cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Instrumentation and Special Procedures for Individuals With Dysarthria

The speech clinician in the medical setting who reads the relevant literature can become overwhelmed with the instrumentation and special procedures that are used in research and clinical studies o...
ON THE RELATION OF BACTERIA TO SO-CALLED "CHEMICAL PNEUMONIA"

The question of a causal relation of the bacteria in gassed lungs to the pneumonia present cannot be regarded as decided. It may be said that: 1. The appearance of gassed lungs with pneumonia is very similar to the pneumonia of known bacterial origin. 2. In a few cases the type of pneumonia found coincides with the reported cases of so-called "chemical pneumonia," which is characterized by a preponderance of epithelial cells in the exudate. 3. Gassed lungs are not sterile but show highly varying numbers of bacteria. 4. The bacteria are not intracellular and are not present in large numbers in the majority of cases. The arguments for and against a causal relationship between the bacteria and the pneumonia may be summed up as follows: 1. Against a Causal Relationship a. The early appearance of pneumonia after gassing. b. The occurrence of pneumonia with very small numbers of bacteria present. c. The fact that very few bacteria are engulfed by leucocytes in gassed lungs, whereas large numbers are present in the non-gassed pneumonias and are conspicuously intracellular. 2. In Favor of a Causal Relationship a. The presence of bacteria in any numbers. b. The picture of broncho-pneumonia presented is similar to broncho-pneumonia of known bacterial origin. c. Pneumonias characterized by large numbers of epithelial cells in the exudate (so-called "chemical pneumonia") occur in animals that were never gassed or subjected to other irritating substances in any way.
Polynomial arithmetic analogue of Halton sequences

introduce the radical inverse function with respect to polynomial arithmetic over finite fields,and thereby construct a polynomial arithmetic analogue of Halton sequences. Next, we general-ize the definition of Niederreiter sequences so that his key lemma [Niederreiter 1988, Lemma 4]still holds. We then prove that our analogous Halton sequences constitute a new class oflow-discrepancy sequences viewed as a special subclass of the generalized Niederreiter se-quences.Categories and Subject Descriptors: G.1.4
P300 seasonal variation.

Abstract The P300 (P3) event-related brain potential (ERP) was elicited with auditory stimuli in four different groups of normal, young adult subjects ( n =20 in each group) whose ERPs were obtained at different times of the year. P3 amplitude was largest during spring and summer and smaller for the subjects who were assessed during fall and winter. P3 latency was not affected reliably by changes in the seasons. Measurement of the daily sunshine present when each subject was recorded indicated that P3 amplitude is influenced by seasonal variation in the available amount of sunshine. These findings suggest that comparison of P3 amplitude across subject groups must take seasonal differences into account.
Winter temperature anomalies of the North China Plain and macroscale extratropical circulation patterns

Monthly temperature anomaly data for 38 weather stations in the North China Plain and its vicinity were analyzed for winter months (November–March) during 1951–1992. The study area was divided into two subregions based on principal component analysis. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients between the scores of the temperature anomaly principal components and geopotential height anomalies in the Eastern Atlantic–Eurasia–Western Pacific realm suggested different macroscale circulation patterns that influence the spatial variation of temperature anomalies in the subregions. Temperature anomalies in the southern subregion were more closely related to the northern Asian teleconnection pattern, while those in the northern subregion were more closely related to the Eurasian pattern. Composite maps of geopotential height anomalies indicated that the extreme positive and negative temperature anomalies in the southern subregion were probably associated with the widening and narrowing of the Asian trough, while those in the northern subregion were associated with the filling and deepening of the trough. The characteristics of the Asian trough were strongly influenced by the variation of the geopotential heights over Siberia. In stepwise regression, the teleconnection indices explained ca. 22 and 37% of the variation in the mean temperature anomalies in the southern and northern subregions respectively, indicating a stronger association between temperature anomaly in the northern subregion and macroscale circulation patterns than that in the southern subregion. Copyright © 1999 Royal Meteorological Society
Decision support in medical practice: a physician's perspective

A physician's decision support system consists of three components: (1) a comprehensive patient record and medical knowledge database, (2) information infrastructure for data storage, transfer, and (3) an analytical inference engine, accompanied by business operation database. Medical knowledge database provides the guideline for the selection of powerful clinical features or tests to be observed so that an accurate diagnosis as well as effective treatment can be quickly reached. With a tremendous amount of information stored in multiple data centers, it takes an effective information infrastructure to provide streamlined flow of information to the physician in a timely fashion. A real-time analytical inference engine mimics the physician's reasoning process. However due to incomplete, imperfect data and medical knowledge, a realistic output from this engine will be a list of options with associated confidence level, expected risk, so that the physician can make a well-informed final decision. Physicians are challenged to pursue the objective of ensuring an acceptable quality of care in an economically restrained environment. Therefore, business operation data have to be factored into the calculation of overall loss. Follow-up of diagnosis and treatment provides retrospective assessment of the accuracy and effectiveness of the existing inference engine.
New Millennium EO-1 Advanced Land Imager

The primary instrument of the first Earth Orbiter satellite (EO-1) under NASA's New Millennium Program will be an Advanced Land Imager (ALI), with multispectral and imaging spectrometer capabilities. The principal motivation for this mission is to flight-validate advanced technologies which are relevant to the next-generation of Earth Science Systems Program Office science needs. The ALI telescope is a reflective triplet design employing silicon carbide mirrors with a 15 degree cross-track field of view. There are three imaging technologies in the ALI. The first is a multispectral panchromatic array with 10 spectral bands in the visible and near IR and short wave IR. The two additional imaging technologies are the Wedge Imaging Spectrometer (WIS) and the Grating Imaging Spectrometer (GIS) that each provides a continuous range of wavelength selections from 0.4 to 2.5 micrometers . Elements of the WIS and GIS were developed but due to budgetary and schedule constraints, and some performance issues, were not included in the flight assembly. The paper will present details of the ALI design and status.
National food strategies and food policy reform

Abstract National food strategies, sponsored by the World Food Council, are intended to produce policy blueprints for improving food production in poor countries. International experience with agricultural development discloses wide agreement on national and local policy specifics which should have priority. However, the absence of research into the political attitudes and processes which foster consensus on goals and the reconciliation of competing desirable policies, eg short term v long term, equity v efficiency, may impede the desired policy reform.
Inhibition and Reversal of Oxygen Poisoning in Paramecium

SUMMARY. Paramecium caudatum exposed to 120 lbs./in.2 (gsi) gauge pressure (g.p.) at 27°C. died in 2 hours 32 ± 15 minutes. Under similar conditions with the addition of 0.04 m pyruvate and 8 × 10-3 m Mg++ they lived at least twice as long. Substitution of Co++ or Mn++ for Mg++ provided slightly less protection. Addition of sulfhydryl (SH) reagents to paramecia exposed for 2 hours to 120 psi (g.p.) oxygen resulted in reversal of oxygen poisoning. By means of these reagents oxygen poisoning could be reversed indefinitely. It now appears that direct evidence has been obtained to show that oxygen poisoning is a result of SH inactivation. The extent of the poisoning depends upon the rate of oxidation of SH groups by the oxygen as opposed to the rate at which the organism can reduce oxidized and/or furnish new SH groups.
Location of the newly synthesized protein precursors in reticulocyte ribosomes.

Abstract Rabbit-reticulocyte ribosomes labeled briefly with [ 14 C]valine were fractionated quantitatively into ribonucleic acid and protein precursors. Radioactivity assays indicate that the protein precursors were located exclusively in the protein fraction and were not covalently linked to the ribosomal ribonucleic acid. These labeled ribosomes were also dissociated into subunits. The large (60 S) and the small (40 S) subunits were found to have the same specific activity, thus indicating that the newly synthesized protein precursors may be evenly distributed among these two subunits. There was a certain amount (about 20% of the total [ 14 C]valine incorporated) of highly labeled, slow sedimenting but non-dialyzable material liberated from the ribosomes when they were dissociated into subunits.
PRE-OVULATORY PROGESTERONE IN THE PERIPHERAL BLOOD OF THE RABBIT1

The experiments to be described were begun as an investigation of the production of progesterone by the rabbit in the earliest days of pregnancy and pseudopregnancy. Subsequently, other studies (Forbes, 1950a) having indicated that women may secrete progesterone shortly before ovulation, it was decided to search for the same phenomenon in the rabbit. This animal is well suited for such studies, since it does not ovulate spontaneously but only in response to an extrinsic stimulus, ovulation occurring 9½ to 10 hours (Hammond, 1925; Corner, 1928; Asdell, 1946) or 10 to 12 hours (Fee and Parkes, 1929) after mating. The aim of the investigation was shifted to the determination of plasma progesterone levels during the first day or two, and finally during the first hours, following the induction of ovulation by mating or by the administration of gonadotrophin (Bellerby, 1929). A brief summary of some of the results has appeared elsewhere (Forbes, 1950b).
Direct Ion Heating Effect on Ignition Conditions in Spheromaks

Fowler et al. recently reported the possibility of Ohmic ignition in spheromaks. In the present work, this case is extended to a two fluid model that includes direct ion heating through turbulent Taylor relaxation mechanisms. The contribution to direct ion heating through this non-Ohmic magnetic dissipation and confinement scaling are quantified through comparison with the latest results from the gun driven Compact Torus eXperiment (CTX) spheromak. Good agreement is observed between experimentally measured plasma parameters and the present model predictions. Analysis of the extrapolation to an ignition class experiment indicates the possibility of reaching these conditions by gun driven Ohmic heating alone, and illustrates the merits of direct ion heating on facilitating approach to ignition. Differences between classical and direct ion heating cases are emphasized. Conservative confinement estimates are used throughout. 23 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.
In-process object-oriented database design for .NET

In this paper, we introduce the development of an in-process Object-Oriented Database (OODB) design for the .NET platform. Using an OODB design, one simple function call is needed to save, search, delete, or update .NET objects. Also little database setup is required, as opposed to defining the system's schema in relational database systems. In order to validate the efficiency of in-process OODB design, an experiment was conducted involving a relational database system. The results show that the in-process OODB design outperforms Microsoft SQL Server (running locally) for the queries based on the primary key fields.
Functional Evolution of Mammalian Odorant Receptors

The mammalian odorant receptor (OR) repertoire is an attractive model to study evolution, because ORs have been subjected to rapid evolution between species, presumably caused by changes of the olfactory system to adapt to the environment. However, functional assessment of ORs in related species remains largely untested. Here we investigated the functional properties of primate and rodent ORs to determine how well evolutionary distance predicts functional characteristics. Using human and mouse ORs with previously identified ligands, we cloned 18 OR orthologs from chimpanzee and rhesus macaque and 17 mouse-rat orthologous pairs that are broadly representative of the OR repertoire. We functionally characterized the in vitro responses of ORs to a wide panel of odors and found similar ligand selectivity but dramatic differences in response magnitude. 87% of human-primate orthologs and 94% of mouse-rat orthologs showed differences in receptor potency (EC50) and/or efficacy (dynamic range) to an individual ligand. Notably dN/dS ratio, an indication of selective pressure during evolution, does not predict functional similarities between orthologs. Additionally, we found that orthologs responded to a common ligand 82% of the time, while human OR paralogs of the same subfamily responded to the common ligand only 33% of the time. Our results suggest that, while OR orthologs tend to show conserved ligand selectivity, their potency and/or efficacy dynamically change during evolution, even in closely related species. These functional changes in orthologs provide a platform for examining how the evolution of ORs can meet species-specific demands.
The Braden Scale for pressure ulcer risk: evaluating the predictive validity in Black and Latino/Hispanic elders.

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive validity of the Braden scale in predicting pressure sore risk and to determine the physiological and nonphysiological variables associated with the prediction of pressure ulcers in Black and Latino/Hispanic elders. A prospective clinical design was used to conduct the study. Among 74 patients aged 60 years or older, 24 patients (32%) developed either a stage 1 or stage 2 pressure ulcer. Black elders had a higher incidence rate (21%) than Latino/Hispanic elders (11%). A 2-tailed Fisher's exact test revealed that the Braden scale with a cutoff score of 18 was highly associated with predicting Black elders aged 75 years and older who were at risk of developing pressure ulcers ( p ≤ .011). Sensitivity was 81% and specificity was 100%. The female gender was also a highly significant factor in the development of pressure ulcers ( χ 2 (1, N = 49) = 6.4, p ≤ .011). Overall, the Braden scale was found to be a valid tool in predicting pressure ulcer risk in Black elders aged 75 years or older when a cutoff score of 18 is used.
Application of automated NOE assignment to three-dimensional structure refinement of a 28 kDa single-chain T cell receptor.

An automated procedure for NOE assignment and three-dimensional structure refinement is presented. The input to the procedure consists of (1) an ensemble of preliminary protein NMR structures, (2) partial sequence-specific assignments for the protein and (3) the positions and volumes of unassigned NOESY cross peaks. Chemical shifts for unassigned side chain protons are predicted from the preliminary structures. The chemical shifts and unassigned NOESY cross peaks are input to an automated procedure for NOE assignment and structure calculation (ARIA) [Nilges et al. (1997) J. Mol. Biol., 269, 408–422]. ARIA is optimized for the task of structure refinement of larger proteins. Errors are filtered to ensure that sequence-specific assignments are reliable. The procedure is applied to the 27.8 kDa single-chain T cell receptor (scTCR). Preliminary NMR structures, nearly complete backbone assignments, partial assignments of side chain protons and more than 1300 unassigned NOESY cross peaks are input. Using the procedure, the resonant frequencies of more than 40 additional side chain protons are assigned. Over 400 new NOE cross peaks are assigned unambiguously. Distances derived from the automatically assigned NOEs improve the precision and quality of calculated scTCR structures. In the refined structures, a hydrophobic cluster of side chains on the scTCR surface that binds major histocompatibility complex (MHC)/antigen is revealed. It is composed of the side chains of residues from three loops and stabilizes the conformation of residues that interact with MHC.
TangleSolve: topological analysis of site-specific recombination.

Summary: TangleSolve is a program for analysing site-specific recombination using the tangle model. The program offers an easy-to-use graphical user interface and a visualization tool. Biologists working in topological enzymology can use this program to compute and visualize site-specific recombination mechanisms that accommodate their experimental data. TangleSolve can also prove useful as a teaching aid for mathematical biology and computational molecular biology courses. Availability: http://bio.math.berkeley.edu/TangleSolve/
Acidic deposition and surface water chemistry

A pair of back-to-back (morning and afternoon) hydrology sessions, held December 10, 1987, at the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, Calif., covered “Predicting the Effects of Acidic Deposition on Surface Water Chemistry.” The combined sessions included four invited papers, 12 contributed papers, and a panel discussion at its conclusion. The gathering dealt with questions on a variety of aspects of modeling the effects of acidic deposition on surface water chemistry. Contributed papers included discussions on the representation of processes in models as well as limiting assumptions in model application (V. S. Tripathi et al., Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn., and E. C. Krug, Illinois State Water Survey, Champaign), along with problems in estimating depositional inputs to catchments and thus inputs to be used in the simulation of catchment response (M. M. Reddy et al., U.S. Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colo.; and E. A. McBean, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada). L. A. Baker et al. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis) dealt with the problem of modeling seepage lake systems, an exceedingly important portion of the aquatic resources in Florida and parts of the upper U.S. Midwest. J. A. Hau and Y. Eckstein (Kent State University, Kent, Ohio) considered equilibrium modeling of two northern Ohio watersheds that receive very different loads of acidic deposition but are highly similar in other respects.
Longitudinal Analysis of Parotid and Submandibular Salivary Flow Rates in Healthy, Different-Aged Adults

BACKGROUND Early studies suggested that salivary gland dysfunction was a normal sequela of aging. Recent research on healthy, different-aged adults has led to a revision of these former conclusions. Parotid gland function appears to be age-stable, yet there is no consensus on submandibular/sublingual output. To date, there have only been two longitudinal studies utilizing healthy individuals examining parotid function, and no published longitudinal studies on submandibular/sublingual output. The purpose of this study was to examine unstimulated and stimulated major salivary gland flow rates in unmedicated, essentially healthy subjects, over a 3-year period. METHODS Thirty-seven males and females, aged 26-90 years of age, were examined twice over a 3-year period at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health. All were healthy, community-dwelling adults, without systemic diseases, and not taking any medications. Unstimulated and 2% citrate-stimulated parotid and submandibular/sublingual salivary gland flow rates were assessed at both visits, and changes over time were evaluated according to the subject's age at initial visit. RESULTS There were no significant flow rate differences over a 3-year time period for unstimulated and stimulated parotid and submandibular/sublingual flow rates. CONCLUSIONS Major salivary gland output is aged-stable in healthy persons over a 3-year period. The data from this study suggest that salivary gland dysfunction in an older person should not be considered a normal process of aging.
Novel medical therapies for gastroesophageal reflux disease beyond proton-pump inhibitors.

The control of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations is a novel pharmacologic approach to the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is applicable in most reflux patients characterized as having nonerosive disease or patients with mild erosive disease. Currently, only the GABA B agonist baclofen is available for oral therapy, although side effects may be a limiting factor. Future drug development requires a better understanding of the central and peripheral mechanisms controlling transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations.
Identification of Brucella by Ribosomal-Spacer-Region PCR and Differentiation of Brucella canis from Other Brucella spp. Pathogenic for Humans by Carbohydrate Profiles

Molecular and chemical characteristics often provide complementary information in the differentiation of closely related organisms. The genus Brucella consists of a highly conserved group of organisms. Identification of the four species pathogenic in humans (Brucella melitensis, Brucella abortus, Brucella suis, and Brucella canis) is problematic for many clinical laboratories that depend primarily on serology and phenotypic characteristics to differentiate species. PCR amplification of the 16S-23S ribosomal DNA interspace region was evaluated for species-specific polymorphism. B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis, and B. canis produced identical PCR interspace profiles. However, these PCR products were unique to brucellae, allowing them to be readily distinguished from other gram-negative bacteria (including Bartonella spp. and Agrobacterium spp.). Carbohydrate profiles differentiated B. canis from the other three Brucella species due to the absence of the rare amino sugar quinovosamine in the three other species. PCR of the rRNA interspace region is useful in identification of the genus Brucella, while carbohydrate profiling is capable of differentiating B. canis from the other Brucella species.
Fast-scanning two-photon fluorescence imaging using a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) two-dimensional scanning mirror

Towards overcoming the size limitations of conventional two-photon fluorescence microscopy, we introduce laser-scanning instrumentation based on a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) scanner and describe two-photon microscopy and microendoscopy with fast-axis acquisition rates up to 3.5 kHz. (180.2520) Fluorescence microscopy (180.5810) Scanning microscopy
Measuring prevention more broadly: an empirical assessment of CHIPRA core measures.

OBJECTIVE To assess limitations of using select Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) core claims-based measures in capturing the preventive services that may occur in the clinical setting. METHODS We use claims data from ALL Kids, the Alabama Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), to calculate each of four quality measures under two alternative definitions: (1) the formal claims-based guidelines outlined in the CMS Technical Specifications, and (2) a broader definition of appropriate claims for identifying preventive service use. Additionally, we examine the extent to which these two claims-based approaches to measuring quality differ in assessments of disparities in quality of care across subgroups of children. RESULTS Statistically significant differences in rates were identified when comparing the two definitions for calculating each quality measure. Measure differences ranged from a 1.9 percentage point change for measure #13 (receiving preventive dental services) to a 25.5 percentage point change for measure #12 (adolescent well-care visit). We were able to identify subgroups based upon family income, rural location, and chronic disease status with differences in quality within the core measures. However, some identified disparities were sensitive to the approach used to calculate the quality measure. CONCLUSIONS Differences in CHIP design and structure, across states and over time, may limit the usefulness of select claims-based core measures for detecting disparities accurately. Additional guidance and research may be necessary before reporting of the measures becomes mandatory.
Evidence for regulated monoacylglycerol acyltransferase expression and activity in human liver

Intrahepatic lipid accumulation is extremely common in obese subjects and is associated with the development of insulin resistance and diabetes. Hepatic diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol synthesis predominantly occurs through acylation of glycerol-3-phosphate. However, an alternative pathway for synthesizing diacylglycerol from monoacylglycerol acyltransferases (MGAT) could also contribute to hepatic glyceride pools. MGAT activity and the expression of the three genes encoding MGAT enzymes (MOGAT1, MOGAT2, and MOGAT3) were determined in liver biopsies from obese human subjects before and after gastric bypass surgery. MOGAT expression was also assessed in liver of subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or control livers. All MOGAT genes were expressed in liver, and hepatic MGAT activity was readily detectable in liver lysates. The hepatic expression of MOGAT3 was highly correlated with MGAT activity, whereas MOGAT1 and MOGAT2 expression was not, and knockdown of MOGAT3 expression attenuated MGAT activity in a liver-derived cell line. Marked weight loss following gastric bypass surgery was associated with a significant reduction in MOGAT2 and MOGAT3 expression, which were also overexpressed in NAFLD subjects. These data suggest that the MGAT pathway is active and dynamically regulated in human liver and could be an important target for pharmacologic intervention for the treatment of obesity-related insulin resistance and NAFLD.
Effects of increasing dietary concentrations of corn naturally contaminated with deoxynivalenol on broiler and turkey poult performance and response to lipopolysaccharide

In this study, 2 experiments determined the effects of increasing dietary concentrations of de- oxynivalenol (DON) on performance, intestinal mor- phology, and measures of innate immunity in broilers and turkeys. For experiment 1, the 3-wk study used 5 concentrations of DON (up to 18 or 10 mg of DON/kg of feed in broilers or turkeys, respectively) from natu- rally contaminated corn. The BW gains were cubically or quadratically affected by the increasing dietary con- centrations of DON for broilers and turkeys, respective- ly; however, feed consumption was not affected. For ex- periment 2, the birds were subsequently injected or not injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 24 h before tis- sue and blood sample collection. Dietary DON had no effect on intestinal crypt depth, but linearly increased the mid-ileal villus height in broilers (P = 0.04). An in- teraction was observed between the LPS challenge and the dietary DON with regards to heterophil to lympho- cyte ratio (P < 0.05) in broilers, but not in turkeys. The cecal tonsil cell phagocytosis of microbeads was not affected by the dietary concentration of DON either with or without the subsequent LPS challenge for both broilers and turkeys. Conversely, the phagocytic capac- ity of cecal tonsil cells to engulf killed Staphylococcus aureus was significantly reduced (over 2.5-fold) when broilers were fed the highest concentration of dietary DON (non-LPS-challenged; P < 0.05). However, diets containing DON showed no effects on broilers when they were challenged with LPS. Antibody-dependent phagocytosis (S. aureus) was not affected in turkeys fed DON. Overall, corn naturally contaminated with up to 18 or 10 mg/kg of DON (broiler or turkey, respectively) reduced bird BW gain at 21 d of age, reduced antibody- dependent phagocytosis of previously killed S. aureus by cecal tonsil cells in non-LPS-challenged broilers, and greatly decreased heterophil to lymphocyte ratios in LPS-challenged broilers.
A Faster Algorithm for the Inverse Spanning Tree Problem

In this paper, we consider the inverse spanning tree problem. Given an undirected graph G0=(N0,A0) with n nodes, m arcs, an arc cost vector c, and a spanning tree T0, the inverse spanning tree problem is to perturb the arc cost vector c to a vector d so that T0 is a minimum spanning tree with respect to the cost vector d and the cost of perturbation given by |d?c|=?(i,j)?A|dij?cij| is minimum. We show that the dual of the inverse spanning tree problem is a bipartite node weighted matching problem on a specially structured graph (which we call the path graph) that contains m nodes and as many as (m?n+1)(n?1)=O(nm) arcs. We first transform the bipartite node weighted matching problem into a specially structured minimum cost flow problem and use its special structure to develop an O(n3) algorithm. We next use its special structure more effectively and develop an O(n2logn) time algorithm. This improves the previous O(n3) time algorithm due to Sokkalingam et al. (1999, Oper. Res.47, 291?298).
Crystal Structure of a Phosphorylated Smad2: Recognition of Phosphoserine by the MH2 Domain and Insights on Smad Function in TGF-β Signaling

Ligand-induced phosphorylation of the receptor-regulated Smads (R-Smads) is essential in the receptor Ser/Thr kinase-mediated TGF-β signaling. The crystal structure of a phosphorylated Smad2, at 1.8 A resolution, reveals the formation of a homotrimer mediated by the C-terminal phosphoserine (pSer) residues. The pSer binding surface on the MH2 domain, frequently targeted for inactivation in cancers, is highly conserved among the Co- and R-Smads. This finding, together with mutagenesis data, pinpoints a functional interface between Smad2 and Smad4. In addition, the pSer binding surface on the MH2 domain coincides with the surface on R-Smads that is required for docking interactions with the serine-phosphorylated receptor kinases. These observations define a bifunctional role for the MH2 domain as a pSer-X-pSer binding module in receptor Ser/Thr kinase signaling pathways.
Mind-Body Problems

In this article, I lay out some of the cultural assumptions in recent accounts of mind and brain in neuroscience, in which it is argued that human social activities can be reduced to neural processes in the brain. Since the current dominance of these accounts in the United States threatens the work of social and cultural anthropology and other non-reductionist disciplines, I develop some ways the arguments of their critics can be bolstered with insights from anthropology. I ask what social features of the present context could be inciting this turn to a hyper-rational, neuronal account of human consciousness, and explore fear of the newly valued irrational energy (akin to mania) often required by contemporary entrepreneurial capitalism as a possible source. To counter the forms of individual subjectivity encouraged by neuroreductionism, I argue that ethnography could contribute to a form of subjectivity that renders individuals thinkable only as social beings, [language, metaphor, cognitive science, neuroscience, manic depression, stock market, capitalism, United States]
A role for the cyclin box in the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of cyclin G1.

Cyclin G1 was identified as a transcriptional target of p53 that encodes a protein with strong homology to the cyclin family of cell cycle regulators. We show that either ectopically expressed or endogenous cyclin G1 protein is very unstable, undergoes modification with ubiquitin and is likely degraded by the proteasome. Ectopic cyclin G1 protein stability is increased by cyclin box mutation or by association with inactive cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) subunits, suggesting that a function of cyclin G1 as a CDK regulator may be required for its rapid turnover. Further, cyclin G1 and the cyclin box mutant interact with and are ubiquitinated by MDM2, another transcriptional target of p53, that acts as a negative regulator of p53 stability. These data suggest that the cyclin box has a role in the proteasome-mediated degradation of cyclin G1 and thus suggest a putative role for a CDK in cyclin G1 metabolism and function.
A Three-Dimensional Kinematic and Kinetic Study of the College-Level Female Softball Swing

This paper quantifies and discusses the three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic characteristics of the female softball swing as performed by fourteen female collegiate amateur subjects. The analyses were performed using a three-dimensional computer model. The model was driven kinematically from subject swings data that were recorded with a multi-camera motion analysis system. Each subject used two distinct bats with significantly different inertial properties. Model output included bat trajectories, subject/bat interaction forces and torques, work, and power. These data formed the basis for a detailed analysis and description of fundamental swing kinematic and kinetic quantities. The analyses revealed that the softball swing is a highly coordinated and individual three-dimensional motion and subject-to-subject variations were significant in all kinematic and kinetic quantities. In addition, the potential effects of bat properties on swing mechanics are discussed. The paths of the hands and the centreof-curvature of the bat relative to the horizontal plane appear to be important trajectory characteristics of the swing. Descriptions of the swing mechanics and practical implications are offered based upon these findings.
Automation of temperature system for formed meat products: A simulation approach

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires that formed meat products should be cooked to a specified minimum internal temperature to eliminate harmful bacteria most notable of which is E Coli. In order to meet this requirement, ready-to-eat meat products are tested on exit from an oven.
DISCOVERING EXCEPTIONAL DIVERSIFICATIONS AT CONTINENTAL SCALES: THE CASE OF THE ENDEMIC FAMILIES OF NEOTROPICAL SUBOSCINE PASSERINES

The study of continental adaptive radiations has lagged behind research on their island counterparts in part because the mere identification of adaptive radiations is more challenging at continental scales. Here, I demonstrate a new method based on simulations for discovering clades that show exceptionally high phenotypic diversity. The method does not require a phylogeny but accounts for differences in age and species richness among clades and incorporates effects of the phylogenetic structure of data. In addition, I developed a new multivariate measure of phenotypic diversity, which has the advantage over other measures of disparity in that it takes covariation into account. I applied these methods to a clade of endemic Neotropical suboscine passerines, within which the family Furnariidae has been considered an adaptive radiation. I found that the families Thamnophilidae, Furnariidae, and Dendrocolaptidae have experienced a higher rate of cladogenesis than have other clades. Although Thamnophilidae is exceptionally diverse in body size, only Furnariidae and Dendrocolaptidae are exceptionally diverse in shape. The combination of high rates of cladogenesis and high morphometric diversity in traits related to feeding and locomotion suggest that the clade Furnariidae-Dendrocolaptidae represent an authentic continental adaptive radiation.
Antimicrobial therapy and prophylaxis

Abstract Empirical antimicrobial therapy is indicated in patients with diarrhoea who have high fever and systemic toxicity, dysenteric disease, or travellers' diarrhoea. Antimicrobials are essential for those with severe shigellosis and amoebiasis. They are useful or possibly useful for other forms of diarrhoeal disease including amoebiasis (milder forms), campylobacteriosis, cholera, giardiasis, shigellosis, and diarrhoea due to a variety of other laboratory-defined bacterial enteropathogens. Furazolidone is useful in infantile giardiasis and mildly effective in other forms of bacterial diarrhoea. Trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole is effective against Shigella spp. in most parts of the world. Erythromycin is considered the treatment of choice for campylobacteriosis. For adults, the quinolone antimicrobials represent the most useful class of drugs for bacterial enteropathogens. Several dilemmas currently exist in the area. They include the lack of drugs for the therapy of trimethoprim-resistant shigellosis in children, overuse of antimicrobials in the developing world, and the potential for post-treatment prolongation of intestinal excretion of non-typhoid salmonellae. Antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis can be used in the rare person from an industrialized area during brief travels to a tropical region who has a serious underlying medical problem, cannot exercise care in what is eaten and drunk, and will have the purpose of the trip put at jeopardy should any illness develop (even that rendered short-term by effective therapy). For most people, therapy of illness is preferred to prophylaxis.
Sleeve gastrectomy and Roux En Y gastric bypass: current state of metabolic surgery.

Purpose of review Roux En Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is considered the bariatric gold standard. Recently, sleeve gastrectomy has gained significant popularity. Early evidence suggests sleeve gastrectomy as a well tolerated and efficacious alternative to RYGB. This article compares RYGB and sleeve gastrectomy by reviewing and summarizing recently published clinical trials. Recent findings Surgery remains the most effective therapy for obese patients meeting criteria. Excess weight loss in short-term follow-up appears similar between RYGB and sleeve gastrectomy. Long-term data on sleeve gastrectomy are limited. RYGB is more effective in producing resolution and remission of type II diabetes mellitus, particularly in patients at high risk for relapse. RYGB and sleeve gastrectomy are similar in their reduction of other obesity-related comorbid conditions with the exception of gastroesophageal reflux disease. RYGB has slightly higher overall morbidity but mortality is similar. Summary RYGB and sleeve gastrectomy are well tolerated and effective bariatric operations and represent metabolic surgery. More prospective, long-term data are needed. Both procedures benefit specific groups of patients better than the other. Research defining the obese patient's metabolic state and the metabolic response to both operations will ultimately allow physicians to optimally match patient and procedure.
Analysis of Ramp Discontinuity Model for Multiscale Image Segmentation

This paper presents an algorithm for multiscale image segmentation. Towards this, it proposes a new region model, that of a homogenous region surrounded by ramp discontinuities (a scenario usually encountered in real images). This paper presents the analysis of this model, leading to a robust algorithm for detection of ramp discontinuities in the image, and finally segmentation of the image at different photometric scales. The algorithm is further specialized for detecting very thin regions. The final segmentation algorithm can detect regions in the image, with varying photometric scales, sizes and arbitrary geometric properties. The properties of the algorithm are experimentally verified on synthetic and real images.
Generating manipulation trajectory using motion harmonics

This paper presents a novel manipulation trajectory generating algorithm that constructs trajectories from learned motion harmonics and user defined constraints. The algorithm uses functional eigenanalysis to learn motion harmonics from demonstrated motions and then use the motion harmonics to compute the optimal trajectory that resembles the demonstrated motions and also satisfies the constraints. The algorithm has been tested on five real human motion data sets to obtain motion harmonics and then generate motions of each task for a NAO robot. The generated trajectories were compared with the trajectories generated using linear segment with parabolic blend approach and with the Open Motion Planning Library. The approach can also work with motion planners.
Internal Flows and Frequency of Internal Overflows in a Large Teaching Hospital

Internal overflows occur when the nursing unit that would normally treat a patient is full and the patient must be assigned to a substitute unit. This common problem in hospital capacity planning is also known as bed borrowing. A stochastic model of the external and internal patient flows among the 20 nursing units in the adult medical division of a large university hospital was formed to estimate the frequency of internal overflows. Model parameters were estimated by tracking admissions, discharges, and transfers between units for one year. Internal overflows in the stochastic model were quite common. Cases where all related units that might reasonably provide comparable care were also full, were less common but occurred frequently enough in some nursing units to cause concern. A simplified version of the model allowed computation of the expected steady state occupancy level for each of the nursing units. The ratio of this steady state to the number of beds in a unit proved to be an excellent predictor of the frequency of internal overflows for that nursing unit, with the frequency becoming large when the ratio exceeded 80%.
Protocol for exercise hemodynamic assessment: performing an invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test in clinical practice

Invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing (iCPET) combines full central hemodynamic assessment with continuous measurements of pulmonary gas exchange and ventilation to help in understanding the pathophysiology underpinning unexplained exertional intolerance. There is increasing evidence to support the use of iCPET as a key methodology for diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension as occult causes of exercise limitation, but there is little information available outlining the methodology to use this diagnostic test in clinical practice. To bridge this knowledge gap, the operational protocol for iCPET at our institution is discussed in detail. In turn, a standardized iCPET protocol may provide a common framework to describe the evolving understanding of mechanism(s) that limit exercise capacity and to facilitate research efforts to define novel treatments in these patients.
Defective interleukin 2 production in patients after bone marrow transplantation and in vitro restoration of defective T lymphocyte proliferation by highly purified interleukin 2

Using OKT3 monoclonal antibody as a mitogen, we have studied interleukin 2 (IL2) production and proliferation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 23 patients receiving bone marrow transplants. Twenty patients were recipients of allogeneic bone marrow for treatment of hematologic malignancies, aplastic anemias (AA), or severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID). Three patients with Hodgkin's disease or neuroblastoma received autologous bone marrow. Endogenous IL2 production was not detectable (less than 0.2 U/mL) in PBMC of 18 patients and was very low in PBMC from five patients (0.5 to 1.5 U/mL), as compared to normal controls (median 3.5 U/mL) or pretransplant patients (median 1.5 U/mL). The low IL2 production was associated with defective OKT3-induced proliferation of PBMC in 19 of 23 patients studied. In the first 6 months after BMT, 14 of 15 patients (93%) showed defective proliferation of PBMC as compared to five of eight patients (63%) tested between 7 and 18 months after BMT (P less than .1). In all but three patients, addition of highly purified human lymphocyte IL2 (hpIL2) restored OKT3-induced proliferation of PBMC to within the normal range. This study demonstrates that PBMC in patients after BMT have a defect of IL2 production but are able to express IL2 receptors in response to OKT3 antibody and to proliferate normally upon addition of hpIL2. PBMC of all patients showed similar functional defects, whether or not they received additional therapy, including various conditioning regimens prior to BMT and immunosuppressive therapy after BMT. These observations suggest that T cell defects after BMT are most likely secondary to quantitative or qualitative defects of transplanted T lymphocytes or their precursors.
Substrate specificity and transport mechanism of amino-acid transceptor Slimfast from Aedes aegypti

Anautogenous mosquitoes depend on vertebrate blood as nutrient source for their eggs. A highly efficient set of membrane transporters mediates the massive movement of nutrient amino acids between mosquito tissues after a blood meal. Here we report the characterization of the amino-acid transporter Slimfast (Slif) from the yellow-fever mosquito Aedes aegypti using codon-optimized heterologous expression. Slif is a well-known component of the target-of-rapamycin signalling pathway and fat body nutrient sensor, but its substrate specificity and transport mechanism were unknown. We found that Slif transports essential cationic and neutral amino acids with preference for arginine. It has an unusual dual-affinity mechanism with only the high affinity being Na(+) dependent. Tissue-specific expression and blood meal-dependent regulation of Slif are consistent with conveyance of essential amino acids from gut to fat body. Slif represents a novel transport system and type of transceptor for sensing and transporting essential amino acids during mosquito reproduction.
Parallel Molecular Dynamics Using Force Decomposition

Research interests in molecular dynamics (MD) and its applications have increased significantly over the past few decades. This is due partly to the advances in software and hardware components of computer technology. The main computational goal of recent research work in molecular dynamics has been to reduce the computational cost of the force calculations which evidently accounts for approximately ninety percent of the total CPU time for most MD simulations. This paper describes parallel algorithms for force calculations using the force decomposition approach. These parallel algorithms have been tested and found to be highly portable and scalable. Numerical experiments on IBM SP/2 indicate that these algorithms have improved speedups and efficiencies.
Immunoproteasome deficiency is a feature of non-small cell lung cancer with a mesenchymal phenotype and is associated with a poor outcome

The immunoproteasome plays a key role in generation of HLA peptides for T cell-mediated immunity. Integrative genomic and proteomic analysis of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines revealed significantly reduced expression of immunoproteasome components and their regulators associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Low expression of immunoproteasome subunits in early stage NSCLC patients was associated with recurrence and metastasis. Depleted repertoire of HLA class I-bound peptides in mesenchymal cells deficient in immunoproteasome components was restored with either IFNγ or 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) treatment. Our findings point to a mechanism of immune evasion of cells with a mesenchymal phenotype and suggest a strategy to overcome immune evasion through induction of the immunoproteasome to increase the cellular repertoire of HLA class I-bound peptides.