cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous Separation of Preretinal Macular Fibrosis

A dart entered the eye of a 6-year-old boy causing a retinal hole located inferotemporal to the macula. The retinal hole was treated with an argon laser, and two months after the injury, tissue organization in the vitreous track created by the dart caused a limited retinal separation and stress lines. A preretinal fibrosis developed above and temporal to the macula, and visual acuity decreased to 6/60 (20/200). Four months after the injury, the preretinal membrane spontaneously separated from the macula to an extramacular nidus, and visual acuity subsequently improved to 6/9 (20/30).
Characterization of surface defects on epitaxial CeO2(001) films

Abstract The thermal generation of defects on epitaxial CeO2(001) films was studied with mass spectroscopy of recoiled ions (MSRI) and direct recoil spectroscopy (DRS). It was found that cerium and oxygen intensities changed significantly after annealing the surface to temperatures as low as 373 K. Subsequent dosing at 295 K with 18O2 resulted in an increase in the oxygen MSRI signal, however, the total preanneal signal was not fully recovered. For anneal temperatures above 473 K, and with a subsequent 10 Langmuir (L) 18O2 dose at 295 K, the 18O isotopic ratio was found to be between 20 and 23%. These results suggest that a significant number of defect sites were created on the surface even at low temperatures. After annealing the sample to 775 K the concentration of defects at the surface was estimated to be ∼11–12% by MSRI and DRS.
Bacterial rhodopsins monitored with fluorescent dyes in vesicles and in vivo.

Three retinal-containing pigments have been detected inHalobacterium halobium membranes: bacteriorhodopsin (bR), halorhodopsin (hR), and slow-cycling rhodopsin (sR). The first two hyperpolarize the cell membrane by electrogenic transport of H+ and Cl−, respectively. The third pigment, sR, may be a photosensory receptor since mutants lacking bR and hR retain their retinal-dependent phototaxis responses. We monitored light-induced changes in fluorescence of several voltage-sensitive dyes in cells and membrane vesicles. Red light-induced potential changes generated by bR and hR were similar to signals described previously. Signals generated by hR could be identified using four criteria: wavelength dependence, Cl− dependence, shunting by valinomycin and K+, and the absence of these signals in hR-deficient mutants. The absence (detection limit ∼0.5 mV) of hyperpolarization signals in bR−hR−sR+ vesicles and cells shows that sR photochemical reactions are nonelectrogenic. Two signals independent of bR and hR were measured: blue light caused a decrease and red light an increase in dye fluorescence. Both signals appear to derive from sR on the basis of their retinal-dependence and action spectra. In a retinal-deficient mutant strain (Flx3R), both sR signals appeared after addition of all-trans retinal. In this strain retinal also restores phototaxis sensitivity within the same time scale. The retinal concentration dependence for all four parameters monitored—the attractant (red) and repellent (blue) phototaxis, and the red light and blue light-induced fluorescence signals—is the same. This correlation is consistent with the hypothesis that both attractant and repellent responses are mediated by sR, as suggested by Bogomolni and Spudich (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.79:6250–6254 (1982)).
Structural and Functional Studies of EpsC, a Crucial Component of the Type 2 Secretion System from Vibrio cholerae

The type 2 secretion system (T2SS) occurring in Gram-negative bacteria is composed of 12-15 different proteins which form large assemblies spanning two membranes and secreting several virulence factors in folded state across the outer membrane. The T2SS component EpsC of Vibrio cholerae plays an important role in this machinery. While anchored in the inner membrane, by far the largest part of EpsC is periplasmic, containing a so-called homology region (HR) domain and a PDZ domain. Here we report studies on the structure and function of both periplasmic domains of EpsC. The crystal structures of two variants of the PDZ domain of EpsC from V. cholerae were determined at better than 2 A resolution. Compared to the short variant, the longer variant contains an additional N-terminal helix, and reveals a significant difference in the position of helix alphaB with respect to the beta-sheet. Both our structures show that the PDZ domain of EpsC adopts a more open form than in previously reported structures of other PDZ domains. Most interestingly, in the crystals of the short EpsC-PDZ domain the peptide binding groove interacts with an alpha-helix from a neighboring subunit burying approximately 921 A2 solvent accessible surface. This makes it possible that the PDZ domain of this bacterial protein binds proteins in a manner which is altogether different from that seen in any other PDZ domain so far. We also determined that the HR domain of EpsC is primarily responsible for the interaction with the secretin EpsD, while the PDZ is not, or much less, so. This new finding, together with studies of others, leads to the suggestion that the PDZ domain of EpsC may interact with exoproteins to be secreted while the HR domain plays a key role in linking the inner-membrane sub-complex of the T2SS in V. cholerae to the outer membrane secretin.
Electronic Roundtables for Medical Ethics

Electronic mail creates special opportunities and burdens for acade- micians and others. This article first describes e-mail and how it works in a university setting. It then presents the transcript of an electronic exchange over the issue of multiple or repeat abortion. The debate was inspired by a case presented during "ethics rounds" for students at a university medical center. The value of e-mail in this case is considered, and the electronic medium is found to be useful for sharing ideas and stimulating debate about issues in medical ethics, as well as for educational purposes. COMPUTERS ARE CHANGING the character of public discourse. Whether the changes are for the better is itself the topic of a fair bit of discourse, some of it on computers. Electronic mail is one important way that computers are altering the exchange of ideas. In this paper I will examine the use of e-mail in a particular context and on a particularly difficult and sensitive ethical issue. The context is the academic medical center and the issue is multiple or repeat induced abortions. After providing some background on the use of e-mail in institutional settings, I will present the transcript of an exchange among 11 people on a case presented during a clinical ethics training session at the University of Pittsburgh. Finally, I will review the comments on the case as a way of evaluating the utility of electronic roundtables for medical ethics. ELECTRONIC MAIL
Formulation development of an oral dosage form for an hiv protease inhibitor, AG1284

Abstract Several preformulation characteristics of a series of novel HIV protease inhibitors were examined as a prelude to expedient oral dosage form development. Initial studies indicated that these compounds were orally bioavailable in rats (≤ 39%), but chemically unstable at low pH. AG1284 was selected as the lead compound from the series for further preclinical development based on its relatively high oral bioavailability and stability. The pH-rate profiles of AG1284 indicated a first-order degradative loss of a dimethylbenzyl group under acidic conditions. Concentrated solutions of an amorphous form prepared in various pharmaceutical solvents exhibited precipitation on standing. The precipitate was identified as crystalline AG1284 by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light/hot stage microscopy, and its solubility in water proved to be much lower than that of the amorphous form. Oral administration in dogs of a solid blend of AG1284 with polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350) in enteric-coated hard gelatin capsules did not yield any detectable AG1284 levels in plasma. When dosed in a propylene glycol/water (60/40) solution at 50 mg/kg to rats, oral bioavailability and C max were 39% and 2.8 μg/ml, respectively. When delivered in a lyophilizable emulsion to rats at 100 mg/kg, oral bioavailability and C max were 31% and 3.0 μg/ml, respectively. The lyophilized product could be reconstituted with WFI to regenerate an emulsion.
The Timber Trade in Southeastern Brazil, 1920–1960

Logging economies in Latin America have long supplied forest resources to international and domestic markets. One of Latin America's more significant timber regions supplied South America's largest industrial metropolis, Sao Paulo. However, relatively little is known about the historical geography of logging in Brazil, or elsewhere in Latin America, in part because of the bias of forest histories to the destruction, rather than utilisation, of forest resources. This study focuses on domestic demand for hardwood and its salient characteristics: transport, the distribution of sawmills, the use of contracts and dangerous working conditions.
Functional dissociation of the hemispheres using foveal visual input

Abstract A consistent 10 (± 2.2) msec visual field superiority in vocal RT to letters was found using both foveal and extra-foveal input (0.5°, 2° and 4° eccentricities), when typical procedures in the paradigm were modified. This consistency occurred in both the right visual field (for extreme right-handers) and left visual field (for extreme left-handers). A second experiment using a recognition memory task with manual RT also revealed concurrent opposite hemisphere superiorities for letters and geometric forms presented only 5.2–20.7' left or right of fixation. Acuity differences, directional scanning, and asymmetric cerebal activation could not account for the results. A substantial splitting of cortical connections from the innermost fovea is thereby indicated, as well as the viability of using foveal-only input in studies of cerebral functional asymmetries.
Reversible cold inactivation and heat reactivation of RuDP carboxylase activity of crystallized tobacco fraction I protein.

Abstract The specific RuDP carboxylase activity of crystallized tobacco Fraction I protein did not change during 12 days storage at room temperature. Whenever placed in an ice bath, 70% of the activity disappeared within 24 hours and remained lost during continued storage at 0°. However, the lost activity could be completely regained at any time during cold storage by a 20 min. treatment at 50°C. Loss or restoration of activity was not accompanied by a detectable change in the sedimentation velocity properties of Fraction I protein.
Detecting eye movements in dynamic environments

To take advantage of the increasing number of in-vehicle devices, automobile drivers must divide their attention between primary (driving) and secondary (operating in-vehicle device) tasks. In dynamic environments such as driving, however, it is not easy to identify and quantify how a driver focuses on the various tasks he/she is simultaneously engaged in, including the distracting tasks. Measures derived from the driver’s scan path have been used as correlates of driver attention. This article presents a methodology for analyzing eye positions, which are discrete samples of a subject’s scan path, in order to categorize driver eye movements. Previous methods of analyzing eye positions recorded in a dynamic environment have relied completely on the manual identification of the focus of visual attention from a point of regard superimposed on a video of a recorded scene, failing to utilize information regarding movement structure in the raw recorded eye positions. Although effective, these methods are too time consuming to be easily used when the large data sets that would be required to identify subtle differences between drivers, under different road conditions, and with different levels of distraction are processed. The aim of the methods presented in this article are to extend the degree of automation in the processing of eye movement data by proposing a methodology for eye movement analysis that extends automated fixation identification to include smooth and saccadic movements. By identifying eye movements in the recorded eye positions, a method of reducing the analysis of scene video to a finite search space is presented. The implementation of a software tool for the eye movement analysis is described, including an example from an on-road test-driving sample.
Regional Variation in Brain White Matter Diffusion Index Changes following Chemoradiotherapy: A Prospective Study Using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics

Purpose There is little known about how brain white matter structures differ in their response to radiation, which may have implications for radiation-induced neurocognitive impairment. We used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine regional variation in white matter changes following chemoradiotherapy. Methods Fourteen patients receiving two or three weeks of whole-brain radiation therapy (RT) ± chemotherapy underwent DTI pre-RT, at end-RT, and one month post-RT. Three diffusion indices were measured: fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusivity (RD), and axial diffusivity (AD). We determined significant individual voxel changes of diffusion indices using tract-based spatial statistics, and mean changes of the indices within fourteen white matter structures of interest. Results Voxels of significant FA decreases and RD increases were seen in all structures (p<0.05), with the largest changes (20–50%) in the fornix, cingula, and corpus callosum. There were highly significant between-structure differences in pre-RT to end-RT mean FA changes (p<0.001). The inferior cingula had a mean FA decrease from pre-RT to end-RT significantly greater than 11 of the 13 other structures (p<0.00385). Conclusions Brain white matter structures varied greatly in their response to chemoradiotherapy as measured by DTI changes. Changes in FA and RD related to white matter demyelination were prominent in the cingula and fornix, structures relevant to radiation-induced neurocognitive impairment. Future research should evaluate DTI as a predictive biomarker of brain chemoradiotherapy adverse effects.
Yard Games in Secondary Physical Education

Physical educators endeavor to teach students a variety of sports and activities that can be enjoyed for a lifetime (Lieberman, 2012). As George Graham and colleagues so succinctly explained, “The ...
Botanical aspects of conservation management of chalk grasslands

Abstract The biological interest of chalk grassland is discussed under three headings: the richness of the flora and fauna, the presence of more than 60 species of plants in England alone which are restricted to the chalk or other calcareous grasslands, and the concept that chalk grassland is a well-defined ecosystem. Management problems which arise mostly as a result of the cessation of grazing are discussed. The effect of grazing and mowing on the flowering of the species, and on the establishment of annuals from seed, are noted. In general, grazing or mowing at the time when the dominant grass is growing most rapidly is likely to be the most effective form of management; but this may adversely affect other species (both plant and animal), and indeed the management of each site requires individual consideration.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Electrochemical and Magnetic Study of New Iron (III) Hydroxyl-Phosphates, Isostructural with Lipscombite

Two novel iron (III) hydroxyl phosphates, of general formula Fe2-y□y(PO4)(OH)3-3y(H2O)3y-2 (y = 2/3 or 0.82; □ represents vacancy), have been synthesized by the solvothermal method. The Rietveld refinement of the crystal structure from the X-ray powder diffraction was performed in a tetragonal cell with space group I41/amd. The structure is isotypic with the mineral caminite Mg1.33[SO4(OH)0.66(H2O)0.33] and is closely related to the mixed-valence lipscombite Fe2-yPO4(OH) (0≤ y ≤ 2/3). The interconnection of the chains of face-sharing iron octahedra forms the “rod-packing” structure. In Fe1.18(PO4)(OH)0.57(H2O)0.43 (y = 0.82), about 60% of the chain sites are occupied, whereas about 2/3 of the chain sites are occupied in Fe1.33(PO4)(OH) (y = 2/3). The partial occupancy of the Fe3+ sites allows the incorporation of other cations into the structure. When ZnCl2 and NiCl2 were added into the hydrothermal mix, iron was partially substituted by these metal ions, giving Fe4/3-zMz□2/3(PO4)(OH)1-z(H2O)z (M = Ni, Zn...
Searching the protein sequence database.

As the volume of protein sequence data grows, rapid methods for searching the protein sequence database become of primary importance. Rigorous comparison of sequences is obtained with the well-known dynamic programming algorithms. However, these algorithms are not rapid enough to use for routinely searching the entire database. In this paper we discuss some methods that can be used for rapid searches.
The functional organization of trial-related activity in lexical processing after early left hemispheric brain lesions: An event-related fMRI study

Children with congenital left hemisphere damage due to perinatal stroke are capable of acquiring relatively normal language functions despite experiencing a cortical insult that in adults often leads to devastating lifetime disabilities. Although this observed phenomenon is accepted, its neurobiological mechanisms are not well characterized. In this paper we examined the functional neuroanatomy of lexical processing in 13 children/adolescents with perinatal left hemispheric damage. In contrast to many previous perinatal infarct fMRI studies, we used an event-related design, which allowed us to isolate trial-related activity and examine correct and error trials separately. Using both group and single subject analysis techniques we attempt to address several methodological factors that may contribute to some discrepancies in the perinatal lesion literature. These methodological factors include making direct statistical comparisons, using common stereotactic space, using both single subject and group analyses, and accounting for performance differences. Our group analysis, investigating correct trial-related activity (separately from error trials), showed very few statistical differences in the non-involved right hemisphere between patients and performance matched controls. The single subject analysis revealed atypical regional activation patterns in several patients; however, the location of these regions identified in individual patients often varied across subjects. These results are consistent with the idea that alternative functional organization of trial-related activity after left hemisphere lesions is in large part unique to the individual. In addition, reported differences between results obtained with event-related designs and blocked designs may suggest diverging organizing principles for sustained and trial-related activity after early childhood brain injuries.
Tunability in the Terahertz Regime: Charge-Carrier Wavepacket Manipulation in Quantum Wells

A convenient method for generating upshifted and harmonically-generated terahertz transients via the creation of highly anisotropic electron-hole wavepackets in quantum wells is described. Our results are in agreement with experimental measurements.
Colonoscopic indirect lymphangiography

Colorectal carcinoma is the most common gastrointestinal malignancy in Western societies. Nevertheless, the presurgical staging of colon cancer remains problematic. Lymphatic metastases in particular represent the most common site of spread, and yet they are the least accessible to current non-operative staging modalities. With the recent advent of effective adjuvant protocols for stage III disease and the associated potential for neoadjuvant therapy, the need for an accurate and economical pre-operative staging tool has become increasingly apparent. Numerous modalities have been developed in recent years in an attempt to improve pre-operative staging capability. CT, magnetic resonance imaging,2 transrectal ultrasound,3,4 immunoscintigraphy,5,6 and rectal lymphoscintigraphy7,8 have all been used in this regard. To date, none of these techniques has provided an accurate and cost-effective means of assessing nodal status in both colonic and rectal malignancies. Direct lymphangiography has long been used in the pre-operative staging of Hodgkin's lymphoma and cervical cancer.9,10 Indirect lymphangiography has been described as a means of imaging mediastinal and perigastric lymph nodes.!1,12 Our study was conducted to evaluate the potential use of colonoscopic indirect lymphangiography in the presurgical evaluation of mesocolonic lymph nodes. This report will focus on the pathologic changes transpiring in mesenteric nodes subsequent to submucosal endoscopic injection of lymphangiogram dye in the canine colon.
The Broad Reach of the Minimum Wage

No single policy decision in the past thirty years stands out as more symbolic of the time than the resistance to raising the federal minimum wage. This economist argues strongly, however, that far more than those at the bottom of the rung were affected. The level of the minimum wage affects wages well up that income ladder.
Gas-phase acidities of carboxylic acids and alcohols from collision-induced dissociation of dimer cluster ions

Abstract The gas-phase acidities (Δ G acid ) of fifteen carboxylic acids and six alcohols have been determined in a flowing afterglow—triple quadrupole instrument from a correlation of the relative yields of anions A − and B − produced by collisionally activated dissociation of the mixed dimer (AHB) − . The acidity of 2,3-butanedione has also been determined, using thermal energy proton transfer bracketing reactions.
An application of information theory to the central dogma and the sequence hypothesis

Abstract The Central Dogma and the Sequence Hypothesis can be put in mathematical form by information theory. The recording, replicating and transcribing of information is basically statistical. Those sequences which carry specificity are a tiny fraction imbedded in the ensemble of all possible sequences. A quantitative, additive and conservative measure of information is provided by the entropy of the probability distribution describing the statistical properties of the sequences. Errors in recording, replication and transcription are also treated as a statistical process operating on the sequences in the informational biomolecules. This will be called genetic noise. Error correction and the consequent stability of the genetic message in the presence of genetic noise is ascribed to redundant genetic information in the genetic message. The channel capacity theorem shows that it is possible to correct all but an arbitrarily small number of errors. Sources of genetic redundance are diploidy, neutral mutations in homologous protein and repair processes. Medvedev's conjecture that repeated sequences play such a role is incorrect. The information content of homologous proteins is calculated by subtracting the information lost due to the multiple choice amino acids at the variable sites. Survival of the genetic message is an exponential function of the error probability. More complicated and more effective genetic redundance leads to survival curves with “shoulders”. In higher organisms a high degree of survivability is achieved until the genetic redundance is exhausted and this leads to senility and death. Orgel's “error catastrophe” is incorrect since it should always lead immediately to an exponentiation of error and death of the organism. This paper gives a treatment based on information theory of the protein error problem and its relation to survival, aging and radiation damage.
Vernalization, Competence, and the Epigenetic Memory of Winter

Vernalization is the process by which prolonged exposure to cold temperatures promotes flowering. Over the past century, this process has been studied extensively at the physiological level. Recent studies have provided some insight into the molecular basis of vernalization. The rich history of
Ultrasonic vocalization during social interaction and isolation in 2-week-old rats

Two-week-old rats were found to emit very little ultrasound in their cage except during arrivals and departures of the mother, when average peak rates of approximately 1 ultrasonic pulse/rat/min were detected. However, when all pups except one were removed from the home cage, the remaining isolated pup emitted ultrasound at a mean rate of 12 pulses/min for at least 30 min. When young rats of this age were placed alone in an unfamiliar test area, the ultrasound pulse rate was approximately 25/min, whereas groups of 4 littermates in the same situation emitted only occasional ultrasonic pulses. If an isolated pup in the novel environment was allowed access to a single anesthetized littermate or mother this also significantly reduced the rate of ultrasound emission, whereas a warm clay model did not.
In situ investigation of electrochemical lithium intercalation into graphite powder

Abstract The reaction kinetics for the electrochemical insertion–extraction of lithium into and out of graphite and the electrode intrinsic resistance have been studied using galvanostatic intermittent titration with applied microcurrent pulses (GIT), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and in situ intrinsic (i.e. physical) resistance measurements. The formation of a so-called solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) or ‘passivation layer’ on the graphite surface at about +0.8 V versus Li+/Li increases the total intrinsic resistance within the electrode on the first cycle. The gradual growth (i.e. change in volume) of the SEI film during repeated lithium insertion–extraction results in a continued increase in intrinsic resistance. The good agreement between EIS and in situ intrinsic resistance measurements indicates that the latter is a simple and powerful method for investigating the change in this parameter for graphite electrodes. GIT showed a gradual increase in kinetic rate in an initial single-phase region, followed by a decrease in a two-phase transformation region, which was in turn followed by an increase in kinetic rate in a second single-phase region. This is explained by a shrinking unreacted core model. The controlling step of lithium insertion–extraction during the two-phase transformation region was investigated by EIS and GIT.
Elucidating the Molecular Details of Phosphatidylserine Membrane Recognition in Immune Response

The immune system recognizes a vast array of chemical signatures as antigens although historically most research has focused more exclusively on protein/protein recognition. More recently it has been appreciated that lipid membranes can also provide important immunological signals as demonstrated in both phosphatidylserine (PS) recognition in apoptotic cell clearance and transient PS exposure in T Cell activation. Despite the clear immunological importance of PS exposure and recognition, there remain very few molecular details regarding the mechanisms of PS membrane recognition. Even more fundamentally, it remains unclear if all PS exposing membranes are immunologically equal or if there exists a sensitivity to additional membrane properties beyond simply the presence or absence of PS. To address this gap in our understanding we have made use of a novel combination of biophysical and biochemical techniques to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which Tim4 (an immune related PS receptor) recognizes PS containing membranes. Tryptophan fluorescence binding assays have revealed that Tim4 binding is sensitive to membrane PS composition suggesting that there is more to the story than a single PS to single protein interaction. By utilizing a combination of x ray reflectivity measurements to determine membrane bound protein orientation and depth of penetration, as well as molecular dynamics simulations to support the experimental results, we have developed a protein/membrane binding model that provides structural evidence to explain the unique complexities of Tim4 mediated PS membrane recognition. Most significantly, these results provide a standard against which other immunologically related PS receptors can be compared, thereby allowing us to begin to address the more fundamental question of just how important lipid membrane recognition is for our bodies' immunological defense mechanisms.
A Comparison of Methods for Assessing Thyroid Function in Nonthyroidal Illness

We studied various tests of thyroid function in sick patients with nonthyroidal illness (NTI) in order to determine the utility of each test for differentiating these patience from a group with hypothyroidism. We evaluated each test in 22 healthy volunteers who served as controls, 20 patients with hypothyroidism, 14 patients admitted to medical intensive care unit whose serum T4 was less than 5 micrograms/dl, 13 patients with chronic liver disease, 32 patients on chronic hemodialysis for renal failure, 13 ambulatory oncology patients receiving chemotherapy, 16 pregnant women, 7 women on estrogens, and 20 hyperthyroid patients. On all samples, we measured serum T4, the free T4 index by several methods, free T4 by equilibrium dialysis, free T4 calculated from thyronine-binding globulin (TBG) RIA, free T4 by three commercial kits (Gammacoat, Immophase, and Liquisol), T3, rT3, and TSH (by 3 different RIAs). Although all of the methods used for measuring free T4 (including free T4 index, free T4 by dialysis, free T4 assessed by TBG, and free T4 assessed by the 3 commercial kits) were excellent for the diagnosis of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and euthyroidism in the presence of high TBG, none of these methods showed that free T4 was consistently normal in patients with NTI; with each method, a number of NTI patients had subnormal values. In the NTI groups, free T4 measured by dialysis and the free T4 index generally correlated significantly with the commercial free T4 methods. Serum rT3 was elevated or normal in NTI patients and low in hypothyroid subjects. Serum TSH provided the most reliable differentiation between patients with primary hypothyroidism and those with NTI and low serum T4 levels.
Efficacy and safety of pregabalin in patients with spinal cord injury: a pooled analysis

AbstractObjective:To summarize the efficacy and examine the safety and tolerability of pregabalin in patients with central neuropathic pain due to spinal cord injury (SCI).Research design and methods:Data were pooled from two 12 to 16 week, placebo-controlled trials of pregabalin in patients with neuropathic pain due to SCI. Pain diaries were used to rate pain from 0 = no pain to 10 = worst possible pain. Efficacy measures included: mean change in pain from baseline to endpoint; duration adjusted average change (DAAC) in pain; the percentage of patients with ≥30% or ≥50% reductions in pain score from baseline to endpoint; and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) score at endpoint. Adverse events (AEs) were also compared between treatment groups.Results:In total 174 patients received placebo and 182 received pregabalin. Mean change in pain from baseline to endpoint was improved in the pregabalin group compared with placebo (placebo-adjusted difference = −0.79; 95% CI = −1.15, −0.43; p < 0.001; baseli...
Systematic introduction of proline in a eukaryotic signal sequence suggests asymmetry within the hydrophobic core.

The hydrophobic core or h region of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic signal sequences is the predominant structural domain that controls the efficiency of protein translocation across membranes. Characteristically, hydrophobic cores appear to assume α-helical conformations, and studies in prokaryotes have indicated that this conformation is necessary for efficient signal sequence function. To address the conformational constraints of a eukaryotic signal sequence, we have introduced a single proline in almost each position of the signal sequence hydrophobic core of glycoprotein C (gC) of the swine herpesvirus, pseudorabies virus. When the resulting mutant virus strains were used to infect cells, we found that substitution of proline at certain positions affected gC translocation greater than its introduction at other sites within the hydrophobic core. The observed positional effects did not completely correlate with reductions in overall hydrophobicity or linear position within the hydrophobic core. Rather, it appeared that one face of the gC signal sequence α-helix is far more sensitive to proline disruption than the other, potentially indicating a functional asymmetry.
The Unfinished Symphony

I can no longer exactly recall how I learned of Michael Shannon's death on March 10th, the day will likely forever remain a blur. Although we had met many years earlier, I had the great fortune to partner with Michael as an external reviewer for the PEM program at the Hospital for Sick Children in 2005. Over those 2 days in Toronto, we got to know each other fairly well. I had previously been aware that Michael was a remarkable person, I just never knew until then how truly special he was. I remember musing on my journey home that I had met the “Renaissance Man.” Michael and I next collaborated as charter members of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council (DPAC). I was appointed as a DPAC member as I was the out-going chair the AAP Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine, had advocated strongly for the Academy to enhance its participation in the national disaster forum, and knew a little bit about emergency readiness. Michael was appointed to the DPAC as he was clearly the expert. Although I thought I was reasonably familiar with the scope and content of this field, I quickly learned that there was much more that I did not know than what I did. In reviewing the impressive body of his work, and from numerous meetings and phone calls, Michael became one of my primary teachers. Working with Michael Shannon on the DPAC was a great privilege. It is difficult to say what I found most impressive, the breadth of his expertise, his stalwart commitment and staunch advocacy for children, his tireless work ethic, his superior writing and eloquent speaking skills, his thoughtful intellect, or his ability to lead and inspire others. Among a group of excellent people, I believe he was our MVP.
Focal shift and concept of effective Fresnel number for a Gaussian laser beam

The actual focal plane for a laser beam under frequently encountered conditions is shifted from the plane given by geometrical optics. The concept of effective Fresnel number for an unapertured Gaussian laser beam is defined and used to examine focal shifts. It is found that the effective Fresnel number has a simple physical interpretation that makes clear its relationship to the focal shift phenomena. Expressions are obtained that relate the important Gaussian beam parameters to the effective Fresnel number, and a method of correcting for the focal shift in optical systems design is described.
Growth of novel protein structural data

Contrary to popular assumption, the rate of growth of structural data has slowed, and the Protein Data Bank (PDB) has not been growing exponentially since 1995. Reaching such a dramatic conclusion requires careful measurement of growth of novel structures, which can be achieved by clustering entry sequences, or by using a novel index to down-weight entries with a higher number of sequence neighbors. These measures agree, and growth rates are very similar for entire PDB files, clusters, and weighted chains. The overall sizes of Structural Classification of Proteins (SCOP) categories (number of families, superfamilies, and folds) appear to be directly proportional to the number of deposited PDB files. Using our weighted chain count, which is most correlated to the change in the size of each SCOP category in any time period, shows that the rate of increase of SCOP categories is actually slowing down. This enables the final size of each of these SCOP categories to be predicted without examining or comparing protein structures. In the last 3 years, structures solved by structural genomics (SG) initiatives, especially the United States National Institutes of Health Protein Structure Initiative, have begun to redress the slowing growth of the PDB. Structures solved by SG are 3.8 times less sequence-redundant than typical PDB structures. Since mid-2004, SG programs have contributed half the novel structures measured by weighted chain counts. Our analysis does not rely on visual inspection of coordinate sets: it is done automatically, providing an accurate, up-to-date measure of the growth of novel protein structural data.
A155: Development of an Intensive Interdisciplinary Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Program: Improving Pain, Functioning, and Psychological Outcomes

Background/Purpose: We examined functional, psychological, and pain-related outcomes among children with amplified pain syndromes completing an intensive interdisciplinary pediatric pain rehabilitation program. We hypothesized that baseline psychological measures and disability would predict a longer treatment course. Methods: This outpatient program provides 5–6 hours of daily intensive physical and occupational therapy in addition to yoga, self-regulation, and behavioral health intervention. All pain medications are discontinued, and no invasive therapeutic procedures are utilized. 30 patients (26 female) aged 11–18 with chronic musculoskeletal pain completed Functional Disability Inventory, 100mm Visual Analog Scale, PROMIS Anxiety, Depression, and PRCQ-catastrophizing at baseline and the end of each week; 22 have completed a one-month follow-up, and 6 completed six-month follow-up. The mean program duration was 3.7 (SD 0.91) weeks, determined by achievement of functional goals. Analyses were conducted with SPSS and supplemented with hierarchical linear modeling (HLM7) for time-series analyses of pain and functioning. Results: There is linear improvement in parent-reported FDI (25.2 to 7.3, P < .001) and patient-reported FDI (27.5 to 13.9, P < .001) between baseline and program end. Patient-reported function showed additional significant gains at 1 and 6-month follow-up with FDI of 7.2 and 2.8, respectively (P < .001). Patient-reported pain did not consistently change during the program (P = .975); however, longitudinal patterns demonstrated significant decrease in pain between program end and follow-up (P < .001). Pain is significantly affected by conversion symptoms, which are associated with higher levels of pain (P = .005) but did not affect the pattern of pain resolution. Patient reported anxiety and depression decline significantly (P = 0.004 and P = 0.001, respectively) as does patient catastrophizing following treatment (P = .001). Duration of treatment correlated with baseline functional disability (FDI r = .664; P = .001), and presence of conversion symptoms (r = .548; P = .008). Conclusion: Children with amplified pain syndromes successfully restore and maintain function and improve pain without pharmacotherapy. Baseline functional disability and psychological factors correlate with treatment program duration. Prospective studies are warranted to determine long-term efficacy and effectiveness of this interdisciplinary program.
Trajectories of Relationship Disengagement

It was the purpose of this study to explore primarily through qualitative data the process by which personal relationships dissolve. In applying the method of analytic induction to ninety-seven heterosexual romantic relationship break-ups, a flow chart of the disengagement process was developed around six distinctive features of the break-up process. This flow chart was subsequently used to trace the dissolution process for each break-up account, producing eight basic trajectories of disengagement for this data set. The study supports the argument by Kressel et al. (1980) that researchers must abandon the simplistic search for a single set of stages or steps by which relationships change, recognizing instead the patterned differences among relationships.
Extension of Gummel's charge control relation

Abstract Gummel's charge control relation for bipolar transistors is extended to be valid for the base region of thyristors and pin rectifiers. The modified relationship is derived under the assumption of one dimensional current flow and includes the effects of recombination and majority carrier flow in the base region.
Alternative measures and models of hazardous consumption

Abstract Hazardous alcohol consumption has been conceptualized (1) as all alcohol consumed on days when some threshold, usually ≈60 g, is exceeded, and (2) as only that portion of intake that exceeds this threshold. The first measure is hypothesized to be a better predictor of acute alcohol-related outcomes, because of its greater capacity to discriminate between individuals who frequently exceed the hazardous threshold by a small amount and those who infrequently exceed the threshold by a large amount. To test this hypothesis, the two approaches were used to construct alternative estimates of a number of measures of hazardous consumption. Individually and in combination, these measures were compared in a series of multiplicative models predicting four alcohol-related outcomes: impaired driving, fighting, interpersonal problems and injuries. There was no consistent evidence for one approach being superior to the other as a predictor of these outcomes. In fact, the use of appropriate linear transformations of the consumption variables had a far greater effect on improving the proportion of variance explained. The most highly predictive models were those based on frequency of hazardous consumption, mean volume of hazardous intake consumed per hazardous drinking day, volume of nonhazardous intake and their interactions. Differences among models were small, and models using combinations of simple, easy-to-obtain measures performed nearly on a par with those utilizing far more complex measures.
The cardiac acetyl-lysine proteome

In the heart, lysine acetylation has been implicated in processes ranging from transcriptional control of pathological remodeling, to cardioprotection arising from caloric restriction. Given the emerging importance of this post-translational modification, we used a proteomic approach to investigate the broader role of lysine acetylation in the heart using a guinea pig model. Briefly, hearts were fractionated into myofilament-, mitochondrial- and cytosol-enriched fractions prior to proteolysis and affinity-enrichment of acetylated peptides. LC-MS/MS analysis identified 1075 acetylated peptides, harboring 994 acetylation sites that map to 240 proteins with a global protein false discovery rate <0.8%. Mitochondrial targets account for 59% of identified proteins and 64% of sites. The majority of the acetyl-proteins are enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation or the TCA cycle. Within the cytosolic fraction, the enzymes of glycolysis, fatty acid synthesis and lipid binding are prominent. Nuclear targets included histones and the transcriptional regulators E1A(p300) and CREB binding protein. Comparison of our dataset with three previous global acetylomic studies uniquely revealed 53 lysine-acetylated proteins. Specifically, newly-identified acetyl-proteins include Ca2+-handling proteins, RyR2 and SERCA2, and the myofilament proteins, myosin heavy chain, myosin light chains and subunits of the Troponin complex, among others. These observations were confirmed by anti-acetyl-lysine immunoblotting. In summary, cardiac lysine acetylation may play a role in cardiac substrate selection, bioenergetic performance, and maintenance of redox balance. New sites suggest a host of potential mechanisms by which excitation-contraction coupling may also be modulated.
A Founder on Founding: Jefferson's Advice to Koraes

In 1823, shortly after the outbreak of the Greek Revolution, and in the context of a general attempt to gather support for the Greek cause, Adamantios Koraes wrote to Thomas Jefferson, whom he had met once in Paris, to request his advice on the founding of a Greek state. Although brief, the exchange between the two men provides a rare, if not unique, record of a founder's advice to an aspiring emulator. Koraes' role in Greek political and intellectual life, coupled with Jefferson's fame, have made the correspondence between the two men a source of some interest among Greek scholars, but Jefferson's advice has never been studied in the context of his broader political theory. This paper traces the history of the acquaintance of the two men and of their subsequent correspondence, and places Jefferson's recommendations in the context of his political thought. Written as it was with the benefit of a long life in politics and more than forty-five years of experience from the American founding, Jefferson's advice to Koraes provides a singular opportunity to assess his political ideas over time.
Shared Meaning and the Convergence among Observers' Personality Descriptions

“Shared meaning” is a parameter in Kenny's (1991) rater agreement model concerning the extent to which two raters agree about the trait-implicative meaning of the observations they have made of a target. In the first study, 201 individuals rated observations relevant to friendliness and organization on the meaning dimensions of typicality, difficulty level, and evaluation. They also rated 25 targets on the two constructs. We found strong support for a modest relation between the similarity of meaning ratings and the similarity of target ratings, especially for raw, as opposed to standard score, ratings. In Study 2 we considered shared meaning in a version of Kenny's model that included the consistency and communication parameters. Judge pairs (N= 110) evaluated two targets described by play and openness on several personality dimensions. Shared meaning significantly contributed to rating agreement for both targets, but consistency and communication, as manipulated in this study, did not. Implications of employing the broader consensus model in experimental studies are discussed. If I say “sorrow,” you'll know exactly what I mean only if you've experienced it in the same sense I have. -Joel Peterson, Ravenswood's Winemaker, in Darlington (1991)
Computer-aided measurement of inductor losses at high frequencies (0 to 6 kHz)

Two methods for measuring losses of inductors at high frequencies from 0 to 6 kHz are discussed: the first involves the use of sampled inductor voltage and current waveforms through an A/D converter and a computer. The second, called the three-voltmeter method, consists of recording three RMS voltages. Error analyses of the two approaches are presented. Measured results from these two methods are in good agreement with each other. For some of the inductors tested at low (up to 960 Hz) frequencies the losses increase with the square of frequency while the increase is about linear at high (from 960 Hz to 6000 Hz) frequencies.
Complications of Penile Lengthening and Augmentation Seen at 1 Referral Center

AbstractPurpose: Complications of the recent cosmetic technique of penile lengthening and girth enhancement are reviewed.Materials and Methods: During a 16-month period 12 men presented with complications of penile augmentation performed elsewhere. All 12 patients had undergone release of the suspensory ligament and 10 had received autologous fat injection.Results: the chief complaint was poor cosmetic appearance (irregular residual fat nodules in 7 men, skin deformity and scarring in 4 and scrotalization in 4). Reoperation was necessary in 6 patients, wound complications occurred in 6 and sexual dysfunction was reported by 4. Only 1 patient reported a subjective increase in penile length.Conclusions: Although a verifiable complication rate may never by available, the morbidity of elective penile lengthening and girth enhancement is noteworthy. These cosmetic techniques should be regarded as experimental.