cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemical Shifts Provide Fold Populations and Register of β Hairpins and β Sheets

A detailed analysis of peptide backbone amide (HN) and Hα chemical shifts reveals a consistent pattern for β hairpins and three-stranded β sheets. The Hα’s at non-hydrogen-bonded strand positions are inwardly directed and shifted downfield ~1 ppm due largely to an anisotropy contribution from the cross-strand amide function. The secondary structure associated Hα shift deviations for the H-bonded strand positions are also positive but much smaller (0.1–0.3 ppm) and the turn residues display negative Hα chemical shift deviations (CSDs). The pattern of (HN) shift deviations is an even better indicator of both hairpin formation and register, with the cross-strand H-bonded sites shifted downfield (also by ~1 ppm) and with diagnostic values for the first turn residue and the first strand position following the turn. These empirical observations, initially made for [2:2]/[2:4]-type-I' and -II' hairpins, are rationalized and can be extended to the analysis of other turns, hairpin classes ([3:5], [4:4]/[4:6]), and three-stranded peptide β-sheet models. The Hα’s at non-hydrogen-bonded sites and (HN)’s in the intervening H-bonded sites provide the largest and most dependable measures of hairpin structuring and can be used for melting studies; however the intrinsic temperature dependence of (HN) shifts deviations needs to reflect the extent of solvent sequestration in the folded state. Several observations made in the course of this study provide insights into β-sheet folding mechanisms: (1) The magnitude of the (HN) shifts suggests that the cross-strand H-bonds in peptide hairpins are as short as those in protein β sheets. (2) Even L-Pro-Gly turns, which are frequently used in unfolded controls for hairpin peptides, can support hairpin populations in aqueous fluoroalcohol media. (3) The good correlation between hairpin population estimates from cross-strand H-bonded (HN) shift deviations, Hα shift deviations, and structuring shifts at the turn locus implies that hairpin folding transitions approximate two-state behavior.
An in vitro model and case report that used gelatin sponge to restore amniotic fluid volume after spontaneous premature rupture of the membranes.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this project was to study an in vitro model for plugging membrane defects with gelatin sponge and to develop a method with which to use this material to treat premature rupture of the membranes. STUDY DESIGN: Fetal membranes were fixed over the opening of a flask that was filled with saline solution and gelatin sponge. Defects of various sizes were created, and the usefulness of differing sizes of gelatin sponge to obstruct the defects was observed. This technique was then applied to a case of previable, spontaneous premature rupture of the membranes. RESULTS: Fifteen amniotomies were performed in the in vitro model. The gelatin sponge obstructed all defects less than 7 mm in length, when pieces up to 1 x 1 cm in dimension (n = 8 amniotomies) were used. For larger defects or those defects with a complex shape (such as cruciate), gelatin sponge was not effective at arresting fluid loss (n = 4 amniotomies). An inspection of larger gelatin sponge pieces, after instillation through a 12-gauge angiocatheter, revealed 36% (15 of 42 pieces) of 1 x 1 - cm pieces remained intact. A case of spontaneous, previable premature rupture of the membranes was treated with this material. A favorable outcome was observed. CONCLUSION: Gelatin sponge is successful at arresting the egress of fluid through membrane defects when smaller defects are present. Complex or larger linear defects may not be treated by this method alone and necessitate adjuvant therapies. This therapeutic strategy can be applied to cases of previable, spontaneous premature rupture of the membranes.
1529 MINIMAL CHANGE NEPHROTIC SYNDROME (MCNS): AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE?

The presence of low-level tissue directed antibodies (AAb's) and immune complexes (IC) were determined in 12 MCNS and 5 mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MesPGN) patients with biopsy proven disease. The AAb's were detected by immunofluor-escence (IF) against human cadaveric tissues and the IC detected by 3 different methods and isolated by polyethylene glycol precipitation/sedimentation. The isolated antibodies from the IC were also tested by IF for AAb activity against the same tissue antigen battery. The presence of such AAb activity was demonstrated in 8/12 MCNS and in all of the MesPGN sera. In the MCNS group 7/8 of the AAb positive sera also contained IC with corresponding AAb activity (2/7 directed against smooth muscle antigens and 5/7 directed against kidney tubular microsomes). The MesPGN group all reacted against kidney basement membrane antigens but no other tissue antigen. Of these 3/5 also demonstrated the presence of IC which contained AAb reactive with the same kidney antigen. The presence of such AAb's and their formation of IC indicates that these antibodies may have a functional role in the initial immunological insult to the kidney.
Taking an individualized approach to the assessment of self-efficacy and the prediction of alcoholic relapse

The present study reports on a clinical instrument designed for assessing self-efficacy in alcoholics. In contrast to studies that construct general measures, it was proposed that taking an individualized approach to assessment might offer an effective methodology. Thirty-four alcoholics in an outpatient, behaviorally oriented treatment program participated as subjects. During therapy, an Individualized Self-Efficacy Survey (ISS) was developed for each subject. The ISS was developed by (a) administering the Drinking Patterns Questionnaire (DPQ) to identify important problem areas (e.g., work, children, marital) and specific drinking antecedents and (b) constructing a 15-item scale using each drinker's most important cues. The utility of having clients choose their own items was supported by finding a significant relationship between problem areas identified as important on the DPQ and the areas reported as surrounding relapse. ISS ratings were reflective of efficacy changes during treatment, while posttreatment ISS scores were predictive of subsequent relapse. Situation-specific prediction of relapse was not found. The advantages of this methodology for clinical use are discussed, while general directions for future research are suggested.
UNDERURBANIZATION POLICIES ASSESSED: CHINA, 1949-1986

Underurbanization may be defined as the extent to which the actual rate of urban growth falls short of the rate that would have occurred if there had been perfect and instantaneous adjustments of the population to urban-industrial productivity advantages. Eastern European scholars argue that underurbanization has been sought and achieved as an explicit policy objective by socialist governments. In this paper, the Tolley model is used to estimate productivity-based urban growth rates. These, in turn, permit an examination of whether, and to what extent, underurbanization may have been characteristic of China since 1949. Underurbanization was found throughout the Maoist period with three explainable contrary episodes. However, pent-up demand for urbanward migration has been released during Deng's Four Modernizations, and China now appears to be overurbanizing.
Retrograde jejunal-duodenal intussusception associated with a jejunal duplication cyst in a newborn

Retrograde intussusception is a rare occurrence. We report a retrograde jejunal-duodenal intussusception associated with a jejunal duplication cyst, which presented as intermittent biliary and upper gastrointestinal (UGI) obstruction and a mobile abdominal mass in a newborn infant.
Novel mechanism of rapamycin in GVHD: increase in interstitial regulatory T cells

Rapamycin (RAPA) is an immunosuppressive drug that prevents and treats graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). One possible mechanism for its efficacy is induction of tolerance, through increased number or enhanced survival of regulatory T cells. In our experiments, B10.D2 BM and splenocytes were injected into lethally irradiated BALB/cJ recipients. The mice received i.p. injections of either RAPA or vehicle control on days 1-28. There was a significant survival advantage in RAPA-treated mice. Evaluation of the skin biopsies showed a dense cellular infiltrate in RAPA-treated mice. Further characterization of these cells revealed a higher percentage of regulatory T cells characterized by FoxP3-positive cells in high-dose RAPA-treated mice as compared with controls on day 30. This effect appears to be dose dependent. When peripheral blood analysis for FoxP3-positive cells was performed, there was no significant difference observed in the RAPA-treated mice as compared with control mice. These data show a novel mechanism of rapamycin in GVHD, accumulation of regulatory T cells in the GVHD target tissue: the skin.
Outerjoin simplification and reordering for query optimization

Conventional database optimizers take full advantage of associativity and commutativity properties of join to implement e cient and powerful optimizations on select/project/join queries. However, only limited optimization is performed on other binary operators. In this paper, we present the theory and algorithms needed to generate alternative evaluation orders for the optimization of queries containing outerjoins. Our results include both a complete set of transformation rules, suitable for new-generation, transformation-based optimizers, and a bottom-up join enumeration algorithm compatible with those used by traditional optimizers.
Degraded service provisioning in mixed-line-rate WDM backbone networks using multipath routing

Traffic in optical backbone networks is increasing and becoming more heterogeneous with respect to bandwidth and QoS requirements due to the popularity of high-bandwidth services (such as cloud computing, e-science, telemedicine, etc.), which need to coexist with traditional services (HTTP, etc.). Mixed-line-rate (MLR) networks that support lightpaths of different rates such as 10, 40, 100 Gb/s, etc., are being studied to better support the heterogeneous traffic demands. Here, we study the important topic of degraded services in MLR networks, where a service can accept some degradation (i.e., reduction) in bandwidth in case of a failure in exchange for a lower cost, a concept called partial protection. Network operators may wish to support degraded services to optimize network resources and reduce cost. We propose using multipath routing to support degraded services in MLR networks, a problem that has not been studied before and is significantly more challenging than in single-line-rate (SLR) networks. We consider minimum-cost MLR network design (i.e., choosing which transponder rates to use at each node), considering the opportunity to exploit multipath routes to support degraded services. We propose a mixed-integer-linear-program (MILP) solution and a computationally efficient heuristic, and consider two partial-protection models. Our illustrative numerical results show that significant cost savings can be achieved due to partial protection versus full protection and is highly beneficial for network operators. We also note that multipath routing in MLR networks exploits volume discount of higher-line-rate transponders by cost-effectively grooming requests over appropriate line rates to maximize transponder reuse versus SLR.
Eliminative split of pectic substances by phytopathogenic soft-rot bacteria.

Culture filtrates of Erwinia carotovora and Bacillus polymyxa split pectic substances to yield a product that absorbs at 230 mµ, and which reacts with thiobarbituric acid to form a substance that absorbs at 547 mµ. This product is believed to be a C-4,5-unsaturated oli-gouronide. The preferred substrate is polygalacturonic acid rather than pectin; the enzyme, provisionally named polygalacturonic- trans -eliminase, is activated by calcium.
Coherent synchrotron emission observed: implications for radio astronomy

Synchrotron radiation by relativistic electrons spiralling in magnetic fields is a mainstay of radio astronomy, accounting for emissions from many objects. Conventional models assume that electrons radiate singly, so power scales with number of electrons. Yet recently jets from active galactic nuclei have shown very high luminosity, inconsistent with plausible single-particle synchrotron emission. We report experiments showing that, by stimulating plasma instabilities with relativistic electron beams, one can induce increases in the synchrotron emission by factors of ∼106. Enhancement presumably arises from coherent bunching of the relativistic electrons as they spiral in an ambient magnetic field. Polarization measurements suggest that electrons radiatively cooperate on scales of ∼6.6 cm. Radio telescope Stokes parameters may be able to reveal such polarization effects in high-brightness sources, a new observing diagnostic.
The use of polymerase chain reaction to determine fetal RhD status.

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was (1) to establish the accuracy of a deoxyribonucleic acid amplification method in determination of RhD status in adult blood samples, including weak D variants (previously referred to as D u ) and a D mosaic, and (2) to apply the method to determine fetal RhD status in alloimmunized pregnancies. Study Design: Twenty-five adult blood samples, including five weak D variants and one D mosaic, were analyzed with a polymerase chain reaction to determine RhD type. The method was then applied to amniotic fluid samples obtained by amniocentesis from three RhD-negative women with known RhD sensitization. Results: RhD type determined by polymerase chain reaction for all adult blood samples agreed with serologic typing results. All weak D variants and the D mosaic gave results consistent with RhD positivity. Fetal RhD status was determined in each of the three alloimmunized pregnancies, and obstetric management decisions were made on the basis of these results. Conclusions: This polymerase chain reaction method allows rapid and accurate determinations of fetal RhD status by amniocentesis. Fetal blood sampling or serial amniocenteses may be avoided when the fetus is RhD negative, and plans for surveillance and intervention can be confidently made if the fetus is RhD positive. However, before the widespread use of this assay, its sensitivity and specificity must be established. Because weak D variants and a D mosaic demonstrated RhD-positive status by polymerase chain reaction, the method described is applicable to these RhD variants.
Vacuum UV laser induced scission of simian virus 40 DNA.

— The effect of vacuum UV-laser irradiation on Simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA I was studied in vitro. Following exposure of SV40 DNA I to an argon fluoride (ArF) laser (LD = 193 nm), single-strand breaks occur in either strand of the double-stranded superhelical molecule (DNA I) and convert it to the DNA II conformation. Upon increased irradiation times, additional breaks occur in already scissioned strands resulting in the production of smaller fragments as analyzed by alkaline sucrose centrifugation. These results suggest that short periods of irradiation lead to conformational alterations of SV40 DNA I.
Improved Zonal Model for Data Center Analysis

A newly constructed zonal model based on the velocity propagation method (VPM) was developed as a thermal analysis tool for data centers. A viscous loss model is included, to better account for airflow momentum instead of using the basic power law method (PLM). The zonal model is implemented in the equation-based and object-oriented environment SPARK. A CFD model for a single cold aisle server room configuration was built and analyzed using the commercial software FloTHERM. Cold aisle containment was studied. Results from the zonal model, including both the plenum flow field and rack inlet temperature distributions were compared with those from the CFD package. Good agreement (within 10% average relative error) was obtained between the zonal model predictions and the CFD results. A primary goal of the study is to develop an effective real-time thermal analysis tool based on the zonal approach.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
New insights and therapies for teenage psoriasis.

Purpose of reviewPsoriasis is an important disorder in the adolescent population and has a tremendous physical and psychological impact on patients. It is important to understand the genetics, various clinical presentations, comorbidities, and treatment options associated with psoriasis.Recent findi
Peritrophic matrix of the black fly Simulium vittatum: Formation, structure, and analysis of its protein components

The peritrophic matrix (PM) (same as peritrophic membrane) is secreted by the midgut epithelium of insects and completely surrounds the ingested food. The PM is likely to influence disease transmission by hematophagous insects. As a prelude to a more detailed examination of PM function, we report on morphological and molecular studies of the PM type 1 (PM1) from Simulium vittatum. The blood meal induces major changes in epithelial cell morphology: cells become flattened, microvilli decrease dramatically in number, and organelles redistribute in the cytoplasm. The PM1 forms within minutes of the blood meal. After 6 h the PM1 has reached its maximum thickness (approximately 13 μm) and strength. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis reveals two major PM1-specific proteins of 66 and 61 kDa. Synthesis of these PM1 proteins is likely to be induced by the blood meal, since they are not detectable prior to blood feeding. The time course of accumulation and disappearance of the PM1 proteins closely correlates with the appearance and disappearance of the PM1 itself. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Oligomerization and Topology of the Golgi Membrane Protein Glucosylceramide Synthase

Glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) catalyzes the transfer of glucose from UDP-glucose to ceramide to form glucosylceramide, the precursor of most higher order glycosphingolipids. Recently, we characterized GCS activity in highly enriched fractions from rat liver Golgi membranes (Paul, P., Kamisaka, Y., Marks, D. L., and Pagano, R. E. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 2287–2293), and human GCS was cloned by others (Ichikawa, S., Sakiyama, H., Suzuki, G., Hidari, K. I.-P. J., and Hirabayashi, Y. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 93, 4638–4643). However, the polypeptide responsible for GCS activity has never been identified or characterized. In this study, we made polyclonal antibodies against peptides based on the predicted amino acid sequence of human GCS and used these antibodies to characterize the GCS polypeptide in rat liver Golgi membranes. Western blotting of rat liver Golgi membranes, human cells, and recombinant rat GCS expressed in bacteria showed that GCS migrates as an ∼38-kDa protein on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Trypsinization and immunoprecipitation studies with Golgi membranes showed that both the C terminus and a hydrophilic loop near the N terminus of GCS are accessible from the cytosolic face of the Golgi membrane. Treatment of Golgi membranes with N-hydroxysuccinimide ester-based cross-linking reagents yielded an ∼50-kDa polypeptide recognized by anti-GCS antibodies; however, treatment of ∼10,000-fold purified Golgi GCS with the same reagents did not yield cross-linked GCS forms. These results suggest that GCS forms a dimer or oligomer with another protein in the Golgi membrane. The migration of solubilized Golgi GCS in glycerol gradients was also consistent with a predominantly oligomeric organization of GCS.
Deconcentration of Community Mental Health Services under the Constraint of Concentrated Geographic Demand

Abstract The implications of the federal policy of decentralizing service delivery systems are assessed in terms of the locational configuration of the demand surface. Based on case study data, a heuristic model is developed which suggests that decentralization of delivery systems when demand for service is geographically concentrated fails to appreciably improve client accessibility.
Making Sense of Multiple Literacies: Exploring Pre-Service Content Area Teachers' Understandings and Applications.

Abstract Over the past decade, numerous literacy researchers have investigated the multiple literacies of adolescents. Connecting with adolescents' multiple literacies, including digital texts and high interest print‐based texts, holds promise as a way to build bridges to subject area content and academic literacies. Although pre‐service content area teachers are required to take a content area literacy course in most US states, little has been written about whether those courses include a focus on multiple literacies or what pre‐service teachers understand after learning about multiple literacies. In this study, the author analyzes student work from three semesters of a content area literacy course to find out what the students learned about multiple literacies and how they applied the concept of multiple literacies to developing content area lessons.
Tumor control probability for permanent implants in prostate

Abstract The tumor control probabilities (TCPs) for 11 transperineal permanent implants of the prostate with 125I seeds have been computed, based on target-specific volume-dose histogram data. Prostate dose-response of this modality is converted from that of external beam therapy based on biologically effective dose derived from the α β model. The calculated TCPs for these transperineal prostate cases are compared with the results of 679 previous retropubic implants, providing interesting insight about these two techniques. Further refinement and validation of this model await long-term followup results of sufficient number of patients.
Peer and Faculty Mentoring for Students Pursuing a PhD in Gerontology.

The Graduate Center for Gerontology at the University of Kentucky incorporates three levels of mentoring in its PhD program. This project assessed satisfaction with peer and faculty mentoring and explored their perceived benefits and purposes. Core and affiliate faculty and current and graduated students were surveyed. Participants seemed satisfied with the mentoring they were giving and receiving, although all groups discussed limitations. Peer mentors were seen as social support and advice givers, while faculty mentors were viewed as responsible for direction and skill-building. These results can contribute to the development of new mentorship programs and the modification of existing ones.
Animal models of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva

Animal models of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) are important for understanding the pathophysiology of FOP and for testing possible therapies. Laboratory-generated genetic animal models, each with features of FOP, provide the opportunity to better understand the biology of FOP, and to study the effectiveness and safety of currently available and emerging therapies.
The effect of training level on opioid utilization efficiency.

Abstract Study Objective This study focuses on residents' ability to predict opioid administration requirements and if improvement is made as learners progress. Residents request opioid from the pharmacy at the start of the day based on clinical assignment. Unused and wasted opioids are returned at the end of the day. The labor and cost associated with this process are not trivial nor is the risk of excess opioid access. We examined if estimation of daily opioid use by residents increased in accuracy as progression through the program occurred. Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis in the setting of the operating room examining pharmacy opioid usage. The measurements included the number of vials requested, the number of vials dispensed, and the number of vials returned. Information was stratified in our database by the level of training. The set inclusion criterion was any surgery performed in the operating rooms that required the use of opioids. The exclusion criteria included anesthesia that required a regional block, cardiac surgeries, emergent cases, and obstetric cases. Main Results A total of 104 opioid requests were made that met our criteria. Comparing CA-1 and CA-3 residents and CA-2 and CA-3 residents, a statistically significant difference exists between the number of vials requested and the number returned. Our data show a statistically significant difference in efficiency as residents progress from their CA-1 year to CA-3 year. Conclusion In summary, our findings support the idea that residents are able to better predict opioid requirements for cases as they progress through training. Closely monitoring such patterns can serve a useful educational purpose and allow for identification of misuse. Improvement in cost-effective care and limiting waste while working in a complex integrated health care environment are additional benefits.
A model for optimal database allocation in distributed computing systems

Optimal allocation of redundant resources in distributed computing systems is studied. In the model, the triple module redundancy (TMR) scheme is adopted to enhance the reliability of the operations. A retrieval request from a site for a database will be processed by three database servers. The output results will be obtained by majority voting. The objective is to find the number of database copies and their locations that optimize the total operation cost. Both static and dynamic allocation environments are considered. The problem is formulated as a zero/one integer programming problem. Preliminary test results show that the algorithm has fast convergence and provides a tight lower bound for the optimal operational cost. In particular, it offers high flexibility in terms of termination criteria, which makes it useful in a dynamic allocation environment. >
A Matching Model Based on Earth Mover’s Distance for Tracking Myxococcus Xanthus

Tracking the motion of Myxococcus xanthus is a crucial step for fundamental bacteria studies. Large number of bacterial cells involved, limited image resolution, and various cell behaviors (e.g., division) make tracking a highly challenging problem. A common strategy is to segment the cells first and associate detected cells into moving trajectories. However, known detection association algorithms that run in polynomial time are either ineffective to deal with particular cell behaviors or sensitive to segmentation errors. In this paper, we propose a polynomial time hierarchical approach for associating segmented cells, using a new Earth Mover's Distance (EMD) based matching model. Our method is able to track cell motion when cells may divide, leave/enter the image window, and the segmentation results may incur false alarm, detection lost, and falsely merged/split detections. We demonstrate it on tracking M. xanthus. Applied to error-prone segmented cells, our algorithm exhibits higher track purity and produces more complete trajectories, comparing to several state-of-the-art detection association algorithms.
Key management for 3G MBMS security

The multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS), which increases network efficiency, and facilitates group-oriented applications, is a service in 3G networks that is about to be standardized. A key security issue for MBMS is the design of a mechanism that controls access to multicast data. Traditionally, access control is done by distributing and maintaining key information. However, the existing architecture of mobile equipment prevents keys from being stored securely on the user side, making the traditional key management insufficient to protect the confidentiality of multicast data. Some discussion in 3GPP has addressed the issue, but the existing scheme achieves the security goal at the cost of high bandwidth overhead, unpredictable peak bandwidth and potential server implosion problems. Currently, no quantified convincing research has been done to study these issues. In this paper, we present new schemes that solve the problems, and quantify their scalability and bandwidth overhead.
Community Pediatrics: A Consistent Focus in Residency Training From 2002 to 2005

Objective To assess changes in community pediatrics training from 2002 to 2005. Methods Pediatric residency program directors were surveyed in 2002 and 2005 to assess resident training experiences in community pediatrics. Program directors reported on the following: provision of training in community settings; inclusion of didactic and practical teaching on community health topics; resident involvement in legislative, advocacy, and community-based research activities; and emphasis placed on specific resources and training during resident recruitment. Cross-sectional and matched-pair analyses were conducted. Results A total of 168 program directors participated in 2002 (81% response rate), and 161 participated in 2005 (79% response rate). In both years, more than 50% of programs required resident involvement with schools, child care centers, and child protection teams. Compared with 2002, in 2005, more programs included didactic training on legislative advocacy (69% vs 53%, P P P P Conclusions In the last several years, there has been a consistent focus on legislative activities and child advocacy in pediatric residency programs. These findings suggest a strong perceived value of these activities and should inform efforts to rethink the content of general pediatric residency training in the future.
Identifying Denial in Stroke Patients

The purpose of this study was to test the reliability of an experimental assessment tool for identifying and differentiating between psychodynamic and neurogenic denial in stroke patients. A one-page criterion referenced denial assessment tool was used by interdisciplinary rater teams to evaluate patients with either right or left hemisphere insults. High interrater reliability was obtained Assessment data indicated that right-CVA patients had higher psychodynamic and neurogenic denial scores than left-CVA patients. Higher psychodynamic denial scores were also observed in the second month post-stroke. The experimental denial assessment tool proved to be a practical way for identifying and differentiating psychodynamic and neurogenic forms of denial. This tool can provide a means for ongoing assessment to support precise nursing diagnoses and promote effective patient-focused care planning throughout the rehabilitation process.
Cascade connection for time-invariant n-port networks

Questions concerning the existence of the scattering matrix for the interconnection of two networks are considered. It is shown that all interconnections can be regarded as a special type of interconnection termed cascade loading. If two networks in the cascade-loading configuration are separately linear, passive, time-invariant and have scattering matrixes, the same is true of the interconnection network. This result is applied to finite networks, and it is shown that any finite network composed of passive resistors, capacitors, inductors, gyrators and transformers has a scattering matrix. Some illustrative examples are also considered, pointing out that the results stated are the best obtainable.
Mixed-logic interpolation of differentiable functions

A great many logical implication operators have been proposed to represent the fuzzy if-then relation. Within a parameterized family of operators, these operators lead to differently-shaped interpolation functions which vary systematically according to the parameter. This shape can be summarized by a continuum from selection to consensus. The paper explores the use of this variation to build a fuzzy-logic model of a function when we know the value and slope of the function at selected points and must interpolate between the given points.
Abuse and misuse of antidepressants.

BACKGROUND: Rates of prescription drug abuse have reached epidemic proportions. Large-scale epidemiologic surveys of this under-recognized clinical problem have not included antidepressants despite their contribution to morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this review is to look specifically at the misuse of antidepressants and how this behavior may fit into the growing crisis of nonmedical use of prescription drugs. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search on PubMed, Medline, and PsycINFO using the search terms "antidepressant", "abuse", "misuse", "nonmedical use", "dependence", and "addiction", as well as individual antidepressant classes (eg, "SSRI") and individual antidepressants (eg, "fluoxetine") in various combinations, to identify articles of antidepressant misuse and abuse. RESULTS: A small but growing literature on the misuse and abuse of antidepressants consists largely of case reports. Most cases of antidepressant abuse have occurred in individuals with comorbid substance use and mood disorders. The most commonly reported motivation for abuse is to achieve a psychostimulant-like effect. Antidepressants are abused at high doses and via a variety of routes of administration (eg, intranasal, intravenous). Negative consequences vary based upon antidepressant class and pharmacology, but these have included seizures, confusion, and psychotic-like symptoms. CONCLUSION: The majority of individuals prescribed antidepressants do not misuse the medication. However, certain classes of antidepressants do carry abuse potential. Vulnerable patient populations include those with a history of substance abuse and those in controlled environments. Warning signs include the presence of aberrant behaviors. Physicians should include antidepressants when screening for risky prescription medication use. When antidepressant misuse is detected, a thoughtful treatment plan, including referral to an addiction specialist, should be developed and implemented. Language: en
Periodontal Disease Is Associated With Brachial Artery Endothelial Dysfunction and Systemic Inflammation

Objective—The purpose of this study was to determine whether periodontal disease is associated with endothelial dysfunction and systemic inflammation. Epidemiological studies suggest that severe periodontal disease is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, but the mechanisms remain unknown. Methods and Results—We assessed flow-mediated dilation and nitroglycerin-mediated dilation of the brachial artery using vascular ultrasound in 26 subjects with advanced periodontal disease and 29 control subjects. The groups were matched for age and sex, and patients with hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and history of cigarette smoking were excluded. We also examined serum levels of C-reactive protein using an established high-sensitivity method. Subjects with advanced periodontal disease had lower flow-mediated dilation compared with control patients (7.84.6% versus 11.75.3%, P0.005). Nitroglycerin-mediated dilation was equivalent in the two groups. Subjects with advanced periodontitis exhibited higher serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein compared with healthy controls patients (2.32.3 versus 1.01.0 mg/L, P0.03). Conclusions—Subjects with advanced periodontal disease exhibit endothelial dysfunction and evidence of systemic inflammation, possibly placing them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2003; 23:1245-1249.)
From "Simple" DNA-Protein Interactions to the Macromolecular Machines of Gene Expression

The physicochemical concepts that underlie our present ideas on the structure and assembly of the "macromolecular machines of gene expression" are developed, starting with the structure and folding of the individual protein and DNA components, the thermodynamics and kinetics of their conformational rearrangements during complex assembly, and the molecular basis of the sequence specificity and recognition interactions of the final assemblies that include the DNA genome. The role of diffusion in reduced dimensions in the kinetics of the assembly of macromolecular machines from their components is also considered, and diffusion-driven reactions are compared with those fueled by ATP binding and hydrolysis, as well as by the specific covalent chemical modifications involved in rearranging chromatin and modifying signal transduction networks in higher organisms.
Caregiving near the end of life: unmet needs and potential solutions.

Objective: A key aspect of the role of clinicians caring for patients in the setting of advanced illness focuses on attending to the needs of informal caregivers during the end-of-life period. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to complement and enrich existing quantitative findings regarding caregiver burden near the end of life, and (2) to identify potential solutions to caregivers' unmet needs in an effort to assist clinicians in the development of clinical interventions.Methods: This qualitative study, using focus groups and content analysis of transcripts, was conducted in a comprehensive cancer center in Washington, DC. Seven focus groups were held: three with recently bereaved caregivers and four with active caregivers of patients with metastatic cancer and an expected survival of 6 to 12 months.Results: Data were stratified into two broad categories: (1) general problems and (2) behaviors/activities that were helpful/would have been helpful in alleviating these problems. Within each of these two categories, five subcategories emerged: medical care (including provision of information, coordination of care, bedside manner, satisfaction with care), quality of life (including well-being, role adjustments), help from others (including practical assistance, social support), positives of caregiving, and unsolicited themes (including job flexibility, impact of the disease on the family, informational needs, relationship with patient).Significance of results: Results suggest caregivers may benefit from more information about patient prognosis and hospice, attention to quality-of-life issues, and enhanced, direct communication with clinicians. Although information of this nature is likely to be known to palliative care clinicians, the specific details and verbal insights provided by caregivers give an important voice to existing quantitative data and may provide more detailed information to assist palliative care clinicians seeking to develop interventions to meet caregiver needs during the period near the end of life.
Angular-dependence of molecular photoionization cross-sections studied by time-resolved EUV spectroscopy

We obtain angular data on molecular EUV photoionization. We impulsively align N2 and CO2 and then ionize using high-harmonic pulses. By measuring the ion yield versus delay we extract angle-dependent cross-sections.
A Storage Structure for Unnormalized Relational Databases

The purpose of this paper is to define a storage structure for unnormalized relational databases. In particular, we define a combination of two data structures: conventional record-list structures and a tree storing all the atomic values present in the tuples and sub-tuples of the database. This storage structure allows for efficient execution of updates and queries expressed in the extended relational algebra of the unnormalized relational database model.
Age-related differences in skeletal muscle protein synthesis: relation to markers of immune activation

Aging is associated with decreased skeletal muscle mass and function. These changes are thought to derive, in part, from a reduction in skeletal muscle protein synthesis. Although some studies have...
Differentiation of NK1.1+, Ly49+ NK Cells from flt3+ Multipotent Marrow Progenitor Cells

To delineate factors involved in NK cell development, we established an in vitro system in which lineage marker (Lin)-, c-kit+, Sca2+ bone marrow cells differentiate into lytic NK1.1+ but Ly49- cells upon culture in IL-7, stem cell factor (SCF), and flt3 ligand (flt3L), followed by IL-15 alone. A comparison of the ability of IL-7, SCF, and flt3L to generate IL-15-responsive precursors suggested that NK progenitors express the receptor for flt3L. In support of this, when Lin-, c-kit+, flt3+ or Lin-, c-kit+, flt3- progenitors were utilized, 3-fold more NK cells arose from the flt3+ than from the flt3- progenitors. Furthermore, NK cells that arose from flt3- progenitors showed an immature NK1.1dim, CD2-, c-kit+ phenotype as compared with the more mature NK1.1bright, CD2+/-, c-kit- phenotype displayed by NK cells derived from flt3+ progenitors. Both progenitors, however, gave rise to NK cells that were Ly49 negative. To test the hypothesis that additional marrow-derived signals are necessary for Ly49 expression on developing NK cells, flt3+ progenitors were grown in IL-7, SCF, and flt3L followed by culture with IL-15 and a marrow-derived stromal cell line. Expression of Ly49 molecules, including those of which the MHC class I ligands were expressed on the stromal or progenitor cells, as well as others of which the known ligands were absent, was induced within 6-13 days. Thus, we have established an in vitro system in which Ly49 expression on developing NK cells can be analyzed and possibly experimentally manipulated.
Nonspecific inhibition of enzymes by p-bromophenacyl bromide inhibition of human platelet phospholipase C and modification of sulfhydryl groups

Abstract This study demonstrates that β-bromophenacyl bromide irreversibly inhibits, in a time- and dose-dependent manner, yeast alcohol dehydrogenase, bovine pancreatic α-chymotrypsin, human platelet phosphatidylinositol (PI)-specific phospholipase C, in addition to the neutral-active and calcium-dependent phospholipase A 2 of human platelets. The PI-specific phospholipase C has maximal activity at pH 5,5 is calcium-dependent, and is strongly inhibited by sulfhydryl reagents 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) and methylmethane thiosulfonate. Increasing concentrations of DTNB produced concomitant inhibition of phospholipase C activity and titration of sulfhydryl groups. In contrast, human platelet phospholipase A 2 activity was unaffected by concentrations of DTNB that titrated sulfhydryl groups, and completely inhibited PI-specific phospholipase C activity. Treatment of cysteine with p -bromophenacyl bromide resulted in modification of the amino acid as demonstrated by paper chromatography, and loss of titratable sulhydryl groups. These data show that p -bromophenacyl bromide inhibits a wide spectrum of enzymatic activities including PI-specific phospholipase C. This reagent modifies amino acid residues other than active-site histidines and therefore has a broader reactivity than previously considered. Thus, it should not be used as a selective inhibitor of enzymes in crude cellular experiments.
Second Harmonic Generation and Optical Anisotropy of a Spin-Cast Polymer Film.

The nonlinear susceptibilities (χ(2)33, χ(2)31), and the refractive index anisotropy, of a main chain accordion polymer, BCSC (see the text for the complete chemical formula), have been measured by the techniques of second harmonic generation (SHG) and waveguiding. A large birefringence, which is induced in the BCSC film by the spin-coating process, is almost removed by electric field poling. Our results demonstrate the fundamental difference between the birefringence associated with quadrupolar orientational order and the dipolar order associated with SHG. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Social Networks in Later Life Weighing Positive and Negative Effects on Health and Well-Being

Social networks provide a mix of positive and negative experiences. Network members can provide help in times of need and day-to-day companionship, but they can also behave in ways that are inconsiderate, hurtful, or intrusive. Researchers must grapple with these dualities in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of how social network ties affect health and well-being. This article provides an overview of research that has examined the health-related effects of positive and negative aspects of social network involvement. If focuses on later life, a time when risks for declining health and for the loss or disruption of social relationships increase.
First rhenium complexes based on cyclotriphosphazene scaffolds with exocyclic pyrazolyl substituents

Functionalized cyclotriphosphazenes with two or six pyrazolyl substituents have been employed for the preparation of rhenium carbonyl complexes; depending on the nature of the ligand system rhenium complexes with either gem-N2, gem-N3 or non-gem-N3 coordination modes can be prepared.
Toward ultra thin CIGS solar cells

In this paper, we present our results on the fabrication of solar cells down to thicknesses of 0.5 µm, and how real time and in situ analysis by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) can help in (i) understanding the results of the devices; and (ii) modeling the growth and properties of the CIGS solar cell. These in situ and real time measurements are correlated with ex situ structural measurements of the films such as XRD and AFM; broad spectral range optical measurements of the films and devices such as TR and device specific measurements such as I–V and QE measurements.
Minimal-impact audio-based personal archives

Collecting and storing continuous personal archives has become cheap and easy, but we are still farfromcreating a useful, ubiquitous memory aid. We view the inconvenience to the user of being 'instrumented'as one of the key barriers to the broader development and adoption of these technologies. Audio-only recordings,however, can have minimal impact, requiring only that a device the size and weight of a cellphone be carried somewhere on the person. We have conducted some small-scale experiments on collecting continuous personal recordings of this kind, and investigating how they can be automatically analyzed and indexed, visualized, and correlated with other minimal-impact, opportunistic data feeds (such as online calendars and digital photo collections). We describe our unsupervised segmentation and clustering experiments in which we can achieve good agreement with hand-marked environment/situation labels. We al so di scuss some of the broader issues raised by this kind of work including privacy concerns,and describe our future plans to address these and other questions.
Performance of transparent conductors on flexible glass and plastic substrates for thin film photovoltaics

High-performance transparent conductive indium-tin-oxide (ITO) films on flexible glass have been flextested to 25–50k bend cycles without breakage, and with ∼0.1% change in sheet resistance. In contrast, commercial ITO/PET samples undergo ∼50–100% increase in sheet resistance in the same test, indicating that such coatings/substrates may not be acceptable for use in some products or fabrication procedures. The flexible glass substrate enables high-temperature processing, which facilitates the high performance of the coatings. Measurements of the volume resistivity and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) indicate that Corning® Willow® Glass is suitable as a PV substrate material without need for barrier coatings or glass lamination.
NEPHILA HIRTA, A NEW SYNONYM OF EUSTALA FUSCOVITTATA (ARANEAE, ARANEIDAE)

Nephila ?hirta Taczanowski 1873 was described from French Guiana, but is currently listed under Nephilengys L. Koch. It is here redescribed and transferred from Nephilinae (Tetragnathidae)* to the araneid genus Eustala Simon, and proposed as a junior synonym of E. fuscovittata (Keyserling 1864). Eustala appears to be the most speciose American araneid genus and is in need of revision.