cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of n-hydroxy acid metabolites in electron impact ionization mass spectrometry

RATIONALE The catabolism of 4-hydroxy acid (drugs of abuse and lipid peroxidation products) generates a series of hydroxy acids with different carbon chain lengths and hydroxyl group at different locations. The identification of these hydroxy acid metabolites is important to uncover the catabolic pathways of drugs of abuse and lipid peroxidation products. METHODS We characterized the fragmentation of trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of hydroxy acids by electron impact ionization (EI) mass spectrometry (MS) with the aid of an isotope-labeled compound. The metabolites (hydroxy acids) of 4-hydroxy acid in isolated rat livers were identified by their characterized fragmentation patterns in gas chromatography (GC)/EI-MS. RESULTS TMS migration to both ester and ether groups was found in the fragmentation of 2-hydroxy acid- and 3-hydroxy acid-TMS derivatives, but only migration to the ester group was observed in the fragmentation of n-hydroxy acid-TMS (n ≥4) derivatives. TMS migration to the ester group generates the following fragments from different hydroxy acids: (i) the characteristic fragment at m/z 190 from 2-hydroxy acid; (ii) the fragment at m/z 204 from both 3-hydroxy acid and 4-hydroxy acid; and (iii) a characteristic fragment at m/z 218 from 4-hydroxy acid containing more than four carbons in the carbon skeleton. TMS migration to the ether group in 2-hydroxy acid and 3-hydroxy acid yields variant fragments depending on the carbon skeleton length. The identified metabolites of 4-hydroxy acid confirmed the catabolic pathways of 4-hydroxy acid in the isolated rat livers. CONCLUSIONS With the characterized fragmentation patterns of each hydroxy acid in EI-MS, we successfully identified the various hydroxy acid metabolites of 4-hydroxyoctanoic acid (and other 4-hydroxy acids from C(5) to C(11)) in the rat livers.
'A Period of Consequences': Global Warming Legislation, Cooperative Federalism and the Fight between the EPA and the State of California

In 2005, California enacted Assembly Bill 1493, also known as the Pavley Bill which set out to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicular sources. For the Pavley Bill to take effect, however, California needed a waiver of Clean Air Act preemption. Two years after California’s request, the EPA, in an unprecedented move, denied the waiver. California promptly filed suit in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the case remains pending. This paper argues the Clean Air Act, as Congress originally envisioned, represents the best model for environmental legislation - a form of "modified" or cooperative federalism. In denying California’s waiver request, the EPA renders this cooperative federalism model ineffective; the EPA’s decision intrudes on states’ rights and disregards environmental concerns. As such, the Ninth Circuit should give full weight to the system of cooperative federalism and environmental protection espoused in the plain language and congressional intent of the Clean Air.
Numerical comparison of reaction-matrix and Jastrow methods for nuclear matter

Abstract The ground-state energy per particle of symmetrical nuclear matter has been calculated as a function of Fermi wave number for two representative central potentials containing hard cores, by means of both reaction-matrix and Jastrow methods. The agreement of results from the two methods is remarkably good in the density region near equilibrium.
Abstract 171: Presentation and treatment of prostate cancer in HIV-infected men: Do racial disparities exist.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Introduction: Prostate cancer (PCa) is increasing among HIV-infected (HIV+) men who are living longer on effective anti-retroviral therapy (ART). African-American (AA) men are overrepresented in the HIV+ population and are at high risk for PCa and PCa-related health disparities. Little is known about PCa presentation and treatment utilization in HIV+ and HIV+AA men. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of HIV+ men with PCa seen at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, IL, from 2001 to 2012. Cases identified through electronic medical record billing, encounter, and procedure codes were verified by chart review. We collected data on age, race/ethnicity, ART, CD4+ cell counts, and covariates for HIV and PCa. Descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were used. Results: We studied 44 HIV+ men with a median age of 59.5 years at PCa diagnosis. There were 15 (34%) AAs, 25 (57%) Caucasians (CAs), two (5%) Hispanics, and two (5%) of unknown/other ethnicity. The majority (42/44 [95%]) were on ART with a median CD4+ cell count at PCa diagnosis of 372/μl (88-1215, ± 306). Median prostate specific antigen (PSA) at PCa diagnosis was 5.2 ng/ml (0.1-547, ± 102), and PSA did not differ between AAs and CAs (p=.83). Of the 34 men with clinical staging, 20 (59%) were cT1c, 11 (32%) cT2a, one (3%) cT2c, and two (6%) cT3 or higher. Stage at presentation was similar among AAs and CAs. Of all men with clinically localized (CL) disease in whom initial treatment was known, the majority (14/27 [52%]) underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) with most (9/14 [64%]) utilizing the robotic approach. Rates of RP in AAs and CAs were comparable (4/10 [40%] vs 9/15 [60%], p = 0.47). Radiation (including external beam (5, [19%]) and brachytherapy (2, [7%])) was used as primary therapy in seven (26%) men. Six (22%) elected watchful waiting/active surveillance. Overall, received treatments adhered to National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommendations for risk-appropriate therapy in 91% of men, with no disparities found between AAs and CAs (13/13 [100%] vs 15/17 [88%], p=.20). Conclusions: HIV+ men are younger at PCa diagnosis compared to the general population (median age at diagnosis=67) and are likely to present with CL-PCa, regardless of race. Utilization of RP for CL-PCa and rates of overall appropriateness of therapy in HIV+ and HIV+ AAs are high and comparable to national data, suggesting no major treatment disparities based on HIV and racial status exist. Further studies on etiologies of early PCa presentation and RP- and cancer-related outcomes in HIV+ men are needed. Citation Format: Ramona Bhatia, Chad Achenbach, Rick Kittles, Adam Murphy. Presentation and treatment of prostate cancer in HIV-infected men: Do racial disparities exist. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 171. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-171
Animal models of anorexia and cachexia

BACKGROUND: Cachexia is a devastating syndrome of body wasting that worsens quality of life and survival for patients suffering from diseases such as cancer, chronic kidney disease and chronic heart failure. Successful treatments have been elusive in humans, leaving a clear need for the development of new treatment compounds. Animal models of cachexia are able to recapitulate the clinical findings from human disease and have provided a much-needed means of testing the efficacy of prospective therapies. OBJECTIVE: This review focuses on animal models of cachexia caused by cancer, chronic heart failure and chronic kidney disease, including the features of these models, their implementation, and commonly-followed outcome measures. CONCLUSION: Given a dire clinical need for effective treatments of cachexia, animal models will continue a vital role in assessing the efficacy and safety of potential treatments prior to testing in humans. Also important in the future will be the use of animal models to assess the durability of effect from anti-cachexia treatments and their effect on prognosis of the underlying disease states.
An analysis of some conditions for representing N state Markov processes as general all or none models

Recently Markov learning models with two unidentifiable presolution success states, an error state, and an absorbing learned state, have been suggested to handle certain aspects of data better than the three state Markov models of the General All or None model type. In attempting to interpret psychologically, and evaluate statistically the adequacy of various classes of Markov models, a knowledge of the relationship between the classes of models would be helpful. This paper considers some aspects of the relationship between the class of General All or None models and the class of Stationary Absorbing Markov models withN error states, andM presolution success states.
Jupiter’s shrinking Great Red Spot and steady Oval BA: Velocity measurements with the ‘Advection Corrected Correlation Image Velocimetry’ automated cloud-tracking method

Abstract We show that between 1996 and 2006, the area circumscribed by the high-speed collar of the Great Red Spot (GRS) shrunk by 15%, while the peak velocities within its collar remained constant. This shrinkage indicates a dynamical change in the GRS because the region circumscribed by the collar is nearly coincident with the location of the potential vorticity anomaly of the GRS. It was previously observed that the area of the clouds associated with the GRS has been shrinking. However, the cloud cover of the GRS is not coincident with the location of its potential vorticity anomaly or any other of its known dynamical features. We show that the peak velocities of the Oval BA were nearly the same in 2000, when the Oval was white, and in 2006, when it was red, as were all of the other features of the two velocities fields. To measure temporal changes in the GRS and Oval, we extracted velocities from images taken with Galileo, Cassini, and the Hubble Space Telescope using a new iterative method called Advection Corrected Correlation Image Velocimetry (ACCIV). ACCIV finds correlations over image pairs with 10-h time separations when other automated velocity-extraction methods are limited to time separations of 2 h or less. Typically, ACCIV velocities produced from images separated by 10 h had errors that are 3–6 times smaller than similar velocities extracted from images separated by 2 h or less. ACCIV produces velocity fields containing hundreds of thousands of independent correlation vectors (tie-points). Dense velocity fields are needed to locate the loci of peak velocities and other features.
THE BLOOD GROUP SUBSTANCES ON GASTRIC MUCOSAL CELLS OF PATIENTS WITH PEPTIC ULCER AND GASTRIC CARCINOMA: A PRELIMINARY REPORT.

The mixed agglutination technic has been employed to test gastric mucosal cells of Blood Groups A and B individuals with peptic ulcer or gastric carcinoma. The cells of all nonsecretors—controls as well as ulcer and carcinoma patients—failed to show the A or B antigens. The cells of secretors, on the other hand, were not uniform in their reactivity. Gastric and tumor cells of the cancer patients who were secretors demonstrated the blood group antigen like the tissue cells of normal subjects. Gastric cells of 3 of the 13 secretors with ulcer, however, failed to show the antigen, despite its presence on their buccal cells.
Debt Politics after Independence: The Funding Conflict in Bolivia

Tracing the origins of recent Latin American debt problems to the financial politics of the immediate post-independence period, Thomas Millington argues that the failure of Latin American states to fund their internal debts made them dependent on foreign credit. Negative political and social consequences remain today, he says, and suggests that debt management should move toward a funded debt goal and away from the floating debt framework that is endemic in Latin America. He uses the funding experience in Bolivia to illustrate his thesis. Millington's work draws on the history of economic ideas and modern debt analysis and applies them to Latin American financial practices in their historical, social, and political contexts. By emphasising the politics of debt funding, he seeks to challenge other concepts of dependency and neocolonialism that dominate study of the immediate postindependence period. The book emerged from the author's experience of working on financial policy in the Bolivian Ministry of Finance in 1977-78 and on his extensive research in the Bolivian Archives, where he discovered evidence of the conflicts between liberal constituencies, as opposed to the external obstacles often cited in other studies.
A self-contained and portable laboratory for microchemical analysis

Summary A compact self-contained and mobile laboratory for microanalysis (Cosmolab) was developed. It provides equipment and accessories for the use of simple and reliable microchemical techniques in both the clinical and research laboratories. The Cosmolab can be used in areas where there is inadequate power or water supply. The equipment makes possible the performance of a wide range of analyses in a simplified manner. The equipment does not require that specific methods be used. The analyst may therefore adapt or develop methods to meet his particular needs. The advantages of the Cosmolab are that it is portable, compact, complete, and ready for immediate use anywhere.
Distractor inhibition predicts individual differences in the attentional blink.

Background: The attentional blink (AB) refers to humans' impaired ability to detect the second of two targets (T2) in a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) stream of distractors if it appears within 200-600 ms of the first target (T1). Here we examined whether humans' ability to inhibit distractors in the RSVP stream is a key determinant of individual differences in T1 performance and AB magnitude.
Two-dimensional center-of-mass diffusion of lipid-tethered poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) at the air-water interface studied at the single molecule level.

The two-dimensional (2D) center-of-mass diffusion, D, of end-tethered poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (PMOx) lipopolymer chains was studied in a Langmuir monolayer at the air–water interface using wide-field single molecule fluorescence microscopy. In this case, tethering and stabilization of hydrophilic PMOx chains at the air–water interface is accomplished via end-tethering to lipid molecules forming a hydrophobic anchor. To explore the influence of molecular weight, Mn, and surface concentration, cs, on lateral mobility, two different PMOx chain lengths of n = 30 and 50 (n, number of monomer units) were analyzed over a wide range of cs. Using multiparticle tracking analysis of TRITC-labeled PMOx lipopolymers, we found two regimes of lipopolymer lateral mobility. At low cs, D is independent of surface concentration but increases with decreasing n. Here diffusion properties are well described by the Rouse model. In contrast, at more elevated cs, the data do not follow Rouse scaling but are in good agreement w...
Water Storage of the Central Amazon Floodplain Measured with GIS and Remote Sensing Imagery

Abstract Interferometric processing of a Space Shuttle–based swath of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data collected over the central Amazon floodplain reveals one-day decreases in water levels ranging from 1 to 11 cm in mid-October 1994. The decreases, plotted in a geographic information system (GIS), do not appear to be related to water-body size. Instead, the drops correlate with distance between measured location and main river channel. Because the flow routes connecting observed water bodies to a river channel are convoluted, stream network extraction algorithms operating within a GIS are ideally suited to identify flow-path distances. High-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) are not available for the Amazon Basin; instead, extraction algorithms are applied to a basin-wide mosaic of raster-based SAR amplitude data. SAR amplitudes mimic topography with weak radar returns over open water lying in low elevations and strong returns over non-flooded, higher elevations. As flow-path distance increase...
Statin use and increased risk of cataract surgery

Purpose To determine the association of statin use with the risk of cataract surgery. Methods This is a retrospective population-based, case-control study. The Rochester Epidemiology Project was used to identify eligible residents of Olmsted county, Minnesota, USA. Cases included 6,024 county residents aged 50 years and older who had first-eye cataract surgery between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2011. Controls included residents who never had cataract surgery and were matched to cases by age, sex, and index date within 1 month of surgery. Statin medication prescriptions for at least 1 year before the surgery date (cases) or index date (controls) were examined. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by using logistic regression models. Results In the cataract surgery cohort, 2,557 (42%) were statin users compared to 2,038 (34%) in the matched control cohort (P<0.0001). Statin use of 1 or more years was associated with an increased risk of cataract surgery (OR=1.44; 95% CI, 1.34 – 1.55; P<0.0001). The associations were similar in women (OR=1.52; 95% CI, 1.38-1.68; P<0.0001) and men (OR=1.34; 95% CI, 1.20-1.51; P<0.0001), and remained significant after adjusting for diabetes, oral corticosteroid use, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use (P<0.003). Conclusion This study provides additional evidence that statin use is associated with an increased risk of cataract surgery in men and women, and underscores the likelihood of this unintended outcome in the large segment of the population that uses statins.
Inactivation of α-amylases by cobalt complexes☆

Abstract Crystalline, bacterial α-amylase (α-1,4 glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.1) was inactivated by incubation with a number of Co complexes. Inactivation was most effective at room temperature after incubation for at least 240 min. The extent of inactivation was governed by the stability and was unaffected by the formal charge on the Co complex. Enzyme inactivation depended both on the concentration of the Co complexes and on complex:enzyme weight ratio. The inactivation could be partly reduced by incubation of the amylase with the complex in the presence of starch.
Myelin basic protein in Alzheimer disease neuronal fractions and mammalian neurofilament preparations.

We previously reported a marked increase of a 20,000 molecular weight (MW) protein, P20, in some neuronal fractions and whole cortical homogenates isolated from affected cortex in Alzheimer disease; P20 comigrated electrophoretically with an unidentified, major 20,000 MW protein present in human neurofilament (NF) fractions. We now report that the 20,000 MW protein is a major constituent of rodent as well as human NF fractions and that it comigrates by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with purified myelin basic protein (MBP). Peptide mapping and staining with amido black confirmed the identity of the 20,000 MW protein of mammalian NF fractions as MBP. One- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of neuronal perikaryal fractions from human cortex indicated that the increased P20 protein in Alzheimer neuronal fractions comigrates with human MBP. Deliberate contamination of cortical samples with adjacent subcortical white matter (i.e., myelin) prior to neuronal separation did not result in an increase of P20 in the neuronal fraction. On the basis of these and additional experiments, we conclude that the increase of a 20,000 MW protein in neuronal fractions and whole homogenates from affected cortex in Alzheimer disease represents MBP of intracortical origin.
Structures of SAICAR synthetase (PurC) from Streptococcus pneumoniae with ADP, Mg2+, AIR and Asp. Corrigendum

The caption for Figure 3 of the article by Wolf et al. [(2014), Acta Cryst. D70, 841–850] is corrected.
The Value of an Educational Video Before Consultation with a Radiation Oncologist

This study aims to assess the efficacy of a radiation therapy (RT) education video for patients referred for treatment. The investigators produced a 23-min guide to radiation therapy DVD, combining didactic material and patient narratives. Patients (n = 32) had not yet received their initial consultation. Baseline awareness about cancer and treatment was assessed by surveys including the rapid estimate of adult literacy in medicine. Knowledge about RT was assessed before and after viewing the video with a separate 21 question survey. Differences in benefit for sociodemographic subgroups including age, gender, ethnicity, income, education, and health literacy level were explored. Baseline assessments identified 78 % of patients regardless of sociodemographic status had “little” to “no” basic knowledge of RT. The mean number of correct responses in the 21 question survey assessing how RT works improved from 9.8 to 11.1 after watching the video (p < 0.0001; 95 % CI: 1.3–3.0), a statistically significant benefit that was present among all sociodemographic subgroups, but more prominent among those with a greater than high school education (p = 0.002). Patient satisfaction with the video was high. Knowledge among cancer patients regarding RT is poor, regardless of sociodemographic factors. This pilot study demonstrates the utility of a brief video to universally improve patient awareness about RT. While patients may ultimately learn about RT during their course of treatment, we advocate for any tools that can improve patient knowledge at the time of initial consultation as this is typically the time they are asked to acknowledge informed consent for treatment.
Performance of a Gas Burning Rijke Pulse Combustor With Tangential Reactants Injection

Abstract This paper describes an investigation of the dependence of the performance of a propane burning Rijke pulse combustor upon the design of a recently developed tangential injection system. Two injection systems were investigated. In one the fuel and air were rapidly premixed before injection into a duct where most of the combustion occurred. In the second air and fuel were injected separately into the duct. In both cases the pulse combustor could be operated for air/fuel ratios a between 0.5 and 1.8. However, when the reactants were premixed, the combustor pulsations were dominated by the fundamental acoustic mode when α was low, and by its first harmonic when 1.1 < α < 1.6. In contrast, the fundamental acoustic mode dominated for all α when the reactants were injected separately. This suggests that this pulse combustor does not behave like a true Rijke tube, at least while operated in the premixed mode. In addition, exhaust flow analyses revealed that the combustor's combustion efficiency practica...
Growth and luminescence of the symbolic bacteria associated with the terrestrial nematode, Heterorphabditis bacteriophora

Abstract The terrestrial nematode, Heterorhabitis bacteriophora contains symbiotic terrestrial bacteria which emit low but detectable luminescence in the symbiotic state. When the nematode is ingested by caterpillar larvae (or other insects), the bacteria are released into t he hemocoel, where they grow rapidly (doubling time of 3 h or less), reach high cell numbers (109 ml−1 greater), and are brightly luminous. The enzyme that catalyzes light emission is a typical bacterial luciferase as judged by its substrate requirements and the kinetics in vitro. Bacteria grown in synthetic media emit luminescence that is nearly identical in color with that of other luminescent bacteria, while the color of light from infected caterpillar is substantially red-shifted.
Central neocortical epilepsy: Hypothesis and surgical approach

From a large series of epilepsy surgeries, we identified a spectrum of epileptogenic infarctions involving central neocortex. The severest end of this spectrum includes patients with the well-known syndrome of infantile hemiplegia. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), they show major hemispheric damage in the middle cerebral arterial distribution with or without involvement of other vessels. They usually have widespread EEG abnormalities and are best treated with hemispherectomy. The middle of this spectrum includes patients with infarction involving one or two branches of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) with varying degrees of hemiplegia. They can be treated with focal resection of only the infarcted tissue. The mildest form of this spectrum is represented by patients showing minimal to no MRI evidence of cerebral infarction and minimal to no neurologic deficit, but with histopathologic cortical abnormalities consistent with mild infarction. Such patients are candidates for multiple subpial transections (MST) when the epileptogenic focus involves indispensable cortex.
cis-acting elements within an RNA coliphage genome: fold as you please, but fold you must!!

Using anin vivocomplementation system, we conducted a mutational analysis of the bacteriophage Qβ readthrough cistron. In the Qβ cDNA-containing plasmid, pQβm100, we constructed six defined Qβ deletion cDNA genomes, each missing between 86 and 447 nucleotides from within the readthrough cistron. These deletion plasmids were introduced into host cells that are constitutively supplied with Qβ readthrough protein from the plasmid pQβRT. Under these conditions, all six deletion genomes spontaneously generated phage particles, each exhibiting a characteristic plaque phenotype and virus forming potential. Isolated readthrough-defective phage particles were subsequently used to infect host cells that carried helper readthrough protein. Passaged viruses yielded both larger plaques and higher titers, compared with those of the parent phages. Sequence analysis revealed that the genomes of the passaged viruses had deleted additional regions of readthrough RNA sequence. We discuss the possibilities that (1) the disruption of a well-defined structural domain in Qβ RNA was selectively disadvantagous to phage infection, and that (2) the evolved viral populations were selected by virtue of their ability to restore critical integrity of short and/or long-range nucleotide interactions within this region of Qβ RNA.
Rootstock scion somatogenetic interactions in perennial composite plants

The ancient plant production practice of grafting which instantly imparts new physiological properties to the desirable scion still remains shrouded in mystery. Yet, grafting remains a widely used technique in the production of several horticultural species. In a composite grafted plant, rootstocks control many aspects of scion growth and physiology including yield and quality attributes as well as biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. Broadly, physical, physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms have been reviewed to develop an integrated understanding of this enigmatic process that challenges existing genetic paradigms. This review summarizes the reported mechanisms underlying some of the economically important traits and identifies several key points to consider when conducting rootstock scion interaction experiments. Study of the somatogenetic interactions between rootstock and scion is a field that is ripe for discovery and vast improvements in the coming decade. Further, utilization of rootstocks based on a better understanding of the somatogenetic interactions is highly relevant in the current agricultural environment where there is a need for sustainable production practices. Rootstocks may offer a non-transgenic approach to rapidly respond to the changing environment and expand agricultural production of annual and perennial crops where grafting is feasible in order to meet the global food, fiber and fuel demands of the future.
On the effects of large-scale temperature advection in the Martian atmosphere☆

Abstract A theoretical model in which large-scale topography can generate steady winds is analyzed. The wind is determined by the radiative-equilibrium thermal structure, but gradient-level winds are affected to lowest order by the small temperature anomalies induced by large-scale temperature advection. The application of the model to the Martian general circulation is discussed and examples in which Martian parameters are used are presented and analyzed.
Adolescent Violence: With Whom They Fight and Where.

SUMMARY While adolescent violence is a significant societal concern, there has been limited research as to the context of the fighting. In other words, where do adolescents fight the most? With whom are they most likely to fight? Understanding the patterns of adolescent fighting will allow for a more comprehensive grasp of the problem. The data for the present analysis are drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) (Wave1), and are from the adolescent and matching parent in-home assessment and include only those adolescents who report being in a physical fight (n = 10,450). Adolescents report fighting most often at school and with a friend or someone they know. Differences in terms of sociodemographic variables (e.g., age, ethnicity, gender, parent education level) and family, school, and community attachment are discussed.
Parents as partners: parents’ perceptions of partnership in Northeren Ireland

The introduction of the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs in Northern Ireland has brought to the foreground the issue of parents as partners. Twenty parents of children attending two schools in Belfast for children experiencing learning difficulties were interviewed to determine their perceptions of their role during the process of Stages 4 and 5 of the implementation of the Code. The parents emphasised a sense of anger, frustration and isolation.
Beyond the Recommendation: Discerning Achievable Goals in Clinical Ethics Consultation

Dr. Feister (2015) proposes that clinical ethics consultation should extend beyond making a recommendation and should aim for closure, which can be achieved through bioethics mediation. We are alig...
Recent studies on the behaviour of interference fit pins in composite plates

Composites are finding increasing application in many advanced engineering fields like aerospace, marine engineering, hightech sports equipment, etc., due to their high specific strength and/or specific stiffness values. The use of composite components in complex situations like airplane wing root or locations of concentrated load transfer is limited due to the lack of complete understanding of their behaviour in the region of joints. Joints are unavoidable in the design and manufacture of complex structures. Pin joints are one of the most commonly used methods of connection. In regions of high stresses like airplane wing root joints interference fit pins are used to increase its fatigue life and thereby increase the reliability of the whole structure. The present contribution is a study on the behaviour of the interference fit pin in a composite plate subjected to both pull and push type of loads. The interference fit pin exhibits partial contact/separation under the loads and the contact region is a non-linear function of the load magnitude. This non-linear behaviour is studied by adopting the inverse technique and some new results are presented in this paper.
Simplified Models for NOx Production Rates in Lean-Premixed Combustion

Simplified models for predicting the rate of production of NOx in lean-premixed combustion are presented. These models are based on chemical reactor modeling, and are influenced strongly by the nitrous oxide mechanism, which is an important source of NOx in lean-premixed combustion. They include 1) the minimum set of reactions required for predicting the NOx production, and 2) empirical correlations of the NOx production rate as a function of the CO concentration. The later have been developed for use in an NOx post-processor for CFD codes. Also presented are recent laboratory data, which support the chemical rates used in this study.Copyright © 1994 by ASME
The AAA ATPase Cdc48/p97 and its partners transport proteins from the ER into the cytosol

In eukaryotic cells, incorrectly folded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are exported into the cytosol and degraded by the proteasome1. This pathway is co-opted by some viruses. For example, the US11 protein of the human cytomegalovirus targets the major histocompatibility complex class I heavy chain for cytosolic degradation2. How proteins are extracted from the ER membrane is unknown. In bacteria and mitochondria, members of the AAA ATPase family are involved in extracting and degrading membrane proteins3,4. Here we demonstrate that another member of this family, Cdc48 in yeast and p97 in mammals, is required for the export of ER proteins into the cytosol. Whereas Cdc48/p97 was previously known to function in a complex with the cofactor p47 (ref. 5) in membrane fusion6,7,8, we demonstrate that its role in ER protein export requires the interacting partners Ufd1 and Npl4. The AAA ATPase interacts with substrates at the ER membrane and is needed to release them as polyubiquitinated species into the cytosol. We propose that the Cdc48/p97–Ufd1–Npl4 complex extracts proteins from the ER membrane for cytosolic degradation.
Two-dimensional synthetic aperture radiometry over land surface during soil moisture experiment in 2003 (SMEX03)

Microwave radiometry at low frequencies (L-band, ~ 1.4 GHz) has been known as an optimal solution for remote- sensing of soil moisture. However, the antenna size required to achieve an appropriate resolution from space has limited the development of spaceborne L-band radiometers. This problem can be addressed by interferometric technology called aperture synthesis. The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission will apply this technique to monitor global-scale surface parameters in the near future. The first airborne experiment using an aircraft prototype of this approach, the Two-Dimensional Synthetic Aperture Radiometer (2D-STAR), was performed in the Soil Moisture Experiment in 2003 (SMEX03). The L-band brightness temperature data acquired in Alabama by the ID- STAR was compared with ground-based measurements of soil moisture and with C-band data collected by the Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer (PSR). Our results demonstrate a good response of the 2D-STAR brightness temperature to changes in surface wetness, both in agricultural and forest lands. The behavior of the horizontally polarized brightness temperature data with increasing view-angle over the forest area was noticeably different than over bare soil. The results from the comparison of 2D-STAR and PSR indicate a better response of the 2D-STAR to the surface wetness under both wet and dry conditions. Our results have important implications for the performance of the future SMOS mission.
Tolerability of Cefazolin after Immune-Mediated Hypersensitivity Reactions to Nafcillin in the Outpatient Setting

The objective of the present study was to assess the safety and tolerability of cefazolin therapy among patients with methicillin-sensitive Gram-positive bacterial infections who develop non-IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to nafcillin. In this retrospective cohort analysis of the Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy program at the Massachusetts General Hospital from 2007 through 2013, we identified patients switched from nafcillin to cefazolin after an immune-mediated HSR. We reviewed patient demographics, details about the original HSR, and outcomes after the switch to cefazolin therapy. HSRs were classified by reaction type and likely mechanism. There were 467 patients treated with nafcillin, of which 60 (12.8%) were switched to cefazolin during their prescribed course. Of the 60 patients who transitioned to cefazolin, 17 (28.3%) were switched because of non-IgE-mediated HSRs. HSRs included maculopapular rash (n = 10), immune-mediated nephritis (n = 3), isolated eosinophilia (n = 2), immune-mediated hepatitis (n = 1), and a serum sickness-like reaction (n = 1). All but one patient (94.1%) who switched to cefazolin tolerated the drug with resolution of the HSR and completed their therapy with cefazolin. No patient experienced worsening of their rash or progressive organ dysfunction. With appropriate monitoring, therapy with cefazolin after non-IgE-mediated HSRs to nafcillin appears to be safe.
A Two-site Model for ApoB Degradation in HepG2 Cells

Newly synthesized apolipoprotein B (apoB) undergoes rapid degradation in a pre-Golgi compartment in HepG2 cells. A major site of this early degradation seems to be on the cytosolic side of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and is sensitive to N-acetyl-leucinyl-leucinyl-norleucinal (ALLN), which can inhibit neutral cysteine proteases and/or proteasome activity. Oleate (OA) treatment, which facilitates translocation of nascent apoB across the ER membrane, also reduces early degradation. In the present studies, we have used brefeldin A (BFA), which inhibits vesicular transport from the ER to the Golgi, to demonstrate that apoB can also be degraded by an ER luminal proteolytic activity that is distinct from the ALLN-sensitive proteases. Thus, when BFA-treated HepG2 cells were co-treated with ALLN, which protects apoB but does not facilitate its translocation into the ER lumen, degradation of newly synthesized apoB was significantly reduced compared with cells incubated with BFA alone. However, apoB degradation was rapid and complete when OA was added to media containing either BFA or ALLN/BFA. These results suggested that OA, by increasing translocation of nascent apoB into the ER lumen, exposed apoB to an ALLN-resistant proteolytic pathway. When we incubated HepG2 cells with dithiothreitol (DTT)/OA/BFA or DTT/OA/ALLN/BFA, degradation of apoB was inhibited. Furthermore, addition of DTT resulted in the accumulation of a 70-kDa amino-terminal fragment of apoB. Both full-length and amino-terminal apoB were degraded if DTT was removed from the incubation media; both were secreted if only BFA was removed. Thus, even after apoB is translocated into the ER lumen (thereby avoiding the initial proteolytic pathway), it can potentially be degraded by a lumenal proteolytic process that is ALLN-resistant but DTT-sensitive. The present results, together with previous studies, suggest that at least two distinct steps may be involved in the posttranslational degradation of apoB: 1) the first occurs while apoB is partially translocated and is ALLN-sensitive; and 2) the second occurs in the ER lumen and is DTT-sensitive. Finally, our results support the hypothesis that degradation of partially translocated apoB generates a 70-kDa amino-terminal fragment that is mainly degraded in the ER lumen by a DTT-sensitive pathway.
The quaternary structure of the HisZ-HisG N-1-(5'-phosphoribosyl)-ATP transferase from Lactococcus lactis.

The N-1-(5'-phosphoribosyl)-ATP transferase (ATP-PRTase) encoded by the hisG locus catalyzes the condensation of ATP with PRPP, the first reaction in the biosynthesis of histidine. Unlike the homohexameric forms of the enzyme found in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, the ATP-PRTase from Lactococcus lactis and a number of other bacterial species consists of two different polypeptides, both of which are required for catalytic activity (Sissler et al. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 96, 8985-8990). The first of these is a truncated version of HisG that is approximately 100 amino acids shorter than the canonical versions. The second, HisZ, is a 328-residue version of a class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase catalytic domain that possesses no aminoacylation function. Here, the molecular mass and subunit composition of the L. lactis HisZ-HisG heteromeric ATP-PRTase is investigated using liquid chromatography, analytical ultracentrifugation, and quantitative protein sequencing. Individually, HisZ and HisG form inactive but stable dimers with association constants in the range of 2.5-3.3 x 10 5 M - 1 . When both types of subunits are present, a quaternary octamer complex is formed with a sedimentation coefficient of 10.1 S. Incubation of this complex with ATP promotes a shift to 10.7 S. By contrast, incubation with the allosteric modulators AMP and histidine destabilizes the complex, resulting in a shift to multiple species in equilibrium with an average of 9.3 S. While this octameric structure is unique to both the phosphoribosyl transferases and the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, the change in sedimentation behavior elicited by substrates and inhibitors suggests the presence of allosteric regulatory mechanisms reminiscent of other multisubunit enzymes of metabolic importance.
Long-Term Evaluation of Geosynthetic Reinforcement of Flexible Pavements Constructed over Thick Organic Soil Deposits

Many regions throughout Florida have thick deposits of organic soil. Roadways built over these deposits often exhibit differential settlement, significant rut depths, and extensive cracks in a relatively short period of time. The Florida Department of Transportation constructed an experimental project on a realigned portion of State Road 15 on the southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee in Palm Beach County to evaluate the effect of geosynthetic reinforcement on pavement performance. This roadway traverses farmlands with deep layers of organic material just beneath the surface and has a history of poor performance. The experimental project included four 500-ft sections with combinations of geogrids and geotextiles placed below the base and above the organic material. A fifth section of similar length was constructed with no geosynthetic reinforcement and served as a control. In addition to geosynthetic reinforcement, the alignment was surcharged before construction. The investigation showed that surcharging...
Appendix E—Comments on data of intensity and frequency of rainfall

Prompted by the suggestion in the Chairman's memorandum to Committee members in which the question of revision of the Yarnell rainfall-charts was raised, I conferred recently with D. L. Yarnell and Adolph Meyer with the view of reaching a conclusion on this and other related questions. A proposed project grew out of this conference which we should like to have the Committee consider and advise upon. It is believed that we can expect from now on a more accurate and dependable record of rainfall and other observed meteorological data than heretofore collected. This very increase in accuracy and dependability makes it necessary for us, as nearly as possible, to approach the limit of usefulness of all past data if we are to successfully correlate the future with the past.
Thermally induced optical property changes in myocardium at 1.06 μm

Light in the visible and near-infrared region is diffusely scattered in tissues by macromolecules. It was therefore hypothesized that tissue coagulation caused by high-power continuous wave laser irradiation might significantly alter tissue optical properties, resulting in a redistribution of laser energy during the laser ablation process. Infrared transmittance studies confirmed the hypothesis by demonstrating an irreversible decrease in light transmittance (45%) during heating of a 0.75 mm thick slice of tissue. Absorption and scattering coefficients were then determined from transmittance and reflectance measurements on thin slices of raw and coagulated myocardium irradiated with a Nd:YAG laser (1.06 microns). The scattering coefficient was found to increase fourfold (0.427 mm-1----1.74 mm-1) during tissue coagulation, while the absorption coefficient remained relatively unchanged (0.044 mm-1----0.051 mm-1). Calculations indicate that the coagulation-induced changes in tissue optical properties substantially increase surface back-scattering and reduce tissue penetration.
Differential effects of EGF gradient profiles on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell chemotaxis

Abstract Chemotaxis, directed cell migration in a gradient of chemoattractant, is an important biological phenomenon that plays pivotal roles in cancer metastasis. Newly developed microfluidic chemotaxis chambers (MCC) were used to study chemotaxis of metastatic breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231, in EGF gradients of well-defined profiles. Migration behaviors of MDA-MB-231 cells in uniform concentrations of EGF (0, 25, 50, and 100 ng/ml) and EGF (0–25, 0–50, and 0–100 ng/ml) with linear and nonlinear polynomial profiles were investigated. MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited increased speed and directionality upon stimulation with uniform concentrations of EGF. The cells were viable and motile for over 24 h, confirming the compatibility of MCC with cancer cells. Linear concentration gradients of different ranges were not effective in inducing chemotactic movement as compared to nonlinear gradients. MDA-MB-231 cells migrating in EGF gradient of 0–50 ng/ml nonlinear polynomial profile exhibited marked directional movement toward higher EGF concentration. This result suggests that MDA-MB-231 cancer cell chemotaxis depends on the shape of gradient profile as well as on the range of EGF concentrations.
Multiplanar Phalangeal and Metatarsal Osteotomies for Hallux Rigidus

Many articles have been published on the various treatments of hallux rigidus/limitus but few, if any, have focused solely on the osteotomies performed in the treatment of this disorder and provided a thorough review of the literature and critique of the procedures. Here, we describe the most commonly used, most widely accepted, and most effective osteotomies in the treatment of hallux limitus/rigidus. Along with this discussion are figures and tables to make the information accessible and user friendly. Among the procedures discussed are Keller arthroplasty, Keller interpositional arthroplasty, Bonney-Kessel, Mayo-Stone, Regnauld, Youngswick, Watermann, Watermann-Green, tricorrectional metatarsal osteotomy, sagittal V, LADO (long-arm decompression osteotomy), Drago, Lambrinudi (plantarflexory closing base wedge osteotomy), sagittal Scarf/sagittal Z, and Weil/Mau/distal oblique osteotomy.
Angiographic variant in juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

A 17-year-old male with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma was found, on preoperative evaluation, to have a normal selective angiogram of the internal and external carotid artery system. Possible explanations for this variant include and atypical blood supply from the vertebral artery system, the thyrocervical trunks, or from an ascending pharyngeal artery that branched low from the external carotid artery.
Vibronic Quantum Effects in Fluorescence and Photochemistry. Competition Between Vibrational Relaxation and Photochemistry and Consequences for Photochemical Control

In this paper we measured the fluorescence quantum yield (ΦF) and the reaction quantum yield (ΦPC) of a photochromic molecule (flindersine) as a function of the vibronic level (n) excited within a given sequence. We found that ΦF decreased and ΦPC increased with an increase in the quantum number of the vibronic level excited within a sequence. On the basis of a previously proposed model, this behavior was interpreted as resulting from competition between vibrational relaxation and photochemistry at each vibronic level. This model was broadened, and a new equation developed which, alone, or in combination with fluorescence data, permits determination of (1) the molar extinction coefficient of the partially produced colored form, (2) the quantum yield of vibrational relaxation, ΦV, and the complementary ΦPC at each vibronic level, (3) the photochemical reaction rate constant, kPC, (4) the nonradiative internal-conversion rate constant from S1 to S0, kNR, and (5) the vibrational relaxation rate constant amon...
The trans→cis photoisomerization of protonated retinyl Schiff bases

Schiff bases were prepared from all-trans-retinal (I) and pyrrolidine perchlorate (II) and from I and n-butyl amine, protonated with anhydrous hydrogen chloride gas, Ill. Initial quantum yields of trans cis photoisomerization (Φ°PI) were determined and primary photoproducts and product ratios were measured in aerated methanol. Φ°PI of all-trans-III is independent of excitation energy. All analyses were made using high-pressure liquid chromatographic (LC) methods. It was necessary to hydrolize the Schiff bases to corresponding retinals prior to LC analysis.