cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Machine learning on ligand-residue interaction profiles to significantly improve binding affinity prediction.

Structure-based virtual screenings (SBVSs) play an important role in drug discovery projects. However, it is still a challenge to accurately predict the binding affinity of an arbitrary molecule binds to a drug target and prioritize top ligands from an SBVS. In this study, we developed a novel method, using ligand-residue interaction profiles (IPs) to construct machine learning (ML)-based prediction models, to significantly improve the screening performance in SBVSs. Such a kind of the prediction model is called an IP scoring function (IP-SF). We systematically investigated how to improve the performance of IP-SFs from many perspectives, including the sampling methods before interaction energy calculation and different ML algorithms. Using six drug targets with each having hundreds of known ligands, we conducted a critical evaluation on the developed IP-SFs. The IP-SFs employing a gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) algorithm in conjunction with the MIN + GB simulation protocol achieved the best overall performance. Its scoring power, ranking power and screening power significantly outperformed the Glide SF. First, compared with Glide, the average values of mean absolute error and root mean square error of GBDT/MIN + GB decreased about 38 and 36%, respectively. Second, the mean values of squared correlation coefficient and predictive index increased about 225 and 73%, respectively. Third, more encouragingly, the average value of the areas under the curve of receiver operating characteristic for six targets by GBDT, 0.87, is significantly better than that by Glide, which is only 0.71. Thus, we expected IP-SFs to have broad and promising applications in SBVSs.
Nerve Action Potential Analysis Versus Biopsies in Small Fiber Polyneuropathy (P3.7-002)

Objective: To determine how well nerve conduction study (NCS) data can be analyzed by recent Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to characterize patient demographics and biopsy evaluated Nerve Fiber Density (NFD). Background: The NCS best evaluates the fastest, largest nerve fibers which produce their signal early in nerve action potentials, but the signal from slow, small fibers is lost among other signals in the later waveform. Emerging ML algorithms, including Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), have been used in signal, sound, and image analysis, but have not yet been applied to NCS data. Skin biopsies evaluating NFD are a gold standard for evaluating small fiber health. Design/Methods: This retrospective cohort pilot study evaluated patients seen over a 5 year period who received NCS evaluation followed by skin biopsies. The age, gender, biopsy results, and NCS data for 76 patients was used to train a GAN and neural network classifier to analyze NCS data. The model’s accuracy was judged from predictions on data not used to create the model. Results: Notional, artificial NCS data was generated from the model, which was qualitatively plausible compared to actual data. The model’s prediction of age from an NCS recording was poor (Average error 2.0 years, std 17.2). The model could use a single NCS recording to predict gender with no accuracy (c-statistic 0.51) and biopsy confirmed reduced NFD with some accuracy (c-statistic 0.59). Conclusions: The health of small fiber nerves can be interrogated in NCS evaluation using advanced tools, however these tools will require continued study and prospective, normative validation before they can provide clinical utility. Emerging ML algorithms present exciting opportunities to improve neurologic diagnosis and research. Disclosure: Dr. Parry has nothing to disclose. Dr. Larsen has nothing to disclose.
Applied Research Note: Development of a novel low flow water monitoring system in poultry/agriculture systems

Summary Water scarcity is a global reality and with the anticipated population growth, freshwater resources will be further strained to meet both human and agriculture applications. To ensure a water sustainable and food secure future, all aspects of agriculture must become more efficient. Two strategies were explored. The first strategy was to develop a more efficient and accurate method for measuring water consumption/inputs in agriculture. To date, water measuring technology has lacked the necessary sophistication to assure accuracy and repeatability of low flow water usage. The second strategy utilized the improved water measuring technology, to develop water-efficient genetics in agricultural populations (i.e., row crops, avian and mammalian species) and evaluate nutrition-related associations. Although this low flow water monitoring system has applications in many agriculture/research fields, the current research focuses on measuring water consumption in the commercial broiler.
Teaching Data Science in Political Science: Integrating Methods with Substantive Curriculum

The importance of data science in society today is undeniable, and now is the time to prepare data science talent (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2018). Data science demands collaboration, but collaboration within political science departments has been weak in teaching data science. Bridging substantive and methods courses can critically aid in teaching data science because it facilitates this collaboration. Our innovation is to integrate data science into both substantive and methods courses through a dedicated data science course and modules on data science topics taught in substantive courses. This approach allows not only for more opportunities for teaching and practice of data science methods but also helps students to understand how social, economic, and political biases and incentives can affect their data.
Preoperative high-resolution esophageal manometry and postoperative symptoms in patients undergoing bariatric surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Abstract Background The increasing incidence of obesity has led to a rise in bariatric surgeries. Obesity can be associated with various gastrointestinal symptoms as well as abnormal findings on high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM). Bariatric procedures have variable effects on esophageal function and may contribute to postoperative symptoms. Preoperative HRM is not performed routinely on patients undergoing bariatric surgery but may identify patients likely to experience postoperative esophageal symptoms via delineation of structural or functional abnormalities. Objectives To evaluate whether prebariatric surgery HRM could predict persistent or de novo postoperative esophageal symptoms. Setting Academic tertiary care hospital, United States. Methods Retrospective data were collected for 20 patients undergoing HRM and 100 controls 18 years and older from May 2012 to May 2015. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for baseline differences between the 2 groups. Preoperative and postoperative esophageal symptoms (reflux, dysphagia, nausea/vomiting, bloating, fullness, early satiety, pain, and intolerance) were compared between HRM and control patients, and associations among HRM findings, Chicago Classification, and symptoms were analyzed. All included patients had follow-up beyond 3 months postoperatively. Data were analyzed with 2-tailed Fisher’s exact test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and odds ratio. Results Compared to controls, patients undergoing preoperative HRM had a higher rate of postoperative chronic intolerance (25% versus 8%, P = .041). This difference was not observed in propensity score matching analysis. Identification of elevated integrated relaxation pressure and esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction predicted chronic intolerance (odds ratio = 21.0; 95% confidence interval: 1.40–314; P = .027 for each). Conclusions Preoperative HRM abnormalities were associated with postoperative symptoms in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. HRM can identify patients who are more likely to experience postoperative esophageal symptoms and may aid in discussion of suitability for surgery and selection of bariatric intervention.
Geometry of Foliations

1 Examples and Definition of Foliations.- 2 Foliations of Codimension One.- 3 Holonomy, Second Fundamental Form, Mean Curvature.- 4 Basic Forms, Spectral Sequence, Characteristic Form.- 5 Transversal Riemannian Geometry.- 6 Flows.- 7 Hodge Theory for the Transversal Laplacian.- 8 Cohomology Vanishing and Tautness.- 9 Lie Foliations.- 10 Structure of Riemannian Foliations.- 11 Spectral Geometry of Riemannian Foliations.- 12 Foliations as Noncommutative Spaces.- 13 Infinite-Dimensional Riemannian Foliations.- References on Riemannian Foliations.- Appendix A Books and Surveys on Particular Aspects of Foliations.- Appendix B Proceedings of Conferences and Symposia devoted to Foliations.- Appendix C Bibliography on Foliations. This should be a reasonably complete list of all papers on the subject of foliations up to 1995.- Appendix D Numbers of papers on foliations published during consecutive five year periods up to 1995.- Index of Subjects.- Index of Notations.
Investigating the relationship between weather and violence in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Abstract Background It is a common refrain at major urban trauma centers that caseloads increase in the heat of the summer. Several previous studies supported this assertion, finding trauma admissions and crime to correlate positively with temperature. We examined links between weather and violence in Baltimore, MD, through trauma presentation to Johns Hopkins Hospital and crime reports filed with the Baltimore Police Department. Methods Crime data were obtained from the Baltimore City Police Department from January 1, 2008 to March 31, 2013. Trauma data were obtained from a prospectively collected registry of all trauma patients presenting to Johns Hopkins Hospital from January 1, 2007 to March 31, 2013. Weather data were obtained from the National Climatic Data Center. Correlation coefficients were calculated and negative binomial regression was used to elucidate the independent associations of weather and temporal variables with the trauma and crime data. Results When adjusting for temporal and meteorological factors, maximum daily temperature was positively associated with total trauma, intentional injury, and gunshot wounds presenting to Johns Hopkins Hospital along with total crime, violent crime, and homicides in Baltimore City. Associations of average wind speed, daily precipitation, and daily snowfall with trauma and crime were far weaker and, when significant, nearly universally negative. Conclusion Maximum daily temperature is the most important weather factor associated with violence and trauma in our study period and location. Our findings suggest potential implications for hospital staffing to be explored in future studies.
Chapter 9. PAF Antagonists

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of platelet activating factor (PAF) as a mediator of allergic disease and in cellular responses. The use of antagonists, in determining the biological significance of PAF, has also been discussed in the chapter with particular emphasis on asthma and ischemic states. The functional consequences of PAF antiagonist interaction with PAF receptors has been evaluated in various cell types and isolated tissues in vitro and in several organ systems in vivo . The efficacy of PAF antagonists in a variety of animal models, in which endogenous mediators are released, supports a major contributory role for PAF in several inflammatory and allergic pathophysiological conditions. Delayed bronchospasm, bronchial hyperreactivity, shock syndromes, ischemia and reperfusion injury, and transplant rejection has been discussed in the chapter. PAF can induce several functional responses in a variety of inflammatory cells. The pyridoquinazoline carboxamide inhibits both the acute bronchospasm and hypotension induced by intravenous PAF. There is much evidence supporting a role of PAF in models of several shock syndromes. In contrast to heart and lung, PAF-induced increases in vascular permeability of isolated rat kidney. The contribution of endogenous PAF to the damage caused by ischemia and reperfusion in several vascular beds has been discussed. PAF antagonists protect several specific organ systems from a variety of insults.
Meeting Report: New Directions in the Biology and Disease of Skeletal Muscle 2014.

New Directions in Biology and Disease of Skeletal Muscle is a scientific meeting, held every other year, with the stated purpose of bringing together scientists, clinicians, industry representatives and patient advocacy groups to disseminate new discovery useful for the treatment of inherited forms of neuromuscular disease, primarily the muscular dystrophies. This meeting originated as a response to the Muscular Dystrophy Care Act in order to provide a venue for the free exchange of information, with the emphasis on unpublished or newly published data. Highlights of this years' meeting included results from early phase clinical trials for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, progress in understanding the epigenetic defects in Fascioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy and new mechanisms of muscle membrane repair. The following is a brief report of the highlights from the conference.
Some Factors Affecting the Mutagenic Response of Mouse Germ Cells to Chemicals

Accurate evaluation of genetic risk requires a good understanding of the mechanism. This report illustrates this point by demonstrating how factors such as repair, germ cell stage, stock of mice and processes that take place after fertiliztion affect the induction of chromosomal aberrations from both qualitative and quantitative standpoints.
Boundary Current and Modulated Flux Motion in Superconducting Thin Pb Films

If a constant homogeneous magnetic field H is applied along the normal of a superconducting thin film carrying an rf current J an oscillatory flux motion results in the direction perpendicular to both H and J. We have recently reported the results of an experiment designed to study the effects of an additional weak modulating magnetic field on the flux motion at microwave frequencies.1 We found that the electric field E associated with the flux motion driven by J can be amplitude modulated. The purpose of the present paper is to describe briefly the salient features of this phenomenon at microwave frequencies and to report the results of recent experiments examining its dependence on the frequency of the rf current.
Orthogonal Projection and Kalman Filter

The elementary approach to the derivation of the optimal Kalman filtering process discussed in Chapter 2 has the advantage that the optimal estimate \({\hat X_k} = {\hat X_{k|k}}\)of the state vector xk is easily understood to be a least-squares estimate of xk with the properties that (i) the transformation that yields\({\hat X_k}\)from the data\({\bar V_k} = {\left[ {V_0^T \cdots V_k^T} \right]^T}\)is linear, (ii)\({\hat X_k}\)is unbiased in the sense that \(E\left( {{{\hat X}_k}} \right) = E\left( {{X_k}} \right)\)and (iii) it yields a minimum variance estimate with\({\left( {Var\left( {{{\overline {\underline \in } }_{k,k}}} \right)} \right)^{ - 1}}\)as the optimal weight. The disadvantage of this elementary approach is that certain matrices must be assumed to be nonsingular. In this chapter, we will drop the nonsingularity assumptions and give a rigorous derivation of the Kalman filtering algorithm.
Deletion of Gαq in the telencephalon alters specific neurobehavioral outcomes.

Gαq-coupled receptors are ubiquitously expressed throughout the brain and body, and it has been shown that these receptors and associated signaling cascades are involved in a number of functional outputs, including motor function and learning and memory. Genetic alterations to Gαq have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders such as Sturge-Weber syndrome. Some of these associated disease outcomes have been modeled in laboratory animals, but as Gαq is expressed in all cell types, it is difficult to differentiate the underlying circuitry or causative neuronal population. To begin to address neuronal cell type diversity in Gαq function, we utilized a conditional knockout mouse whereby Gαq was eliminated from telencephalic glutamatergic neurons. Unlike the global Gαq knockout mouse, we found that these conditional knockout mice were not physically different from control mice, nor did they exhibit any gross motor abnormalities. However, similarly to the constitutive knockout animal, Gαq conditional knockout mice demonstrated apparent deficits in spatial working memory. Loss of Gαq from glutamatergic neurons also produced enhanced sensitivity to cocaine-induced locomotion, suggesting that cortical Gαq signaling may limit behavioral responses to psychostimulants. Screening for a variety of markers of forebrain neuronal architecture revealed no obvious differences in the conditional knockouts, suggesting that the loss of Gαq in telencephalic excitatory neurons does not result in major alterations in brain structure or neuronal differentiation. Taken together, our results define specific modulation of spatial working memory and psychostimulant responses through disruptions in Gαq signaling within cerebral cortical glutamatergic neurons. Synapse 69:434–445, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microdialysis measures of functional increases in ACh release in the hippocampus with and without inclusion of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in the perfusate.

Because brain extracellular acetylcholine (ACh) levels are near detection limits in microdialysis samples, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor such as neostigmine is often added to microdialysis perfusates to increase ACh levels in the dialysate, a practice that raises concerns that the inhibitor might alter the results. Two experiments compared functional differences in ACh release with and without neostigmine. In the first experiment, 30–60% increases in extracellular ACh concentrations in the hippocampus were evident during food-rewarded T-maze training with 20–500 nm neostigmine in the perfusate but no increases were seen without neostigmine. In the second experiment, 78% increases in ACh release in the hippocampus were seen after injections of the GABAA receptor antagonist, bicuculline, into medial septum only if neostigmine (50 nm) was included in the perfusate. These findings suggest that, in the hippocampus, endogenous brain AChEs are very efficient at removing extracellular ACh, obscuring differences in ACh release in these experiments. Therefore, inclusion of AChE inhibitors in the microdialysis perfusate may be necessary under some conditions for observations of functional changes in release of ACh in the hippocampus.
Wavelet-Based Representation of Biological Shapes

Modeling, characterization and analysis of biological shapes and forms are important in many computational biology studies. Shape representation challenges span the spectrum from small scales (e.g., microarray imaging and protein structure) to the macro scale (e.g., neuroimaging of human brains). In this paper, we present a new approach to represent and analyze biological shapes using wavelets. We apply the new technique to multi-spectral shape decomposition and study shape variability between populations using brain cortical and subcortical surfaces. The wavelet-space-induced shape representation allows us to study the multi-spectral nature of the shape's geometry, topology and features. Our results are very promising and, comparing to the spherical-wavelets method, our approach is more compact and allows utilization of diverse wavelet bases.
Lack of Agreement of Tympanic Membrane Temperature Assessments With Conventional Methods in a Private Practice Setting

An infrared tympanic membrane thermometer (FIRST temp) said to approximate core temperature accurately is being marketed as a noninvasive, quick, and easy-to-use clinical instrument. The determination of tympanic membrane temperatures by this device was compared with the determination of oral, rectal, or axillary temperatures by a conventional glass thermometer. Subjects were patients of a pediatric group practice in Houston, Texas. FIRST temp and conventional temperature determinations on individual patients were completed within 5 minutes of each other. The presence or absence of otitis media was noted by the examining physician. Agreement between the two methods of temperature determination was assessed by calculating limits of agreement within which 95% (+/- 2 standard deviations) of individual differences would fall. The location of conventional thermometer (oral, rectal, axillary), time interval between the two separate measures, and the presence or absence of otitis media were entered into a multiple regression analysis to determine whether these factors influenced the observed differences between the two methods. A total of 144 patients were enrolled in the study; oral comparisons were obtained in 92 (57%) patients, rectal in 35 (24%), and axillary in 29 (19%). The upper and lower limits of agreement between temperature methods were 1.12 degrees C and 0.89 degrees C and the mean difference was -0.12 degrees C. Regression analysis revealed that only the site of conventional thermometer location (oral, rectal, axillary) was a significant predictor of FIRST temp/conventional differences. Each site had a range of agreement greater than 1.65% degrees C; axillary temperatures had the greatest range (-0.94 degree C to +1.30 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Chromatin features, RNA polymerase II and the comparative expression of lens genes encoding crystallins, transcription factors, and autophagy mediators.

Gene expression correlates with local chromatin structure. Our studies have mapped histone post-translational modifications, RNA polymerase II (pol II), and transcription factor Pax6 in lens chromatin. These data represent the first genome-wide insights into the relationship between lens chromatin structure and lens transcriptomes and serve as an excellent source for additional data analysis and refinement. The principal lens proteins, the crystallins, are encoded by predominantly expressed mRNAs; however, the regulatory mechanisms underlying their high expression in the lens remain poorly understood.The formaldehyde-assisted identification of regulatory regions (FAIRE-Seq) was employed to analyze newborn lens chromatin. ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data published earlier (GSE66961) have been used to assist in FAIRE-seq data interpretation. RNA transcriptomes from murine lens epithelium, lens fibers, erythrocytes, forebrain, liver, neurons, and pancreas were compared to establish the gene expression levels of the most abundant mRNAs versus median gene expression across other differentiated cells.Normalized RNA expression data from multiple tissues show that crystallins rank among the most highly expressed genes in mammalian cells. These findings correlate with the extremely high abundance of pol II all across the crystallin loci, including crystallin genes clustered on chromosomes 1 and 5, as well as within regions of "open" chromatin, as identified by FAIRE-seq. The expression levels of mRNAs encoding DNA-binding transcription factors (e.g., Foxe3, Hsf4, Maf, Pax6, Prox1, Sox1, and Tfap2a) revealed that their transcripts form "clusters" of abundant mRNAs in either lens fibers or lens epithelium. The expression of three autophagy regulatory mRNAs, encoding Tfeb, FoxO1, and Hif1α, was found within a group of lens preferentially expressed transcription factors compared to the E12.5 forebrain.This study reveals novel features of lens chromatin, including the remarkably high abundance of pol II at the crystallin loci that exhibit features of "open" chromatin. Hsf4 ranks among the most abundant fiber cell-preferred DNA-binding transcription factors. Notable transcripts, including Atf4, Ctcf, E2F4, Hey1, Hmgb1, Mycn, RXRβ, Smad4, Sp1, and Taf1 (transcription factors) and Ctsd, Gabarapl1, and Park7 (autophagy regulators) have been identified with high levels of expression in lens fibers, which suggests specific roles in lens fiber cell terminal differentiation.
Calibration of albumin-fatty acid binding constants measured by heptane-water partition

Most measurements of binding affinity of albumin for long-chain fatty acids are based on heptane-water partition. In this method, equilibrium partition of fatty acid between heptane and an albumin-containing buffer is calibrated using the partition ratio between heptane and buffer in the absence of protein. In the current study, we used a variety of techniques to examine potential problems with this approach. Hydrophobic impurities in commercial [3H]palmitate preparations were incompletely removed by standard purification techniques. These impurities contributed from 5% of the total radioactivity in the heptane phase at low albumin concentrations (5 microM) to 62% at higher albumin concentrations (500 microM), thus confounding determination of binding affinity. These were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy as radio-labeled glycerol monopalmitate and monostearate. When albumin was not present, the partition ratio was similar to values reported by others. However, our results varied by a factor of four (265-1,119) depending on how the solutions were prepared. Although a true equilibrium partition must not depend on starting conditions, the partition ratio after 24-72 h was > 2x as large when tracer [3H]palmitate was added to the heptane phase than when it was added to the aqueous phase. Results also depended on the relative volumes of heptane and buffer used, approaching a maximum of 1,445 +/- 112 for very low heptane/buffer volume ratios. Much of this variability was due to hydrophilic impurities in [3H]palmitate, which ranged from 0.2 to 1.2% in commercial lots down to 0.1-0.5% after alkaline ethanol extraction and < 0.05% after thin-layer chromatography (TLC).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Feedforward/Output Feedback Control of Nonlinear Processes

A systematic method for synthesizing feedforward/state feedback controllers for a broad class of SISO nonlinear systems with measurable disturbances is presented. Depending on the structural characteristics of the system, the control law is either static or dynamic. The closed-loop system is independent of the measurable disturbances and linear with respect to set-point changes. A characterization of the closed-loop stability is obtained and the relation of the proposed methodology with the disturbance decoupling problem is discussed.
Cross-National Invariance of the Entrepreneurial Orientation Scale

Abstract This study utilizes data from 1279 SMEs spanning seven countries to assess the cross-national invariance of the Covin and Slevin entrepreneurial orientation scale. We first examine the psychometric properties of the scale across the full sample and each of the individual countries, identifying the optimal model for invariance testing. We then conduct a series of tests for invariance, utilizing the American sample as a reference in each. Study results highlight the optimality of a three-factor, six-item scale, and provide additional information regarding the level of measurement equivalence that exists between the U.S. and each of the other countries analyzed.
Sunk Cost and Commitment to Medical Treatment

The influence of prior, irretrievable, investment (sunk cost) on commitment to medical treatment was investigated. Three studies were run investigating the influence of sunk cost in the form of money, time, and effort. A total of 637 participants (314 male) with a mean age of 19.58 years were recruited from an undergraduate population. A computer program simulated the process of arranging a course of physiotherapy. Participants invested one of three amounts of sunk cost (under budget, on budget, or over budget) into arranging sessions with a chiropractor. Participants then decided how much time they wished to commit to these chiropractor sessions or to an alternative treatment with a better chance of success. Results revealed a significant effect of invested money, a significant effect of invested effort, but no effect of invested time. Invested money produced a sunk cost effect, while invested effort appeared to exert influence via cognitive dissonance. The implications for healthcare decision-making are discussed.
A description of the damaged DNA produced during tissue injury.

Abstract Warm ischemia produces DNA damage which is characterized by both single- and double-strand breaks with 5′-PO 4 and 3′-OH ends. In contrast, cold ischemia produces mostly single-strand breaks for the first 60 hr and then, abruptly, double-strand damage is produced. Cold ischemia produces both 5′-OH and 5′-PO 4 termini, but 5′-OH ends do not appear until after 24 hr of storage. Cold ischemia, also produces 3′-PO 4 ends but we have not found any 3′-OH termini. Mechanisms for DNA degradation during warm and cold ischemia are presented to acount for these results. It is suggested that damage to the genetic code may be prevented if degradation of the DNA can be confined to the production of the easily repairable 5′-PO 4 3′-OH opposed ends.
Randomized study of early intravenous esmolol versus oral beta-blockers in preventing post-CABG atrial fibrillation in high risk patients identified by signal-averaged ECG: results of a pilot study.

Background: Patients with prolonged signal-averaged ECG have four times higher risk for development of atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Incidence of AF is reduced, but not eliminated by prophylaxis with beta-blockers. The limitations of prophylaxis with oral beta-blockers may be related to the delayed effect of oral therapy. We performed a pilot study of the efficacy of early intravenous esmolol and an oral beta-blocker regimen for prevention of postoperative AF. Methods: Fifty patients referred for CABG and considered to be at high risk for postoperative AF on the basis of prolonged signal-averaged ECG P wave duration > 140 ms were randomized to receive either a 24-hour infusion of esmolol 6–18 hours after CABG, at an average dose 67 ± 7 μ/kg/min, followed by oral beta-blockers versus oral beta-blockers only beginning on postoperative day 1. Results: Seven of 27 patients (26%) in the esmolol group and 6 of 23 patients (26%) in the oral beta-blocker group developed postoperative AF, P = NS. The mean time of onset of AF (2.7 ± 0.5 vs 2.7 ± 0.3 postoperative day, P = NS) and the median duration of AF (10 [2192] vs 7 [1.16] hours, P = NS) were similar between the two groups. Eleven (41%) patients treated with esmolol developed adverse events (hypotension: 8, bradycardia requiring temporary pacing: 2, left ventricular failure:1 patient) as compared to only one patient (4%) in the beta-blocker group who developed hypotension, P = 0.006. Conclusions: This randomized controlled pilot study suggests that intravenous esmolol is less well tolerated and offers no advantages to standard beta-blocker in preventing AF after CABG. A.N.E. 2002;7(2):86–91
Local resilience of almost spanning trees in random graphs

We prove that for fixed integer D and positive reals α and γ, there exists a constant C0 such that for all p satisfying p(n) ≥ C0/n, the random graph G(n,p) asymptotically almost surely contains a copy of every tree with maximum degree at most D and at most (1 - α)n vertices, even after we delete a (1/2 - γ)-fraction of the edges incident to each vertex. The proof uses Szemeredi's regularity lemma for sparse graphs and a bipartite variant of the theorem of Friedman and Pippenger on embedding bounded degree trees into expanding graphs. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2011 © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gametogenesis in the House Fly, Musca domestica

Development of the testes and ovaries of the house fly, Musca domestica L., was studied from third-instar larvae to 6-day-old adults. Spermatogonial divisions occurred during the third-instar larvae and early pupae. Considerable meiotic activity took place during the pupal period, and sperm maturation was essentially completed by emergence. Oogonial divisions were observed during early pupation, with the first egg chambers being formed before emergence. Female imagos, at the onset of oviposition, possessed 1 mature egg and 2 immature egg chambers per polytrophic ovariole. Each egg chamber contained 15 nurse cells, with polyploid nuclei and 1 oocyte. The nurse-cell nuclei produced large amounts of RNA during vitellogenesis. Meiosis was not observed during oocyte maturation.
Microzooplankton grazing experiments in the subtropical Indian River Lagoon, Florida challenge assumptions of the dilution technique

Abstract The most widely accepted method for measuring microzooplankton grazing rates, the dilution technique, was developed in oligotrophic, open-ocean environments. Applications of the technique in productive waters have resulted in varied responses that often complicate the interpretation of results in light of potential violations of assumptions. Grazing experiments using the dilution technique were carried out for 12 months at two sites in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, an underrepresented ecosystem type with regard to global knowledge of microzooplankton grazing. Positive slopes were observed in the majority of experiments implying that grazing activity actually enhanced phytoplankton growth. In two such experiments, plankton community analysis supported the hypothesis that grazer abundances were not constant over the incubation period and net grazer growth rates were related to dilution level, i.e., an important assumption was violated. Trophic cascades (i.e., grazers eating grazers) are the most likely explanation for these observations. The frequency of positive slopes found in this study highlights the need for more detailed studies of trophic interactions within plankton communities of the IRL, and estuarine systems in general. The IRL has experienced persistent harmful algal blooms, the causes of which are currently under investigation; however, the impact of microbial grazers on harmful algal species cannot be quantified until appropriate methods for resolving complex trophic interactions are identified.
The Generic Types of the Diaspidae (Hemiptera).—Introduction

In spite of the notable economic importance of the scale-insects and in spite of their extraordinary biological interest, all of which has generated a very considerable activity in their study, it cannot be said that the systematics of the group are in anything that even approaches a satisfactory condition.
Changing the Subject: The Impact of National Policy on School Geography, 1980–2000

Eleanor M. Rawling. Sheffield, U.K.: Geographical Association, 2001. 208 pp., tables, figs., apps., refs., and index; n.p. cloth (ISBN 1 903448 34 4); n.p. paper (ISBN 1-903448-87-5). There is an i...
Role of papillary muscle position and mitral valve structure in systolic anterior motion of the mitral leaflets in hyperdynamic left ventricular function

Abstract In conclusion, the principal precursors of SAM in the presence of hyperdynamic LV function include longer anterior and posterior mitral leaflets and anteriorly displaced papillary muscles that poorly support the surplus leaflet tissue.
Wavelength Control of Resonant Photonic Modulators with Balanced Homodyne Locking

We present a robust method for control of resonant modulator wavelength that is integrated with an on-chip balanced detector. Experimental results demonstrate long-term locking with low bit error rate over greater than 55 Kelvin.
Synthesis of aryl 3′-sulfo-β-lactosides as fluorogenic and chromogenic substrates for ceramide glycanases

Abstract We have previously reported that 4-methylumbelliferyl 6′- O -benzyl- β -lactoside ( 2 ) is a useful substrate for a fluorometric assay of ceramide glycanase (CGase) (L.-X. Wang, N.V. Pavlova, S.-C. Li, Y.-T. Li and Y.C. Lee, Glycoconjugate J. , 13 (1996) 359–365). The introduction of a 6- O -benzyl group at the terminal Gal efficiently protected the substrate from its hydrolysis by exo-galactosidase, permitting the assay of CGase in crude biological materials. However, a drawback of this substrate is its low water-solubility and relatively high Km (at a mM level). Introduction of a sulfate group into 4-methylumbelliferyl β -lactoside ( 1 ) led to the formation of 4-methylumbelliferyl 3′- O -sulfo- β -lactoside ( 3 ), which was found to be a more effective substrate than 2 . Moreover, the presence of a 3′- O -sulfate group not only increases the water solubility tremendously, but also protects the substrate from cleavage by exo- β -galactosidase as the 6′- O -benzyl group in 2 does. In addition to the fluorogenic substrate ( 3 ), two sulfated chromogenic substrates, N -tetradecanoyl-4- O -(3′-sulfo- β -lactosyl)-3-nitro- l -tyrosine methyl ester ( 9 ) and 2- N -(tetradecanoylamino)-4-nitrophenyl 3′-sulfo- β -lactoside ( 12 ), were synthesized and their suitability for a photometric assay of CGase was evaluated. Substrates 9 and 12 , with a long fatty acid chain attached to the aglycon part, have a K m value close to that of the natural substrate GM1 (at a μ M level).
A Hemodynamic Study of Acute Mitral Valvar Regurgitation in Man

The study of the immediate hemodynamic effects of acute mitral valvar insufficiency (MI) has previously been limited to the experimental animal. The presence of a mitral valvar prosthesis, however, enables one to produce MI through passage of a transseptal catheter into the prosthesis to temporarily prevent proper seating of the ball or disc. In acute MI, so produced, there resulted a significant increase in heart rate, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, pulmonary artery “wedge” pressure, and pulmonary artery pressure. Cardiac output and effective forward stroke volume decreased. The development of dyspnea and restlessness in three of six patients necessitated relief of the MI after seven to ten minutes. Withdrawal of the catheter, out of the prosthetic valve, returned the hemodynamic values to control levels within five minutes. Evidence is presented which indicates a protecting role for the pulmonary veins during the development of acute MI. No complications were noted in these six patients; however, only previously well-anticoagulated patients should be studied in this manner and then with great care.
A genome scan for joint-specific hand osteoarthritis susceptibility: The Framingham Study.

Objective Studies investigating hand osteoarthritis (OA) as a single entity have not shown strong linkage of the disease with any chromosomal sites. We undertook this study to test our hypothesis that phenotypes of hand OA may show stronger linkage than has been shown for overall hand OA. Methods We performed a factor analysis on measures of hand OA to determine patterns of disease. Using the joint regions identified by this analysis, we performed a genome-wide linkage analysis for OA susceptibility loci using 426 original cohort members and 790 offspring cohort members in 267 pedigrees. Radiographic OA features evaluated included the Kellgren/Lawrence score, osteophytes, and joint space narrowing. Prior to linkage analysis, standardized residuals were computed from regression analysis of each phenotype on age. This was performed separately for each sex and cohort. The variance component model (GeneHunter) was then applied to the normalized scores of the residuals of both sexes and cohorts. Results There was evidence suggestive of linkage (logarithm of odds [LOD] score >1.5) at 16 sites. Four of these sites had LOD scores >3.0. Two of these sites (identified in the full sample) included a linkage region for OA of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint on chromosome 7 (155 cM; LOD score 3.06) and a linkage region for OA of the first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint on chromosome 15 (81 cM; LOD score 6.25). The other 2 sites (identified in women) included a linkage region for OA of the DIP joint on chromosome 1 (202 cM; LOD score 3.03) and a linkage region for OA of the first CMC joint on chromosome 20 (4 cM; LOD score 3.74). Conclusion These data suggest that several chromosomes contain hand OA susceptibility genes and that a joint-specific approach may be more rewarding than a global approach to the genetics of hand OA. Further investigation of these regions is warranted using finer maps and other populations.
Microcanonical Entropy and Mesoscale Dislocation Mechanics and Plasticity

A methodology is devised to utilize the statistical mechanical entropy of an isolated, constrained atomistic system to define constitutive response functions for the dissipative driving-force and energetic fields in continuum thermomechanics. A thermodynamic model of dislocation mechanics is discussed as an example. Primary outcomes are constitutive relations for the back-stress tensor and the Cauchy stress tensor in terms of the elastic distortion, mass density, polar dislocation density, and the scalar statistical density.
A kinetic analysis of the reactivities of the hydroxyl groups in formylation of the D-glucopyranosyl residues in dextrin

Abstract The kinetics of the homogeneous formylation of dextrin with 90% formic acid have been analyzed as the composite of four, simultaneous, independent, reversible reactions at the C-2, C-3, and C-6 hydroxyl groups of each D -glucopyranosyl residue and the C-4 hydroxyl group on the terminal D -glucopyranosyl group of each molecule. The velocity coefficient and the equilibrium constant for the primary hydroxyl group are higher than the values for the (secondary) C-2 and C-3 hydroxyl groups. Results of the kinetic analysis suggest that one secondary hydroxyl group is esterified rapidly to a low level of equilibrium, whereas the other secondary hydroxyl group is slowly esterified to a higher level of equilibrium. These results are shown to be qualitatively consistent with the behavior of other carbohydrates on esterification or de-esterification.
Relaxation training and cognitive redirection strategies in the treatment of acute pain

Relaxation training, relaxation instructions, and redirection of attention techniques were compared to a no-treatment control in the treatment of acute ischemic pain. Relaxation instructions were ineffective in reducing state anxiety, verbally reported pain or distress or pain measured during presentation of the stimulus by cross-modality matching. Relaxation training was effective in reducing distress during presentation of the stimulus and verbally reported pain. The attention-redirection technique reduced pain as measured by cross-modality matching. The interaction hypothesis was supported, re. the two measures of distress during presentation of the painful stimulus. As externality increased, the effectiveness of relaxation training increased. However, there was no consistent decrease in distress for subjects high on externality in the relaxation instruction group.
Rapid Expectation Adaptation during Syntactic Comprehension.

When we read or listen to language, we are faced with the challenge of inferring intended messages from noisy input. This challenge is exacerbated by considerable variability between and within speakers. Focusing on syntactic processing (parsing), we test the hypothesis that language comprehenders rapidly adapt to the syntactic statistics of novel linguistic environments (e.g., speakers or genres). Two self-paced reading experiments investigate changes in readers’ syntactic expectations based on repeated exposure to sentences with temporary syntactic ambiguities (so-called “garden path sentences”). These sentences typically lead to a clear expectation violation signature when the temporary ambiguity is resolved to an a priori less expected structure (e.g., based on the statistics of the lexical context). We find that comprehenders rapidly adapt their syntactic expectations to converge towards the local statistics of novel environments. Specifically, repeated exposure to a priori unexpected structures can reduce, and even completely undo, their processing disadvantage (Experiment 1). The opposite is also observed: a priori expected structures become less expected (even eliciting garden paths) in environments where they are hardly ever observed (Experiment 2). Our findings suggest that, when changes in syntactic statistics are to be expected (e.g., when entering a novel environment), comprehenders can rapidly adapt their expectations, thereby overcoming the processing disadvantage that mistaken expectations would otherwise cause. Our findings take a step towards unifying insights from research in expectation-based models of language processing, syntactic priming, and statistical learning.
On the stochastic theory of solute transport by unsteady and steady groundwater flow in heterogeneous aquifers

Abstract In this study the exact and approximate deterministic partial differential equations of the time-space evolution of mean solute concentration, of solute concentration two-point moment and of solute concentration n -point moment for conservative solute transport by unsteady and steady groundwater flow in a heterogeneous aquifer were developed in the real time-space domain under second-order cumulant expansion. These derivations were performed by means of the cumulant expansion method, combined with the calculus for the time-ordered exponential and with the calculus for Lie operator. The mean solute transport equations which describe the time-space evolution of mean conservative solute concentration under transport by unsteady and steady groundwater flows in a heterogeneous aquifer have convective-dispersive forms whose convective and dispersive coefficients are defined precisely in terms of the mean and covariance functions of the pore flow velocity random field. However, owing to the spatial nonuniformity of groundwater flow in heterogeneous porous media a new convective coefficient, besides the standard mean velocity vector, appeared in the derived mean solute transport equations in the case of steady flows. In the case of transport by unsteady groundwater flow in a heterogeneous aquifer, the new convective coefficient (besides the standard mean velocity vector) is due to the non-zero divergence of the pore flow velocity. The fundamental reason for the convective-dispersive form of the mean transport equations is the second-order truncation of the formal cumulant expansion. In the derived mean solute transport equations the macroscopic dispersion coefficient emerges as the time integral of the covariance function of the pore flow velocity. However, both in the case of transport by unsteady groundwater flow and in the case of transport by steady spatially nonstationary-nonuniform groundwater flow the macroscopic dispersion coefficients and convective coefficients vary with spatial locations within the porous medium. Only in the case of transport by steady spatially stationary-nonuniform flow are both the macroscopic dispersion coefficient and the convective coefficient constant with respect to spatial location within the heterogenous aquifer. Therefore, only in the case of conservative solute transport by steady spatially stationary-nonuniform groundwater flow in a heterogeneous aquifer does the mean transport equation apply to all spatial locations within the aquifer with the same parameter values at each time instant.
Remarks on the breakdown of smooth solutions for the 3- D Euler equations

The authors prove that the maximum norm of the vorticity controls the breakdown of smooth solutions of the 3-D Euler equations. In other words, if a solution of the Euler equations is initially smooth and loses its regularity at some later time, then the maximum vorticity necessarily grows without bound as the critical time approaches; equivalently, if the vorticity remains bounded, a smooth solution persists.
Imaginative Content in the Dreams and Fantasy Play of Blind and Sighted Children

In order to test hypotheses growing out of a consideration of the role of vision in the development of a differentiated capacity for imagination, 20 pairs of otherwise matched blind and sighted children (aged 8 to 12) were studied. Interviews and spontaneous accounts of their play, fantasies, and dreams were recorded and rated independently by judges for Imaginativeness. Results indicated that sighted children proved more imaginative in all three areas, with blind children showing generally a concrete and limited fantasy content except for their greater reliance on imaginary companions.