cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of the Central Melanocortin Circuitry in Adaptive Thermogenesis of Brown Adipose Tissue

The central melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) plays a critical role in energy homeostasis, although little is known regarding its role in the regulation of adaptive thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Here we show using retrograde transsynaptic tracing with attenuated pseudorabies virus coupled with dual-label immunohistochemistry that specific subsets of MC4R-expressing neurons in multiple nuclei of the central nervous system known to regulate sympathetic outflow polysynaptically connect with interscapular BAT (IBAT). Furthermore, we show that MC4R-/- and agouti-related peptide-treated mice are defective in HF diet-induced up-regulation of uncoupling protein 1 in IBAT. Additionally, MC4R-/- mice exposed to 4 C for 4 h exhibit a defect in up-regulation of uncoupling protein 1 levels in IBAT. Our results provide a neuroanatomic substrate for MC4R regulating sympathetically mediated IBAT thermogenesis and demonstrate that the MC4R is critically required for acute high-fat- and cold-induced IBAT thermogenesis.
Role of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in the Th2 Immune Response to Epicutaneous Sensitization

We examined the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in the generation of the Th2 response using MIF-deficient mice in a model of epicutaneous sensitization to ovalbumin. Lymph node cells from sensitized MIF-deficient mice produce lower levels of Th2 cytokines after antigen challenge when compared to their wild-type counterparts. Sensitized mice lacking MIF show less pulmonary inflammation after intranasal antigen exposure. Mice deficient in CD74, the MIF receptor, also are unable to generate an inflammatory response to epicutaneous sensitization. Examination of the elicitation phase of the atopic response using DO11.10 OVA TCR transgenic animals shows that T cell proliferation and IL-2 production are strongly impaired in MIF-deficient T cells. This defect is most profound when both T cells and antigen-presenting cells are lacking MIF. These data suggest that MIF is crucial both for the sensitization and the elicitation phases of a Th2-type immune response in allergic disease.
Auditory pattern recognition abilities of aphasic and normal subjects: A preliminary study

A comparison of the ability of aphasic and normal subjects to recognize three element auditory patterns of duration was made under the following conditions: monaural right, monaural left; split left leading and split right leading: dichotic. There were eight possible combinations of elements for each condition. In all conditions the normal group clearly outperformed the aphasic subjects with practically no overlap in their performances. Implications of using nonlinguistic stimuli for testing aphasic individuals, assessing progress, and training in pattern recognition is discussed.
Organochlorine pesticides and PAHs in the surface water and atmosphere of the north Atlantic and Arctic Ocean.

Surface seawater and boundary layer atmospheric samples were collected on the FS Polarstern during cruise ARKXX in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean in 2004. Samples were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants (POPs), with a focus on organochlorine pesticides, including hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), chlordanes, DDTs, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In addition, the enantiomer fractions (EFs) of pesticides, notably alpha-HCH and cis-chlordane (CC), were determined. Concentrations of dissolved HCB increased from near Europe (approximately 1-2 pg/L) toward the high Arctic (4-10 pg/L). For dissolved HCB, strongest correlations were obtained with the average air or water temperature during sampling, not latitude. In the western Arctic Ocean, surface waters with elevated concentrations of HCB (5-10 pg/ L) were flowing out of the Arctic Ocean as part of the East Greenland current In contrast to dissolved compounds, atmospheric POPs did not display trends with temperature. Air-water exchange gradients suggested net deposition for all compounds, though HCB was closest to air-water equilibrium. EFs for alpha-HCH in seawater ranged from 0.43 to 0.50, except for two samples from 75 degrees N in the East Greenland Sea, with EFs of 0.31 and 0.37. Lowest EF (0.47) for CC were also at 75 degrees N, other samples had EFs from 0.49 to 0.52. It is suggested that samples from around 75 degrees N in the Greenland Gyre represented a combination of surface and older/deeper Arctic water.
Validation of surgeon-performed emergency abdominal ultrasonography in pediatric trauma patients

Abstract Background/Purpose : The focused assessment for the sonographic evaluation of trauma patients (FAST) in adults is effective in detecting intraperitoneal and intrapericardial fluid and can be performed quickly by surgeons in the emergency department (ED). The authors sought to validate the accuracy of FAST performed by surgeons during ED resuscitation of pediatric trauma patients. Methods : Patients were assigned to one of three groups based on standard clinical criteria: immediate surgery, abdominal computed tomography (CT), or observation alone. FAST was then performed in the ED by a surgery resident (postgraduate year 3 or higher) or an attending trauma surgeon. Four views were used to assess the possible presence of fluid in the pericardial, subphrenic, subhepatic, and pelvic spaces. Time needed to conduct FAST was noted. Presence of peritoneal or pericardial fluid by FAST was compared with that determined by CT or surgery. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated. For those who did not undergo CT or surgery, FAST findings were compared with the clinical course. Results : Technically adequate studies could be performed on 192 of 196 eligible children. Their ages ranged from 3 months to 14 years (mean, 6.9 years); 119 were boys (62%), and 188 (98%) had sustained a blunt injury. FAST was performed in a mean time of 3.9 minutes (range, 1–17 minutes). All FAST examinations were reviewed by our senior surgeon-sonographer (GSR). Interrater agreement between the performing and reviewing surgeon-sonographer was 100%. Sixty (31%) patients underwent either abdominal CT (n = 56; mean Injury Severity Score (ISS), 9.6) or immediate operation (n = 4; mean ISS, 18.8). Of the 10 patients with verified presence of intraperitoneal fluid, eight had positive and two had falsenegative FAST examination results. Of the 50 patients with verified absence of intraperitoneal fluid, none had a positive FAST (ie, no false-positives); sensitivity was 80%; specificity, 100%; predictive value positive, 100%; predictive value negative, 96%. None of the 132 patients followed up clinically without CT or surgery (mean ISS, 4.5) had fluid documented by FAST, and all did well. Conclusions : The focused assessment for the sonographic evaluation of pediatric blunt trauma patients performed by surgical residents and attendings in the ED rapidly and accurately predicted the presence or absence of intraperitoneal fluid. The FAST is a potentially valuable tool to rapidly prioritize the need for laparotomy in the child with multiple injuries and extraabdominal sources of bleeding.
The Effect of Statin Therapy on the Incidence of Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

Abstract Background Statins have been postulated to prevent infection through immunomodulatory effects. Objectives To compare the incidence of infections in statin users to that in nonusers within the same health care system. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients enrolled as Tricare Prime or Plus in the San Antonio military multimarket. Statin users were patients who received a statin for at least 3 months between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2005. Nonusers were patients who did not receive a statin within the study period (October 1, 2003-September 30, 2009). Inpatient and outpatient International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (iCD-9-CM) codes were used to determine the incidence of infections during the follow-up period (October 1, 2005-September 30, 2009) via multivariable regression analysis and time to infection via Cox regression analysis. Results Of 45,247 patients who met the study criteria, 12,981 (29%) were statin users and 32,266 were nonusers. After adjustments for age, gender, Charlson Comorbidity Score, tobacco use, alcohol abuse/dependence, health care utilization and use of specific medication classes, statin use was associated with an increased incidence of common infections (odds ratio [OR]: 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.19) but not influenza or fungal infections (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.80-1.39; OR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.91-1.04, respectively). Time-to-first infection was similar in statin users and nonusers in all infection categories examined. Conclusions Statin use was associated with an increased incidence of common infections but not influenza or fungal infections. This study does not support a protective role of statins in infection prevention; however, the influence of potential confounders cannot be excluded.
Involvement of P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance associated protein 1 on the transepithelial transport of a mercaptoacetamide-based histone-deacetylase inhibitor in Caco-2 cells.

Oral bioavailability is one of the important criteria for development of a drug-lead candidate. In this study, the absorptive characteristics and the efflux mechanism of a mercaptoacetamide-based histone deacetyalse (HDAC) inhibitor, coded as W2, were investigated using Caco-2 cells. The transport of W2 was asymmetric as indicated by 1.85 fold higher basolateral to apical (BL to AP) than apical to basolateral (AP to BL) flux. Such asymmetry was associated with multidrug resistance associated protein 1 (MRP1) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp), as evidenced by specific inhibition of these proteins. In the presence of verapamil and cyclosporin A, potent inhibitors of P-gp, the apparent permeability ratio (Papp BL to AP/Papp AP to BL) of W2 was decreased from 1.85 to 0.73 and 1.03, respectively, and the absorption from apical to basolateral side was enhanced from 13.3±0.2×10−6 cm/s to 17.3±0.12×10−6 cm/s and 19±0.3×10−6 cm/s, respectively. Upon addition of quinidine, a mixed P-gp and MRP1 inhibitor, the permeation of W2 from the apical side was significantly increased (Papp 17.1±0.32×10−6 cm/s) while the efflux was inhibited (Papp 21.3±0.19×10−6 cm/s). Furthermore, the influence of the MRP1 inhibitors, indomethacin and N-benzyl-indomethacin (NBI) was evaluated. NBI treatment attenuated the basolateral to apical flux of W2 (Papp 20.3±0.1×10−6 cm/s), whereas this effect was completely abrogated by indomethacin (Papp 11±0.4×10−6 cm/s). The results suggest that P-gp and MRP1 transporters are capable of mediating the efflux of W2 and might play a significant role in its oral absorption.
The relative importance of relative importance: Inferring other people's preferences from relative importance ratings and previous decisions

Abstract When people judge the relative importance of the factors entering into a decision, they are expressing beliefs about their own decision making. We argue that studies of relative importance judgments can shed light on the meta-cognition of decision making and on communication about decision making, but only if researchers take into account people's interpretations of “relative importance.” Two experiments are reported, both of which study people's interpretations of “relative importance” by having subjects draw inferences about the decisions of a target person from information that includes the target person's relative importance judgment. Experiment 1 shows that subjects can provide relative importance judgments that are independent of the displayed stimulus set, even though prior research had suggested otherwise. This property could be conducive to communication about decision making, depending on the exact manner in which subjects achieve it. However, subjects also violated the principle of “independence of irrelevant alternatives,” suggesting that subjects may have changed the way they evaluate tradeoffs without making a corresponding change in their reports of relative importance. Post hoc analyses indicate that varying the stimulus sets affected subjects' perceptions of the stimuli, and may not have affected the way subjects evaluated tradeoffs between the attributes as they perceived them. Experiment 2 examined the way that people draw inferences from a target person's relative importance judgment when it conforms vs conflicts with other predictive cues. Subjects did not even discount the implications of the relative importance judgment when it conflicted with the other cues. The implications of these experiments for further research on the psychology of “relative importance” are discussed.
Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a New Heterotrinuclear Schiff-Base Zn–Gd Complex

A heterotrinuclear Zn–Gd complex [GdZn2L2(OAc)2](CF3SO3) (1) based on the salphen Schiff-base ligand bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine (H2L) was synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure was solved in the triclinic space group P − 1 with a = 9.4743(19), b = 16.333(3), c = 19.291(4) A, α = 88.89(3), β = 78.16(2), γ = 76.69(3)°, V = 2842.0(10) A3, Z = 2, D c = 1.610 g/cm3, F (000) = 1,386, R 1 = 0.0458, and wR 2 = 0.1239. In the solid state short intermolecular O···H–C hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking, and H···π interactions between neighboring [GdZn2L2(OAc)2]+ moieties generate a porous 3D-framework architecture with extended channels running along the a-axis. A heterotrinuclear Zn–Gd complex [GdZn2L2(OAc)2](CF3SO3) (1) based on the salphen Schiff-base ligand bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine (H2L) was synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction.
Cluster simulation of the lattice Anderson model.

The ground-state and thermodynamic properties of the lattice Anderson model have been studied on a four-site, tetrahedral cluster. There are two nondegenerate orbitals on each site (c and f). The Hamiltonian of the model is diagonalized exactly (numerically) for systems with four through nine electrons. Thermodynamic properties are studied with use of a cannonical ensemble. This paper is primarily concerned with the small-hybridization, strong-interaction region of parameters. We vary the energy of the f level for fixed values of the other parameters. A complex variety of systems are simulated involving five classes or regions of behavior, defined in terms of the f-level occupation.
μ- and δ-opioid receptor mRNAs are expressed in periaqueductal gray neurons projecting to the rostral ventromedial medulla

Opioid antinociception appears to be mediated at least in part by a pathway that projects from the periaqueductal gray (PAG) to the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM), but the relationship between opioid receptors and PAG-RVM projection neurons is unclear. Previous electrophysiological studies have suggested that opioids act directly on some PAG neurons projecting to the RVM. However, immunoreactivity for neither the cloned mu-opioid receptor (MOR1) nor the cloned delta-opioid receptor (DOR1) has been observed in PAG cells retrogradely labeled from the RVM. In the present study, we examined the expression of DOR1 and MOR1 mRNAs in PAG neurons projecting to RVM using quantitative in situ hybridization and retrograde tract-tracing. Mesencephalic neurons were labeled in three male Sprague-Dawley rats by microinjection of Fluoro-Gold into the RVM. Five micrometer cryostat sections were cut and in situ hybridization was performed using full-length cRNA probes labeled with 35S-UTP. Retrogradely labeled neurons that were also labeled for MOR1 or DOR1 mRNA were observed in the dorsomedial, lateral, and ventrolateral portions of the PAG. Quantification was performed in the dorsomedial and ventrolateral PAG using the physical disector. We found that of 219 retrogradely labeled neurons, 50 +/- 14% expressed DOR1 mRNA. In a second set of 120 Fluoro-Gold-labeled neurons, 27 +/- 8% expressed MOR1 mRNA. Significantly more PAG-RVM projection neurons were labeled for MOR1 mRNA in the ventrolateral subregion of the PAG than in the dorsomedial subregion. However, no significant difference was observed in the proportions of retrogradely labeled neurons labeled for DOR1 mRNA in the ventrolateral subregion compared to the dorsomedial subregion. We conclude that opioids are likely to exert direct effects on PAG-RVM projection neurons through both delta- and mu-opioid receptors. In addition, direct effects on PAG-RVM projection neurons from activation of MOR1 appear more likely to be exerted in the ventrolateral PAG than in the dorsomedial PAG.
Dynamic network structure of interhemispheric coordination

Fifty years ago Gazzaniga and coworkers published a seminal article that discussed the separate roles of the cerebral hemispheres in humans. Today, the study of interhemispheric communication is facilitated by a battery of novel data analysis techniques drawn from across disciplinary boundaries, including dynamic systems theory and network theory. These techniques enable the characterization of dynamic changes in the brain’s functional connectivity, thereby providing an unprecedented means of decoding interhemispheric communication. Here, we illustrate the use of these techniques to examine interhemispheric coordination in healthy human participants performing a split visual field experiment in which they process lexical stimuli. We find that interhemispheric coordination is greater when lexical information is introduced to the right hemisphere and must subsequently be transferred to the left hemisphere for language processing than when it is directly introduced to the language-dominant (left) hemisphere. Further, we find that putative functional modules defined by coherent interhemispheric coordination come online in a transient manner, highlighting the underlying dynamic nature of brain communication. Our work illustrates that recently developed dynamic, network-based analysis techniques can provide novel and previously unapproachable insights into the role of interhemispheric coordination in cognition.
Steerable control of the eustachian valve during transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects

Over the past decade there has been increased use of transcatheter devices for closure of secundum atrial septal defects. The presence of a large eustachian valve complicating transcatheter closure has not been described. We describe four patients with prominent eustachian valves, in three of whom we employed a simple technique to obtain control of the eustachian valve during device placement using transesophageal echo guidance. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 51:455–459, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Radial particle distributions in a d.c. arc—maximum off-axis

Abstract It is shown that for some elements evaporated from the anode of a d.c. arc the position of the maximum concentration of atomic particles (i.e. atoms + ions) occurs not on the axis of the arc column but some distance away from the centre, this distance being largely determined by the inside diameter of the electrode crater. It is shown that the magnitude of the off-axis peak increases with increasing volatility of the element concerned, but decreases with increasing electrical power generated in the plasma as well as with decreasing ionisation potential of the buffer metal. The proposed mechanism for this phenomenon is based on the fact that, due to thermal repulsion, cool vapours do not readily mix with hot gases. Thus volatile sample components evaporating from regions not immediately beneath the anode spot would tend to diffuse laterally around the arc rather than vertically into the hot plasma.
Information Macro Dynamic Approach for Modelling in Biology and Medicine

Informational Macro Dynamics (IMD) contains formal mathematical and computer methodology to describe transformation of random information processes (at microlevel) into system dynamic processes (at macrolevel) to model the observed processes on the basis of both discovery of their information dynamic regularities, and the identification of macro dynamic equations. Informational description of interactions includes not only physical connections between the processes, but also the information superimposition of processes of different nature with transferring information from one interacting process to others and creating the information defect. The synthesized optimal macro dynamics gives rise to self-organized structures, becoming ordered in the process of optimal motion. The macro model's systemic mechanisms have similarities with the biosystemic functional activities. This paper introduces the concrete biological examples of the constructive IMD model applications for analysis and discovery of some important biosystem mechanisms, functions and phenomena.
Microdissection of Zebrafish Embryonic Eye Tissues

Zebrafish is a popular animal model for research on eye development because of its rapid ex utero development and good fecundity. By 3 days post fertilization (dpf), the larvae will show the first visual response. Many genes have been identified to control a proper eye development, but we are far from a complete understanding of the underlying genetic architecture. Whole genome gene expression profiling is a useful tool to elucidate genetic regulatory network for eye development. However, the small size of the embryonic eye in zebrafish makes it challenging to obtain intact and pure eye tissues for expression analysis. For example, the anterior-posterior length of the eye between day 2 and 3 is only approximately 200-300 μm, while the diameter of the lens is less 100 μm. Also, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) underlying the retina is just a single-layer epithelium. While gene expression profiles can be obtained from the whole embryo, they do not accurately represent the expression of these tissues. Therefore pure tissue must be obtained for a successful gene expression profiling of eye development. To address this issue, we have developed an approach to microdissect intact retina and retina with RPE attached from 1-3 dpf, which cover major stages of eye morphogenesis. All procedures can be done with fine forceps and general laboratory supplies under standard stereomicroscopes. For retinal dissection, the single-layer RPE is removed and peeled off by brushing action and the preferential adherence of the RPE remnants to the surface of the culture plate for dissection. For RPE-attached retinal dissection, the adherence of RPE to the dissection plate is removed before the dissection so that the RPE can be completely preserved with the retina. A careful lifting action of this tissue can efficiently separate the presumptive choroid and sclera. The lens can be removed in both cases by a chemically etched tungsten needle. In short, our approach can obtain intact eye tissues and has been successfully utilized to study tissue-specific expression profiles of zebrafish retina1, 2 and retinal pigment epithelium3.
Effects of all-trans retinoic acid on regenerating limbs of the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator

Regeneration of walking legs in the fiddler crab Uca pugilator represents true epimorphic growth since it involves organization of an undifferentiated blastema prior to regrowth of a new limb. Normal regeneration in Uca consists of two major stages—basal growth and proecdysial growth. One of the earliest events in the basal growth stage of regeneration is the secretion of cuticle by epidermal cells that migrate under the scab at the site of limb loss. When crabs are maintained in a 0.05 mM emulsion of retinoic acid (RA) in sea water during the first 2 weeks following autotomy, the pattern of cuticle secretion is disrupted in many limb buds. Limb buds on RA-treated crabs grow more slowly and are frequently malformed. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Formation of N-nitrosomorpholine in isolated rat lungs during nitrogen dioxide ventilation

An isolated rat lung preparation was ventilated with NO2 while being perfused with a medium containing morpholine. After 60 min of ventilation-perfusion, N-nitrosomorpholine was detected in both lung tissue and perfusate.
An Application of Telemedicine Technology for Otorhinolaryngology Diagnosis

Applications of interactive video communications for providing remote telemedicine consultations are under study. Most of these applications use “off the shelf” medical peripheral devices that are not specifically designed for telemedicine examinations. This study reports a field trial of the telemedicine instrument pack (TIP), a small self-contained unit under development by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for use in spaceflight. Patients with otorhinolaryngology problems were selected from a primary care practice and examined with the TIP by a technician under the direction of a remote consultant. The equipment proved adequate for examination of the posterior nose, hypopharynx, and larynx. Examinations of the ear and oropharynx with the TIP were not optimal, suggesting a need for further modifications of this prototype unit. Laryngoscope, 106:595-598, 1996
Purification and characterization of the lipid A 1-phosphatase LpxE of Rhizobium leguminosarum.

LpxE, a membrane-bound phosphatase found in Rhizobium leguminosarum and some other Gram-negative bacteria, selectively dephosphorylates the 1-position of lipid A on the outer surface of the inner membrane. LpxE belongs to the family of lipid phosphate phosphatases that contain a tripartite active site motif and six predicted transmembrane helices. Here we report the purification and characterization of R. leguminosarum LpxE. A modified lpxE gene, encoding a protein with an N-terminal His6 tag, was expressed in Escherichia coli. The protein was solubilized with Triton X-100 and purified to near-homogeneity. Gel electrophoresis reveals a molecular weight consistent with the predicted 31 kDa. LpxE activity is dependent upon Triton X-100, optimal near pH 6.5, and Mg2+-independent. The H197A and R133A substitutions inactivate LpxE, as does treatment with diethyl pyrocarbonate. In a mixed micelle assay system, the apparent Km for the precursor lipid IVA is 11 μm. Substrates containing the 3-deoxy-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid disaccharide are dephosphorylated at similar rates to lipid IVA, whereas glycerophospholipids like phosphatidic acid or phosphatidylglycerol phosphate are very poor substrates. However, an LpxE homologue present in Agrobacterium tumefaciens is selective for phosphatidylglycerol phosphate, demonstrating the importance of determining substrate specificity before assigning the functions of LpxE-related proteins. The availability of purified LpxE will facilitate the preparation of novel 1-dephosphorylated lipid A molecules that are not readily accessible by chemical methods.
CATHETERIZATION AND PULMONARY FUNCTION STUDIES IN 10 INFANTS WITH RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (RDS) AND PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS (PDA)

In an attempt to define parameters of prognostic value, catheterization studies were performed in 10 infants with severe RDS & PDA who were considered candidates for closure of the PDA because of congestive heart failure, a continuous murmur, & left ventricular hypertrophy on EKG. Birth wts. were 800-1860 gms. PDA murmurs were noted at 3-21 days, & catheterizations were performed at 33-120 days of age. Angiography confirmed the PDA & ruled out other shunts. Qs, Qp, & L→R shunts were measured by cardiogreen dye curves, FA.& PA mean pressures were 56 & 34 mmHg. Mean values for Qs & Qp were 1.8 & 4.4 L/min/M2. AaDO2 levels were variable. aADCO2 levels >10 mmHg were associated with severe lung disease and/or pulmonary edema. 9/10 infants had ductal shunts ≥55%. One pt. had negligible L→R shunt and later died of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Six infants underwent surgery successfully; 3 improved and 3 were unchanged (2 later died of BPD). In the 3 remaining nonoperated patients, 2 improved spontaneously & 1 died suddenly before operation. Postoperative improvement in aADCO2 levels provided retrospective confirmation of benefits of ligation of the PDA in the 3 improved pts. No hemodynamic parameters correlated with results in these infants.
Maintenance of in vitro growth ability and chromosome integrity following the deep freezing of minced fetal tissue

Abstract A technique is described whereby fresh fetal tissue may be frozen without loss of its ability to initiate a culture and without change in chromosome morphology or number.
Use of a fast beam target for the determination and reduction of the cascade contribution to electron excitation cross-section measurements

This paper describes a method for reducing the influence of cascades on the measurement of electron excitation cross sections using the optical method and a fast beam atomic target. By using a fast beam of target atoms one can reduce the influence of cascades on a measurement, and estimate the cascade contribution to the excitation signal.
The effects of handedness and writing posture on neuropsychological test results

Abstract A comprehensive clinical neuropsychological test battery was administered to male right-handers, left-handers with a normal handwriting posture, and left-handers with an inverted (curled) handwriting posture. The latter group performed more poorly on tasks involving vocabulary, picture completion, and connecting numbers and letters in alternating order. The results are discussed in terms of the inefficiency of bilateral organization of cerebral functions.
Ensemble of Secondary Structures for Encapsidated Satellite Tobacco Mosaic Virus RNA Consistent with Chemical Probing and Crystallography Constraints

Viral genomic RNA adopts many conformations during its life cycle as the genome is replicated, translated, and encapsidated. The high-resolution crystallographic structure of the satellite tobacco mosaic virus (STMV) particle reveals 30 helices of well-ordered RNA. The crystallographic data provide global constraints on the possible secondary structures for the encapsidated RNA. Traditional free energy minimization methods of RNA secondary structure prediction do not generate structures consistent with the crystallographic data, and to date no complete STMV RNA basepaired secondary structure has been generated. RNA-protein interactions and tertiary interactions may contribute a significant degree of stability, and the kinetics of viral assembly may dominate the folding process. The computational tools, Helix Find & Combine, Crumple, and Sliding Windows and Assembly, evaluate and explore the possible secondary structures for encapsidated STMV RNA. All possible hairpins consistent with the experimental data and a cotranscriptional folding and assembly hypothesis were generated, and the combination of hairpins that was most consistent with experimental data is presented as the best representative structure of the ensemble. Multiple solutions to the genome packaging problem could be an evolutionary advantage for viruses. In such cases, an ensemble of structures that share favorable global features best represents the RNA fold.
Human Cytomegalovirus Resistance to Deoxyribosylindole Nucleosides Maps to a Transversion Mutation in the Terminase Subunit-Encoding Gene UL89

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection can cause severe illnesses, including encephalopathy and mental retardation, in immunocompromised and immunologically immature patients. Current pharmacotherapies for treating systemic HCMV infections include ganciclovir, cidofovir, and foscarnet. However, long-term administration of these agents can result in serious adverse effects (myelosuppression and/or nephrotoxicity) and the development of viral strains with reduced susceptibility to drugs. The deoxyribosylindole (indole) nucleosides demonstrate a 20-fold greater activity in vitro (the drug concentration at which 50% of the number of plaques was reduced with the presence of drug compared to the number in the absence of drug [EC50] = 0.34 μM) than ganciclovir (EC50 = 7.4 μM) without any observed increase in cytotoxicity. Based on structural similarity to the benzimidazole nucleosides, we hypothesize that the indole nucleosides target the HCMV terminase, an enzyme responsible for packaging viral DNA into capsids and cleaving the DNA into genome-length units. To test this hypothesis, an indole nucleoside-resistant HCMV strain was isolated, the open reading frames of the genes that encode the viral terminase were sequenced, and a G766C mutation in exon 1 of UL89 was identified; this mutation resulted in an E256Q change in the amino acid sequence of the corresponding protein. An HCMV wild-type strain, engineered with this mutation to confirm resistance, demonstrated an 18-fold decrease in susceptibility to the indole nucleosides (EC50 = 3.1 ± 0.7 μM) compared to that of wild-type virus (EC50 = 0.17 ± 0.04 μM). Interestingly, this mutation did not confer resistance to the benzimidazole nucleosides (EC50 for wild-type HCMV = 0.25 ± 0.04 μM, EC50 for HCMV pUL89 E256Q = 0.23 ± 0.04 μM). We conclude, therefore, that the G766C mutation that results in the E256Q substitution is unique for indole nucleoside resistance and distinct from previously discovered substitutions that confer both indole and benzimidazole nucleoside resistance (D344E and A355T).
MR nerve imaging in a prospective cohort of patients with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of high-resolution MRI of the median nerve in a prospectively assembled cohort of subjects with clinically suspected carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods: The authors prospectively identified 120 subjects with clinically suspected CTS from five Seattle-area clinics. All subjects completed a hand-pain diagram and underwent a standardized nerve conduction study (NCS). The reference standard for determining CTS status was a classic or probable hand pain diagram and NCS with a difference >0.3 ms between the 8-cm median and ulnar peak latencies. Readers graded multiple imaging parameters of the MRI on four-point scales. The authors also performed quantitative measurements of both the median nerve and carpal tunnel cross-sectional areas. NCS and MRI were interpreted without knowledge of the other study or the hand pain diagram. Results: Intrareader reliability was substantial to near perfect (kappa = 0.76 to 0.88). Interreader agreement was lower but still substantial (kappa = 0.60 to 0.67). Sensitivity of MRI was greatest for the overall impression of the images (96%) followed by increased median nerve signal (91%); however, specificities were low (33 to 38%). The length of abnormal signal on T2-weighted images was significantly correlated with nerve conduction latency, and median nerve area was larger at the distal radioulnar joint (15.8 vs 11.8 mm 2 ) in patients with CTS. A logistic regression model combining these two MR variables had a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.85. Conclusions: The reliability of MRI is high but the diagnostic accuracy is only moderate compared with a research-definition reference standard.
Mandibular movements of the monkey.

T I nvestigations of mandibular movements may necessitate the use of an experimental animal. Monkeys are often the animal of choice for dental research. They are primates and are quite similar phylogenetically to the human. As a result, studies on the monkey may be more applicable to human beings than is research performed on other species of animals. The dentition of the monkey is, in many ways, similar to that of the human being. As the monkey assumes an erect posture, it utilizes the masticatory apparatus in a manner somewhat similar to that of a human being. The size is a desirable feature, and the diet consistency is quite similar to the human diet since both are omnivorous. Therefore, an investigation was undertaken to determine whether or not the mandibular border movements of the pig-tailed monkey are similar to those of the human being.
Remembering Our Shared Past: Visually Framing the Iraq War on U.S. News Websites

This exploratory study analyzes how United States news websites visually portray ongoing (contemporaneous) events and examines their potential role in shaping collective memory by commemorating past (resurrected) events through anniversary retrospectives. A content analysis of 526 images on the home pages of 26 mainstream news sites indicates that during the first five weeks of the Iraq War, the visual emphasis shifted from the official U.S. war machine to the more personal face of those touched by war, both Americans and Iraqis, as photojournalists traveled with the troops to Baghdad. The five main frames that emerged reinforced the patriotic, government-friendly war narrative: conflict, conquest, rescue, victory, and control. By the first, second, and third anniversaries of the war, the visual coverage of hostilities had dropped dramatically. This article discusses some of the reasons why online news sites did not feature many anniversary commemorations of the Iraq War.
Synthesis of an Anti-Inflammatory 10,10a-Dihydro-lH,5H-imidazo[l,5-b]isoquinoline-l,3(2H)-dione

A new synthesis of imidazo[l,5-b]isoquinolines is reported. 2-[2-(Piperidino)ethyl]-10,10a-dihydro-lH,5H-imidazo[l,5-b)] isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione hydrochloride was found to possess anti-inflammatory activity.
Topical Review: Behavioral Economics as a Promising Framework for Promoting Treatment Adherence to Pediatric Regimens

OBJECTIVE To summarize previous adult research on behavioral economics (BE) and consider the largely unexplored relevance of BE for promoting adherence to pediatric regimens across a wide variety of illnesses. METHODS Literature review. RESULTS Default bias, loss aversion, overestimation of rare events, and social norms are four BE concepts that have not been fully incorporated in adherence research for pediatric regimens yet offer promising opportunities for novel intervention development. The possible applications of these four strategies are offered in regards to asthma, cystic fibrosis, migraines, and diabetes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS BE offers pediatric psychology not only low-intensity approaches for promoting adherence but also highly attractive ways of obtaining the attention of health care administrators and policymakers.
Effects of Oblique Inflow in Vortex-Induced Vibrations

We investigate the validity of the independence principle for fixed yawed circular cylinders and free yawed circular rigid cylinders subject to vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) at subcritical Reynolds number using direct numerical simulation (DNS). We compare forces on the cylinder and cylinder responses for different angles of yaw and reduced velocities, and investigate the value of the critical angle of yaw. We also present flow visualizations and examine flow structures corresponding to different angles of yaw and reduced velocities.
The novel use of intravesical docetaxel for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer refractory to BCG therapy: a single institution experience

Objectives Since the success of our Phase I trial of intravesical docetaxel for treatment-refractory non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), we have found this agent to be a favorable alternative for BCG-refractory patients unable or unwilling to undergo cystectomy. This study analyzes the safety and efficacy of intravesical docetaxel in a larger patient population with extended follow-up.
INTERACTIVE THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND USING A PROGRAMMABLE MULTIMEDIA PROCESSOR

We developed an interactive three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) workstation that is inexpensive and suitable for use in research and clinical environments. Our personal computer–based system produces 3D volumes by acquiring a series of 2D images from a commercial ultrasound scanner, spatially registering the images using an electromagnetic position sensor, and reconstructing the data into a regular 3D Cartesian volume. The 3D US system uses an imaging board based on the Texas Instruments TMS320C80 Multimedia Video Processor (MVP), a fully programmable mediaprocessor that includes multiple processing units on a single chip. We developed efficient volume reconstruction and visualization algorithms for the MVP that allow our 3D US system to provide the same immediate feedback as current 2D US technologies with the added advantage of presenting information in three dimensions. For example, for acquired sequences of 512 × 512 US images, volumes can be reconstructed using six degree-of-freedom position measurements at 11.4 frames/s. A modified reconstruction algorithm that performs incremental reconstruction was developed to enable real-time volume reconstruction and visualization during acquisition and operates at 12.5 frames/s. US volumes can be rendered via shear-warp factorization and maximum intensity projection (MIP) at 10 frames/s for 128 × 128 × 128 volumes and 1.45 frames/s for 255 × 255 × 255 volumes. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol 9: 442–454, 1998
Comparative Analysis on Determinants of Self-Rated Health Among Non-Hispanic White, Hispanic, and Asian American Older Adults

The purpose of the study is (1) to compare the effects of factors on self-rated health (SRH) among older non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), Hispanic, and Asian Californians and (2) to provide estimated influence size of each factor on SRH. This study analyzed secondary data drawn from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey. Binary logit regressions were used to analyze data with the Jackknife replication sampling weights. Significant differences were found in SRH among the three groups. Hispanics and Asians reported poorer health than NHW. Socioeconomic status, acculturation, and health access significantly accounted for an association between ethnicity and SRH. However, the magnitudes of their effects on SRH varied across the groups and by the factors examined. This study discusses and concludes with some recommendations on the opportunities presented by the Affordable Care Act and Healthy People 2020.
AMD3100 synergizes with G-CSF to mobilize repopulating stem cells in Fanconi anemia knockout mice.

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a heterogeneous inherited disorder characterized by a progressive bone marrow (BM) failure and susceptibility to myeloid leukemia. Genetic correction using gene-transfer technology is one potential therapy. A major hurdle in applying this technology in FA patients is the inability of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize sufficient numbers of hematopoietic stem (HSC)/progenitor cells (HPC) from the BM to the peripheral blood. Whether the low number of CD34 + cells is a result of BM hypoplasia or an inability of G-CSF to adequately mobilize FA HSC/HPC remains incompletely understood. Here we use competitive repopulation of lethally irradiated primary and secondary recipients to show that in two murine models of FA, AMD3100 synergizes with G-CSF resulting in a mobilization of HSC, whereas G-CSF alone fails to mobilize stem cells even in the absence of hypoplasia.
Adhesive Dynamics Simulation of Neutrophil Arrest with Deterministic Activation

The transition from rolling to firm adhesion is a key element of neutrophil activation and essential to the inflammatory response. Although the molecular mediators of rolling and firm adhesion are known to be selectins and β2-integrins, respectively, the precise dynamic mechanism by which these ligands facilitate neutrophil arrest remains unknown. Recently, it has been shown that ligation of E-selectin can stimulate the firm adhesion of neutrophils via a MAP-kinase cascade. To study the possible mechanism by which neutrophil arrest could occur, we created an integrated model by combining two methodologies from computational biology: a mechanics-based modeling of leukocyte adhesion (adhesive dynamics) and signal transduction pathway modeling. Within adhesive dynamics, a computational method our group has shown to accurately recreate rolling dynamics, we include a generic, tunable integrin activation module that links selectin engagement to integrin and activity. This model allows us to relate properties of the activation function to the dynamics of rolling and the time and distance rolled before arrest. This integrated model allows us to understand how intracellular signaling activity can set the timescale of neutrophil activation, adhesion, and diapedesis.
Really not even a decision any more: Late adolescent narratives of implied sexual consent.

Sexual activity without clear consent, as one aspect of violence against women, is a significant global issue, especially during adolescence when young people are developing their values and beliefs about sexual activity and sexual norms. This narrative inquiry was performed to investigate influences on the sexual decision-making of late adolescents. Ten late adolescent females between the ages of 18 and 22 comprised the final sample. The results included the main finding that in the majority of these adolescents' sexual encounters, sexual consent was implied by the situation instead of being clearly stated. Inability to communicate with partners and the influence of alcohol were identified as contributing factors to implied sexual consent. Additionally, there was a pervasive normalization and acceptance of this type of nonconsensual sexual activity, and no one labeled these actions as rape or assault. Implications: Providers who work with adolescents need to assess sexual behaviors in greater detail and recognize that complex social factors and individual characteristics may contribute to an environment in which adolescents are at risk for nonconsensual sexual activity. Sexual violence education programs need to include information on negotiation and communication skills that will help adolescents mediate complicated interpersonal situations. Language: en
The search for an exploitable value premium in market indexes

The value premium does not statistically exist in the benchmark opportunity set of stocks, as represented by market indexes, whether observed at the top level of index returns or within the constituency of at least one major index. These findings potentially offer a better explanation for why value managers do not systematically outperform growth managers, sometimes hypothesized because of decision error, costs and so on in earlier published work. Results also hint that prior research, which successfully observed a value premium in the constituency of the Russell 2000 index, may have been specific to the data. Finally, results point to a seasonal value premium when comparing the first quarter of each calendar year to the fourth quarter of the prior calendar year. Such seasonality is consistent with portfolio window dressing and may hint at a path for value managers to tactically capture the premium. Although selected value managers might be shown at times to successfully capture the premium, its absence in the benchmark opportunity set for these managers makes it quite unlikely that active value managers as a group will systematically outperform growth managers over time – with consequences for asset allocation strategies and performance benchmarks that are constructed as a function of risk.
Sign of the Outlaw: Liberal Boundaries, Social Banditry, and the Political Act

Theorists should read non-traditional forms of political agency alongside the American left's failure to counter liberal hegemony. According to Žižek, the current ideological deadlock requires unconventional approaches to political action. His notion of the Act represents one of the most original methods for identifying alternative types of political agency. The Act is often violent and not only transgresses symbolic norms, but reconfigures our understandings of legitimate political behavior. Linking acts of social banditry to his theory illustrates how the outlaw represents a sign of political resistance. Acts of social criminality, for example, take on political significance when undermining the regime's hegemonic narrative. Instead of reading acts of banditry as isolated incidents of criminal behavior, political movements may interpret the acts as signifying larger struggles over public space and resource distribution. Using Billy the Kid and Pretty Boy Floyd as case studies, the article examines how c...