cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coordinate induction of two antibiotic genes in tracheal epithelial cells exposed to the inflammatory mediators lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor alpha.

Peptides with potent broad-spectrum antibiotic activity have been identified in many animal species. Recent investigations have demonstrated that epithelial cells are a site of antibiotic peptide expression, suggesting that these peptides contribute to host defense at mucosal surfaces. Expression of tracheal antimicrobial peptide (TAP), a member of the beta-defensin family of peptides, is inducible in cultured tracheal epithelial cells (TEC) upon challenge with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (G. Diamond, J.P. Russell, and C.L. Bevins, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, in press). In this study, an anchored reverse transcriptase PCR strategy was used to determine if TAP was the sole beta-defensin isoform expressed upon stimulation of the cells with LPS. In addition to TAP, a second class of cDNA clones which encoded lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP), a beta-defensin peptide recently isolated from a different mucosal site, the bovine tongue, was identified (B.S. Schonwetter, E.D. Stolzenberg, and M. Zasloff, Science 267:1645-1648, 1995). Northern (RNA) blot analysis demonstrated in vivo expression of LAP mRNA in tracheal mucosa. Levels of LAP mRNA were higher in cultured TEC challenged with either LPS or tumor necrosis factor alpha than in control cells. Thus, a response of TEC exposed to inflammatory mediators is induction of antibiotic-encoding genes, including both TAP and LAP. This work complements the in vivo studies of Schonwetter et al. (cited above), which showed elevated levels of LAP mRNA in squamous epithelial cells of the tongue near sites of tissue injury and inflammation, by suggesting possible mediators of the in vivo observation. Together these lines of investigations support the hypothesis that inducible expression of endogenous antibiotic peptides by inflammatory mediators characterizes local defense of mammalian mucosal surfaces.
Analysis of partitioned methods for the Biot System

In this work, we present a comprehensive study of several partitioned methods for the coupling of flow and mechanics. We derive energy estimates for each method for the fully-discrete problem. We write the obtained stability conditions in terms of a key control parameter defined as a ratio of the coupling strength and the speed of propagation. Depending on the parameters in the problem, give the choice of the partitioned method which allows the largest time step. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 31: 1769–1813, 2015
N‐Lithio‐N,N′,N′‐trimethylethylenediamine

[–] C5H13LiN2 (MW 108.14) InChI = 1S/C5H13N2.Li/c1-6-4-5-7(2)3;/h4-5H2,1-3H3;/q-1;+1 InChIKey = WQCOCAOFFMHNAF-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent for the in situ formation of α-amino alkoxides, which are effective directing groups for ortho lithiation1) Alternate Name: LTMDA. Preparative Methods: prepared in situ by adding n-BuLi to N,N,N′-trimethylethylenediamine in anhydrous solvents. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: highly flammable; should be kept under a nitrogen or argon atmosphere. Handle in a fume hood.
Improved sequencing of oxidized cysteine and methionine containing peptides using electron transfer dissociation

Oxidative modifications to the side chains of sulfur-containing amino acids often limit the number of product ions formed during collision-induced dissociation (CID) and thus make it difficult to obtain sequence information for oxidized peptides. In this work, we demonstrate that electron-transfer dissociation (ETD) can be used to improve the sequence information obtained from peptides with oxidized cysteine and methionine residues. In contrast to CID, ETD is found to be much less sensitive to the side-chain chemistry, enabling extensive sequence information to be obtained in cases where CID fails to provide this information. These results indicate that ETD is a valuable technique for studying oxidatively modified peptides and proteins. In addition, we report a unique and very abundant product ion that is formed in the CID spectra of peptides having N-terminal cysteine sulfinic acid residues. The mechanism for this unique dissociation pathway involves a six-membered cyclic intermediate and leads to the facile loss of NH3 and SO2, which corresponds to a mass loss of 81 Da. While the facile nature of this dissociation pathway limits the sequence information present in CID spectra of peptides with N-terminal cysteine sulfinic acid residues, extensive sequence information for these peptides can be obtained with ETD.
Randomized Trial of Permissive Hypercapnia in Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study. • 962

Retrospective studies suggest that ventilatory strategies that tolerate mild hypercapnia and/or prevent hypocapnia during the first days of life may reduce chronic lung disease (CLD). We performed a randomized trial to compare the effects of permissive hypercapnia (H, PaCO245-55 torr) versus normocapnia (N, PaCO235-45 torr) during the first 96 hours of life in neonates weighing 601 to 1250 gm who received mechanical ventilation (MV) and surfactant. The primary outcome measure was total days on MV. Extubation criteria were pH ≥ 7.25, ventilator rate ≤ 10/min, and peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) ≤ 19 cm H2O. All patients received aminophylline prior to extubation. Ventilator-dependent infants at 10 days received 7 days of dexamethasone. Reintubation was performed for a pH < 7.20. Patients(n=49) were randomized at a mean age of 10 hours of life (H=24, N=25). The groups were comparable for gestational age (26 ± 1 weeks), birth weight(H 852 ± 156 gm, N 856 ± 173 gm), gender, race, prenatal steroid use, and blood gas values, oxygenation index, and ventilator settings prior to randomization. The total number of days on MV (median, 25-75 quartiles) was 2.5, 1.5-11.2 in the H group and 9.2, 1.5-22.5 in the N group (p=0.17, Mann-Whitney). The number of patients on MV throughout the 96 hours after randomization was lower in the H group (figure). During that time, the ventilated patients in the H group had a higher PaCO2 and lower PIP, mean airway pressure, and ventilator rate than those in the N group (repeated measures ANOVA, all p<0.05). The percentage of patients requiring reintubation (H 66% vs N 54%), supplemental O2 at 28 days of life (H 43% vs N 63%), and the total days on O2(median, 25-75 quartiles: H 15, 4-50 vs N 32, 17-47) did not differ between the groups. There were no differences in mortality, air leaks, patent ductus arteriosus, intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, or retinopathy of prematurity. A ventilatory strategy of permissive hypercapnia in preterm infants may reduce the number of days on MV without increasing adverse outcomes.
What could be caused must actually be caused

I give two arguments for the claim that all events which occur at the actual world and are such that they could be caused, are also such that they must actually be caused. The first argument is an improvement of a similar argument advanced by Alexander Pruss, which I show to be invalid. It uses Pruss’s Brouwer Analog for counterfactual logic, and, as a consequence, implies inconsistency with Lewis’s semantics for counterfactuals. While (I suggest) this consequence may not be objectionable, the argument founders on the fact that Pruss’s Brouwer Analog has a clear counterexample. I thus turn to a second, “Lewisian” argument, which requires only an affirmation of one element of Lewis’s analysis of causation and one other, fairly weak possibility claim about the nature of wholly contingent events. The final section of the paper explains how both arguments escape objections from supposed indeterminacy in quantum physics.
Polarization Independent Photon Storage with Variable Time Delay

We discuss a high-efficiency photon storage system that is independent of photon's polarization. This scheme may be critical for enhancing the efficiency of existing quantum computers and quantum storage devices for qubits.
Correlations of Adsorption Energies with Physical and Structural Properties of Adsorbate Molecules

Abstract The purpose of this work is to find a suitable method to correlate Henry's law adsorption energies such as the isosteric heat or the gas–solid interaction energy. Available adsorption energies for a total of 63 gases distributed among five adsorbents—a zeolite, a silica gel, a carbon black, and two microporous carbons adsorbents were correlated with the boiling point, a critical constant ratio involving critical temperature and critical pressure, the log of the octanol–water partition coefficient, and molecular structural energy. In the structural approach each gas molecule is considered to be composed of a series of structural units that each make a fixed contribution to the total molecular adsorption energy. Multiple regression analyses were done for each of the five adsorbent systems using the four main correlation methods. The method based on the structural units of a molecule and its dipole moment was found to give a 0.99 correlation coefficient for all five gas–solid systems. This structural method was superior to correlations based on boiling points, critical constants, partition coefficients, and various combinations of other physical properties that were also examined. Since there has been a variety of interest in either predicting the energy of adsorption or extent of adsorption for specific adsorbate–adsorbent pairs, our correlation results could be useful in future quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) correlations of adsorption.
Stability analysis of cavity solitons governed by the cubic-quintic Ginzburg–Landau equation

A theoretical model is proposed to describe the formation of two-dimensional solitons in a laser cavity, extending the concept of the mode locking of temporal solitons in fibre lasers to spatial mode locking in nonlinear crystals. A linear stability analysis of the governing model based upon radial symmetry is performed to characterize the multi-pulsing instability of the laser as a function of gain. It is found that a stable n-pulse solution of the system bifurcates into a (n + 1)-pulse solution through the development of a periodic solution (Hopf bifurcation), and the results are consistent with simulations of the full model.
Risk aversion and business cycles: An empirical analysis

Abstract Unlike investors, who tend to maintain highly-diversified portfolios, private entrepreneurs usually lack access to complete risk-pooling for idiosyncratic risks, thus more directly internalize the cost of volatility. Risk aversion, however, modifies the optimal contract between entrepreneurs and lenders by incorporating the risk premium that entrepreneurs demand for the uninsurable risk: the private equity premium. Consequently, real shocks tend to be amplified as changes in entrepreneurs’ net worth affect the private equity premium and so the rental rate of capital, investment and output. This theoretical framework suggests that economies where the private entrepreneurial sector is a relatively larger, and therefore more vulnerable to uninsurable risk, all else equal, should present higher volatility. I test this prediction by (1) conducting a simple reduced-form analysis that shows that output volatility is negatively associated with the relative importance of the corporate vs. the privately-held sector; and (2) estimating the model's structural parameters. Intuitively, countries where private entrepreneurs are predominant and so risk aversion is likely to impose stronger impacts, positive risk aversion coefficients should be found. Results suggest that risk aversion is empirically more relevant for economies like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Korea, Mexico and Thailand than for Canada, France, Germany, the U.K. and the U.S.
Peripheral vision: The effects of developmental, perceptual, and cognitive factors

Abstract The effects of perceptual and cognitive factors on information processing in the visual periphery were studied in 5- and 8-year-old children and in adults. Subjects judged either the similarity (Study 1) or the identity (Study 2) of geometric forms. In both studies, two forms were simultaneously presented for 20 msec at 2, 4, or 6°, with one form on either side of the fovea. Type of form and Axis of presentation were varied. Both studies demonstrated declining performance with increasing distance, poorer performance with open than closed forms, poorest performance along the vertical axis, and no major interaction of these factors with age. Greater “flattening” of the visual field was found in Study 2 than in Study 1 for all age groups. The results indicate that the parafoveal visual field is elliptical and that more difficult tasks accentuate this asymmetry. This effect of task demands on the relative flatness of the effective visual field cannot be interpreted on the basis of anatomical factors. The findings indicated striking developmental similarity in the effect of several variables on parafoveal processing and challenge the idea of greater tunnel vision in preschoolers than in adults. Further, the data suggest that perceptual and cognitive factors influence the size and shape of the effective visual field across the full age range studied.
Characteristics of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired children.

OBJECTIVE Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) were measured in children with normal hearing and in children with hearing loss to investigate the characteristics of TEOAEs as they relate to overall amplitude and amplitude spectra of evoking stimuli, and to audiometric status. DESIGN Three parameters of response measure (signal to noise ratio, amplitude and reproducibility) were assessed to determine accuracy of identification of varying degrees of hearing loss for broadband clicks, frequency-specific click bands and tone bursts. Forty-four children (66 ears) between 4 and 13 yr of age were evaluated for participation in the study. Fifty-nine ears with intact tympanic membranes were included in the final analyses: 14 ears with normal hearing and 45 ears with hearing loss. RESULTS Children with normal hearing had robust responses that displayed nonlinear growth functions for broadband clicks and for tone bursts. Children with hearing loss had responses that decreased rapidly with decreasing stimulus level, if emissions were present at all. Data were analyzed using clinical decision analysis and receiver operator characteristic curves. Broadband clicks presented at 80 and 86 dB peSPL identified a hearing loss > or = 30 dB HL with a high degree of accuracy. Click responses filtered into octave bands centered at 500 and 1000 Hz did not improve classification of hearing loss, in fact, the 500 Hz band was particularly inaccurate. Results for click responses filtered into half-octave bands centered at 2000 and 4000 Hz were comparable with those for the broadband click, although the 2000 Hz band was superior for identification of hearing loss > or = 20 dB HL for an 80 dB peSPL click, and > or = 30 dB HL for an 86 dB peSPL click. Results for tone bursts centered at 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz, presented at 80 dB peSPL, were similar to results of the filtered click bands. Accuracy for identifying hearing loss increased with increasing center frequency. The 2000 and 4000 Hz tone bursts provided the best separation between normal-hearing and hearing-impaired ears, with 4000 Hz being slightly better. CONCLUSIONS Data from this study suggest that TEOAEs in children can separate ears with normal hearing from those with hearing loss using a variety of stimulus and response conditions. Moreover, by using multiple stimulus levels it may be possible to distinguish between mild and moderate hearing losses.
Investigations into the syntheses and structures of clusters of the MoOREO32− systems (E = P and As)

Abstract The chemistry of the MoOREO32− sysems (E = P, As is remarkably diverse, exhibiting influences of the Mo oxidation state, solvent, organic substituents and reaction conditions of temperature, pressure and stoichiometry. Clusters exhibiting molybdenum nuclearities of two, four, five and six are common, as are species derived through both ligation to the Mo site and ligand-based transformations. Thus, the reactions of the Mo(VI) starting material [MoO2(acac)2] with the appropriate (REO3H2) or R′(PO3H2)2 provided a series of Mo(VI) clusters, with cyclic structures based on edge- and corner-sharing of Mo-octahedra and ligand tetrahedra. In contrast, when MoCl5 is used in the syntheses, a variety of reduced and mixed valence clusters are observed and metal-mediated ligand transformations are also common. Crystal data: (Et3NH)4[Mo4O10(C6H5PO3)4] · 2CH3CN (1): PI, a = 11.975(2), b = 12.442(2), c = 13.265(3), A, a = 81.87(3), β = 75.24(3), γ = 65.91(3)0, V = 1743.2(9)A3, Z = 1, R = 0.054 for 3577 independent reflections (I0 ≥ 3σ(I0)). Et3NH4)[Mo4O10 (C6H5AsO3)4] · 4H2O (2): P21ln, a = 11.243(2), b = 22.582(5), c = 14.665(3)A, β = 108.87(2)0, V = 3523(2)A3, Z = 2, R = 0.042 for 3412 reflections I0 ≥ 3σ(I0)). (Et3NH)4[Mo4O10{O3PCH2PO3}2] · 2CH3CH (3): P2121 a= 14.58(3), b = 17.084(3), c = 12.226(2)A, V = 3046(2)A3, Z = 2, R = 0.058 for 2000 reflections (I0 ≥ 3σ(I0)). (Et3NH)2[Mo4O10(CH3C6H4AsO3)2 (CH3C6H4AsO3H2] · H2) -(Et3NH)-(CH3C6H4AsO3H) (4): PI, a = 12.815(3), b = 13.668(3), c = 22.486(4)A, a = 92.76(2), β = 93.17(2), γ = 104.62(2)c, V = 3797(2)A, Z = 2, R = 0.051 for 5790 reflections (I0 ≥ 3σ(I0)). (Et3NH)2[Mo2O5{(C6H5)24] · CH3CN (5): PI, a = 11.102(2), b = 13.359(3), c = 22.000(4)A, α = 85.75(2), β = 89.29(2), γ = 89.6(2)0, V = 3254(2), V = 3254(2)A3, Z = 2, R = 0.061 for 6572 reflections I0 ≥ 3σ(I0)). (R3NH)4[Mo5O15(R′PO3)2] (R = CH2CH2CH3, R′ = −CH3) (6a): C2/c, a = 16.784(3)b = 17.855(4), c = 20.468(4)A, β = 96.49(2)0, Z = 4, R = 0.038 for 2854 reflections (I0 ≥ 3σ(I0)). (R′ = −CH2CH3, R′ = CH2C6H5 (6b): C2/c, a = 12.915(3), b = 19.860(4), c = 21.865(4)A, β = 102.38(2)0, V = 5433(3)A3, Z = 4, R = 0.076 for reflections I0 ≥ 3σ(I0)). (Et3NH)4[Mo6O18-(Bu1PO3)2] · Me2CO C2/c, a = 19.982(4), b = 13.481(3), c = 22.995(5)A, β = 112.70(2)0, V = 5716(3)A[su3, Z = 4, R = 0.075 for 2835 reflections (I0 ≥ 3σ(I0)). (Et3NH)4 [Mo6O18(H2NC6H4AsO3)2 (8): P21/c, a = 11.243(2), b = 11.355(2), c = 22.011(4)A, β = 99.87(1)0, V = 2764(1)A3, Z = 2, R = 0.040 for 2198 reflections (I0 ≥ 3σ(I0). (Mo2(OH)2Cl4{MeC6H4CH2, R = 0.070 for 2478 reflections (I0 ≥ 3σ(I0)). [Mo4O8(C6H5AsO2Cl)4Cl] · [MoOCl4] · 8H2) (10) P4/nnc, a = 11.385(2), c = 37.926(8)A, V = 4916(2)A3, Z = 4, R = 0.056 for 981 reflections (I0 ≥ 3σ(I0). [Mo4O8(CH3C6H4AsO2 Cl4Cl] · 8CH3OH · 9H2O (11): PI, a = 10.509(2), b = 12.154(2), c = 12.461(2)A, a = 88.09(2), β = 89.52(2), γ = 87.07(3)0, V = 1588.6(8)A3, Z = 2, R = 0.057 for 2618 reflections (I0 ≥ 3σ(I0)).
A Monte Carlo Study of Testing the Significance of Correlation Matrices.

A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to examine the Type I error rates and power of the tests by Bartlett; Brien, Venables, James, and Mayo; Kullback; and Steiger of the null hypothesis that a correlation matrix equals the identity matrix. Such tests are often recommended as preliminary procedures before performing factor analysis or evaluating the hypothesis of equal correlations. The Brien et al. procedure was found to be the most powerful test while maintaining stable empirical alpha values.
Aging and cancer: are telomeres and telomerase the connection?

There is substantial evidence for the progressive loss of the telomeric ends of chromosomes during aging, both in cell culture and in vivo . The loss of telomeres may eventually induce antiproliferative signals that result in cellular senescence. A hypothesis gaining prominence is that the activation of telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that is important in maintaining telomere length stability, is necessary for the sustained growth of most tumors. The interrelationships between telomere shortening and aging, and how activation of telomerase may be necessary for cells to become immortal and malignant, are reviewed here.
BAFF Is Increased in Renal Transplant Patients Following Treatment with Alemtuzumab

Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that depletes T and B cells and is used as induction therapy for renal transplant recipients. Without long-term calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) therapy, alemtuzumab-treated patients have a propensity to develop alloantibody and may undergo antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). In pursuit of a mechanistic explanation, we analyzed peripheral B cells and serum of these patients for BAFF (Blys) and BAFF-R, factors known to be integral for B-cell activation, survival, and homeostasis. Serum BAFF levels of 22/24 alemtuzumab-treated patients were above normal range, with average levels of 1967 pg/mL compared to 775 pg/mL in healthy controls (p = 0.006). BAFF remained elevated 2 years posttransplant in 78% of these patients. BAFF-R on CD19(+) B cells was significantly downregulated, suggesting ligand/receptor engagement. BAFF mRNA expression was increased 2-7-fold in CD14(+) cells of depleted patients, possibly linking monocytes to the BAFF dysregulation. Addition of recombinant BAFF to mixed lymphocyte cultures increased B-cell activation to alloantigen, as measured by CD25 and CD69 coexpression on CD19(+) cells. Of note, addition of sirolimus (SRL) augmented BAFF-enhanced B-cell activation whereas CNIs blocked it. These data suggest associations between BAFF/BAFF-R and AMR in alemtuzumab-treated patients.
Outcome measurement in multi‐interventional continuing medical education

Approaches to outcome determination for multi-interventional continuing medical education (CME) are described using, as a case example, community-wide CME interventions to increase primary care physician adherence to national guidelines for breast cancer screening. The sources and types of data that can be used for outcome determination are reviewed and baseline measures for needs assessment are provided. The example ofpreinter-vention and postintervention surveys of primary care physicians and women demonstrates a methodology for determining changes in breast cancer screening practices and barriers to screening. The multimethod “package” of interventions used in the case example included formal CME conferences, a physician newsletter, breast examination skills training, a breast cancer CME monograph, a “question of the month” at hospital staff meetings, and primary care office visits. The outcome measures demonstrated that physicians practicing in the CME intervention towns had a significant increase in the number of reported mammography referrals of asymptomatic women aged 50 to 75 years (33% preintervention to 53% postintervention). Changes in the CME control town were smaller and not statistically significant for the sample size available. There were no significant increases in reported performance of breast examination. The multi-interventional CME methods can be used for many other content areas. The specified outcome measures can be collected through surveys and/or chart review and include all levels within the hierarchy of evaluation data. Surveying physicians at community hospital department meetings was a cost-effective approach to obtaining good survey response rates. Multi-interventional CME is a feasible method to increase community physician adherence to mammography screening guidelines.
Longitudinal Patterns in Abundance of the Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in the Upper Mississippi River

ABSTRACT We assessed the abundance of zebra mussels in the upper Mississippi River during 1995, four years after they were first found in the river. Samplers were deployed from May 30 to October 19, 1995, at 19 lock and dam facilities in the upper Mississippi River from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Muscatine, Iowa. Zebra mussels were found at every lock and dam except the two sites farthest upstream (Minneapolis). Generally, densities of zebra mussels were greatest at sites 161 km and farther downstream of the Minneapolis area. The greatest mean mussel density was 11,432/m2 at Fulton, Illinois.
Production of medical radioisotopes in the ORNL high flux isotope reactor (HFIR) for cancer treatment and arterial restenosis therapy after PICA

The High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) represents an important resource for the production of a wide variety of medical radioisotopes. First beginning operation in 1965, the high thermal neutron flux (2.5×1015 neutrons/cm2/sec at 85 MW) and versatile target irradiation and handling facilities provide the opportunity for production of a wide variety of neutron-rich medical radioisotopes of current interest for therapy. In addition to serving as a key production site for californium-252 and other transuranic elements, important examples of therapeutic radioisotopes which are currently routinely produced in the HFIR for distribution include dysprosium-166 (parent of holmium-166), rhenium-186, tin-117m and tungsten-188 (parent of rhenium-188). The nine hydraulic tube (HT) positions in the central high flux region permit the insertion and removal of targets at any time during the operating cycle (22–24 days) and have traditionally represented a major site for production of medical radioisotopes. To increase the irradiation capabilities of the HFIR, special target holders have recently been designed and fabricated which will be installed in the six Peripheral Target Positions (PTP), which are also located in the high flux region. These positions are only accessible during reactor refueling and will be used for long-term irradiations, such as required for the production of tin-117m and tungsten-188. Each of the PTP tubes will be capable of housing a maximum of eight HT targets, thus increasing the total maximum number of HT targets from the current nine, to a total of 57. In this paper the therapeutic use of reactor-produced radioisotopes for bone pain palliation and vascular brachytherapy and the therapeutic medical radioisotope production capabilities of the ORNL HFIR are briefly discussed.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of sitaxsentan to improve impaired exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the selective endothelin type A (ETA) receptor antagonist sitaxsentan in patients who have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Background Fifty percent of heart failure (HF) patients have a preserved ejection fraction. No treatment has been shown to improve their clinical outcomes. Previous studies have suggested that ETA receptor antagonists might improve diastolic function and exercise tolerance in some forms of HF. Methods In all, 192 HFpEF patients (EF ≥50%) were randomly assigned 2:1 to sitaxsentan 100 mg/day (n = 128) versus placebo (n = 64) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in treadmill exercise time after 24 weeks of treatment. Secondary objectives included changes in left ventricular mass, transmitral inflow velocity to early diastolic mitral annulus velocity ratio, and Minnesota Living With Heart Failure questionnaire, and New York Heart Association functional class. Subjects were age 65 ± 11 years, 63% female, 29% non-Caucasian, and in functional class II (56.5%) or III (43.5%). Results Subjects treated with sitaxsentan had an increase in median treadmill time (90 s) compared with placebo-treated subjects (37 s, p = 0.0302). There was no significant treatment differences in transmitral inflow velocity to early diastolic mitral annulus velocity ratio, left ventricular mass, Minnesota Living With Heart Failure questionnaire, New York Heart Association functional class, deaths, or HF hospital stay. The incidence of adverse events was similar for sitaxsentan and placebo. Conclusions In HFpEF patients, treatment with a selective ETA receptor antagonist increased exercise tolerance but did not improve any of the secondary endpoints such as left ventricular mass or diastolic function. Further studies will be necessary to determine whether ETA receptor antagonists may be useful in the treatment of HFpEF. (A Study of the Effectiveness of Sitaxsentan Sodium in Patients With Diastolic Heart Failure; NCT00303498)
Alarm responses caused by newly identified compounds derived from the honeybee sting.

Twelve compounds identified from honeybee,Apis mellifera L., sting extracts were evaluated in a standardized laboratory test for their effectiveness in eliciting an alarm response from caged worker honeybees. Two-1-decanol and phenol-were judged ineffective as alarm pheromones. The other ten-1-butanol, isopentyl acetate, isopentyl alcohol, 1-hexanol, 2-heptyl acetate, 2-heptanol, 1-octanol, 1-acetoxy-2-octene, 2-nonyl acetate, and 1-acetoxy-2-nonene-produced alarm responses of similar speed and intensity. Three non-sting-derived compounds-β-ionone, methyl benzoate, andtrans-cinnamaldehyde—caused weak or no responses, indicating that the responses were not simply a reaction to concentrated odoriferous substances.
Formation and characterization of anodized layers on CP Ti and Ti-6Al-4V biomaterials

Abstract The biocompatibility of titanium and Ti-6Al-4V alloy materials has been attributed to the presence of a passive surface oxide layer. In this investigation, the feasibility of creating a thick, porous oxide layer by anodizing commercially pure Ti and the titanium alloy in sulfuric acid under potentiostatic conditions was examined. Characterization of the anodic oxide layers was carried out to determine their thickness, morphology and composition. The thickness of the oxide layers, as determined by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, was found to be a function of applied potential, anodizing time and electrolyte temperature. Scanning electron microscopy investigations revealed that under suitably controlled experimental conditions, a very porous (10 μm diameter pores) surface layer could be formed. Incorporation of sulfate ions into the oxide layer was evident from depth profile analysis by Auger electron spectroscopy. The isoelectric point of the oxide layer formed on the alloy surface was measured to be 5.8.
Recurrent facial angioedema with elevated antinuclear antibodies

HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS A 58-year-old hispanic man was referred to the allergy clinic in July, 1995, with a 5-month history of worsening angioedema involving the face, neck, and left supraclavicular area. He and his wife described extreme swelling which distorted his face, was much worse upon awakening and improved throughout the day. He described intermittent hoarseness but denied dyspnea, stridor, or other laryngeal obstructive symptoms. There was no tongue involvement, and he denied urticaria, pruritus, abdominal pain, diarrhea, arthralgias, alopecia, oral ulcers, or visual changes. There were no known precipitating factors, such as food ingestion, stress, exercise, or history of insect stings. He described a 2-month history of anorexia and a 20-lb weight loss. There were no chills, fever or night sweats, nor was there hemoptysis, melena, or hematochezia. He denied the presence of dry eyes and dry mouth. He had a 35-pack-year smoking history, but had not smoked since 1988. Seven months prior to evaluation (December 1994), during a routine ophthalmologic examination, he was diagnosed with uveitis of the left eye. Evaluation revealed an elevated antinuclear antibody of 1:1280 (homogenous and nucleolar). He was seen by a rheumatologist who initiated hydroxychloroquine therapy for a presumed connective tissue disorder. Two months later (February, 1995), the facial swelling was noted. Because of the possible association of hydroxychloroquine therapy with the development of facial angioedema, the hydroxychloroquine was discontinued by a second rheumatologist. Otolaryngology evaluation at that time revealed sinusitis by radiographic evaluation and rhinolaryngoscopy. Therapy with antibiotics, decongestants, and antihistamines was initiated which caused subjective and objective resolution of his sinusitis. Because of persistent angioedema he was referred to the Allergy/Immunology service in July, 1995.
A cosmic book of phenomena

A comparison of the merits of five general theories for the origin of galaxies and large-scale structure in the Universe with 38 observational constraints from extragalactic astronomy produces no clear winner. Two theories, cold dark matter in an inflationary cosmology and baryonic dark matter in a low-density Universe, emerge slightly ahead of the pack.
Is this really celiac disease? Pitfalls in diagnosis

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy triggered in susceptible individuals by ingestion of gliadin-containing grains. Although the autoimmune process targets mainly the intestinal mucosa, CD can manifest itself with a variety signs and symptoms affecting any organ or tissue. For many years, CD has been underdiagnosed because of poor awareness. However, studies showing a high prevalence of CD in North America, followed by a consensus conference on CD organized by the National Institutes of Health, have fueled a campaign to raise awareness among subspecialists and primary physicians. Nevertheless, guidelines for the diagnosis of CD remain poorly appreciated and many health care professionals remain confused about its proper management. This review is intended to clarify “facts and fantasies” about CD diagnosis.
Determination of Optimum Transmission Ranges in a Multi-Hop Spread Spectrum Network

In this paper we obtain the optimum transmission ranges to maximize throughput for a multi-hop spread spectrum network. In the analysis we model the network self-interference as a random variable which is equal to the sum of the interference power of all other terminals. For a spread spectrum network with an effective capacity equal to K simultaneous transmissions and an inverse fourth power propagation law we found that a terminal should transmit with a range so that on the average there are approximately 1.3?K terminals closer to the transmitter than the receiver. We found that for the inverse fourth power propagation law, the probability density of the interference power at a given terminal is the inverse Gaussian probability density. More generally, if the propagation law is an inverse ?th power (? ≫ 2), then the probability law of the interference power is the stable law of exponent 2/?.
DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS FROM CAY SAL BANK, BAHAMAS, WITH NOTES ON THEIR ZOOGEOGRAPHIC AFFINITIES

ABSTRACT During a biological investigation of Cay Sal Bank in 1978-82 conducted on the R/V Bellows, an important collection of decapods was obtained in depths ranging from 1 to 498 m. The material included the heretofore figured but characterized caridean Stylodactylus rectirostris, and the poorly known brachyurans Dissodactylus juvenilis and Micropanope pusilla. First western Atlantic records are reported for the carideans Ligur ensiferus and Plesionika williamsi,and minor range extensions for six other species. Zoogeographic affinities of the more than 113 species collected are greatest with the fauna of the Gulf of Mexico. Distributional data indicate that the Florida Current is not a significant obstacle for decapod crustaceans but more probably serves as vehicle for the transport of larval stages across the Straits of Florida. Fifty percent of the penaeoids and carideans from the slope of the bank occur also in the eastern Atlantic.
The promise of developmental psychopathology: Past and present

Progress in the field of developmental psychopathology is appraised in general and with regard to the particular lens of our understanding of the development of disorder. In general, the outpouring of research on various features of disorder and underlying processes could not have even been imagined 25 years ago. The progress is dazzling. At the same time, work on the development of disorders, beginning with antecedent patterns of adaptation, pales in comparison with work on the correlates of disorder. However, progress has been made. It is well established that the brain develops in the context of experience and that organism and environment continually interact over time. Something is now known about pathways leading to certain disorders and what initiates and impels individuals along them. If developmental psychopathology is to completely fulfill its promise of offering new ways of conceptualizing disorder and new guidance for prevention and intervention, much more work on developmental processes and a new way of exploring the development of disorder will be needed. Such a path is suggested.
A cyclic AMP-mediated intersubunit disulfide crosslinking reaction of the regulatory subunit of type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase

Many physiological processes are known to be modulated via the effect of CAMP on CAMPdependent protein kinases (EC 2.7.1.37, ATP:protein phosphotransferase) [ 1,2]. The enzymes are tetramers containing two regulatory and two catalytic subunits. Cyclic AMP induces dissocation of the inactive form of protein kinase and liberates the active catalytic subunit. These enzymes are classified into two main types &II) which differ in their regulatory subunits. In bovine heart cytosol, the major protein kinase is the type II form. Its regulatory subunit (RII) is the major CAMP-binding and phosphorylated protein in bovine heart cytosol 131. RI1 has been purified and studied in much detail [3-91. In the absence of CAMP, RI1 can be phosphorylated by self-phosphorylationofproteinkinase II and can also be labeled with a photoaffinity analog of CAMP, 8-azido-cyclic 13*P]AMP [2,3,10-121. CAMP is required to dissociate P-RI1 from the holoenzyme so that P-RI1 can be dephosphorylated by phosphatase [ 131.
Societal and commercial issues affecting the future of biotechnology in the United States: a survey of researchers' perceptions.

A 1995 survey of 1,257 U.S. recombinant DNA researchers assessed how they view outside factors affecting their work, including public and media attention; regulation; funding; international competition; commercialization of research and university/ industry collaboration; health care reform efforts; and patenting laws and policies. Generally, respondents view public attention as-having had positive effects on biotechnology progress, but they are concerned about the decrease in RD the loss of scientific openness and basic-research quality caused by academic/industrial collaboration; international competition, particularly from Japan and Germany; overly stringent regulations that control RD inefficient regulatory agencies focused on irrelevant criteria; and threats to basic biomedical research from the short-term cost focus of managed-care companies.
Cardioprotective effects of heparin or N-acetylheparin in an in vivo model of myocardial ischaemic and reperfusion injury

Objective: The aim was to determine if either heparin or N-acetylheparin could reduce the extent of myocardial injury resulting from 90 min of coronary artery occlusion and 6 h of reperfusion in the anaesthetised dog. Methods: Heparin or N-acetylheparin was given in three repeated intravenous doses of 2 mg-kg−1. Drug or vehicle (0.9% saline) was given 75 min after onset of ischaemia and 90 and 180 min after reperfusion. To ensure an equal degree of myocardial ischaemia induced by left circumflex coronary artery occlusion among the three groups of animals studied, only animals with ischaemic zone blood flow of ⩽0.16 ml·min−1·g−1 were included in the final analysis. Results: Ischaemic zone blood flow was 0.068(SEM 0.016) ml·min−1·g−1 in control animals (n = 13), 0.083(0.017) ml·min−1·g−1 in heparin treated animals (n = 10), and 0.094(0.010) ml·min−1·g−1in N-acetylheparin treated animals (n = 10). Baseline haemodynamic variables did not differ among the three groups studied. Heparin treatment alone significantly increased bleeding time and activated partial thromboplastin time. Electrocardiographic ST segment elevation, an indicator of regional ischaemia at the onset of coronary occlusion, was not different among control, heparin, or N-acetylheparin groups. The area of the left ventricle at risk of infarct was 39.8(1.5)%, 38.6(0.7)%, and 37.3(2.0)% in control, heparin, and N-acetylheparin treated groups, respectively. Myocardial infarct size, as a percentage of area at risk, was 43.0(3.7)%, 30.7(3.9)%, and 24.5(3.7)% in control, heparin, and N-acetylheparin treated animals, respectively (P < 0.05, control v heparin and N-acetylheparin). Conclusions: The glycosaminoglycans, heparin or N-acetylheparin, can reduce the extent of myocardial injury associated with regional ischaemia and reperfusion in the canine heart. The mechanism of cytoprotection is unrelated to alterations in the coagulation cascade and may involve inhibition of complement activation in response to tissue injury.
Themes in RNA-protein recognition

Abstract Atomic resolution structures are now available for more than 20 complexes of proteins with specific RNAs. This review examines two main themes that appear in this set of structures. A “groove binder” class of proteins places a protein structure (α-helix, 310-helix, β-ribbon, or irregular loop) in the groove of an RNA helix, recognizing both the specific sequence of bases and the shape or dimensions of the groove, which are sometimes distorted from the normal A-form. A second class of proteins uses β-sheet surfaces to create pockets that examine single-stranded RNA bases. Some of these proteins recognize completely unstructured RNA, and in others RNA secondary structure indirectly promotes binding by constraining bases in an appropriate orientation. Thermodynamic studies have shown that binding specificity is generally a function of several factors, including base-specific hydrogen bonds, non-polar contacts, and mutual accommodation of the protein and RNA-binding surfaces. The recognition strategies and structural frameworks used by RNA binding proteins are not exotically different from those employed by DNA-binding proteins, suggesting that the two kinds of nucleic acid-binding proteins have not evolved independently.
Tourism and advertising: Evidence from Virginia beach

In recent years, the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been spending more than two million dollars per year to promote tourism for the city. However, very little is known about the effects of such advertising on overnight visitors. On the basis of a survey of 1,200 overnight visitors during the summer of 1991, this study estimates the effect on tourism and the subsequent fiscal effect of tourism advertising expenditures. The study also calculates a rate of return from advertising from the perspective of a governmental revenue maximization objective function. This paper develops a travel cost model of the impact of advertising on overnight visitation to the city. The model provides, ceteris paribus, that advertising expenditures of 2.4 million dollars in 1991 resulted in an estimated 600,000 additional visitors. The paper concludes that if the City's objective is to maximize public profit, then it should expand its advertising budget.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Secondary to Schwannoma of the Posterior Tibial Nerve

Schwannoma is a benign tumor that arises from the peripheral nerve sheath. It presents as a discrete, often tender, and palpable nodule associated with neurogenic pain or paresthesia when compressed or traumatized. The growth rate is usually slow, and these lesions seldom exceed 2 cm in diameter. We report the case of a large schwannoma arising from the posterior tibial nerve located in the posterior medial ankle. The core needle biopsy findings were suggestive of a schwannoma, with spindle cells strongly and uniformly immunostaining for S-100 protein. The mass was marginally excised. The surgical specimen consisted of a grossly encapsulated white-yellow mass with irregular contours, measuring 3.7 × 3.5 × 2.7 cm. The cut surface showed areas of pin-point hemorrhage. The patient did not encounter any motor deficits; however, early results showed some subjective numbness. Few reports have been published of schwannomas arising from the tibial nerve. Marginal excision appears to be the recommended therapy for this tumor, without any evidence of recurrence at 9 months of follow-up.
STRING FIELD THEORY

A gauge invariant field theory of the bosonic string is formulated following Siegel, Banks and Peskin, and Feigin and Fuks. The free field action is constructed from the Virasoro operators assuming only locality. The propagator is very regular at short distance. The natural jointing-splitting interaction is described abstractly and a method of construction is sketched. A way is conjectured of reformulating the theory to be independent of the vacuum geometry.
Chromosomes 3B and 4D are associated with several milling and baking quality traits in a soft white spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) population

Wheat is marketed based on end-use quality characteristics and better knowledge of the underlying genetics of specific quality parameters is essential to enhance the breeding process. A set of 188 recombinant inbred lines from a ‘Louise’ by ‘Penawawa’ mapping population was grown in two crop years at two locations in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and data were collected on 17 end-use quality traits using established quality analysis protocols. Using an established genetic linkage map, composite interval mapping was used to identify QTL associated with 16 of the 17 quality traits. QTL were found on 13 of the 21 wheat chromosomes. A large number of QTL were located on chromosomes 3B and 4D and coincided with traits for milling quality and starch functionality. Chromosome 3B contained 10 QTL, which were localized to a 26.2 cM region. Chromosome 4D contained 7 QTL, all of which were located on an 18.8 cM region of this chromosome. The majority of the alleles for superior end-use quality were associated with the cultivar Louise. The identified QTL detected remained highly significant independent of grain yield and protein quantity. The identification of these QTL for end-use quality gives key insight into the relationship and complexity of end-use quality traits. It also improves our understanding of these relationships, thereby allowing plant breeders to make valuable gains from selection for these important traits.
Topical transport of hydrophilic compounds using water-in-oil nanoemulsions

A variety of water-in-oil nanoemulsions were prepared using sorbitan monooleate (Span80), polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan monooleate (Tween80), olive oil and water. The nanoemulsions were tested for their ability to facilitate transport of a model hydrophilic solute, inulin, across hairless and hairy mouse skin and hairy rat skin following topical in vitro application. The transport of inulin incorporated in water-in-oil nanoemulsions was found to be significantly higher (5- to 15-fold) than that obtained with micellar dispersions or aqueous controls. The rate and extent of inulin transport across hairy mouse skin was found to be highly dependent on the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) of the surfactant mixture in the nanoemulsion. Nanoemuslions prepared using mixtures with lower HLB exhibited significantly higher rate and extent of transport. It was also found that nanoemulsion-mediated transport was independent of molecular size of the hydrophilic solute and the nature of the aqueous phase. More importantly, transport of inulin from nanoemulsions was independent of animal skin characteristics such as stratum corneum thickness and follicle-type. The combined results suggest that water-in-oil nanoemulsions that are compatible with the lipophilic sebum environment of the hair follicle facilitate efficient transport of incorporated hydrophilic solutes and imply that such transport is predominantly transfollicular in nature.
A theoretical treatment of the influence of time-dependent impurity adsorption on electrocrystallization

Abstract The influence of time-dependent impurity adsorption on the electrochemical deposition and dissolution of metal single crystals is examined on the basis of a proposed model. Curves giving the rate of motion of steps as a function of overtension and of parameters related to the kinetics of adsorption of impurities are computed. The predictions of the theoretical treatment are compared with experimental results and their significance and applicability to the study of the kinematics of step motion are discussed.