cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lower extremity reconstruction with the anterolateral thigh flap.

The versatility and location of the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap make it well suited for lower extremity reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate surgical and functional outcomes by specific anatomic regions in the lower extremity to better define the role of the ALT flap in lower extremity reconstruction. A retrospective review of patients undergoing lower extremity reconstruction with an ALT flap between July 2002 and December 2010 was performed. Total 46 patients underwent lower extremity reconstruction with an ALT flap, of whom 29 (63%) had a pedicled flap and 17 (37%) a microvascular free flap. Defects were located in the hip/buttocks ( n = 8), groin ( n = 13), thigh ( n = 8), knee ( n = 5), leg ( n = 6), and foot/ankle ( n = 6). The mean postoperative follow-up was 4 months. Total flap loss occurred in two patients (4%). There were 11 recipient site complications (24%). The most common complication was recipient site seroma, which occurred in five patients (11%), all of whom had hip/buttock or groin defects. Overall, 38 patients (83%) returned to their preoperative functional status. The ALT flap is an effective method of lower extremity reconstruction. It can be performed as a pedicled or free flap, with good surgical and functional outcomes.
Reverse-mode Na+/Ca2+ exchange is an important mediator of venous contraction.

Abstract The Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger (NCX) is a bi-directional regulator of cytosolic Ca 2+ , causing Ca 2+ efflux in forward-mode and Ca 2+ influx in reverse-mode. We hypothesized that reverse-mode NCX is a means of Ca 2+ entry in rat aorta (RA) and vena cava (RVC). NCX protein in RA and RVC was confirmed by immunoprecipitation. To assess NCX function, isometric contraction and intracellular Ca 2+ was measured in RA and RVC rings in response to low extracellular Na + , endothelin-1 (ET-1), and KCl, in the presence or absence of the NCX antagonist KB-R7943. In RVC, low extracellular Na + caused vasoconstriction and an increase in intracellular Ca 2+ that was attenuated by 10 μM KB-R7943. KB-R7943 (10 μM) attenuated maximal contraction to ET-1 in RVC (53 ± 9% of control), but not RA (91 ± 1% of control). KB-R7943 (10 μM) reduced the maximal contraction to KCl in RA (48 ± 5%) and nearly abolished it in RVC (9 ± 2%), suggesting that voltage-dependent Ca 2+ influx may be inhibited by KB-R7943 as well. However, the L-type Ca 2+ channel inhibitor nifedipine (1 μM) did not alter ET-1-induced contraction. Our findings suggest that reverse-mode NCX is an important mechanism of Ca 2+ influx in RVC but not RA, especially during ET-1-induced contraction. Also, the effects of KB-R7943 on ET-1-induced contraction of RA and RVC are predominantly mediated by reverse-mode NCX inhibition and not due to off-target inhibition of Ca 2+ channels.
Mutations in WSC genes for putative stress receptors result in sensitivity to multiple stress conditions and impairment of Rlm1-dependent gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Intracellular signaling by mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascades plays an essential role in the cellular response to environmental stress. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the PKC1-regulated, stress-activated MAP kinase pathway, the MPK1 cascade, is activated by heat and by a decrease in osmolarity. The genes WSC1, WSC2 and WSC3 encode putative receptors that maintain cell wall integrity under conditions of heat stress. Genetic studies place the function of the WSC genes upstream of the MPK1 kinase cascade. To further define the role of the WSC family in the stress response we determined whether: (1) the wsc Δ mutants are sensitive to other environmental stress conditions, in addition to heat shock; (2) expression from four transcriptional control elements, known to be activated by stress, is impaired in wsc Δ mutants; and (3) Wsc4, a Wsc homolog, has functions that overlap with those of the other Wsc family members. We report here that deletion of WSC and PKC1 causes hypersensitivity to ethanol, hydrogen peroxide and DNA-damaging drugs. In wsc Δ mutants expression of β-galactosidase from the AP-1 response element (ARE), the heat shock response element (HSE) or the stress response element (STRE) is not reduced. In contrast, expression of a reporter gene placed under the control of the Rlm1 (transcription factor)-dependent response element is significantly reduced in wsc Δ mutants. This suggests that the lysis defect of wscΔ mutants is at least in part caused by a defect in transcriptional regulation by Rlm1. Phenotypic analysis of the effect of deleting WSC4 in a wsc1 Δ mutant show that, unlike WSC2 or WSC3, deletion of WSC4 does not exacerbate the lysis defect of a wsc1 Δ strain. In contrast, deletion of WSC4 enhances the sensitivity of the wsc1 Δ mutant to heat shock, ethanol, and a DNA-damaging drug, suggesting that WSC4 plays a role in the response to environmental stress but that its function may differ from those of the other WSC family members.
The effect of invasive macrophytes and water level fluctuations on unionids in Texas impoundments

The effects of invasive macrophytes, water level fluctuations and predation on freshwater unionids Pyganodon grandis and Utterbackia imbecillis were studied in three small impoundments in Northeastern Texas in 2003–2005. Mussel density was sampled with quadrats. Mortality, associated with the water level fluctuations and predation, was estimated by collecting dead shells on the shore at about two month intervals. In two ponds, horizontal distribution of unionids was limited by dense beds of invasive and noxious macrophytes (mainly Eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum and American lotus Nelumbo lutea): mussel densities were significantly lower in these macrophyte beds (P 2 m. The total amount of shells found on the shore per year varied from 0.1% to 28% of the total population in the pond and was negatively correlated with water level (r = −0.72 to −0.81, P < 0.005). Mammalian predators consumed up to 19% of the total unionid population and predation was facilitated by water level fluctuations.
Effect of Gabapentin on Swallowing During and After Chemoradiation for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Cancer

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of gabapentin (neurontin) on swallowing and feeding tube use during chemoradiation (CRT) for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), and physiologic swallowing outcomes following completion of treatment. A total of 23 patients treated for OPSCC with concurrent CRT and prophylactically treated for pain using gabapentin were assessed. Historical controls were matched for T stage and primary site of disease. Timing of PEG use and removal were recorded. Video fluoroscopic swallowing studies were completed post-treatment to assess physiologic outcomes as well as penetration–aspiration scores (PAS). Functional oral intake scale (FOIS) scores were determined at the time of swallowing evaluation to assess diet level. Patients treated with gabapentin began using their PEG tubes later (3.7 vs. 2.29 weeks; P = 0.013) and had their PEG tubes removed earlier (7.29 vs. 32.56 weeks; P = 0.039) than the historical controls. A number of physiologic parameters were found to be less impacted in the gabapentin group, including oral bolus control (P = 0.01), epiglottic tilt (P = 0.0007), laryngeal elevation (P = 0.0017), and pharyngeal constriction (P = 0.002). PAS scores were significantly lower in the group treated with gabapentin (1.89 vs. 4; P = 0.0052). Patients receiving gabapentin had more advanced diet levels at the time of the initial swallowing study as evidenced by their FOIS scores (5.4 vs. 3.21; P = 0.0003). We conclude that patients using gabapentin for pain management during CRT appears to do well maintaining swallow function during treatment and have favorable post-treatment physiologic swallowing outcomes. Prospective evaluation is warranted.
Aldehyde–alkene cyclizations via O-stannyl ketyl radicals using sugars as chiral auxiliaries

Abstract This investigation illustrates the utility of two inexpensive carbohydrate derivatives as sources of asymmetry for aldehyde–alkene radical cyclizations. Diastereomeric ratios as high as 9:1 were achieved with an ester-appended (+)-isosorbide and 100:1 for (+)-isomannide. Temperature dependence, Lewis acids and solvents were all examined.
The neurobiology of gonadal hormones and cognitive decline in late life

“Not only do men and women communicate differently, but they think, feel, perceive, react...differently. They almost seem to be from different planets.. .” Men ure jiom Mars, Women are from Venus John Gray, PhD, NY Times No. 1 Bestseller The role of gonadal hormones including estrogen in the neurobiological basis of gender differentiation of the brain is now a well accepted scientific body of knowledge [l]. Estrogens play an important role in the development and function of the brain. Gonadal hormones have two types of effects on brain. Organizational effects are those effects which occur in pre-natal life and help to ‘organize’ the brain into gender-related development. These organizational effects are likely the result of the trophic effects of estrogen on estrogen responsive neurons [2-51 and result in structural alterations in brain architecture. While these studies have been primarily performed in animals, there is much clinical data to support
Proteolysis of red cell membrane proteins by immunoglobulin G preparations

Red cell integral membrane proteins obtained by mild alkaline extraction were degraded by isolated IgG preparations. Erythrocyte or ghost membranes were not significantly affected under comparable conditions. The IgG appeared pure following 125I-labeling and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis by both densitometric scanning and radioelectrophoretic profiling. In addition, no proteolytic activity was detectable with azocoll under standard conditions. Despite this, the integral protein fraction, which consisted predominantly of band 3 and the major sialoglycoproteins, showed extensive degradation following incubation at 37°C for 1.5 hr with the IgG. The process was partially inhibitable with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and totally inhibited by Trasylol. Proteolysis of band 3 led to the formation of fragments retained in the membranes of apparent mol. wt of 65,000 and lower fragments appearing in the 4.5 region. Band 7 present in the starting membrane fraction appeared resistant to degradation. The problems when working with purified membrane fractions are illustrated by data showing the IgG-binding membrane components that are obtained with IgG preparations having different levels of protease activity. Proteolytic susceptibility appears to be a general characteristic of isolated membrane proteins or receptors. UnIike soluble proteins which are resistant to proteolysis in the native state, enhanced protease degradation may be inherent in isolated membrane proteins even when obtained under mild non-denaturing conditions. Protease-sensitive sites on membrane proteins or receptors which in native membranes are protected by protein-protein or protein-lipid interactions probably become protease-vulnerable following isolation and purification.
Thiol detection, derivatization and tagging at micromole to nanomole levels using propiolates.

Abstract Thiols, simple and complex, including polypeptide and protein thiols, react rapidly and selectively with esters of propiolic acid under very mild conditions (aqueous buffer, room temperature, pH 7) to give thioacrylates. These stable derivatives exhibit strong, characteristic ultraviolet spectra, maximal at 280–290 nm, molar absorbance ca 12,500. In a single, simple experiment the thiol is detected, its amount is estimated, it is stabilized against oxidation and disulfide scrambling, it is converted into a derivative amenable to isolation and structure elucidation procedures, and it is tagged with recognizable ultraviolet and NMR characteristics generated de novo. The reagents are stable and inexpensive and the procedures are quick, easy, sensitive and selective.
A two-step optimization of the centro-hermitian form in direct data domain least squares approach

This paper presents a new convex solution algorithm for the direct data domain least squares (D3LS) real weight approach that is extensively used during adaptive beam pattern synthesis of smart antenna arrays. The original D3LS approach is reformulated by using centro-hermitian matrix properties as well as convex optimization techniques and solved by using the proposed two-step convex optimization framework that is implemented in linear programming framework. The first convex formulation determines the unknown coefficient that is required during the centro-hermitian matrix manipulations. The second convex formulation solves the D3LS approach to calculate the corresponding optimal real weight coefficients. The numerical beam synthesis results demonstrate that the proposed convex solution based on centro-hermitian matrix manipulations of the D3LS approach effectively solves the real weight coefficients, overcomes possible matrix inversion issues and eliminates complexity, hardware implementation and energy consumption concerns due to complex weight coefficients. Moreover, although traditional beam pattern syntheses with real weights yield symmetric beam patterns, the proposed convex solution approach successfully removes this restriction.
Swelling behavior of temperature- and pH-sensitive block terpolymers for drug delivery

Hydrogels prepared by block terpolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), acrylic acid (AA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) exhibit significant temperature sensitivity due to the block structure of the NIPAAm moiety, even at concentrations as low as 10 mol%. pH-Sensitivity was also observed due to the ionizable AA component. The swelling ratio dependence on temperature is significantly more prominent for block terpolymers than for the corresponding random terpolymers.
Proton relaxation studies of diphosphopyridine coenzymes

Abstract The proton relaxation times of DPNH and 1-(2,6-dichlorobenzyl)-dihydronicotinamide (DCB-DHN) and their respective C4 deuterium-labeled dihydronicotinamide compounds were studied by Fourier transform NMR spectroscopy. The geminal C4 protons were found to exhibit unusually short relaxation times in comparison to the other dihydronicotinamide protons. Deuterium substitution at C4 increases the relaxation time of the remaining C4 proton. The deuterium relaxation time of the C4 deuterium labels has been measured. The small value of the deuterium T 1 precludes any significant contribution of the deuterium-proton scalar coupling. The advantages of C4 deuterium labeling in binding studies of DPNH with enzymes using NMR spectroscopy are also presented.
Alienable Speech: Ideological Variations in the Application of Free‐Speech Principles

Although freedom of speech is a Constitutionally protected and widely endorsed value, political tolerance research finds that people are less willing to protect speech they dislike than speech they like (Gibson, 2006). Research also suggests liberal-conservative differences in political tolerance (Davis & Silver; 2004). We measured U.S. citizens' political tolerance for speech acts, while manipulating the speaker's ethnicity and the speech's ideological content. Speech criticizing Americans was protected more strongly than was speech criticizing Arabs, especially among more politically liberal respondents. Liberals also reported greater free-speech support. Respondents expressed greater politi cal tolerance for a speaker when he was an exemplar of the criticized group, but showed equal political tolerance for speakers whose group membership (as a White or Black American) was irrelevant to the speech. Finally, implicit political identity showed con vergent validity with explicit political identity in predicting speech tolerance, and implicit racial and ethnic preferences showed variable prediction of speech tolerance across the two studies.
Primary γ-sarcoglycanopathy (LGMD 2C): broadening of the mutational spectrum guided by the immunohistochemical profile

Abstract An important step in the diagnostic evaluation of a patient with recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy is the immunohistochemical analysis of the components of the sarcoglycan complex in a muscle biopsy specimen. Even though a primary mutation in any of the four sarcoglycan genes (α-, β-,γ-, δ-sarcoglycan) may cause secondary deficiencies in all the other sarcoglycan proteins, more specific immunohistochemical patterns have emerged with the potential to guide and abbreviate the necessary molecular genetic investigations. In γ-sarcoglycan mutations, the pattern consists of absent or prominently reduced γ-sarcoglycan immunoreactivity in combination with reduced but detectable immunoreactivity for the other components, with preservation of δ-sarcoglycan. In five consecutive patients, this pattern was able to predict primary γ-sarcoglycan mutations. Five different mutations were found, including a recurrent novel splice mutation, a large deletion of the entire gene and a novel missense mutation (Leu90Ser). The mutation Cys283Tyr, previously restricted to Gypsy populations was found in compound heterozygosity with del521T, common in north Africa. The variety of known and novel mutations found indicates that the immunohistochemical profile of γ-sarcoglycan mutations is not restricted to a particular mutation or type of mutation, but rather is a general reflection of the effect of γ-sarcoglycan mutations on the composition of the sarcoglycan complex. Complete immunohistochemical analysis with all available sarcoglycan antibodies, therefore, is a useful tool to guide the molecular genetic investigations that are necessary to arrive at the correct genetic diagnosis in a given case.
Implant compression necrosis: current understanding and case report.

Background: Implants fail for a variety of reasons; it can be difficult to determine the exact cause of failure, especially if there are multiple contributing factors. Overcompression of the adjacent bone during implant placement is a potential contributing factor to implant failure that is not well documented in the literature.Methods: This case report reviews the concept of bone loss induced by overcompression and presents a case of implant failure with overcompression as a potential etiology. Histology, radiographs, and clinical data are presented that document the failure of four implants placed in the posterior mandible of a 48-year-old female patient.Results: After uneventful implant placement, one implant exfoliated 3 weeks postoperatively. The other three implants were removed because of severe bone loss up to 2 months later. Histology of the area revealed non-viable bony sequestra with bacterial colonization.Conclusions: This case highlights unusual implant failures that likely occurred as a resu...
Addressable and energy management system for the built environment (I)

The increasing awareness for a cleaner earth has created more interests in the electric vehicle (EV) technology. Electric vehicles (EVs) will not only cause a reduction in our current greenhouse gas emissions, but also stop or reverse the trend at which our natural resources are being depleted. However, the introduction of the EVs into our societies will still require energy usage in the form of electricity. Integration of charging infrastructures will eventually be required in the built environment for these vehicles. This will add to the current energy consumption in the built environment which will mean more emission of CO 2 , NO 2 etc., in the electrical power generation process. Therefore, this research looks at reducing energy wastage as a way of saving energy for the future integration of EVs into the built environment.
Estimating source coefficients for phosphorus site indices.

Phosphorus release to runoff varies widely for different landapplied organic P sources even when spread at equivalent total P rates. To address this variability, some P site indices include tabulated P source coefficients (PSCs) for differential weighting of applied P materials based on their runoff enrichment potential. Because runoff P can vary widely even within source categories depending on composition, storage, and treatment differences, this study explored a method for estimating PSCs based on the water-extractable P (WEP) content of the applied amendment. Using seven published rainfall-runoff studies that followed National Phosphorus Research Project protocols, runoff dissolved P (RDP) was correlated (r 2 5 0.80) with WEP for multiple surface-applied manures and biosolids. Assuming amendments with WEP $ 10 g kg 21 behave as highly soluble P sources and have a maximum PSC of 1.0, an empirical equation was developed for computing source-specificPSCsfromlaboratory-determinedWEPvalues[PSC5 0.102 3 WEP 0.99 ]. For two independent runoff experiments, correlationsbetweenRDPlossandPsourceloadingratewereimprovedwhen loading rates were multiplied by the computed (r 2 5 0.73–0.86) versus generic (r 2 5 0.45–0.48) PSCs. Source-specific PSCs should enhance the ability of assessment tools to identify vulnerable sites and P loss management alternatives, although the exact inclusion process depends on index scaling and conceptual framework.
A Comprehensive Analysis of Permission Marketing

Godin (1999) has proposed a new idea- permission marketing. Here, consumers provide marketers with the permission to send them certain types of promotional messages. This is seen as reducing clutter and search costs for the consumer while improving targeting precision for marketers. This paper makes three contributions: First, a critical analysis of the concept and its relationship to existing ideas in the marketing literature is discussed. Second, a taxonomy of four models used to implement permission marketing today, direct relationship maintenance, permission partnership, ad market and permission pool, is presented. Permission intensity is seen as a key differentiator among models. Finally, a comprehensive conceptual cost-benefit framework is presented that captures the consumer experience in permission marketing programs. Consumer interest is seen as the key dependent variable that influences the degree of participation. Consumer interest is positively affected by message relevance and monetary benefit and negatively affected by information entry/modification costs, message processing costs and privacy costs. Based on this framework, several empirically testable propositions are identified.
Effects Of Landscape Gradients On Wetland Vegetation Communities: Information For Large-Scale Restoration

Projects of the scope of the restoration of the Florida Everglades require substantial information regarding ecological mechanisms, and these are often poorly understood. We provide critical base knowledge for Everglades restoration by characterizing the existing vegetation communities of an Everglades remnant, describing how present and historic hydrology affect wetland vegetation community composition, and documenting change from communities described in previous studies. Vegetation biomass samples were collected along transects across Water Conservation Area 3A South (3AS). Ten community types were present between November 2002 and 2005. Separate analyses for key a priori groups (slough, wet prairie, and sawgrass) provided detailed conclusions about effects of historic hydrology on the vegetation of 3AS. Communities were affected by hydrologic variables up to four years previous to the sample. We identified wet prairie/slough species such as Eleocharis spp. and Nymphaea odorata as short-term sentinel species of community change. Sawgrass and N. odorata should be monitored for long-term change. Comparisons to preceding studies indicated that many of the communities of previous times, when conditions were drier, no longer exist in our study area and have been replaced by deeper water community types.
Contributions to electrostatic interactions on protein transport in membrane systems

Several recent studies have demonstrated the importance of electrostatic interactions on the transport of charged proteins through porous membranes. The objective of this study is to compare predictions of available hydrodynamic and partitioning models with experimental data for the sieving coefficient of ovotransferrin through both positively and negatively charged membranes over a range of solution conditions. Model calculations were performed with all parameters evaluated from independent experimental measurements. The membrane pore-size distribution was determined from dextran sieving data, arid the membrane surface charge was evaluated from streaming potential measurements. The model properly predicts the complex effects of solution pH and ionic strength on protein transmission in the presence of both attractive and repulsive electrical interactions. Model simulations were performed to highlight the key contributions to protein transport.
The Prevalence of Dementia in a Statewide Sample of New Nursing Home Admissions Aged 65 and Older Diagnosis by Expert Panel

This study estimated the prevalence of dementia in 2,285 new admissions age 65 1 to a statewide sample of 59 nursing homes in Maryland, 1992‐1995. Dementia was ascertained according to DSM-III-R criteria by an expert panel of geriatric psychiatrists, neurologists, and a geriatrician using detailed information collected by trained lay evaluators from residents, family, staff, and medical records. Admissions to Maryland nursing homes are similar to admissions to nursing homes elsewhere in the United States. The prevalence of dementia was 48.2% (CI: 43.6‐52.8) with an upper bound estimated at 54.5% (CI: 49.9‐59.1). Prevalence is highest in facilities with , 50 beds versus 200 1 beds (65.5% vs 39.6%) and those in urban versus rural areas (50.0% vs 39.1%). Those who are non-White, married, and with fewer years of education are more likely to be demented. Prevalence is highest among those with 4 1 physical impairments versus 0‐1 (60.3% vs 27.7%) and lowest in those with 4 1 comorbidities versus 0‐1 (44.8% vs 52.0%). There was considerable overlap in the comorbid status of demented and nondemented admissions, and both groups contained members with only a few functional limitations. Results suggest that the level of medical supervision provided in nursing homes may not be required for some residents with dementia.
The Importance of Identifying and Validating Prognostic Factors in Oncology

Prognosis plays a vital role in patient management and decision making. The assessment of prognostic factors, which relate baseline clinical and experimental covariables to outcomes, is one of the major objectives in clinical research. Historically, the impetus for the identification of prognostic factors has been the need to accurately estimate the effect of treatment adjusting for these variables. In oncology, the variability in outcome may be related to prognostic factors rather than to differences in treatments. In this article, we begin with a brief review of prognostic factors, and then subsequently offer a general discussion of their importance. Next, we describe the significance of study design before presenting various modeling approaches for identifying these factors and discussing the relative values of the different approaches. We illustrate the concepts within the framework of published and ongoing phase III trials in oncology.
The North American Free Trade Agreement: Impact on U.S. Local Economies and Employment Opportunities

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed by President William Jefferson Clinton in 1992. Although NAFTA is a trade and tariff initiative it has profound consequences for labor and the U.S. economy. Since its implementation NAFTA has resulted in the permanent elimination of more than 766,000 employment opportunities for non-degree U.S. workers, compelled various manufacturing companies to relocate to Mexico, increased the trade deficit between the U.S. and Mexico on several occasions since 1994 and led to a decline in real wages among both U.S. and Mexican workers. While the goal of NAFTA is to reduce trade barriers between three nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico, the goal of this research endeavor is to determine the impact of NAFTA on local economies, employment opportunities in specific industries and on wages in the U.S. The premise behind this study is that reducing trade barriers increases competition among manufacturers in the three nations involved and forces U.S. manufacturers to reduce production costs in various ways. The reduction in trade barriers, particularly between the U.S. and Mexico, forces U.S. manufacturers to compete in the market place against a nation with poor labor standards and lower overhead. This clearly has profound consequences for U.S. workers, local economies and employment opportunities. This paper is an attempt to better understand and objectively assess the impact of NAFTA on U.S. workers. This paper relies on multiple statistical procedures including regression analysis to determine the strength of the relationship between the NAFTA legislation and key indicators specific to American workers and local economies.
A Case Study of the Mechanics of Extratropical Influence on the Initiation of the Madden–Julian Oscillation

Abstract Mechanisms for extratropical influences on the initiation of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) are investigated using numerical simulations and a global reanalysis product. Previous simulations by a tropical channel model captured the timing and gross features of the initiations of two MJO events and suggested that the initiations were due to influences from the extratropics. In this study, latitudinal transport of momentum from the extratropics is found to be crucial in generating the lower tropospheric westerlies in the tropics associated with the MJO initiation. The diagnoses of the zonal momentum budget for the MJO initiation region revealed that the advection by meridional winds could be important prior to the initiation of the MJO. The time evolution of the wave activity identifies its source over the southern Indian Ocean where it grows by extracting kinetic energy from the mean flow. The time scale of the lateral boundary conditions that is responsible for the MJO initiation is also inv...
Extension of neoclassical rotation theory for tokamaks to realistically account for the geometry of magnetic flux surfaces

A neoclassical rotation theory (poloidal and toroidal) is developed from the fluid moment equations, using the Braginskii decomposition of the viscosity tensor extended to generalized curvilinear geometry and a neoclassical calculation of the parallel viscosity coefficient interpolated over collision regimes. Important poloidal dependences are calculated using the Miller equilibrium flux surface geometry representation, which takes into account elongation, triangularity, flux surface compression/expansion and the Shafranov shift. The resulting set of eight (for a two-ion-species plasma model) coupled nonlinear equations for the flux surface averaged poloidal and toroidal rotation velocities and for the up?down and in?out density asymmetries for both ion species are solved numerically. Comparison of prediction with measured carbon poloidal and toroidal rotation velocities in a co-injected and a counter-injected H-mode discharge in DIII-D (Luxon J. 2002 Nucl. Fusion 42 614) indicates agreement to within ?0.90) in the co-injected discharge.
Inhibition of TGF-β-induced collagen production in rabbit flexor tendons

Abstract Purpose Postoperative adhesions frequently compromise the success of flexor tendon repair. Manipulation of growth factors responsible for scar formation may be a method of decreasing adhesion formation. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a key cytokine in the pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of TGF-β neutralizing antibody in blocking TGF-β-induced collagen I production in rabbit flexor tendons in vitro . Methods Sheath fibroblasts, epitenon tenocytes, and endotenon tenocytes were obtained from rabbit flexor tendons. Each cell culture was supplemented with 1 ng/mL of TGF-β along with increasing doses of TGF-β neutralizing antibody (0.1–2.0 μg/mL). Collagen I production was measured by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay and TGF-β bioactivity was measured by the luciferase assay. Results were compared with TGF-β alone and unsupplemented controls. Results The addition of neutralizing antibody significantly reduced TGF-β-induced collagen I production in a dose-dependent manner in all 3 cell cultures. TGF-β bioactivity was also reduced by its neutralizing antibody. Conclusions This study shows that TGF-β inhibition through its neutralizing antibody was effective in cultured flexor tendon cells. The results encourage further experiments that use such agents to modulate flexor tendon wound healing in in vivo models in the hope of eventually blocking the effect of TGF-β on flexor tendons clinically.
A Stochastic Evolutionary Model for Protein Structure Alignment and Phylogeny

We present a stochastic process model for the joint evolution of protein primary and tertiary structure, suitable for use in alignment and estimation of phylogeny. Indels arise from a classic Links model, and mutations follow a standard substitution matrix, whereas backbone atoms diffuse in three-dimensional space according to an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process. The model allows for simultaneous estimation of evolutionary distances, indel rates, structural drift rates, and alignments, while fully accounting for uncertainty. The inclusion of structural information enables phylogenetic inference on time scales not previously attainable with sequence evolution models. The model also provides a tool for testing evolutionary hypotheses and improving our understanding of protein structural evolution.
Pain empathy in schizophrenia: an fMRI study

Although it has been proposed that schizophrenia is characterized by impaired empathy, several recent studies found intact neural responses on tasks measuring the affective subdomain of empathy. This study further examined affective empathy in 21 schizophrenia outpatients and 21 healthy controls using a validated pain empathy paradigm with two components: (i) observing videos of people described as medical patients who were receiving a painful sound stimulation treatment; (ii) listening to the painful sounds (to create regions of interest). The observing videos component incorporated experimental manipulations of perspective taking (instructions to imagine 'Self' vs 'Other' experiencing pain) and cognitive appraisal (information about whether treatment was 'Effective' vs 'Not Effective'). When considering activation across experimental conditions, both groups showed similar dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and anterior insula (AI) activation while merely observing others in pain. However, there were group differences associated with perspective taking: controls showed relatively greater dACC and AI activation for the Self vs Other contrast whereas patients showed relatively greater activation in these and additional regions for the Other vs Self contrast. Although patients demonstrated grossly intact neural activity while observing others in pain, they showed more subtle abnormalities when required to toggle between imagining themselves vs others experiencing pain.
Fast and energy efficient FinFET full adders with Cell Design Methodology (CDM)

FinFET technology has been proposed as an alternative for bulk CMOS in the ultra-low power designs has a lot of advantages like more effective channel control, lower energy consumption, high ON/OFF current ratio, etc. Some previous works have been done to compare the impact of this new technology on the circuit and evaluation of the performance advantages that can achieve. On the other side, Cell Design Methodology (CDM) as a new methodology of the design which properly benefits from PTL advantages and also resolves two problems of PTL which are threshold voltage drop and loss of gain has been proposed. In this paper, we combined CDM as the methodology of design with FinFET as technology to present three energy-efficient full adders (FAs). The proposed circuits enjoy full-swing in all outputs, structural symmetry, reduced power-delay product (PDP) and Energy delay product (EDP). The state of the art includes some known adders in FinFET technologies in comparison with the proposed adders. The Proposed FinFET adders show a delay reduction on average of 54 to 95%, PDP reduction of 33 to 76% and savings of Energy 78 to 90% respectively compared with the referred full adders. All simulations were performed on 32nm FinFET process technologies.
Reference period analysis of vaginal bleeding with triphasic oral contraceptive agents containing norethindrone or levonorgestrel: a comparison study.

The World Health Organization recommends the use of fixed reference periods for quantification of the incidence and severity of vaginal bleeding when patients use various forms of contraception. Ninety- and 110-day reference periods were used in the analysis of data from daily menstrual diaries kept by 72 healthy women in a one-year study of oral contraceptive agents containing ethinyl estradiol and either norethindrone or levonorgestrel. Analysis of bleeding patterns reported during both 90-day and 110-day periods revealed fewer days of bleeding and/or spotting overall with norethindrone than with levonorgestrel (e.g., a mean of 16.06 vs. 19.55 days, respectively, over the first 90-day period; P = .013) and significantly shorter bleeding and/or spotting episodes with the norethindrone preparation. This trend persisted when data were adjusted for a day-1 pill start. Using either method of analysis, duration of bleeding episodes was shorter among subjects taking norethindrone than levonorgestrel. Pills were missed in both study groups, but more women in the LNG/EE group missed from 1 to 3 pills in at least one cycle (31 vs. 21 in the NET/EE group). The between-group difference in bleeding events may be due to intrinsic hormonal differences in regimens or to the greater number of pills missed among levonorgestrel users.
Generational Change and the Decline of Party Identification in America: 1952–1974*

A large and growing proportion of Americans claims to be neither Republican nor Democratic, and partisan independence is most wide-spread among young adults. A time-series cohort analysis of eleven surveys conducted by the Survey Research Center of the University of Michigan between 1952 and 1974 strongly suggests that the low level of partisan identification among young adults results largely from fundamental differences between their socialization and that of their elders. The overall decline in party identification results largely from generational change. High levels of partisan identification persist among persons who entered the electorate before World War II, but among those who entered the electorate more recently levels of identification are low. The analysis strongly suggests that overall levels of party identification will continue to decline, and permits examination of one process by which party loyalties among mass electorates gradually are transformed.
Role of neuropeptide Y in diet-, chemical- and genetic-induced obesity of mice

Objective The goal of this study was to ascertain whether neuropeptide Y (NPY) is required in mice for the development of obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD), chemical lesions of the hypothalamus caused by monosodium glutamate (MSG) or gold thioglucose (GTG), impaired brown adipose tissue (BAT) due to a diphtheria toxin transgene driven by the uncoupling protein 1 promoter (UCP-DTA) or the lethal yellow agouti mutation (Ay). Background The obesity syndrome of the leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mouse can be partially reversed by the genetic removal of NPY. In the murine models of obesity examined in this study, the animals become obese despite increased serum leptin levels, indicating that they are resistant to the weight-limiting actions of leptin. The role of NPY in these obesity models with elevated leptin levels is unknown. Experimental design Mice lacking NPY due to genetic disruption of the gene and wildtype littermates were made obese by allowing them access to a highly palatable HFD, by treatment with MSG, or GTG, or by inheriting the dominant UCP-DTA or Ay alleles. Food consumption, body weight and dissectable fat pad weights were measured and compared to values obtained from non-obese littermates. Results In each model of obesity tested, NPY-deficient mice achieved the same food intake, body weight and fat content as wildtype littermates. Conclusion NPY is not necessary for the progressive development of obesity exhibited by multiple murine models with leptin resistance.
No dumping: ED transfer risk

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) outlines how hospitals must screen, treat, and transfer emergency department patients--regardless of their ability to pay.
Morphology of Rigid-Rod Polymer Fibers: an Overview

The current state of understanding of the morphology of the rigid-rod polymers PBZT and PBZO is reviewed. The morphology is sensitive to both the structure of the rigid polymer molecules and the nature of processing. Structural models of fiber morphology consistent with experiment are presented. An extensive bibliography is included.
Facile synthesis of dibenzo-7λ3-phosphanorbornadiene derivatives using magnesium anthracene.

Unprotected dibenzo-7λ3-phosphanorbornadiene derivatives RPA (A = C14H10 or anthracene; R = tBu, dbabh = NA, HMDS = (Me3Si)2N, iPr2N) are synthesized by treatment of the corresponding phosphorus dichloride RPCl2 with MgA·3THF, in cold THF (∼20% to 30% isolated yields). Anthracene and the corresponding cyclic phosphane (RP)n form as coproducts. Characteristic NMR features of the RPA derivatives include a doublet near 4 ppm in their 1H NMR spectra and a triplet peak in the 175–212 ppm region of the 31P NMR spectrum (2JPH ∼14 Hz). The X-ray structures of the AN–PA and (HMDS)PA derivatives are discussed. Thermolysis of RPA benzene-d6 solutions leads to anthracene extrusion. This process has a unimolecular kinetic profile for the iPr2NPA derivative. The 7-phosphanorbornene anti-iPr2NP(C6H8) could be synthesized (70% isolated yield) by thermolysis of iPr2NPA in 1,3-cyclohexadiene.
Histochemical Observations on the Discomycete,Pyronema Domesticum, with Special Reference to Apothecial Ontogeny

Histochemical tests were conducted on apothecia of the discomycete, Pyronema domesticum, which had been fixed, sectioned, and prepared for light microscopy. Positive tests were obtained for glycogen and other carbohydrates, mucilage, protein, DNA, RNA, lipids, and phospholipids. Negative tests were obtained for melanin, starch, and cellulose. The distribution of carotenes was also observed. Some cellular constituents were especially abundant during the early phases of growth and diminished slightly during maturation: these were the carbohydrates (exclusive of glycogen), protein, DNA, RNA, phospholipids present in granules (presumably mitochondria), and carotene pigments. The foregoing components were abundant in the gametangia and were similar in their distribution in the sterile and ascogenous systems. Glycogen and diffuse lipids were generally absent in the gametangia and early developmental stages, but accumulated later. Glycogen was especially conspicuous in the ascogenous system, while the diffuse lipids were more conspicuous in the sterile system. A thin layer of secreted mucilage covered most of the apothecial components, and originated after the apothecium was initiated. The gametangia as well as most other parts of the apothecium appeared to be active in the production of these components in situ. Although the paraphyses often gave strong positive tests for various constituents, the excipular hairs were notably deficient.
Critical role of interfacial effects on the reactivity of semiconductor-cocatalyst junctions for photocatalytic oxygen evolution from water

Photocatalytic water splitting has the potential to provide a sustainable approach for storing the energy of solar photons in the form of chemical bonds. Much work has been executed towards developing semiconducting light absorbers (SC) and co-catalysts (CC) for photoelectrochemical (PEC) and particulate photocatalytic (PPC) water splitting systems. However, minimal insights exist into how the formation of junctions between highly dispersed CC clusters and nanoparticle SCs influences the reactivity of the system, as compared to the reactivity of the CCs in electrochemical environments. In this work, 15 materials consisting of five different CC nanoclusters deposited on three different nanoparticle SCs were synthesized, characterized, and tested for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity. The SCs were chosen based on their similar n-type behavior and low OER activity, and the CCs were chosen based on their benchmarked OER reactivity in electrochemical measurements. We found that the photocatalytic activity of these samples for the OER did not directly correlate with the reactivity of the CCs measured under electrochemical conditions. Instead, the performance was controlled by interfacial effects specific to each SC|CC junction. CC electrical conductivity and SC supplied OER overpotential were the major factors identified to strongly affect OER rate. This work suggests that when designing an optimal photocatalyst, one can not simply deposit the most active CC (as measured in electrochemical conditions) on the SC which absorbs the highest fraction of the solar flux, as the CC–SC pairing requires critical interfacial considerations.
Environmental factors and nosology of the endocrine system.

The realization that the environment exerts a fa-vorable or unfavorable effect on the human organism is not new. In the remote past, not only physicians but philosophers (e.g. Plato, Aristotle) as well wrote about the adverse effects of a maltreated environment, while Theophrastus (a student of Plato and Aristotle) is considered the father of ecology. The increasing awareness of the scientific com-munity to global environmental changes and their direct relation to human health has been reflected in the two pertinent forums of the American Endo-crine Society and the various recent publications on the subject.
The stagnant thermal conductivity of porous media predicted by the random walk theory

Abstract This study developed a predictive model based on the random walk theory to calculate the stagnant thermal conductivity of porous materials considering detailed pore geometries. This model can take the connectedness of solid matrix and filling fluid into consideration and simulate porous media with a wide range of porosities and geometries. The model was calibrated by comparing simulated thermal conductivities of simplified geometries proposed in literature with the corresponding experimental data. Results indicate that the stagnant thermal conductivities of porous media are very sensitive to the connectedness (or contact resistance) of the solid matrix, especially when the conductivity of the solid matrix (e.g. Al) is much higher than the conductivity of filling fluid (air). This study also imported reconstructed three-dimensional geometries (measured by micro computed tomography) of Al foams into the model and simulated their stagnant thermal conductivities. The measured Al foams have porosities around 0.9 and different pore sizes (5, 10, 20, and 40 parts per inch). The simulated stagnant thermal conductivities of Al foams slightly increased with decreased pore size at the porosity around 0.9. The model developed in this study is a powerful tool to predict stagnant thermal conductivity of porous media widely applied in a broad range of science and engineering disciplines. The low computational time of this model makes it a unique tool to provide real-time updates of material properties for on-site applications or other computational models. Furthermore, the solid matrix and the filling fluid in the porous medium could be multi-phase mixtures or composite materials due to the statistical nature of the random walk model.