cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time Resolved FRET in the SR Ca-ATPase

We have detected structural dynamics of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA) using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The Ca-ATPase from fast-twitch skeletal muscle (SERCA1a isoform) was labeled with cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) at the N-terminus in the actuator domain (A) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) at Lys-515 in the nucleotide-binding domain (N). Time-resolved FRET was detected between CFP (donor in A domain) and FITC (acceptor in N domain) for SERCA in ligand-stabilized states, including calcium-free (E2), calcium-bound (E1), and actively-cycling phosphoenzyme (EP). Lifetime fitting and molecular modeling were used to interpret fluorescence decays, thereby identifying a dynamic distribution of structural states within the cytoplasmic headpiece of SERCA (i.e., A-N interdomain distance). FRET results were compared to distance predictions from x-ray crystallography. We propose a structural mechanism for ligand activation of SERCA. Acknowledgments: Spectroscopy was performed in the Biophysical Spectroscopy Center at the University of Minnesota, with assistance from Fluorescence Innovations, Inc. (Gregory Gillispie, President). This work was funded by NIH grants to DDT (R01 GM27906, P30 AR0507220, T32 AR007612).
Thermolysis of lanthanide dithiocarbamate complexes

Polycrystalline lanthanide sulfide materials were formed at low temperatures using a single-source precursor based on the lanthanide dithiocarbamate complex. The synthesis temperatures are generally lower than standard solid state preparations, avoid toxic sulfurizing gases and provide a convenient route to prepare lanthanide chalcogenide nanoparticles. Depending on the reaction conditions and oxophilicity of the lanthanide, the sulfide material was formed with oxidized products including oxysulfides, oxysulfates and the oxide.
Evidence-based review of probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile infections

Probiotics are living microbes taken to confer a health benefit on the host. Although probiotics have a long history of use in Europe and Asia and have been on the U.S. market for over 14 years, there is still confusion about how to effectively use them. The use of probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic- associated diarrhea (AAD) and the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) has been tested in randomized controlled clinical trials. This paper will review the evidence supporting probiotic therapy for these two diseases and also review the advantages and disadvantages of probiotics. The advantages of probiotic therapy include multiple mechanisms of action against pathogens, the ability to interact with the host's natural defense systems, survival to the target organ and a good risk to benefit ratio. Disadvantages of probiotics include lack of standardization for clinical trial designs, variations in regulatory standards, poor quality control for some products and infrequent serious adverse reactions. Overall, probiotics offer a promising strategy for the prevention and treatment for AAD and CDI Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Frequency of ear symptoms and hearing loss in ichthyosis: a pilot survey study

Ichthyoses comprise a heterogeneous array of skin conditions resulting from impairment of cornification. Although ear structures can be affected, ear-related symptoms have never been investigated in patients with ichthyosis. In this pilot survey study, our aim was to determine the frequency of ear symptoms, hearing loss, and related medical interventions in patients with ichthyosis. Our secondary aim was to compare the frequency of these items according to age group. An online survey using Redcap was developed and posted online on the Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types website for 6 months. Patients or parents of patients with ichthyosis were asked to complete the survey. Data analysis excluded patients with keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome and surveys that had fewer than two completed items. One hundred thirty-five unique surveys were used for data analysis. Of all participants, 80% reported ear pruritus, 66% reported trouble hearing, 29% reported frequent ear pain, 28% had abnormal hearing test results, and 16% had used hearing aids. Of the 88 participants who reported trouble hearing, 24 (27.3%) had never been to a hearing specialist. Significantly more participants older than 18 years of age (74%, 57/77) reported trouble hearing than participants age 18 years and younger (53%, 31/58; p = 0.02). The frequencies of other ear symptoms and hearing loss were not statistically significantly different between the age groups. Ear pruritus, ear pain, and hearing loss are important concerns in patients with all forms of ichthyosis in all age groups. Early diagnosis and intervention may improve the quality of life of patients with ichthyosis.
General Network Coding Conditions in Multi-Hop Wireless Networks

Network coding is known as a promising approach to improve wireless network throughput. However, it is only applicable when different flows are routed through a certain coding structure. One of the fundamental issues is to accurately identify the coding structures and optimally utilize the coding nodes. In this paper, we formally establish general coding conditions to identify multiple coding nodes along a path, while most of the existing approaches may ignore the coding opportunities or bring in potential negative impact on other flows. The general coding condition is further augmented with a flow selection mechanism, which determines the set of flows to be coded at a coding node. Not only native packet but also encoded packet could be involved in the selection mechanism. Combination of the proposed coding conditions and the flow selection mechanism ensures that all the flows involved in coding can be properly decoded at the destinations. We implement the proposed coding conditions and flow selection mechanism over the AODV protocol, and efficiency of the proposed techniques is demonstrated with NS2 simulations, compared to the existing coding conditions.
Increased accuracy and speed of absorption cytometric DNA measurements by automatic corrections for nuclear darkness

We have developed a method of calculating the average local absorbance (ALA) of a nucleus from the integrated nuclear absorbance and area. One can use the ALA, along with nuclear areas measured at different point absorbance thresholds, to determine whether a nucleus is stained too lightly or too darkly for accurate absorption measurements; this allows selection of an optimal light wavelength for the performance of these measurements. The ALA can also be used for automatic and instantaneous correction of integrated absorbance values from darkly stained cells. This allows the rapid measurement of the integrated absorbances of a large number of nuclei that are heterogeneous in stain intensity. Coefficients of variation of approximately 3% are obtained for the integrated absorbances of nuclei of nontransformed G0/G1 cells. This correction method can be applied with any image densitometer that generates both integrated absorbance and area values.
Intracellular calcium and myosin isoform transitions. Calcineurin and calcium-calmodulin kinase pathways regulate preferential activation of the IIa myosin heavy chain promoter.

Intracellular calcium levels can have profound effects on muscle biology via alterations in gene expression. In particular, intracellular calcium levels increase during muscle activation and are thought to underlie fast-to-slow shifts in muscle gene expression. In the present work, we determined that increased intracellular calcium has a significant effect on the activity of the adult fast myosin heavy chain (MyHC) promoters in the order of MyHC IIa ≫ IId/x > IIb. We have identified the pathways by which the calcium signal mediates increased activation of the MyHC IIa promoter. Inhibition of calcineurin or calcium-calmodulin kinase greatly attenuates ionophore-induced activation of the MyHC IIa promoter, whereas protein kinase C inhibitors have no effect. Inhibition and overexpression studies with members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family reveal roles for MEK1/MEK2 and MEKK1, but not p38 or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Downstream mediators of these effects are the activities of the MEF-2 and NFAT transcription factors, whose binding sites in the MyHC IIa promoter are required for calcium-induced activation of the MyHC IIa promoter.
Anxiety sensitivity, suffocation fear, trait anxiety, and breath-holding duration as predictors of response to carbon dioxide challenge

We investigated predictors of response to carbon dioxide challenge (i.e. breathing deeply and rapidly into a paper bag for 5 min) in college students. Zero-order correlations indicated that scores on both the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI: Reiss, Peterson, Gursky & McNally, 1986) and the Suffocation Fear Scale (SFS: Rachman & Taylor, 1994), predicted anxious response to challenge, whereas a behavioral measure of carbon dioxide sensitivity (i.e. maximum breath-holding duration) and scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory--Trait form (STAI-T: Spielberger, Gorsuch, Lushene, Vagg & Jacobs, 1983) did not. Multiple regression revealed that all four variables remained in the model, entering in the following order: ASI, breath-holding duration, SFS, and STAI-T. These data suggest that psychological variables reflecting fears of bodily sensations are better predictors of response to challenge than either behavioral sensitivity to carbon dioxide or general trait anxiety.
Stability of twisted orthotropic plates

Abstract Studied here is the stability of thin, rectangular, orthotropic plates which are in a state of tension and twist. A transfer matrix method is used to obtain numerical solutions to the linearized von Karman plate equations, and to determine critical angles of twist per unit length which buckle the plate. Results are presented, in a compact nondimensional form, for a range of material, geometric and loading parameters. It is found that orthotropism significantly affects the stability of the plate.
Ligand effects on charge transport in platinum(II) acetylides.

To investigate the electrical characteristics of organometallic complexes as molecular conductors, organometallic π-conjugated molecules of the type trans-[PtL2(C⋮CC6H4SAc-4)2], where L = PCy3, PBu...
Maintenance of CD34 expression during proliferation of CD34+ cord blood cells on glycosaminoglycan surfaces.

+ cells ·Chitosan ·Proliferation ABSTRACT Recent studies have indicated that glycosaminogly- can (GAG) interactions with hematopoietic progenitors play a significant role in the regulation of hematopoiesis. However, the details of these interac- tions are not clear. In this study, we examined the role of soluble and immobilized GAGs in the proliferation of CD34 + cells. Chitosan, a cationic polysaccharide, was used to immobilize GAGs in ionic complex membranes. The GAGs studied were heparin, hyaluronate, and chondroitin sulfates A, B, and C. CD34-enriched umbilical cord blood cells were seeded onto tissue culture plates coated with the GAG-chitosan complex membranes. Cultures were maintained in medium supplemented with stem cell factor and interleukin 3 for up to six weeks, during which total and CD34 + cell num- bers were determined by flow cytometry. Total cell num- ber expansion ranged from 25-fold to 40-fold after six weeks. However, only heparin and chondroitin sulfate B (CSB) surfaces retained a significant CD34 + fraction. All
An N-heterocyclic carbene-palladium-η3-allyl chloride complex for the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of aryl halides

An unsymmetrical, well-defined N -heterocyclic carbene-palladium-η 3 -allyl chloride complex has been synthesized and used as an efficient catalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of aryl bromides and activated aryl chlorides. The catalyst provides moderate to high yields of cross-coupling products at 50 °C in 2 hours, using 1 mol % of the catalyst and isopropyl alcohol as solvent.
A Search for Resonant Structures in the Zodiacal Cloud with COBE DIRBE: The Mars Wake and Jupiter's Trojan Clouds

We searched the COBE DIRBE Sky and Zodi Atlas for a wake of dust trailing Mars and for Trojan dust near Jupiter's L5 Lagrange point. We compare the DIRBE images to a model Mars wake based on the empirical model of Earth's wake as seen by the DIRBE and place a 3-σ upper limit on the fractional overdensity of particles in the Mars wake of 18% of the fractional overdensity trailing Earth. We place a 3-σ upper limit on the effective emitting area of large (10- to 100-μm-diameter) particles trapped at Jupiter's L5 Lagrange point of 6×10^(17) cm^2, assuming that these large dust grains are distributed in space like the Trojan asteroids. We would have detected the Mars wake if the surface area of dust in the wake scaled simply as the mass of the planet times the Poynting–Robertson time scale.
CHARACTERIZATION OF TASI2-SI COMPOSITES FOR USE AS WIDE-BANDPASS OPTICAL ELEMENTS FOR SYNCHROTRON RADIATION

The wide rocking curves of matrix reflections of the in situ eutectic composite TaSi2–Si make wafers of this material attractive for use as wide‐bandpass monochromators for synchrotron radiation, and characterization of wafers of TaSi2–Si for use with energies normally accessible at storage rings (i.e., 5–40 keV) is the focus of the present report. A wafer with [111]Si orientation and a wafer with [110]Si orientation are studied. The high degree of preferred orientation of the TaSi2 rods relative to the Si matrix is examined using synchrotron Laue patterns, and the 100TaSi2, 003TaSi2, 101TaSi2, and 102TaSi2 reflections are used to establish the orientation relationship and to determine that the spread of rod orientations is at least 5° and probably no greater than 6°. Double‐axis diffractometry with Cu Kα radiation reveals matrix reflections with rocking curve widths that are about 20 times broader than those from perfect Si and with peak reflectivities approaching 20%. The rocking curves widths are found...
Correlation between bacterial attachment rate coefficients and hydraulic conductivity and its effect on field-scale bacterial transport

Abstract It has been widely observed in field experiments that the apparent rate of bacterial attachment, particularly as parameterized by the collision efficiency in filtration-based models, decreases with transport distance (i.e., exhibits scale-dependency). This effect has previously been attributed to microbial heterogeneity; that is, variability in cell–surface properties within a single monoclonal population. We demonstrate that this effect could also be interpreted as a field-scale manifestation of local-scale correlation between physical heterogeneity (hydraulic conductivity variability) and reaction heterogeneity (attachment rate coefficient variability). A field-scale model of bacterial transport developed for the South Oyster field research site located near Oyster, Virginia, and observations from field experiments performed at that site, are used as the basis for this study. Three-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations of bacterial transport were performed under four alternative scenarios: (1) homogeneous hydraulic conductivity ( K ) and attachment rate coefficient ( K f ); (2) heterogeneous K , homogeneous K f ; (3) heterogeneous K and K f with local correlation based on empirical and theoretical relationships; and (4) heterogeneous K and K f without local correlation. The results of the 3D simulations were analyzed using 1D model approximations following conventional methods of field data analysis. An apparent decrease with transport distance of effective collision efficiency was observed only in the case where the local properties were both heterogeneous and correlated. This effect was observed despite the fact that the local collision efficiency was specified as a constant in the 3D model, and can therefore be interpreted as a scale effect associated with the local correlated heterogeneity as manifested at the field scale.
Long-term azathioprine-corticosteroid therapy in lupus nephritis and idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Abstract Sixty patients with lupus glomerulonephritis or idiopathic nephrotic syndrome due to proliferative and/or membranous glomerulonephritis were started on azathioprine-corticosteroid therapy. The mean follow-up in these patients was 43 months (range 1–72 months). Five of these patients failed to survive 3 months before requiring dialysis, seven had chronic proliferative glomerulonephritis with extensive glomerular hyalinization and one had a rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (extensive crescent formation). If one excludes these patients where this form of therapy would not be expected to produce a response, 29 of the remaining 48 patients (60%) either had clinical remissions or had glomerular filtration rates on their most recent studies equal to or above those observed in their initial studies. The incidence of complications was low with most experienced early after initiation of therapy. Only one life-threatening infection was encountered. It is difficult to draw conclusions from an uncontrolled series. Early control of blood pressure elevations and other supportive measures accomplished by close and frequent follow-ups may have contributed to the apparent favorable outcome in this population of patients. Nevertheless, we believe the results were sufficiently promising to warrant initiation of controlled studies to test further this form of low dose, long-term therapy as an alternative to the high dose, short-term therapies employed in most previously published studies.
Delay in Flow Separation for Circulation Controlled Cylinders

Recent circulation control testing at West Virginia University, in a closed loop wind tunnel, has been conducted on models where the trailing edge radius was selected to be smaller than that used in literature, such as Loth and Boasson [1], 1.5 inches and Englar [2], 0.4375 inches. The reduced size was chosen in an attempt to minimize the drag experienced during periods of non-activation of the circulation control, and the smaller size was more compatible to the wind tunnel test section size. However, while the drag is lessened by a smaller trailing edge, the performance of circulation control also appears to be dependent upon a multitude of variables including, but not limited to, the trailing edge radius and jet velocity. Through a modeled experiment, the two attributes that influence the circulation control performance were concurrently manipulated by varying the radius of curvature and the velocity of the blown jet. The combination of these characteristics were experimentally explored to determine the location where the jet leaves the surface of the cylinder, also known as the separation point. The optimum separation point is defined as the farthest angular displacement from the plane of the blown jet exit slot, which corresponds to the greatest increase in the circulation around the cylinder, representing the trailing edge of a circulation control airfoil. From the known radius and jet velocity, an expression that relates the separation point and the mass flow rate velocity quantity are compared. Understanding the blowing coefficient and its impact on the separation point, results in a predictive relationship between these two attributes of circulation control. The results of this two-dimensional cylinder study found that an increase in trailing edge radius decreased the location of the separation point. In addition, an increase in the jet velocity resulted in an increase in the separation point location. The combination of these two quantities produced a relationship similar to each individually, illustrated by the mass flow rate velocity value, which is the blowing coefficient excluding free stream conditions, versus the angle of separation. Data is therein compared to the theory by Newman [3], which predicts a maximum separation point location at 245 degrees beyond the jet exit plane and an increase in the separation point as the radius of curvature increases. The results of this study found a separation point maximized at 231 degrees, and, contrary to Newman [3], a decrease in the separation point was found as the radius of the cylinders increased.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
The Influence of Major Histocompatibility Complex and Vaccination with Turkey Herpesvirus on Marek's Disease Virus Evolution

Over the last five decades, the pathogenicity of the Marek's disease virus (MDV) has evolved from the relatively mild strains (mMDV) observed in the 1960s to the more severe very-virulent-plus strains currently observed in today's outbreaks. The use of vaccines to control Marek's disease (MD), but not the infection cycle, is thought to be the major influence on the evolution of MDV. Selection for genetic resistance to MD has also been employed by the industry to control MD in the commercial setting but the role of host genetics on the evolution of MDV has been difficult to investigate in the field. To investigate the influence of vaccination and host resistance we developed a laboratory model to control and assess the effects of virus and animal genetics on MDV evolution. A bacterial artificial chromosome-derived MDV (Md5B40BAC) was used for in vivo passage (IVP) through turkey herpesvirus (HVT)-vaccinated resistant (MHC-B21) and susceptible (MHC-B13) genetic chicken lines. During IVP in the vaccinated susceptible line, the disease incidence increased from 23% MD in the first IVP to 53% MD during the fifth IVP. In the vaccinated resistant line, disease incidence increased from 0% MD during the first IVP to 29% MD during the fifth IVP. Although the IVP isolates remained relatively mild in the vaccinated resistant chicken line (29% MD) they increased from 0% to 63% MD when used to challenge the vaccinated susceptible chickens. There was no corresponding increase in disease incidence when the virus passed in the vaccinated susceptible genetic line was used to challenge the vaccinated resistant line. From this series of experiments we show that a cloned MDV (Md5B40BAC) can be selected by serial IVP to induce greater disease incidence in vaccinated chickens. This increase in disease incidence occurs in both susceptible and resistant chicken lines but is more easily observed in the susceptible line. Not surprisingly, both host genetics and vaccination play a role in selecting for increased MDV virulence. Our results suggest that the progressive increase in MDV virulence is partially masked as it circulates through vaccinated resistant genetic lines, but by applying this virus to less-resistant genetic lines, virus evolution can be clearly observed. We would predict that the introduction of more-resistant genetic lines into a commercial house contaminated with MDV circulating through susceptible lines would be less likely to produce vaccine breaks than placing susceptible lines into a house in which previously the MDV was circulating through resistant genetic lines.
Dentine dysplasia associated with rheumatoid arthritis and hypervitaminosis D.

Abstract The report concerns a 14-year-old girl with extensive pulpal calcifications and abnormal dentine formation, the latter being “of a type heretofore unknown.” A systemic relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and high vitamin D dosage in early childhood is suggested as the etiological factor in the dental dysplasia described.
Anatomical Evidence for Enteric Neuroimmune Interactions in Peyer’s Patches

Peyer's patches (PP), a key component of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, serve as the primary inductive sites for intestinal immunity. In the present study, we addressed the hypothesis that the morphological features of PP innervation are consistent with an immunomodulatory role for the enteric nervous system. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to collect images through large tissue volumes, yielding a three-dimensional perspective of the neuronal network superimposed on PP follicles from porcine jejunum and human ileum. Peptidergic nerve fibers were found in close apposition to immunocytes within PP subepithelial domes and the adjacent villi. The results suggest that nerve fibers in PP may participate in neuroimmune cross-talk within individual antigen-sampling sites as well as integrate information across multiple antigen-sampling sites.
Preterm birth: a global burden on maternal and child health

A report released May 2, 2012 by the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, reported a global crisis in the rising rates of preterm birth (<37 weeks gestational age) and prematurity due to low birth weight (<2500 grams). ‘Born Too Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth’ features the first-ever estimates of preterm birth rates by country.1 Authored by a broad group of 45 international multi-disciplinary experts from over 26 organizations and 11 countries, this report is written in support of all families who have been touched by preterm birth. The report highlights the following: 15 million babies are born too soon every year and more than one in 10 babies are born preterm, affecting families all around the world; over one million children die each year due to complications of preterm birth. Many survivors face a lifetime of disability, including learning disabilities, and visual and hearing problems; preterm birth rates are increasing in almost all countries with reliable data; prematurity is the leading cause of newborn deaths (babies in the first 4 weeks of life) and now the second leading cause of death after pneumonia in children under the age of 5; global progress for child survival and health to 2015 and beyond cannot be achieved without addressing preterm birth; investment in women’s and maternal health and care at birth will reduce stillbirth rates and improve outcomes for women and newborn babies, especially those who are premature.1 Although the burden of preterm birth extends globally, its impact dominates in the USA, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Recent estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that ∼12.5% of births in these regions are preterm; however, actual rates in Africa and Asia are expected to be much higher.2 The primary goal of the ‘Born Too Soon’ report is to generate discussion in various social and political forums, and create awareness among politicians, as well as developing strategies to prevent preterm birth at the local, regional, and global level. Increasing understanding about the knowledge gap between preterm birth research and clinical interventions is one of the major objectives of the report; some remedial strategies are described below.
Long–Term Recall Memory: Behavioral and Neuro–Developmental Changes in the First 2 Years of Life

Until not long ago, psychologists conceptually and methodologically linked the capacity for recall of the past to developments in language. With the advent of a nonverbal measure of recall, this association has been challenged. It now is apparent that the capacity for long-term recall emerges well before the verbal ability to describe past experiences. Long-term recall is newly (or recently) emergent late in the 1st year of life; over the 2nd year, it consolidates and becomes reliable. The course of age-related changes in mnemonic behavior is consistent with current understanding of developments in the neural substrate implicated in recall memory.
Metabolite-based mutualism between Pseudomonas aeruginosaPA14 and Enterobacter aerogenes enhances current generation in bioelectrochemical systems

Understanding the ecological relationships of the microbiota in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) is necessary to gain deeper insight into their performance. Here, we show that the fermentation product 2,3-butanediol stimulates mutually beneficial interactions between Pseudomonas aeruginosaPA14 and Enterobacter aerogenes in a BES with glucose as the initial substrate under microaerobic conditions. The experiments were conducted in potentiostatically poised 3-electrode reactors. Under these conditions: (i) the current density by a co-culture of P. aeruginosa and E. aerogenes increased at least 14-fold compared to the current density by either of these two bacteria alone; and (ii) E. aerogenes fermented glucose principally to 2,3-butanediol, which was subsequently consumed by P. aeruginosa. To determine the benefits to each microorganism in this symbiosis, we conducted experiments with pure cultures. The current production by a pure culture of P. aeruginosa with 2,3-butanediol was increased 2-fold compared with glucose as the carbon source. This was due to enhanced phenazine production by P. aeruginosa. Further, pyocyanin comprised the majority (92%) of the phenazines produced by P. aeruginosa with 2,3-butanediol, but only 29% with glucose. The current production by a pure culture of E. aerogenes increased ∼19-fold when the growth medium was supplemented with 35 µg ml−1 of pyocyanin as the electron mediator. We also observed that E. aerogenes generated maximum current densities with pyocyanin compared to the other three phenazines, indicating that E. aerogenes respires most effectively with pyocyanin—the phenazine which production is stimulated by this microbe's product (2,3-butanediol). Concomitantly, a decrease in fermentation products and enhanced growth with increasing concentrations of pyocyanin implies a shift towards electrode-based respiration by E. aerogenes rather than fermentation. Therefore, the synergism in current generation by the co-culture can be attributed to the combination of enhanced pyocyanin production by P. aeruginosa with 2,3-butanediol and the ability of E. aerogenes to efficiently respire. This study is the first to demonstrate metabolite based “inter-species communication” in BESs, resulting in enhanced electrochemical activity. It also explains how an inconsequential fermenter can become an important electrode-respiring bacterium within an ecological network at the anode.
The Other Tax Increase on Saving

In this article, I discuss the enactment, structure, and economic implications of the UIMC. Despite its statutory name, the income to which the UIMC applies is not unearned and the tax is not a contribution to Medicare. Contrary to the bizarre myth circulating on the Internet, the UIMC is not a 3.8 percent tax on home sales. The UIMC falls on households with ample ability to pay, but it has the undesirable effect of discouraging saving.
The Effectiveness of a Primary Care–Based Pediatric Obesity Program

The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Duke University Healthy Lifestyles Program (HLP), a primary care-based childhood obesity treatment program. The study population included obese 2- through 19-year-old patients who entered the HLP between October 2006 through December 2008 and who had a visit to the HLP between the sixth and eighth month after entry. Most of the 282 patients were female (57%) and non-Hispanic/non-White (61%). The median age was 11 years. At baseline, the mean body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS) was 2.51, and patients achieved a mean reduction in BMI SDS of 0.10 (standard deviation = 0.20). For patients with baseline and follow-up measures of comorbidities, there were improvements in blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and insulin resistance (P < .05). The patients in our obesity program demonstrated a small reduction in the severity of obesity. Improvements occurred in some obesity-associated comorbidities.
Targeting the immune system for the future of HIV therapy

Alan Landay is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Immunology/Microbiology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago (IL, USA). He has been involved in HIV research for over 20 years, having performed some of the first immune evaluations of HIV-infected hemophiliacs in 1982 while completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Alabama, Birmingham (AL, USA). Dr Landay joined the faculty at Rush University Medical Center in 1983 and helped establish the HIV research program, which has grown to encompass both a basic and clinical focus on immune studies in HIV. Dr Landay served as Chair of the National Committee of Clinical Laboratory Standards Committee on Flow Cytometry, which produced the first national standard on CD4 testing. He has also served as an advisor to the College of American Pathologists, NIH and WHO on Standardization of CD4 Testing. Dr Landay’s current research focus is on immune pathogenesis and immune-based therapy of HIV disease. He is past Chair of the Immunology Res...
A high-performance, temperature-stable, continuously tuned MEMS capacitor

This paper reports on a continuously tunable MEMS capacitor with a wide tuning range of 5∶1, high quality factor of better than 100 (at 1 GHz) at each tuned state, and self-resonance frequency of more than 13.5 GHz. The temperature stability of the capacitance in the temperature range of −50 °C to 60 °C is better than 7%, which is one of the best reported for continuously tuned capacitors. The maximum tuning speed of the capacitor is measured to be better than 40 µsec.
Alterations in Gastric Acidity in Patients Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

In a randomized crossover trial, gastric acidity and gastric microbial colonization in 19 men infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (of whom nine had AIDS) were assessed. Gastric acidity was assessed during a baseline period and following pentagastrin or glutamic acid administration. Only two (22.2%) of the nine patients with AIDS and none of the non-AIDS patients were hypochlorhydric, as determined by maximal acid output. However, 60% and 67% of patients in the HIV-infected and AIDS groups, respectively, had persistently elevated gastric pH values during the baseline period. Both pentagastrin and glutamic acid significantly increased gastric acidity. Gastric colonization with Candida albicans and gram-positive mouth flora was common. Overall, this study demonstrates that many HIV-infected patients have elevated gastric pH values that may lead to alteration in drug absorption. The large degree of intrasubject and intersubject variability observed in gastric pH suggests that, unfortunately, one cannot predict which patients will have elevated gastric pH values.
Induced quantum numbers in 2 + 1 dimensional QED

In this paper the vacuum-polarization effects of fermions interacting with Abelian gauge fields are studied in 2+1 dimensions. We find that for a gauge-field configuration with magnetic flux 2\ensuremath{\pi}F, there is an induced charge Q, spin S, and angular momentum J given by Q=-1/2(m/\ensuremath{\Vert}m\ensuremath{\Vert})F, S=F/4, J=-(1/4)(m/\ensuremath{\Vert}m\ensuremath{\Vert})${F}^{2}$ (m=fermion mass). A simple argument is offered to explain the physics of these quantum numbers. Some subtleties associated with the induced spin and angular momentum are explained in detail. The induced spin is shown to be related to the (1+1)-dimensional chiral anomaly.
The Effect of Plane of Nutrition on Growth and Sexual Development of Barred Plymouth Rock Cockerels

Abstract DURING the past two decades several studies have been made on the growth and sexual development of male chickens. During this period rapid advances in poultry breeding and nutrition have resulted in obvious improvement in growth rate and a concomitant sexual precocity as measured by comb development and time of crowing. Hogue and Schnetzler (1937), using a broiler ration considered adequate at that time and a commercial strain of Barred Plymouth Rock cockerels, found that sexual maturity was not approached until 16 weeks of age. At the tenth week of age, only spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes were present in the seminiferous tubules. In New Hampshire and White Leghorn males Parker et al. (1942) reported fully-formed spermatids at 12 weeks. Kumaran and Turner (1949) observed spermatids at 12 weeks of age in White Plymouth Rocks and stated that sexual maturity was reached at 20 weeks of age. Jones and Lamoreux (1942) …
Radiological reasoning: bone marrow changes on MRI.

OBJECTIVE Differentiating neoplastic from nonneoplastic bone marrow changes on imaging can be challenging. MRI provides the most helpful information when using T1-weighted and opposed-phase (chemical shift) sequences. We discuss the MRI assessment of bone marrow in the context of a complex clinical case. CONCLUSION The case shows a false-positive result of opposed-phase imaging of bone marrow, which was a postinflammatory cause resulting in marrow fibrosis that mimicked neoplastic marrow infiltration and necessitated biopsy for definitive diagnosis.
Refining the dual-process theory of preference construction: : A reply to Gawronski, Martin and Sloman, Stanovich, and Wegener and Chien

Our target article proposed a dual-system framework for understanding context and task effects in choice. In this summary, we address the major points made by each set of commentators and, building on their suggestions, define a more precise dual-system theory of preference construction. We also propose some avenues for future research on a broader dual-system approach to understanding choice.
BNB self-routing permutation network

A self-routing permutation network capable of routing all n factorial permutations of its n inputs to its n outputs is presented. The network implements the binary radix sorting on the structure of the generalized baseline network, a modified model of the original baseline network. The network has O(N log/sup 3/ N) hardware complexity and O(log/sup 3/ N) delay time for N-inputs. The network makes use of the localized bit information instead of the global information in routing procedure. This strategy leads to the reduction of both the hardware and the delay time compared with other comparable networks. The resulting hardware is simple, and has a good regularity. >
Energy Variability and Produced Water: Two Challenges, One Synergistic Management Approach Using Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage

A number of compounding issues currently encourage a different management strategy of produced water from oil, gas, and coal bed methane. Environmental and economic constraints make it desirable to deploy water and energy resources efficiently and effectively to meet the demands of our populace while maintaining and supporting environmental resources. The following paper will outline one strategy to put some of the onshore produced water to beneficial uses. In this approach, the produced water is first cleaned and then used to supply water for pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHS) to deploy electric energy on demand, and finally release that water back to the watershed or appropriate application. The primary purpose of this work is to suggest that produced water and PHS may complement each other. Additionally, it is suggested that revenue from energy storage can help provide for the cost of treatment of produced water. Once treated produced water could be put to additional uses with the potential to a...
Antibodies against OspA epitopes of Borrelia burgdorferi cross-react with neural tissue

Neurological sequela of chronic Lyme disease include encephalopathy, myelopathy and peripheral neuropathy. These have generally been attributed to either persistent infection or pathogen-induced autoimmunity. In this study, we investigated the presence of cross-reactive human neural epitopes that share amino acid sequences with Borrelia burgdorferi OspA protein. Sequence similarity analysis was carried out by searching known cDNA sequences from brain tissue. The cDNA database search yielded three sequences that were identical to sequences in OspA. Corresponding peptides were synthesized and antibodies were generated against them in rabbits. Antibodies against two of the homologous OspA peptides were found to react with neurons in human brain, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia by immunohistochemistry.
The Continuity of Nutrition Care Through Liver Transplantation

Recent advancements in pharmacotherapies and medical technologies have significantly improved long-term survival rates after liver transplantation. However, as survival rates increase, so do incidences of other chronic diseases more commonly associated with advanced age. In fact, as a population, post-liver-transplant patients are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and osteoporosis than the general public. Moreover, disease risk factors such as hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and excess weight gain continue to plague this population despite reduced-dose requirements for immunosuppressives—a class of drugs with numerous side effects—which, historically, were thought to contribute heavily to chronic disease risk. Thus, clinicians treating liver-transplant candidates are challenged to broaden the scope of their care to include prevention of other chronic diseases that may have strong nutritional components. Although nutrition and medical therapies should continue to treat specific symptoms associated with the stages of liver disease and transplantation, therapies and information provided to pre-transplant patients should include preventative measures to ensure optimal outcomes for improved longevity after transplant. The medical team should utilize the nutritional expertise of dietitians to lead this continuity of care through all stages of liver transplantation. To maximize longevity and quality of life, dietary intervention for chronic disease prevention should be implemented as soon as medically feasible. This paper reviews nutrition therapies for complications seen during liver transplantation and proposes individualized diet recommendations to be considered at the very earliest stages of caring for patients with liver disease.
Synovial sarcoma of nerve

Tumors of peripheral nerve are largely neuroectodermal in nature and derived from 2 elements of nerve, Schwann or perineurial cells. In contrast, mesenchymal tumors affecting peripheral nerve are rare and are derived mainly from epineurial connective tissue. The spectrum of the latter is broad and includes lipoma, vascular neoplasms, hematopoietic tumors, and even meningioma. Of malignant peripheral nerve neoplasms, the vast majority are primary peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Malignancies of mesenchymal type are much less common. To date, only 12 cases of synovial sarcoma of nerve have been described. Whereas in the past, parallels were drawn between synovial sarcoma and malignant glandular schwannoma, an uncommon form of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, molecular genetics have since clarified the distinction. Herein, we report 10 additional examples of molecularly confirmed synovial sarcoma, all arising within minor or major nerves. Affecting 7 female and 3 male patients, 4 tumors occurred in pediatric patients. Clinically and radiologically, most lesions were initially thought to be benign nerve sheath tumors. On reinterpretation of imaging, they were considered indeterminate in nature with some features suspicious for malignancy. Synovial sarcoma of nerve, albeit rare, seems to behave in a manner similar to its more common, soft tissue counterpart. Those affecting nerve have a variable prognosis. Definitive recommendations regarding surgery and adjuvant therapies await additional reports and long-term follow-up. The literature is reviewed and a meta-analysis is performed with respect to clinicopathologic features versus outcome.
An Investigation of Bad Smells in Object-Oriented Design

Bad smells are used to identify problematic classes in object-oriented design. Although intuitively making sense, the promise that bad smells can indicate the quality of design has not been validated by empirical evidence. This paper presents the results from an investigation that explored the relationship between the bad smells and the errors in an object-oriented system. The investigation found that some bad smells are positively associated with class errors.
Ultrafast high-capacity NiZn battery with NiAlCo-layered double hydroxide

High-performance, low-cost, safe and environmentally friendly batteries are important for portable electronics and electric vehicles. Here, we synthesized NiAlCo-layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoplates attached to few-walled carbon nanotubes (NiAlCo LDH/CNT) as the cathode material of a rechargeable NiZn battery in aqueous alkaline electrolytes. The α-phase nickel hydroxide with ultrathin morphology and strong coupling to nanotubes afforded a cathode with a high capacity of ∼354 mA h g−1 and ∼278 mA h g−1 at current densities of 6.7 A g−1 and 66.7 A g−1, respectively. Al and Co co-doping is unique for stabilizing α-phase nickel hydroxide with only a small capacity loss of ∼6% over 2000 charge and discharge cycles at 66.7 A g−1. Rechargeable ultrafast NiZn batteries with NiAlCo LDH/CNT cathode and a zinc anode can deliver a cell voltage of ∼1.75 V, energy density of ∼274 W h kg−1 and power density of ∼16 kW kg−1 (based on active materials) with a charging time of <1 minute. The results open the possibility of ultrafast and safe batteries with high energy density.
Exploring technology alternatives for nano-scale FPGA interconnects

Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are becoming increasingly popular. With their regular structures, they are particularly amenable to scaling to smaller technologies. On the other hand, there have been significant advances in nano-electronics fabrication over the past few years. In this paper we explore FPGA devices of the next decade using nano-wires and molecular switches for programmable interconnect, and compare them to traditional SRAM-based FPGAs that use pass transistors as switches (scaled to 22nm). We show that by using nano-wires and molecular switches, it is possible to reduce the area of the FPGA by 70% and improve performance.
Effect of pyridoxine deficiency on serum and liver transaminases in experimental liver injury in the rat

Abstract We fed rats either a pyridoxine-deficient or normal rat chow diet for 8 wk and then determined transaminase activity in serum and liver with and without exposure to a known hepatotoxin, bromobenzene. Preincubation of serum and liver cytosol with pyridoxal phosphate in vitro resulted in a significantly greater increment of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase activity in the pyridoxine-deficient animals compared with controls. However, this effect was significantly reduced during liver necrosis. Total activities for both glutamic oxalacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase measured in the presence of excess pyridoxal phosphate were decreased significantly in serum and liver of the pyridoxine-deficient rats compared with controls. The magnitude of the fall in glutamic pyruvic transaminase in both serum and liver cytosol was significantly greater than that for glutamic oxalacetic transaminase. In the presence of bromobenzene-induced hepatocellular necrosis, there was a striking and nearly identical increase in serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase in the pyridoxine-deficient rats and controls. In contrast, the concurrent increase in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase was significantly less in the pyridoxinedeficient rats compared with controls. Therefore, the serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase/glutamic pyruvic transaminase ratio was significantly greater in the pyridoxine-deficient vs. control rats. There was a parallel increased glutamic oxalacetic transaminase/ glutamic pyruvic transaminase ratio in liver cytosol of the pyridoxine-deficient compared with control animals, suggesting that the serum ratio in response to chemical hepatotoxicity reflects release of these enzymes from damaged hepatocytes in their existing proportions in liver.