cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal Analysis of Human Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Development Reveals Transient Gene Expression Signatures.

Previous transcriptome studies of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) compare non-cancerous pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanIN) with late-stage PDAC obtained from different patients, thus have limited ability to discern network dynamics that contribute to the disease progression. We demonstrated previously that the 10-22 cell line, an induced pluripotent stem cell–like line reprogrammed from late-stage human PDAC cells, recapitulated the progression from PanINs to PDAC upon transplantation into NOD/LtSz-scid/IL2R-gammanull mice. Herein, we investigated the transition from precursor to PDAC using the isogenic model. We analyzed transcriptomes of genetically tagged 10-22 cells progressing from PanINs to PDAC in mice and validated the results using The Cancer Genome Atlas PDAC dataset, human clinical PanIN and PDAC tissues, and a well-established murine PDAC model. We functionally studied candidate proteins using human normal (H6C7) and cancerous (Miapaca2, Aspc1) pancreatic ductal epithelial cell lines. 10-22 cell–derived PDAC displayed the molecular signature of clinical human PDAC. Expression changes of many genes were transient during PDAC progression. Pathways for extracellular vesicle transport and neuronal cell differentiation were derepressed in the progression of PanINs to PDAC. HMG-box transcription factor 1 (HBP1) and BTB domain and CNC homolog 1 (BACH1) were implicated in regulating dynamically expressed genes during PDAC progression, and their expressions inversely correlated with PDAC patients9 prognosis. Ectopic expression of HBP1 increased proliferation and migration of normal and cancerous pancreatic cells, indicating that HBP1 may confer the cell dissemination capacity in early PDAC progression. This unique longitudinal analysis provides insights into networks underlying human PDAC progression and pathogenesis. Implications: Manipulation of HBP1, BACH1, and RUN3 networks during PDAC progression can be harnessed to develop new targets for treating PDAC.
Initial Intrathecal Dose Titration and Predictors of Early Dose Escalation in Patients With Cancer Using a 100:1 Oral to Intrathecal Morphine Conversion Ratio.

Objective Pain is common in patients with advanced cancer, and intrathecal drug delivery (IDD) has been successfully used for recalcitrant pain. We report on our experience using a 100:1 oral-to-intrathecal morphine conversion ratio for initial dosing and factors predictive of early dose escalation. Materials and methods Retrospective review of an intrathecal drug delivery system (IDDS) data base at the Huntsman Cancer Institute-University of Utah in cancer patients initiated on IDD with morphine or hydromorphone. Demographic characteristics, preoperative opioid use, and initial and hospital discharge IDD settings were collected. Results A total of 275 patients were identified between June 2014 and May 2020. The median oral-to-intrathecal morphine conversion ratio for initial IDD dosing was 105.5:1 (interquartile range [IQR] 90-120, range 75-150). No serious adverse effects including respiratory depression or sedation were noted and the median length of stay was one night (IQR 1-2, range 1-22). Ninety-six percent of patients discontinued opioids immediately following IDDS implant. Initial IDD dosing was adequate in 42% of patients. Dose reduction was required in 4% prior to discharge due to nausea, patient request, weakness, pruritus, or urinary retention. Dose escalation was required in 54%, with a median dose increase of 66.7% (IQR 33-150%, range 5-1150%). Patients in the highest quartile of dose escalation, ≥70% between IDD initiation and discharge, had associations with younger age, higher preoperative opioid use, and inpatient status. No significant associations were found in patients who required dose reduction as compared to other patients. Conclusions An oral-to-intrathecal morphine conversion ratio of approximately 100:1 for initiation of IDD in patients with cancer pain was safe and well tolerated and may facilitate rapid elimination of systemic opioids. Dose reduction was rare, while a majority of patients required further dose escalation prior to discharge.
Brief for Amici Curiae, Shanghai Yongrun Investment Management Co., Ltd. v. Kashi Galaxy Venture Capital Co., Ltd.

This amicus brief argues that New York’s Appellate Division should reverse the Supreme Court’s decision to deny recognition and enforcement of a Chinese judgment on the ground that China lacks impartial tribunals and procedures compatible with due process. The brief makes three main arguments. First, the reasoning of the decision below would end the recognition and enforcement of Chinese judgments in New York State because it indicates that Chinese courts can never produce judgments entitled to recognition. Because other states adopting the Uniform Acts have the same ground for non-recognition in their laws, the effect of the Supreme Court’s decision may extend beyond New York. Second, the reasoning of the decision below applies to countries other than China. Country Reports on 141 other countries express concerns about judicial independence or corruption similar to those on which the Supreme Court relied. Third, the decision below would likely end the recognition and enforcement of U.S. judgments in China. China has recognized U.S. judgments based on reciprocity, but such reciprocity will be difficult to maintain in the face of a decision condemning the Chinese judicial system as incapable of ever producing a judgment entitled to recognition.
Person Identification in Webcam Images: An Application of Semi-Supervised Learning

An application of semi-supervised learning is made to the problem of person identification in low quality webcam images. Using a set of images of ten people collected over a period of four months, the person identification task is posed as a graph-based semi-supervised learning problem, where only a few training images are labeled. The importance of domain knowledge in graph construction is discussed, and experiments are presented that clearly show the advantage of semi-supervised learning over standard supervised learning. The data used in the study is available to the research community to encourage further investigation of this problem.
Small-Scale Magnetic Features Observed in the Photosphere

Small-scale solar features identifiable on the quiet sun in magnetograms of the line-of-sight component consist of network, intranetwork, ephemeral region magnetic fields, and the elementary bipoles of ephemeral active regions. Network fields are frequently observed to split into smaller fragments and equally often, small fragments are observed to merge or coalesce into larger clumps; this splitting and merging is generally confined to the borders and vertices of the convection cells known as supergranules. Intranetwork magnetic fields originate near the centers of the supergranule convection cells and appear to increase in magnetic flux as they flow in approximate radial patterns towards the boundaries of the cells.
Applying the art of medicine in the study of attitudes

In 1758, the physician-philosopher Johann-Georg Zimmermann (1728-95) published Vom Nationalstolze. In this treatise, Zimmermann transformed the particulars of medical analysis conceived to examine pathological individuals into an instrument for observing societal mentalities. This article deals with Zimmermann's motivations for writing on national pride and with his observations and reflections on different kinds of national tempers. Zimmermann's descriptions of healthy and unhealthy manifestations of national pride and his prescriptions for preventing its worst effects are expounded through many direct quotes.
Prediction of Nonlinear Forced Response on Ancillary Subsystem Components Attached to Reduced Linear Systems

Industrial size FE models often times involve multiple interconnected linear components with very high fidelity resolution and very refined mesh. The prediction of the dynamic characteristics of this type of system can be costly and inefficient, in particular, when localized nonlinearities are present due to coupling elements such as hard contacts, isolation mounts, gap springs, bilinear springs, etc. Reduction methodologies are currently employed in this setting to decrease the set of active degrees of freedom in the FEM and efficiently compute the nonlinear system response. For complete multi-component systems with complicated nonlinear subcomponent configurations, the dynamic response of the system will have the embedded characteristics of the appended/ancillary subcomponents but the fidelity of the model will be highly dependent on the quality and resolution of the model. Therefore, sufficient substructure information is needed for an accurate prediction of the response of the appendage and/or its coupling structure.
Anthropology and Africa: Changing Perspectives on a Changing Scene

Anthropology and Africa: Changing Perspectives on. Changing Scene. Sally Falk Moore. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 1994. 165 pp.
An Introduction to Recombination and Linkage Analysis

With a garden as his laboratory, Mendel (1866) was able to discern basic probabilistic laws of heredity. Although it first appeared as a baffling exception to one of Mendel’s principles, the phenomenon of variable linkage between characters was soon recognized to be a powerful tool in the process of chromosome mapping and location of genes of interest. In this introduction, we first describe Mendel’s work and the subsequent discovery of linkage. Next we describe the apparent cause of variable linkage, namely recombination, and we introduce linkage analysis.
MANP: a novel particulate guanylyl cyclase A receptor/cGMP activator for resistant hypertension: preliminary first in human clinical trial results

MANP is a novel natriuretic peptide developed at the Mayo Clinic following its discovery from a familial frameshift mutation of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) gene (NPPA) [1,2]. MANP possesses the 28 amino acid (AA) core structure of ANP with a novel 12 AA extended C-terminus resulting in a 40 AA peptide. MANP activates the particulate guanylyl cyclase A (pGC-A) receptor with equal potency to ANP and is highly resistant to degradation by neprilysin. In vivo, MANP has greater and longer lasting blood pressure (BP) lowering, natriuretic and aldosterone suppressing actions than ANP [3]. In animal models of hypertension, MANP potently reduces BP and enhances renal function while in experimental hypertensive heart failure, MANP has more potent renal and aldosterone suppressing actions than the cyclic guanylyl monophosphate (cGMP)-activating therapeutic agent nitroglycerin [4]. In vivo administered subcutaneously, MANP activates plasma cGMP 10-fold greater than ANP with a 4-fold greater half-life [3,4]. Based upon its potent cGMP mediated cardiorenal actions and studies which suggest that human hypertension may represent a relative natriuretic peptide deficiency state, MANP is being developed for treatment of severe resistant hypertension.
Cereals and Cereal Products

The article contains sections titled: 1. Introduction 2. Grain Crops 3. Physical Properties and Structure 3.1. Kernel Structure 3.2. Hull and Bran Layers 3.3. Germ 3.4. Grinding and Milling 3.5. Grain Drying 3.6. Nutritional Implications 4. Composition 5. Standards and Classification 6. Storage 7. Grain Quality 8. Processing and Utilization 8.1. Wheat 8.2. Rice 8.3. Corn 8.4. Barley 8.5. Oats 8.6. Sorghum 8.7. Rye 9. Additives to Cereal Products 10. Extrusion Products 11. Industrial Uses 12. Economic Aspects
Left High and Dry

A ‘curious feminist’ analysis, according to Enloe, starts in the lives of women and values all women's lives regardless of their status, identity, location or access to power. In this article I use this perspective to highlight the intersections of international development and patriarchy in the lives of three women of different generations and class status as they are affected by dislocations resulting from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) in the remote highland communities in rural Lesotho. I employ an intersectionality framework to demonstrate how their shared and divergent experiences, presented only partially and in my narrative form, tell a tale of the intertwining consequences of this multi-billion dollar international development project in the lives of rural poor women. Women's lived experiences of the LHWP reveal the contradictions of international development, exposing the masculinist imperatives that focus on generating national revenues to the exclusion of other development options,...
Vestibular stimulation and its effects on muscle tone

In an attempt to better understand the otolith organs' contribution to postural control and their involvement with spasticity, we propose investigating their role in defining muscle tone utilizing acoustical stimulation. Over the years, the vestibular system has been investigated, both anecdotally and empirically, helping to establish the necessary neuromuscular evidence supporting its biomechanical contributions. Such examinations have included vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP), the vestibular ocular reflex (VOR), jump-tests and the vestibulospinal reflex (VSR), human centrifuge experiments, caloric tests, and galvanic stimulation. Generally speaking, these examinations can be classified into three categories; mechanical, electrical and caloric. The primary focus for our efforts, though, will be on the saccule, and since prior research has established it as the most sound sensitive vestibular end-organ, we believe that it can be acoustically stimulated in such a manner that it habituates the neuromuscular loop resulting in a quantifiable difference in muscle tone. The findings of this study may lead to new techniques that assist with motor control deficiency found in cerebral palsy and stroke patients along with astronauts returning from spaceflight.
Mechanisms of insulin resistance in cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is associated with a high incidence of diabetes. Studies evaluating causes of CF-related diabetes (CFRD) have consistently documented decreased insulin secretion. In patients with CFRD, insulin sensitivity has been documented to be decreased, but controversy exists in patients with normal or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). We undertook this study 1) to reexplore insulin sensitivity in patients with IGT and 2) to evaluate potential mechanisms of insulin resistance in CF, including GLUT-4 translocation, elevation of serum cytokines, and free fatty acid (FFA) levels. We recruited nine CF subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGTCF) and nine age-, gender-, and body mass index-matched control volunteers. Each underwent a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (200 mU. m(-2). min(-1)) to measure insulin sensitivity. A muscle biopsy was obtained at maximal insulin stimulation for measure of GLUT-4 translocation with sucrose gradients. An oral glucose tolerance test and National Institutes of Health (NIH) clinical status scores were measured in all volunteers. We also measured tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels and FFA in all subjects. Additionally, we report the results of TNF-alpha and FFA in 32 CF patients previously studied by our group. Results were that glucose disposal rate (GDR) was significantly lower in the CFIGT subjects than in controls, indicative of impaired insulin action. GLUT-4 translocation was impaired in CF and correlated with GDR. TNF-alpha levels were higher in all CF subjects than in controls and correlated with GDR. There was no difference in FFA between CF and control subjects. Modified NIH clinical status scores were inversely correlated with GDR and TNF-alpha levels. We conclude that IGTCF patients have decreased peripheral insulin sensitivity. Mechanisms include elevation of TNF-alpha and impaired translocation of GLUT-4.
GAZE AVOIDANCE IN SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER

Background The relationship between gaze avoidance and social anxiety has been examined previously using eye-tracking and static social images. Overall, findings to date highlight increased gaze avoidance as a behavioral marker of social anxiety. The purpose of the present study was to better elucidate the relationship between gaze avoidance and social anxiety disorder (SAD) symptoms via covert eye tracking of gaze tendencies in response to a dynamic computerized social interaction simulation. On the basis of the bivalent fear of evaluation (BFOE) model of social anxiety,[1] it was expected that participants with SAD, compared to nonsocially anxious control (NSAC) participants, would exhibit gaze avoidance in response to both positive and negative social feedback. Methods Participants with SAD (n = 20), and a sample of demographically equivalent NSAC (n = 19), were administered clinical diagnostic interviews and a computerized social simulation task. The simulation task consisted of viewing 26 dynamic videos (13 positive and 13 negative), each 12 s in duration. All participants were covertly eye tracked during the simulation. Results SAD participants exhibited greater global gaze avoidance in response to both the positive and negative video clips in comparison to the controls. Moreover, the SAD group exhibited equivalent gaze avoidance in response to stimuli of both emotional valences. Conclusions These results provide additional support for gaze avoidance as a behavioral marker of SAD, as well as additional support for the BFOE model. Implications for the assessment of SAD are discussed.
Identification of a cyclooxygenase-related gene and its potential role in prostaglandin formation

Regulation of cyclooxygenase expression was studied in homogenous preparations of epithelial cells isolated from sheep tracheal mucosa. Cellular capacity to generate cyclooxygenase-derived arachidonate metabolites (predominantly prostaglandin E2) increased markedly in cultured compared to freshly isolated cells. A 70 kDa cyclooxygenase protein and corresponding 2.8 kb mRNA were coordinately expressed but their levels did not increase proportionately to the increase in cyclooxygenase activity. Rehybridization of Northern blots at lower stringency revealed the presence of a new tissue-specific 4.0 kb mRNA species exhibiting increased expression during cell culture. Hybridization of the 4.0 kb mRNA with two nonoverlapping cDNA probes at only low stringency conditions suggests that it is derived from a distinct gene. Its relatedness to cyclooxygenase and its increase in parallel with enzymatic activity further suggest that the larger mRNA may encode for a cyclooxygenase.
Lack of in vivo cross-resistance with 4′-thio-ara-C against drug-resistant murine P388 and L1210 leukemias

4′-Thio-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (4′-thio-ara-C), which has shown a broad spectrum of antitumor activity against human tumor systems in mice and is undergoing clinical trials, was evaluated for cross-resistance to seven clinical agents in order to identify potentially useful guides for patient selection for further clinical trials of 4′-thio-ara-C and possible noncross-resistant drug combinations with 4′-thio-ara-C. A drug resistance profile for 4′-thio-ara-C, which was administered intraperitoneally daily for nine consecutive days, was obtained using seven drug-resistant P388 and L1210 leukemias that were implanted intraperitoneally in mice. Multidrug-resistant P388 leukemias (leukemias resistant to doxorubicin, etoposide, or paclitaxel) exhibited no cross-resistance to 4′-thio-ara-C. Leukemias resistant to camptothecin, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil were also not cross-resistant to 4′-thio-ara-C. Only the leukemia resistant to 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine was cross-resistant to 4′-thio-ara-C. The data suggest that (1) it may be important to exclude or to monitor with extra care patients who have previously been treated with 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine and (2) the lack of cross-resistance seen with 4′-thio-ara-C may contribute to therapeutic synergism when 4′-thio-ara-C is combined with other agents.
A Family Model of Care: Creating Life Enriching Environments in Nursing Homes

Abstract Concern for the deleterious effect of nursing homes on older adults' quality of life has resulted in a grassroots movement calling for a shift from the traditional medical model of care to that of a social model, thereby creating life enriching environments which foster meaningful relationships and activity engagement among residents, staff, and family members (Eaton, 1997; 2000; Kane, Kane, & Ladd, 1998; Pioneer Network, 2004). In this manuscript one approach to creating a life-enriching nursing home environment, the family model, is presented. The Family Model of Care provides guidance and direction to nursing homes seeking to create home-like environments that will foster family-like bonds among residents, staff, and family members. The components of the Family Model of Care include: (1) collaborative culture, (b) home-like setting, and (c) meaningful activities.
Amplification of the effects of drug resistance mutations by background polymorphisms in HIV-1 protease from African subtypes.

Abstract The vast majority of HIV-1 infections worldwide are caused by the C and A viral subtypes rather than the B subtype prevalent in the United States and Western Europe. Genomic differences between subtypes give rise to sequence variations in the encoded proteins, including those identified as targets for antiretroviral therapies. In the case of the HIV-1 protease, we reported earlier [Velazquez-Campoy et al. (2001) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 98, 6062-6067] that proteases from the C and A subtypes exhibit a higher biochemical fitness in the presence of widely prescribed protease inhibitors. In this paper we present a complete thermodynamic dissection of the differences between proteases from different subtypes and the effects of the V82F/I84V drug-resistant mutation within the framework of the B, C, and A subtypes. These studies involved four inhibitors in clinical use (indinavir, saquinavir, ritonavir, and nelfinavir) and a second-generation protease inhibitor (KNI-764). Naturally occurring amino acid polymorphisms found in proteases from the C and A subtypes lower the binding affinities of existing clinical inhibitors by factors ranging between 2 and 7.5 which by themselves are not enough to cause drug resistance. The preexisting lower affinity in the C and A subtypes, however, significantly amplifies the effects of the drug-resistant mutation. Relative to the wild-type B subtype protease, the V82F/I84V drug-resistant mutation within the C and A subtypes lowers the binding affinity of inhibitors by factors ranging between 40 and 3000. When the enzyme kinetic properties (k(cat) and K(m)) are included in the analysis, the biochemical fitness of the C and A subtype drug-resistant mutants can be up to 1000-fold higher than that of the wild-type B subtype protease in the presence of the studied inhibitors. From a thermodynamic standpoint, the combined effects of the drug-resistant mutations and the natural amino acid polymorphisms on the Gibbs energy are additive and involve significant alterations in the enthalpy and entropy changes associated with inhibitor binding. At the biochemical level, the combined effects of naturally existing polymorphisms and drug-resistant mutations might have important consequences on the long-term viability of current HIV-1 protease inhibitors.
Diagrammatic reasoning in Frege’s Begriffsschrift

In Part III of his 1879 logic Frege proves a theorem in the theory of sequences on the basis of four definitions. He claims in Grundlagen that this proof, despite being strictly deductive, constitutes a real extension of our knowledge, that it is ampliative rather than merely explicative. Frege furthermore connects this idea of ampliative deductive proof to what he thinks of as a fruitful definition, one that draws new lines. My aim is to show that we can make good sense of these claims if we read Frege’s notation diagrammatically, in particular, if we take that notation to have been designed to enable one to exhibit the (inferentially articulated) contents of concepts in a way that allows one to reason deductively on the basis of those contents.
Quantum well to quantum dot phonon-assisted tunneling

There has been great interests on semiconductor quantum dot (QD) due to its novel physical properties and potential applications such as semiconductor lasers with high gain and narrow linewidth. The collection of carriers by the QDs is a critical issue for efficient gain of QD lasers. A tunneling injection quantum-dot laser has been researched recently. Direct, photon-, phonon-, and Auger-assisted tunneling are all possible mechanisms for carrier transfer from QW to QD. In this talk, we present a theoretical model for the phonon-assisted tunneling from a quantum well (QW) state to the QD ground state in the conduction band. We assume a quantum-disk model and use its analytical wave functions to calculate the tunneling rate based on Fermi's Golden rule. The single-LO-phonon-emission and absorption processes are modeled by Froelich Hamiltonian. The dependence of the tunneling rate on the QW carrier density, temperature, barrier width between QW and QD, and energy difference between the QW state and the QD state are studied. The tunneling time ranging from several to a few tens of picoseconds are possible depending on the thickness of the barrier and the energy spacing between the QW and QD states.
Breathing pattern affects respiratory heat loss but not bronchoconstrictor response in asthma.

To determine whether changes in breathing pattern alone affect respiratory heat loss (RHL) and the constrictor response to cold dry gas hyperpnea in asthmatic subjects, we performed the following 2 part study: first we measured RHL in 8 asthmatic and 8 normal subjects during controlled eucapnic hypernea while they breathed at inspiratory to expiratory ratios (I/E) of 1:3, 3:1, and 2:2, and we recorded postchallenge forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) in the asthmatic group; we then performed the same measurements in 8 asthmatic and 8 normal subjects at fixed target minute ventilation\((\dot V_E )\) for tidal volumes of 0.2 × Forced vital capacity (FVC), 0.4 × FVC, and 0.6 × FVC by varying the target respiratory rate appropriately. Our results show that (1) increasing I/E ratio or tidal volume-frequency ratio (VT/f) at fixed\(\dot V_E \) produced small but statistically significant increases (p<0.05) in overall heat loss per unit volume of respired gas\((RHL/\dot V_E )\) in both asthmatic and nonasthmatic subjects of 1–4 cal/L; (2) changes in breathing pattern alone did not affect bronchoconstrictor response as assessed by lack of change in slopes and intercepts of %ΔFEV1 vs. RHL dose-response curves; and (3) the increase in RHL per unit volume of respired gas resulting from increasing VT/f ratios during cold gas hyperpnea was significantly greater in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic subjects. We conclude that changes in breathing pattern may affect overall RHL measured at the mouth, although the maximum effect of such changes in both asthmatic and nonasthmatic subjects is small (10–15%); that such changes do not significantly alter airway constrictor response in asthmatic persons; and (3) that the effects of changing breathing pattern on RHL may be more pronounced in asthmatic than nonasthmatic subjects, which suggests that the asthmatic group may be less able to adapt to factors that alter the magnitude and site of RHL.
CONDUCTING POLYMETALLOROTAXANES : A SUPRAMOLECULAR APPROACH TO TRANSITION METAL ION SENSORS

The integration of receptors into conducting polymer frameworks has been shown to produce efficient resistive and fluorescence responses to targeted analytes.1 Conducting polymers that contain transition metals also present opportunities to generate a variety of new sensory functions as well as conduction by mixed valence processes.2 As part of our continuing interest in sensory polymers, we have targeted conducting polymers containing metallorotaxanes.3,4 In this communication, we report novel conducting polymetallorotaxanes and the corresponding metal-free polyrotaxanes. We further demonstrate that these polyrotaxanes reversibly bind Cu+ and Zn2+ ions and that the threaded rotaxane structure is critical to produce the well-behaved reversible complexation. Compound 2 (Scheme 1) was chosen to serve as the threading and polymerization element since we have recently demonstrated its utility in formation of conducting polymer-transition metal hybrid materials.2 Moreover we have determined that the metalfree polymer, Poly(2), displays windows of conductivity in both oxidized and reduced forms.2 The metallorotaxane monomers, 3 and 4, readily assemble by combining the macrocyclic phenanthroline 1, developed by Sauvage,4 2, and Cu+ or Zn2+ ions (1:1:1) in CH2Cl2 (Scheme 1). Concurrent with the assembly, we observed a red shift of the ligand-centered optical transitions. This effect is the largest for 3 (Figure 1), and the transitions associated with moiety 2 display the largest shift (∆λmax ) 60 nm). The metallorotaxanes appear to be fully associated in CDCl3, and NMR signals5 for the free ligand species were not observed. An X-ray structure determination of 3 unambiguously confirms the metallorotaxane structure. As shown in Scheme 1, the Zn2+ ion exhibits a distorted tetrahedral structure, and 2 resides in a crescent-type conformation.6
Rock Climbers’ Self-Perceptions of First Aid, Safety, and Rescue Skills

Objective Rock climbing is a challenging and demanding sport that requires specialized equipment and training. One significant area of training involves being familiar with first aid and rescue skills. This study reports climbers' self-perceptions of their first aid, safety, and rescue skill competencies. Actual technical skills were not measured. Methods Data were collected through a World Wide Web (WWW)-based questionnaire administered over a 15-month period. The questionnaire requested information on respondents' climbing history, first aid training, personal safety practices, and partner and self-rescue skills. Results Two hundred forty-one climbers completed the Web-based survey. Findings showed that the majority of climbers reported receiving some form of first aid training, were attentive to personal safety practices, and perceived themselves to be confident in partner and self-rescue techniques. Conclusions On the basis of the results obtained in this study, it appears that training and specialized skills are considered by rock climbers to be important components of managing risk.
Effect of Texture on Microwave Emission from Soils

The intensity brightness temperature (TB) of the microwave emission from the soil is determined primarily by its dielectric properties. The large difference between the dielectric constant of water (?80) and that of dry soil (3-5) produces a strong dependence of the soil's dielectric constant on its moisture content. This dependence is effected by the texture of the soil because the water molecules close to the particle surface are tightly bound and do not contribute significantly to the dielectric properties. Since this surface area is a function of the particle size distribution (soil texture), being larger for clay soils with small particles, and smaller for sandy soils with larger particles; the dielectric properties will depend on soil texture. This dependence has been demonstrated by laboratory measurements of the dielectric constant for soils which are briefly summarized in this paper. The dependence of the microwave emission on texture is demonstrated by measurements of TB from an aircraft platform for a wide range of soil textures. The main conclusion of the paper is that the effect of soil texture differences on the observed TB values can be normalized by expressing the soil moisture values as a percentage of field capacity (FC) for the soil.
Invariant manifold reductions for Markovian ion channel dynamics.

We show that many Markov models of ion channel kinetics have globally attracting stable invariant manifolds, even when the Markov process is time dependent. The primary implication of this is that, since the dimension of the invariant manifold is often substantially smaller than the full master equation system, simulations of ion channel kinetics can be substantially simplified, with no approximation. We show that this applies to certain models of potassium channels, sodium channels, ryanodine receptors and IP3 receptors. We also use this to show that the original Hodgkin–Huxley formulations of potassium channel conductance and sodium channel conductance are the exact solutions of full Markov models for these channels.
A benzodiazepine recognition site associated with the non-NMDA glutamate receptor

Abstract GYKI 52466 is a benzodiazepine molecule that has muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant properties not attributable to a γ-aminobutyric acid receptor-mediated mechanism. Here it is shown that GYKI 52466 exerts no blocking action at N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors, but acts noncompetitively to block ion currents and associated excitotoxicity, including ischemic neuronal degeneration, mediated through non-NMDA glutamate receptors. The inhibition of non-NMDA responses by GYKI 52466 is antagonized by cyclothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, and diazoxide, benzothiadiazide drugs that inhibit non-NMDA receptor desensitization. These results suggest that non-NMDA receptor-ion channel complexes may contain a novel benzodiazepine recognition site where receptor desensitization is regulated; this postulated site represents a promising new target for rational development of drugs to treat neurological disorders.
Disclosure of HIV status to HIV-infected children in a large African treatment center: Lessons learned in Botswana

Abstract HIV-infected children in areas of the world with high HIV prevalence have increasing access to highly active antiretroviral therapy and are aging into adolescence in large numbers. These children need to develop an understanding of their illness that minimizes negative self-image and supports adherence to life-saving treatment. The disclosure of HIV status to an HIV-infected child is a process that is often anxiety-provoking for parents and caregivers. We describe a comprehensive clinic-based disclosure-support process, implemented in a large outpatient pediatric HIV care and treatment center in Botswana. The goals of this process are to allow the child to learn about the illness in an incremental and supported fashion, allowing for healthy psychosocial maturation. Successful development and implementation of this process at a single treatment center led to a revision of national guidelines and training programs to promote clinic-based disclosure support for children country-wide.
Placement of a coronary sinus lead in a patient with dextrocardia and situs inversus

Situs inversus with dextrocardia is a congenital condition in which the heart is a mirror image of the anatomically normal heart on the right side. Patients with this condition are increasingly surviving into adulthood and may present with heart failure. Several of such patients may benefit from atriobiventricular pacing which may be technically challenging. This case report describes techniques and equipment used to successfully place a coronary sinus lead in a patient with this congenital condition.
Preparative methods for brain slices: a discussion.

Criteria for slice health and factors that affect slice health were discussed by many of the participants in the conference. In addition to the standard parameters of slice health (energy metabolism, morphology, electrophysiological responsiveness) more subtle but possibly equally important manifestations of slice health were discussed. These included protein synthesis, and more subtle changes, of which we are becoming increasingly aware. The latter include synthesis of stress-related proteins, altered levels of phosphorylation, altered levels of proteolysis. These last were only touched on, but it is becoming apparent they do in fact constitute important manifestations of differences between the slice preparation and the in vivo tissue. They may well lead to quite different responses in slices from those that occur in vivo. While many ways of optimizing slice wellness were discussed, there was a fair consensus that certain adjustments will optimize the most widely measured aspects of cell function. These include the following, wherever possible. Use of young animals, use of the interface chamber, preparing slices with the vibratome, pre-treating animals with ice-cold cardiac perfusion before sacrificing, using pre-incubation media which reduce NMDA receptor activation, free radical formation and cell swelling. When possible these treatments should perhaps be continued into the normal incubation. This being said, many viewpoints were actually expressed in the Discussion, and it should be read to get a feel for the usefulness of the different approaches.
Transient, combined conduction and radiation in an absorbing, emitting, and isotropically scattering solid sphere

Abstract Transient, combined conduction and radiation is solved in an absorbing, emitting, and isotropically scattering solid sphere with a black boundary initially at a uniform temperature and for times t > 0 subjected to a constant temperature at the spherical surface. The collocation method is used to solve the radiation part of this problem and the implicit finite difference scheme is used to solve the conduction part. The effects of the conduction-to-radiation parameter, the single scattering albedo, the optical thickness of the medium on the temperature distribution and the heat flux in the medium are examined.
BLIP-II Is a Highly Potent Inhibitor of Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase (KPC-2)

β-Lactamase inhibitory protein II (BLIP-II) is a potent inhibitor of class A β-lactamases. KPC-2 is a class A β-lactamase that is capable of hydrolyzing carbapenems and has become a widespread source of resistance to these drugs for Gram-negative bacteria. Determination of association and dissociation rate constants for binding between BLIP-II and KPC-2 reveals a very tight interaction with a calculated (koff/kon) equilibrium dissociation constant of 76 fM (76 × 10−15 M).
Walter Brueggemann's Theology of the Old Testament. Testimony, Dispute, Advocacy

L'A. propose une lecture critique de l'oeuvre de 1997 de Walter Brueggemann, Theologie de l'Ancien Testament. Temoignage, discussion, defense. Apres une breve presentation, il s'arrete sur certains points : D'abord la question : qu'entend-on par temoignage de l'Ancien Testament ? Puis, l'identite de Dieu dans la Bible hebraique. Enfin, le defi hermeneutique qui souleve des questions, surtout les enjeux theologiques face a la nature et a l'autorite de la Bible pour l'Eglise chretienne.
Age at First Injection and HIV Risk among Intravenous Drug Users

ABSTRACTThe relationship of age at first injection and HIV risk was explored in a nonblinded HIV seroprevalence study of intravenous drug users (IVDUs) admitted to methadone treatment in seven United States cities between February 1987 and June 1989. Comparisons were made of IVDUs who began injecting as adolescents, young adults, and adults in terms of drug use and sexual HIV risk behaviors and HIV serostatus. Early injectors consistently reported higher levels of drug-using risk behaviors (e.g., frequency of injection, frequency of needle sharing, and use of shooting galleries), and were more likely to be HIV seropositive. Among females, early injectors were also more likely to report sexual risk behaviors (e.g., multiple sex partners, prostitution). The relationship of age at first injection with selected risk behaviors and HIV serostatus was independent of subjects' age at interview, gender, and race/ethnicity. This study suggests that adolescent injectors are an important target group for HIV preventi...
Initial development of a metric to describe the level of safety associated with piloting an aircraft with synthetic vision systems (SVS) displays

Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) displays provide pilots with a continuous view of terrain combined with integrated guidance symbology in an effort to increase situation awareness (SA) and decrease workload during operations in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). It is hypothesized that SVS displays can replicate the safety and operational flexibility of flight in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), regardless of actual out-the-window (OTW) visibility or time of day. Throughout the course of recent SVS research, significant progress has been made towards evolving SVS displays as well as demonstrating their ability to increase SA compared to conventional avionics in a variety of conditions. While a substantial amount of data has been accumulated demonstrating the capabilities of SVS displays, the ability of SVS to replicate the safety and operational flexibility of VMC flight performance in all visibility conditions is unknown to any specific degree. The previous piloted simulations and flight tests have shown better SA and path precision is achievable with SVS displays without causing an increase in workload, however none of the previous SVS research attempted to fully capture the significance of SVS displays in terms of their contribution to safety or operational benefits. In order to more fully quantify the relationship of flight operations in IMC with SVS displays to conventional operations conducted in VMC, a fundamental comparison to current day general aviation (GA) flight instruments was warranted. Such a comparison could begin to establish the extent to which SVS display concepts are capable of maintaining an "equivalent level of safety" with the round dials they could one day replace, for both current and future operations. Such a comparison was the focus of the SVS-ES experiment conducted under the Aviation Safety and Security Program's (AvSSP) GA Element of the SVS Project at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. A combination of subjective and objective data measures were used in this preliminary research to quantify the relationship between selected components of safety that are associated with flying an approach. Four information display methods ranging from a "round dials" baseline through a fully integrated SVS package that includes terrain, pathway based guidance, and a strategic navigation display, were investigated in this high fidelity simulation experiment. In addition, a broad spectrum of pilots, representative of the GA population, were employed for testing in an attempt to enable greater application of the results and determine if "equivalent levels of safety" are achievable through the incorporation of SVS technology regardless of a pilot's flight experience.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Magnetic inhomogeneity and magnetotransport in electron-doped Ca 1-x La x Mn O 3 (0⩽x⩽0.10)

The dc magnetization $(M)$ and electrical resistivity $(\ensuremath{\rho})$ as functions of magnetic field and temperature are reported for a series of lightly electron doped ${\mathrm{Ca}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{La}}_{x}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ $(0\ensuremath{\leqslant}x\ensuremath{\leqslant}0.10)$ specimens for which magnetization [Phys. Rev. B 61, 14319 (2000)] and scattering studies [Phys. Rev. B 68, 134440 (2003)] indicate an inhomogeneous magnetic ground state composed of ferromagnetic (FM) droplets embedded in a $G$-type antiferromagnetic matrix. A change in the magnetic behavior near $x=0.02$ has been suggested to be the signature of a crossover to a long-ranged spin-canted phase. The data reported here provide further detail about this crossover in the magnetization, and additional insight into the origin of this phenomenon through its manifestation in the magnetotransport. In the paramagnetic phase $(T\ensuremath{\geqslant}125\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K})$ we find a magnetoresistance $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\rho}∕\ensuremath{\rho}=\ensuremath{-}C{(M∕{M}_{S})}^{2}$ (${M}_{S}$ is the low-$T$ saturation magnetization), as observed in many manganites in the ferromagnetic (FM), colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) region of the phase diagram, but with a value of $C$ that is two orders of magnitude smaller than observed for CMR materials. The doping behavior $C(x)$ follows that of ${M}_{S}(x)$, indicating that electronic inhomogeneity associated with FM fluctuations occurs well above the magnetic ordering transition.
Modulation sensitivity in the perceptual organization of speech

In a spoken utterance, a talker expresses linguistic constituents in serial order. A listener resolves these linguistic properties in the rapidly fading auditory sample. Classic measures agree that auditory integration occurs at a fine temporal grain. In contrast, recent studies have proposed that sensory integration of speech occurs at a coarser grain, approximate to the syllable, on the basis of indirect and relatively insensitive perceptual measures. Evidence from cognitive neuroscience and behavioral primatology has also been adduced to support the claim of sensory integration at the pace of syllables. In the present investigation, we used direct performance measures of integration, applying an acoustic technique to isolate the contribution of short-term acoustic properties to the assay of modulation sensitivity. In corroborating the classic finding of a fine temporal grain of integration, these functional measures can inform theory and speculation in accounts of speech perception.
Transposable elements and the evolution of eukaryotic genomes

In addition to discovering TEs, McClintock also uncovered disparate ways that TEs can alter genetic information. At one end of the spectrum she found that TEs could restructure genomes through element-mediated chromosomal rearrangements. At the other end she and others found they could generate new alleles by inserting into and around genes and altering their expression. Thus, the presence and extraordinary abundance of TEs in eukaryotic genomes promote a myriad of genome-altering events.
Map-based cloning proves qGC-6, a major QTL for gel consistency of japonica/indica cross, responds by Waxy in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

In this study, one major QTL affecting gel consistency (GC) of japonica/indica cross was identified on chromosome 6 using a DH population. To understand the molecular mechanism that regulates GC in rice grains, the major QTL (qGC-6) was isolated through a map-based cloning approach utilizing chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs). Using 64 plants with extremely soft GC that were selected on recombinant break points between two SSR markers, RM540 and RM8200 in a BC4F2 population, qGC-6 was mapped to a 60-kb DNA region between two STS markers, S26 and S27. These two markers were then used to further identify recombination break points. Finally, qGC-6 was delimited in an interval of a 11-kb region. Gene prediction analysis of the 11-kb DNA sequence containing qGC-6 identified only one putative ORF, which encodes granule-bound starch synthesis protein (Wx protein). Results of sequencing analysis and complementation experiment confirmed that this candidate ORF is responsible for rice GC. Genetic evidences revealed that Wx might contribute equally to the grain amylose content-controlling gene as well as gel consistency. This new information is important to breed rice varieties with improved grain quality.
A review of scuffing and running-in of lubricated surfaces, with asperities and oxides in perspective

Abstract The slow progress in the understanding of scuffing (scoring) and runningin of most lubricated surfaces is probably due to an inadequate understanding of the details of asperity deformation and oxide formation. The thickness and properties of oxides influence the stress states imposed on asperities as much as does the liquid lubricant, but the oxides are ignored in theories. Present theories also focus on adhesion as the cause of scuffing and they usually do not take account of the changing surface roughness during sliding. There may indeed be some evidence of adhesion in the later stages of damage but adhesion has not been demonstrated to be the initiating mechanism of scuffing. Plastic fatigue is the more likely explanation, and this can occur without atomic contact between the sliding surfaces.