cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transplacentally acquired caffeine and the occurrence of apnea, bradycardia, and periodic breathing in preterm infants: preliminary communication.

Cord blood caffeine concentrations were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography in 79 preterm infants. Eleven infants (14%) had detectable Caffeine concentrations ranging from 1.1 to 3.7 μg/mL X SD = 2.5 ± (0.8), and 68 infants had no measurable caffeine. Seven infants with detectable caffeine (group 1) had impedance pneumograms recorded before 2 weeks of age. Each infant in group 1 was matched with two infants without detectable caffeine by birthweight, gestational age, and chronologic age at pneumogram recording to yield a control group (group 2) of 14 infants. Comparison of the groups using quantitative measures of apnea, bradycardia, and periodic breathing obtained from pneumogram analysis and the incidence of monitor alarms on bedside nursing records showed no significant differences. Thus, caffeine was present infrequently and at low concentrations at birth in 79 preterm infants. The amount of apnea, bradycardia, and periodic breathing experienced before 2 weeks of age in 7 preterm infants with detectable cord blood caffeine was not different from that in 14 similar infants without caffeine. Future studies are planned to examine the relationship between postnatal changes in transplacentally acquired methylxanthine concentrations and quantitative measures of apnea, bradycardia, and periodic breathing in a larger number of preterm infants without cardiorespiratory disease. Pediatr Pilmonol. 1989; 7:66–70.
Dictionary transfer for image denoising via domain adaptation

The idea of using overcomplete dictionaries with prototype signal atoms for sparse representation has found many applications, among which image denoising is considered as an active research topic. However, the standard process to train a new dictionary for image denoising requires the whole image (or most parts) as input, which is costly; training the dictionary on just a few patches would result in overfitting. We instead propose a dictionary learning approach for image denoising via transfer learning. We transfer the source domain dictionary to a target domain for image denoising via a dictionary-regularization term in the energy function. Thus, we have a new dictionary that is trained from only a few patches of the target noisy image. We measure the performance on various corrupted images, and show that our method is fast and comparable to the state of the art. We also demonstrate cross-domain transfer (photo to medical image).
Comprehensive Smoke Alarm Coverage in Lower Economic Status Homes: Alarm Presence, Functionality, and Placement

The objectives of this study are to estimate smoke alarm coverage and adherence with national guidelines in low- to mid-value owner-occupied residences, and to identify resident demographic, behavioral, and building characteristics and other fire and burn safety practices associated with smoke alarm utilization. Baseline visits were conducted with 779 households in King County, Washington, for a randomized trial of smoke alarm functionality. Presence, functionality, features, and location of pre-existing smoke alarms were ascertained by staff observation and testing. Household and building descriptors were collected using questionnaires. Households were classified by presence of smoke alarms, functional alarms, and functional and properly mounted alarms placed in hallways and on each floor but not in recommended avoidance locations. Smoke alarms were present in 89%, and functional units in 78%, of households. Only 6–38% met all assessed functionality and placement recommendations. Homes frequently lacked alarms in any bedrooms or on each floor. Building age, but not renovation status, was associated with all dimensions of smoke alarm coverage; post-1980 constructions were 1.7 times more likely to comply with placement recommendations than were pre-1941 homes (95% CI: 1.1–2.6). Respondent education and race/ethnicity, children <5 years, residency duration, number of floors, wood stoves and fireplaces, number of smoke alarms, recency of smoke alarm testing, carbon monoxide monitors, and fire ladders displayed varying relationships with alarm presence, functionality, and placement. Strategies for maintaining smoke alarms in functional condition and improving compliance with placement recommendations are necessary to achieve universal coverage, and will benefit the majority of households.
Regulation of serotonin2A receptor expression by an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide.

The regulation of 5-HT 2A receptor expression by an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, complementary to the coding region of rat 5-HT 2A receptor mRNA, was examined in a cortically derived cell line and in rat brain. Treatment of A 1 A 1 variant cells, which express the 5-HT 2A receptor coupled to the stimulation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis, with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide decreased the maximal stimulation of PI hydrolysis by the partial agonist quipazine and the number of 5-HT 2A receptor sites as measured by the binding of 2-[ 125 I]-iodolysergic acid diethylamide. Treatment of cells with random, sense, or mismatch oligodeoxynucleotide did not alter the stimulation of PI hydrolysis by quipazine or 5-HT 2A receptor number. Intracerebroventricular infusion of antisense, but not mismatch, oligodeoxynucleotide for 8 days resulted in a significant increase in cortical 5-HT 2A receptor density and an increase in headshake behavior induced by the 5-HT 2 receptor agonist 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane. The density of cortical 5-HT 2A receptors was not altered by administration of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide for 1, 2, or 4 days. We hypothesize that in brain this antisense oligodeoxynucleotide relieved some form of translational suppression, resulting in an increase in 5-HT 2A receptor expression.
Mechanical properties of Zr57Nb5Al10Cu15.4Ni12.6 metallic glass matrix particulate composites

To increase the toughness of a metallic glass with the nominal composition Zr_(57)Nb_5Al_(10)Cu_(15.4)Ni_(12.6), it was used as the matrix in particulate composites reinforced with W, WC, Ta, and SiC. The composites were tested in compression and tension experiments. Compressive strain to failure increased by more than 300% compared with the unreinforced Zr_(57)Nb_5Al_(10)Cu_(15.4)Ni_(12.6), and energy to break of the tensile samples increased by more than 50%. The increase in toughness came from the particles restricting shear band propagation, promoting the generation of multiple shear bands and additional fracture surface area. There was direct evidence of viscous flow of the metallic glass matrix within the confines of the shear bands.
Assessment of affective and somatic signs of ethanol withdrawal in C57BL/6J mice using a short-term ethanol treatment

Alcohol is one of the most prevalent addictive substances in the world. Withdrawal symptoms result from abrupt cessation of alcohol consumption in habitual drinkers. The emergence of both affective and physical symptoms produces a state that promotes relapse. Mice provide a preclinical model that could be used to study alcohol dependence and withdrawal while controlling for both genetic and environmental variables. The use of a liquid ethanol diet offers a reliable method for the induction of alcohol dependence in mice, but this approach is impractical when conducting high-throughput pharmacological screens or when comparing multiple strains of genetically engineered mice. The goal of this study was to compare withdrawal-associated behaviors in mice chronically treated with a liquid ethanol diet vs. mice treated with a short-term ethanol treatment that consisted of daily ethanol injections containing the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor, 4-methylpyrazole. Twenty-four hours after ethanol treatment, mice were tested in the open field arena, the elevated plus maze, the marble burying test, or for changes in somatic signs during spontaneous ethanol withdrawal. Anxiety-like and compulsive-like behaviors, as well as physical signs, were all significantly elevated in mice undergoing withdrawal, regardless of the route of ethanol administration. Therefore, a short-term ethanol treatment can be utilized as a screening tool for testing genetic and pharmacological agents before investing in a more time-consuming ethanol treatment.
Antigen recognition by T cells

In July over 700 delegates gathered in Toronto for the 6th International Congress of Immunology. In 5 days they were given an opportunity of attending 6 plenary lectures and, in the parallel sessions, 110 symposium talks +and 1100 workshop presentations. To review thes papers comprehensiw _ ~ould be impractical and of dubious value (readers can expect, in any case, that important topics will continue to be reviewed at adequate length in issues of this journal). What follows is a collection of invited commentaries on some aspects of immunology in 1986, as reported at the Congress and certain satellite meetings. The correspondents were asked to select from the papers they heard what they thought was stimulating. They were brief, at the Editor's insistence, and so inevitably had to omit from their reports some r4ork worthy of attention. ~ _ _
Regional assignment of human liver-type 6-phosphofructokinase to chromosome 21q22.3 by using somatic cell hybrids and a monoclonal anti-L antibody.

The three structural loci encoding human phosphofructokinase, a key regulatory enzyme of glycolysis, are located on separate chromosomes. The gene coding for the liver-type subunit PFKL has previously been assigned to chromosome 21. We have used a subunit- and human-specific monoclonal antibody to liver PFK to detect the expression of human PFKL in hamster x human hybrid cell lines. A cell line carrying an 8;21 translocation which contains all of chromosome 21 except the band 21q22.3 was negative for the expression of PFKL whereas cell lines carrying the reciprocal 8;21 translocation were positive. In addition, a cell line with a ring chromosome 21 containing a breakpoint which excluded the distal part of the q22.3 band was negative for expression of PFKL. These results indicate that human PFKL is located on chromosome 21q22.3.
Current status of the MiniBooNE experiment

Abstract This paper reviews the current status of the Fermilab mini-Booster neutrino experiment (MiniBooNE). The experiment began taking beam data in late August 2002. We describe the experiment, status of the beamline and detector, and show the first neutrino candidate events.
A new mean‐field theory for dilute polymer solutions: Phase diagram, conformational behavior and interfacial properties

A new mean‐field theory for dilute polymer solutions is presented. The approach is based on looking at a polymer molecule in the mean‐field of the solution. This has the advantage of allowing the conformational behavior of the chain molecules and the thermodynamic properties of the solution to be studied within the same theoretical framework. The phase diagram predicted by the theory has a critical temperature which is lower, and a width of its coexistence curve which is larger, than those obtained from the simpler mean‐field (Flory) theory. The critical volume fraction is found to scale with the degree of polymerization n as φc∼n−0.40, in excellent agreement with experimental results. The theory allows one to study the size and shape of the polymer molecules as functions of the thermodynamic state of the solution. It is found that on the concentrated side of the coexistence curve the average shape of the molecules is an elongated ellipsoid, while in the dilute side the molecules are smaller in size and t...
Prediction of Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence IQ scores for preschool children using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-R and the Expressive One Word Picture Vocabulary Test

As part of a comprehensive preschool screening program, the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-R, and the Expressive One Word Picture Vocabulary Test were administered to 51 young children, who varied in age form 45 to 76 months (M = 57.5, SD = 4.9). The sample consisted of 21 females and 30 males, of whom 80% were White, 18% Black, and 2% Native Americans. Stepwise regression was used with the WPPSI Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs as criterion variables (dependent variables) and the PPVT-R and EOWPVT as the predictor (independent variables). The stepwise regression technique was helpful in identifying the specific combination of independent variables that could best be used to predict WPPSI scores. Results indicated that the PPVT-R and QT can be used successfully as predictors of the WPPSI IQs for young preschool children. Implications and limitations for the use of regression equations by clinicians are discussed.
Function of the second nucleotide‐binding fold in the CFTR chloride channel

Abstract To test the role of nucleotide-binding fold (NBF) 2 and its interaction with the regulatory (R) domain in the function of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel, we used three deletion mutants of CFTR: ΔR(708-835), ΔNBF2(1185-1349) and ΔR-ΔNBF2. In lipid bilayers, ΔNBF2 channel activity is ATP- and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)-dependent, but unlike wild-type (wt) CFTR, it displays a reduced activity and insensitivity to 5′-adenylylimidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP). Both ΔR and ΔR-ΔNBF2 channels are PKA-independent, but ΔR activity is reduced whereas ΔR-ΔNBF2 activity is increased. Deletion of NBF2 from CFTR affects protein trafficking and channel gating kinetics. The data suggest that NBF2 could have inhibitory and stimulatory roles in CFTR activity by interaction with NBF1 directly or indirectly via the R domain.
Molecular networking and pattern-based genome mining improves discovery of biosynthetic gene clusters and their products from Salinispora species.

Genome sequencing has revealed that bacteria contain many more biosynthetic gene clusters than predicted based on the number of secondary metabolites discovered to date. While this biosynthetic reservoir has fostered interest in new tools for natural product discovery, there remains a gap between gene cluster detection and compound discovery. Here we apply molecular networking and the new concept of pattern-based genome mining to 35 Salinispora strains, including 30 for which draft genome sequences were either available or obtained for this study. The results provide a method to simultaneously compare large numbers of complex microbial extracts, which facilitated the identification of media components, known compounds and their derivatives, and new compounds that could be prioritized for structure elucidation. These efforts revealed considerable metabolite diversity and led to several molecular family-gene cluster pairings, of which the quinomycin-type depsipeptide retimycin A was characterized and linked to gene cluster NRPS40 using pattern-based bioinformatic approaches.
Temporal Progress of Septoria Leaf Spot on Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei)

ABSTRACT Septoria leaf spot, caused by Septoria albopunctata, is an important disease on blueberry in the southeastern United States, yet its epidemiology is largely unknown. Disease severity and dissemination of pycnidiospores were monitored from 2002 to 2004 in a planting of susceptible Premier rabbiteye blueberry to characterize the temporal progress of the disease and determine the effect of inoculum dynamics and selected leaf attributes on disease development. Disease onset was observed between late April and mid-June, followed by a rapid increase in disease severity until mid- to late September; thereafter, disease severity decreased until the end of the season due to abscission of severely infected leaves. A logistic model was fitted to disease severity data using nonlinear regression, and parameter estimates were used to compare the effects of leaf position on the shoot and shoot location in the canopy on disease progress. Based on this model, the highest absolute rate of disease increase and the ...
The Low-pressure Glaucoma Treatment Study (LoGTS) study design and baseline characteristics of enrolled patients

Objective The Low-Pressure Glaucoma Treatment Study (LoGTS) seeks to evaluate visual field stability in low-pressure glaucoma patients randomized to intraocular pressure reduction in both eyes with topical twice daily brimonidine tartrate 0.2% versus twice daily timolol maleate 0.5%. This article describes the LoGTS design and presents baseline characteristics of the subjects. Design Randomized, multicenter, double-masked clinical trial. Participants Low-pressure glaucoma patients 30 years of age or older were identified. Exclusion criteria included an untreated pressure of more than 21 mmHg, advanced visual field loss, and contraindications to study medications. Interventions Randomization of both eyes to double-masked monotherapy with brimonidine or timolol. Follow-up visits included Humphrey 24-2 full-threshold perimetry, tonometry every 4 months, and annual optic disc photography. Main outcome measure Progression of visual field loss. Results One hundred ninety patients were randomized between 1998 and 2000. Mean age (±standard deviation) was 64.9±10.7 years. Women comprised 59.5% of the patients. Fifty-three patients (27.9%) had unilateral field loss. The 137 patients with bilateral field loss were older than those with unilateral field loss: 65.7 versus 62.3 years of age ( P P Conclusions The LoGTS was successfully able to recruit and enroll patients with open-angle glaucoma and statistically normal intraocular pressure into a longitudinal, prospective clinical trial comparing 2 different glaucoma medications. Baseline characteristics of note were a preponderance of females, unilateral field loss in 27.9% of participants, and frequent optic disc hemorrhage. Central corneal thickness had a normal distribution and did not account for false low-pressure measurements in LoGTS patients.
An economical and convenient preparation of 2-(phenylthio)cyclobutanone, a synthetic equivalent of cyclobutanone

Abstract A practical procedure is given for the preparation of 2-(phenylthio)cyclobutanone ( 3 ) and the use of the latter as a convenient substitute for cyclobutanone is demonstrated.
Investigation of cerebral hemodynamics and collateralization in asymptomatic carotid stenoses

Stroke is the second leading cause of death in the world, and one of the major causes of disability. Approximately 30% of ischemic strokes are due to plaque rupture in the carotid arteries. The most popular diagnostic method uses Doppler ultrasound to find the percent stenosis. However, other factors, such as the hemodynamics around the plaque may play a larger role in identifying the risk of plaque rupture. It has been shown previously in simulations that non-collateral flow in the circle of Willis (COW) could cause an increase of the intraluminal velocity around carotid plaque. This added strain may increase the vulnerability of the plaque to rupture. We investigated asymmetries in flow waveforms in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in asymptomatic patients with carotid artery stenosis. We compared clinical results of velocity waveforms in the MCA, acquired using transcranial Doppler (TCD), with a simple linear simulation model of the intra- and extracranial arterial network to investigate the relationship between contralateral and ipsilateral flow profiles in the MCA for patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis. In 17 out of 23 patients we found waveforms consistent with those predicted for a collateralized COW, with minimal differences in delay, velocity magnitude and resistivity index. In 6 cases, some unexpected findings were noted, such as large delays for 2 patients ≤ 50% stenosis, and a large velocity difference with low delay for 4 patients. More studies are needed to elucidate the role of incomplete intracranial collateralization on the hemodynamics around carotid plaque and to use imaging of the COW to corroborate our results.
Proton core polarization in low-lying states of 86Sr.

Electron-scattering cross sections, measured between 0.4 and 3.1 fm{sup {minus}1}, have been unfolded to obtain charge transition densities for the low-lying 2{sup +}, 4{sup +}, 6{sup +}, and 8{sup +} states in {sup 86}Sr. A comparison is made to analogous levels in {sup 92}Mo. Angular momentum recoupling in the 1{ital g}{sub 9/2} shell of two protons in {sup 92}Mo and two neutron holes in {sup 86}Sr are the dominant configurations for these levels. Proton core polarization in {sup 86}Sr neutron valence transitions diminishes with increasing multipolarity, indicating the residual interaction weakens with increasing momentum transfer.
Raman scattering and SEM studies of graphite and silicon carbide surfaces bombarded with energetic protons, deuterons and helium ions

Experimental investigations on the chemical and physical effects of 10–15 keV H1+, D1+ and He+ ion bombardments to fluences up to 1019 ions/cm2 on graphite and SiC have been conducted using the techniques of Raman scattering and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Raman scattering data for ion bombarded graphite reveal the formation of an amorphous surface layer as indicated by the appearance of a broad band in the spectrum centered at 1525 cm which replaces the bands due to microcrystalline carbon at 1585 cm−1 and 1360 cm−1. The microcrystalline structure could be partially restored upon vacuum annealing at 1040°C for several hours. A weak, broad band centered at 2150 cm also appears after bombardment which is indicative of the formation of −C = C− bonds. Surfaces of “KT” SiC were also amorphized on ion bombardment as indicated by changes in the Raman spectra. Chemical trapping of the incident h1+ and D1+ ions to form bulk C-H, C-D and Si-H species was observed. Preferential sputtering of Si leaving a carbon rich surface region also occurred. Blister formation was observed in the SEM studies.
Do Large Effect QTL Fractionate? A Case Study at the Maize Domestication QTL teosinte branched1

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping is a valuable tool for studying the genetic architecture of trait variation. Despite the large number of QTL studies reported in the literature, the identified QTL are rarely mapped to the underlying genes and it is usually unclear whether a QTL corresponds to one or multiple linked genes. Similarly, when QTL for several traits colocalize, it is usually unclear whether this is due to the pleiotropic action of a single gene or multiple linked genes, each affecting one trait. The domestication gene teosinte branched1 (tb1) was previously identified as a major domestication QTL with large effects on the differences in plant and ear architecture between maize and teosinte. Here we present the results of two experiments that were performed to determine whether the single gene tb1 explains all trait variation for its genomic region or whether the domestication QTL at tb1 fractionates into multiple linked QTL. For traits measuring plant architecture, we detected only one QTL per trait and these QTL all mapped to tb1. These results indicate that tb1 is the sole gene for plant architecture traits that segregates in our QTL mapping populations. For most traits related to ear morphology, we detected multiple QTL per trait in the tb1 genomic region, including a large effect QTL at tb1 itself plus one or two additional linked QTL. tb1 is epistatic to two of these additional QTL for ear traits. Overall, these results provide examples for both a major QTL that maps to a single gene, as well as a case in which a QTL fractionates into multiple linked QTL.
Liver Transplantation: From Inception to Clinical Practice

The 2012 Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award will be conferred on Thomas Starzl of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and Roy Calne of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, UK. They are recognized for pioneering the development of liver transplantation, an intervention that saves 20,000 lives world-wide each year.
Transcriptional Regulation of Chemokine Expression in Ovarian Cancer

The increased expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic chemokines contributes to ovarian cancer progression through the induction of tumor cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and metastasis. The substantial potential of these chemokines to facilitate the progression and metastasis of ovarian cancer underscores the need for their stringent transcriptional regulation. In this Review, we highlight the key mechanisms that regulate the transcription of pro-inflammatory chemokines in ovarian cancer cells, and that have important roles in controlling ovarian cancer progression. We further discuss the potential mechanisms underlying the increased chemokine expression in drug resistance, along with our perspective for future studies.
High NA projection lens design for exposure tools

In the history of the semiconductor industry, exposure tools have been improved in resolution, throughput, overlay etc. The improvement of resolution has been dramatically expedited in recent years, based on the silicon technology roadmap (ITRS), where the shrinking rate of the critical dimensions has been 20% to 30% every two years.
Effects of linking groups in fluorinated aromatic polyamides

Based on dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of fluorinated aromatic polyamides, we found that substituting terephthaloyl units for isophthaloyl units usually increased the thermal stability of the polymers. In contrast, the first steps of thermal degradation of poly(5,5′-sulfonyl-2,2′-difluoro-diphenyl terephthalamide) (2,2′-DIF-PSDPT) and poly(5,5′-sulfonyl-2,2′-difluorodphenyl isophthalamide)(2,2′-DIF-PSDPI) followed almost the same curve. This was attributed to the relative flexibility of the SO2 group, and also to the activating effect on the dehydrofluorination reaction, which was believed to be the first step of the degradation of the ortho-fluorinated aromatic polyamides, , resulting in the formation of benzoxazole groups, , on the polymer backbone. With fluorinated aromatic polyamides having ortho fluorine to the amide nitrogen, the electron releasing CH2 group deactivated the nucleophilic substitution of the dehydrofluorination reaction and the electron withdrawing group SO2 activated the reaction, so that the onset degradation temperatures of the fluorinated aromatic units R in followed the order:
Raman spectroscopy of low-dimensional semiconductors

Abstract Raman spectroscopy is widely used to study the vibrational and structural properties of single crystals. More recently, in the fields of chemistry, physics, and engineering, interest in the properties of small objects has arisen. Small objects include microcrystalline materials, artificially layered semiconductor structures, and colloidal suspensions. The reason for this recent interest is that these objects often display unique electronic properties which may find applications in devices. Since Raman spectroscopy is a convenient nondestructive tool, it is not surprising that it has been used to characterize such objects. In this review, we consider almost exclusively results obtained with semiconductors.
The crystal structure of the Pseudomonas dacunhae aspartate-beta-decarboxylase dodecamer reveals an unknown oligomeric assembly for a pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent enzyme.

The Pseudomonas dacunhae L-aspartate-{beta}-decarboxylase (ABDC, aspartate 4-decarboxylase, aspartate 4-carboxylyase, E.C. 4.1.1.12) is a pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the {beta}-decarboxylation of L-aspartate to produce L-alanine and CO{sub 2}. This catalytically versatile enzyme is known to form functional dodecamers at its optimal pH and is thought to work in conjunction with an L-Asp/L-Ala antiporter to establish a proton gradient across the membrane that can be used for ATP biosynthesis. We have solved the atomic structure of ABDC to 2.35 {angstrom} resolution using single-wavelength anomalous dispersion phasing. The structure reveals that ABDC oligomerizes as a homododecamer in an unknown mode among PLP-dependent enzymes and has highest structural homology with members of the PLP-dependent aspartate aminotransferase subfamily. The structure shows that the ABDC active site is very similar to that of aspartate aminotransferase. However, an additional arginine side chain (Arg37) was observed flanking the re-side of the PLP ring in the ABDC active site. The mutagenesis results show that although Arg37 is not required for activity, it appears to be involved in the ABDC catalytic cycle.
Synthesis of phosphonic monoesters from phosphonous acids

Abstract Phosphonic monoesters are prepared in a two—step procedure by DCC—DMAP mediated esterification of phosphonous acids and oxidation of the resulting phosphonous monoester.
Characterization by EXAFS of Co/MFI Catalysts Prepared by Sublimation

Catalysts have been prepared by subliming CoCl2 or CoBr2 vapor onto the H form of the zeolite MFI, followed by replacing the halide ions by OH groups and subsequent heat treatments. The Co sites have been characterized by EXAFS and XANES spectra at liquid nitrogen temperature. The data are correlated with the H2-TPR profiles of the same samples and their catalytic performance in reducing NOx with hydrocarbons. Materials with fairly large Co3O4 particles after calcination, displaying a Co−Co distance of 3.5 A and negligible interaction between Co and T sites (T = Si or Al), have a poor selectivity in NOx reduction, because such oxide particles catalyze the combustion of the hydrocarbon. In contrast, highly selective catalysts show no Co3O4 clusters and distinct interaction between Co and T atoms. Heating in H2 at 400 °C reduces Co−oxo ions, while cobalt oxide clusters are incompletely reduced and isolated Co2+ ions in exchange positions remain unreduced. The water formed in the reduction of oxo species can...
Numerical evaluation of the jet noise source distribution from far-field cross correlations

This paper contains the development of techniques to determine the relationship between the unknown source correlation function to the correlation of scattered amplitudes in a jet. This study has application to the determination of forward motion effects. The technique has been developed and tested on a model jet of high subsonic flow. Numerical solution was obtained by solving the Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. Interpretation of the apparent source distribution and its application to flight testing are provided.
Electronic volume of CD34 positive cells from peripheral blood apheresis samples.

Background: The authors have used a flow analyzer to measure electronic cellular volume of peripheral blood hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells obtained by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilization and apheresis (HPC-A) of patients with hematological malignancies. Methods: Fifty three apheresis samples stained with CD45-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and CD34-R-phycoerythrin (PE)-labeled antibodies after erythrocyte lysis with BD FACS™ Lysing Solution were analyzed for electronic cell volume and two-color FITC and PE fluorescence. Results: Lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes in the HPC-A samples had a mean electronic volume of 414, 797, and 670 μm3, respectively corresponding to cell diameter of 9.25, 11.5, and 10.85 μm. In 53 HPC-A samples analyzed, the mean electronic volume of the CD34 positive mononuclear cells was 407 μm3 while the CD45 positive cells had mean volume of 453 μm3. Conclusions: CD34 positive stem/progenitor cells have a smaller volume and diameter than CD45 positive mononuclear cells in HPC-A samples. In the present study the CD34 stem/progenitor cells had a considerably larger diameter than that of stem cells previously reported in the literature. With the availability of electronic cell volume as a parameter in flow cytometric analysis, further studies can be carried out to correlate stem cell volume with specific phenotypic marker expression. © 2008 Clinical Cytometry Society
Diagnosis and Management of Candida of the Nipple and Breast

Diagnosis and treatment of ductal and/or nipple candidiasis in breastfeeding women is complicated by the variety of symptoms women experience. The differential diagnosis includes candidiasis of the nipple, candidiasis of the breast, bacterial infection of either nipple or breast, and other less common problems such as Raynaud's syndrome. Diagnosis and treatment are based on history, physical examination, and presenting symptomatology because cultures of breast milk are often inconclusive. Differential diagnoses and treatment options are reviewed.
Mental effort and elaboration: Effects of accessibility and instruction

Abstract The present study examined the effects of accessibility to relevant schematic knowledge for elaboration in the associative learning of noun pairs. Fifth-grade participants performed two simultaneous tasks—associative learning and finger tapping—so that the mental effort demands of elaborating pairs that varied in accessibility could be estimated. The mental effort expended during the creation of sentence elaborations was greater for inaccessible pairs than accessible pairs. This accessibility difference was not observed when subjects were provided with the pair members in sentences. These findings confirm information-processing analyses of the elaboration process and support a knowledge-base interpretation of developmental differences in elaboration effort.
Glucagon Stimulation Testing in Assessing for Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a well-recognized clinical syndrome in adults. However, due to the high frequency of normal serum IGF-I levels in hypopituitary adults with GHD, it is now widely accepted that despite normal levels of total IGF-I, adults clinically suspected with GHD within the appropriate clinical setting must undergo GH provocative testing to confirm its diagnosis. Although the insulin tolerance test (ITT) is labor intensive, contraindicated in the elderly and in adults with seizure disorders and ischemic heart disease, can be unpleasant for the patient, and is potentially hazardous, this test remains the gold standard test for the biochemical demonstration of GHD in adults. In contrast, with the unavailability of the GHRH and arginine test as the alternative test to the ITT in the United States since 2008, the glucagon stimulation test (GST) has since been increasingly used in the United States because of its availability, reproducibility, safety, lack of influence by gender and hypothalamic cause of GHD, and relatively few contraindications. In this paper, we discuss our recommendations in performing this test, the potential drawbacks in conducting and caveats in interpreting this test, and its future perspectives.
Temporally resolved laser diagnostic measurements of atomic hydrogen concentrations in RF plasma discharges

Ground-state atomic hydrogen produced in radio-frequency plasma discharges (20 KHz-5 MHz) has been detectedin situ using two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence (TALIF). Atomic ground-state concentration measurements have demonstrated excellent spatial resolution in the interelectrode gap of a planar discharge configuration with 10 nsec temporal resolution at all phases of the RF driving voltage waveform. Concentrations were measured in gas mixtures of helium and hydrogen down to 2×1013 H atoms/cm3.
Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Is Required for an Optimal Response to the Polysaccharide α-1,3 Dextran

An understanding of Ab responses to polysaccharides associated with pathogenic microorganisms is of importance for improving vaccine design, especially in neonates that respond poorly to these types of Ags. In this study, we have investigated the role of the lymphoid-specific enzyme TdT in generating B cell clones responsive to α-1,3 dextran (DEX). TdT is a DNA polymerase that plays a major role in generating diversity of lymphocyte AgRs during V(D)J recombination. In this study, we show that the DEX-specific Ab response is lower, and the dominant DEX-specific J558 idiotype (Id) is not detected in TdT−/− mice when compared with wild-type (WT) BALB/c mice. Nucleotide sequencing of H chain CDR3s of DEX-specific plasmablasts, sorted postimmunization, showed that TdT−/− mice generate a lower frequency of the predominant adult molecularly determined clone J558. Complementation of TdT expression in TdT−/− mice by early forced expression of the short splice variant of TdT-restored WT proportions of J558 Id+ clones and also abrogated the development of the minor M104E Id+ clones. J558 Id V(D)J rearrangements are detected as early as 7 d after birth in IgM-negative B cell precursors in the liver and spleen of WT and TdT-transgenic mice but not in TdT−/− mice. These data show that TdT is essential for the generation of the predominant higher-affinity DEX-responsive J558 clone.
Effect of lesions on the dynamics of DNA on the picosecond and nanosecond timescales using a polarity sensitive probe

This paper explores the effects of structural modifications on the fast dynamics of DNA and the ability of time-resolved Stokes shift spectroscopy to measure those changes. The time-resolved Stokes shift of a synthetic coumarin base-pair replacement within an oligomer is measured between 40 ps and 40 ns. Comparisons are made between 17mers without modification, with a deleted base near the coumarin and with the coumarin placed near the end of the oligomer. The deletion of a next-to-nearest-neighbor base pair does not change the subnanosecond dynamics, but does cause an additional motion with a time constant of ∼20 ns. A candidate for this motion is the flipping of the abasic sugar out of the helix and the concomitant intrusion of water into the interior of the helix. A nearby chain end causes little change in the dynamics after 1 ns but leads to a reduction in the amplitude of the dynamics between 40 ps and 1 ns. We suggest that at the chain end, where DNA on one side of the probe has been replaced by water, the charge- stabilizing dynamics have the same overall amplitude, but that much of the relaxation occurs before the start of the measurement time window.
A-Tract bending: insights into experimental structures by computational models.

While solution structures of adenine tract (A-tract) oligomers have indicated a unique bend direction equivalent to negative global roll (commonly termed "minor-groove bending"), crystallographic data have not unambiguously characterized the bend direction; nevertheless, many features are shared by all A-tract crystal and solution structures (e.g. propeller twisting, narrow minor grooves, and localized water spines). To examine the origin of bending and to relate findings to the crystallographic and solution data, we analyze molecular dynamics trajectories of two solvated A-tract dodecamers: 1D89, d(CGCGA(6)CG), and 1D98, d(CGCA(6)GCG), using a new general global bending framework for analyzing bent DNA and DNA/protein complexes. It is significant that the crystallographically-based initial structures are converted from dissimilar to similar bend directions equivalent to negative global roll, with the average helical-axis bend ranging from 10.5 degrees to 14.1 degrees. The largest bend occurs as positive roll of 12 degrees on the 5' side of the A-tracts (supporting a junction model) and is reinforced by gradual curvature at each A-tract base-pair (bp) step (supporting a wedge model). The precise magnitude of the bend is subtly sequence dependent (consistent with a curved general sequence model). The conversion to negative global roll only requires small local changes at each bp, accumulated over flexible moieties both outside and inside the A-tract. In contrast, the control sequence 1BNA, d(CGCGA(2)TTCGCG), bends marginally (only 6.9 degrees ) with no preferred direction. The molecular features that stabilize the bend direction in the A-tract dodecamers include propeller twisting of AT base-pairs, puckering differences between A and T deoxyriboses, a narrow minor groove, and a stable water spine (that extends slightly beyond the A-tract, with lifetimes approaching 0.2 ns). The sugar conformations, in particular, are proposed as important factors that support bent DNA. It is significant that all these curvature-stabilizing features are also observed in the crystallographic structures, but yield overall different bending paths, largely due to the effects of sequences outside the A-tract. These results merge structural details reported for A-tract structures by experiment and theory and lead to structural and dynamic insights into sequence-dependent DNA flexibility, as highlighted by the effect of an A-tract variant of a TATA-box element on bending and flexibility required for TBP binding.
Specific proteolytic cleavages limit the diversity of the pool of peptides available to MHC class I molecules in living cells

MHC class I molecules display peptides selected from a poorly characterized pool of peptides available in the endoplasmic reticulum. We analyzed the diversity of peptides available to MHC class I molecules by monitoring the generation of an OVA-derived octapeptide, OVA 257–264 (SL8), and its C-terminally extended analog, SL8-I. The poorly antigenic SL8-I could be detected in cell extracts only after its conversion to the readily detectable SL8 with carboxypeptidase Y. Analysis of extracts from cells expressing the minimal precursor Met-SL8-I by this method revealed the presence of SL8/K b and the extended SL8-I/K b complexes, indicating that the peptide pool contained both peptides. In contrast, cells expressing full length OVA generated only the SL8/K b complex, demonstrating that the peptide pool generated from the full length precursor contained only a subset of potential MHC-binding peptides. Deletion analysis revealed that SL8-I was generated only from precursors lacking additional C-terminal flanking residues, suggesting that the generation of the C terminus of the SL8 peptide involves a specific endopeptidase cleavage. To investigate the protease responsible for this cleavage, we tested the effect of different protease inhibitors on the generation of the SL8 and SL8-I peptides. Only the proteasome inhibitors blocked generation of SL8, but not SL8-I. These findings demonstrate that the specificities of the proteases in the Ag-processing pathway, which include but are not limited to the proteasome, limit the diversity of peptides available for binding by MHC class I molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum.
Changes of axosomatic synapses in the visual cortex of monocularly deprived rats.

The effect of unilateral visual deprivation on axosomatic synapses of the visual cortex was studied. The deprivation was achieved by unilateral lid suture in 14 day old rats which were kept for 8 weeks. The size of axosomatic synapses in layers II to V of the visual cortex were measured. The mean size of the axosomatic synaptic contacts of the visual cortex supplied by the deprived eye was smaller (−23%) through all layers studied. In the axosomatic synaptic population contacts with flattened vesicles prevailed. The size of synapses containing round vesicles was more affected by deprivation than that of terminals containing flattened vesicles. The percentage of synapses with round vesicles was greater in the deprived cortex.
Comparison of 5 health-related quality-of-life indexes using item response theory analysis.

Background. Five health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) indexes—EQ-5D, HUI2, HUI3, QWB-SA, and SF-6D—are each used to assign community-based utility scores to health states, although these scores differ. Objective. The authors transform these indexes to a common scale to understand their interrelationships. Methods. Data were from the National Health Measurement Study, a telephone survey of 3844 US adults. The 5 indexes were analyzed using item response theory analysis to estimate scores on an underlying construct of summary health, θ. Unidimensionality was evaluated using nonlinear principal components analysis. Index scores were plotted against the estimated scores on the common underlying construct. In addition, scores on the Health and Activities Limitation Index (HALex), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy Days questions, and self-rated health on a 5-category scale ranging from excellent to poor were plotted. Results. SF-6D and QWB-SA are nearly linear across the range of θ but wit...
Salinity sensitivity of early embryos of the Antarctic sea urchin, Sterechinus neumayeri

Embryos and larvae of the Antarctic sea urchin, Sterechinus neumayeri, have received considerable experimental attention assessing impacts of low temperature on development; however, salinity effects are not well documented because heretofore, the Antarctic coastal marine environment has been remarkably stenohaline. In this study, subtle decreases of 2 and 4 parts per 1,000 in standard salinity were tested to see if the developmental rate of S. neumayeri embryos would be impacted by a potential hyposmotic stress. At 30 psu, significantly fewer embryos (2 individuals out of 198 tested) reached morula stage by 36 h post-fertilization in comparison embryos in control treatments at 34 psu. Antarctic sea urchins are an important component of marine environments due to their grazing activities. Reductions in larval recruitment success due to the influx of freshwater from melting ice shelves resulting from global climate change could have far-reaching impacts on benthic ecosystem structure in Antarctica.
Positive High-Risk HPV Test with Negative Cytology—A Conundrum and Blessing of Our Latest Technology

See related article by Dijkstra et al., [p. 55][1] The POBASCAM trial ([1][2]) was one of the earliest and longest randomized controlled trials to address the test performance of high-risk HPV (hrHPV) testing to detect cervical precancerous lesions. It builds on the evidence presented in HART ([2][
Statistical Angular Resolution Limit for Point Sources

We define a statistical angular resolution limit (ARL) on resolving two closely spaced point sources in a 3-D reference frame, using constraints on the probabilities of false alarm and detection for a hypothesis test. The ARL can be used as a performance measure for sensor arrays in localizing remote sources and is applicable to different measurement models and applications (e.g., radar, sonar, or astronomy). By considering the asymptotic performance of the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT), we derive the analytical expression of the ARL and show that it is proportional to the square root of the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) on the angular source separation, or asymptotically the lower bound on the mean-square angular error (MSAECRB) . Numerical examples illustrate that the proposed ARL is practically computable and achievable with large data samples. Our analytical result can replace the commonly used ad hoc resolution limits in existing literature.