cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early experience with the use of gastric segment in lower urinary tract reconstruction in adult patient population.

Abstract Objectives To review our experience with the potential use of stomach as a substitute to bowel in lower urinary tract reconstruction in adults. Methods Twenty-two adult patients underwent lower urinary tract reconstruction using stomach. Fourteen patients had augmentation cystoplasty and in 8 patients a continent reservoir was constructed; mean followup was 9.8 months. In 6 patients, gastric tube was constructed and used as catheterizable stoma. Results Renal functions remained stable or improved in all patients. Two patients developed hypochloremic alkalosis. There was significant decrease in urinary pH. All patients were completely continent, with no problems in mucus production. There was no mortality or significant morbidity. Conclusions Stomach offers a good alternative to ileum or colon for bladder reconstruction. Stomach has various unique advantages, such as less mucus production, acidic milieu in the urine, and protection against hyperchloremic acidosis.
Is aldosterone synthesized within the rat brain

Very small amounts of adrenocorticosteroids are synthesized by brain tissue in vitro. While there is evidence suggesting that the synthesis of aldosterone in the brain may have a role in the hypert...
Redundant roles for cJun-N-terminal kinase 1 and 2 in interleukin-1β-mediated reduction and modification of murine hepatic nuclear retinoid X receptor α

Background/Aims Retinoid X receptor α (RXRα), the heterodimeric partner for multiple nuclear receptors (NRs), was shown to be an essential target for inflammation-induced cJun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling in vitro. This study aimed to explore the role of hepatic JNK signaling and its effects on nuclear RXRα levels downstream of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in vivo. Methods Effects of IL-1β on hepatic NR-dependent gene expression, nuclear RXRα levels, and roles for individual JNK isoforms were studied in wild-type, Jnk1 −/− , and Jnk2 −/− mice and in primary hepatocytes of each genotype. Results IL-1β administration showed a time-dependent reduction in expression of the hepatic NR-dependent genes Ntcp, Cyp7a1, Cyp8b1, Abcg5, Mrp2, and Mrp3. IL-1β treatment for 1h activated JNK and resulted in both post-translational modification and reduction of nuclear RXRα. In wild-type primary hepatocytes, IL-1β modified and reduced nuclear RXRα levels time dependently, which was prevented by chemical inhibition of JNK as well as by inhibition of proteasomal degradation. Individual absence of either JNK1 or JNK2 did not significantly influence the reduction or modification of hepatic nuclear RXRα by IL-1β both in vivo and in primary hepatocytes. Conclusions Functional redundancy exists for JNK1 and JNK2 in IL-1β-mediated alterations of hepatic nuclear RXRα levels, stressing the importance of this pathway in mediating the hepatic response to inflammation.
Blueberry supplementation improves memory in middle-aged mice fed a high-fat diet.

Consuming a high-fat diet may result in behavioral deficits similar to those observed in aging animals. It has been demonstrated that blueberry supplementation can allay age-related behavioral deficits. To determine if supplementation of a high-fat diet with blueberries offers protection against putative high-fat diet-related declines, 9-month-old C57Bl/6 mice were maintained on low-fat (10% fat calories) or high-fat (60% fat calories) diets with and without 4% freeze-dried blueberry powder. Novel object recognition memory was impaired by the high-fat diet; after 4 months on the high-fat diet, mice spent 50% of their time on the novel object in the testing trial, performing no greater than chance performance. Blueberry supplementation prevented recognition memory deficits after 4 months on the diets, as mice on this diet spent 67% of their time on the novel object. After 5 months on the diets, mice consuming the high-fat diet passed through the platform location less often than mice on low-fat diets durin...
Presurgical evaluation of language using functional magnetic resonance imaging in brain tumor patients with previous surgery.

Objective Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to assess language laterality in preoperative brain tumor patients. In postsurgical patients, susceptibility artifacts can potentially alter ipsilateral fMRI activation volumes and the assessment of language laterality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of fMRI to correctly measure language dominance in brain tumor patients with previous surgery because this patient cohort is vulnerable to type II statistical errors and subsequent misjudgment of laterality. Methods Twenty-six right-handed patients with left-hemisphere gliomas (16 with and 10 without previous surgery) underwent preoperative language fMRI. Language laterality was measured using hemispheric and Broca's area regions of interest (ROIs). Hemisphere dominance, as established by laterality measurements, was compared with that determined by intraoperative electrocorticography and behavioral assessments. Results Localization of primary language cortices was achieved in 24 of 26 patients studied. The hemisphere dominance evaluated by fMRI was verified by intraoperative corticography in only 14 patients (10 with and 4 without previous surgery), and only 12 of them had complete neuropsychological testing. Complete concordance of the laterality with intraoperative electrocorticography and behavioral assessments was found in patients without previous surgery. In patients with previous surgery, concordance was 75% using Broca's area ROI and 88% using hemispheric ROI, notwithstanding susceptibility artifacts. Differences in laterality between pre- and postsurgical patients, based on either hemispheric (P = 0.81) or Broca's area (P = 0.19) ROI measurements were not statistically significant. However, hemispheric ROI analyses were found to be less affected by postsurgical artifacts and may be more suitable for establishing hemisphere dominance. Conclusion fMRI mapping of eloquent language cortices in brain tumor patients after surgery is feasible and can serve as a useful baseline evaluation for preoperative neurosurgical planning. However, findings should be interpreted with caution in the presence of postsurgical artifacts.
Relative binding affinities of OmpR and OmpR-phosphate at the ompF and ompC regulatory sites

In Escherichia coli, porin gene expression is regulated, in part, by the two-component regulatory system consisting of the two proteins EnvZ and OmpR. EnvZ is an integral inner membrane protein that is phosphorylated by cytoplasmic ATP on a histidine residue. EnvZ modulates the activity of OmpR by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Phospho-OmpR (OmpR-P) binds to the porin genes ompF and ompC to regulate their expression. The simple affinity model predicts that as the concentration of OmpR-P increases, initially high-affinity binding sites on ompF are filled. Then binding sites of lower affinity on ompF and ompC are occupied and this ordered binding accounts for the differential expression of the porin genes. We demonstrate that acetyl phosphate phosphorylates OmpR at aspartate 55, the same residue phosphorylated by the kinase EnvZ. Quantification of the level of OmpR-P by HPLC and direct measurement of the binding affinities enabled us to test the affinity model. Our results indicate that phosphorylation dramatically increases the affinity of OmpR for its binding sites (greater than tenfold). We also show that the affinities of OmpR-P for F1 and C1 binding sites are not sufficiently different to provide a strong basis for discrimination. The consequences of these observations for the simple affinity model are considered.
Involvement of DNA replication and repair in mutagenesis of Haemophilus influenzae induced by N-nitrosocarbaryl.

Abstract A temperature-sensitive DNA synthesis mutant of Haemophilus influenzae (strain dna 9) was treated with the N -nitroso compound N -nitrosocarbaryl, then incubated at the permissive (36°) and nonpermissive (41°) temperatures. At various times lysates were made and used to transform a second culture to novobiocin resistance (a measure of the extent of mutation fixation). At the permissive temperature mutation fixation continued approximately linearly during at least half of the first round of DNA replication after treatment with N -nitrosocarbaryl. In the absence of DNA replication (41°), most but not all of the mutation fixation was eliminated. The nonreplicative type of mutation fixation was greater after treatment with a higher concentration of N -nitrosocarbaryl. The data indicate that premutational lesions occur over the entire chromosome and that the bulk of the mutation fixation requires DNA replication, but that a process independent of replication, quite possibly an erro-prone repair system, also is responsible for part of the mutation fixation in cells exposed to alkylating agents. When strain dna 9 was treated with N -nitrosocarbaryl and then incubated at 41° for some time (stopping DNA replication and the bulk of the mutation fixation) before being grown at 36°, a large decrease in the final frequency was seen. This suggests that a repair mechanism still functional in the absence of DNA replication is capable of removing premutational lesions from H. influenzae DNA.
Value-based clock gating and operation packing: dynamic strategies for improving processor power and performance

The large address space needs of many current applications have pushed processor designs toward 64-bit word widths. Although full 64-bit addresses and operations are indeed sometimes needed, arithmetic operations on much smaller quantities are still more common. In fact, another instruction set trend has been the introduction of instructions geared toward subword operations on 16-bit quantities. For examples, most major processors now include instruction set support for multimedia operations allowing parallel execution of several subword operations in the same ALU. This article presents our observations demonstrating that operations on “narrow-width” quantities are common not only in multimedia codes, but also in more general workloads. In fact, across the SPECint95 benchmarks, over half the integer operation executions require 16 bits or less. Based on this data, we propose two hardware mechanisms that dynamically recognize and capitalize on these narrow-width operations. The first, power-oriented optimization reduces processor power consumption by using operand-value-based clock gating to turn off portions of arithmetic units that will be unused by narrow-width operations. This optimization results in a 45%-60% reduction in the integer unit's power consumption for the SPECint95 and MediaBench benchmark suites. Applying this optimization to SPECfp95 benchmarks results in slightly smaller power reductions, but still seems warranted. These reductions in integer unit power consumption equate to a 5%-10% full-chip power savings. Our second, performance-oriented optimization improves processor performance by packing together narrow-width operations so that they share a single arithmetic unit. Conceptually similar to a dynamic form of MMX, this optimization offers speedups of 4.3%-6.2% for SPECint95 and 8.0%-10.4% for MediaBench.Overall, these optimizations highlight an increasing opportunity for value-based optimizations to improve both power and performance in current microprocessors.
Over‐expression of heat shock factor 1 phenocopies the effect of chronic inhibition of TOR by rapamycin and is sufficient to ameliorate Alzheimer's‐like deficits in mice modeling the disease

Rapamycin, an inhibitor of target-of-rapamycin, extends lifespan in mice, possibly by delaying aging. We recently showed that rapamycin halts the progression of Alzheimer's (AD)-like deficits, reduces amyloid-beta (Aβ) and induces autophagy in the human amyloid precursor protein (PDAPP) mouse model. To delineate the mechanisms by which chronic rapamycin delays AD we determined proteomic signatures in brains of control- and rapamycin-treated PDAPP mice. Proteins with reported chaperone-like activity were overrepresented among proteins up-regulated in rapamycin-fed PDAPP mice and the master regulator of the heat-shock response, heat-shock factor 1, was activated. This was accompanied by the up-regulation of classical chaperones/heat shock proteins (HSPs) in brains of rapamycin-fed PDAPP mice. The abundance of most HSP mRNAs except for alpha B-crystallin, however, was unchanged, and the cap-dependent translation inhibitor 4E-BP was active, suggesting that increased expression of HSPs and proteins with chaperone activity may result from preferential translation of pre-existing mRNAs as a consequence of inhibition of cap-dependent translation. The effects of rapamycin on the reduction of Aβ, up-regulation of chaperones, and amelioration of AD-like cognitive deficits were recapitulated by transgenic over-expression of heat-shock factor 1 in PDAPP mice. These results suggest that, in addition to inducing autophagy, rapamycin preserves proteostasis by increasing chaperones. We propose that the failure of proteostasis associated with aging may be a key event enabling AD, and that chronic inhibition of target-of-rapamycin may delay AD by maintaining proteostasis in brain. Read the Editorial Highlight for this article on doi: 10.1111/jnc.12098.
National values and economic reforms in socialist economies

Abstract Major economic reforms in prerevolutionary and Soviet Russia have only been carried out to resolve political or military problems transcending the economic realm. The promotion of efficiency through system change has traditionally conflicted with the preservation of egalitarian values (opposition to income disparities), the desire to maintain stability (including the avoidance of unemployment), and xenophobia (foreigners should not enrich themselves at Russian expense). Various episodes of Russian history show that reforms have always met with rigorous opposition from an entrenched bureaucracy. The prospects for current reform in the Soviet Union and in Eastern Europe are examined in the light of these and similar considerations.
RECOVERY OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE FROM ULTRAVIOLET AND X-RAY DAMAGE.

— Results of experiments on reactivation of ultraviolet (u.v.)-irradiated Haemophilus influenzae and cellular reactivation of u.v.-damaged transforming deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and bacteriophage are reported. Liquid-holding recovery (LHR) is small for the u.v.-sensitive mutant BC100 which, relative to the wild type, also has greatly reduced host-cell reactivation (HCR) of u.v.-inactivated phage, and competent cultures show reduced competent cell reactivation (CCR) of u.v.-inactivated transforming DNA. BC100 cells can be transformed with DNA isolated from the wild type strain Rd to a u.v. resistance similar to that of Rd, and irradiation of the DNA reduces the transformation frequency for this marker (uvr). The u.v.-resistant mutant BC200 displays very little LHR under the usual conditions where reactivation occurs after plating. The colony-forming ability (cfa) of irradiated BC200 is greater than that of Rd, but HCR and CCR are the same on this mutant as on the wild type. The major difference between Rd and BC200 is the enhanced u.v. survival of cfa of the latter. It was determined that this difference reflects cell lysis of irradiated Rd and lack of lysis in BC200 cultures. That lysis is closely correlated with damage to the bacterial chromosome is suggested by the finding that the lytic response of Rd (as determined turbidimetrically) can be negated by the liquid-holding procedure, but lysis of BC100 (which lacks comparable DNA-repair ability) can be only partially inhibited by this procedure. LHR occurs when post-plating dark recovery is incomplete, is temperature-sensitive, and occurs unimpeded when post-u.v. protein synthesis is inhibited by chloramphenicol. It is suggested that enzymatically catalyzed reactivation of DNA occurs or is initiated during liquid-holding of u.v.-irradiated H. influenzae Rd and that the necessary enzyme(s) exists prior to appearance of u.v. lesions in the DNA. Results are reported for X-ray inactivation of transforming DNA as assayed on BC100, Rd and BC200 and of the cfa of the three strains.
The facial musculature of the suoidea

The facial musculature and rhinarial anatomy of a tayassuid, Dicotyles, and four suids, Sus, Hylochoerus, Phacochoerus and Babirussa, are described. Differences found include the lack of m. zygomaticus in Hylochoerus and Phacochoerus and several modifications of the rostral muscles, mm. levator rostri, dilator naris, and depressor rostri. These differences are related to behavioral characteristics of the animals, particularly the occurrence of toothbaring and rhinarial mobility. The missing m. zygomaticus and relatively small mouth of Hylochoerus and Phacochoerus are probably associated with behavioral patterns which do not necessitate a large gape. In these genera the canines are exposed even when the mouth is closed. The development of the rostral musculature is correlated with movements of the rhinarium. Similarly, the distribution of terminal tendons depends on the shape of the nostril. In Hylochoerus and Phacochoerus, mobility of the rhinarium, especially the dorsal part, is less than in other suoids because of the firmer attachment of the rostral bone to the skull and the weaker development of the rostral muscles.
A New Classification of Glaucoma Including Focal Glaucoma

This report suggests a new method of classifying glaucoma based upon the appearance of the optic nerve. One subdivision of this classification, focal glaucoma, is discussed in some detail. As is true for all classifications, the system proposed will not be a permanent one. Nor is it intended to be all inclusive. Its purpose is not to replace the system which at present is based on the mechanism for intraocular pressure elevation, i.e., angle-closure glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, etc., but rather to provide a means by which various subtypes of glaucoma can be better differentiated.
SU-E-T-281: Secondary Light-Ions in Carbon-Ion Therapy: A GEANT4 Simulation of LET and Dose Contributions.

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to reveal the dosimetric characteristics and contributions of the secondary light ions produced from carbon‐ion beams in water via a GEANT4 simulation. Methods: GEANT4 low energy electromagnetic physics processes were used for all ions. The hadronic interactions of protons and neutrons are simulated using low energy elastic interactions while inelastic scattering is simulated with a binary cascade (BIC) model. Other inelastic light‐ion interactions are being simulated through the application of a quasi‐molecular dynamics (QMD) model. A 27 liter cubic water phantom consisting of 3000 packed rectangular detector sheets (30 cm × 30 cm × 0.1mm) was used in this simulation. A 1 mm diameter pencil beam of 1 million incident carbon‐ions was used in all simulations presented. The incident energies per nucleon of the carbon beams studied were selected 155 MeV, 262 MeV and 369 MeV. The energy deposition, total kinetic energy, fluence, and dose averaged LET of each secondary particle produced within each detection sheet was determined to study their variations with depth. The particles investigated were gamma, neutron, electron, positron,proton, deuteron, triton, alpha, He‐ 3, Li‐6, Li‐7, Be‐7, Be‐9, Be‐10, B‐10, B‐1 1, C‐1 1, C‐12, C‐13, C‐14, N‐13, N‐14, N‐15, O‐16. Results:The relative dose contributions of four secondary ions (B‐11, C‐1 1, Alpha and Proton) were found to be each greater than 1%. The highest dose averaged LET value was from N‐13, though its averaged dose contribution was less than 5×10−4 %. Conclusions: The secondary particles contribute small portion to the total dose deposited from primary carbon beam. Though heavier ions (N, O) show significant higher LET values, their relative dose contributions were negligible.
Impact of latitudinal variations in vertical diffusivity on climate simulations

[1] The currently available theoretical and observational evidence for a latitudinal structure of thermocline vertical diffusivity is synthesized and included in a state of the art coupled climate model. Compared to the standard background value of 0.1 cm2 s−1, the simulations with the latitudinal structure show only little change in the meridional overturning circulation or northward heat transport. However, two regions are identified which are sensitive to the value of vertical diffusivity: the equatorial band, where only small changes in sea surface temperature lead to precipitation responses with basin-wide teleconnections, and the North Atlantic, where diffusivity affects the spiciness of Labrador Sea water and subsequently the Gulf Stream path.
Genetics of proteasome diseases.

The proteasome is a large, multiple subunit complex that is capable of degrading most intracellular proteins. Polymorphisms in proteasome subunits are associated with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurological diseases, and cancer. One polymorphism in the proteasome gene PSMA6 (−8C/G) is associated with three different diseases: type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction, and coronary artery disease. One type of proteasome, the immunoproteasome, which contains inducible catalytic subunits, is adapted to generate peptides for antigen presentation. It has recently been shown that mutations and polymorphisms in the immunoproteasome catalytic subunit PSMB8 are associated with several inflammatory and autoinflammatory diseases including Nakajo-Nishimura syndrome, CANDLE syndrome, and intestinal M. tuberculosis infection. This comprehensive review describes the disease-related polymorphisms in proteasome genes associated with human diseases and the physiological modulation of proteasome function by these polymorphisms. Given the large number of subunits and the central importance of the proteasome in human physiology as well as the fast pace of detection of proteasome polymorphisms associated with human diseases, it is likely that other polymorphisms in proteasome genes associated with diseases will be detected in the near future. While disease-associated polymorphisms are now readily discovered, the challenge will be to use this genetic information for clinical benefit.
Supporting Human-Robot Teams in Social Dynamicism: an overview of the Metaphoric Inference Framework

Metaphoric classification of social interaction in human-robot teams can provide a useful frame for directing robot-human engagement while assisting the robot in sense-making of dynamic world behaviors. This paper describe a framework built from principles of embodiment to show how members of teams are not separated from their world, but make sense and interact in a world via a continuous (rather than causal) flow of engagement facilitated by two forms of perception. In this context, we distinguish between direct and reflective perception, arguing that agents socially engage via these modalities of perception through body, language, and context. We then argue that these forms of perception can direct the use of metaphors. The metaphors, in turn, act as classification frames for robot social intelligence using established human schemas.
UUCAC- and Vera-Dependent Localization of VegT RNA in Xenopus Oocytes

Localized mRNAs are directed to their destinations by "localization elements" (LEs) in their 3'UTRs. LEs harbor multiple, functionally redundant localization "signals." These signals are poorly defined, hence it is unclear whether the signals-and their cognate factors-are unique to each RNA or employed generally. Five "E2s" (UUCACs) in the 366 nt Vg1 LE (VgLE) direct this transcript to the vegetal pole of Xenopus oocytes via the binding of a protein-Vera/Vg1RBP/ZBP [1-3]. Here we show that a different vegetal RNA, VegT, employs the same signal and factor. Five E2s within a 440 nt subregion (VegT440) of the VegT 3'UTR predict its LE and are both necessary and sufficient (in the context of antisense VegT440) for directing localization. The E2s in VegT440 and VgLE function similarly to recruit Vera protein: (1) in both contexts, E2 nt substitutions partially (UU to AC) or completely (CA to UG) inhibit localization in accordance with the sequence selectivity of Vera protein for E2s; (2) VegT440 and VgLE crosscompete, in an E2-dependent manner, for localization and Vera binding; (3) injection of anti-Vera antibody into oocytes inhibits localization of both injected transcripts. These findings imply that general localization signals traffic diverse RNAs.
Wing-Wake Interaction and its Proper Orthogonal Decomposition

Direct numerical simulation (DNS) of tandem wings in pitching and plunging motion is conducted. The POD-Galerkin projection for a fixed, high angle of attack flat plate is performed using two algorithms which differ in the method of pressure processing. It has shown the importance of pressure correction in terms of the reduced prediction error. POD on pitching and plunging wings has shown that most of energy (95%) is contained by the first six modes. However, the first two modes only account for 60% of energy in tandem wings, in contrast to 80% in the case of single wing. It also shows the effectiveness of POD method in a system of two-dimensional flapping tandem wings.
Pwyll Secondaries and Other Small Craters on Europa

Abstract We examine a population of Pwyll secondary craters, as well as several small crater populations seen in six high-resolution sequences of Europa, taken by the Galileo spacecraft. We conclude that post-Pwyll (the youngest large impact on Europa) endogenic surface activity occurred in the Conamara Chaos region. The Pwyll impact deposited a high-density secondary crater population in this area. The two terrains in Conamara Chaos show very different crater densities with one terrain containing anywhere from a few to 10 times higher density than the other. Surface activity within the one terrain, which degraded and erased part of that terrain's crater population relative to the other terrain, best explains the density difference. Because Pwyll is a young impact crater, 18 million years old or younger, subsequent endogenic surface activity is consistent with Europa remaining active today. The steepness of the average differential power-law slope (−4.2) of the small-crater size distribution suggests that many of the small craters are secondaries. We demonstrate that the amount of mass ejected by Pwyll and the other large craters on Europa is potentially enough to create the majority of the small crater population via the secondary cratering process, allowing the possibility that most small craters on Europa are secondary craters.
A novel load profiling method for detecting abnormalities of electricity customer

This paper proposes a novel load profiling method with the combination of firefly algorithm (FA-LP) for detecting abnormalities of electricity customer. First, a novel approach to model profile method is proposed using the load data from the similar customer in the same region. Second, the load pattern is extracted with the firefly algorithm. Third, the load data are processed differently and two matching measures are adopted according to the different focuses on the load pattern. Finally, the proposed load profiling method is applied for the real case of a power supply company.
Linkage of two human pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein genes: one is associated with hydatidiform mole.

Abstract A genomic clone containing two linked human pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein (PS beta G) genes has been isolated and characterized. The two genes are arranged in the same 5'----3' orientation; the 3' region (including the A2 and B-C exons) of the upstream gene, PSGGA, is linked to the 5' region (including the 5'/L and L/N exons) of PSGGB, the downstream gene. Depending upon the domains compared, PSGGA and PSGGB share 92-98% nucleotide and 86-95% amino acid sequence identity with PSG93, the most abundant PS beta G transcript. The 3' exon (B-C) of PSGGA contains four alternative splice sites and three polyadenylylation sites, which account for the 3' heterogeneity previously reported in the PS beta G family. Each of the predicted PSGGA-encoded proteins would have a different carboxyl terminus. PSGGB corresponds to the previously identified cDNA PSG6, which encodes proteins containing a 34-amino acid leader peptide and a 108-amino acid N domain, which is one amino acid shorter than the majority of PS beta G N domains. Additionally, the PSGGB-encoded proteins contain the cell-surface recognition tripeptide Arg-Gly-Asp, shared by several previously reported PS beta Gs as deduced from cDNA sequences. Northern blot hybridization performed with a PSGGB-specific oligonucleotide probe to the N domain revealed that PSGGB or a PSGGB-like gene encodes a major 1.7-kilobase mRNA in hydatidiform mole tissues and a major 2.0-kilobase mRNA in term placenta tissues. Moreover, the PSGGB-specific probe hybridized most strongly with mRNA from molar trophoblastic tissue, suggesting that the PSGGB-like species may be the gene preferentially expressed in gestational trophoblastic disease. Additionally, the sequence of a 2315-base-pair PS beta G cDNA (PSG95) that contains an N-A1-A2-B2-C domain arrangement is reported. The coding region of PSG95 is identical to the previously reported cDNA clones PSG1d and FL-NCA, but PSG95 contains an additional 518 and 523 base pairs in the 3' end as compared with PSG1d and FL-NCA, respectively.
Cryogenic degradation of polystyrene in solution

Abstract An ultra-high molecular weight and narrow distribution polystyrene ( M w = 7.3 × 10 6 , Mw/Mn = 1.13) was dissolved in a wide range of solvents. Potential degradation by freezing was studied as a function of solvent type, concentration, cooling rate and number of freezing cycles. Cryogenic experiments were conducted in dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, benzene, dichloroethane, cyclohexanone, p-xylene, methyl methacrylate and styrene. The extent of degradation did not relate to a single solvent parameter, but there seemed to be a tendency towards a limited degradation in solvents with low melting points and/or solubility parameters greatly different from that of polystyrene. A low polymer concentration as well as a high cooling rate promoted chain scission, the latter parameter being the most important. In cyclohexanone and p-xylene, linear relationships were observed between the number of scission per molecule and the number of freezing cycles at high polymer concentrations and at high cooling rates. At lower concentrations and slower cooling, the relationships were non-linear suggesting a different degradation mechanism. The most extensive change in molecular weight distribution was observed on freezing in styrene. After 45 freezing cycles, an M w of only 2.3 × 106 was observed. The results indicate that chain scission occurred together with polymerization and combination reactions. Freezing of suitable solutions of ultra-high molecular weight polymers can thus be used as a new way of initiating polymerizations by cooling rather than heating.
Consultation-Liaison in Child Psychiatry: A Review of the Past 10 Years. Part I: Clinical Findings

Objective: To critically review clinical reports on pediatric consultation-liaison psychiatry over the past 10 years. Method: Articles contributing to the understanding of child psychiatric consultation in medical settings were reviewed. Results: Information related to clinical issues was organized into categorical (disease-oriented), noncategorical, and family studies. Newer articles on ethical considerations in caring for medically ill children are summarized. Conclusions: Research has continued to focus on and reflect the importance of the emotional and behavioral needs of children in pediatric settings and the adaptation and stress within families who care for chronically ill children. Given the increased complexity and demands of medical care, the training and skills of a child psychiatrist in pediatric consultation remain a valuable component of comprehensive care for children.
Meteor: a middleware infrastructure for content-based decoupled interactions in pervasive grid environments

Emerging pervasive information and computational environments require a content-based middleware infrastructure that is scalable, self-managing, and asynchronous. In this paper, we propose associative rendezvous (AR) as a paradigm for content-based decoupled interactions for pervasive grid applications. We also present Meteor, a content-based middleware infrastructure to support AR interactions. The design, implementation, and experimental evaluation of Meteor are presented. Evaluations include experiments using deployments on a local area network, the wireless ORBIT testbed at Rutgers University, and the PlanetLab wide-area testbed, as well as simulations. Evaluation results demonstrate the scalability, effectiveness, and performance of Meteor to support pervasive grid applications. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization, modeling, and management of the COS FUV detector lifetime

The Far Ultraviolet (FUV) detector of the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) uses a large-format, two-segment microchannel plate detector with a Cross Delay-Line anode. Since the installation of COS into HST in 2009, the detector’s properties have continually evolved, and changes to both sensitivity and microchannel plate gain have been observed. In order to maximize the lifetime of the detector, we have been monitoring its local properties as a function of time, cumulative exposure, and other factors, and we have constructed models to predict its future evolution. These models will allow us to actively manage the microchannel plate high voltage levels and the location of the spectra on the detector in order to extend its life without limiting its scientific use. We are also tracking the global sensitivity of the detector, which has been decreasing since installation; the rate of degradation has been found to vary with time, and appears to be correlated with solar activity.
Interactive effect of chromium compounds and a fungal parasite on carp eggs

A fungal parasite (Saprolegniales) of carp eggs was exposed to hexavalent and trivalent chromium compounds at concentrations identical to those used in a study of the effects of the same compounds on carp egg hatchability. Comparison of data from both experiments revealed that increased egg mortality and increased fungal growth were coupled at low concentrations of the compounds. A mechanism for the interaction of a chemical stress and a biological stress on carp egg survival in natural systems is presented.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for patients with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis.

Objective The study objective was to evaluate the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for removal of pulmonary sequelae of the fungal infection coccidioidomycosis. Methods Retrospective chart review of all patients with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis treated surgically at our tertiary care center between January 1, 2009, and August 31, 2012. Results Of 2166 patients treated for pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, 58 (2.7%) (median age, 52 years [range, 18-84 years]) required surgical treatment. Surgical resection was performed for diagnosis (n = 28 [48%]); 17 with positive positron emission tomography findings); persistent or progressive symptoms despite antifungal therapy (n = 23 [40%]); or complications (n = 7 [12%] of cavity rupture/infection). Of 33 patients (57%) who had serology performed, 23 (70%) had positive results. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was used for most (95%; n = 55) procedures, including 38 (67%) wedge resections, 14 (24%) segmentectomies, and 6 (11%) lobectomies; 4 patients also required additional decortication. Major (8%), including 1 death, and minor (12%) complications occurred in 12 patients postoperatively. Median hospitalization was 3 days (range, 1-8 days). Postoperative antifungal therapy was administered to 50% of patients for a median duration of 2 months. No patient had recurrent coccidioidomycosis at a median follow-up of 19 months. Conclusions Although rarely necessary for pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, surgical intervention may be indicated. Specific indications include refractory symptomatic disease and complications of the infection, such as cavity rupture. Excisional biopsies also may be required for diagnostic confirmation of indeterminate pulmonary nodules. With video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, diagnostic and therapeutic intervention can be undertaken with a low risk of complications and shorter length of hospital stay.
Measuring Particulate Mass Emissions with the Electrical Low Pressure Impactor

The electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI) is a useful tool for recording transient particle size distributions, such as in motor vehicle emissions. But for sub-micron aerosols, the straightforward mass weighting and integration of these size distributions overestimates the particulate matter (PM) mass by a factor of two or more. The present article examines the sources of this discrepancy and develops an analysis that allows quantitative PM mass measurement with an accuracy of about 20%. This procedure is applied to measure motor vehicle PM emissions, and the results are compared with filter-based gravimetric determinations. Good agreement is achieved for diesel and direct injection gasoline vehicles. For particulate trap equipped diesel vehicles and conventional gasoline vehicles, the PM mass recorded by the ELPI is often substantially lower than the filter based mass owing to the gaseous adsorption artifact of the latter. Accurate work at very low emissions levels, less than ∼ 1 mg/mi, requires furthe...
A Lens Bench For Measuring The Modulation Transfer Function

The need for a lens tester arose several years ago in connection with many projects associated with the Russian-English Translator, being built jointly by the United States Air Force and IBM Research. In order to determine if the lenses in the various components of the system were performing up to their specifications, and to resolve doubts as to their stability under high accelerations, a lens tester was designed and built according to the following specifications:© (1967) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Policy commitment and the welfare gains from capital market liberalization

This paper evaluates the quantitative impact of capital liberalization on the taxation structure and welfare of the liberalizing countries when governments conduct fiscal policy optimally but without commitment (time-consistent policies). The transition from a regime of capital autarky to a regime of free mobility leads to a decrease in the long-term tax rate on capital of 13 percent and an increase in the tax rate on labor of 2 percent. As a consequence of this taxation shift, welfare increases by about 1 percent. The reduction in capital taxation induced by capital market liberalization is welfare improving because, in the absence of capital mobility, the time-consistent policies over-tax capital.
Indoor wireless channel modeling from 2.4 to 24 GHz using a combined E/H-Plane 2D ray tracing method

Future wireless systems are moving to high frequencies for additional bandwidth and frequency reuse. This makes it very important to have accurate and time-efficient models for system planning. We have previously published measurement results for an indoor channel investigation from 2.4 GHz to 24 GHz. We now propose a new combined E/H-plane 2D ray tracing method. This method includes 2D ray-tracing calculations from both horizontal and vertical sections (E/H-planes). The method predicts loss accurately for both line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) paths at five frequency bands from 2.4 GHz to 24 GHz. In addition, it predicts the delay spread for line-of-sight paths well, but fails for non-line-of-sight paths.
Controlling mechanism in the aqueous absorption of nitrogen oxides

The reactions involved in the removal of nitrogen oxides from gases by reaction with water are reversible and proceed at a finite rate. It is possible therefore that the over-all process is controlled by the rate of the chemical reactions. On this basis an analysis of the process has been developed by the application of chemical kinetics, with consideration of reactions involving both nitrogen dioxide and dinitrogen tetroxide. The resulting differential equation has been simplified and integrated to give a final equation which can be tested experimentally. Theoretical methods are presented for predicting the extent of absorption of nitrogen oxides at various gas rates and concentrations and are compared with the experimental results. The paper presents some new concepts of the factors which control the rate of absorption of nitrogen dioxide and dinitrogen tetroxide in water. An understanding of the controlling factors in the process should indicate methods for improving the design of absorption towers in nitric acid plants and aid in the design of scrubbers for removing nitrogen oxides from waste gases.
Invited commentary: “Are postoperative complications genetically determined by the TNF-β NcoI gene polymorphism?”

RECENTLY, 2 PATIENTS WITH PERFORATED duodenal ulcers were admitted to our institution on the same day. The patients, although different in gender, were otherwise almost identical in age and other comorbid conditions. Both patients were resuscitated and taken to the operating room where they underwent Graham patch closure of their perforated duodenal ulcers. The only difference in treatment was that 1 patient refused operation for almost 24 hours. The patient with the immediate operation did well postoperatively for approximately 24 hours, and then developed progressive sepsis syndrome and multiple organ failure. The other patient was discharged home 3 days after the operation without complication. It is intriguing to hypothesize that the development of severe postoperative complications may be genetically determined, thus explaining the difference in outcome in our 2 patients. In the current issue of Surgery, Kahlke et al. have attempted to provide some data to answer this question in their article, ‘‘Are postoperative complications genetically determined by the TNF-b nco1 gene polymorphism?’’1 They reported on a prospective observation study in which 160 patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery were monitored during their clinical course, and all postoperative complications were recorded. Each patient underwent examination of their TNF-b Nco1 genotype. Patients were then segregated as being either homozygous for either TNF-b1 or TNF-b2, or being heterozygous. The authors reported that patients who were homozygous for the TNF-b2 genotype had a 1.5 fold higher relative risk of severe complications.
BALANCING GASTROPROTECTION AND CARDIOPROTECTION WITH SELECTIVE CYCLO-OXYGENASE-2 INHIBITORS: CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

NSAIDs have been the mainstay of treatment in the management of pain and inflammation associated with chronic inflammatory disorders. They are effective. However, complications arising from chronic NSAID use are common and are primarily due to gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity in the form of gastritis, peptic erosions and ulceration and GI bleeds. GI toxicity has been attributed to the blockade of the cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-1-mediated generation of the cytoprotective prostanoids, such as prostaglandin (PG) E2 and PGI2 (prostacyclin). More recently, selective COX-2 inhibitors (‘coxibs’) were designed to inhibit the production of COX-2-dependent inflammatory prostanoids and to leave intact the cytoprotective COX-1 products.
Technology in Microvascular Surgery

With the refinement of microvascular technique, free-tissue transfer has emerged as the standard of care in head and neck reconstruction. Success rates and reductions in operative time have reduced "flap take" from being the marker of reconstructive success to being an expectation. Interest has now shifted to improvement of technique, with surgeons placing increasing importance on donor site morbidity, quality of tissue harvested, and esthetic and functional outcomes. Much of the recent success can be attributed to technological advance through improvement in instrumentation and technique and enhancement of the understanding of flap physiology and anatomy. This article reviews some of the recent advances and how they have affected microvascular surgery from preoperative, operative, and postoperative standpoints.
Communication Forms as Predictors of Issue Knowledge in Presidential Campaigns: A Meta-Analytic Assessment

Theory and past research argue for the importance of understanding the effect of various campaign communication forms (e.g., newspapers, television news, radio, debates, candidate advertising, and personal discussions) on levels of issue knowledge (IK). This study used a meta-analytic approach to examine how well these forms predict IK. The aggregate analysis indicates that any of these forms can affect IK but that the different forms are not equally successful. Findings also indicate that the level of campaign interest moderates the effect of reading newspapers and watching television news and that those who watch debates in years with incumbents are less likely to learn. In addition, studies of newspapers are less likely to find significant effects in recent years, even though the issue content of newspapers has increased. The findings also suggest that television news is more likely to influence IK when levels of issue content are greater. These data indicate that measures of media use and IK can syste...
Digestibility of Gross Nutrients by Sunshine Bass in Animal By-Products and Commercially Blended Products Used as Fish Meal Replacements

Abstract To more accurately formulate feeds for hybrid striped bass (white bass Morone chrysops × striped bass M. saxatilis), data on the availability of nutrients from feedstuffs are needed to complement information on nutritional requirements. An experiment was conducted to determine the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of protein, lipid, energy, and organic matter for an assortment of commercially available feedstuffs and blended products used as fish meal replacements. The feedstuffs tested were ring-dried blood meal, poultry by-product meal, fish solubles, and four commercially blended fish meal substitutes (PRO-PAK, PRO-PAK 65, Pro-Con 65RDB, and 60FMC). Organic matter ADCs for these products ranged from 47% for 60FMC to 130% for fish solubles, while energy ADCs paralleled these values and ranged from 48% (60FMC) to 114% (fish solubles). Lipid ADCs ranged from 49% for PRO-PAK 65 to 79% for poultry by-product meal, and protein ADCs ranged from 47% for 60FMC to 70% for fish solubles. These v...