cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The patient generated index and decision regret in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

AIS patients and their parents will have distinct perspectives regarding the impact of AIS on patients’ lives. Current outcome assessment tools for AIS do not fully assess patient-specific disease impact and fail to distinguish between patient and parent perspectives. Patient Generated Index (PGI) has been used in other disease states to assess individual experiences. This study assesses PGI in operative AIS patients and their parents. Level 1, prospective multi-center study. 44 AIS patient and parent pairs completed the PGI questionnaire comprised of three stages (S1, S2, S3) and decision regret (DR). S1 asks for five areas of the patient’s life most affected by AIS and a 6th encompassing all other areas of their lives affected, S2 focuses on the magnitude of effect, S3 identifies desire to improve affected areas and DR if the surgery did not improve the specific area. S1 free responses were organized into 14 domains. Descriptive statistics were reported for stage scores; free-response format of PGI and DR limited ability for paired sample t test analysis. Mean age at surgery was 14.3 years, 84% female, and mean major curve magnitude was 61°. The three most common patient-reported concerns prior to surgery were (in descending order): sports, general function, and general fitness. However, the three most common parent-reported concerns were (in descending order): general function, sports, and appearance. Patients reported self-esteem and parents reported physical appearance as the most affected domain (S2). Patients reported pain and self-esteem and parents reported sleep and self-esteem as main operative aspirations (S3). Decision regret was the highest for uncertainty of future health in patients and sleep in parents. AIS patients and their parents reported different concerns and DR regarding surgical treatment. PGI provides insight into patient and parent views toward the disease as well as treatment aspirations.
Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesic Priming in Single Nociceptors.

Clinical µ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists produce hyperalgesic priming, a form of maladaptive nociceptor neuroplasticity, resulting in pain chronification. We have established an in vitro model of opioid-induced hyperalgesic priming (OIHP), in male rats, to identify nociceptor populations involved and its maintenance mechanisms. OIHP was induced in vivo by systemic administration of fentanyl and confirmed by prolongation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) hyperalgesia. Intrathecal cordycepin, which reverses Type I priming, or the combination of Src and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors, which reverses Type II priming, both partially attenuated OIHP. Parallel in vitro experiments were performed on small-diameter ( SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Commonly used clinical opioid analgesics, such as fentanyl and morphine, can produce hyperalgesia and chronification of pain. To uncover the nociceptor population mediating opioid-induced hyperalgesic priming (OIHP), a model of pain chronification, and elucidate its underlying mechanism, at the cellular level, we established an in vitro model of OIHP. In dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons cultured from rats primed with fentanyl, robust nociceptor population-specific changes in sensitization by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were observed, when compared with nociceptors from opioid naive rats. In DRG neurons cultured from rats with OIHP, enhanced PGE2-induced sensitization was observed in vitro, with differences identified in non-peptidergic [strongly isolectin B4 (IB4)-positive] and peptidergic [weakly IB4-positive (IB4+) and IB4-negative (IB4–)] nociceptors.
Influencia de los guías de turismo en la calidad del servicio en el Museo del Convento de San Francisco

Any type of service without a dose of quality is difficult to meet or exceed the expectations of the customer or visitor, this kind of situation results in customers or visitors not returning or recommending the service, all this signifying economic deficiencies as a result of a bad service. The present research aims to “Identify what type of relationship and influence exists between tourist guidance and the quality of service in the San Francisco Convent museum”.The sample consisted of 384 visitors to the Museum, it was characterized by gender, age group, the instrument was focused on knowing the level of enthusiasm of the tour guide, the use of some technological equipment in the guide service, the level of attention to mu- seum visitors, ethics and morals of the tour guide to enforce relevant regulations during the on-site visit to safeguard the integrity of the collections.The results obtained determine that the processes that have been used during the development of the service must be impro- ved, two segments of visitors were identified, one of them is interested in knowing about the Museum only the basic and elementary aspects and the other segment is very interested in the technical-artistic aspects of the collections. In order to generate pleasant experien- ces in each of these segments, it is important to develop a manual of administrative proce- dures, as well as a manual for the Tourism Guide of the San Francisco Convent Museum.
A rapid and sensitive lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for the detection of gluten in foods.

Abstract The gluten protein found in a variety of cereal grains is a food allergen that can elicit a spectrum of immuno-inflammatory responses in people. Consumer awareness has prompted changes in food labeling requirements, expanded gluten-free food product availability and increased demand for effective gluten testing methodologies. To meet the challenges associated with gluten testing from diverse and complex foods we developed a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) using a pair of novel gliadin monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Using a visual gold reporter, we show sensitive gluten detection (150 ng/mL) from complex food substrates using a fast (
Uncertainty quantification and estimation in differential dynamic microscopy

Differential dynamic microscopy (DDM) is a form of video image analysis that combines the sensitivity of scattering and the direct visualization benefits of microscopy. DDM is broadly useful in determining dynamical properties including the intermediate scattering function for many spatiotemporally correlated systems. Despite its straightforward analysis, DDM has not been fully adopted as a routine characterization tool, largely due to computational cost and lack of algorithmic robustness. We present statistical analysis that quantifies the noise, reduces the computational order, and enhances the robustness of DDM analysis. We propagate the image noise through the Fourier analysis, which allows us to comprehensively study the bias in different estimators of model parameters, and we derive a different way to detect whether the bias is negligible. Furthermore, through use of Gaussian process regression (GPR), we find that predictive samples of the image structure function require only around 0.5%--5% of the Fourier transforms of the observed quantities. This vastly reduces computational cost, while preserving information of the quantities of interest, such as quantiles of the image scattering function, for subsequent analysis. The approach, which we call DDM with uncertainty quantification (DDM-UQ), is validated using both simulations and experiments with respect to accuracy and computational efficiency, as compared with conventional DDM and multiple particle tracking. Overall, we propose that DDM-UQ lays the foundation for important new applications of DDM, as well as to high-throughput characterization.
Justice, Democracy, and the Role of Political Philosophy

In this paper, I argue that de Shalit’s claim that there is a tension between a commitment to democracy and methodological approaches in political philosophy that do not take the views of members o...
Transcirculation Embolization to New Territory During Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Embolization in new territories (ENT) is a known complication of mechanical thrombectomy with incidence dependent upon a variety of procedural factors. We present 2 cases of anterior circulation to...
TU‐G‐303‐00: Radiomics: Advances in the Use of Quantitative Imaging Used for Predictive Modeling

‘Radiomics’ refers to studies that extract a large amount of quantitative information from medical imaging studies as a basis for characterizing a specific aspect of patient health. Radiomics models can be built to address a wide range of outcome predictions, clinical decisions, basic cancer biology, etc. For example, radiomics models can be built to predict the aggressiveness of an imaged cancer, cancer gene expression characteristics (radiogenomics), radiation therapy treatment response, etc. Technically, radiomics brings together quantitative imaging, computer vision/image processing, and machine learning. In this symposium, speakers will discuss approaches to radiomics investigations, including: longitudinal radiomics, radiomics combined with other biomarkers (‘pan-omics’), radiomics for various imaging modalities (CT, MRI, and PET), and the use of registered multi-modality imaging datasets as a basis for radiomics. There are many challenges to the eventual use of radiomics-derived methods in clinical practice, including: standardization and robustness of selected metrics, accruing the data required, building and validating the resulting models, registering longitudinal data that often involve significant patient changes, reliable automated cancer segmentation tools, etc. Despite the hurdles, results achieved so far indicate the tremendous potential of this general approach to quantifying and using data from medical images. Specific applications of radiomics to be presented in this symposium will include: the longitudinal analysis of patients with low-grade gliomas; automatic detection and assessment of patients with metastatic bone lesions; image-based monitoring of patients with growing lymph nodes; predicting radiotherapy outcomes using multi-modality radiomics; and studies relating radiomics with genomics in lung cancer and glioblastoma. Learning Objectives: 1. Understanding the basic image features that are often used in radiomic models. 2. Understanding requirements for reliable radiomic models, including robustness of metrics, adequate predictive accuracy, and generalizability. 3. Understanding the methodology behind radiomic-genomic (’radiogenomics’) correlations. Research supported by NIH (US), CIHR (Canada), and NSERC (Canada)
Writing, Cognition, and the Nature of the Judicial Function

Prior commentators, including many judges, have observed that writing provides an important discipline on the judicial decisionmaking process. Those commentators have uniformly assumed that the effect will always be positive - that is, that a decision rendered pursuant to a process that includes a written justification will always be better (however better is to be measured) than a decision unaccompanied by writing. According to this view, we should always, all things being equal, prefer a decision accompanied by an opinion to one without. All things are not equal, of course, and there are many situations in which the costs of generating an opinion uncontestably outweigh the benefits - such as in the case of evidentiary rulings made during the course of trial. Still, the understanding remains that writing will result in some positive contribution to the process. This article calls that assumption into question. Drawing upon an emergent body of psychological research into the effects of both oral and written verbalization on decisionmaking effectiveness, it argues that certain types of decisions are likely to be worse if made via a process that incorporates writing. Decisions involving complex, context-intensive judgments that are best resolved via the weighing of largely inarticulable considerations are susceptible to a phenomenon called verbal overshadowing. In these situations attempts to justify a decision can lead the decisionmaker to focus on more readily verbalizable features of the problem to the exclusion of those inputs that are more important to proper analysis. The article also investigates the significance of writing to the fulfillment of the other two (aside from accuracy-enhancement) primary functions of judicial opinions, namely the creation and memorialization of precedent and the enhancement of legitimacy, and to consider the differing ways in which these functions are implicated at the trial and appellate levels. The goal is not so much to generate definitive answers as to better identify the costs and benefits provided by written opinions so as to more completely ground ongoing debates concerning when opinions should be issued, what form they should take, and who should author them.
Identification of Missense Mutants by Amino Acid Replacements in Iso-l-cytochrome c from Yeast

Abstract Altered peptides from chymotryptic digests of iso-1-cytochromes c that were obtained from two revertants of the cyc1–6 mutant, one revertant of cyc1–10 mutant, and one revertant of the cyc1–15 mutant have been isolated and their amino acid sequences established. The single amino acid replacements, serine and threonine at position 12 in two of the revertant iso-1-cytochromes c, indicated that cyc1–6 is a missense mutant which contains a residue of proline at position 12 instead of the normal residue of alanine. The RNA codons for proline differ from the RNA codons of alanine, serine, and threonine by one base, indicating that the cyc1–6 mutant arose by a G·C → C·G transversion and the serine and threonine revertants were formed, respectively, by a G·C → A·T transition and a G·C → T·A transversion. The revertant from cyc1–10 contained a residue of asparagine at position 13 in place of the normal residue of threonine, and the revertant from cyc1–15 contained a residue of isoleucine at position 17 in place of the normal residue of threonine. While it has not been possible to deduce the exact nature of the mutational changes in the cyc1–10 and cyc1–15 mutants since only one altered iso-1-cytochrome c was characterized from each of these cyc1 mutants, it is clear that these replacements are not compatible with mutations by way of any of the known nonsense codons. The complete deficiency of iso-1-cytochrome c in the cyc1–10 mutant and the amino acid replacement in the revertant could be explained either by frameshift mutations, if the forward and reverse mutations occurred within a single codon, or more likely by a missense mutation that gave rise to a lysine residue at this site which is incompatible for as yet undefined steps in the attachment of the heme group. We have no simple explanation for the cyc1–15 mutation since the site of the amino acid replacement in the revertant is not compatible with the site of the mutation that was determined by genetic fine structure mapping.
Factors Affecting the Rate of Heat-induced Spore Germination in Dictyostelium discoideum

Washed spores of Dictyostelium discoideum, strains NC-4H, NC-4D, and V-12, germinated rapidly after being heat shocked at or near 45.0 C for 30 min. Cultures of the slime molds were grown in association with Escherichia coli B/r as the host bacterium; spores taken from plates of synthetic medium had a higher final germination value than spores from complex medium containing peptone and yeast extract. Young spores germinated more rapidly than older spores. Optimal germination occurred between pH 6.0 and 7.0, and, of the buffers tested, potassium phosphate allowed the most rapid germination. After heat shocking, spores were diluted into fresh oxygenated buffer to provide enough oxygen for completion of germination. Germination occurred most rapidly between incubation temperatures of 22 and 25 C.
Awareness in games, awareness in logic

Standard game theory models implicitly assume that all significant aspects of a game (payoffs, moves available, etc.) are common knowledge among the players. There are well-known techniques going back to Harsanyi [4] for transforming a game where some aspects are not common knowledge to one where they are common knowledge.
mu-Opioid receptors modulate NMDA receptor-mediated responses in nucleus accumbens neurons.

The nucleus accumbens (NAcc) may play a major role in opiate dependence, and central NMDA receptors are reported to influence opiate tolerance and dependence. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the selective μ-opioid receptor agonist [d-Ala2- N -Me-Phe4,Gly-ol5]-enkephalin (DAMGO) on membrane properties of rat NAcc neurons and on events mediated by NMDA and non-NMDA glutamate receptors, using intracellular recording in a brain slice preparation. Most NAcc neurons showed a marked inward rectification (correlated with Cs+- and Ba2+-sensitive inward relaxations) when hyperpolarized, as well as a slowly depolarizing ramp with positive current pulses. Superfusion of DAMGO did not alter membrane potential, input resistance, or the inward relaxations. In the presence of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) used to block non-NMDA glutamate receptors and bicuculline to block GABAAreceptors, EPSPs evoked by local stimulation displayed characteristics of an NMDA component: (1) long duration, (2) voltage sensitivity, and (3) blockade by the NMDA receptor antagonistdl-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (d-APV). DAMGO (0.1–1 μm) significantly decreased both NMDA- and non-NMDA–EPSP amplitudes with reversal of this effect by naloxone and the μ-selective antagonist [Cys2-Tyr3-Orn5-Pen7]-somatostatinamide (CTOP). To assess a postsynaptic action of DAMGO, we superfused slices with tetrodotoxin and evoked inward currents by local application of glutamate agonists. Surprisingly, 0.1–1 μm DAMGO markedly enhanced the NMDA currents (with reversal by CTOP) but reduced the non-NMDA currents. At higher concentrations (5 μm), DAMGO reduced NMDA currents, but this effect was enhanced, not blocked, by CTOP. These results indicate a complex DAMGO modulation of the NMDA component of glutamatergic synaptic transmission in NAcc: μ receptor activation decreases NMDA–EPSP amplitudes presynaptically yet increases NMDA currents postsynaptically. These new data may provide a cellular mechanism for the previously reported role of NMDA receptors in opiate tolerance and dependence.
Integrated optical sigma-delta modulators

Abstract : Modern avionics equipment, such as super resolution direction-finding systems, now require resolutions on the order of 20 to 22 bits. Oversampled analog-to-digital converter architectures offer a means of exchanging resolution in time for that in amplitude and represent an attractive approach to implementing precision converters without the need for complex precision analog circuits. Using oversampling techniques based on sigma-delta modulation, a convenient tradeoff exists between sampling rate and resolution. One of the major advantages of integrated optics is the capability to efficiently couple wideband signals into the optical domain. Typically, sigma-delta processors require simple and relatively low-precision analog components and thus are well suited to integrated optical implementations. This thesis reviews the current sigma-delta methodology, the advantages of optical integrated circuits and presents the design of a second-order, integrated optical sigma-delta modulator. Simulation results for both a first and second order architecture are presented by evaluating the transfer characteristics numerically. Design parameters such as limit cycles are quantified and explained. Performance issues and future efforts are also considered. (AN)
Head pose estimation in the wild using approximate view manifolds

In this paper, we present a head pose estimation method for unconstrained images using feature-based manifold embedding. The main challenge of manifold embedding methods is to learn a similarity kernel that is reflective of variations only due to head pose and ignore other sources of variation. To address this challenge, we have used the feature correspondences of identity-invariant Geometric Blur features to learn a similarity kernel. To speed up the computation of the similarity kernel, we have used spatial pyramidal matching to approximate feature correspondences and random subsampling of training samples to approximate graph neighborhood. In addition to these approximations, we have used the Nystrom approximation to embed out-of-sample test images in an efficient manner. Using these approximations, an approximate view manifold was learned for 14000 images in the Annotated Facial Landmarks in the Wild (AFLW) dataset. With the learned manifold, head pose estimation was performed on four in-the-wild face datasets - AFLW (remaining 7000 images), AFW, McGill and YouTube Faces. The Approximate View Manifold training achieves a 7X speedup compared to the non-approximated Learning-manifold-in-the-wild approach [15]. Further, pose estimation using the proposed approach shows significant improvement in accuracy and reduced Mean Angular Error(MAE) compared to other methods [36, 1, 29] on the challenging AFLW (7041 images), McGill (6833 images) and YouTube Faces (22534 images) datasets.
Body composition and serum and liver lipids in rats fed distillers' dried grains

This study examined the body composition and serum and liver lipids in weanling rats fed diets containing distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS) from either white wheat (WW), red wheat (RW), corn (CO) or WW fortified with essential amino acids (FWW) as a sole protein source (1.6 % N in the diet). Although the DDGS-fed groups had significantly lower body weights compared with the casein control (RC) after a 28-day feeding trial, there were no significant differences among the dietary groups in percentages of body water, protein, lipid or ash. Serum cholesterol was significantly higher in rats fed the RW diet, and serum triglyceride was higher in the RC and FWW groups compared with the other dietary groups. Liver cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations (mg g−1 liver) were not significantly different among the five dietary groups.
AN AUTORADIOGRAPHIC STUDY OF PLACENTAL TRANSMISSION OF LABELLED PRILOCAINE (CITANEST) IN THE RAT

SUMMARY Using whole-body autoradiographic and scintillation counting techniques, the distribution and placental transmission of labelled prilocaine were studied in the rat. General body distribution resembled that found previously with lignocaine. Of particular interest was the rapid distribution to the foetus and the constant placental-foetal drug ratios indicating an early state of equilibrium between the two.
Organization of FtsZ Filaments in the Bacterial Division Ring Measured from Polarized Fluorescence Microscopy

Cytokinesis in bacteria is accomplished by a ring-shaped cell-division complex (the Z-ring). The primary component of the Z-ring is FtsZ, a filamentous tubulin homolog that serves as a scaffold for the recruitment of other cell-division-related proteins. FtsZ forms filaments and bundles. In the cell, it has been suggested that FtsZ filaments form the arcs of the ring and are aligned in the cell-circumferential direction. Using polarized fluorescence microscopy in live Escherichia coli cells, we measure the structural organization of FtsZ filaments in the Z-ring. The data suggest a disordered organization: a substantial portion of FtsZ filaments are aligned in the cell-axis direction. FtsZ organization in the Z-ring also appears to depend on the bacterial species. Taken together, the unique arrangement of FtsZ suggests novel unexplored mechanisms in bacterial cell division.
Multinational Structures and Strategies of U.S. Food Firms: Policy Implications

The paper by Handy and MacDonald presents evidence on the internationalization of the U.S. food-processing industry. It also makes references to the recent trend toward global multinational food firms in Europe, Canada, Japan, and the United States, all competing via direct investment, licensing arrangements, or brand differentiation in one another's markets. Handy and MacDonald's information on U.S. food manufacturing indicates the following points. (a) Foreign direct investment (and licensing in the case of breweries and soft drink firms) has been the preferred mode of international expansion rather than exploring export opportunities. These straegies are attributed by Handy and MacDonald to the roles of research and development and advertising as proxies of technological progressiveness and product differentiation respectively. (b) A substantial portion of trade by these firms represents intrafirm trade with their foreign affiliates. (c) Foreign direct investment in food processing has now become two-way, with not only U.S. firms investing abroad but increasingly, foreign firms investing in the U.S. market. While the Handy and MacDonald paper provides a useful addition to the scant literature on the global food-processing industry, our knowledge to date is too limited to derive any policy recommendations. I will therefore concentrate my remarks on some recent developments in trade theory that may shed some light on policy and provide a guidance to future research in this area.
Energy Transfer from PO Excited States to Alkali Metal Atoms in the Phosphorus Chemiluminescence Flame

Abstract Phosphorus chemiluminescence under ambient conditions of a phosphorus oxidation flame is found to offer an efficient electronic energy transferring system to alkali metal atoms. The lowest resonance lines, 2P3 / 2,½→2S½, of potassium and sodium are excited by energy transfer when an argon stream at 80°C carrying potassium or sodium atoms intersects a phosphorus vapor stream, either at the flame or in the postflame region. The lowest electronically excited metastable 4IIi state of PO or the (PO[unk]PO)* excimer is considered to be the probable energy donor. The (PO[unk]PO)* excimer results from the interaction of the 4IIi state of one PO molecule with the ground 2IIr state of another. Metastability of the donor state is strongly indicated by the observation of intense sensitized alkali atom fluorescence in the postflame region.
Increased S-nitrosothiols and S-nitrosoalbumin in cerebrospinal fluid after severe traumatic brain injury in infants and children: indirect association with intracranial pressure.

Nitric oxide (NO) is implicated in both secondary damage and recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Transfer of NO groups to cysteine sulfhydryls on proteins produces S-nitrosothiols (RSNO). ...
A texture evolution model in cubic-orthotropic polycrystalline system

A new methodology based on a conservation principle in the orientation space is developed to simulate the texture evolution in a cubic-orthotropic polycrystalline system. A least squares error method was used to improve the accuracy of the simulation results obtained from the texture evolution function. The model is applied to uniaxial tension, compression and rolling for a large deformation of more than 50% using a single evolution parameter. The validity and application range of this new model are discussed by simulating and predicting texture evolution during different loading conditions. The new methodology provides a family of texture evolution paths and streamlines which empowers the materials designer to optimize the desired microstructure.
Protein Function Assignment through Mining Cross-Species Protein-Protein Interactions

Background As we move into the post genome-sequencing era, an immediate challenge is how to make best use of the large amount of high-throughput experimental data to assign functions to currently uncharacterized proteins. We here describe CSIDOP, a new method for protein function assignment based on shared interacting domain patterns extracted from cross-species protein-protein interaction data. Methodology/Principal Findings The proposed method is assessed both biologically and statistically over the genome of H. sapiens. The CSIDOP method is capable of making protein function prediction with accuracy of 95.42% using 2,972 gene ontology (GO) functional categories. In addition, we are able to assign novel functional annotations for 181 previously uncharacterized proteins in H. sapiens. Furthermore, we demonstrate that for proteins that are characterized by GO, the CSIDOP may predict extra functions. This is attractive as a protein normally executes a variety of functions in different processes and its current GO annotation may be incomplete. Conclusions/Significance It can be shown through experimental results that the CSIDOP method is reliable and practical in use. The method will continue to improve as more high quality interaction data becomes available and is readily scalable to a genome-wide application.
Productivity and cost implications of implementing electronic medical records into an ambulatory surgical subspecialty clinic.

Objectives Electronic medical records (EMRs) have been proposed as technology through which the quality of healthcare could be improved. We present an analysis of the cost and productivity implications associated with the transition from transcription to an EMR system in an ambulatory setting. Methods Data were collected from eight consecutive fiscal years from 1998 to 2005. Transcription was used in the first 4-year period, and EMR was implemented and used in the later 4-year period. Productivity was defined as ambulatory revenue and the number of patient encounters. All costs related to transcription and EMR implementation were calculated. All data were adjusted for inflation. Results Within the transcription era, the transcription costs were $395,404, total revenue was $18,137,945, and patient encounters numbered 52,027. The average transcription cost per encounter was $7.60, average revenue per encounter was $348.63, and average revenue per provider was $505,615. Within the EMR era, the EMR-related costs were $293,406, total revenue was $30,370,647 and patient encounters numbered 65,102. The average documentation cost per encounter was $4.51, average revenue per encounter was $466.51, and average revenue per provider was $690,242. The startup costs of initial EMR implementation were $10,329 per physician provider. Conclusions The results of our study have shown that the implementation of an EMR system when an economy of scale exists coincides with an increase in the revenue per encounter and per provider compared with transcription. The advantage of the fixed costs of an EMR system compared with the variable costs of a transcription-based system is the allowance of cash savings in an ambulatory surgical subspecialty practice.
Folic acid analogs. III. N-(2-[2-(2,4-diarnino-6-quinazolinyl)ethyl]benzoyl)-l-glutamic acid

A trideaza analog of aminopterin, N-(4[2-(2,4-diamino-6-quinazolinyl)ethyl]benzoyl)-L-glutamic acid, was prepared by a Wittig condensation of 2,4-diaminoquinazoline-6-carboxaldehyde and [P-(N-[1,3-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)propan-1-yl]aminocarbonyl)phenylmethyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide followed by catalytic reduction and mild hydrolysis. This compound was found to have confirmed inhibitory activity against leukemia L1210 in mice.
Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Injury Part I: Basic Mechanisms and In Vivo Monitoring of ROS

Oxidative stress has been associated with diverse pathophysiological events, including cancer, renal disease, and neurodegeneration. More recently, it has become apparent that reactive oxygen species (ROS) also play a role in the development of vasculopathies, including those that define atherosclerosis, hypertension, and restenosis after angioplasty. The “response to injury” hypothesis developed by Russell Ross in the late 1970s suggested that atherosclerosis, at least, resulted from an initial injury to endothelial cells, leading to impaired endothelial function and subsequent macrophage infiltration and smooth muscle dysfunction. Many investigators then focused on oxidation of LDL and its interaction with the endothelium as the initial injury leading to the formation of fatty streaks and ultimately atherogenesis. It is now clear not only that diverse ROS are produced in the vessel wall, but that they individually and in combination contribute to many of the abnormalities associated with vascular disease. There are many ROS that play central roles in vascular physiology (Figure 1) and pathophysiology, the most important of which are nitric oxide (NO·), superoxide (O2·−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and peroxynitrite (ONOO·−). NO· is normally produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the vasculature, but in inflammatory states, inducible NOS can be expressed in macrophages and smooth muscle cells and contributes to NO·production. NO·is a crucial mediator of endothelium-dependent vasodilation and may also play a role in platelet aggregation and in maintaining the balance between smooth muscle cell growth and differentiation. Superoxide results from one electron reduction of oxygen by a variety of oxidases (Figure 2). When O2·− is produced in concert with NO·, they rapidly react to form the highly reactive molecule ONOO·−. ONOO·− is an important mediator of lipid peroxidation and protein nitration, including oxidation of LDL, which has dramatic proatherogenic effects. …
Intensive Selective Deer Browsing Favors Success of Asimina triloba (Paw Paw) a Native Tree Species

ABSTRACT: Although white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann) are generalist herbivores, they can have significant effects on species composition and abundance of forest trees, especially when deer densities are high and most plant species are heavily browsed but a few are selectively avoided as browse. We evaluated effects of selective deer browsing on tree species abundance in an old-growth mesic/wet-mesic forest in central Illinois by repeated sampling of permanent study plots in 2003 and 2008 and relating changes in stem density between the two samples to the intensity of deer browsing of individual species. The study site has high deer density (75 deer km2) during winter months, and initial observations indicated that paw paw (Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal) was strongly avoided as browse. Paw paw density increased in the seedling stratum between the two sample periods. However, nearly all other tree species declined in density; blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata Michx.) — a low-use browse speci...
Stability of transverse expansion in the mandibular arch

This was a retrospective, longitudinal cephalometric and cast study of 29 white patients at pretreatment, posttreatment, and an average of 6 years 3 months postretention. The goal was to assess changes with treatment and retention with the expanding mandibular lingual arch appliance in conjunction with fixed edgewise treatment. Seven mandibular cast measurements were assessed, including arch crowding, arch perimeter, arch length, and arch width at the permanent canines, first premolars, second premolars, and first molars. Cephalometric radiographs were digitized, and 16 cephalometric measurements were made. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and 2-sample t tests were used to determine statistically significant changes. It was found that the expanding lingual arch used for less than 6 months with the mandibular fixed edgewise appliance caused an increase in both the transverse and sagittal dimensions of the mandibular dental arch. Transverse expansion was more stable in the posterior region of the mandibular dental arch than in the anterior region. Mandibular intercanine width increase could be maintained only by fixed retention. Although the maxillary and mandibular incisors were advanced and proclined, lip protrusion did not occur.
Productivity of the Water Hyacinth Eichhornia Crassipes (Mart.) Solms

The tropical water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, occurs in some of the sloughs and rivers of northern California's Central Valley, a possible northern limit for its weedy distribution. The growth rates and reproductive rates of these water hyacinths, at least for brief periods each year, were comparable to those of water hyacinths growing in the tropics. Their rapid reproduction and high productivity in the summer months enable the populations to be maintained from year to year in northern California despite a high death rate in winter. See full-text article at JSTOR
Cytological studies on normal and surviving mast cells in vitro.

Cytological features of rat peritoneal fluid mast cells are studied to advantage with differential interference contrast optics (Nomarski System). These cells are particularly sensitive to handling; they rapidly undergo a variety of cytological changes which, in the literature, repeatedly have been interpreted as reflecting physiological activity related to mast cell secretory function. These interpretations are hereby questioned and, alternately, it is suggested that the changes are agonal ones and that an absorptive function must at least be considered. Some cytological features not detectable with conventional optics are described. The special optics were combined with time-lapse cinematography and dynamic records were obtained. These support the concept, advanced elsewhere, that sets of mast cell granules are confined within a common membranous sac and that each such set may behave as an independent physiological unit.
The interaction of cis and trans-1-cyclohexyl-2-phenyl-3-benzoylaziridine with lithium N-Methylanilide

A reaction pathway for the rearrangement-dehydrogenation of cis-1-cyclohexyl-2-phenyl-3-benzoylaziridine into 2-cyclohexylamino-3-phenylindenone can now be suggested. Furthermore, a competing degradation pathway involving CC bond scission accounts for the major product in these reactions and leads to ω-cyclohexylaminoacetophenone and benzaldehyde. Observed also is the fact that trans-1-cyclohexyl-2-phenyl-3-benzoylaziridine fails to undergo the rearrangement-dehydrogenation reaction.
Solving Poisson equation with Robin boundary condition on a curvilinear mesh using high order mimetic discretization methods

Abstract This paper introduces a new software package, written in MATLAB ® , that generates an extended discrete Laplacian ( L = D G = ∇ ⋅ ∇ ) based on the Castillo–Grone Mimetic difference operators over a general curvilinear grid. The boundary conditions are included in the extended discrete Laplacian Operator, i.e. Dirichlet, Neumann, as well as Robin boundary conditions. The user only needs to provide a curvilinear grid, a desired operator order, and the degree of the interpolating polynomial. The operator is tested in different condition and its performance is reported. Finally, based on accuracy of the results, amount of required memory, and the computation that is needed, it is concluded that the 4th order operator is the best one.
Strategies to Improve Adherence and Outcomes in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

This review examines studies of patient adherence to 5-aminosalicylic acid therapy conducted outside the context of a controlled therapy trial, considers the reasons why patients do not adhere to their medication and its consequences, and interventions to improve adherence and disease outcomes. Non-adherence in the inflammatory bowel disease population tends to mirror other chronic illnesses, in the range of 40–60%. Factors that appear to affect adherence include younger age, single status, heavy pill burden, perception of lack of benefit and feeling uninformed about the effect of medication. Three important outcomes of non-adherence include increased risk for disease activity, increased healthcare costs and the possible increased risk of dysplasia/colorectal cancer. Strategies to improve adherence include patient education and ‘health literacy’, along with discussing patient misperceptions and fears on an individual basis, decreasing the daily regimen and switching to high-dose formulations, and incorporating patient self-management techniques into practice.
Polyamides reveal a role for repression in latency within resting T cells of HIV-infected donors.

Background. The persistence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 within resting CD4+ T cells poses a daunting therapeutic challenge. Histone deacetylase (HDAC)-1, a chromatin-remodeling enzyme that can mediate gene silencing, is recruited to the HIV-1 long terminal repeat by the host transcription factor LSF. Pyrroleimidazole polyamides, small molecules that target specific DNA sequences, can access the nucleus of cells and specifically block transcription-factor binding. Methods. We used polyamides to directly test the role of chromatin remodeling in HIV quiescence in primary resting CD4^+ T cells obtained from HIV-infected patients. Results. After exposure to any of 4 different polyamides that specifically block HDAC-1 recruitment by LSF to the HIV promoter, replication-competent HIV was recovered from cultures of resting CD4^+ T cells in 6 of 8 HIV-infected patients whose viremia had been suppressed by therapy. In comparison, HIV was not recovered after exposure to control, mismatched polyamides but was recovered from 7 of 8 of these patients' samples after the activation of T cells. Conclusions. We identify histone deacetylation as a mechanism that can dampen viral expression in infected, activated CD4^+ T cells and establish a persistent, quiescent reservoir of HIV infection.
PATIENT DECISION‐MAKING CAPACITY AND RISK*

KIE: Although certain requisites of patient decision-making competency are generally agreed upon, there is no universally recognized standard. Wicclair, of the University of West Virginia Department of Philosophy, offers two reasons why a single standard should not be determined. First, competency is variable according to the decision at hand, i.e., task-related. Second, arguments in support of risk-related criteria fail. Wicclair challenges claims that a risk-related standard is legally the most feasible, is supported by the doctrine of informed consent, is consistent with everyday competence judgments, and achieves the best compromise between patient autonomy and concern for patient well-being. He argues that where risk is high, such a standard threatens unattainable requirements for competency; and where it is low, offers no set minimum, resulting in overly weak competency standards. Wicclair concludes that the standard of decision-making capacity should not vary by risk perceived.
The Path of the Minimum l p -Norm Estimator for p Between 1 and Infinity

The minimum lp-norm estimator is the point that minimizes the sum of the distance from each data point in the lp-norm. The path of this location estimate for an lp-norm is found as p goes from 1 to infinity. This path indicates how critical the selection of an exponent is. An alternative proof of Descartes's rule of signs, applied to exponential sums, limits the number of repeated exponents for the same minimum point with usual data sets. Several bounds on this path include that it stays among the averages of pairs of data points.
Minorities in the Farmers Home Administration Toward a Model of Intra-Agency Employment

This research investigates the intra-agency employment patterns of African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, and Native Americans in the Farmers Home Administration. Drawing on previous studies of local, state, and federal employment, this article develops and tests a model to explain employment variation within a federal agency This research uses weighted least squares regression to analyze integration in 246 Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) district offices. The findings indicate that group population, upper-level agency representatvon, funding, interminority competition, and region are important determinants of minority employment.
H. pylori status influences the efficacy of omeprazole 20mg but not ranitidine 75mg for prevention of nighttime heartburn following a provocative meal

Purpose: Acid inhibition appears less effective in H. pylori negative individuals (Hp neg) than in H. pylori positive ones (Hp pos) with proton pump inhibitors but not with H2-antagonists and may result in insufficient control of heartburn (HB) in many subjects. We evaluated a bedtime provocative meal and response to treatment in healthy subjects (18–75 yrs) who tested Hp neg (429) or pos (61) with a history of nighttime HB (2 episodes/wk) rated as moderate to very severe.
Cardiac Resynchronization and Quality of Life in Patients With Minimally Symptomatic Heart Failure

Objectives This study compared the quality of life (QOL) of patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to patients with an ICD only. Background CRT with ICD is associated with a reduction in heart failure risk among minimally symptomatic patients. It is unknown whether this improves QOL. Methods This study uses the MADIT-CRT (Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial With Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy) data. The MADIT-CRT enrolled 1,820 patients at 110 centers across 14 countries. Patients had ischemic cardiomyopathy (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class I or II) or nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NYHA functional class II only), sinus rhythm, an ejection fraction of 30% or less, and prolonged intraventricular conduction with a QRS duration of 130 ms or more. QOL was evaluated on the 1,699 patients with baseline and follow-up measures using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). Six dimensions (Physical Limitation, Symptom Stability, Symptom Frequency, Symptom Burden, Quality of Life, and Social Limitations) and 3 summary scores (Total Symptom, Clinical Summary, and Overall Summary) were analyzed. Results During an average follow-up of 2.4 years, the CRT-ICD group had greater improvement than the ICD-only group on all KCCQ measures (p Conclusions Compared with patients with ICD only, CRT-ICD is associated with greater improvement in QOL among relatively asymptomatic patients, specifically among those with left bundle branch conduction disturbance.
In vitro growth studies of Bacillus larvae White.

Abstract Various media were examined for their efficacy in the propagation and enumeration of Bacillus larvae White. The effects of different nitrogen sources, varying concentration of glucose, agar, and certain salts on recovery of B. larvae were ascertained. Three different plating media yielded maximum recovery when used in conjunction with a tetrazolium-flooding procedure.
Orthobaric Density: A Thermodynamic Variable for Ocean Circulation Studies

Abstract A new density variable, empirically corrected for pressure, is constructed. This is done by first fitting compressibility (or sound speed) computed from global ocean datasets to an empirical function of pressure and in situ density (or specific volume). Then, by replacing true compressibility by this best-fit virtual compressibility in the thermodynamic density equation, an exact integral of a Pfaffian differential form can be found; this is called orthobaric density. The compressibility anomaly (true minus best-fit) is not neglected, but used to develop a gain factor ψ on the irreversible processes that contribute to the density equation and drive diapycnal motion. The complement of the gain factor, ψ − 1, multiplies the reversible motion of orthobaric density surfaces to make a second contribution to diapycnal motion. The gain factor is a diagnostic of the materiality of orthobaric density: gain factors of 1 would indicate that orthobaric density surfaces are as material as potential density su...