cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Partial Agonists Activate PPARgamma Using a Helix 12 Independent Mechanism

Summary Binding to helix 12 of the ligand-binding domain of PPARγ is required for full agonist activity. Previously, the degree of stabilization of the activation function 2 (AF-2) surface was thought to correlate with the degree of agonism and transactivation. To examine this mechanism, we probed structural dynamics of PPARγ with agonists that induced graded transcriptional responses. Here we present crystal structures and amide H/D exchange (HDX) kinetics for six of these complexes. Amide HDX revealed each ligand induced unique changes to the dynamics of the ligand-binding domain (LBD). Full agonists stabilized helix 12, whereas intermediate and partial agonists did not at all, and rather differentially stabilized other regions of the binding pocket. The gradient of PPARγ transactivation cannot be accounted for solely through changes to the dynamics of AF-2. Thus, our understanding of allosteric signaling must be extended beyond the idea of a dynamic helix 12 acting as a molecular switch.
Evidence for the nuclear location of the gene for chloroplast elongation factor G.

The chloroplast protein synthesis factor responsible for the translocation step of polypeptide synthesis on chloroplast ribosomes (chloroplast elongation factor G [EF-G]) has been detected in whole cell extracts and in isolated chloroplasts from Euglena gracilis. This factor can be detected by its ability to catalyze translocation on 70 S prokaryotic ribosomes such as those from E. coli. Chloroplast EF-G is present in low levels when Euglena is grown in the dark and can be induced more than 20-fold when the organism is grown in the light. The induction of this factor by light is inhibited by cycloheximide, a specific inhibitor of protein synthesis on cytoplasmic ribosomes. However, inhibitors of chloroplast protein synthesis such as streptomycin or spectinomycin have no effect on the induction of this factor by light. Furthermore, chloroplast EF-G can be partially induced by light in an aplastidic mutant (strain W3BUL) which has neither significant plastid structure nor detectable chloroplast DNA. These data strongly suggest that the genetic information for chloroplast EF-G resides in the nuclear genome, and that this protein is synthesized on cytoplasmic ribosomes prior to compartmentalization within the chloroplasts.
Air Pollution Metric Analysis While Determining Susceptible Periods of Pregnancy for Low Birth Weight

Multiple metrics to characterize air pollution are available for use in environmental health analyses in addition to the standard Air Quality System (AQS) pollution monitoring data. These metrics have complete spatial-temporal coverage across a domain and are therefore crucial in calculating pollution exposures in geographic areas where AQS monitors are not present. We investigate the impact that two of these metrics, output from a deterministic chemistry model (CMAQ) and from a spatial-temporal downscaler statistical model which combines information from AQS and CMAQ (DS), have on risk assessment. Using each metric, we analyze ambient ozone's effect on low birth weight utilizing a Bayesian temporal probit regression model. Weekly windows of susceptibility are identified and analyzed jointly for all births in a subdomain of Texas, 2001–2004, and results from the different pollution metrics are compared. Increased exposures during weeks 20–23 of the pregnancy are identified as being associated with low birth weight by the DS metric. Use of the CMAQ output alone results in increased variability of the final risk assessment estimates, while calibrating the CMAQ through use of the DS metric provides results more closely resembling those of the AQS. The AQS data are still preferred when available.
Identification of ischemic and hibernating myocardium: feasibility of post-exercise F-18-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography

The identification of ischemic and hibernating myocardium facilitates the selection of patients most likely to benefit from revascularization. This study examined the feasibility of metabolic imaging, using post-exercise F-18 deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for the diagnosis of both ischemia and hibernation in 27 patients with known coronary anatomy. Normal post-exercise FDG uptake was defined in each patient by reference to normal resting perfusion and normal coronary supply. Abnormal elevation of FDG (ischemia or hibernation) was compared in 13 myocardial segments in each patient, with the results of dipyridamole stress perfusion imaging performed by rubidium-82 positron emission tomography (Rb-PET). Myocardial ischemia was diagnosed by either FDG-PET or Rb-PET in 34 segments subtended by significant local coronary stenoses. Increased FDG uptake was present in 32/34 (94%) and a reversible perfusion defect was identified by Rb-PET in 22/34 (65%, p less than .01). In 3 patients, ischemia was identified by metabolic imaging alone. In 16 patients with previous myocardial infarction, perfusion defects were present at rest in 89 regions, 30 of which (34%) demonstrated increased FDG uptake, consistent with the presence of hibernation. Increased post-exercise FDG uptake appears to be a sensitive indicator of ischemia and myocardial hibernation. This test may be useful in selecting post-infarction patients for revascularization.
Discrimination of sunflower volatiles by the red sunflower seed weevil

Five principle monoterpenoid and other constituent volatile chemicals of sunflower heads were combined to resemble two lines of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.): one U.S.D.A. standard line and one French line which was ‘poorly visited by insects’ (Etievant et al., 1984). Field trials of attraction to red sunflower seed weevils (Smicronyx fulvus Le Conte, Coleoptera: Curculionidae) showed that one was clearly preferred over the other. The more attractive mixture contained α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, camphene and bornyl acetate in a ratio resembling that of Flath et al. (1985) rather than that described by Etievant et al. (1984). One or two volatiles were deleted from the optimal blend but only mixtures of five volatiles showed the highest attraction. Substitution of sabinene, another volatile prominent in sunflower, for one of the five in the optimal blend also decreased attraction of seed weevils. When the monoterpenoid components and ‘green leaf volatiles’ in the traps resembled the ratios of most of the prominent volatiles of sunflower, attraction was significantly greater than controls.
Cross-Cultural Assessment of Emotional States and Personality Traits

Biographical information regarding Wilhelm Wundt and William James is briefly described, and the contributions of these founders of psychology in Europe and the US to the understanding of emotions and personality are reviewed. Important theoretical contributions of Darwin and Freud to the historical evolution of emotions and personality as psychological constructs are also examined. Critical issues and sources of error in the cross-cultural adaptation of psychological tests of emotional states and personality traits are evaluated, emphasizing the importance of construct equivalence in the languages of the tests that are being translated and adapted. The nature of anxiety, anger, depression, and curiosity as fundamental psychological concepts is discussed, and the importance of measuring these vital signs in diagnosis and treatment is emphasized.
Does Sentiment Explain Closed‐end Fund Discounts? Evidence from Bond Funds

This paper documents that discounts and premia on closed-end bond funds exhibit the same sensitivity to broad market returns as stock fund discounts. Despite this, stock funds sell on average at discounts from net asset value while bond funds sell at small premia. This pattern calls into question the conclusion that the average level of the discount rate can be rationalized by appealing to the systematic nature of discount risk. These results indicate that appeals to investor sentiment, which have been hypothesized as a source of fund discounts, do not fully resolve the puzzle of closed-end fund discounts.
Case Study of Factors Affecting Urban Residential Construction in St. Louis

Across the country, renewed public and private investment in urban areas is converting blighted neighborhoods into residential developments. An interesting question is what factors draw investors to areas that have been declining or are abandoned. The explosion of publicly available data on the Internet has made possible the examination of some of the factors that may contribute to an urban neighborhood’s revitalization or redevelopment. Using a database of information compiled from the City of St. Louis Community Information Network, this research sought to identify factors common to St. Louis neighborhoods where building activity was greatest in 1997, the most recent year for which building permit data were available.
La longevidad del besugo Epigonus crassicaudus en Chile: ¿es similar a la de sus parientes?

The cardinalfish Epigonus crassicaudus is a deep-demersal fish with commercial importance for the trawl fishery operating off central Chile. Previous analysis in age assignment, based on the whole otolith, determined the maximum age to be 15 years old. Although scarce data is available for the genus, other congeneric species might live up to 100 years. Using sagitta otolith transversal sections, we determined age to 1277 fish collected in central Chile between January and December 2008. Longevity was determined in 54 years old.
2007 Robert and Alma Moreton Lecture: Pay for Performance: More Than Rearranging the Deck Chairs?

Over the past 30 years, research exploring the causes and consequences of geographic variations in practice has called into question widely held assumptions about the relationship between spending and quality. Two-fold differences in spending are observed across U.S. regions that are not due to differences in illness or to the prices charged by providers. Rather, higher spending is due primarily to greater use of “supply-sensitive” services: the frequency of visits to physicians and referrals to specialists, the amount of time similar patients spend in the hospital, and the frequency of imaging, tests, and minor procedures. The paradox, however, is that greater use of these services has been shown to be associated with lower quality, no gain in survival, and worse physician and patient-reported quality of care. It may be possible, therefore, to lower spending while improving quality. But this will require addressing the underlying causes of the variations: overuse of discretionary services in a fee-for-service system that ensures that physicians stay busy and that existing capacity remains fully deployed. These findings point to 3 strategies that will be required for pay for performance to achieve its potential: fostering local organizational accountability for the overall quality and costs of care—and for the capacity of the local delivery system; adoption of comprehensive longitudinal performance measures—to reassure the public that lower spending is compatible with higher quality care; and fundamental reform of the payment system.
Resilience in Agriculture: Small- and Medium-Sized Farms in Northwest Washington State

The research reported here uses resilience thinking in examining farmer responses to disturbance scenarios in the North Puget Sound region of Washington State. Through farmer resilience workshops based on plausible disturbance scenarios of climate change, seasonal flooding, energy price spikes, and rapid urbanization, farmers identified further threats to farm systems, possible thresholds of undesirable change in farm systems, and adaptive strategies useful in addressing the examined threats. It is clear that adaptive strategies become more complex at scales beyond the farm level. Further, individual commitment to a rural, farm lifestyle was an important component of whether a farm operation would thrive within larger nested systems. At the same time, farmers in the study recognized the need to re-frame agricultural policy in the United States away from emphasis on the stabilization of prices, and more towards farmer autonomy within agreed-upon guidelines.
Determination of index of refraction and size of supermicrometer particles from light scattering measurements at two angles

[1] A twin angle optical particle counter (TAOPC) that measures forward scattering at 40° and 74° was developed to determine the index of refraction of atmospheric particles. An error analysis indicates that measurement uncertainties for size at 40° are between 4 and 10% for particles >1.5 μm and between 5 and 15% at 74°. For the index of refraction determination, the measurement uncertainties lead to index of refraction uncertainties between 1 and 2.5%. The instrument was tested on nonabsorbing spherical particles of known composition and size in the laboratory. The majority of the estimated indices of refraction were within ±1% of the expected indices, and size determination was within acceptable error. The instrument was also tested on non-spherical absorbing particles to determine the complex index of refraction of ambient mineral dust particles collected in Laramie, Wyoming, in February 2006. The index of refraction was determined with the particle number ratio approach and was estimated to be in the range 1.60–1.67 for the real part and 0.009–0.0104 for the imaginary part. Simultaneously with the TAOPC measurements, particles were collected on polycarbonate filters for computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM) analysis. Index of refraction calculated from this analysis was in the range 1.61–1.66 for the real part and 0.008–0.012 for the imaginary part. Particles were also collected for longer periods on two different filter pack systems in February 2006. Estimates of index of refraction from these measurements compared well with the CCSEM analysis.
Stimulation of the pituitary–adrenal axis and of adrenocortical steroidogenesis ex vivo by administration of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate to prepubertal male rats

Phthalate esters exert deleterious effects on testicular physiology and, consequently, on reproduction and fertility. However, little is presently known concerning potential adverse effects of these environmental pollutants on the hormonal functions of the adrenal gland. Therefore, we have investigated the effects of administering to rats of different developmental ages di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in vivo, as well as on adrenocortical steroidogenesis ex vivo. Oral exposure to DEHP once daily for 4 days elevated the serum levels of ACTH and corticosterone in rats 20 and 40 days of age, but not in adult, 60-day-old animals. Furthermore, primary cultures of adrenocortical cells isolated from 20- and 40-day-old rats treated with DEHP exhibited an enhanced capacity to produce corticosterone in response to ACTH, dibutyryl cAMP, and 22R-hydroxycholesterol, as well as increased ACTH-stimulated transport of endogenous cholesterol into mitochondria. Neither DEHP nor its major metabolite mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate altered steroidogenesis in cultures of adrenocortical cells isolated from untreated rats. These findings demonstrate that in male rats, DEHP exerts an age-dependent influence on the pituitary-adrenocortical axis in vivo and adrenocortical steroidogenesis ex vivo. Such perturbation may be of pathological significance in connection with disorders of the hormonal stress response, especially in very young human beings.
Cognitive Maps and the Language of Thought

AbstractFodor advocates a view of cognitive processes as computations defined over the language of thought (or Mentalese). Even among those who endorse Mentalese, considerable controversy surrounds...
Sonography, CT, and MR imaging: a prospective comparison of neonates with suspected intracranial ischemia and hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Sonography, CT, and MR imaging are commonly used to screen for neonatal intracranial ischemia and hemorrhage, yet few studies have attempted to determine which imaging technique is best suited for this purpose. The goals of this study were to compare sonography with CT and MR imaging prospectively for the detection of intracranial ischemia or hemorrhage and to determine the prognostic value(s) of neuroimaging in neonates suspected of having hypoxic-ischemic injury (HII). METHODS: Forty-seven neonates underwent CT (n = 26) or MR imaging (n = 24) or both (n = 3) within the first month of life for suspected HII. Sonography was performed according to research protocol within an average of 14.4 ± 9.6 hours of CT or MR imaging. A kappa analysis of interobserver agreement was conducted using three independent observers. Infants underwent neurodevelopmental assessment at ages 2 months (n = 47) and 2 years (n = 26). RESULTS: CT and MR imaging had significantly higher interobserver agreement (P 1 cm, including Grade IV GMH) compared with sonography, which depicted five. The negative predictive values of neuroimaging, irrespective of technique used, were 53.3% and 58.8% at the 2-month and 2-year follow-up examinations, respectively. CONCLUSION: CT and MR imaging have significantly better interobserver agreement for cortical HII and GMH/intraventricular hemorrhage and can reveal more instances of intraparenchymal hemorrhage compared with sonography. The absence of neuroimaging findings on sonograms, CT scans, or MR images does not rule out later neurologic dysfunction.
Looking for answers to questions about heat stress: researchers are getting warmer

While the public continues to debate the reality of global warming, scientists should prepare to deal with the consequences of this very real phenomenon. Our planet has warmed by 0·13 ° C per decade since 1956, and will likely warm more rapidly in the decades to come (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007). This global measure of thermal change belies the more pronounced and less predictable changes that are occurring on smaller scales (Walther et al . 2002). For example, the greater frequency and intensity of heat waves in many areas ranks among the more threatening aspects of anthropogenic climate change. Will acclimation or adaptation enable the persistence of populations that face such thermal stresses? And, if populations do persist, will their densities and compositions change radically? To answer these questions, we must understand a suite of phenomena, ranging from the mechanistic basis of thermotolerance to the demographic and ecological consequences of thermal plasticity (Angilletta 2009). This issue of Functional Ecology contains four papers that improve our understanding of these phenomena. To enhance your appreciation of this collection, I briefly highlight the significance of each paper while laying out the broader issues concerning the biological impacts of heat stress. During rapid warming, the performance of an organism depends on its capacity to protect and modify its cellular structures. Brief exposure to extreme heat often causes greater thermotolerance within hours, a phenomenon referred to as
Profound Enhancement of T Cell Activation Mediated by the Interaction Between the TCR and the D3 Domain of CD4

CD4 plays an important role in the activation and development of CD4+ T cells. This is mediated via its bivalent interaction with MHC class II molecules and the TCR:CD3 complex through p56lck. Recent studies have implicated a third site of interaction between the membrane-proximal extracellular domains of CD4 and the TCR. Due to these multiple interactions, direct evidence for the functional importance of this extracellular association has remained elusive. Furthermore, the residues that mediate this interaction are unknown. In this study, we analyzed the function of 61 CD4 mutants. Alanine substitution of just 2 residues, either Q114/F182 or F182/F201, which are partially buried and located close to the D2/D3 interface, completely abrogated CD4 function. Direct evidence for the functional importance of TCR:CD4.D3 interaction was obtained using an anti-CD3fos:anti-CD4jun-bispecific Ab. Surprisingly, it induced strong T cell activation in hybridomas transfected with cytoplasmic-tailless CD4, despite the lack of association with either p56lck or MHC class II molecules. However, this effect was completely abrogated with the CD4 mutants Q114A/F182A or F182A/F201A. These data demonstrate that TCR:CD4.D3 interaction can have a profound effect on T cell activation and obviates the need for receptor oligomerization.
Pharmacokinetics of Aspirin: Total and Presystemic Clearance by Rats and Hydrolysis in Blood of Rats and Humans

In the last decade, aspirin has been examined for its efficacy as a blood platelet anti-aggregatory agent in the prevention of secondary myocardial infarction and transient cerebral ischemia. The anti-aggregatory effect of aspirin is due to its inhibition of the enzyme cylcooxygenase in platelets by irreversible acetylation. However, inhibition of this enzyme in the blood vessel wall stimulates platelet aggregation (1). These two opposing effects of aspirin are concentration-dependent, and it has been hypothesized that a narrow range of aspirin plasma concentrations, or areas under the aspirin concentration-time curve (AUC), is required to produce optimal therapeutic effects (1). In view of the more than threefold variation in the AUC’s following oral administration of aspirin in humans (2), it is necessary to establish the factors which determine the systemic availability of unhydrolyzed aspirin. In this study, the pharmacokinetics of aspirin in rats, the hydrolysis of aspirin by rat and human blood, and the correlation betweenin vivo and whole blood hydrolysis of aspirin were investigated.
The Use of Single-Subject Research to Identify Evidence-Based Practice in Special Education:

Slnglesubject research plays an important role in the development of evidence-based practice in special education. The defining features of single-subject research are presented, the con- tributions oj single-subject research for special education are reviewed, and a specific proposal is of- fered for using single-subject research to document evidence-based practice. This article allows readers to determine if a specific study is a credible example of single-subject research and if a spe- cific practice or procedure has been validated as "evidence-based" via single-subject research.
The genetic legacy of Mother Goose– phylogeographic patterns of lesser snow goose Chen caerulescens caerulescens maternal lineages

By using the polymerase chain reaction to amplify and sequence 178 bp of a rapidly evolving region of the mtDNA genome (segment I of the control region) from 81 individuals, approximately 11% of the variation present in the lesser snow goose Chen caerulescens caerulescens L. mitochondrial genome was surveyed. The 26 types of mtDNA detected formed two distinct mitochondrial clades that differ by an average of 6.7% and are distributed across the species range. Restriction analysis of amplified fragments was then used to assign the mtDNA of an additional 29 individuals to either of these clades. Within one major clade, sequence among mtDNAs was concordant with geographic location. Within the other major clade the degree of sequence divergence among haplotypes was lower and no consistent geographic structuring was evident. The two major clades presumably result from vicariant separation of lesser snow geese during the Pleistocene.
Impact of myocardial structure and function postinfarction on diastolic strain measurements: implications for assessment of myocardial viability.

We sought to assess the role of regional diastolic function by Doppler echocardiography in predicting myocardial viability. Sixteen dogs underwent left anterior descending coronary artery (n = 8) o...
Skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum contains a NADH-dependent oxidase that generates superoxide.

Skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is shown to contain an NADH-dependent oxidase (NOX) that reduces molecular oxygen to generate superoxide. Its activity is coupled to an activation of the...
[Study on the events of nonfatal drowning among primary and middle school students in a rural town of Guangdong province, 2006].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the incidence and characteristics of nonfatal drowning among primary and middle school students in rural area and to provide basic information for intervention. METHODS: A rural town was selected and all students from 3th-8th grades, 10th grade and 11th grade were studied. All data were collected, using a self-administrated questionnaires which was guided by investigator. RESULTS: The overall incidence rate of nonfatal drowning was 5.65% (549/9732) and were 7.69%, 5.80%, 2.39% for primary, secondary and high school students, respectively. Male students had a higher rate (7.14%) than that of females (4.03%). The incidence rates of non-treated, treated in emergency and under hospitalization were 4.52%, 0.77% and 0.35%. The major reasons of drowning were swimming (46.88%), falling into waters (15.67%), diving (13.79%) and rescuing others (6.24%). The proportion of drowning occurred in the afternoon, evening, at noon or in the morning were 59.94%, 15.64%, 14.77% and 9.65% respectively. The common sites of drowning were river/lake (42.48%), swimming pool (19.56%), reservoir (11.39%) and pond (4.38%). 66.76% of the drowning cases were witnessed by other person, and 17.86% were conscious when being removed from waters. CONCLUSION: The incidence of nonfatal drowning among students in rural areas was high, and the natural body of waters was the most common site causing drowning while swimming was the major reason of drowning. Intervention targeting on primary and middle school students in rural should be carried out to reduce the incidence. Language: zh
The antiretroviral lectin cyanovirin-N targets well-known and novel targets on the surface of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites.

Entamoeba histolytica, the protist that causes amebic dysentery and liver abscess, has a truncated Asn-linked glycan (N-glycan) precursor composed of seven sugars (Man5GlcNAc2). Here, we show that glycoproteins with unmodified N-glycans are aggregated and capped on the surface of E. histolytica trophozoites by the antiretroviral lectin cyanovirin-N and then replenished from large intracellular pools. Cyanovirin-N cocaps the Gal/GalNAc adherence lectin, as well as glycoproteins containing O-phosphodiester-linked glycans recognized by an anti-proteophosphoglycan monoclonal antibody. Cyanovirin-N inhibits phagocytosis by E. histolytica trophozoites of mucin-coated beads, a surrogate assay for amebic virulence. For technical reasons, we used the plant lectin concanavalin A rather than cyanovirin-N to enrich secreted and membrane proteins for mass spectrometric identification. E. histolytica glycoproteins with occupied N-glycan sites include Gal/GalNAc lectins, proteases, and 17 previously hypothetical proteins. The latter glycoproteins, as well as 50 previously hypothetical proteins enriched by concanavalin A, may be vaccine targets as they are abundant and unique. In summary, the antiretroviral lectin cyanovirin-N binds to well-known and novel targets on the surface of E. histolytica that are rapidly replenished from large intracellular pools.
Distributed initialization of sensor networks with communication and computation trees

When compared to the tracking problem in which prior knowledge is available, generating the initial distribution for the state vector of a phenomenon of interest, with no prior knowledge of the desired state, is a challenging problem. In this paper, the authors develop a fully distributed initialization algorithm that fuses data in heterogeneous sensor networks using communication trees. Monte Carlo methods are used to fuse the collected data and to represent the desired state vector distribution. The presented algorithm utilizes an importance function that is additive in the local node posterior distributions, providing a robust alternative to belief propagation methods in which particles are generated according to the product of local node posteriors.
Genetics-Based Trajectory Discovery for Tactical Missiles

Genetic algorithms use Darwin’s principle of natural selection to solve complex, combinatorial optimization problems. Many guidance schemes for tactical missiles attempt to achieve maximum closing velocity or attempt to intercept at specific crossing angles. Application of the genetic algorithm to trajectory shaping provides an universal trajectory discovery tool for a multitude of missile guidance applications. Trajectories found by the GA lend insight into the design of tactical guidance algorithms.
Expanding the catalog of cas genes with metagenomes

The CRISPR (clusters of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)–Cas adaptive immune system is an important defense system in bacteria, providing targeted defense against invasions of foreign nucleic acids. CRISPR–Cas systems consist of CRISPR loci and cas (CRISPR-associated) genes: sequence segments of invaders are incorporated into host genomes at CRISPR loci to generate specificity, while adjacent cas genes encode proteins that mediate the defense process. We pursued an integrated approach to identifying putative cas genes from genomes and metagenomes, combining similarity searches with genomic neighborhood analysis. Application of our approach to bacterial genomes and human microbiome datasets allowed us to significantly expand the collection of cas genes: the sequence space of the Cas9 family, the key player in the recently engineered RNA-guided platforms for genome editing in eukaryotes, is expanded by at least two-fold with metagenomic datasets. We found genes in cas loci encoding other functions, for example, toxins and antitoxins, confirming the recently discovered potential of coupling between adaptive immunity and the dormancy/suicide systems. We further identified 24 novel Cas families; one novel family contains 20 proteins, all identified from the human microbiome datasets, illustrating the importance of metagenomics projects in expanding the diversity of cas genes.
Microstructure and recording properties of bicrystal disks with GaAs substrates

Bicrystal disks with CoCrTa magnetic layer and Cr underlayer were fabricated on {001} GaAs single crystalline wafers. It is found that the epitaxial orientation relationship of Cr onto GaAs is {001} Cr/spl par/{001} GaAs. Disks with coercivity up to 2600 Oe, accompanied by near unity coercive and remanent squarenesses, were obtained. Measured medium noise power is extremely low and remains unchanged as recording density increases up to 4000 fr/mm. The recording properties of the bicrystal media are compared with those of conventional longitudinal thin film media which have similar coercivities. >
How much radiation is the chemotherapy worth in advanced head and neck cancer

Purpose: To estimate the radiotherapeutic dose equivalence of chemoradiotherapy in head and neck cancer. Methods: The biologic equivalent dose (BED) of radiotherapy in nine trials of standard and five trials of modified fractionated radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy was calculated using the linear-quadratic formulation. Data from Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) study 90-03 were used to calculate the relationship (S) between increase in locoregional control (LRC) and increase in BED with modified vs. standard fractionated radiotherapy. The increase in LRC with chemoradiotherapy vs. radiotherapy alone, the BED of the radiotherapy-alone arms, and the "S" value were used to calculate the BED contribution from chemotherapy and the total BED of chemoradiotherapy from each study. Results: From RTOG 90-03, a 1% increase in BED yields a 1.1% increase in LRC. The mean BED of standard fractioned radiotherapy was 60.2 Gy 10 and 66 Gy 10 for modified fractionation. The mean BED of standard fractionated chemoradiotherapy was 71 Gy 10 (10.8 Gy 10 contributed by chemotherapy). The mean BED of modified fractionated chemoradiotherapy was 76 Gy 10 (10.4 Gy 10 contributed by chemotherapy). Conclusions: Chemotherapy increases BED by approximately 10 Gy 10 in standard and modified fractionated radiotherapy, equivalent to a dose escalation of 12 Gy in 2 Gy daily or 1.2 Gy twice daily. Such an escalation could not be safely achieved by increasing radiation dose alone.
Balancing Fraud Prevention and Electoral Participation: Attitudes Toward Voter Identification†

Objective. This article examines public opinion on the effectiveness and consequences of voter identification laws, focusing on the core issue in the Supreme Court's reasoning in the 2008 case that upheld an Indiana photo-ID law, Crawford v. Marion County Election Board. Method. We use a unique survey from New Mexico, where voter identification policies have recently undergone important changes. Questions in the survey examine whether voters think that ID laws protect against fraud and prevent legitimate participation, which point of view voters find more compelling, and whether attitudes toward voter identification are related to voter confidence. Results. Most voters think that voter ID laws prevent fraud, but many voters think that ensuring access to the polls is more important than preventing fraud. Among other variables that explain differences among individuals, partisanship plays an important role. Conclusion. The framing of voter identification policies plays an important role in how such laws are interpreted by the public and Republicans are especially concerned about fraud in elections.
A COMPUTATIONAL MODEL FOR ESTIMATING THE MECHANICS OF HORIZONTAL FLAPPING FLIGHT IN BATS: MODEL DESCRIPTION AND VALIDATION

We combine three-dimensional descriptions of the movement patterns of the shoulder, elbow, carpus, third metacarpophalangeal joint and wingtip with a constant-circulation estimation of aerodynamic force to model the wing mechanics of the grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) in level flight. Once rigorously validated, this computer model can be used to study diverse aspects of flight. In the model, we partitioned the wing into a series of chordwise segments and calculated the magnitude of segmental aerodynamic forces assuming an elliptical, spanwise distribution of circulation at the middle of the downstroke. The lift component of the aerodynamic force is typically an order of magnitude greater than the thrust component. The largest source of drag is induced drag, which is approximately an order of magnitude greater than body form and skin friction drag. Using this model and standard engineering beam theory, we calculate internal reaction forces, moments and stresses at the humeral and radial midshaft during flight. To assess the validity of our model, we compare the model-derived stresses with our previous in vivo empirical measurements of bone strain from P. poliocephalus in free flapping flight. Agreement between bone stresses from the simulation and those calculated from empirical strain measurements is excellent and suggests that the computer model captures a significant portion of the mechanics and aerodynamics of flight in this species.
A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Affect Regulation and Social Problem-Solving Psychotherapies for Mothers With Victimization-Related PTSD

Addressing affect dysregulation may provide a complementary alternative or adjunctive approach to the empirically supported trauma memory processing models of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A CBT designed to enhance affect regulation without trauma memory processing--trauma affect regulation: guide for education and therapy (TARGET)--was compared to present centered therapy (PCT) and wait-list (WL) conditions in a randomized clinical trial with 146 primarily low-income and ethnoracial minority mothers with PTSD. TARGET achieved statistically and clinically significant improvement on PTSD and affect regulation measures compared to WL, with more consistent and sustained (over a 6-month follow-up period) evidence of improvement than PCT. Drop-out rates (~25%) were comparable in TARGET and PCT, similar to those previously reported for trauma memory processing CBTs. Symptom worsening was rare (2-8%) and transient. Affect regulation-based CBT without trauma memory processing warrants further research as a potentially efficacious therapy for victimization-related PTSD.
Optimization of adenoviral vector-mediated transgene expression in the canine brain in vivo, and in canine glioma cells in vitro

Expression of the immune-stimulatory molecule Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) and the conditional cytotoxic enzyme herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-TK) provides long-term immune-mediated survival of large glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) models in rodents. A limitation for predictive testing of novel antiglioma therapies has been the lack of a glioma model in a large animal. Dogs bearing spontaneous GBM may constitute an attractive large-animal model for GBM, which so far has remained underappreciated. In preparation for a clinical trial in dogs bearing spontaneous GBMs, we tested and optimized adenovirus-mediated transgene expression with negligible toxicity in the dog brain in vivo and in canine J3T glioma cells. Expression of the marker gene β-galactosidase (β-Gal) was higher when driven by the murine (m) than the human (h) cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter in the dog brain in vivo, without enhanced inflammation. In the canine brain, β-Gal was expressed mostly in astrocytes. β-Gal activity in J3T cells was also higher with the mCMV than the hCMV promoter driving tetracycline-dependent (TetON) trans-gene expression within high-capacity adenovirus vectors (HC-Ads). Dog glioma cells were efficiently transduced by HC-Ads expressing mCMV-driven HSV1-TK, which induced 90% reduction in cell viability in the presence of ganciclovir. J3T cells were also effectively transduced with HC-Ads expressing Flt3L under the control of the regulatable TetON promoter system, and as predicted, Flt3L release was stringently inducer dependent. HC-Ads encoding therapeutic transgenes under the control of regulatory sequences driven by the mCMV promoter are excellent vectors for the treatment of spontaneous GBM in dogs, which constitute an ideal preclinical animal model.
Introduction: History of psoriasis and psoriasis therapy

This chronicle of psoriasis begins in ancient times when psoriasis, leprosy, and other inflammatory skin disorders were thought to be the same condition. The identification of psoriasis as a distinct entity did not occur until the 19th century, when clinical descriptions distinguished it from other cutaneous disorders. Histopathologic descriptions in the 1960s and 1970s shed some light on the pathophysiology of psoriasis, but many aspects of the disease remain unknown to this day. As Bechet expressed, “Psoriasis is an antidote for dermatologists’ ego” [1].
Two-Decade Decrease of Particulate Phosphorus Inventory Revealed by Hawaii Ocean Time-series

Since the Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) program was initialized in 1988, repeated observations of a series of physical, chemical and biological parameters have been made on a monthly basis at a deep-ocean station (~4,700 m) locating in the North Pacific subtropical gyre [1]. The two-decade data have revealed interannual variations in many parameters. Most of these interannual variations were not sustained toward one direction in the two decades. The surface particulate phosphorus (P) inventory, however, was one of the few exceptions whose annual averages changed monotonically in this period. The annual average particulate P inventory in the surface 100 m has significantly decreased (Spearman rank correlation to year: ρ = -0.95, p <0.001) from 21 nM in 1990 to 8.6 nM in 2010, a 60% drop! Meanwhile, the particulate carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) did not show sustained decrease. This decrease may indicate a profound change at the ecosystem level, considering P as an essential nutrient utilized by all living organisms for genetic materials (DNA and RNA), membranes and energy storage (ATP and ADP).
ID: 58: ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY, AN UNDERREPORTED CAUSE OF PNEUMOTHORAX

Introduction Acupuncture is usually portrayed as a risk-free therapy; but is it? We report a case of a tension pneumothorax following acupuncture therapy. Case Presentation A 70 year-old-man was receiving acupuncture therapy for right-sided post-herpetic neuralgia involving the 4th–7th intercostal nerves. Shortly after, he started complaining of severe dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain and was transferred to the emergency department. His SpO2 was 77% on room air, respiratory rate 38/min, heart rate 129/min and blood pressure 154/82 mm Hg. Absence of breath sounds was noted on the right side. Chest X-ray (CXR) revealed a right-sided pneumothorax with mediastinal shift (figure 1). A 14F chest tube was placed and a follow-up CXR showed resolution of the pneumothorax. On hospital day#2, the air leak resolved and the chest tube was clamped, but the patient developed subcutaneous emphysema requiring unclamping of the chest tube and attaching it to suction (–40 cm H2O). On day#4, the chest tube was removed. Serial CXRs were done showing stable subcutaneous emphysema and absence of pneumothorax. He was discharged home on day#7 only to be readmitted 48h later with recurrent pneumothorax requiring placement of another 14F chest tube. Due to persistent air leak on suction, a chest CT was done showing small anterior right-sided pneumothorax and right-sided subpleural bullae (figure 2). Thoracic surgery was consulted and a Video-assisted thoracoscopic excision of ruptured bullae with talc pleurodesis was performed. He was discharged home on hospital day#13. At one month follow-up, he remained asymptomatic. Discussion Acupuncture is one of the most popular of all alternative therapies, and is a relatively safe procedure. Although rare; pneumothorax is the most reported serious complication. In a prospective observational study in Germany, the incidence of acupuncture-related pneumothorax was 1/100000 patients (1) . Unfortunately, this study included various acupuncture treatments and not only the ones where needling of the thorax occurred. High quality studies are absent and most data come from case reports. In a review of the Chinese literature, 30 cases were reported between 1980 and 2013 (2) . In the English literature, 26 cases were reported between 1965 and 1999 (3) , and 13 cases between 2000 and 2011, with only 3 cases in the USA (4) . Most reported cases have in common the lack of an informed consent. We are reporting this case to increase the awareness toward recognizing pneumothorax as a potential complication of acupuncture, and reinforce the need of an informed consent where benefits and risks of acupuncture therapy are discussed.
A Method for Quantitative Estimation of Pigment in Gallstones.

None of the methods known for quantitative estimation of bile pigment has been found satisfactory for gallstone pigment estimations. van den Bergh's method1 is unsatisfactory, as the unoxidized fractions of pigments are not included; the method of Schmidt and Jones2 is objectionable for similar reasons; Peterman and Cooley3 carried oxidation with peroxide to a blue end-point and used a light filter when making the colorimetric reading.The method offered here uses perchloric acid for oxidation, as the steps are better controlled and the end-products are more stable. A light filter is not necessary with this method. Bile pigments are extracted from weighed amounts (10-20 mg) of dry, well powdered stones, by refluxing with 5 to 8 cc of a mixture of equal parts of chloroform, ethyl alcohol, and glacial acetic acid, until the solvent drops colorless from the tip of the filter cone holding the powdered stone. Previous to this, cholesterol, and calcium and phosphorus are removed by washing first with warm ether ...
Immunoproliferative Small Intestinal Disease Associated With Overwhelming Polymicrobial Gastrointestinal Infection With Transformation to Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

Immunoproliferative small intestinal disease (IPSID) is an extra-nodal B-cell lymphoma most commonly described in the Mediterranean, Africa, and Asia. It is associated with poverty and poor sanitation, and is rarely encountered in developed countries. A 26-year-old previously healthy, Marshallese male was transferred to our facility with a 6-month history of watery diarrhea, weakness, and cachexia refractory to multiple short courses of oral antibiotics. Stool cultures grew Campylobacter jejuni and Vibrio fluvialis. Endoscopic evaluation showed histologic evidence of Helicobacter pylori gastritis and gross evidence of whipworm infection found in the colon. Mesenteric lymph node biopsy cultures grew Escherichia coli. Histopathology and immunohistochemical stains of the small intestine were consistent with IPSID. He subsequently transformed to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with tonsillar involvement despite treatment with rituximab and an extended course of antibiotics. Systemic chemotherapy with six cycles of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisone, and lenalidomide, resulted in remission of his diffuse B cell lymphoma. This case is illustrative of IPSID developing in a previously healthy individual due to overwhelming polymicrobial gastrointestinal infection by C. jejuni and other enteric pathogens with subsequent transformation to an aggressive DLBCL. IPSID should be considered in residents of developing countries presenting with refractory chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and mesenteric lymphadenopathy.
Recent Advances in Operative Laryngoscopy

Multiple techniques of operative laryngoscopy are currently available. It behooves the otolaryngologist to be knowledgeable about several methods in terms of their relative merits. In this way the anesthetic and lighting technique of choice can be used for the particular lesion and procedure planned.
Are estrogens indicated for the treatment of postmenopausal women

A woman in the U.S. can now expect to live for 30 years or more past the menopause in a state of estrogen deprivation. Hypoestrogenic-associated conditions can be managed by a variety of medical regimens and lifestyle changes, but estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is the most specific and universal treatment for all of the above conditions. Although concern for potential risks has limited its acceptance, the benefits of ERT extend beyond the amelioration of estrogen deprivation symptoms. Evidence is accumulating that ERT may offer protection from cardiovascular atherogenic disease. Several of the risks that have been associated with continuous ERT, such as endometrial cancer and breast cancer, are significantly reduced with the use of cyclic progestogens. Moreover, any concern arising from the use of conjugated estrogens and synthetic progestogens are being addressed by the recent introduction of orally active natural estrogen and soon, progesterone. With the demonstrated efficacy and safety of ERT, such therapy should be considered for all postmenopausal women.
The Garnier and Hénon-Heiles potentials and the Toda lattice

The last chapter is devoted to three other integrable Hamiltonian system which are of interest, especially from the point of view of algebraic geometry. We study in Section 2 an integrable quartic potential on the plane, which was discovered by Gamier as a very special case of a large family of integrable systems which he derived from the Schlesinger equations (see [Gar]); our results were first published in [Van3]. In Paragraph 2.1 we will show in two different ways that the general fiber of its moment map is an affine part of an Abelian surface of type (1,4). One method uses some of their specific geometry, as given in the beautiful paper [BLvS], the other one is based on a morphism to the odd master system. It shows that the Garnier potential is an a.c.i. system of type (1,4) (an a.c.i. system of this type was not known before). Moreover the morphism to the odd master system leads to a Lax representation of the quartic potential. In Paragraph 2.5 we consider the limiting case in which the potential is a central potential. Then the general fiber of the moment map is not an affine part of an Abelian variety but is a C* bundle over an elliptic curve.