cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rituximab treatment for chronic steroid-dependent Henoch-Schonlein purpura: 8 cases and a review of the literature

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a small vessel vasculitis that is characterized by non-thrombocytopenic purpura, abdominal pain, arthritis, and glomerulonephritis. Typically, HSP is self-limited requiring only supportive care, but more severe cases may require corticosteroid (CS) treatment. Rarely, a subset of these patients has persistent rash, arthritis, abdominal involvement, or renal disease despite treatment with CS, or has disease recurrence on CS tapering. Refractory HSP has been effectively treated with a variety of CS sparing therapies. For life-threatening refractory HSP, the B cell depleting agent, rituximab (RTX), has been reported as beneficial for children with substantial renal or central nervous system involvement. However, RTX use for children with less severe HSP, but chronic CS dependent disease refractory to CS sparing immunomodulatory agents, has been less well explored. Herein, we describe 8 children treated with RTX for chronic refractory HSP and report a reduction in recurrent hospitalizations and eventual CS discontinuation. This is a retrospective analysis of eight children who were treated with RTX for chronic CS dependent HSP during the years 2006–2014 at a single institution. A chart review of the electronic medical record was performed to determine the presenting symptoms, the type and duration of treatment received, and the number of hospitalizations prior to and after RTX. The number of hospitalizations and oral corticosteroid burden were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Prior to receiving RTX, seven patients had at least one hospitalization for HSP (median 1.5, range 0–3). Following RTX, only two patients were hospitalized, each a single time for recurrent abdominal pain. The median oral CS burden was 0.345 mg/kg/day before RTX and 0 mg/kg/day at 6 months (p = 0.078), 1 year (p = 0.0625), and 2 years (p = 0.03) following RTX infusion. Seven out of eight children met remission criteria, defined as no active rash, arthritis, nephritis (hematuria and proteinuria), or gastrointestinal distress following RTX. No serious adverse events were noted. Overall, RTX effectively reduced the number of hospital admissions and oral CS burden. RTX also helped most all children achieve clinical remission. RTX appears to be an effective and safe alternative for chronic CS dependent and immunomodulatory refractory childhood HSP.
Unfulfilled Hopes: President Obama’s Legacy

Stanley Renshon explores Obama as both a candidate and a president. Obama campaigned as a thoughtful pragmatist with populist overtones. The president said he wanted to move beyond the divisive politics of Washington. Yet, Obama also wanted to be a “great” and “transformational” president and modeled himself after those predecessors he thought had been. In doing so, he committed what Renshon characterizes as basic political faults—hiding his true ambition behind his moderate persona and campaign rhetoric. As a result, he allowed himself to contribute to the decades long decline in trust in government. The public wanted Obama to concentrate on the economy. Yet, he was focused on being a great, transformative president. The Democratic majority in Congress gave him a significant victory in the Affordable Care Act but his legislature successes slowed considerably when the Republicans took over the House and then the Senate. Accordingly, Obama then sought national transformation through the use of Executive Orders. These efforts are a cautionary tale of how personal ambitions, however necessary or benevolent they appear to a president, can be interpreted differently by the American people, especially if that was not what they voted for or wanted.
Extended open shop scheduling with resource constraints: Appointment scheduling for integrated practice units

An Integrated Practice Unit (IPU) is a new approach to outpatient care in which a co-located multidisciplinary team of clinicians, technicians, and staff provide treatment in a single patient visit...
Break point analyses of human or environmental temporal trends of POPs

The concentrations of a pollutant in people or in the environment are often changing as a function of time. In many cases, this rate of change may be relatively constant as a function of time; thus, first-order kinetics can be applied to these data. In other cases, the rate at which the concentrations of a pollutant are changing may be different before and after some event, for example before and after their regulation or usage restriction. This time is called a break point, and one needs to be able to determine this break point objectively before one can determine the rates of change on either side of it. This paper presents a method for doing this using the Solver feature of Excel followed by multiple linear regression to determine if the rates of change before and after the break point are statistically different from one another.
Refactoring the Cryptic Streptophenazine Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Unites Phenazine, Polyketide, and Nonribosomal Peptide Biochemistry.

Summary The disconnect between the genomic prediction of secondary metabolite biosynthetic potential and the observed laboratory production profile of microorganisms is well documented. While heterologous expression of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) is often seen as a potential solution to bridge this gap, it is not immune to many challenges including impaired regulation, the inability to recruit essential building blocks, and transcriptional and/or translational silence of the biosynthetic genes. Here we report the discovery, cloning, refactoring, and heterologous expression of a cryptic hybrid phenazine-type BGC (spz) from the marine actinomycete Streptomyces sp. CNB-091. Overexpression of the engineered spz pathway resulted in increased production and chemical diversity of phenazine natural products belonging to the streptophenazine family, including bioactive members containing an unprecedented N-formylglycine attachment. An atypical discrete adenylation enzyme in the spz cluster is required to introduce the formylglycine moiety and represents a phylogenetically distinct class of adenylation proteins.
Laser Capture Microdissection of Murine Embryonic Neural Crest Cells

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a step-by-step protocol to enable performance of laser capture microdissection (LCM) on tissue sections from mammalian embryos or postnatal organism stages in order to collect pure populations of neural crest cells from which sufficient amounts of nucleic acids and/or protein can be obtained for quantitative analysis. The methods (1) define a strategy to genetically and indelibly label mammalian neural crest-derived cells with a fluorescent marker, thus enabling their isolation throughout the pre- and postnatal life span of the organism, and (2) describe subsequent isolation by LCM of the labeled neural crest cells, or their derivatives, from embryonic/postnatal tissue cryosections. Details are provided for using the Arcturus PixCell®IIe Laser Capture Microdissection System (Arcturus) and CapSure LCM Caps (Thermo Fisher Scientific), to which the selected cells adhere upon laser-mediated capture. The protocol outlined herein can be applied in any situation wherein limited cellular samples are available for isolation by LCM. Nucleic acids or proteins can be extracted from LCM-isolated cells and processed for high-density gene expression profiling analyses (microarrays or RNA sequencing), Real-Time PCR (q-PCR) for specific candidate gene expression, investigation of DNA methylation, as well as for varied protein analyses.
Bordering Through Place/s, Difference/s, and Language/s: Intersections of Border and Feminist Theories

As a resident in El Paso, Texas, who lives and works within view of Ciudad Juarez in the state of Chihuahua, my life has been significantly shaped by the U.S.–Mexico border—in how I understand lang...
CytoLyt fixation significantly inhibits MIB1 immunoreactivity whereas alternative Ki-67 clone 30-9 is not susceptible to the inhibition: Critical diagnostic implications.

Background The Ki-67 proliferation marker has multiple diagnostic and prognostic applications. Although several clones to the Ki-67 antigen are commercially available, the MIB1 clone is widely recommended in the surgical pathology literature for neuroendocrine tumors. In our cytopathology practice, we have encountered unexpectedly low MIB1 immunoreactivity in CytoLyt-fixed cell blocks (CBs). The current study evaluated the impact of fixatives, CB processing, and immunocytochemical (ICC) procedures on Ki-67 immunoreactivity. Methods Test CBs were prepared from freshly resected tumors, and multiple variables in the MIB1 ICC procedure were tested, including CytoLyt versus formalin collection media, MIB1 versus other Ki-67 clones including 30-9, and other variables. MIB1 versus Ki-67 30-9 clones were tested in parallel on CytoLyt-fixed CBs from clinical samples of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Results In the test CBs (n = 10), the mean MIB1 labeling index was 10% in CytoLyt versus 47% in formalin (P = .0116), with a mean loss of reactivity in matched CBs of 37% (up to 70%). None of the procedure modifications tested in 223 individual ICC reactions recovered MIB1 reactivity in CytoLyt except for switching to the Ki-67 30-9 antibody. In CytoLyt-fixed SCLC samples (n = 14), the Ki-67 30-9 antibody demonstrated expected ranges of reactivity (mean, 83%; range, 60%-100%), whereas MIB1 demonstrated markedly inhibited labeling (mean, 60%; range, 10%-95%) (P = .0058). Conclusions CytoLyt fixation substantially inhibits MIB1 immunoreactivity, whereas the Ki-67 30-9 clone is not susceptible to inhibition. Markedly discrepant MIB1 reactivity may present a pitfall in the diagnosis of SCLC and may lead to the incorrect prognostic stratification of other tumor types. For laboratories using CytoLyt, we recommend using the Ki-67 30-9 antibody rather than the MIB1 antibody.
“Two Paradigms for The Market Value of Liabilities”, Robert R. Reitano, October 1997

(1997). “Two Paradigms for The Market Value of Liabilities”, Robert R. Reitano, October 1997. North American Actuarial Journal: Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 122-125.
Longitudinal trends in perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances among multiethnic midlife women from 1999 to 2011: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation

Abstract Background Limited information exists regarding longitudinal trends in midlife women’s exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Further, little is known about how patterns of exposure differ by race/ethnicity and reproductive characteristics including parity and menopause. Objective We aimed to examine temporal variations in serum PFAS concentrations among midlife women from the Study of Women′s Health Across the Nation. Methods Serum concentrations of 11 PFAS homologues were measured in 75 White, Black and Chinese women with blood samples collected in 1999–2000, 2002–2003, 2005–2006, and 2009–2011. Rates of changes in PFAS concentrations were calculated assuming a first-order elimination model. Associations between PFAS concentrations and race/ethnicity, menstruation and parity were evaluated with linear mixed models, adjusting for age, body mass index and study site. Results Serum concentrations of linear-chain perfluorooctanoic acid (n-PFOA), linear- and branched-chain perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (n-PFOS and sm-PFOS) decreased significantly (-6.0%, 95% CI: −8.3%, −3.6% per year for n-PFOA; −14.8%, 95% CI: −17.3%, −12.3% per year for n-PFOS; −16.9%, 95% CI: −19.1%, −14.6% per year for sm-PFOS); whereas perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) increased (16.0%, 95% CI: 10.6%, 21.6% per year). Detection rates of perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDeA) and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA) doubled. Temporal trends varied significantly by race/ethnicity. Chinese women tended to have consistently higher PFNA concentrations at each follow-up visit, compared with White and Black women. Serum PFHxS concentrations significantly decreased in White and Black women, but not in Chinese. Menstruating women consistently had lower concentrations. Parity was associated with lower concentrations at baseline but the differences between nulliparous and parous women became smaller over time. Conclusions Our results suggest longitudinal declines in serum concentrations of legacy PFAS and increases in serum concentrations of emerging compounds from 1999 to 2011 in midlife women. Temporal trends in PFAS concentrations are not uniform across race/ethnicity and parity groups.
Efficient, high-throughput ligand incorporation into protein microcrystals by on-grid soaking

A method for soaking ligands into protein microcrystals on TEM grids is presented. Every crystal on the grid is soaked simultaneously using only standard cryoEM vitrification equipment. The method is demonstrated using proteinase K microcrystals soaked with the 5-amino-2,4,6-triodoisophthalic acid (I3C) magic triangle. A soaked microcrystal is milled to a thickness of 200nm using a focused ion-beam, and microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) data are collected. A high-resolution structure of the protein with four ligands at high occupancy is determined. Compared to much larger crystals investigated by X-ray crystallography, both the number of ligands bound and their occupancy was higher in MicroED. These results indicate that soaking ligands into microcrystals in this way results in a more efficient uptake than in larger crystals that are typically used in drug discovery pipelines by X-ray crystallography.
Development of a pharmacy 'patient prioritization tool' for use in a Tertiary Paediatric Hospital.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE Pharmacists play an integral role in paediatric patient care by ensuring the safe and optimal use of medications. There are increasing demands on pharmacists' time and challenges to meet them within allocated resources, and therefore, it is important to ensure that resources are used efficiently. Patient prioritization tools for clinical pharmacists have been proposed via many studies, but are generally adult-based and/or have not been validated to confirm their effectiveness. The aim of this study was to create, pilot and validate a patient prioritization tool to be used by pharmacists providing clinical pharmacy services to paediatric patients. METHODS A two-phase (retrospective and prospective) observational audit of pharmacists' interventions collected via notes made on their ward handover information sheets and patient case notes was conducted over a 2-year period in a tertiary paediatric hospital. A patient prioritization tool was created based on pharmacists' interventions in real time. This tool could be used at the start of the working day (without the need to review the patient or their case notes) to identify patients who would benefit most from a clinical pharmacist review. The tool was validated for effectiveness and selectivity. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The tool was easy to use and effective in identifying that 43% of paediatric inpatients did not require a routine clinical pharmacist review. It had 98% specificity in identifying patients who require a pharmacist intervention. It could be easily used at the start of the day to select patients for pharmacist review. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION A new patient prioritization tool has been developed and validated for identifying paediatric inpatients requiring clinical pharmacist review.
A Cre-dependent CRISPR/dCas9 activation system for gene expression regulation in neurons

Site-specific genetic and epigenetic targeting of distinct cell populations is a central goal in molecular neuroscience and is crucial to understand the gene regulatory mechanisms that underlie complex phenotypes and behaviors. While recent technological advances have enabled unprecedented control over gene expression, many of these approaches are focused on selected model organisms and/or require labor-intensive customizations for different applications. The simplicity and modularity of CRISPR-based systems have transformed this aspect of genome editing, providing a variety of possible applications and targets. However, there are currently few available tools for cell-selective CRISPR regulation in neurons. Here, we optimized a CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) system for Cre recombinase-dependent, cell type-specific targeting. Unexpectedly, CRISPR systems based on a traditional double-floxed inverted open reading frame (DIO) strategy exhibited leaky target gene induction in the absence of Cre. Therefore, we developed an intron-containing Cre-dependent CRISPRa system (SVI-DIO-dCas9-VPR) that alleviated leaky gene induction and outperformed the traditional DIO system at endogenous genes in both HEK293T cells and rat primary neuron cultures. Using gene-specific CRISPR sgRNAs, we demonstrate that SVI-DIO-dCas9-VPR can activate highly inducible genes (GRM2 and Tent5b) as well as moderately inducible genes (Sstr2 and Gadd45b) in a Cre-specific manner. These results provide a robust framework for Cre-dependent CRISPR-dCas9 approaches across different model systems, and will enable cell-specific targeting when combined with common Cre driver lines or Cre delivery via viral vectors.
Parental Antecedents of Locus of Control of Reinforcement: A Qualitative Review.

The construct of locus of control of reinforcement has generated thousands of studies since its introduction as a psychological concept by Julian Rotter (1966). Although evidence indicates its importance for a wide range of outcomes, comparatively little research has been directed toward identification of potential developmental antecedents of internal/external expectancies. A previous review of antecedent findings (Carton and Nowicki, 1994) called for more research to be completed, particularly using observational and/or longitudinal methodologies. The current paper summarizes and evaluates antecedent research published in the intervening years since Carton and Nowicki’s review. Results largely were consistent with expectations based on Rotter’s social learning theory, although there is still a need for researchers to use observational, rather than self-report methodologies, and to include data from non-western cultures.
Reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography of escherichia coli ribosomal proteins : Characteristics of the separation of a complex protein mixture

Abstract We have previously reported the application of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) to the separation of Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins (A. R. Kerlavage, L. Kahan and B. S. Cooperman, AnaL Biochem ., 123 (1982) 342-348; A. R. Kerlavage, T. Hasan and 13. S. Cooperman, J. Biol. Chem ., in press). In the present studies RP-HPLC is shown to yield much greater resolution of these proteins than does size-exclusion HPLC. In addition, we report on various aspects of RP-HPLC of ribosomal proteins including column capacity, resolution, reproducibility, recovery, separation of irreversibly denatured protein, and analysis of affinity-labeled ribosomal protein. The capacity of analytical columns was found to range from several micrograms to several milligrams with minimal loss in resolution and highly reproducible retention values. Recovery varied from protein to protein and ranged from 27 % to 91 %, with an average total protein recovery of 70 %. The partitioning of several proteins between two peaks was shown to be due to irreversible denaturation of a small fraction. Finally, the utility of RP-HPLC in the studv of the ribosome was demonstrated by analyses of [3H]puromyein-labeled ribosomal proteins, and the demonstration that labeling slightly alters protein elution.
Public Airwaves, Private Mergers: Analyzing the FCC's Faulty Justifications for the 2003 Media Ownership Rule Changes

In June 2003, citing increased competition, the FCC changed longstanding rules concerning the ownership of media outlets in local markets. The changes, the product of the most comprehensive review in the FCC's history, eased restrictions on the number of television stations one company can own in a local market and on cross-ownership of TV stations and newspapers in the same market. This article argues that the FCC's changes relied on an incorrect assumption that media outlets are substitutable, as well as on an insufficient factual record that leaves the changes unlikely to survive judicial scrutiny.
Clustering protease domains for use in directed evolution of specificity (967.6)

The objective of this study is to determine the most successful protease domains for use in directed evolution experiments against substrates with novel amino acid sequences. Building on our previous work that created an in vivo expressible fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) system for protease specificity determination, we have initiated a study of protease domain clustering for in vivo protease evolution against a single recognition sequence. Using backbone root-mean-square deviation (RMSD), buried active-site surface area, secondary structure analysis, and hydrophobicity scores, we have clustered protease domains into groups with a likelihood of potential success for in vivo evolution against specific amino acid sequences of maximum length. Our results demonstrate that many protease domains are not amenable to evolution studies due to energetic concerns related to instability of secondary structure interactions around the active site. Additionally, many proteases exhibit active site recognit...
Phytoalexin accumulation in sorghum: identification of an apigeninidin acyl ester.

Abstract The accumulation of a new 3-deoxyanthocyanidin phytoalexin in sorghum leaves and mesocotyls was demonstrated to occur following inoculation with an isolate of Colletotrichum graminicola pathogenic to sorghum, an isolate of C. graminicola pathogenic only to corn, and an isolate of Helminthosporum maydis (a nonpathogen of sorghum). The compound was found to be a caffeic acid ester of arabinosyl-5-O-apigeninidin and was never present in uninoculated tissues. Comparison of the fungitoxicity of the compound with that of two phytoalexins identified previously (apigeninidin and luteolinidin) showed that all three of the compounds exhibited toxicity to C. graminicola at concentrations of less than 10 μ m .
Spouge's Conjecture on Complete and Instantaneous Gelation

We investigate the stochastic counterpart of the Smoluchowski coagulation equation, namely the Marcus–Lushnikov coagulation model. It is believed that for a broad class of kernels, all particles are swept into one huge cluster in an arbitrarily small time, which is known as a complete and instantaneous gelation phenomenon. Indeed, Spouge (also Domilovskii et al. for a special case) conjectured that K(i, j)=(ij) α , α>1, are such kernels. In this paper, we extend the above conjecture and prove rigorously that if there is a function ψ(i, j), increasing in both i and j such that ∑∞ j=1 1/(jψ(i, j))<∞ for all i, and K(i, j)≥ijψ(i, j) for all i, j, then complete and instantaneous gelation occurs. Evidently, this implies that any kernels K(i, j)≥ij(log(i+1)log(j+1)) α , α>1, exhibit complete instantaneous gelation. Also, we conjuncture the existence of a critical (or metastable) sol state: if lim i+j→∞ ij/K(i, j)=0 and ∑∞ i, j=1 1/K(i, j)=∞, then gelation time T g satisfies 0<T g<∞. Moreover, the gelation is complete after T g.
Robust nonlinear control design with input and measurement disturbances

We consider strict-feedback systems with multiplicative and additive bounded disturbances in both the state measurements and the control, and show that if the sign of the multiplicative disturbances is known, then it is possible to guarantee global uniform boundedness of the states, as well as regulation of the output to a neighborhood of the desired setpoint. Our design does not require knowledge of the disturbance bounds, and its gains can be as low as desired. Of course, since the disturbance bounds are unknown, the closed-loop states converge to an unknown compact residual set. Moreover, as the controller gains decrease, the size of this residual set increases, and thus asymptotic performance deteriorates.
Influence du compartiment trophique dans les réponses des populations de poissons aux variations artificielles de débit

Les reponses des populations de poissons aux alterations de debit sont assez peu souvent correctement predites a partir des simulations physiques d'habitat. Actuellement, les evaluations de debit reserve sont basees sur des analyses de l'habitat physique, qui sont supposees avoir une influence sur ces populations. Cela conduit au dilemme en matiere de determination de ces debits : combien d'especes et de stades faut-il analyser et comment ponderer leur importance respective ? Dans certains cours d'eau, les simulations d'habitat physique issues de PHABSIM (Physical Habitat Simulation) pour les poissons les plus courants montrent une surface ponderee utile insensible ou maximum a faible debit. Or, les debits moyens a forts debits sont indubitablement importants pour differentes raisons, telles que le recrutement des especes infeodees a la plaine alluviale, le nettoyage du fond du lit, les entrees de matiere organique et la production des invertebres benthiques. La densite, la diversite et la production des insectes aquatiques dans differents types de cours d'eau montrent des variations spatiales et interannuelles considerables, souvent directement reliables aux debits. De meme, la croissance et le succes de prise de nourriture des poissons varient en fonction de l'abondance des proies. Un modele de chaine trophique a ete developpe pour etudier l'influence de la nourriture de base (insectes aquatiques, proies constituees par les poissons de petite taille et ecrevisses) sur la production des poissons predateurs cle (Black bass a petite bouche, Micropterus dolomieu, Rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris, et Poisson chat a tete plate, Pylodictis olivaris) dans un grand cours d'eau a regime thermique chaud. L'analyse du modele indique que la production des poissons est tres dependante de la disponibilite des proies, en particulier les insectes aquatiques et les ecrevisses. A partir des analyses du modele et de la revue des etudes sur la production des insectes et les succes de capture des proies par les poissons, je fais l'hypothese que les reductions de debit pendant la saison de croissance sont de nature a diminuer la production d'insectes et, par la meme, d'alterer indirectement la production de poissons pechables. Les estimations de debit a reserver et les recherches associees devraient s'interesser (1) a un plus large eventail d'especes, en particulier les plus sensibles, (2) a des analyses de l'habitat a une echelle mediane plus appropriee, (3) aux effets indirects des debits sur la structure trophique, (4) a des tests et des ameliorations des criteres de preference d'habitat, et (5) a la mise en oeuvre de modeles individus centres pour evaluer differents regimes des debits.
Computational analysis of an independent ramjet stream in a combined cycle engine

A new concept for the low-speed propulsion mode in rocket-based combined cycle engines has been developed as part of the NASA GTX program. This concept, called the independent ramjet stream (IRS) cycle, is a variation of the traditional ejector ramjet (ER) design and involves the injection of hydrogen fuel directly into the airstream, where it is ignited by the rocket plume. The advantage of the IRS design is that it allows for a single large rocket instead of several smaller rockets, and its required combustor length is smaller than that of a traditional ER design. Both of these features make the IRS design lighter. Experiments and computational fluid dynamics are currently being used to evaluate the feasibility of the new design. In this work, a Navier‐Stokes code valid for general reactive flows is applied to the model engine under cold-flow, ER, and IRS cycle operation. Pressure distributions corresponding to cold-flow and ER operation are compared with experimental data. The engine response under IRS cycle operation is examined for different reaction models and grid sizes. The solutions exhibit a high sensitivity to both grid resolution and reaction mechanism but do indicate that thermal throat ramjet operation is possible through the injection and burning of additional fuel into the airstream.
Nature of the amino acid catalysis of the glucose mutarotation reaction

Abstract Because they possess both an acid and a base function it is to be expected (and is widely held) that amino acids, particularly histidine, are catalysts for the mutarotation of reducing sugars. However, 0·014 m histidine increased the mutarotation rate of glucose by only 3–4% although the molar ratio of amino acid to sugar was about 1:10. The limited action on either α- d - or β- d - glucose was nonstereospecific with respect to the amino acid enantiomer employed. The contribution of the amino acid to the slightly increased glucose mutarotation rate appears to be due to a general increase in buffer concentration.
Visual function in nonsyndromic craniosynostosis: past, present, and future.

Background Previous studies on visual function in craniosynostosis have mainly focused on ocular movements and ophthalmologic findings. More recently, some studies also included the assessment of more functional and electrophysiological aspects of vision, such as acuity and visual evoked potentials.
The Vector Model and the Pauli Principle

The vector model is examined in the light of the quantum theory of wave fields. First the distributions of electrons among the electronic states are limited to correspond to the atomic states arising from one electronic configuration. A set of independent angular momentum vectors ${1}_{1}$, ${1}_{2}$,...${\mathrm{S}}_{1}$, ${\mathrm{S}}_{2}$... is found, in which one orbital and one spin vector are associated with each group of electronic states, rather than individual electrons, having given values of the quantum numbers $n$ and $l$. Any other vector T may be decomposed into a sum of independent vectors ${\mathrm{t}}_{i}$, one associated with each of the same group of electronic states. The usual commutation relations obtain among the vectors ${\mathrm{t}}_{i}$, ${\mathrm{l}}_{i}$ and ${\mathrm{s}}_{i}$. On further limiting the distributions to correspond to atomic states arising from electronic configurations containing no equivalent electrons, it is shown that the matrix of ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{k}f({{\mathrm{l}}_{k}}^{0}, {{\mathrm{s}}_{k}}^{0})$ (an operator in coordinate space in which $f$ is any algebraic function of the components of 1 and s) can be constructed from the vectors ${1}_{1}$, ${1}_{2}$...${\mathrm{S}}_{1}$, ${\mathrm{S}}_{2}$,... according to the usual laws of matrix mechanics.
Raman difference spectroscopy under computer control

The design and operation of a Raman difference spectrometer (RDS) are described. The system is operated under computer control and permits the spectra of up to four different samples to be recorded at the same monochromator settings. Since this eliminates any relative errors in the frequencies, very accurate frequency difference measurements can be made. The system aslo permits easy calculation of the isotropic and anisotropic components of the Raman spectra when polarization techniques are used. Essential features of the RDS system include the Raman spectrometer, the computer, an interface and various types of sampling devices (a rotating cell assembly, a rotating lens and a moving lens apparatus). The position of the sampling assemblies is monitored using photodiodes. The programs for data collection and manipulation are described. Several different spectra, representative of different kinds of applications, are presented.
F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging of disseminated coccidioidomycosis.

Abstract:Coccidioidomycosis is an endemic fungal disease in the southwestern regions of the North American continent. It is contracted by accidental inhalation of coccidioidal arthrospores with predominant pulmonary pathology. Lung nodules and masses may mimic cancer on cross-sectional or PET imagin
Actin fiber patterns detected by Alexafluor 488 phalloidin suggest similar cell migration in regenerating and nonregenerating rodent toes

Although mammals do not regenerate most appendages, they are able to regenerate toetips if the amputation occurs through the nail bed. The reasons for different outcomes following amputation at different levels are not understood. It is possible that cells at regenerating and nonregenerating sites migrate from fundamentally different tissues. If so, different migratory pathways could be detected. To identify putative migrating cells, microscope slides were made from both regenerating and nonregenerating toes of rats and mice on successive days after amputation. Fluorescent-labeled phalloidin, which binds polymerized f-actin, was used to identify actin filaments and fibers. Cells containing prominent actin bundles were distinguishable from those containing diffuse fibrils and those in which visible fibers were absent. Phalloidin labeling was similar in regenerating and nonregenerating digits after amputation. As early as 2 days after amputation at either proximal or distal levels, many cells of the hypodermis adjacent to the wound became labeled with phalloidin. The number and intensity of labeled hypodermal cells containing stress fiber-like bundles increased rapidly with time, and at successive times cells were seen progressively further distally. By approximately 7 days, they occupied the wound site immediately distal to bone of both regenerating and nonregenerating digits. Most dermal cells were unlabeled and endosteal and marrow cells contained only fibrillar actin. Phalloidin labeling does not support the concept of migration from different tissues in regenerating and nonregenerating amputation sites.
CONJUGATION OF 1,2-3H-ALDOSTERONE IN HUMAN LIVER AND KIDNEYS AND RENAL EXTRACTION OF ALDOSTERONE AND LABELED CONJUGATES FROM BLOOD PLASMA.

Tritium-labeled aldosterone and the principal labeled conjugates derived from aldosterone were measured in arterial plasma during a constant infusion of 1,2-3H-aldosterone. Acid-labile conjugate was present in a concentration less than ⅕ that of aldosterone. After plasma was treated with betaglucuronidase, labeled tetrahydroaldosterone and a less polar fraction could be extracted. The concentration of tritium found as total conjugates was equal to or greater than the concentration of 3H-aldosterone in plasma. Blood was obtained from a hepatic or renal vein through a venous catheter. The conjugates were present in hepatic vein plasma in concentrations approximately 40% higher than in simultaneously drawn samples of arterial plasma, indicating production of these conjugates in the liver. Approximately 20% of free aldosterone in arterial plasma was removed from blood passing through the kidney, corresponding to the fraction filtered through the glomeruli: but only 1.3–3.6% of the estimated amount of filtered...
Invisibility coherence for faster scan-line hidden surface algorithms

Invisibility coherence is a new technique developed to decrease the time necessary to render shaded images by existing scan-line hidden surface algorithms. Invisibility coherence is a technique for removing portions of a scene that are not likely to be visible. If a large portion of the scene is invisible, as is often the case in three-dimensional computer graphics, the processing time eliminated may be substantial. Invisibility coherence takes advantage of the observation that a minimal amount of processing needs to be done on objects (polygons, patches, or surfaces) that will be hidden by other objects closer to the viewer. This fact can be used to increase the efficiency of current scan-line algorithms, including both polygon-based and parametrically curved surface-based algorithms.Invisibility coherence was implemented and tested with the polygon hidden surface algorithm for constructive solid geometry developed by Peter Atherton [1]. The use of invisibility coherence substantially increases the efficiency of this scan-line algorithm. Invisibility coherence should work as well or even better with other scan-line hidden surface algorithms, such as the Lane-Carpenter, Whitted, and Blinn algorithms for parametrically curved surfaces [2]., or the Watkins, Romney, and Bouknight algorithms for polygons [3, 4, 5].
Structural Organization of the Fibrin(ogen) αC-Domain†

We hypothesized that the αC-domain of human fibrinogen (residues hAα221−610) and of other species consists of a compact COOH-terminal region (hAα392−610) and a flexible NH2-terminal connector region (hAα221−391) which may contain some regular structure [Weisel and Medved (2001) Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 936, 312−327]. To test this hypothesis, we expressed in E. coli recombinant fragments corresponding to the full-length human αC-domain and its NH2- and COOH-terminal regions as well as their bovine counterparts, bAα224−568, bAα224−373, and bAα374−568(538), respectively, and tested their folding status by fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). All three methods revealed heat-induced unfolding transitions in the full-length bAα224−568 and its two COOH-terminal fragments, indicating that the COOH-terminal portion of the bovine αC-domain is folded into a compact cooperative structure. Similar results were obtained by CD and DSC with the full-length and the C...
Phase-Locked Mode Stability for Coupled van der Pol Oscillators

The critical variational equation governing the stability of phase-locked modes for a pair of diffusively coupled van der Pol oscillators is presented in the form of a linear oscillator with a periodic damping coefficient that involves the van der Pol limit cycle. The variational equation is transformed into a Hill's equation, and stability boundaries are obtained by analytical and numerical methods. We identify a countable set of resonances and obtain expressions for the associated stability boundaries as power series expansions of the associated Hill determinants. We establish an additional zero mean damping condition and express it as a Pade approximant describing a surface that combines with the Hill determinant surfaces to complete the stability boundary. The expansions obtained are evaluated to visualize the first three resonant surfaces which are compared with numerically determined slices through the stability boundaries computed over the range 0.4<e<5.
A behavioral notion of subtyping

The use of hierarchy is an important component of object-oriented design. Hierarchy allows the use of type families, in which higher level supertypes capture the behavior that all of their subtypes have in common. For this methodology to be effective, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of how subtypes and supertypes are related. This paper takes the position that the relationship should ensure that any property proved about supertype objects also holds for its subtype objects. It presents two ways of defining the subtype relation, each of which meets this criterion, and each of which is easy for programmers to use. The subtype relation is based on the specifications of the sub- and supertypes; the paper presents a way of specifying types that makes it convenient to define the subtype relation. The paper also discusses the ramifications of this notion of subtyping on the design of type families.
Comparison of three avian ovalbumins: physical and chemical properties.

Abstract Analyses of the ovalbumins of chicken, turkey and duck show that 1. 1. All three have similar molecular weights and phosphorus contents. 2. 2. The electrophoretic patterns from chicken and turkey are similar and can be related to their phosphorus content. 3. 3. The types of sugars that comprise their oligosaccharides are similar but vary in quantity. 4. 4. Turkey ovalbumin has the most carbohydrate, with substantial amounts of galactose. 5. 5. The amino acid composition of the ovalbumin from chicken more closely resembles that of turkey than that of duck.
Aqueous alteration in the Kaba CV3 carbonaceous chondrite

Results from TEM and SEM examinations of the Kaba CV3 carbonaceous chondrite are presented, showing that the chondrules and the matrix of Kaba have undergone pervasive low-temperature aqueous alteration, resulting in the formation of Fe-bearing saponite from glass and enstatite in chondrules, and from anhydrous silicates in matrix. The alteration products in Kaba were found to resemble those in other aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrites such as the Mokoia CV3 and in Orgueil CI chondrites and Y-82162 chondrites. However, Kaba lacks the abundant high-Al phyllosilicates, reported for CAIs from Mokoia, and the serpentine and ferrihydrite, found in Orgueil.
Methods for enhancing numerical integration

Abstract We give a survey of common strategies for numerical integration (adaptive, Monte-Carlo, Quasi-Monte Carlo), and attempt to delineate their realm of applicability. The inherent accuracy and error bounds for basic integration methods are given via such measures as the degree of precision of cubature rules, the index of a family of lattice rules, and the discrepancy of uniformly distributed point sets. Strategies incorporating these basic methods often use paradigms to reduce the error by, e.g., increasing the number of points in the domain or decreasing the mesh size, locally or uniformly. For these processes the order of convergence of the strategy is determined by the asymptotic behavior of the error, and may be too slow in practice for the type of problem at hand. For certain problem classes we may be able to improve the effectiveness of the method or strategy by such techniques as transformations, absorbing a difficult part of the integrand into a weight function, suitable partitioning of the domain, transformations and extrapolation or convergence acceleration. Situations warranting the use of these techniques (possibly in an “automated” way) are described and illustrated by sample applications.
Cytosol-binding protein of thyroxine and triiodothyronine in human and rat kidney tissue

DURING the past few years, it has become increasingly apparent that nonpeptide hormone action in the respective target organs occurs in the nucleus. This was first shown for steroid hormones1–4 and more recently for thyroid hormones5. Specific nuclear acceptor molecules for hormones have been shown in target tissues, associated with nuclear proteins6–8. The question arises whether hormone molecules, on their way to the nuclear binding sites, traverse the cytoplasm in a more or less random fashion or whether they are bound by specific cytoplasmic receptor molecules.
CLL B cells with a bimodal CD38 expression pattern: persistence of bimodal populations despite effective therapy for B-CLL

CLL B cells with a bimodal CD38 expression pattern: persistence of bimodal populations despite effective therapy for B-CLL
Reduced Order Modeling of Light Scattering by a Cloud of Particles

It is often desirable to unobtrusively determine physical characteristics of a cloud of particles. Measurements of the radiation scattered by the cloud contain information regarding properties such as refractive index of the particles, the volume fraction of the particles and the number density of the particles. Inference of these properties from light scattering measurements requires the solution of an ‘inverse problem’. Methods for solving this type of inverse problem often require the repeated solution of the associated forward problem. Therefore, techniques capable of reducing the computational requirements of the forward problem are of interest.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Design and experimental demonstration of optical resonators for nanotweezing

Resonant silicon photonics has recently enabled the direct optical tweezing of nano-objects on chip. Here we present a comprehensive evaluation of different resonator designs and demonstrate one with a stiffness of 22.3 pN nm−1 W−1.
Demonstration of the Feasibility of Radially Compressed Microbore HPLC Columns

Abstract This work involved the development of radially compressed, microbore high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) columns. The design of the overall system and the column are described, and the problems associated with the design features are reported. Variables examined during the course of this work included the column material, column length, packing method, flow rate, radial compression pressure, and internal column pressure. Efficiencies (expressed as plates/meter) are shown for various combinations of those variables and are compared to those obtained using a commercial, steel microbore column.
Soil Nitrogen Dynamics in Organic and Mineral Soil Calcareous Wetlands in Eastern New York

Calcareous wetlands are of great interest in conservation biology. Previous research has suggested that there are significant differences in soil microbial N cycle processes between calcareous wetlands developed on organic vs. mineral soils. In the study presented here, we measured potential net N mineralization and nitrification, denitrification enzyme activity and soil inorganic N levels at 25 calcareous wetland sites with variable substrate types. We also evaluated the response of N cycling to livestock grazing by sampling at two sites with heavy grazing activity. All N cycle variables were significantly higher in organic soils than mineral soils on a weight basis; however, there were very few differences when results were expressed on an areal (volume) basis because of the low bulk density of the organic soils. The areal results suggest that organic and mineral soil calcareous wetland sites have similar N water quality maintenance values, that is, the ability to absorb N from upland land areas. Heavily grazed sites had significantly decreased pH and increased NO 3 - levels relative to undisturbed sites, but the differences were small. The lack of strong differences in N cycle variables between mineral and organic soil sites raises questions about the need to make a classification distinction between calcareous peatlands (fens) and calcareous mineral soil wetlands in nutrient cycling and water quality maintenance contexts.
Identification of cembratriene-4,6-diol as antitumor-promoting agent from cigarette smoke condensate

Cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) was separated into several fractions and each was tested for an inhibitory effect on the early antigen (EA) of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) which can be induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in Raji cells. Two diastereoisomers of 2,7,11-cembratriene-4,6-diol (alpha- and beta-CBT) were isolated from the neutral fractions of CSC and these showed potent inhibitory effects on the induction of EBV-EA by TPA. The doses of alpha- and beta-CBT required for 50% inhibition of EBV-EA induction by TPA were 7.7 and 6.7 micrograms/ml, respectively, which are comparable with those of retinoic acid, a potent inhibitor of induction of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and tumor promotion by TPA in mice. Application of alpha- and beta-CBT to mouse skin prior to treatment with TPA inhibited TPA-induced ODC activity. The degree of inhibition was dependent on the dose and application of 16.5 mumol/mouse of alpha- and beta-CBT resulted in a 50 and 40% reduction, respectively, of the maximum of the ODC activity induced as a result of treatment with TPA. In initiation-promotion experiments, alpha-CBT markedly inhibited the promoting effect of TPA on skin tumor formation in mice which were initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, but beta-CBT was found to be less effective. Application of 3.3 mumol of alpha-CBT 40 min prior to treatment with TPA (1 microgram) resulted in a 53% reduction in the number of papillomas per mouse. Our present data suggest that EBV-EA inhibition assay using Raji cells is effective for the first screening of inhibitors of tumor promotion, and provide evidence that CSC contains antitumor-promoting agents in addition to carcinogenic and tumor-promoting agents already reported.