cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Free energy surface of an intrinsically disordered protein: comparison between temperature replica exchange molecular dynamics and bias-exchange metadynamics.

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), which are expected to be largely unstructured under physiological conditions, make up a large fraction of eukaryotic proteins. Molecular dynamics simulations have been utilized to probe structural characteristics of these proteins, which are not always easily accessible to experiments. However, exploration of the conformational space by brute force molecular dynamics simulations is often limited by short time scales. Present literature provides a number of enhanced sampling methods to explore protein conformational space in molecular simulations more efficiently. In this work, we present a comparison of two enhanced sampling methods: temperature replica exchange molecular dynamics and bias exchange metadynamics. By investigating both the free energy landscape as a function of pertinent order parameters and the per-residue secondary structures of an IDP, namely, human islet amyloid polypeptide, we found that the two methods yield similar results as expected. We als...
Tuberculosis--the global view.

“Appalled and astounded” at the consequences that [immigration to Boston] had already produced, [Lemuel] Shattuck concluded [in 1850] that it was the immigrants — the poor and unwanted from England and Ireland — who were primarily responsible for bringing disease and impoverishment to an otherwise predominantly healthy and productive native stock: “Our own native inhabitants, who mingle with these recipients of their bounty, often themselves become contaminated with diseases, and sicken and die; and the physical and moral power of living is depreciated, and the healthy social and moral character we once enjoyed is liable to be forever lost.” Barbara . . .
Megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (neonatal hollow visceral myopathy)

A review of the literature reveals that 59 cases of megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome have been reported to date. There were 46 females and 13 males. The clinical presentation is characterised by abdominal distension, bile-stained vomiting, and absent or decreased bowel sounds. The most frequent radiologic or operative findings were a massively distended urinary bladder and microcolon. The neuronal innervation of bowel and bladder was normal in the vast majority of cases. Electron microscopy of bowel and bladder showed vacuolar degenerative changes in the smooth-muscle cells with abundant amounts of connective tissue between muscle cells. The outcome of the syndrome is poor; 51 (87%) of the 59 reported cases have died. Six of the 8 survivors are dependent on total parenteral nutrition. The occurrence of this condition in eight sets of affected siblings together with consanguinity in three sets of parents strongly suggests an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance for this syndrome.
Synthesis and conformational properties of a synthetic cyclic peptide for the active site of α-chymotrypsin

A nonapeptide Ac-His-Phe-Gly-Cys-D-Phe-Ser-Gly-Glu-Cys-NH2 (XI) cyclized through the cysteines at positions 4 and 9 is synthesized as a model active site for the enzyme alpha-chymotrypsin. A CPK model of XI indicates that the peptide will have a high probability of folding into a conformation in which the two beta-phenyls interact to form a hydrophobic site to one side of the cyclohexyl structure, and the Ser-His-Glu side chains form a hydrogen bonded triad over the plane of cyclopeptidyl structure. Substrates can then bind at the hydrophobic pocket formed by the beta-phenyls and be acted upon by the Ser-His-Glu catalytic triad, as in the enzyme. 1H. n.m.r. shows: (i) multiplet peaks for the phenyl protons in D2O that condense to a singlet in DMSO-d6, (ii) a perturbation of the phenyl protons chemical shift on proflavin association to XI, and (iii) perturbation of the His pKa to a higher value on association of proflavin to XI. These data support the existence of a hydrophobic site and a Glu-His interaction in the peptide. Furthermore, the greater than 10(2) better affinity of proflavin to XI than to AcTrp supports the existence of a hydrophobic site. However, no acceleration of p-nitrophenyl acetate or trans-cinnamoyl imidazole hydrolysis over that of imidazole is observed. The possible reasons for a lack of esterase activity in XI and other peptidyl models of serine protease active sites are discussed.
A further test of a simple economic explanation for the existence and nature of political ticket splitting

Abstract Extending earlier work, this paper examines whether a noted ticket splitting pattern is amplified by increasing legislative subdivision. While the results are not supportive of a recently advanced theory for ticket splitting, they also do not allow one to conclusively reject the theory.
Shell Quality: Potential for Improvement by Dietary Means and Relationship with Egg Size

Abstract Three experiments were conducted by sampling a total of 15,705 eggs from Leghorn hens fed diets varying in methionine, Na, and Ca content. In Experiment 1, birds of four different ages were housed in a common environment and fed diets containing between .233 and .383% methionine. In Experiment 2, birds of five different ages were housed in a common environment and fed diets containing .15, .30, and .45% Na and .25, .45, and .65% nonphytate phosphorus (NPP). In Experiment 3, eggs were sampled from 42 to 62 wk of age in 4-wk intervals from hens fed diets containing from 3 to 9% Ca in increments of 1.5%. Feeding lower levels of methionine (.233%) produced significantly lower egg weights and greater shell strength but at the expense of a decline in egg production at early ages. Reducing the NPP level from .65 to .25% produced lower egg weights and greater shell strength. A corresponding drop in production was not observed except at the .45%-Na level. No significant effects of Na on shell strength were observed. Higher Ca levels produced greater shell strength and had variable effects on egg weight. Increasing the Ca level beyond 6% resulted in a significant decline in production. Regression analyses indicated that within a population, the relationship between egg weight and shell strength is positive. In some instances, the relationship was curvilinear, where the positive association between egg weight and shell strength decreased with increasing egg weights.
Mylonites from the Towaliga fault zone, central Georgia: Products of heterogeneous non-coaxial deformation

Abstract Retrograde mylonitic rocks occur in the segment of the Towaliga fault southeast of Jackson, Georgia. Mylonite protoliths are heterogeneous quartz-feldspathic gneisses (upper amphibolite facies, sillimanite zone) from the Pine Mountain and Piedmont terranes. Protoliths contain no distinctive lithological markers that can be used to determine fault displacement. Shear sense can only be determined using microstructural criteria (σ, δ, and θ-type porphyroclast systems; shear bands; asymmetric microfolded quartz ribbons; subgrain fabrics in quartz ribbons). The most common porphyroclast system developed in mylonites and ultramylonites is θ-type. θ-type systems do not have readily identifiable tails but do produce distinctive asymmetrical pile ups in the matrix such that the angle of intersection between the perturbed zone and the mylonitic foliation points in the shear direction. Differences in morphology between σ, δ, and θ-type systems can be related to differences in the recrystallization rate/deformation rate ratio (R/γ) reflecting changes in ductility contrast between matrix and porphyroclast that controls the amount of recrystallized material in a porphyroclast mantle that is potentially available to form tails. In early stages of mylonitization, with low ductility contrasts and large R/γ ratios, large mantles occur around porphyroclasts and tailed systems (σ & δ) develop. In advanced stages of mylonitization, with large ductility contrasts and small R/γ ratios, either very small, or partially or totally missing mantles occur, and θ-type systems develop. Microstructural criteria ubiquitously record a right-lateral strike-slip motion component to the deformation. Textural evidence (e.g. unidirectional shear bands; consistent vorticity recorded by porphyroclasts and asymmetrical microfolds) suggest that the mylonites are the products of non-coaxial deformation. The local presence of fabrics with coaxial symmetry result from heterogeneity in the deformation. The right-lateral offset on the Towaliga fault most likely occurred during the late Paleozoic, Alleghanian orogeny.
Intranasal Desmopressin Versus Blood Transfusion in Cirrhotic Patients With Coagulopathy Undergoing Dental Extraction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose Cirrhotic patients waiting for liver transplantation who need dental extractions are given fresh frozen plasma and/or platelets to correct coagulopathy. This is costly and may be associated with transfusion reactions and fluid overload. We evaluated the efficacy of intranasal desmopressin as an alternative to transfusion to correct the coagulopathy of cirrhotic patients undergoing dental extraction. Patients and Methods Cirrhotic patients with platelet counts of 30,000 to 50,000/μL and/or international normalized ratio (INR) 2.0 to 3.0 were enrolled in a prospective, controlled, randomized clinical trial. Blood transfusion (fresh frozen plasma 10 mL/kg and/or 1 unit of single donor platelets, respectively) or intranasal desmopressin (300 μg) were given before dental extraction. A standard oral and maxillofacial surgical treatment protocol was performed by the same surgeon. Patients were followed for postextraction bleeding and side-effects over the next 24 to 48 hours. Results No significant differences were noted between the 2 groups in gender, age, INR, platelet count, creatinine, total bilirubin, ALT, albumin, MELD score, or number of teeth removed (median 3 vs 4). The number of teeth removed ranged between 1 and 31 in the desmopressin group and 1 and 22 in the transfusion group. No patients in desmopressin group required rescue blood transfusion after extraction. One patient in the transfusion group had bleeding after the procedure and required an additional transfusion. Another patient experienced an allergic reaction at the end of transfusion, which was effectively treated with diphenhydramine. Treatment associated average costs were lower for desmopressin ($700/patient) compared with transfusion ($1,173/patient). Conclusions Intranasal desmopressin was as effective as blood transfusion in achieving hemostasis in cirrhotic patients with moderate coagulopathy undergoing dental extraction. Intranasal desmopressin was much more convenient, less expensive, and well tolerated.
Incomplete Predicates and the Two- World Theory of the Phaedo

In this paper I shall offer a new interpretation of Plato's reason for adopting the theory of the separation of forms from particulars. There is a clear inadequacy in the standard account of Plato's reason,' first given by Aristotle in Bk. I of the Metaphysics.2 According to the Aristotelian passage the motive which led Plato to conceive of forms and particulars as separate was his belief that particulars are in flUX.3 Holding that the objects of knowledge (and logos) could not change,
Sexual recombination in rotifers 1

Data exist suggesting both the presence and absence of recombination in monogonont rotifers. It was therefore previously unknown whether members of this group have true sexual reproduction. We have used acrylamide gel electrophoresis to identify clones of Asplanchna girodi homozygous for two different alleles at a single malic enzyme locus. Crosses made among these clones produced heterozygotes, thus demonstrating that classical sexual recombination occurs in this group of rotifers.
Predicting variability of aquatic concentrations of human pharmaceuticals

Potential exposure to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the aquatic environment is a subject of ongoing concern. We recently published maximum likely exposure rates for several hundred human prescription pharmaceuticals commonly used in the US. These rates were estimated from nationally aggregated marketing data and wastewater production rates. The accuracy of these estimates is unclear, and it is unclear how to use the national-level estimates of exposure to predict local exposure rates. In this study we compare our previous predicted environmental concentrations (PECs), which were based on marketing data, with PECs based on regulatory data. We then use local dispensing rates for 12 APIs along with local wastewater production rates to estimate the distribution of local PECs relative to national averages, in order to identify an 'application factor' suitable for converting national-level PECs into reliable bounds for local concentrations. We compare the national-level PECs and the proposed application factor with measured environmental concentrations (MECs) published in 62 recent peer-reviewed publications. Regulatory data-based national average PECs are uniformly lower than marketing data-based national average PECs, corroborating the intended conservative nature of the marketing data-based PECs. Variability in local API usage and wastewater production rates suggest local PECs may occasionally exceed national averages by about 10-fold. Multiplying national average PECs by an 'application factor' of 10 and comparing the resulting predicted maximum local PECs to published MEC data for 83 APIs corroborates the usefulness of 10-fold adjusted national PECs as a reasonable ceiling for measured environmental concentrations.
Spectroscopic differences between heterocyclic benzothiazoline, -thiazole and imine containing ligands and comparison of the Co and Cu pyridine benzothiazole and imine complexes

Abstract Five heterocyclic benzothiazoline and -thiazole analogs have been synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR and IR spectroscopy. The analogs fall into two different classes, (a) those which contain one benzothiazoline group adjacent to the heterocyclic ring system (starting with 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde, 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde or 2-furaldehyde), and (b) those which have two benzothiazoline substituents (starting with 2,6-pyridinecarboxaldehyde and 2,5-thiohenecarboxaldehyde). In addition, the imine containing ligands, bis-2-[(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)-imino]-benzenethiol disulfide (PyIS)2 and bis-2-[(thiophen-2-ylmethylene)-imino]-benzenethiol disulfide(ThIS)2, were prepared starting with the disulfide of 2-aminothiophenol. Each species has been characterized by 1H NMR and IR spectroscopies. Ligation reactions with 2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiazoline (Py(Bt)) and Cu(OAc)2·1H2O resulted in the formation of a dinuclear species containing two copper ions, two ligand frames and two acetate groups, [Cu(PyAS)(OAc)]2 (1). Both copper ions are five-coordinate and bonded to one monodentate acetate, one ligand frame (NNS) and one bridging thiolate. Ligation reaction with 2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiazole (Py(oBt)) and CoCl2·xH2O or Cu(BF4)2·xH2O resulted in the formation of a six-coordinate, octahedral Co(II) complex, cis-[Co(Py(oBt)2Cl2] (2) and a five coordinate Cu(II) complex, [Cu(Py(oBt))2(OH2)](BF4) (3), respectively. All complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography as well as UV–Vis and IR spectroscopy.
Philosophy in Early Safavid Iran: Najm al-Dīn Maḥmūd al-Nayrīzī and His Writings

Philosophy in Early Safavid Iran: Najm al-Dīn Maḥmūd al-Nayrīzī and His Writings Reza Pourjavady, 2011 [Islamic Philosophy, Theology and Science, Texts and Studies, v. 82]. Leiden and Boston: Brill...
JS-K, a nitric oxide prodrug, induces cytochrome c release and caspase activation in HL-60 myeloid leukemia cells.

Nitric oxide (NO) induces differentiation and apoptosis in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells. The NO prodrug O2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)1-[(4-ethoxycarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate, or JS-K, has potent antileukemic activity. JS-K induces apoptosis in HL-60 cells by a caspase-dependent mechanism. The purpose of this study was to determine the pathway through which JS-K induces apoptosis. We show that JS-K alters mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and induces cytochrome c release from mitochondria into the cytoplasm. Treatment with JS-K resulted in activation of Caspase (Casp) 9, Casp 3 and Casp 8. JS-K constitutes a promising lead for a new class of anti-leukemic agents.
Managing the personality puzzle

Because management is the “art of the possible,” managers need to understand themselves and workers who are charged with carrying out plans. Seemingly, there is a lot of assistance available; indeed, the make‐up of the successful manager is the focus today of a vast educational, consulting and publishing establishment.
Agoraphobic anxiety and fear of fear: Test of a cognitive-attentional model

Abstract A cognitive-attentional model of fear of fear is presented which suggests that agoraphobic individuals are overattentive to their internal body sensations and autonomic arousal and do not possess an effective emotional labeling repertoire to describe such arousal. Agoraphobics, simple phobics, and normal controls were compared on dispositional measures of body consciousness, autonomic awareness, self-consciousness, and relaxation-induced anxiety. As predicted, agoraphobics were more conscious of internal body sensations in general, reported greater awareness of autonomic symptoms when aroused, and were more fearful of losing control and of negative social responses when anxious than were either simple phobics or normals. The groups did not differ, however, in private or public self-consciousness. Results are discussed with reference to the concept of fear of fear and the proposed cognitive-attentional model of agoraphobic anxiety.
Further characterisation of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic post-heparin lipase from rat plasma.

Abstract 1. 1. The pre-heparin plasma of the rat, and the perfusate obtained from isolated rat liver following perfusion with heparin, showed lipolytic activities principally against monoglyceride and tributyrin substrates, and minor triglyceride and diglyceride hydrolase activities. Rates of activity with 1- and 2-monoglycerides were similar. 2. 2. Each activity in these preparations was characterised by resistance to inhibition by NaCl and protamine, and by sensitivity to inhibition by diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate. The pH optimum was 7.25–7.4 for the different lipid substrates. 3. 3. Purified lipoprotein lipase, the post-heparin perfusate of extrahepatic tissues and whole post-heparin plasma were characterised by major lipolytic activities against di- and triglycerides, and by monoglyceride hydrolase activity directed mainly against the I-isomer. Each activity was strongly inhibited by NaCI and by protamine, and was comparatively resistant to inhibition by diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate. pH optima were 8.0–8.3 for the different lipid substrates, in the presence of whole serum as activator. 4. 4. A principal function of the monoglyceride hydrolase activity of pre-heparin plasma, and released from the liver by heparin, may be to hydrolyse the 2-monoglyceride residue, which is the major product of lipoprotein lipase activity against triglyceride substrates.
Comparative studies on the effects of green tea extracts and individual tea catechins on human CYP1A gene expression.

Abstract Green tea possesses significant anticancer activity in numerous experimental animal models, including demonstrated protection against aryl hydrocarbon induced cancers. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) mediates the transcriptional activation of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. In the present study, we investigated the effects of commercially available green tea extracts (GTEs) and individual tea catechins on the function of the AhR and on CYP1A gene expression in human hepatoma HepG2 cells and primary cultures of human hepatocytes. GTEs inhibited the transcription of a human CYP1A1 promoter-driven reporter gene induced by the AhR ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in a concentration-dependent manner and inhibited the induced accumulation of both CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 mRNAs. GTEs blocked TCDD-induced binding of the AhR to DNA in HepG2 cells and in vitro in isolated hepatic cytosol. To determine if the observed effects were due to a single green tea component, we examined the four major catechins present in GTEs. Only (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the most abundant catechin in green tea, was able to inhibit TCDD-induced binding of the AhR to DNA and subsequent CYP1A transcription, however EGCG alone was less effective than GTEs. We next examined GTEs and catechins for AhR agonist activity. GTEs caused a concentration-dependent increase in CYP1A1-promoter driven reporter gene activity and caused accumulation of CYP1A1 mRNA and protein, but we found that individual catechins were unable to induce the expression of CYP1A1. Our results demonstrate that GTEs as a whole exert mixed agonist/antagonist activity on the AhR, while EGCG functions as a strict AhR antagonist. Therefore, modulation of human CYP1A expression by green tea extracts can not be attributed to the action of a single tea catechin, but rather is due to the effects of a complex mixture. These findings may be useful in future studies concerning green tea as a cancer preventive agent.
Clinical and economic outcomes of pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside or vancomycin therapy

Purpose. The associations between pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside or vancomycin therapy for hospitalized Medicare patients who had diagnoses indicating probable treatment with these antibiotics and the major health care outcomes of death rate, length of stay, Medicare charges, hearing loss, and renal impairment were explored. Methods. Pharmacist management of drug therapy was evaluated in a study population composed of 199,082 Medicare patients treated in 961 hospitals. Results. In hospitals that did not have pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside or vancomycin therapy, death rates were 6.71% higher (1,048 excess deaths [χ2 (1) = 43.801, p < 0.0001]), length of stay was 12.28% higher (131,660 excess patient days [ U = 4.701 × 109, p < 0.0001]), total Medicare charges were 6.30% higher ($140,745,924 in excess total Medicare charges [ U = 4.864 × 109, p < 0.0001]), drug charges were 8.15% higher ($34,769,250 in excess drug charges [ U = 4.785 × 109, p < 0.0001]), laboratory charges were 7.80% higher ($22,530,474 in excess laboratory charges [ U = 4.860 × 109, p < 0.0001]), hearing loss was 46.42% higher (134 more patients with hearing loss [χ2 = 54.423, df = 1, p < 0.0001]), renal impairment was 33.95% higher (2,801 more patients with renal impairment [χ2 = 118.13, df = 1, p < 0.0001]), and the death rate in patients who developed complications was 10.15% higher (231 excess deaths [χ2 = 22.345, df = 1, p < 0.0001]) than in hospitals with pharmacists managing these drugs. Conclusion. The presence of pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside or vancomycin therapy was associated with significant improvement in health care and economic outcomes for Medicare patients who received these drugs.
Marine gas hydrates in thin sand layers that soak up microbial methane

Abstract At Site U1325 (IODP Exp. 311, Cascadia margin), gas hydrates occupy 20–60% of pore space in thin sand layers (
Growth and reproduction of three cladoceran species from a small wetland in the south-eastern U.S.A.

SUMMARY 1. Growth, reproduction and life-history parameters were measured for three cladoceran species from a small south-eastern wetland, U.S.A. Simocephalus serrulatus, Diaphanosoma brachyurum and Scapholeberis mucronata juveniles were reared at temperatures between 10 and 25 °C on natural food resources. 2. Growth rate increased with temperature and decreased with individual size for all three species. Maximum somatic growth rate was higher for Simocephalus (49–72% day−1) and Diaphanosoma (21–91% day−1) than for Scapholeberis (11–45% day−1). Multiple regression equations were developed which predict temperature- and mass-specific growth rates for each species. 3. Scapholeberis egg production was positively related to temperature; however, maximum egg production occurred at intermediate temperatures for Simocephalus and Diaphanosoma. Mean cumulative egg production was higher for Scapholeberis (28–92 eggs per female) than for Simocephalus (18–25 eggs per female) and Diaphanosoma (1–41 eggs per female), and was related to differences in reproductive strategy and survival. 4. Survival was inversely related to temperature in most cases. For all three cladocerans, the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and net reproductive rate (R0) increased with temperature, whereas generation time (G) decreased. Greater egg production by Scapholeberis compared with the other two cladocerans was consistent with higher R0 values for Scapholeberis at any given temperature. Although r was very similar among species, G was typically longer for Scapholeberis than for Simocephalus and Diaphanosoma. 5. This analysis provides basic information about the population parameters of these coexisting wetland species, and the growth rate models can be applied to field data to determine production dynamics.
Observation of low-lying rydberg states of the triatomic hydrogen molecule

Abstract A double-resonance scheme has been employed to locate vibrationless and symmetric-stretch-excited levels of the nd 2E″ and s2A1′ electronic states of triatomic hydrogen for the n=4–7 Rydberg manifolds. Symmetric-stretch frequencies follow from combination differences, and information on level widths and predissociation lifetimes is also obtained.
Mondrian, eye movements, and the oblique effect.

Observers prefer Mondrian's paintings in their original orientation compared to when rotated—“the oblique effect” (Latto et al, 2000 Perception29 981–987). We tested whether eye movements could provide any insight into this aesthetic bias. While recording fixation duration and saccade length, we presented eight Mondrian paintings dated 1921–1944 on a CRT in either their original or seven rotated positions to ten observers who used a Likert scale to report how (dis)pleasing they found each image. We report on eye-movement patterns from nine pairs of images that had a significant orientation effect. During the 20 s scans, fixation durations increased linearly, more so for pleasing images than for non-pleasing images. Moreover, saccade distances oscillated over the viewing interval, with larger saccade-distance oscillations for the pleasing images than the non-pleasing images. Both of these findings agree with earlier work by Nodine et al (1993 Leonardo26 219–227), and confirm that as an abstract painting be...
Should direct measurements of tumor oxygenation relate to the radiobiological hypoxic fraction of a tumor

Abstract Purpose: Numerous previous studies have attempted to relate the radiobiological hypoxic fraction (HF) to direct measures of tumor oxygenation such as HbO 2 saturations, tumor pO 2 levels, or hypoxic cell labeling. Although correlations have been found within tumor lines, no overall relationships were seen across tumor lines. The current objective was to examine the effect on HF of changes in the fractions of the oxygenated and anoxic tumor cells that remain clonogenic. Methods and Materials: A mathematical model was developed that relates the HF to direct measures of tumor oxygenation. The primary assumptions were that: (a) the tumor is divided into distinct compartments of either fully oxygenated or fully anoxic cells, and (b) the survival of the oxygenated cells is negligible compared to that of the anoxic cells. Based on these assumptions, the HF is plotted as a function of the fractions of clonogenic or nonclonogenic, and oxygenated or anoxic cells. Results: If all cells are clonogenic, then the HF equals the fraction of anoxic cells. If a higher fraction of anoxic than oxygenated cells are nonclonogenic, then the HF will be overestimated by the fraction of the tumor measured to be anoxic using direct measuring techniques. If a higher fraction of the oxygenated than anoxic cells are nonclonogenic, the HF will be underestimated by the fraction of anoxic cells. Conclusions: Correlations between the HF and direct measures of tumor oxygenation have been described within tumor lines evaluated under different physiological condition. However, such relationships can be totally unpredictable between different tumors if the fraction of the anoxic cells that is clonogenic varies substantially. Clearly, if tumor anoxia cannot be detected using direct measures, this is an accurate indication that the tumor is well oxygenated. When tumor anoxia is present, however, the conclusions are ambiguous. Even when a small fraction of the tumor is measured as anoxic, direct measures of tumor oxygenation may not be representative of the HF is a substantial proportion of nonclonogenic cells is present.
Ca+2 dependence of gonadotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated luteinizing hormone secretion: in vitro studies using continuously perifused dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells.

A continuously perifused dispersed rat anterior pituitary cell system was used to determine the importance of calcium (Ca+2) on the release of LH by GnRH. In response to continuous exposure to 10 nM GnRH, LH was released in a biphasic fashion; arbitrarily, phase I was defined as being the LH released during the initial 40 min and phase II as the subsequent release. Withdrawal of Ca+ from the perifusion medium during phases I or II of LH release led to a rapid inhibition of the LH secretion. Cells were exposed to GnRH for 2.5 min, washed with medium for 30 min, and then reexposed to GnRH for 30 min. This sequence was repeated 1 h later under identical conditions in the presence of a Ca+ blocking agent; D600 (20 or 100 μM). D600 inhibited both the 2.5- and the 30-min GnRH-stimulated LH release. The results were expressed as the ratio obtained by dividing the total LH released during the second GnRH exposure(either 2.5 or 30 min) by the total LH released during the respective initial GnRH exposure of same du...
Controlled synthesis of lanthanide-doped NaYF4 upconversion nanocrystals via ligand induced crystal phase transition and silica coating

Upconversion nanocrystals (NCs) of NaYF4:Yb,Ln (Ln=Er and Tm) in cubic and hexagonal phases were synthesized in oleic acid (OA) and/or trioctylphosphine (TOP) with octadecene (ODE) via a thermolysis method. Only cubic-phase NCs were obtained in OA/ODE and TOP/ODE solvents; on the other hand, the hexagonal-phase NCs resulted in OA/TOP/ODE. The phase transition from cubic to hexagonal was induced by a ligand formed between oleate and TOP at high temperature. Moreover, the addition of OA/TOP in high and low ratios produced hexagonal nanoparticles and nanorods, respectively. The formed NCs were coated by SiO2 using microemulsion reactions for further biofunctionalization in biological applications.
An Overview of Three Decades of Research in Pediatric Psychopharmacoepidemiology

ABSTRACT Although psychotropic drugs are prescribed relatively often for childhood psychiatric and seizure disorders, relatively little is known about their use in everyday clinical settings— with ...
Window query processing for joining data streams with relations

Query processing for data streams raises challenges that cannot be directly handled by existing database management systems (DBMS). Most related work in the literature mainly focuses on developing techniques for a dedicated data stream management system (DSMS). These systems typically either do not permit joining data streams with conventional relations or simply convert relations to streams before joining. In this paper, we present techniques to process queries that join data streams with relations, without treating relations as special streams. We focus on a typical type of such queries, called star-streaming joins. We process these queries based on the semantics of (sliding) window joins over data streams and apply a load shedding approximation when system resources are limited. A recently proposed window join approximation based on importance semantics for data streams is extended in this paper to maximize the total importance of the approximation result of a star-streaming join. Both online and offline approximation algorithms are discussed. Our experimental results demonstrate that the presented techniques are quite promising in processing star-streaming joins to achieve the maximum total importance of their approximation results.
Episodic Pain in the Thigh

Dr. Jason Birnholz: The patient is a 37-year-old mother of five children who entered the hospital because of pain in the right thigh of two years' duration, occurring every four to six months. Between attacks of pain, the patient was entirely asymptomatic. The thigh pain was exacerbated by walking but was not relieved by rest. The pain seemed to originate in the right thigh and to radiate down to the foot and up to the buttock. On physical examination the only positive finding was that the circumference of the right thigh was 2 cm greater than the left. Discussion Dr. Spencer Borden IV: There is a diffuse process involving the proximal two thirds of the right femur (Fig 1). There is loss of the normal border between cortex and marrow space. The bone is expanded in the proximal portion with periosteal thickening and new bone formation. There is mottled lucency
Rock-fluid interactions in a temperature gradient: biotite granodiorite + H2O

Abstract A biotite granodiorite was reacted in a controlled temperature gradient with distilled water for 60 days at 1/3 kbar P Tot = P H 2 o . Polished rock prisms were placed in the gradient at 72, 119, 161, 209, 270, and 310°C. Scanning electron microscope and microprobe analyses show the appearance of several secondary phases: Ca montmorillonite at 72°C and 119°C; zeolite, either stillbite or heulandite, at 161°C; and another zeolite, thomsonite, at higher temperatures. Solution analyses show a constant composition after about 2 weeks of reaction. The phase assemblages observed in this experiment are connected by reaction relationships. The reactions show the transition from clay to zeolite I (stilbite or heulandite) to zeolite II (thomsonite) with increasing temperature and decreasing chemical potential of silica. Additional relations can be used to predict mineral assemblages not directly observed in this experiment but which may occur at different pressures and temperatures as well as at different chemical potentials of water and silica.
Interpreting proper orthogonal modes of randomly excited vibration systems

Proper orthogonal modes (POMs) of displacements are interpreted for linear vibration systems under random excitation. Excitations are considered for which the Fourier transform is convergent, meaning that the input must have zero mean, and no sustained sinusoidal component. In such a case, the POMs in undamped discrete linear symmetric systems can represent linear natural modes if the mass distribution is known. POMs in one-dimensional distributed-parameter self-adjoint systems can approximately represent the linear normal modes if the mass distribution is known. Simulation examples are presented. Simulations show that these ideas are also applicable under light modal damping.
A thermodynamic approach to slowly sheared granular matter

Abstract Recent theories postulate that the non-equilibrium behaviour of systems experiencing jamming or structural arrest could be described by equilibrium thermodynamic concepts. If a thermodynamic framework can describe the behaviour of systems far from equilibrium, then an effective temperature with a true thermodynamic meaning exists as a key parameter in characterizing the material's properties. In order to examine the validity of the thermodynamics for jammed systems, we perform a numerical experiment with a realistic granular matter model specially conceived to be reproducible in the laboratory. The results support the thermodynamic picture.
Visualizing massively multithreaded applications with ThreadScope

As highly parallel multicore machines become commonplace, programs must exhibit more concurrency to exploit the available hardware. Many multithreaded programming models already encourage programmers to create hundreds or thousands of short-lived threads that interact in complex ways. Programmers need to be able to analyze, tune, and troubleshoot these large-scale multithreaded programs. To address this problem, we present ThreadScope: a tool for tracing, visualizing, and analyzing massively multithreaded programs. ThreadScope extracts the machine-independent program structure from execution trace data from a variety of tracing tools and displays it as a graph of dependent execution blocks and memory objects, enabling identification of synchronization and structural problems, even if they did not occur in the traced run. It also uses graph-based analysis to identify potential problems. We demonstrate the use of ThreadScope to view program structure, memory access patterns, and synchronization problems in three programming environments and seven applications. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alkali metal chelation by diacetamide

Abstract Proton NMR spectroscopy indicates that diacetamide exists as an equilibrium mixture of Z,Z and E,Z diastereomers in methanol solution. Addition of Lil, Na1 or K1 (configurational titration) shifts the quilibrium because of bidentate complexation (chelation) by the amide carbonyl oxygens.
Case-Finding Instruments for Depression: Two Questions Are as Good as Many

Objective To determine the validity of a two-question case-finding instrument for depression as compared with six previously validated instruments.
SENSITIVITY OF DNA REPAIR‐DEFICIENT STRAINS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI K‐12 TO VARIOUS FUROCOUMARINS AND NEAR‐ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

— Survival curves were obtained for DNA repair-deficient strains of Escherichia coli K-12 (polA1, uvrB5, and recA56) exposed to near-ultraviolet radiation [black light (BL)] in the presence of the DNA cross-linking agent 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) or in the presence of photosensitizers forming primarily monoadducts with DNA [angelicin; 3-carbethoxypsoralen (3-CPs); 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin (DMC)], and after exposure to blue light (BluL) in the presence of 8-MOP or 3-CPs. An interpretation of these data suggests that DNA polymerase I is required for the major pathway of monoadduct repair, but appears to play little or no role in the repair of 8-MOP cross-links. The uvrB and recA strains were very sensitive, both to the cross-linking agent and to the monoadduct formers. The markedly different results for BL plus DMC or 3-CPs compared to angelicin suggests that the DMC and 3-CPs monoadducts are repaired by a different mechanism than are the angelicin monoadducts, or else DMC and 3-CPs undergo photochemical side reactions that produce DNA lesions other than the expected monoadducts. From photochemical evidence, we predicted that fewer 8-MOP monoadducts should be converted to cross-links by BluL vs BL; this appears to be the case. 3-CPs showed dramatically different biological results when irradiated with BL vs BluL, suggesting that 3-CPs may form more types of photoproducts than the expected monoadducts; BluL, however, appears to favor monoadduct formation.
Comparisons of Discretionary Passenger Vehicle Idling Behavior by Season and Trip Stage with Global Positioning System and Onboard Diagnostic Devices

This study addresses the comparisons of discretionary passenger vehicle idling by using field data collected from 20 volunteers in Vermont. Each volunteer participated in two 2-week data collection periods, one in the summer and one in the winter. Overall, 15.6% of vehicle-operating time was spent idling, consistent with the limited existing data on this topic. In addition, the paper describes a processing method used with an in-vehicle Global Positioning System and onboard diagnostic data that allows discretionary idling at the start and end of trips to be separated from the in-travel idling related to traffic or traffic control. Discretionary idling accounted for more than 6.5% of vehicle operating time. Discretionary winter idling events were found to be longer than summer idling events and, for idling events greater than 60 s, trip-start idling was found to be longer than trip-end idling. Both of these results reaffirm previous findings suggesting that there are opportunities for behavioral changes to...
Discontinuous coarsening of lamellar cellular precipitate in an austenitic Fe-30 wt%Ni-6wt.%Ti alloy—I. Morphology

Abstract The morphology of discontinuous coarsening of lamellar cellular precipitate in an austenitic Fe-30 wt.%Ni-6 wt.%Ti alloy aged at temperatures ranging from 400 to 900°C has been studied by light microscopy, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Aging at all temperatures resulted in decomposition of the austenite by a cellular precipitation into alternate lamellae of depleted austenite and Ni3Ti. This reaction was followed by a second cellular or discontinuous coarsening reaction which decomposed the first lamellar product into a coarse lamellar structure of the same two phases. At all aging temperatures, the lamellar spacings and growth rates of the second cellular reaction were larger and slower, respectively, than those of the first. The second cells also always contained more Ni3Ti than the first cells.
Improvement of the subcooled boiling model for low-pressure conditions in thermal-hydraulic codes

Abstract The functioning of the subcooled boiling model adopted in a thermal-hydraulic computer program has been investigated in detail, for low-pressure conditions, and necessary refinements have been incorporated into the code. The investigation has been carried out in two stages; in the first stage, the performance of the interfacial heat transfer/condensation is studied. Necessary refinements to the vertical flow map for the transition from bubbly to slug flow regimes and the interpolation with the ‘umbrella’ limitation that bounded the interfacial heat transfer values are carried out. Simulations of low-pressure subcooled boiling experiments were performed with the refined code version and a reasonable agreement with the experimental void fraction data was obtained. In addition, a high-pressure experiment was also simulated with the refined code version to check if these revisions do not affect the code performance at high pressures. No significant adverse effects were observed. In the second stage of the study, the performance of the wall heat flux partitioning model adapted in the code was investigated. In particular, the effectiveness of the ‘pumping factor’ formulation in the above model and its functioning at low-pressure conditions was investigated. Different ‘pumping factor’ formulations available in the literature were implemented into the code. Simulations of low-pressure subcooled boiling experiments were performed with the refined code version and the appropriate ‘pumping factors’ to be used for low-pressure conditions were determined.
Understanding mapreduce-based next-generation sequencing alignment on distributed cyberinfrastructure

Although localization of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) data is suitable for many analysis and usage scenarios, it is not universally desirable, nor possible. However most solutions "impose" the localization of data as a pre-condition for NGS analytics. We analyze several existing tools and techniques that use MapReduce programming model for NGS data analysis to determine their effectiveness and extensibility to support distributed data scenarios. We find limitations at multiple levels. To overcome these limitations, we developed a Pilot-based MapReduce (PMR) -- which is a novel implementation of MapReduce using a Pilot task and data management implementation. PMR provides an effective means by which a variety of new or existing methods for NGS and downstream analysis can be carried out whilst providing efficiency and scalability across multiple clusters. Pilot-MapReduce (PMR) circumvents the use of global reduce and yet provides an effective, scalable and distributed solution for MapReduce programming model. We compare and contrast the PMR approach to similar capabilities of Seqal and Crossbow, two other tools which are based on conventional Hadoop-based MapReduce for NGS reads alignment and duplicate read removal or SNP finding, respectively. We find that PMR is a viable tool to support distributed NGS analytics, particularly providing a framework that supports parallelism at multiple levels.
Glyburide for the management of gestational diabetes: Risk factors predictive of failure and associated pregnancy outcomes

Objective The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics that may predict failure of glyburide therapy for the management of A2 gestational diabetes, and to evaluate whether those that fail are at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Study design This was a retrospective cohort of gestational diabetics requiring medical therapy (A2DM) treated between January 2002 and July 2005. Results Of the 235 gestational diabetics identified, 79% of the 101 A2DMs were successfully treated with glyburide as first-line therapy. Those that failed had a higher mean glucose value on glucose challenge test (GCT) (200.5 ± 57.3 vs 176.6 ± 33.8 mg/dL, P = .019) and were more likely to have a GCT ≥200 mg/dL (45 vs 22%, P = .043). Only GCT and GCT ≥200 mg/dL were predictive of failure. Those successfully managed with glyburide had increased NICU admissions, primarily for hypoglycemia and respiratory distress, which resolved prior to discharge. There was no difference in birth weight, cesarean delivery, macrosomia, or shoulder dystocia. Conclusion Predicting glyburide failure is difficult, but failure does not appear to be associated with increased adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Potential Environmental Consequences of Tidal Power Development Seaward of Tidal Barrages

Recently, the world economic climate, mainly due to fossil fuel costs, has become increasingly favorable to tidal power development. Several potential tidal developments are presently being considered including two massive projects in the upper Bay of Fundy. Although tidal power is nonpolluting in the traditional sense, it does have several environmental consequences, both inside and outside of the tidal impoundment, that warrant detailed evaluation. This presentation gives a preliminary consideration of the environmental consequences of Fundy tidal power development on the Gulf of Maine and the coast of northern New England.
Augmented two-channel arrhythmia detection

A2CAD was tested on recordings of bipolar intraatrial and intraventricular electrograms (1 cm, l-500 Hz) acquired during electrophysiology studies. The 40 patient cases (lo-50 s) analyzed included 6 atria1 flutters, 4 atria1 fibrillations, 6 supraventricular tachycardias, 2 sinus tachycardias, 12 ventricular tachycardias, 7 ventricular flutters, and 3 ventricular fibrillations. AZCAD successfully diagnosed 40 of 40 cases for an overall success rate of 100%. Materials and Methods