cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MspA Porin as a Local Nanopore Probe for Membrane-bound Proteins

Nanopore sensing is based on detection and analysis of nanopore transient conductance changes induced by analyte capture. We have recently shown that α-Synuclein (αSyn), an intrinsically disordered, membrane-active, neuronal protein implicated in Parkinson disease, can be reversibly captured by the VDAC nanopore. The capture process is a highly voltage dependent complexation of the two proteins where transmembrane potential drives the polyanionic C-terminal domain of αSyn into VDAC--exactly the mechanism by which generic nanopore-based interrogation of proteins and polynucleotides proceeds. The complex formation, and the motion of αSyn in the nanopore, thus may be expected to be only indirectly dependent on the pore identity. Here, we confirm this prediction by demonstrating that when VDAC is replaced with a different transmembrane pore, the engineered mycobacterial porin M2MspA, all the qualitative features of the αSyn/nanopore interaction are preserved. The rate of αSyn capture by M2MspA rises exponentially with the applied field, while the residence time displays a crossover behavior, indicating that at voltages >50 mV M2MspA-bound αSyn largely undergoes translocation to the other side of the membrane. The translocation is directly confirmed using the selectivity tag method, in which the polyanionic C-terminal and neutral N-terminal regions of αSyn alter the selectivity of the M2MspA channel differently, allowing direct discrimination of translocation vs retraction for single αSyn molecules. We thus prove that the physical model of the motion of disordered protein chains in the nanopore confinement and the selectivity tag technique are not limited to VDAC but are broadly applicable to nanopore-based protein detection, analysis, and separation technologies.
1970s: Growth and Innovation

Key events in the 1960s set the stage for the cardiac cath lab practice of the 1970s. Until the first reported successful coronary bypass surgery in 1967, angina pectoris therapy relied mainly upon pharmacologic reduction in myocardial oxygen demand. Evidence of sustained postoperative enhanced coronary blood flow, symptom relief, and survival triggered a critical need for coronary angiography to guide therapy. Procedure volumes tripled, and remarkable advances in invasive procedures, imaging, and computer applications occurred throughout the 1970s. New staff and fellows from around the world with new ideas, skill sets, and personalities accelerated this transformation. Invasive training programs and research increased, and application for NIH funding was initiated. In one case, NIH funds were inadvertently delayed, so Mayo investigators started the study on Mayo funds alone. When apprised of this, the NIH Committee chair concluded, tongue in cheek, that “if NIH funding was delayed long enough, this critically important study could be completed without any NIH funds.” It was completed, and NIH funds helped, belatedly. Highlights included evaluation of Prinzmetal’s angina and Mayo’s participation as a leading recruitment and thought leader in the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) of surgery versus medical therapy, and many subsequent multicenter NIH-funded prospective randomized clinical trials. Migration to electronic records enabled computer analysis and facilitated important clinical research studies, such as the powerful predictive value of ejection fraction upon survival in coronary heart disease. In 1979, the laboratory transformed from predominant diagnostic studies to include therapy. The primary Mayo value “the needs of the patient came first” guided the first percutaneous coronary angioplasty, resulting in a successful procedure and a grateful patient for the next decade. None of these advances happened by chance. The initiation of coronary angioplasty included rigorous debate with clinicians and cardiac surgeons to develop guidelines and protocols and obtain institutional approval. This paved the way for the cardiac lab to move from being one of the earliest adopters to becoming an international leading center in coronary angioplasty and its critical evaluation in the 1980s.
Blake's Little Black Boy and the Bible

L'A. discute les diverses interpretations du sens du poeme The Little Black Boy de William Blake (avec ses illustrations), fait de dialogues entre la mere et l'enfant noir, entre l'enfant noir et l'enfant blanc. L'A. releve l'inspiration biblique, notamment johannique, de Blake. En definitive, un "chant d'innocence".
The War on Welfare: Family, Poverty, and Politics in Modern America – By Marisa Chappell

We live in an era of retrenchment, contraction, and privatization so profound that what semblance of a welfare state the United States ever had now seems destined to wither. Recent debates on Socia...
Nicotinic Mechanisms in the Treatment of Psychotic Disorders: A Focus on the α7 Nicotinic Receptor

Nicotine is heavily abused by persons with schizophrenia. Nicotine better enables people with schizophrenia to filter out extraneous auditory stimuli. Nicotine also improves prepulse inhibition when compared to placebo. Nicotine similarly increases the amplitude of patients’ duration mismatch negativity. The 15q13-14 region of the genome coding for the α7 nicotinic receptor is linked to schizophrenia. Multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms have been identified in this 15q13-14 gene promoter region that are more frequently present in people with schizophrenia than in normal controls. Abnormalities in expression and regulation of central nicotinic cholinoceptors with decreased α7 binding in multiple brain regions are also present. Nicotine enhances cognition in schizophrenia. Alternative agents that activate the nicotinic receptor have been tested including 3-[2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene]anabaseine (DMXB-A). This compound improved attention, working memory, and negative symptoms in an add-on study in nonsmoking patients with schizophrenia. There are multiple other nicotinic agents, including positive allosteric modulators, in the preclinical stages of development. Finally, the effects of varenicline and clozapine and their relation to smoking cessation are discussed.
IMAGE LEARNING HIGHER EDUCATION AND INTERACTIVE VIDEODISC

Simonides (556-468 BC) is generally credited with inventing the art of memory. He thought of painting, poetry, and memory as intense visualization. In a world where pictures are literally in the air, the use of electronic imagery as a visualization tool seems obvious. What is not so obvious is how to grasp the tool. The use of new optical storage technologies like laser videodisc acted upon by powerful computing machines makes possible enormous leaps in information correlation. All educational experience has a visual component, from physics to literature the mind's eye is at work. How a student becomes a researcher is key to understanding the potentials of the new technologies. By accessing libraries of information: text, visual, and auditory the student begins a brave new journey into the collective memory. Image learning virtually means assuming the role of the artist, the person of integral awareness who creatively looks, literally, for meaning.
Historical dynamics of a native cerambycid, Enaphalodes rufulus, in relation to climate in the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas

1. Tree-ring techniques were used to date larval gallery scars of a native wood borer, Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman), in host Quercus rubra L. from eight sites within the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests of Arkansas. 2. Borer densities were quantified throughout the past century as indicated by scars within host tree boles and per capita rate of increase was calculated from one generation to the next. Both of these variables were extrapolated to the regional level. 3. Scar data from 78 Q. rubra revealed that at the regional level borer population growth increased from 1976 to 2000, or 11 generations prior to a recent outbreak. Duration and intensity of eruptive behaviour were variable geographically. 4. Sites with higher outbreak densities also sustained incipient (i.e. growing) populations for a longer time period than sites with lower outbreak densities, which indicates that a greater potential for exponential increase existed at these sites because more borers were present when conditions became favourable for an outbreak. 5. An index of summer soil moisture availability explained almost half of the variation in E. rufulus population growth, which suggests that drought may have been an important causal factor in the recent outbreak.
Dynamic Model for 3-D Magnetostrictive Transducers

A comprehensive analytical framework is developed for the study of magnetostrictive transducers with arbitrary geometries operated in dynamic regimes. Weak form equations are derived from Maxwell's equations and linear momentum without restricting the form of the constitutive behavior of the magnetostrictive material. For validation, the framework is implemented for a unimorph beam actuator which has both active and passive media.
A Polarized Delta-Four-Stream Approximation for Infrared and Microwave Radiative Transfer: Part I

Abstract The delta-four-stream polarized (vector) thermal radiative transfer has been formulated and numerically tested specifically for application to satellite data assimilation in cloudy atmospheres. It is shown that for thermal emission in the earth’s atmosphere, the [I, Q] component of the Stokes vector can be decoupled from the [U, V] component and that the solution of the vector equation set involving the four-stream approximation can be expressed in an analytic form similar to the scalar case. Thus, the computer time requirement can be optimized for the simulation of forward radiances and their derivatives. Computations have been carried out to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of this method by comparing radiance and polarization results to those computed from the exact doubling method for radiative transfer for a number of thermal infrared and microwave frequencies. Excellent agreement within 1% is shown for the radiance results for all satellite viewing angles and cloud optical depths. For...
X-RAY SPECTRA FROM OXYGEN-ION BOMBARDMENTS ON Ca AND V AT 15 MeV.

$K$ x-ray spectra of Ca and V as produced by 15-MeV ${\mathrm{O}}^{4+}$ ion bombardment are compared with 6-MeV proton-induced spectra. The $K\ensuremath{\alpha}$ and $K\ensuremath{\beta}$ lines from the ${\mathrm{O}}^{4+}$ bombardment are found to be shifted approximately 54 and 157 eV, respectively, relative to the proton-induced spectra. Hartree-Fock-Slater calculations show that the observed shifts are on the order of those expected from atoms with two or three additional innershell vacancies. We argue that it is unlikely that the known low-energy ion-atom interactions could be responsible for such inner-shell ionization configurations.
A new perspective on random walk modeling of particle dispersion

Abstract This note presents a random walk formulation of small particle tracking within the framework of averaged turbulence modeling. Several issues, such as a justification for the finite number of multi-point correlations to be taken, the adoption of just one two-point correlation rather than several, and construction of specific models, are discussed. It offers a new perspective on random walk modeling of small particle dispersion and suggests some possible improvements to existing models, especially with regard to taking into account the spatial correlation explicitly.
DIAGNOSTIC LOAD TESTING FOR BRIDGE LOAD RATING

Diagnostic load testing uses field-measured data for bridge load rating without requiring certain information or the assumptions needed for analytical rating, and it can help arrive at more-reliable load ratings. It usually consists of three steps: preparation, execution, and analysis of the results. It is critical to estimate the probability of success in the preparation step before the execution step. A case of such a test for a steel highway bridge is presented. The bridge's fascia beams were given a low rating because their cover plates were removed. Diagnostic load testing was used to obtain more reliable load ratings for the fascia beams. Under the test loads covering service loads, the support-fixity of the bridge was confirmed. It was identified as reserve strength and was not taken into account in the original analytical rating. Thus, it was concluded that no strengthening is needed for the fascia beams, and their rating factor was recommended to be increased from 0.7 to 1.4 on the basis of the m...
A Comparison of Three Brand Evaluation Procedures

The paper reports an empirical examination of the results, reliability, and validity of three attitude measurement procedures—open-ended, paired comparison, and monadic rating. Significant differences among the three approaches were found in the evaluation of two brands on a number of attitudinal dimensions with respect to judgment of "both brands are alike" and the evaluation of "brand A vs. brand B." Yoram Wind is Professor of Marketing, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Joseph Denny is a marketing consultant. Arthur Cunningham is Director of New Ventures, Market and Consumer Research, at S. B. Thomas, Inc. Public Opinion Quarterly © 1979 by The Trustees of Columbia University Published by Elsevier North-Holland, Inc. 0033-362X/79/0043-0261/$l.75 262 WIND, DENNY AND CUNNINGHAM surement have been examined,' yet little attention has been given to the explicit comparison of different measurement approaches. The objective of this paper is to examine three commonly used approaches to the measurement of respondents' attitudes toward objects (for example, brands, political candidates, social issues, and the like). These approaches are: (a) open-ended approach (that is, unaided and unconstrained approach to eliciting attitudes), (b) a paired comparison, and (c) a monadic rating of the object under study on selected attitudinal dimensions. The researcher is often faced with the question of which of these three attitude measurement approaches he should use. Aside from the conceptual differences among the procedures of open-ended, paired comparison (ranking), and ratings, the researcher in selecting among these procedures should know (1) whether the three methods lead to different results with respect to the identification of differences among objects (e.g., brands) and the preference for object A over object B with respect to attribute /, and (2) whether the three approaches differ in their reliability and validity. This paper explores these two questions. The comparison of the three approaches, reported here, was undertaken in the context of brand evaluation, but since these approaches are often used in other areas of attitude research (such as political studies, communication research, and social psychological studies), the implication of this study goes beyond the narrow range of brand evaluation.
Tm 3+ doped tellurite glass microsphere laser

Wavelength of 2000 nm single mode microsphere laser from highly thulium doped tellurite glass microsphere was demonstrated by means of fiber taper coupling. Laser wavelength was red shift from the emission peak of thulium ions at 1800 nm.
FATTY AND AMINO ACID COMPOSITION OF SALTED MULLET ROE

Salted mullet roe was prepared by soaking in brine, pressing and air drying. The prepared roe product was high in protein (35.5%) and lipids (25.7%). The GLC analysis showed that the major saturated fatty acid was 16:0 and the major unsaturated fatty acids were 16:l and 18:l in the roe lipids. The analysis of the roe protein indicated that the major amino acids were glutamic acid, proline and lysine. The roe protein is well balanced with essential amino acids, and appears to be a high quality protein.
Transcriptomic Characterization of a Synergistic Genetic Interaction during Carpel Margin Meristem Development in Arabidopsis thaliana

In flowering plants the gynoecium is the female reproductive structure. In Arabidopsis thaliana ovules initiate within the developing gynoecium from meristematic tissue located along the margins of the floral carpels. When fertilized the ovules will develop into seeds. SEUSS (SEU) and AINTEGUMENTA (ANT) encode transcriptional regulators that are critical for the proper formation of ovules from the carpel margin meristem (CMM). The synergistic loss of ovule initiation observed in the seu ant double mutant suggests that SEU and ANT share overlapping functions during CMM development. However the molecular mechanism underlying this synergistic interaction is unknown. Using the ATH1 transcriptomics platform we identified transcripts that were differentially expressed in seu ant double mutant relative to wild type and single mutant gynoecia. In particular we sought to identify transcripts whose expression was dependent on the coordinated activities of the SEU and ANT gene products. Our analysis identifies a diverse set of transcripts that display altered expression in the seu ant double mutant tissues. The analysis of overrepresented Gene Ontology classifications suggests a preponderance of transcriptional regulators including multiple members of the REPRODUCTIVE MERISTEMS (REM) and GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) families are mis-regulated in the seu ant gynoecia. Our in situ hybridization analyses indicate that many of these genes are preferentially expressed within the developing CMM. This study is the first step toward a detailed description of the transcriptional regulatory hierarchies that control the development of the CMM and ovule initiation. Understanding the regulatory hierarchy controlled by SEU and ANT will clarify the molecular mechanism of the functional redundancy of these two genes and illuminate the developmental and molecular events required for CMM development and ovule initiation.
Analysis of physiological, growth, and yield responses of celery to Liriomyza trifolii

Stomatal conductance, mesophyll conductance, transpiration and photosynthesis varied considerably by within-plant locations on celery (Apium graveolens L.), but specific opposite leaves proved equivalent. Using such comparable leaves, feeding damage by Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) larvae or adults was found to reduce significantly the capacity of celery for photosynthetic activity. In field trials where populations of L. trifolii were manipulated with pesticides, numbers of leaves, plant height, and numbers of petioles per plant were significantly greater in treatments with low leafminer densities. In treatments where L. trifolii was encouraged, harvest was delayed by up to 3 weeks. Related laboratory studies indicated that the pesticides used in the field trial neither promoted nor slowed celery growth. None of the physiological parameters measured at either 1.5 h or 7 days post-treatment was significantly affected. RESUME Etude des reactions physiologiques de la croissance et de la production de celeris attaques par Liriomyza trifolii Les conductances des stomates et du mesophylle, la transpiration et la photosynthese varient considerablement suivant la position des feuilles dans un pied de celeri (Apium graveolens L.) mais ces parametres sont identiques pour des folioles opposees. En utilisant de telles folioles comparables, une reduction singificative de l'activite photosynthetique du celeri a ete observee lors des degâts alimentaires par les larves et les adultes de Liriomyza trifolii Burg. (Dipt. Agromyzidae). Dans des essais en champ ou des populations de L. trifolii ont ete controlees avec des insecticides, les nombres de petioles et de folioles et la hauteur des plantes etaient significativement plus eleves la ou les traitements avaient entraine de faibles densites de mineuses. Dans les parcelles ou L. trifolii avait ete avantage, la recolte avait ete retardee jusqu'a 3 semaines. Des essais paralleles au laboratoire ont montre que les insecticides utilises dans ces essais au champ, n'avaient ni accelere, ni retarde la croissance du celeri. Aucun des parametres physiologiques mesures apres 1,5 heure ou 7 jours apres le traitement n'avait ete modifie.
Immobilized enzymes: The catalytic properties of lactate dehydrogenase covalently attached to glass beads

Abstract Chick LDH (H4 and M4) has been covalently attached to aryl and alkyl amine glass using sodium nitrite and glutaraldehyde respectively. These immobilized enzymes remain active for months at 0°C and exhibit Km values similar to those of the soluble enzyme; however, they have pH-rate profiles that are independent of pH and show decreased substrate inhibition. Disaggregation followed by reassociation indicate the enzymes are bound by all four subunits and the resulting activity restored to the native, aryl amine and glutaraldehyde bound enzyme are 33, 25 and 90% respectively. At a pH of 3.2 and 25°, the soluble and aryl amine glass LDH's are rapidly denatured while the glutaraldehyde bound enzyme shows no loss of activity for at least 35 days.
PITUITARY FUNCTION IN THE THYROIDECTOMIZED RAT

Male rats were thyroidectomized, gonadectomized or subjected to the combined operations of thyroidectomy and gonadectomy, and the productions and release of pituitary hormones was judged by the status of the endocrine organs, by the morphology of the pituitary, and by bioassay of trophic hormones in the pituitary and plasma. 1. After thyroidectomy (a) the pituitary target organs atrophied, (b) the plasma showed increased amounts of thyroid stimulating hormone, and decreased amounts of growth promoting substances, and (c) the anterior pituitary contained decreased thyrotrophic, follicle stimulating, interstitial cell stimulating and growth hormone content. 2. After gonadectomy (a) the accessory reproductive organs atrophied, (b) the plasma contained increased amounts of gonadotrophic, and normal amount of growth promoting substances, (c) the anterior pituitary contained increased follicle stimulating and interstitial cell stimulating hormone content and unchanged thyrotrophic and growth hormone content. 3....
Spatial, Multibody Modeling and Vehicle Dynamics Analysis of an Interim Armored Vehicle

The US Army vision, announced in October of 1999, encompasses people, readiness, and transformation. The goal of the Army vision is to transition the entire Army into a force that is strategically responsive and dominant at every point of the spectrum of operations. The transformation component will be accomplished in three ways: the Objective Force, the Legacy (current) Force, and the Interim Force. The objective force is not platform driven, but rather the focus is on achieving capabilities that will operate as a “system of systems.” As part of the Interim Force, the US Army plans to begin production of the Interim Armored Vehicle (IAV) in FY02 and field the first unit by May 2002 and complete first unit fielding by 2003 to address the current force’s operational shortfall. The intent is to get forces on the ground quickly with enough combat power to influence a potential situation, so the Army is converting six to eight combat brigades into Interim Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs). These teams will be a rapidly deployable combat brigade task force that will be centered around the IAV (figure 1), which was recently selected during a source selection. The IAV program is a family of medium armored vehicles intended to equip the Army’s IBCTs.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
The Constitutively Active Mutant Gα13Transforms Mouse Fibroblast Cells Deficient in Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Receptor

Abstract Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor plays an important role in normal cell cycle progression and tumor growth, and it is thought to be essential for cellular transformation. To test this hypothesis, we stably transfected a GTPase-deficient mutant human Gα13, which is highly oncogenic when overexpressed in vitro, into R− fibroblasts derived from IGF-I receptor-deficient mice. Northern blots of multiple clones revealed the expression of a 1.8-kilobase pair mutant Gα13 transcript in transfected cells, in addition to the 6-kilobase pair endogenous mRNA. The transfection resulted in a doubling of the expression of Gα13 protein in these cells as assessed by Western blot analysis. The transforming ability of the mutant Gα13 was tested using the soft agar assay. Nontransfected R− cells cultured with 10% fetal bovine serum failed to form colonies after 3 weeks. Most of the mutant Gα13-expressing clones formed significant numbers of colonies (11–50 colonies/1000 cells plated). Overexpression of the IGF-I receptor enabled R− cells to form colonies (27 colonies), and co-transfection of the mutant Gα13 caused a further increase in colony formation (117–153 colonies) in three of five clones analyzed. Apparently Gα13 works through pathways other than mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase in transforming R− cells, because their activities were not significantly altered by the mutant Gα13 expression. These results demonstrate that Gα13 can induce cellular transformation through pathways apparently independent of the IGF-I receptor and that activation of the IGF-I receptor signaling pathways, although not essential for the transforming phenotype, enhances the effect of other pathways.
λimmλ·434: A phage with a hybrid immunity region

Abstract The genomes of coliphages λ and λimm434 are identical with the exception of the immunity region, which codes for the respective repressors and corresponding operators. Although previous genetic studies failed to detect any recombinations that might have occurred within the immunity regions of these two phages, electron-micrographic heteroduplex mapping demonstrated a short interval of homology between λ and λimm434 DNA located in this otherwise heterologous region. We report the isolation of a recombinant which resulted from a cross-over event between λ and λimm434 within the immunity region. This phage, denoted λimmλ·434, carries the leftward promoter-operator as well as gene rex of λ and the rightward promoter-operator as well as gene tof (cro) of phage 434. Since the recombination occurred within the cI gene, phage λimmλ·434 must carry a hybrid repressor gene.
THE RÔLE OF THE THEBESIAN VESSELS IN THE CIRCULATION OF THE HEART

In summary, evidence has been presented to show a direct connection other than through the capillaries between the coronary arteries and the chambers of the heart. This connection was shown by perfusion, injections and serial sections to be through the Thebesian veins. Communications between the larger coronary veins and the Thebesian veins were also demonstrated by the same methods. Serial sections through Thebesian veins have shown capillaries draining directly into them. Under certain conditions it has been shown that as much as 90 per cent of the arterial flow may escape via the Thebesian vessels. Lastly, in the event of gradual closure of the orifices of the coronary arteries, the Thebesian vessels can supply the heart muscle with sufficient blood to enable it to maintain an efficient circulation.
Formulas Resilient to Short-Circuit Errors

We show how to efficiently convert any boolean formula F into a boolean formula E that is resilient to short-circuit errors (as introduced by Kleitman et al. [KLM94]). A gate has a short-circuit error when the value it computes is replaced by the value of one of its inputs. We guarantee that E computes the same function as F, as long as at most (1/10 - e) of the gates on each path from the output to an input have been corrupted in E. The corruptions may be chosen adversarially, and may depend on the formula E and even on the input. We obtain our result by extending the Karchmer-Wigderson connection between formulas and communication protocols to the setting of adversarial error. This enables us to obtain error-resilient formulas from error-resilient communication protocols.
Dynamic Cylindrical Cavity Expansion of Compressible Strain-Hardening Materials

We developed models for compressible, elastic-plastic, rate-independent materials with power-law strain-hardening. Results were used to derive perforation models to predict residual velocities and ballistic limits for rigid, conicalnose projectiles. We compared the model predictions with the data from terminal-ballistic experiments with tungsten projectiles impacting 5083-H131 aluminum armor plates at normal incidence
Brightess Conversion Using a Raman Fiber Laser Based on a Multimode Fiber

The power and modal characteristics of a Raman Fiber Laser based on multimode fiber are investigated by varying reflectivities of output couplers. Brightness enhancement is observed and slope efficiencies as high as 62% are reported.
Oral health conditions of community-dwelling cognitively intact elderly persons with disabilities

Objectives: To present descriptive information on oral health and health care of community-dwelling elderly persons with disabilities who are living at home. Background: Most previous studies have focused on specific subpopulations, namely, persons who are essentially healthy and independent, are homebound, or are nursing home residents. Little information appears to be available on community-residing elderly persons with disabilities. Materials and methods: A total of 641 participants aged 65 years and over in a Medicare Demonstration who were cognitively intact, completed an oral health questionnaire within 1 year of Demonstration entry. Demonstration participants were required to be living in the community, need or receive help with 2+ activities of daily living (ADLs) or 3+ instrumental ADLs (IADLs), and have recently experienced significant health services utilisation. Results: Subject mean age was 79.1 years, 73.8% were female, and 4% were minority. They were dependent in a mean of 1.8 ADLs and 2.9 IADLs. 43.1% reported that they had no natural teeth, 77.4% had dentures, 58.8% frequently felt their mouth was dry, 5.2% had jaw pain now and 6.1% had at some time experienced burning sensations in their mouth or tongue. 40.4% reported that they were currently in need of dental treatment, although 56.2% indicated they now had a dentist, and 42.1% identified having a dental visit within the past 12 months. 19.7% indicated some dental insurance coverage. Conclusion: This is one of the first studies to focus on community-dwelling elderly people with disabilities. Substantial oral health morbidity was reported.
Prediction and measurement of soil bidirectional reflectance

A model for soil bidirectional reflectance distribution functions in visible and reflective infrared wavelengths is introduced and compared to data acquired in the field. The model is based on the representation of soil surfaces by a collection of opaque spheres sitting on a Lambertian horizontal surface. The model is not sensitive to increases in the sphere area index beyond a value of 0.4. For comparison, soil reflectance factor data were acquired on a tilled field from many view directions and for a range of solar directions. The observed reflectance factor distributions were consistent with those predicted by the function; maximum reflectance occurred in the antisolar direction and reflectance decreased with increasing phase angle. Increasing the surface roughness by different tillage methods did not substantially alter the directional anisotropy of the soil reflectance factors. The model was fit to the data by a nonlinear least-squares procedure. >
An Integrated Budget Model for Medical School Financial Planning

This paper presents a financial planning model for medical school departments that integrates manpower and funding elements with the school's teaching, research, and patient care activities. The model tracks revenue, expense, and faculty effort in each of the three primary medical school activities and estimates, for any given change in the amount or configuration of faculty effort among these activities, the associated financial effects on both the institution and the individuals themselves over a one-to five-year planning horizon. One innovative feature of the model is that it incorporates economically based functions that capture the effect on revenue of factors such as faculty "effort," price increases, demand elasticity, market saturation, and changes in number of faculty members. We describe the implementation of the model for a major department at Stanford University Medical School SUMS, and explore a number of sample policy issues, using data from that department as well as from another department at SUMS. We also describe the implementation of the model in evaluating the financial effects of a proposed organ transplantation program at SUMS.
Ontogeny of the oral apparatus of the tadpole of Bufo americanus

The development of the oral apparatus of tadpoles of Bufo americanus was described from late embryonic through to metamorphic stages. Although sufficiently detailed developmental studies are not common, especially of species with tooth row formulae greater and less than 2/3, it appears that differences in timing rather than in sequence are the primary interspecific differences. Species with rapid developmental times (e.g. Bufo) seemingly start and complete developmental sequences slightly earlier than species with longer developmental times. Species with labial tooth row formulae greater than 2/3 start development sooner, complete it later and retain mouth parts longer into metamorphosis than species with 2/3 tooth rows. Lentic species tend to form the oral structures later and faster and atrophy the oral apparatus earlier and faster than lotic forms. For these reasons, oral development is often discordant with features of limb development used in staging.
Using Dose Addition to Estimate Cumulative Risks from Exposures to Multiple Chemicals

Abstract The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996 requires the EPA to consider the cumulative risk from exposure to multiple chemicals that have a common mechanism of toxicity. Three methods, hazard index (HI), point-of-departure index (PODI), and toxicity equivalence factor (TEF), have commonly been considered to estimate the cumulative risk. These methods are based on estimates of ED10 (point of departure) and reference doses from the dose-response functions of individual chemicals. They do not incorporate the actual dose-response function of the mixture from multiple chemical exposures. Dose addition is considered to be an appropriate approach to cumulative risk assessment because it assumes that the chemicals of interest act in accordance with a common mode of action (a similar action). This paper proposes a formal statistical procedure to estimate the cumulative risk by fitting the dose-response model of the mixture under dose addition. The relative potency between two chemicals is estimated directly from the joint dose response model of the mixture. An example data set of four drugs representing four chemicals is used to illustrate the proposed procedure and compare it to the HI, PODI, and TEF methods.
Disordered Attention: Implications for Understanding and Treating Internalizing and Externalizing Disorders in Childhood

In this article, we present evidence that disorders of attention are present in wide range of psychological disorders, and that the appropriate assessment and treatment of these attention difficulties can be an important adjunct to traditional therapeutic approaches. We review approaches to attention training in some detail and discuss how attention-focused treatment might be implemented in clinical practice.
Natural acidophilic biofilm communities reflect distinct organismal and functional organization

Pellicle biofilms colonize the air-solution interface of underground acid mine drainage (AMD) streams and pools within the Richmond Mine (Iron Mountain, Redding, CA, USA). They exhibit relatively low species richness and, consequently, represent good model systems to study natural microbial community structure. Fluorescence in situ hybridization combined with epifluorescent microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed spatially and temporally defined microbial assemblages. Leptospirillum group II dominates the earliest developmental stages of stream pellicles. With increasing biofilm maturity, the proportion of archaea increases in conjunction with the appearance of eukaryotes. In contrast, mature pool pellicles are stratified with a densely packed bottom layer of Leptospirillum group II, a less dense top layer composed mainly of archaea and no eukarya. Immunohistochemical detection of Leptospirillum group II cytochrome 579 indicates a high abundance of this protein at the interface of the biofilm with the AMD solution. Consequently, community architecture, which most likely develops in response to chemical gradients across the biofilm, is reflected at the functional gene expression level.
Carvedilol inhibits the cardiostimulant and thermogenic effects of MDMA in humans.

We read with interest the study by Hysek and colleagues that investigated the cardiostimulant and thermogenic effects of carvedilol on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (Hysek et al., 2012). Although we applaud the authors for performing a randomized placebo-controlled trial in humans, we have a concern about their study design. The study uses a relatively low dose of MDMA compared with those used by patients arriving to most hospitals. The average MDMA user often consumes greater doses than those used in this study, ranging up to 280 mg, whereas the study participants received a single oral dose of 125 mg (Morefield et al., 2011). Typical patients exhibit greater cardiostimulatory and thermogenic effects than the small changes noted in the study group. Additionally, it is unclear whether carvedilol would have an effect on severe hyperthermia as the temperature change reported in the placebo-MDMA group was no more than 0.5°C above baseline. This study's applicability would have been strengthened by demonstrating a more significant effect of MDMA prior to use of carvedilol. Because ethical considerations most likely prevent the ability of changing these parameters to reflect real-life patient presentations, the true utility of a clinically adequate dose of carvedilol given after a patient presents with significant MDMA toxicity remains unknown.
Fetal and adult human oligodendrocyte progenitor cell isolates myelinate the congenitally dysmyelinated brain

Both late-gestation and adult human forebrain contain large numbers of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). These cells may be identified by their A2B5+PSA-NCAM− phenotype (positive for the early oligodendrocyte marker A2B5 and negative for the polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule). We used dual-color fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to extract OPCs from 21- to 23-week-old fetal human forebrain, and A2B5 selection to extract these cells from adult white matter. When xenografted to the forebrains of newborn shiverer mice, fetal OPCs dispersed throughout the white matter and developed into oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. By 12 weeks, the host brains showed extensive myelin production, compaction and axonal myelination. Isolates of OPCs derived from adult human white matter also myelinated shiverer mouse brain, but much more rapidly than their fetal counterparts, achieving widespread and dense myelin basic protein (MBP) expression by 4 weeks after grafting. Adult OPCs generated oligodendrocytes more efficiently than fetal OPCs, and ensheathed more host axons per donor cell than fetal cells. Both fetal and adult OPC phenotypes mediated the extensive and robust myelination of congenitally dysmyelinated host brain, although their differences suggested their use for different disease targets.
Redirection in Georgia A New Type of Budget Reform

The budgeting reform literature is replete with examples of reforms such as performance budgeting, program budgeting, and zero-base budgeting that have failed to achieve their stated goals. This article analyzes a new budgetary reform that has been introduced in the state of Georgia, which appears to be accomplishing what its proponents have pronounced. This reform is known as redirection. The article defines redirection, explains how it works, and shows that redirection has enabled budget actors to reset budgetary priorities and reduce agency acquisitiveness, at least in its first 2 years in operation.
FORMATION OF 4-HYDROXYNONENAL FROM CARDIOLIPIN OXIDATION: INTRAMOLECULAR PEROXYL RADICAL ADDITION AND DECOMPOSITION

We report herein that oxidation of a mitochondria-specific phospholipid tetralinoleoyl cardiolipin (L(4)CL) by cytochrome c and H(2)O(2) leads to the formation of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) via a novel chemical mechanism that involves cross-chain peroxyl radical addition and decomposition. As one of the most bioactive lipid electrophiles, 4-HNE possesses diverse biological activities ranging from modulation of multiple signal transduction pathways to the induction of intrinsic apoptosis. However, where and how 4-HNE is formed in vivo are much less understood. Recently a novel chemical mechanism has been proposed that involves intermolecular dimerization of fatty acids by peroxyl bond formation; but the biological relevance of this mechanism is unknown because a majority of the fatty acids are esterified in phospholipids in the cellular membrane. We hypothesize that oxidation of cardiolipins, especially L(4)CL, may lead to the formation of 4-HNE via this novel mechanism. We employed L(4)CL and dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) as model compounds to test this hypothesis. Indeed, in experiments designed to assess the intramolecular mechanism, more 4-HNE is formed from L(4)CL and DLPC oxidation than 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoylphosphatydylcholine. The key products and intermediates that are consistent with this proposed mechanism of 4-HNE formation have been identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Identical products from cardiolipin oxidation were identified in vivo in rat liver tissue after carbon tetrachloride treatment. Our studies provide the first evidence in vitro and in vivo for the formation 4-HNE from cardiolipin oxidation via cross-chain peroxyl radical addition and decomposition, which may have implications in apoptosis and other biological activities of 4-HNE.
Diversity of some gene frequencies in European and Asian populations. IV. Genetic population structure assessed by the variogram.

Summary Isolation-by-distance models of population structure predict an exponential decrease of genetic relatedness with distance. Under the Kimura-Weiss (1964) model the plots of gene frequency variance versus distance (variograms), computed at various loci, are expected to have equal slope and reach a common asymptote. The gene frequency distributions at eight loci in 192 European and Asian populations have been summarized by variograms. On the average, the Kimura-Weiss model seems to describe adequately allele frequency change up to 900 km, but gradients are apparent at greater distances for most markers studied. These patterns may result form either differential selection or long-range gene flow; however, the extensive clinal variation observed for glyoxalase, esterase D and 6-PGD cannot be entirely accounted for by the Neolithic radiation of early farmers in the Middle East and Europe.
The PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale in pediatric obesity: Feasibility, reliability and validity

Objective. The PedsQL™ (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™) is a modular instrument designed to measure health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and disease-specific symptoms in children and adoles...
Induction of rehydration and bud break by irrigation or rain in decidous trees of a tropical dry forest in Costa Rica

Clusters of 2–4 bare, deciduous hardwood trees and woody vines in a dry upland forest in Costa Rica were surrounded by scaffolding and rehydration was induced during the dry season by irrigation of 9–50 m2 plots with 200 mm water. The resulting changes in water status preceding bud break were monitored. Following irrigation, stem water potentials increased from −0.3 MPa within 48 h. Rehydration of stem tissues by lateral transport, measured as an increase in electric conductivity, continued for 4–8 days. Terminal flower buds in Tabebuia ochracea began to expand 48 h after irrigation and trees were in full bloom 4 days later. In all experimental species, lateral vegetative buds began to expand 5–7 days after irrigation and leaves were fully expanded 2 weeks later. After the first rains of the rainy season (100 mm in 48 hr) all trees in the dry forest rehydrated and leaves emerged in synchrony slightly faster than after irrigation. In response to rain or irrigation drought-stressed tropical hardwood trees thus rehydrated at rates similar to those of desert succulents and their development resumed much faster than that of deciduous cold-temperate trees in spring.
Development and initial validation of a content taxonomy for patient records in general dentistry.

Abstract Objective Develop and validate an initial content taxonomy for patient records in general dentistry. Methods Phase 1 – obtain 95 de-identified patient records from 11 general dentists in the United States. Phase 2 – extract individual data fields (information items), both explicit (labeled) and implicit (unlabeled), from records, and organize into categories mirroring original field context. Phase 3 – refine raw list of information items by eliminating duplicates/redundancies and focusing on general dentistry. Phase 4 – validate all items regarding inclusion and importance using a two-round Delphi study with a panel of 22 general dentists active in clinical practice, education, and research. Results Analysis of 76 patient records from 9 dentists, combined with previous work, yielded a raw list of 1509 information items. Refinement reduced this list to 1107 items, subsequently rated by the Delphi panel. The final model contained 870 items, with 761 (88%) rated as mandatory. In Round 1, 95% (825) of the final items were accepted, in Round 2 the remaining 5% (45). Only 45 items on the initial list were rejected and 192 (or 17%) remained equivocal. Conclusion Grounded in the reality of clinical practice, our proposed content taxonomy represents a significant advance over existing guidelines and standards by providing a granular and comprehensive information representation for general dental patient records. It offers a significant foundational asset for implementing an interoperable health information technology infrastructure for general dentistry.