cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proton polarization observables for the elastic and inelastic scattering of 500 MeV protons from 40Ca and 208Pb

Abstract Measurements for the elastic and inelastic scattering of 500 MeV protons from 40 Ca and 208 Pb at small momentum transfers are reported. The induced proton polarization P and the spin rotation parameter Q were measured for the elastic scattering. The spin rotation parameters D SS ′ , D SL ′ , D LL ′ , d LS ′ and the induced polarization P were measured for transitions to the 3 − (3.37 MeV) and 5 − (4.48 MeV) states in 40 Ca and the 3 − (2.61 MeV) state in 208 Pb. Comparisons of the data with the theoretical calculations were carried out in the framework of nonrelativistic and relativistic approaches. We extracted the spin-up and spin-down channels for the elastic scattering cross sections and found that predictions of the relativistic and nonrelativistic approaches agree well with the spin-up channel data and differ considerably in the spin-down channel.
Platypnea‐Orthodeoxia in a Patient With Ostium Primum Atrial Septal Defect With Normal Right Heart Pressures

We describe an adult patient with an ostium primum atrial septal defect (ASD) and a patent foramen ovale (PFO) with normal right heart pressures who presented with platypnea and orthodeoxia. A dilated aortic root encroaching into the region of the ASD and PFO, along with a tricuspid regurgitant jet moving into the left atrium through the ASD found on the transesophageal echocardiogram may have been responsible for orthodeoxia. Surgical closure of these defects resulted in the disappearance of both platypnea and orthodeoxia. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 20, April 2003)
Intraspinal implantation of hNT neurons into SOD1 mice with apparent motor deficit.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of hNT neuron transplants on motor neuron function in SOD1 (G93A) mice when motor deficits were already apparent. METHOD: The hNT neurons were implanted into L 4 -L 5 segments of the ventral horn spinal cord of mice at 15-16 weeks of age: either G93A mice, transgenic mice carrying the normal allele for human SOD1 gene (hTg), or control wild type mice (wt). Behavioral tests (rotorod, beam balance, extension reflex, footprint) were performed prior to transplantation and at weekly intervals afterwards. RESULTS: HNT neuron transplantation in the SOD1 mice delayed disease progression for 3-4 weeks, although lifespan was not affected. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that hNT neuron transplantation may be a promising therapeutic strategy for ALS in the later phase of the neurodegeneration.
Scaling functions for O(4) in three dimensions

Monte Carlo simulation using a cluster algorithm is used to compute the scaling part of the free energy for a three-dimensional O(4) spin model. The results are relevant for the analysis of lattice studies of high temperature QCD. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Formalism for including the. delta. (1236) resonance in bound trinucleon systems

We present a generalized formulation and angular momentum reduction of the Faddeev equations in momentum space. This permits the consideration of nucleon-isobar configurations generated in the bound trinucleon system through the agency of transition potentials which connect nucleon-nucleon to nucleon-isobar and isobar-isobar two-body states. We show that the exact model equations can be made numerically tractable by dropping small terms in the coupled channel equations and that this then leads to a set of equations not significantly more difficult to solve than the usual Faddeev equations for the nucleon configurations alone. To accomplish this we have carried out a complete angular momentum reduction of the equations which enables us to identify the dominant terms. The procedure can easily be extended, at the cost of more tedious algebra, to allow for the inclusion of the smaller terms, but we believe that the system of equations presented here will account for the major part of the effects of the $\ensuremath{\Delta}(1236)$ resonance in bound trinucleon systems.
In situ hybridization analysis of human papillomavirus DNA segregation patterns in lesions of the female genital tract

Abstract Various histologic features may be used to divide human papillomavirus (HPV)-related lesions of the genital tract into two groups: condylomata and "low-grade" or grade 1 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 1) versus "high-grade" or grade 2 and 3 intraepithelial neoplasias. Using in situ hybridization analysis we correlated HPV DNA type with histologic features in 350 biopsies of lesions from the cervix, vulva, and perianal region. HPV DNA was most commonly found in vulvar and perianal condylomata (3946, 85%), whereas the rate in CIN 1 lesions was 72% (86120). The rates were 53% (4076) and 57% (1221) in CIN 23 and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasm (VIN) grades 2 and 3, respectively. The HPV type in all but 2 of the 39 perianal and vulvar condylomata which contained HPV was 611. Despite their similar histologic features, the HPV type in only 23 of 86 (27%) CIN 1 cases with detectable HPV was 611 compared to 31 of 86 (36%) which contained HPV 16-related DNA and 32 of 86 (37%) which contained HPV 31,−33, or −35-related DNA. The viral DNA in the majority of CIN 23 lesions and all of the VIN 23 lesions was HPV-16 related; no CIN 23 or VIN 23 lesion had HPV 611-related DNA. It is concluded that although cutaneous genital tract condylomata are highly associated with HPVs of low oncogenic potential (types 6 and 11), these HPV types are not as frequent as the oncogenic HPVs (16, 31, 33, and 35) in CIN 1 lesions. Further, HPV 611 appears to be very rarely associated with CIN 23 or VIN 23 lesions.
Data communication channel capacity for multiple-buffered concentrators

An analytical procedure is presented to evaluate the capacity required for channels used to transmit data from multiple-buffered concentrators used in data communications networks. Three message assembly procedures are compared. The parameters considered in the analysis are queuing discipline, buffer size, and computational complexity. The influence of these factors on channel capacity is examined. It is shown that the required channel capacity C for a first-come, first-served message assembly procedure satisfies C=<2 C^*, where C^* is the lowest possible channel capacity, achieved when the incoming messages are completely packed. Other, more efficient, procedures are examined and compared.
Pharmacology and potential physiological significance of schistosome multidrug resistance transporters

Abstract Schistosomes are the causative agents of schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease affecting hundreds of millions worldwide and a major global health burden. Current control of schistosomiasis depends largely on a single drug, praziquantel (PZQ). One potential physiological target for new antischistosomal drugs is the parasite’s excretory system, which removes wastes and xenobiotics. Multidrug resistance (MDR) transporters that are members of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily of proteins are ATP-dependent efflux pumps involved in removal of toxins and xenobiotics from cells. They mediate the phenomenon of multidrug resistance, in which cells resistant to one drug show cross-resistance to a broad range of other agents, and are also associated with reduced drug susceptibility in parasitic helminths. In this review, we survey the different types of ABC transporter genes present within the schistosome genome, and examine recent evidence indicating that at least some of these transporters may play a role in fine-tuning susceptibility of schistosomes to PZQ. Disruption of their function may therefore provide a strategy for enhancing drug action or overcoming or attenuating drug resistance. Furthermore, dissection of the roles these transporters may play in normal schistosome physiology could potentially lead to identification of highly “druggable” targets for new antischistosomals.
Reactions of coordination compounds in the solid state V. The racemization of potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetate cobaltate(III)

Abstract The racemization of the optically active solid salt K[Coedta]·2H2O has been studied at 152 and 174 °C. Some decomposition takes place at the higher temperature. When heated to 152 °C for 2.3 h, the material is completely dehydrated, but shows no loss of optical activity. On longer heating, racemization becomes apparent. When heated in a sealed glass tube to 174 °C, racemization occurs rapidly (accompanied by some decomposition of the sample). Possible mechanisms are discussed.
Optical Switching by Parametric Amplification in Nonlinear Photonic Crystal Microcavities

A parametric optical amplifier in a 1-D nonlinear photonic crystal microcavity can be used as a switch. We developed a generalized transfer matrix method to study the device gain/loss switching characteristics.
Roles for electron microscopy in establishing structure–property relationships for high Tc superconductor grain boundaries

Abstract The weak-link behavior of high-angle grain boundaries has been a dominant theme of high Tc superconductor materials research ever since its discovery early in the chronicle of high Tc superconductivity. There are a number of important, but unresolved, issues concerning grain boundary structure–property relationships and the relationship between the grain boundary network and the flow pattern of the supercurrent. This paper describes a few examples of how electron microscopy studies have contributed to the discovery of structure–property relationships for high Tc superconductor grain boundaries. These include three collaborative investigations that coupled microscopy studies of structure with properties characterization. The results have led to the realization that high Tc-superconductor grain boundaries are complex, heterogeneous structures on the length scales at which their electromagnetic properties are determined. Manifestations of this heterogeneity are seen in the electromagnetic properties of bicrystals and polycrystalline materials, but the complexity of the structures and properties have lead to only a few direct observations of structure–property relationships. Nonetheless, the contributions of electron microscopy to understanding the behavior of the high Tc compounds, and their grain boundaries in particular, continue to be many and important.
The evolution of quality assurance for intensity- modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): sequential tomotherapy.

Abstract Purpose To identify the pertinent issues to be addressed in successfully implementing IMRT using sequential tomotherapy into clinical reality and presenting the maturation of quality assurance (QA) programs for both the delivery system and patient treatments that allow routine clinical use of the system. Methods and materials Initially, a cubic phantom containing silver halide film was exposed to the entire treatment before patient treatment. The processed films were digitized with a laser densitometer and the dose distributions were compared with that generated by the planning system. Later, software that calculates the dose delivered to any phantom employing the intensity patterns developed in the inverse planning system for an individual patient was implemented for point checks of dose. A measurement phantom for use with this software was developed and evaluated on a large number of patients. Invasive fixation was used for all cranial patients initially. To use sequential tomotherapy for other sites and larger targets, noninvasive immobilization systems using two types of thermoplastic masks for cranial targets and reusable, evacuated body cradles were evaluated for positional accuracy and suitability for use with port films for patient QA. Results The program for equipment validation is divided into daily, weekly, and monthly programs that add only small amounts of time to routine QA programs. For the first 15 patients treated with this modality, the maximum dose measured on the film was within 5% of that predicted by the planning computer. The prescription isodose line was measured in the anteroposterior and lateral dimensions and the average discrepancy between measured and predicted was less than 2 mm. For an isodose line between 50% and 70% of the prescribed dose, the agreement was better than 3 mm. Success with the volume QA program was followed by a point check QA program that reduced the time required for individual patient QA from days to hours. Phantom measurements compared with computer predictions for 588 data points resulted in only 8% being outside a ±5% criterion. These cases were identified and allow a further reduction in the frequency of tests. Thermoplastic mask materials have adequate restraint characteristics for use with the system and port films on 21 patients resulted in one standard deviation=1.3 mm. Body cradles are less accurate and require more frequent port films. A QA system that reduces the frequency of port films was developed. Conclusion The evolution of sequential tomotherapy in our department has been from a maximum of 3 cranial patients per day with invasive fixation to 60 patients per day for treatment of cranial, head-and-neck, and prostate tumors using different immobilization techniques. With proper preparation and refinement of tools used in commissioning and validation, sequential tomotherapy IMRT can become a routine clinical treatment modality.
Etiology of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Abstract Neurovascular compression at the root entry zone accounts for more than 80% of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) cases, but not all patients with TN have neurovascular compression. Many non-TN subjects have neurovascular contract at the root entry zone. TN is reported to occur in 0.9% to 4.5% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In patients with TN, 1.7% to 15% of patients suffer from MS. The reported range for patients with TN due to tumors is from 0.8% to 11.6%. Because carbamazepine may relieve pain temporarily, relief of pain with carbamazepine does not exclude the diagnosis of a tumor or cyst. There are the peripheral cause theory, central cause theory, peripheral origin central pathogenesis theory, and multiple factors theory in the pathology of TN. Dental pain and/or treatment may trigger TM. Alveolar cavitational osteonecrosis may also cause TN.
Annulate lamellae in the axillary apocrine glands of adult man

Annulate lamellae are described in a normal adult human somatic tissue for the first time. Although relatively rare and difficult to locate, this cytoplasmic membrane system is present in the secretory cells of axillary apocrine glands. The spatial relationship and structural similarity of the annulate lamellae and the nuclear envelope suggest that one may form from the other or that they both form by a similar mechanism. Further search may disclose annulate lamellae as a more universal constituent of cells than has been previously recognized.
Method of evaluating the clinical effect of warping a denture: report of a case.

An experiment was conducted to determine how great a dimensional change can occur across the posterior section of an acrylic upper complete denture without seriously affecting its fit or function. Shrinkages up to 0.5 mm. across the posterior section did not cause serious misfit and discomfort. When the shrinkage was increased to 0.9 mm. the denture did not fit properly. Dimensional changes occurring in the processing of acrylic dentures usually are of a much smaller order than the induced shrinkage of the denture used in this experiment, and probably have less clinical significance than many dentists have indicated.
Phase-dependent effects in multiphoton ionization induced by a laser field and its second harmonic.

We present calculations of ionization rates, angular distributions, and above-threshold-ionization spectra for a hydrogen atom in a strong, two-color laser field. The two lasers are first- and second-harmonic fields with the same intensity and a constant relative phase difference between them. At longer wavelengths (1064 nm) and higher intensities (g${10}^{13}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$), there is clear evidence in the phase dependence of the ionization rates that ionization takes place primarily through tunneling. Even though the total ionization rate in this regime depends only on the peak value of the time-dependent electric field, the angular distributions show additional phase-sensitive effects. In particular, there is a large forward-backward asymmetry in the emitted electron distributions that is not simply correlated with the maximum electric field. At shorter wavelengths and/or lower intensities, there is a transition to multiphoton ionization with interference between ionization paths from the two lasers evident in the total ionization rates. In all cases, we find that the total ponderomotive shift of the ionization limit is the sum of the shifts for the two individual fields.
Complex adaptive filtering user profile using graphical models

This article explores how to develop complex data driven user models that go beyond the bag of words model and topical relevance. We propose to learn from rich user specific information and to satisfy complex user criteria under the graphical modelling framework. We carried out a user study with a web based personal news filtering system, and collected extensive user information, including explicit user feedback, implicit user feedback and some contextual information. Experimental results on the data set collected demonstrate that the graphical modelling approach helps us to better understand the complex domain. The results also show that the complex data driven user modelling approach can improve the adaptive information filtering performance. We also discuss some practical issues while learning complex user models, including how to handle data noise and the missing data problem.
Biologic feedback and cardiovascular disease.

Abstract An open system model is proposed that integrates the stress concepts of physiology and psychology and focuses on the role of external and internal stressors in initiating and maintaining a non-adaptive chronic disease state. A rationale for the utilization of biologic feedback techniques to attain more adaptive biologic response patterns is presented. Particular importance is placed on the cognitive aspects of the “learning climate” and the role of relaxation training. The clinical application of biologic feedback in the treatment of chronic cardiovascular disease is de scribed, and data are presented to support the hypothesis that chronic stress response patterns can be altered.
Cholera toxin internalization and intoxication.

We read, with considerable dismay, a recent Research Article on cholera toxin (CT) internalization ([Torgersen et al., 2001][1]), in which the authors extensively challenged methods, results and conclusions that we had published four years ago ([Orlandi and Fishman, 1998][2]). As space limits a
Coupling of airway ciliary activity and mucin secretion to mechanical stresses by purinergic signaling.

Abstract The mucociliary clearance system is comprised of three components, ion transport activities controlling the height of airway surface liquid (ASL), mucin secretion, and ciliary activity. These activities in humans are controlled principally by local agonists, extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides released from the epithelium. Importantly, mechanical stresses stimulate goblet cell mucin secretion, ciliary beating, and Cl − and fluid secretion through mechanically induced nucleotide release. Emerging evidence also implicates co-secretion of nucleotides and mucin from goblet cells as a source of extracellular agonist. At rest, ATP is released onto airway surfaces at ∼370 fmol/min cm 2 , but only ∼3% of released ATP is recovered in ASL. Secreted UTP meets with a similar fate. A wide variety of hydrolytic and transphosphorylating ecto-enzymes convert the triphosphate nucleotides into ADP, AMP, and adenosine, UDP, UMP, and uridine. Of these, ATP, adenosine, UTP, and UDP act as agonists at apical P2Y 2 (ATP, UTP), P2Y 6 (UDP), and A 2B (adenosine) receptors on ciliated and/or goblet cells to regulate mucociliary clearance.
Error correction in image registration using POCS

Image registration plays a vital role in many real time imaging applications. Registering the images in a precise manner is a challenging problem. In this paper, we focus on improving image registration error computation using the projection onto convex sets (POCS) techniques which improves the sub-pixel accuracy in the images leading to better estimates for the registration error. This can be used in turn to improve the registration itself. The results obtained from the proposed technique match well with the ground truth which validates the accuracy of this technique. Furthermore, the proposed technique shows better performance compared to existing methods.
Evaluation of a monolith reactor for the catalytic wet oxidation of cellulose

Abstract The catalytic wet air oxidation of cellulose, a model compound for biomass, was evaluated in a monolith froth reactor to assess its application for the conversion of biomass-containing aqueous streams. Both the conversion of cellulose and the formation of more highly oxidized products increased with the presence of a palladium catalyst when compared with a blank monolith. A comparison between the monolith froth reactor and a batch reactor was completed, demonstrating for the first time the mass transfer benefits of this novel reactor to more conventional reactor systems. The effects of base additives on cellulose degradation were also investigated. Reactions were performed in a pH range from 7 to 11.5 and indicated that the reaction rates increased with an increase in the pH of the feed solution. However, relatively little change in reaction rate was observed when the cation of the base was varied. A lumped (three parameter) kinetics analysis based on first order kinetics, consistent with oxidation of similar systems reported in literature, was used to evaluate the performance of the reactor under various feed conditions.
Comparison of spinal deformity surgery in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) versus controls.

Study Design. A retrospective review. Objective. To quantify the exact impact of non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) on operative complications and additional surgeries associated with spinal deformity surgery. Summary of Background Data. There are many references supporting diabetes mellitus (DM) as one of the major risk factors for perioperative complications in spinal surgery. However, the results vary depending on the type of DM, suggesting that insulin-dependent DM causes more complications than NIDDM, which is far more prevalent in the adult population with spinal deformity. Methods. Among 5119 adult patients (older than 40 yr) with deformities, 23 patients with NIDDM and 23 control (group C) patients with a minimum 2-year follow-up were selected. Both groups were matched for age at surgery, sex, body mass index, number of comorbidities, smoking history, current and prior fusion levels, estimated blood loss, and the amount of transfusion. Pre- and final Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) scores and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), number of perioperative complications, and additional surgeries were compared. Within the group with NIDDM, patients with (+) or without (−) complications were compared in terms of postoperative glucose control. Results. There were no significant differences in the number of major or minor complications or additional surgeries between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in postoperative glucose control with the NIDDM group (+) and (−). Group C reported significantly improved scores at final follow-up in all SRS domains and ODI. The group with NIDDM reported improvement in all domains except for the mental health and pain domains. However, there were no significant differences between the group with NIDDM and group C in terms of SRS and ODI scores preoperatively and postoperatively. Conclusion. Contrary to traditional thinking, properly selected NIDDM was not a significant risk factor for perioperative complications or additional surgeries in adult patients with spinal deformities.
Performance of online reputation mechanisms under the influence of different types of biases

Rating mechanisms are becoming an essential tool for online shoppers. There have been many reputation mechanisms proposed in the literature that try to mitigate the sometimes adverse effects of strategic behavior of the traders to alter their true reputation scores. At the same time, several studies have shown the presence of bias (often unintentional) in product ratings and their harmful effect on buyers and product sales. To date there has not been any work done that studies the performance of reputation mechanisms in the presence of various types of biases. This study is a first attempt to fill that gap. We present three reputation mechanism models that have been discussed in the literature, discuss three types of biases that have been studied in the past, and study the performance of the three reputation mechanisms in the presence of these biases by using a multi-agent system that simulates the interactions among buyers and sellers in an electronic marketplace. Using replicator dynamics we also show the effect of these models on the behavior of buyers and sellers as the buyers choose the type of reputation models they prefer to use and the sellers change their strategic behavior in response.
Light Scattering and Absorption by Fractal Agglomerates and Coagulations of Smoke Aerosols

Abstract We used the volume integral equation formulation to calculate the light scattering and absorption of five types of fractal agglomerates with fractal dimensions in the range from 1·7 to 1·9. Results for the absorbed power, absorption, and scattering cross-sections are calculated for three different polarizations of the incident electromagnetic wave with respect to the agglomerates. The obtained results were found to be polarization-dependent with the amount of variation dependent on the frequency of the incident radiation. Furthermore, the obtained scattering and absorption results were compared with those based on the fractal theory, and some differences were observed. Specifically, it is noted that the absorption cross-section of the agglomerates is different from that obtained from multiplying the number of primary particles by the absorption of a single particle. The average difference is approximately 25% at lower frequencies (λ = 10 μm) and is about 15% at higher frequencies (λ = 0·5 μm). Th...
A contribution to the stability of circular plates

The dynamical response of thin circular plates and their stability, resulting from the action of an arbitrary load which is a spacetime function, has been examined. The solution is obtained in closed form by means of Green's function and its expansion in terms of corresponding eigenfunctions. In the case of a load moving on the periphery the stability criterion is reduced to the examination of two time-dependent functions. These functions show that, for a constant load moving with constant angular velocity and for a given range of eigenfrequencies, the motion is unstable.
Health-related quality of life in pediatric patients with ESRD

As part of creating a pediatric ESRD-specific Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) assessment instrument, we established pilot data with the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales in 96 pediatric patients with ESRD receiving hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD) or with a renal transplant (TX). Patient age ranges were: 2–4 (8; PD n=3, TX n=5), 5–7 (12; HD n=9, TX n=3), 8–12 (25; HD n=5, PD n=6, TX n=14), 13–18 (51; HD n=18, PD n=10, TX n=23). PedsQL ESRD data were compared to healthy children (n=131 child report; n=145 parent report) and across HD/PD/TX. For all domains, ESRD patient HRQOL scores were significantly lower than healthy controls. Transplant patients reported better physical and psychosocial health than dialysis patients. No difference was noted between HD and PD patients for any PedsQL domain. Our data demonstrate that the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales is a useful measurement instrument to screen for HRQOL impairment in pediatric patients with ESRD. We suggest that the ESRD-specific HRQOL instrument in development is needed to help define condition-specific HRQOL differences between modalities.
The treatment of poliomyelitis

Summary 1. This paper is broad in its concept, avoiding, as far as possible, present controversies regarding the treatment of anterior poliomyelitis. 2. A safe and thorough outline for the complete treatment of anterior poliomyelitis is given. 3. The particular problems presented in each of the four stages of anterior poliomyelitis are discussed, and suggestions given for the treatment in each stage. 4. The physical therapy aspects have been carefully considered in the subacute and convalescent stages of anterior poliomyelitis, when physical therapy must play the most important role. 5. My conclusions herewith set down are based upon more than fifteen years of experience in institutional physical therapy. 6. For three years I have had opportunity to investigate Sister Kenny's treatment in operation in a children's hospital, in a general hospital, and in an orthopedic hospital in New York City. 7. In writing this paper, I have given due consideration to the previously accepted “methods” of treating anterior poliomyelitis, to the contributions of Sister Kenny to the subject, and to recent researches. 8. I present this paper as representing the sum total of my opinions regarding the treatment of anterior poliomyelitis as of this date. If treatment is carried out as outlined, a maximum of function should be salvaged to the anterior poliomyelitis patient.
Professional Autonomy in Medicine: Defending the Right of Conscience in Health Care beyond the Right to Religious Freedom:

AbstractHealth-care professionals currently have the right to conscientiously object to any procedure that they deem as morally illicit or that, in their opinion, could harm the patient. However, the right of conscientious refusal in medicine is currently under severe scrutiny. Medical procedures such as abortion and physicianassisted suicide that are not commonly medically indicated, but that can be requested by the patient, represent a type of medical care that is the penultimate expression of patient autonomy. When a health-care provider exercises his or her conscience in a way that denies the patient immediate access to such procedures, many claim that patient autonomy has been oppressed by the religious convictions of the health-care professional. As such, there is a growing opposition to the protection of conscience rights in health care that deserves attention. A common strategy used to defend conscience rights has been to claim that under the United States Bill of Rights, the health-care professio...
Conformational Analysis of DNA Repair Intermediates by Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy

DNA repair enzymes are essential for maintaining the integrity of the DNA sequence. Unfortunately, very little is known about how these enzymes recognize damaged regions along the helix. Structural analysis of cellular repair enzymes bound to DNA reveals that these enzymes are able to recognize DNA in a variety of conformations. However, the prevalence of these deformations in the absence of enzymes remains unclear, as small populations of DNA conformations are often difficult to detect by NMR and X-ray crystallography. Here, we used time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to examine the conformational dynamics of linear, nicked, gapped, and bulged DNA in the absence of protein enzymes. This analysis reveals that damaged DNA is polymorphic in nature and able to adopt multiple individual conformations. We show that DNA repair intermediates that contain a one-nucleotide gap and bulge have a significant propensity to adopt conformations in which the orphan base resides outside the DNA helix, while DNA structures damaged by a nick or two-nucleotide gap favor intrahelical conformations. Because changes in DNA conformation appear to guide the recognition of DNA repair enzymes, we suggest that the current approach could be used to study the mechanism of DNA repair.
A critique of the report of the National Institutes of Health Expert Panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol.

The "Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults" 1 was received by most internists with great interest. The panel was charged with the task of developing definitive guidelines helpful to physicians in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of elevated blood cholesterol levels. 2 The two strategies used in preventive medicine for controlling an epidemic are (1) the medical or case-finding approach, which has been used successfully in the approach to syphilis, hypertension, and diabetes, and (2) the public health or mass intervention approach, which has been most successful in combating infectious diseases by vaccination, tooth decay by water fluoridation, and nutritional deficiency disease by food fortification. Both approaches have been advocated for the control of coronary heart disease (CHD). The charge to the Expert Panel on the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of elevated blood cholesterol levels, however,
Choosing a stepsize for Taylor series methods for solving ODE'S

Problem-dependent upper and lower bounds are given for the stepsize taken by long Taylor series methods for solving initial value problems in ordinary differential equations. Taylor series methods recursively generate the terms of the Taylor series and estimate the radius of convergence as well as the order and location of the primary singularities. A stepsize must then be chosen which is as large as possible to minimize the required number of steps, while remaining small enough to maintain the truncation error less than some tolerance. One could use any of four different measures of trunction error in an attempt to control the global error : i) absolute truncation error per step, ii) absolute trunction error per unit step, iii) relative truncation error per step, and iv) relative truncation error per unit step. For each of these measures, we give bounds for error and for the stepsize which yields a prescribed error. The bounds depend on the series length, radius of convergence, order, and location of the primary singularities. The bounds are shown to be optimal for functions with only one singularity of any order on the circle of convergence.
Temperature influences upon vascular dynamics in cattle measured by Doppler ultrasonography

Abstract 1. Doppler-image ultrasonography was used to document vascular changes and blood flow rates of cattle ( Bos taurus ) under hot (32.7 °C) and cold (8.1 °C) conditions for 24 h. 2. Blood flow rates in the caudal artery increased from 27.8 (−2 h) to 43.4 mL/min at 23 h when cattle were maintained at 32.7 °C. 3. Cattle at 8.1 °C showed lower caudal artery flow rates after 23 h (29.3 at −2 h to 13.8 mL/min at 23 h), following a rate increase after the challenge. 4. The ability of Doppler-image ultrasound to detect vascular changes due to ambient temperature demonstrates its use as a non-invasive tool for assessing environmental stress on hemodynamics.
The structure of peptides of Fc-fragments from γG-globulins of known allotypic specificity

Abstract Chymotryptic hexadecapeptides have been isolated from the Fc-fragments of myeloma proteins possessing either Gm-a, f, or b allotypic activity. The structure of the peptide from a Gm-a source is: Thr-Leu-Pro-Pro-Ser-Arg-[ Asp -Glu- Leu -Thr-Lys]-Asn-Gln-Val-Ser-Leu. The homologous peptides from Gm-f and Gm-b allotypic proteins differ from those of the Gm-a source only in the two positions italicized in the bracketed tryptic pentapeptide and both have the -[Glu-Glu-Met-Thr-Lys]- sequence. These results confirm the studies reported from other laboratories. Pooled normal γG-globulins contain the two types of this tryptic pentapeptide. The sequencen of the tryptic peptides characteristics of the N -terminal eleven residues of the hexadecapeptide have been demonstrated in the pepsin Fc′-portions of various myeloma proteins. These fragments appear to contain about 111 amino acid residues. The starch gel electrophoretic properties and the amino acid contents of Fc′-fragments from different myeloma globulins show only small differences which may reflect allotypic variations.
Interrelationships between liver composition, plasma glucose and ketones, and hepatic acetyl-CoA and citric acid during prolonged starvation in the male rat

Abstract 1. 1. Male rats were starved 0, 6, 24, 48, 72 and 120 h to compare the fed state with phases of starvation ranging from the early mobilization of fat to the depletion of peripheral depots. Hepatic levels of acetyl-CoA and citric acid at all time points were correlated with liver composition, and plasma glucose and ketones. Animals were sacrificed by cervical fracture since elevations of liver acetyl-CoA were observed following ether or Nembutal anesthesia. 2. 2. Analyses disclosed constant values for hepatic DNA throughout starvation whereas liver water, protein, glycogen, phospholipids and esterified fatty acids diminished. Glycogen displayed the earliest reductions: Hepatic glycogen was significantly lowered after 6 h, fell to lowest levels after 48 h, and subsequently increased again. 3. 3. Values for acetyl-CoA and citric acid were derived for the whole liver to compensate for the preservation of liver cell numbers despite the contraction of cell mass. By this criterion, the total hepatic content of acetyl-CoA was increased significantly after 6 h of starvation, restored to “fed” values after 24 and 48 h, and reduced significantly thereafter. Total liver citric acid declined to nadir levels after 48 h and displayed a secondary rise to achieve one-half the values observed in fed animals by 120 h. 4. 4. Plasma ketones exhibited reciprocal changes: Ketonemia was maximal after 48 h and fell again as fasting was prolonged. Acute administration of insulin (with sufficient glucose to prevent hypoglycemia) to 48-h-starved rats abolished the ketonemia and restored liver citrate without altering hepatic acetyl-CoA. 5. 5. The findings have been discussed with regard to the regulatory effects of acetyl-CoA and citric acid upon intrahepatic gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis and ketogenesis during starvation.
The intramolecular vibrations of the water molecule in the liquid state

Abstract A normal coordinate treatment of a general bent XYZ molecule and a continuum picture of the liquid state are used to calculate the frequency distribution of intramolecular vibrations of a water molecule in the liquid state. The effect of neighboring molecules on the vibrational frequencies is taken into account by assuming complete tetrahedral hydrogen bonding with a distribution of equilibrium OO distances. The equilibrium OO distance distributions at various temperatures are obtained from X-ray pair correlation functions. The vibrational distributions are converted into spectra by taking the intensity of scattering or absorption of the band at each frequency as being determined by the number of oscillators having that particular frequency at any instant. Of the four adjustable parameters in the potential energy function, the stretching constants are chosen from the Lippincott-Schroeder potential function, while the remaining three are determined from H 2 O, HDO, and D 2 O infrared vapor data.
Development and characterization of mesoporosity in ZSM-12 by desilication

Abstract The generation of mesopores in the range of 15–20 nm by alkaline treatment of a unidimensional high silica content zeolite, namely ZSM-12 was achieved. The factors that affect the generation of mesopores were thoroughly investigated. For the ZSM-12 with Si/Al ratio of 58, additional mesopores with volume in the range 0.05–0.61 cm3 g−1 were generated without destroying the microporous framework of ZSM-12 by varying the NaOH solution concentration, operation temperature and time. The concentration of NaOH solution was found to be the most dominant factor affecting the desilication process. Meanwhile, parent ZSM-12s with different Si/Al ratios in the range of 31–500 were alkali treated in order to investigate the influence of Si/Al ratios on the desilication of ZSM-12. It was found that the content of tetrahedrally coordinated aluminum in the zeolite frame work also controls the formation of mesopores by facilitating desilication process in alkaline medium. For the ZSM-12 with relatively low Si/Al ratios ranging from 31 to 58, relatively high NaOH concentration was favorable for the generation of mesopores while preserving the microporous structure and acidic property of ZSM-12. However, for the samples with higher Si/Al ratios, lower NaOH concentrations favored the creation of mesopores. In terms of uniform mesopore generation, ZSM-12s with Si/Al ratios in the range of 31–58 were more appropriate. Desilicating the as synthesized ZSM-12 samples (prior to calcination) is much more difficult than desilicating calcined ZSM-12 samples of comparable Si/Al ratios. The diffusivity of long chain hydrocarbons through the framework of alkaline treated ZSM-12 samples improved compared to the untreated ones. The ease to control the mesoporous network developed in ZSM-12 by alkaline treatment offers a new and economic path for the improvement of diffusion in the zeolite framework.
Moisture Absorption of Composite Sandwich Structures

It is widely understood that moisture can have a detrimental effect on the strength of composite structures. Traditional analysis often focuses on the effects to solid laminates or on the facesheets of composite sandwich structures. However, this focus is often not sufficient to ensure material strength and performance. It has been found that moisture effects on sandwich structures can also have a detrimental effect on secondary failure modes such as shear crimping and facesheet wrinkling, and that these effects can be significant, especially at temperature. A proper assessment of moisture effects on composite sandwich structures involves five key components: development of moisture diffusion constants, prediction of structural moisture levels, development of material allowables at predicted moisture levels, analysis of structure, and modification of the design, when warranted. This paper describes each component of this process, and introduces a simple algorithm to integrate the analysis.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Genome-wide co-expression based prediction of differential expressions

Motivation: Microarrays have been widely used for medical studies to detect novel disease-related genes. They enable us to study differential gene expressions at a genomic level. They also provide us with informative genome-wide co-expressions. Although many statistical methods have been proposed for identifying differentially expressed genes, genome-wide co-expressions have not been well considered for this issue. Incorporating genome-wide co-expression information in the differential expression analysis may improve the detection of disease-related genes. Results: In this study, we proposed a statistical method for predicting differential expressions through the local regression between differential expression and co-expression measures. The smoother span parameter was determined by optimizing the rank correlation between the observed and predicted differential expression measures. A mixture normal quantile-based method was used to transform data. We used the gene-specific permutation procedure to evaluate the significance of a prediction. Two published microarray data sets were analyzed for applications. For the data set collected for a prostate cancer study, the proposed method identified many genes with weak differential expressions. Several of these genes have been shown in literature to be associated with the disease. For the data set collected for a type 2 diabetes study, no significant genes could be identified by the traditional methods. However, the proposed method identified many genes with significantly low false discovery rates. Availability: The R codes are freely available at http://home.gwu.edu/~ylai/research/CoDiff, where the gene lists ranked by our method are also provided as the Supplementary Material. Contact: [email protected] Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Immunosuppression in adult female B6C3F1 mice by chronic exposure to ethanol in a liquid diet

Abstract The overall objective of these studies was to characterize the effects of ethanol on the immunocompetence of adult female B6C3F1 mice. To obtain a significant suppression in the antibody response to SRBC, splenocytes from untreated mice had to be directly exposed to concentrations of ethanol from 0.3% to 3.0%, or to acetaldehyde at concentrations greater than 0.03%. We do not believe that these results are consistent with a role by a direct effect by either ethanol or its primary metabolite because these concentrations are higher than what could be obtained as reasonable blood levels. For in vivo exposure, we employed a pair-feeding regimen which was based on a liquid diet containing 5% ethanol (v/v) that provided 36% of the caloric intake as ethanol. Our results indicated that there was a definite temporal relationship to the consequent suppression of the antibody response to SRBC in that no effect was observed after 14 days exposure, and that the magnitude of the suppression increased from 18% after 21 days to 70% after 42 days. We also monitored the liver for histopathology and observed that the ethanol-induced liver damage was restricted to steatosis (fatty liver), which was also manifested with time and which was most pronounced after 42 days exposure. In contrast to our results with the in vivo antibody response, we saw no effect on mitogen-induced proliferation by splenocytes from ethanol-treated mice. These results promped us to measure in vitro antibody responses by splenocutes from ethanol-treated mice. We saw no suppression of the in vitro antibody responses to SRBC, DNP-Ficoll or LPS after any length of exposure to ethanol, and speculated that the basis for the suppression of the in vivo antibody response was an indirect consequence of exposure. We subsequently determined that when normal splenocytes were cultured in 5% serum from ethanol-exposed mice (42-day group), there was a > 80% suppression relative to the serum from the pair-fed controls. As important controls for these studies, we have demonstrated that there was no difference between the responses of normal lymphocytes cultured in 5% normal mouse serum and in 5% serum taken from the pair-fed restricted controls. A determination of the ethanol content in the serum from ethanol-exposed mice (42-day group) indicated that the amount of ethanol present in these cultures was