process will cause substantial effects (up to a five-fold decrease) in the data.
Change of root numbers of elliptic curves under extension of scalars

Abstract In this paper we study how the root number attached to an elliptic curve E over a finite field extension K of Q 3 changes when E is considered as an elliptic curve over a finite Galois extension F of K via extension of scalars. The main result is a formula relating the root number W ( E / F ) attached to E × K F to the root number W ( E / K ) attached to E.
Keynesian Controversies on Wages

In The General Theory, Keynes advanced two hypotheses about movements in wages and urged their empirical investigation. John Dunlop, Lorie Tarshis and Henry Richardson responded to this call with articles published in the Economic Journal in the late 1930s. In turn, Keynes replied to their findings. This exchange is described and the subsequent literature on the cyclical movement of real wages and the rigidity of money wages is outlined.
Factors influencing Agrobacterium -mediated transformation of switchgrass cultivars

To optimize Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, factors influencing gene delivery, selection of transformed cells, and plant regeneration were investigated using two major switchgrass cultivars, including a lowland tetraploid cultivar Alamo and an upland octoploid cultivar Cave-in-Rock (CIR). Transient expression studies monitored by histochemical β-glucuronidase assay in seedling segments indicated that A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 was more effective in gene delivery than LBA4404 or GV3101. Of three major selectable genes, the bialaphos resistance (bar) gene and the hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) allowed effective selection of transformed cells using 2 mg l−1 glufosinate ammonium herbicide and 50 mg l−1 hygromycin, respectively; whereas the neomycin phosphotransferase II gene did not yield effective selection using 100 mg l−1 kanamycin. Herbicide- or hygromycin-resistant calluses were induced from seedling segments after 2–3 months of selection. Transformants of ‘Alamo’ with the bar or hpt were obtained 3–4 weeks after the resistant calluses were transferred onto regeneration medium; in contrast, no regenerant was produced from the calluses of ‘CIR’. Most of transformants showed normal growth in the greenhouse. Low percentages of mature seeds ranging from 1.7 to 8.7% of husks were obtained from open pollinated plants. Southern blot analysis confirmed stable integration of the bar in selected T0 transformants. Reverse transcription PCR and herbicide/hygromycin tolerance tests indicated expression of transgenes. The optimized transformation protocol using basal parts of seedling as explants shortened the process by 4–5 weeks, and it has potential use for transformation of other switchgrass cultivars.
Calculation of Risk of Colorectal and Endometrial Cancer Among Patients with Lynch Syndrome

Background & Aims Lynch syndrome is the most common hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) syndrome. Some previous estimates of lifetime risk for CRC and endometrial cancer (EC) did not control for ascertainment and were susceptible to bias toward overestimated risk. Methods We studied 147 families with mismatch repair gene mutations (55 MLH1 , 81 MSH2 , and 11 MSH6 ) identified at 2 US cancer genetics clinics. Age-specific cumulative risks (penetrance) and hazard ratio (HR) estimates of CRC and EC risks were calculated and compared with the general population using modified segregation analysis. The likelihood for each pedigree was conditioned on the proband and first-degree relatives affected with CRC to reduce ascertainment bias and overestimation of penetrance. Results We analyzed 628 cases of CRC, diagnosed at the median ages of 42 and 47 years for men and women, respectively. The cumulative risk of CRC was 66.08% (95% confidence interval [CI], 59.47%–76.17%) for men and 42.71% (95% CI, 36.57%–52.83%) for women, with overall HRs of 148.4 and 51.1, respectively. CRC risk was highest for males with mutations in MLH1 . There were 155 cases of EC, diagnosed at a median age of 47.5 years. The cumulative risk of EC was 39.39% (95% CI, 30.78%–46.94%) with an overall HR of 39.0 (95% CI, 30.4–50.2). For women, the cumulative risk of CRC or EC was 73.42% (95% CI, 63.76%–80.54%). Conclusions Lifetime risks of CRC and EC in mismatch repair gene mutation carriers are high even after adjusting for ascertainment. These estimates are valuable for patients and providers; specialized cancer surveillance is necessary.
A model of extranuclear genomes and the substitution rate under within-generation selection

A single locus model of extranuclear genomes is developed under the assumption of the complete action of within-generation drift which is caused by random transmission of multiple copy genomes during cell division in a generation. Within-generation drift segregates different copy genomes in a cell into different cells, resulting in homoplasmic cells. Under some conditions, the present model reduces to that for haploid nuclear genomes. A point overlooked in previous models is that the multiplicity also admits of the possibility of selection occurring within a cell or between cells in an individual (within-generation selection). If there is selection mediated by, for instance, differential proliferation of genomes, then a haploid model no longer explains the dynamics of extranuclear genomes. Rather a model analogous to biased gene conversion at a single locus (Nagylaki, 1983; Walsh, 1983) is more appropriate. An application of this model to either the fixation probability or substitution rate of new mutations shows that strictly maternal inheritance does not allow the fullest use of mutations, as it obscures the effect of within-generation selection. But if there is appreciable paternal contribution, within-generation selection could be a strong evolutionary force to which nuclear genomes are never exposed.
Ischemic heart disease risk factors after age 50

Previous studies have suggested that the predictive power of the three major risk factors for ischemic heart disease (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and cigarette smoking) decreases sharply with age. We re-examined this question in a cohort of 3187 adults aged 50-79 with baseline evaluation in 1972-1974 who were followed at least 9 years during a period of a marked decline in national cardiovascular disease mortality. Four-hundred and eighty-three subjects died, 123 of ischemic heart disease. Predictors of outcome were studied separately in younger (age 50-64) and older (age 65-79) groups. After multivariable adjustment for potential confounders using Cox proportional hazards models, cholesterol retained a significant independent predictor of ischemic heart disease mortality at older ages for both men and women. Cigarette smoking and hypertension were significantly related to all-cause but not to ischemic heart disease mortality in this older population. We suggest that the persistence of cholesterol as an independent predictor of fatal ischemic heart disease in old age may reflect the consequences of a shift in risk factor distribution with deferred selective mortality in a cohort with an overall favorable risk factor status.
Virtual Grand Rounds in Dermatology: an 8-year experience in web-based teledermatology.

Background Teledermatology utilizes telecommunication technologies for the exchange of dermatologic information across distances. In 2000, we developed the Virtual Grand Rounds in Dermatology (VGRD) as a free, user-friendly platform for dermatologists to present complex dermatologic cases to the international community for clinical feedback, consultation, and continuing education. Methods VGRD was designed using simple graphics to facilitate access in remote and developing geographic regions. Members present their case according to a recommended template and are encouraged to provide clinical and histopathologic photographs. Viewers’ comments are posted on the site within 24–48 h following receipt. Results VGRD's low-cost store-and-forward system allows easy accessibility to expertise for colleagues around the world. VGRD currently comprises a community of 344 clinicians across all dermatologic subspecialties, and links users to cases as well as a recent interactive addition for more urgent feedback: VGRD Blog. The Maine Virtual Skin Clinic is another sister site developed as an educational tool for physicians and residents in primary care. VGRD can be found at http://www.vgrd.org. Conclusions With its easy-to-use platform for teleconsultation services, VGRD has the potential to enhance clinical outcomes and education. In the next few years, we hope to continue to expand VGRD, including launching a comprehensive search engine in VGRD to provide users with a “one-stop resource.” With the growth of teledermatology, we will combine web consultations with web-based education into a single resource for dermatologists interested in new possibilities in clinical practice, patient care, and continuing education.
Hybrid simulation of a helicopter

The recent and rapid increase in the application of the airmobile concept within the U.S. Army is well known. Accompanying the fact of the airmobile division, brigade, etc., has been the concomitant requirement for the development and improvement of the airborne electronics (avionics) to support this major innovation in conventional warfare. This increased emphasis for the development of new and more sophisticated avionic equipments and subsystems has led to the organization of an Avionics Laboratory within the U.S. Army Electronics Command. In the Avionics Laboratory, the problem of defining system performance characteristics for advanced avionics has in turn generated a requirement for analyzing the tactical mission envelope of both existing and advanced Army aircraft. One aspect of this particular task---that of evaluating avionics systems synthesized to provide particular mission capabilities has resulted in the development of a unique man-machine known as the Tactical Avionics System Simulator (Fig. 1). This simulator system integrates a real-time hybrid digital-analog computer (expanded EAI HYDAC 2400) with two operable cockpits---e.g., functional combination of crew inclosures, motion systems, synthetic instruments, control loading, and acoustic and visual simulators (Fig. 2). As illustrated, the TASS includes all of the necessary subsystem hardware to provide for the simulation of the aircraft, the avionics systems and the external environment. The basic requirement in the implementation of this expensive and sophisticated system was that the crew be able to realistically "fly" the aircraft from hover thru transition to high-speed flight while providing the avionic engineer with a "hands on" simulation capability.
Personalized Medicine: Are We Preparing Our Students for the Knowledge Revolution?

Personalized medicine uses a patient's individual data to make decisions tailored to their specific wants and needs. In the The Decision Tree, Thomas Goetz describes how patients can be taught to make their own personal health strategy based on the “best practices of genetics, behavioral medicine, information technology and each other.”1 An increased desire by patients to be true partners in their health care decisions and the shift towards encounters and disease monitoring taking place outside the doctor's office or hospital are advancing personalized medicine initiatives. The Innovators Prescription describes a solution to decrease health care costs and increase access by using wireless medical devices, wellness programs, telehealth, medical homes, and retail clinics to deliver health care.2 So how do we prepare pharmacy students to partner with their patients in a decentralized, technology-driven, and more-personalized environment, while keeping a human touch? Fortunately, pharmacy accreditation standards already mandate that graduates be able to provide patient-centered and population-based care. 3 However, strategies to deliver that care are changing and curriculums must keep pace. This viewpoint focuses on 2 areas for consideration as we continue to prepare students for new models of health care delivery.