cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Film editing as women’s work: Ėsfir’ Shub, Elizaveta Svilova, and the culture of soviet montage

Der Artikel beschaftigt sich mit der Geschichte und den Leistungen von zwei sowjetischen Cutterinnen und Regisseurinnen: Ėsfir’ Sub und Elizaveta Svilova. Dabei soll sichtbar gemacht werden, was bisher weithin unsichtbar geblieben ist: Montage als „Frauenarbeit“.Die Ablehnung westlicher feministischer Theorie in der Sowjetunion und die damit verbundene Ablehnung, Geschlechterunterschiede als Voraussetzung fur das Selbstverstandnis als Kunstschaffende zu betrachten, gab der Auffassung des „Geschlechts des Autors als Filmschaffender“ im Bewusstsein dieser Kunstler*innen verglichen mit westlichen Anschauungen einen wesentlich geringeren Stellenwert. Ironischerweise bedeutete das auch, dass das Werk dieser Frauen keine historische Wurdigung fand: weil ihre Geschichte und Lebenswege nicht denen ihrer mannlichen Kollegen entsprachen und sie nie auf ihren Status als „auteurs“ bestanden, wurden ihre Leistungen von den vermeintlich groseren Erzahlungen der Geschichtsschreibung uberdeckt. Sie sind also erst „aus dem Rampenlicht und dann aus der Filmgeschichte selbst gefallen“ (“[they] fell out of the limelight and then out of the film history itself”), wie Jane Gaines es formuliert hat. An dieser Stelle werde ich das Werk von Sub, der Erfinderin der „Kompilations-Doku“, und Svilova, die Dziga Vertovs rasanten Montagestil erst moglich machte, als spezifisches Werk von Frauen untersuchen, was bedeutet, dass ich ihre Arbeit in Bezug zu anderen typisch weiblichen Handwerkstatigkeiten wie Weben, Nahen und dergleichen setzen werde. In beiden Fallen geht es mir vor allem darum, wie wir die Leistungen dieser Frauen als Regisseurinnen und Cutterinnen aus der von Mannern dominierten sowjetischen Filmindustrie herauslosen und sie in einen groseren Kontext der Wiederaufnahme feministischer Filmtheorie und der Geschichte von Frauen der Filmwirtschaft der UdSSR und anderer Lander stellen konnen.
Geometrically incompatible confinement of solids

The complex morphologies exhibited by spatially confined thin objects have long challenged human efforts to understand and manipulate them, from the representation of patterns in draped fabric in Renaissance art to current-day efforts to engineer flexible sensors that conform to the human body. We introduce a theoretical principle, broadly generalizing Euler’s elastica —a core concept of continuum mechanics that invokes the energetic preference of bending over straining a thin solid object and that has been widely applied to classical and modern studies of beams and rods. We define a class of geometrically incompatible confinement problems, whereby the topography imposed on a thin solid body is incompatible with its intrinsic (“target”) metric and, as a consequence of Gauss’ Theorema Egregium , induces strain. By focusing on a prototypical example of a sheet attached to a spherical substrate, numerical simulations and analytical study demonstrate that the mechanics is governed by a principle, which we call the “Gauss–Euler elastica .” This emergent rule states that—despite the unavoidable strain in such an incompatible confinement—the ratio between the energies stored in straining and bending the solid may be arbitrarily small. The Gauss–Euler elastica underlies a theoretical framework that greatly simplifies the daunting task of solving the highly nonlinear equations that describe thin solids at mechanical equilibrium. This development thus opens possibilities for attacking a broad class of phenomena governed by the coupling of geometry and mechanics.
Stabilization of compressor surge in systems with uncertain equilibrium flow

The adaptive correction of uncertain equilibrium states in feedback controlled systems is studied in this paper, with application to the active control of compressor surge with uncertainty in the characteristic curves. Adaptive compensation methods are introduced to correct for the uncertainty in the equilibrium state in both the state and the output feedback control cases, using information from the feedback control signal to determine the true equilibrium of the nonlinear plant. In particular, our proposed solutions overcome the odd-number condition, or parity condition, which appears as a recurring limitation in comparable solutions reported in the literature. Conditions for the existence of the adaptive solutions are presented, and the stability of the closed-loop system is demonstrated. The effectiveness of the proposed adaptation mechanism is verified using a high fidelity mathematical model of a compression system, commissioned to test active surge control methods by active magnetic bearings.
How Effect Size (Practical Significance) Misleads Clinical Practice: The Case for Switching to Practical Benefit to Assess Applied Research Findings

Relying on effect size as a measure of practical significance is turning out to be just as misleading as using p-values to determine the effectiveness of interventions for improving clinical practi...
Autoimmune Retinopathy: Current Concepts and Practices (An American Ophthalmological Society Thesis).

Purpose To elicit and evaluate opinions in the diagnosis and management of nonparaneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy (npAIR) among members of the American Uveitis Society (AUS) and to further the development of consensus and criteria in the diagnosis and management of npAIR. We hypothesize that despite lack of any clear guidelines, a general consensus in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of npAIR exists among uveitis experts. Methods A literature review was performed and a panel of uveitis experts was consulted to formulate a survey regarding the diagnosis and management of npAIR. An online survey of 10 questions was developed, and a link was distributed through the AUS membership discussion list. We defined "general consensus" as meaning that a majority (>50%) of the respondents provided the same answer to a question. Results Fifty-four members of the AUS responded to the survey. Thirty-eight members (70.4%) see one to three AIR patients per year. Greater than 50% consensus was reached on most items, particularly items relating to diagnostic features and tests (up to 96% consensus). Conclusions The diagnosis and management of npAIR is challenging, as standardized clinical and laboratory diagnostic criteria have yet to be established. The results of this study support the presence of consensus regarding certain aspects of npAIR, but also indicate the need for developing clear clinical diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines.
Lean body mass is the strongest anthropometric predictor of left ventricular mass in the obese paediatric population.

BACKGROUND Indexing left ventricular mass to body surface area or height2.7 leads to inaccuracies in diagnosing left ventricular hypertrophy in obese children. Lean body mass predictive equations provide the opportunity to determine the utility of lean body mass in indexing left ventricular mass. Our objectives were to compare the diagnostic accuracy of predicted lean body mass, body surface area, and height in detecting abnormal left ventricle mass in obese children. METHODS Obese non-hypertensive patients aged 4-21 years were recruited prospectively. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure lean body mass. Height, weight, sex, race, and body mass index z-score were used to calculate predicted lean body mass. RESULTS We enrolled 328 patients. Average age was 12.6 ± 3.8 years. Measured lean body mass had the strongest relationship with left ventricular mass (R2 = 0.84, p < 0.01) compared to predicted lean body mass (R2 = 0.82, p < 0.01), body surface area (R2 = 0.80, p < 0.01), and height2.7 (R2 = 0.65, p < 0.01). Of the clinically derived variables, predicted lean body mass was the only measure to have an independent association with left ventricular mass (β = 0.90, p < 0.01). Predicted lean body mass was the most accurate scaling variable in detecting left ventricular hypertrophy (positive predictive value = 88%, negative predictive value = 99%). CONCLUSIONS Lean body mass is the strongest predictor of left ventricular mass in obese children. Predicted lean body mass is the most accurate anthropometric scaling variable for left ventricular mass in left ventricular hypertrophy detection. Predicted lean body mass should be considered for clinical use as the body size correcting variable for left ventricular mass in obese children.
Silvopastoral practices sustain timber and forage production in commercial loblolly pine plantations of northwest Louisiana, USA

Four forage management treatments, bahiagrass, common bermudagrass, Coastal bermudagrass, and timber only were established in 26-year-old loblolly pine plantation. Pine growth data were collected in 1984, 1990, and 1995, and forage production was evaluated at 21-day intervals from April to October from 1991 through 1995. Forage management practices improved timber production, increasing five-year merchantable volume growth by 13 m3 ha-1. Mean five-year forage crop yields differed among treatments (P = 0.05) with daily dry matter yields averaging 39, 46, and 48 kg ha-1 for bahiagrass, common bermudagrass, and Coastal bermudagrass, respectively. Forage nutritional quality did not differ among forage crops. Forage management treatment future net values were computed for a 5% real interest rate. Although the future net value for bahiagrass and common bermudagrass exceeded Coastal bermudagrass, the mean forage crop future net value was similar to the timber only treatment.
Article Commentary: Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response, and Multiple Organ Dysfunction: The Mystery Continues:

Human sepsis is thought to be systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) that is activated by invasive infection. The multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is the identified failure of cri...
Baseline Screening MRI Uptake and Findings in Women with ≥ 20% Lifetime Risk of Breast Cancer.

The American Cancer Society recommends screening magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for patients with a ≥ 20% lifetime breast cancer risk. This study assesses the outcomes of baseline MRI screens in women from a high-risk breast clinic (HRBC). We retrospectively reviewed patients from our institution’s HRBC, excluding those with prior breast cancer and predisposing genetic mutations. Screening MRI was recommended for a lifetime risk of ≥ 20% using the Tyrer–Cuzick model. We determined baseline MRI results, biopsy rates, and frequency of MRI-detected high-risk lesions (HRLs) and breast cancers. Overall, 319 women attended our HRBC; median age was 48 years and 4.7% had prior atypia/lobular carcinoma in situ. Screening MRI was recommended for 282 patients, of whom 196 (69.5%) completed a baseline screen. A Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BIRADS) 3 or 4 finding occurred in 19.6% of patients; 23 (12.3%) required 6-month follow-up MRI, 16 (8.6%) underwent core biopsy, and 4 (2.1%) underwent excisional biopsy after initial core. An additional 7 (3.7%) patients had a non-breast incidental finding. An HRL was identified in 2 (1.1%) patients (atypical ductal and lobular hyperplasia, respectively), and 2 (1.1%) were diagnosed with T1N0 breast cancers. In the setting of an HRBC, 70% of women with a ≥ 20% lifetime risk of breast cancer pursued screening MRI when recommended. On baseline screen, the rate of MRI-detected breast cancer was low (1%); however, malignancies were mammographically occult and identified at an early stage. Despite a low cancer rate, nearly one in four women required additional diagnostic investigation. Prescreening counselling should include a discussion of this possibility, and longer-term follow-up of screening MRI is needed in this high-risk population.
Time and temperature sensitivity of the hybrid III lumbar spine.

OBJECTIVE Researchers have found a variety of uses for the Hybrid III (HIII) dummy that fall beyond the scope of its original purpose as an automotive crash test dummy. Some of these expanded roles for the HIII introduce situations that were not envisioned in the dummy's original design parameters, such as a relatively rapid succession of tests or outdoor testing scenarios where temperature is not easily controlled. This study investigates how the axial compressive stiffness of the HIII lumbar spine component is affected by the duration of the time interval between tests. Further, it measures the effect of temperature on the compressive stiffness of the lumbar spine through a range of temperatures relevant to indoor and outdoor testing. METHODS High-rate axial compression tests were run on a 50th percentile male HIII lumbar component in a materials testing machine. To characterize the effects of tests recovery intervals, between-test recovery was varied from 2 hours to 1 minute. To quantify temperature effects, environmental temperature conditions of 12.5°, 25°, and 37.5 °C were tested. RESULTS During repeated compressive loading, the force levels decreased consistently across long and short rest intervals. Even after 2 hours of rest between tests, full viscoelastic recovery was not observed. Temperature effects were pronounced, resulting in compressive force differences of 261% over the range of 12.5° to 37.5 °C. Compared to the stiffness of the lumbar at 25 °C, the stiffness at 37.5 °C fell by 40%; at 12.5 °C, the stiffness more than doubled, increasing by 115%. CONCLUSIONS A modest decrease in temperature can be sufficient to dramatically change the response and repeatability of the lumbar HIII component in compressive loading. The large magnitude of the temperature effect has severe implications in its ability to overwhelm the contributions of targeted test variables. These findings highlight the importance of controlling, monitoring and reporting temperature conditions during HIII testing, even in indoor laboratory environments.
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation in the Context of a Statewide Expulsion Prevention Initiative

This paper focuses on outcomes for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) provided to early education teachers as part of a tiered statewide expulsion prevention initiative....
Glucocorticoid induction of egg white mRNAs in chick oviduct

Glucocorticoids induce ovalbumin and conalbumin mRNA in oviducts from chicks withdrawn from prior estrogen treatment. The magnitude and the kinetics of the responses obtained, either in vivo or in vitro, are comparable to those obtained with estrogen or progesterone. With cultured oviducts, 1 nM dexamethasone is sufficient for half-maximal accumulation of nuclear receptors and partial induction of both mRNAs, while maximal levels of receptors and both mRNAs are achieved with 30 to 100 nM dexamethasone. Competition experiments show that dexamethasone acts by binding to a class of high affinity receptors distinct from the sex steroid receptors. Dexamethasone acts synergistically with estrogen, but not with progesterone.
COMPLEXITY OF VECTORIZED SOLUTION OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL FINITE ELEMENT GRIDS*

The dissected direct solution of finite-element grids has been shown to be more efficient than band-related methods. In this paper, it is shown that vector processors can be used to solve such grids despite their apparent disassociated structure. Operation counts and vector counts are given as a function of grid size and order of rectangular element.
Impact of Age, Sex and Indexation Method on MR Left Ventricular Reference Values in the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort

Purpose To determine normative values for left ventricular (LV) volumes, mass, concentricity and ejection fraction (EF) and investigate associations between sex, age and body size with LV parameters in community dwelling adults.
Ligand-dependent occupancy of the retinoic acid receptor beta 2 promoter in vivo.

Abstract Retinoic acid (RA) activates transcription of the RA receptor beta 2 (RAR beta 2) gene in embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells. This activation involves binding of the RAR/retinoid X receptor (RAR/RXR) heterodimer to the RA-responsive element (beta RARE). Dimethyl sulfate-based genomic footprinting was performed to examine occupancy of this promoter in P19 EC cells. No footprint was detected at the beta RARE prior to RA treatment, but a footprint was detected within the first hour of RA treatment. Concomitantly, other elements in the promoter, the cyclic AMP-responsive element and tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate-like-responsive element became footprinted. Footprints at these elements were induced by RA without requiring new protein synthesis and remained for the entire duration of RA treatment but rapidly reversed upon withdrawal of RA. A delayed protection observed at the initiator site was also reversed upon RA withdrawal. The RA-inducible footprint was not due to induction of factors that bind to these element, since in vitro assays showed that these factors are present in P19 cell extracts before RA treatment. Significantly, no RA-induced footprint was observed at any of these elements in P19 cells expressing a dominant negative RXR beta, in which RXR heterodimers are unable to bind to the beta RARE. Results indicate that binding of a liganded heterodimer receptor to the beta RARE is the initial event that allows other elements to gain access to the factors. In accordance, reporter analyses showed that a mutation in the beta RARE, but not those in other elements, abrogates RA activation of the promoter. It is likely that the RAR beta 2 promoter opens in a hierarchically ordered manner, signalled by the occupancy of liganded heterodimers.
False Confidence, Stock Market Participation, and Wealth Accumulation of Households: An Examination

This paper investigates whether false confidence, as characterized by a high level of personal mastery and a low level of intelligence (IQ), results in frequent investor trading and subsequent investor wealth erosion across time. Using the National Longitudinal Survey (NLSY79), change in wealth and asset allocation across time is modeled as a function of various behavioral, socio-economic and demographic variables drawn from prior literature. Findings of this research reveal that false confidence is indeed a predictor of trading activity in individual investment assets, and it also has a negative impact on individual wealth creation across time.
Multifrequency and multimodal sparse reconstruction in Lamb wave based structural health monitoring

In structural health monitoring, Lamb waves are employed extensively to examine and monitor thin structures, such as plates and shells. Typically, a network of piezoelectric transducers is attached to the structural plate member and used for both transmission and reception of the Lamb waves. The signals scattered from defects in the plate are recorded by employing the transducers in pitch-catch pairings. In this paper, we propose a multi-frequency, multi-modal sparse reconstruction approach for localizing defects in thin plates. We simultaneously invert Lamb wave based scattering models for both fundamental propagating symmetric and anti-symmetric wave modes, while exploiting the inherent sparsity of the defects. Dictionaries are constructed for both fundamental wave modes, which account for associated dispersion and attenuation as a function of frequency. Signals are collected at two independent frequencies; one at which the fundamental symmetric mode is dominant, and the other at which only the fundamental anti-symmetric wave mode is present. This provides distinct and separable multi-modal contributions, thereby permitting sparse reconstruction of the region of interest under the multiple measurement vector framework. The proposed defect localization approach is validated using simulated data for an aluminum plate.
Colour values of cooked top-round beef juices as affected by endpoint temperatures, frozen storage of cooked samples and storage of expressed juices

Juices from beef semimembranosus/adductor tissue, cooked to endpoint temperatures (EPTs) of 76, 78, 80, 82 and 84°C in a model heat-treating system, were evaluated for changes in CIELAB L*a*b*, chroma (C) and hue angle (H) values before and after storage of the cooked meat at -20°C for 3 weeks and after storage of the expressed juices under N 2 at 3°C for 72 h. Increases in EPTs altered all colour values of the juices. Lightness (L*) increased while yellowness (b*) decreased; redness (a*) and C decreased progressively while H increased toward the vertical axis. Storage of the expressed juices at 3°C under N 2 did not inhibit changes in a*, b*, C and H values. Regression coefficients of changes in relation to EPTs and time of storage of the expressed juices under N 2 were established. Storage of the cooked meats for 3 weeks at -20°C did not change any of the colour values of the juices. These data indicate that evaluations of cooked beef for doneness by colour of expressed juices must be performed immediately after expression of the juices before oxidation of the myoglobin pigments occurs. Storage of cooked meat at -20°C does not alter the colour of the juices, therefore, valid assays for doneness of meat in relation to juice colour can be made after frozen storage.
Analysis of high-speed digital phonoscopy pediatric images

The quantitative characterization of vocal fold (VF) motion can greatly enhance the diagnosis and treatment of speech pathologies. The recent availability of high-speed systems has created new opportunities to understand VF dynamics. This paper presents quantitative methods for analyzing VF dynamics with high-speed digital phonoscopy, with a focus on expected VF changes during childhood. A robust method for automatic VF edge tracking during phonation is introduced and evaluated against 4 expert human observers. Results from 100 test frames show a subpixel difference between the VF edges selected by algorithm and expert observers. Waveforms created from the VF edge displacement are used to created motion features with limited sensitivity to variations of camera resolution on the imaging plane. New features are introduced based on acceleration ratios of critical points over each phonation cycle, which have the potential for studying issues related to impact stress. A novel denoising and hybrid interpolation/extrapolation scheme is also introduced to reduce the impact of quantization errors and large sampling intervals relative to the phonation cycle. Features extracted from groups of 4 adults and 5 children show large differences for features related to asymmetry between the right and left fold and consistent differences for impact acceleration ratio.
Choledochal Cyst Complicating Pregnancy: Antepartum Diagnosis with MRI

Choledochal cyst presenting during pregnancy is a rare condition, associated with potentially life-threatening complications for both the mother and developing fetus. Clinical symptoms are nonspecific, and radiographic evaluation is complicated by the presence of the gravid uterus. The authors describe a 34-year-old pregnant female presenting in the third trimester with obstructive jaundice and a right upper quadrant mass. Multiplanar and multisequence imaging with MR established the antepartum diagnosis of choledochal cyst, avoiding the use of ionizing radiation during pregnancy.
The nature of fundamental 1/f noise in quantum sensing technology, negative entropy, and uncertainty principle

Most sensors traduce various environmental, industrial, or laboratory parameters into electrical signals. Quantum sensing pushes this to the ultimate limit of achievable sensitivity, detectivity, resolution, and stability. Quantum mechanics sets these limits through the uncertainty principle. It causes the ubiquitous 1/f noise, as we show here for LiNbO 3 . Quantum 1/f theory, known as the quantum theory of the fundamental 1/f noise phenomenon, is a new aspect of quantum mechanics, that governs the nonlinear interaction of particle and field, introducing the new notions of "physical cross sections" (PCS) and "physical process rates" (PPR). These contain the fundamental macroscopic quantum 1/f fluctuations. They yield the usually defined PCS and PPR with infrared radiative corrections, when the expectation value is taken over the low-frequency photon states of negative entropy. The physical charged particle, such as an electron, contains both the bare particle and its electromagnetic field. The latter is in a coherent state, where the phase of the electromagnetic field oscillators is determined. Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle then requires that the energy must be uncertain, leading to nonstationary states describing the particle. The particle’s resulting fractional current fluctuations in large devices always have the spectrum 2α/πf, where α=1/137 is the fine structure constant.
Targeted tumor necrosis factor receptor I preligand assembly domain improves skin lesions in MRL/lpr mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by high levels of autoantibody and multi-organ tissue damage including kidney and skin (1, 2). Keratinocyte apoptosis represents one of the histological features of skin lesions in SLE patients and may represent a source of autoantigens which in turn may be involved in the production of antibody. Antibody is deposited in the skin of patients with SLE even in non-affected areas (band test) and the presence of circulating anti-Ro (SS-A) antibodies has been associated with skin disease (3). Exposure to ultraviolet light is known to trigger disease (photosensitivity) but the exact mechanisms are not clear (4). Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) is a proinflammatory cytokine mainly produced by macrophages/monocytes (5). TNFα exerts its effect by binding to extracellular domains of TNFR1 (P60) and TNFR2 (P80). Recently, TNFR PLAD has been found to exert a crucial role in TNFR signaling (6). PLAD protein block effects of TNF-α and P60 PLAD protein inhibits inflammatory arthritis induced by TNF-α, CpG DNA and collagen (7). Given that PLAD has a key role in TNFR signaling, and that TNF-α induces skin inflammation (8), we investigated potential inhibitory role of soluble PLAD proteins in skin inflammation of lupus MRL/lpr mice. We found that P60 not P80 PLAD protein inhibited skin injury in MRL/lpr mice. Our data demonstrates that P60 PLAD protein can ameliorate skin injury in MRL/lpr mice.
Localization of voltage-gated K(+) channels in squid giant axons.

We have localized the classical voltage-gated K(+) channel within squid giant axons by immunocytochemistry using the Kv1 antibody of Rosenthal et al. (1996). Widely dispersed patches of intense immunofluorescence were observed in the axonal membrane. Punctate immunofluorescence was also observed in the axoplasm and was localized to approximately 25-50-microm-wide column down the length of the nerve (axon diameter approximately 500 microm). Immunoelectronmicroscopy of the axoplasm revealed a K(+) channel containing vesicles, 30-50 nm in diameter, within this column. These and other vesicles of similar size were isolated from axoplasm using a novel combination of high-speed ultracentrifugation and controlled-pore size, glass bead separation column techniques. Approximately 1% of all isolated vesicles were labeled by K(+) channel immunogold reacted antibody. Incorporation of isolated vesicle fractions within an artificial lipid bilayer revealed K(+) channel electrical activity similar to that recorded directly from the axonal membrane by Llano et al. (1988). These K(+) channel-containing vesicles may be involved in cycling of K(+) channel protein into the axonal membrane. We have also isolated an axoplasmic fraction containing approximately 150-nm-diameter vesicles that may transport K(+) channels back to the cell body.
Radiation-Induced Off-Flavor Development in Whole-Egg Magma

SUMMARY Whole-egg magma was irradiated, and the off-flavor threshold intensity was determined in triangular tests by expert taste panels. The dilution technique was employed to show the degree of off-flavor production in the dose range of 50,000–400,000 rads at 32°F. The intensity of off-flavor increased at a nonlinear rate. Nitrogen was bled into egg magma being blended for 5, 10, and 20 set prior to irradiation. The threshold doses were determined and compared with whole-egg magma blended for equal times without gas being added. The off-flavor threshold doses with nitrogen added were 47,080, 71,930, and 60,050 rads for 5, 10, and 20 set, respectively. With normal blending the threshold doses were 38,570, 31,170, and 43, l 10 rads. A dose response curve was obtained similar to that reported earlier at 80°F. The implication of this work in irradiated food evaluation and treatment is discussed.
Antibiotic‐loaded chitosan film for infection prevention: A preliminary in vitro characterization

The growing infection rate by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, especially with bone fracture fixation implants, is a major concern in extremity musculoskeletal wound treatment. This preliminary investigation evaluates the ability of chitosan film to be loaded with daptomycin and vancomycin in the operating room, in situ loading, and applied to musculoskeletal fixation devices to lessen or prevent infection. Films with 61, 71, and 80% degrees of deacetylation (DDA) made using lactic or acetic acid solvents were analyzed for their antibiotic uptake, elution, and activity along with film swelling ratio, ultimate tensile strength, Young's modulus, adhesive strength, and degradation. Chitosan films after 1 min of rehydration were able in a simulated, clinical setting to maintain mechanical integrity and adhesive strength to be applied to bone fracture fixation devices or implant surfaces. The film percent degradation increased with DDA increasing from 61 to 80%, but film degradation rate decreased in the presence of antibiotics. Eighty percent DDA chitosan films were optimal for absorbing and eluting antibiotics. Antibiotics eluted by the films were active against Staphylococcus aureus. These findings indicate that an 80% DDA chitosan film is potentially advantageous as a clinically adjunctive treatment in musculoskeletal injuries to lessen or prevent infections.
Long-term repetitive sodium lauryl sulfate-induced irritation of the skin: an in vivo study

Skin may adapt to topical irritants through accommodation. This study focuses on long-term exposure to irritants and attempts to demonstrate accommodation. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) induced irritant contact dermatitis at 3 concentrations (0.025% to 0.075%). Distilled water, acetone and an empty chamber served as controls. Experimental compounds were applied to forearms of 7 healthy volunteers for 24 hr before replacing by a fresh chamber for 6 non-consecutive weeks over 103 days. Possible accommodation was quantified by visual scoring (erythema and dryness) and by bioengineering parameters: transepidermal water loss (TEWL), capacitance, chromametry and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Significant erythema, dryness, elevated TEWL, skin colour reflectance and LDF values occurred during the exposure periods. Upon repeat exposure, an immediate and augmented response in erythema, TEWL, skin colour reflectance and LDF developed. However, irritant skin changes were not sustained. Irritation parameters return to baseline after cessation of exposure. There was no evidence of sustained irritation or accommodation after the last exposure. Study findings do not document sustained accommodation or adaptive hyposensitivity after long-term repetitive irritant exposure under these test conditions. Alternative models should be developed to prove or disprove the accommodation hypothesis.
Fatal intravascular synovial sarcoma in a 31-year-old woman

Abstract A 31-year-old woman presented with acute right abdominal pain of 5 hours' duration. Imaging studies showed obstruction and dilatation of the inferior vena cava. The patient suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest; during emergency surgery 230 g of “clot-like” material was removed from the inferior vena cava, right heart, and pulmonary arteries. The patient died the following day. Pathologic examination of the resected material showed a biphasic synovial sarcoma. At autopsy only a minimal amount of residual tumor was present in the wall of the inferior vena cava. Tumor embolization from another site was excluded on the basis of radiologic studies and autopsy findings. This appears to be the second reported case of intravascular synovial sarcoma and the first reported case with a fatal outcome.
Sequence and expression of a gene encoding an albumin storage protein in sunflower

The complete sequence of a sunflower (Helianthus annuus) gene, HaG5, encoding a 2 S albumin storage protein was determined. The predicted unprocessed precursor has 295 amino acids, is rich in glutamine residues (24%) and contains a hydrophobic amino-terminus that is similar to the consensus signal peptide. Amino acid sequencing of the mature protein revealed extensive post-translational processing. Nuclease protection and primer extension analysis indicated a major transcriptional start 30 nucleotides 5′ of the predicted ATG start codon. Additional sequence data, determined from a nearly full length cDNA recombinant, indicate that HaG5 is a member of a small gene family comprised of at least two divergent genes. Comparison of the predicted HaG5 gene product with sequences of other known plant proteins revealed distant but significant homology with the napins of Brassica and other heterogeneous seed proteins in the albumin superfamily.
Bias-variance trade-off for prequential model list selection

The prequential approach to statistics leads naturally to model list selection because the sequential reformulation of the problem is a guided search over model lists drawn from a model space. That is, continually updating the action space of a decision problem to achieve optimal prediction forces the collection of models under consideration to grow neither too fast nor too slow to avoid excess variance and excess bias, respectively. At the same time, the goal of good predictive performance forces the search over good predictors formed from a model list to close in on the data generator. Taken together, prequential model list re-selection favors model lists which provide an effective approximation to the data generator but do so by making the approximation match the unknown function on important regions as determined by empirical bias and variance.
Strong correlation and exotic superconducting states

Abstract Two recent proposals for singlet superconductive pairing which is not inhibited by strong shortrange repulsion are reviewed. The first involves a gap function which changes sign as the Fermi surface is crossed in momentum space and in the second a singlet gap function is odd in frequency and momentum. The properties of these novel states are described.
Differences in cardiovascular responses to isoproterenol in relation to age and exercise training in healthy men.

BACKGROUNDCardiac aging is characterized by a reduced heart rate response to beta-agonist stimulation with isoproterenol, but whether the ejection fraction and other cardiovascular responses are reduced in humans is largely unknown. In addition, whether reduced beta-agonist responses can be improved with exercise training has not been determined in humans.METHODS AND RESULTSCardiovascular responses to graded isoproterenol infusions (3.5, 7, 14, and 35 ng/kg/min for 14 minutes each) were assessed in 15 older (age, 60-82 years) and 17 young (age, 24-32 years) rigorously screened healthy men. Thirteen older and 11 young subjects completed 6 months of endurance training and were retested. At baseline, the older group had reduced responses to isoproterenol for heart rate (+65% older versus +92% young, p less than 0.001), systolic blood pressure (+9% versus +24%, p less than 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (-12% versus -24%, p less than 0.05), ejection fraction (+12 versus +20 ejection fraction units, p less t...
Nuclear Data Sheets for A=177

Abstract Evaluated nuclear structure and decay data for all nuclei with mass number A=177 (Ho,Er,Tm,Yb,Lu,Hf,Ta,W,Re,Os,Ir,Pt,Au,Hg,Tl) are presented. The experimental data are compiled and evaluated, and best values for level and gamma-ray energies, quantum numbers, lifetimes, gamma-ray intensities and transition probabilities, and other nuclear properties are recommended. Inconsistencies and discrepancies that exist in the literature are discussed. This work supersedes the earlier evaluation by F.G. Kondev (2003Ko33), published in Nuclear Data Sheets 99, 801 (2003).
An application of nanoindentation technique to measure bone tissue lamellae properties

Measuring the microscopic mechanical properties of bone tissue is important in support of understanding the etiology and pathogenesis of many bone diseases. Knowledge about these properties provides a context for estimating the local mechanical environment of bone related cells thait coordinate the adaptation to loads experienced at the whole organ level. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of experimental testing parameters on nanoindentation measures of lamellar-level bone mechanical properties. Specifically, we examined the effect of specimen preparation condition, indentation depth, repetitive loading, time delay, and displacement rate. The nanoindentation experiments produced measures of lamellar elastic moduli for human cortical bone (average value of 17.7 +/- 4.0 GPa for osteons and 19.3 +/- 4.7 GPa for interstitial bone tissue). In addition, the hardness measurements produced results consistent with data in the literature (average 0.52 +/- 0.15 GPa for osteons and 0.59 +/- 0.20 GPa for interstitial bone tissue). Consistent modulus values can be obtained from a 500-nm-deep indent. The results also indicated that the moduli and hardnesses of the dry specimens are significantly greater (22.6% and 56.9%, respectively) than those of the wet and wet and embedded specimens. The latter two groups were not different. The moduli obtained at a 5-nm/s loading rate were significantly lower than the values at the 10- and 20-nm/s loading rates while the 10- and 20-nm/s rates were not significantly different. The hardness measurements showed similar rate-dependent results. The preliminary results indicated that interstitial bone tissue has significantly higher modulus and hardness than osteonal bone tissue. In addition, a significant correlation between hardness and elastic modulus was observed.
P–E Fit as Paradigm: Comment on Tinsley (2000)☆

Abstract Tinsley (2000) poses a paradox: P–E Fit works, but Holland's hexagon does not. I illustrate the virtues of the P–E Fit model (or the P–E Interaction model) as a paradigm for psychology by deriving the concepts of self and personality from the model and discussing the implications of such derivation for psychological assessment. I also show how the measurement of P–E Fit might benefit from the mathematical concept of correspondence. Finally, I speculate on how Holland's use of six types is both blessing and curse.
Eukaryotic DNA does not form nucleosomes as readily as some prokaryotic DNA

Abstract Nucleosomal-length DNA was prepared from the genomic DNA of various prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms by limited nuclease digestion after reconstitution with core histones. The DNAs ranged in base composition from 26.5% to 72% guanosine-plus-cytosine (%GC). The nucleosomal-length DNAs were then used in a competitive reconstitution assay in order to quantitatively determine their relative abilities to form nucleosomes. The results of the assay indicate a linear dependence of the free energy of nucleosome formation on base composition and, surprisingly, show that several prokaryotic DNAs form nucleosomes as well as or better than eukaryotic DNAs.
Detection of genetic variations in serotype I isolates of infectious bursal disease virus using polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease analysis.

Abstract Reverse transcription with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction endonuclease analysis detected genetic variations among serotype I isolates of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Using a set of synthetic primers derived from the large genome segment of APHIS-IBDV, the hypervariable region ( Acc I- Spe I fragment) located in the VP2 gene was amplified. With all strains, a cDNA fragment of approximately 643 bp was amplified, indicating that there were no apparent deletions or insertions in this region among isolates. Fragments amplified from 9 isolates were digested with 14 restriction enzymes. Restriction fragment profiles generated by restriction enzymes Nae I, Stu I, Taq I, and Sac I, showed genetic variations among isolates. This study provided a simple and sensitive method for detection of genetic variations among isolates that are closely related serologically and could not be differentiated using current serologie methods.
Active site density and reactivity for the photocatalytic dehydrogenation of 2-propanol on TiO2 (110)

Abstract By combining molecular beam experiments at 350 K with low temperature experiments on an immobile adlayer, we determine the fraction of surface sites active for the photocatalytic dehydrogenation of 2-propanol to acetone to be 0.08 on a fully oxidized surface. We also find that the reaction probability at these sites is essentially unity. The presence of oxygen vacancies (≈0.1 monolayer) increases the fraction of active sites to 0.15 without changing the reaction probability, reaction kinetics, or product distribution. From this, we conclude that only sites which can bind O2 strongly are active for the reaction. Candidates for such sites include steps and kinks on fully oxidized surfaces and oxygen lattice vacancies on reduced surfaces.
Effect of an Alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone Analog on Penile Erection and Sexual Desire in Men With Organic Erectile Dysfunction

Abstract Objectives. To assess the safety, erectogenic properties, and effect on sexual desire of Melanotan II, a synthetic melanotropic initiator of erection, in men with erectile dysfunction and organic risk factors. Methods. Ten subjects were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Melanotan II (0.025 mg/kg) and vehicle were each administered twice by subcutaneous injection; real-time RigiScan monitoring and a visual analog were used to quantify the erections during a 6-hour period. The level of sexual desire and side effects were recorded with a questionnaire. Results. Melanotan II initiated subjectively reported erections in 12 of 19 injections versus only 1 of 21 doses of placebo. The mean rigidity score of the responders was 6.9 on a scale of 0 to 10. The mean duration of tip rigidity greater than 80% was 45.3 minutes with Melanotan II versus 1.9 for placebo ( P = 0.047). The level of sexual desire after injection was significantly higher after Melanotan II administration than after placebo. Nausea and stretching/yawning occurred more frequently with Melanotan II, and 4 of 19 injections were associated with severe nausea. Conclusions. The erectogenic properties of Melanotan II are not limited to cases of psychogenic erectile dysfunction; men with a variety of organic risk factors developed penile erections. The finding of increased sexual desire warrants further investigation of centrally acting agents on disorders of sexual desire.
Crystal structure of human senescence marker protein 30: insights linking structural, enzymatic, and physiological functions

Human senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30), which functions enzymatically as a lactonase, hydrolyzes various carbohydrate lactones. The penultimate step in vitamin-C biosynthesis is catalyzed by this enzyme in nonprimate mammals. It has also been implicated as an organophosphate hydrolase, with the ability to hydrolyze diisopropyl phosphofluoridate and other nerve agents. SMP30 was originally identified as an aging marker protein, whose expression decreased androgen independently in aging cells. SMP30 is also referred to as regucalcin and has been suggested to have functions in calcium homeostasis. The crystal structure of the human enzyme has been solved from X-ray diffraction data collected to a resolution of 1.4 A. The protein has a 6-bladed beta-propeller fold, and it contains a single metal ion. Crystal structures have been solved with the metal site bound with either a Ca(2+) or a Zn(2+) atom. The catalytic role of the metal ion has been confirmed by mutagenesis of the metal coordinating residues. Kinetic studies using the substrate gluconolactone showed a k(cat) preference of divalent cations in the order Zn(2+) > Mn(2+) > Ca(2+) > Mg(2+). Notably, the Ca(2+) had a significantly higher value of K(d) compared to those of the other metal ions tested (566, 82, 7, and 0.6 mum for Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Zn(2+), and Mn(2+), respectively), suggesting that the Ca(2+)-bound form may be physiologically relevant for stressed cells with an elevated free calcium level.
Unraveling of a Tethered Polymer Chain in Uniform Solvent Flow

The separation of electrophoresing DNA molecules of varying lengths, actuated by their size-dependent collision with a stationary obstacle or array of obstacles, has recently gained prominence. To ...
Biochemical limitations to high-level expression of humanized monoclonal antibodies in transgenic maize seed endosperm.

Abstract Transgenic plants are potentially valuable systems for the large scale manufacture of therapeutic proteins. To improve this technology, determining the importance of transgene transcript levels on protein accumulation in sink tissues during their development is crucial. In transgenic maize ( Zea mays L.) plants expressing humanized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in their seed endosperm, steady-state κ light chain (LC) and γ heavy chain (HC) mRNA levels were quantified during development and compared to the levels of fully-assembled mAb protein present at seed maturity. RNA blots and non-reducing SDS-PAGE western immunoblots revealed that steady-state LC and HC mRNA and protein levels were undetectable at 10 days after pollination (DAP) but increased quickly thereafter in three transgenic events expressing different mAb molecules. Similar to γ-zein mRNA, LC and HC messages were highly abundant between 15 and 25 DAP. Quantitative RNA blots and western immunoblots showed that steady-state LC transcript levels during development correlated extremely closely with protein levels in mature seed ( r 2 = 0.99). For HC, this correlation was not as strong ( r 2 = 0.85). Consistent with this finding, concomitantly increasing the zygosity levels of the LC and HC transgenes enhanced mAb concentration in mature seed, in contrast to increasing the copy number of the transgene insert, which did not correlate with high seed mAb levels. The results indicate that high-level expression of fully-assembled mAb protein in maize endosperm was favored by high LC and HC mRNA levels and was largely limited by HC protein concentration.