cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mo1438 Accessing the Papilla for ERCP in Bariatric Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RNYGB): Can Clinical Features Predict Success of PerOral Endoscopy?

Accessing the Papilla for ERCP in Bariatric Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RNYGB): Can Clinical Features Predict Success of PerOral Endoscopy? David Y. Lo, Douglas A. Howell, Lee D. Hallagan, Jennifer Lewis, Eric Wright, Gennadiy Bakis, Andreas M. Stefan, Roy A. Cobean Pancreaticobilary Center, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME; Surgery, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME Background: RNYGB has been increasingly performed worldwide resulting in growing numbers of patients needing ERCP. Accessing the papilla for ERCP includes peroral enteroscopic techniques and laparoscopic access to the bypassed stomach to allow antegrade passage of a standard ERCP endoscope via a 15mm port. Study Aim: Attempt to define clinical features which might predict success or failure of peroral access to the papilla. Methods: All bariatric RNYGB patients undergoing peroral attempt at ERCP entered in a prospective ERCP database from a single center were identified after IRB approval. Pre-procedure clinical features suspected to have an impact on success were: 1. Recorded length of Roux limb. 2. Pre-op BMI. 3. Absolute weight loss. 4. Percent of weight loss. 5. BMI at the time of ERCP. 6. Open vs laparoscopic RNYGB. Patients: 43 pts identified underwent 55 peroral attempts at RNYGB ERCP (M:5; F:38), age 24 to 81) and had complete or partial data available for analysis of these defined variables. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group A (n 23), cases done using single balloon enteroscopes (Olympus America) or rotational overtubes (Spirus Medical) and Group B (n 20), earlier cases using a variety of endoscopes. Results: Of 43 cases, the papilla could be reached in 30 cases (69.8%). Success in reaching the RUQ was more frequent when open surgery had been done (74.2% vs 50%) despite some failures due to obvious adhesions detected during the ERCP. Comparing Group A to Group B, there was a trend toward increased success of RUQ access, despite longer Roux limbs done more recently (A 18/23 (78.3%) vs B 12/20 (60%), p 0.074). Once the RUQ was reached, none of the pre-procedure clinical features impacted the success of the planned ERCP (25/30, (83.3%)). Among Group A pts, 3 features were strongly associated with success or failure to reach the RUQ on univariate analysis (see Table). The categorical variable which best predicted failure was the recorded length of the Roux limb 150cm, as 60% failed. Conclusions: Clinical features which document or suggest long Roux limbs ( 150 cm) (recorded length of the Roux, pre-op BMI 55, and absolute weight loss) increased the likelihood of failure to access the right upper quadrant, even using the most recent enteroscopic devices. Avoiding failed peroral attempts at ERCP in RNYGB patients is highly desirable but cannot be absolutely predicted using these clinical features. Until technologies improve, the decision to attempt peroral ERCP initially or move directly to laparoscopic access should be based on a careful estimate of the likelihood of failure that is acceptable to the patient.
Synthesis of fluoro- and polyfluoro-veratraldehydes by electrophilic fluorination

Abstract Lithiation of oxazolines derived from fluorinated veratric acid, followed by electrophilic fluorination and subsequent reductive oxazoline cleavage, provides a convenient route to di- and tri-fluoroveratraldehydes. Similarly, 4-fluoroveratrol was converted by lithiation and fluorination to 3,4-difluoroveratrol, which can be used to prepare 5,6-difluoroveratraldehyde.
Mammary-Specific Gene Activation Is Defined by Progressive Recruitment of STAT5 during Pregnancy and the Establishment of H3K4me3 Marks

Differentiation of mammary secretory epithelium during pregnancy is characterized by sequential activation of genes over several orders of magnitude. Although the transcription factor STAT5 is key to alveolar development, it is not clear to what extent it controls temporal activation of genetic programs in secretory epithelium. To uncover molecular mechanisms effecting progressive differentiation, we explored genome-wide STAT5 binding and H3K4me3 (i.e., trimethylated histone H3 at K4) marks in mammary tissues at early and midpregnancy and at parturition. STAT5 binding to genes induced during pregnancy was low in immature mammary tissue but increased with epithelial differentiation. Increased STAT5 binding was associated with the establishment of H3K4me3 marks and transcriptional activation. STAT5 binding preceded the formation of H3K4me3 marks in some mammary-specific genes. De novo STAT5 binding was also found at distal sites, indicating enhancers. Furthermore, we established an exhaustive mammary transcriptome. Through integration of RNA-seq and STAT5 and H3K4me4 ChIP-seq data, we discovered novel mammary-specific alternative promoters and genes, including noncoding RNAs. Our findings suggest that STAT5 is an early step in establishing transcription complexes on genes specifically expressed in mammary epithelium. This is the first study in an organ that links progressive chromatin occupancy of STAT5 to the acquisition of H3K4me3 marks and transcription during hormone-induced differentiation.
Risk of Iatrogenic Injury to the Peroneal Nerve During Posterolateral Femoral Tunnel Placement in Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

BackgroundThere has been concern for iatrogenic injury to the peroneal nerve with posterolateral femoral tunnel placement in double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.HypothesisThe common peroneal nerve and biceps tendon are at increased risk for injury by the guide wire as the knee is brought into increased extension.Study DesignControlled laboratory study.MethodsAn anatomical descriptive study was performed on 10 cadaveric knees (ages 49-67 years). After the native anterior cruciate ligament was removed arthroscopically, the posterolateral femoral tunnel starting point was identified using standardized measurements from the articular cartilage rim. With the use of a low-medial accessory portal and one cortical entry point, guide pins were inserted at 120°, 90°, and 70° of knee flexion. The guide pins were kept in situ, and the lateral structures of the knee were dissected. The distance between guide pins and the common peroneal nerve, as well as the relationship to the biceps tendon, were ...
From peptide to protein: comparative analysis of the substrate specificity of N-linked glycosylation in C. jejuni.

The gram-negative bacterium Campylobacter jejuni was recently discovered to contain a general N-linked protein glycosylation pathway. Central to this pathway is PglB, a homologue of the Stt3p subunit of the eukaryotic oligosaccharyl transferase (OT), which is involved in the transfer of an oligosaccharide from a polyisoprenyl pyrophosphate carrier to the asparagine side chain of proteins within the conserved glycosylation sites D/E-X1-N-X2-S/T, where X1 and X2 can be any amino acids except proline. Using a library of peptide substrates and a quantitative radioactivity-based in vitro assay, we assessed the amino acids at each position of the consensus glycosylation sequence for their impact on glycosylation efficiency, whereby the sequence DQNAT was found to be the optimal acceptor substrate. In the context of a full-length folded protein, the differences between variations of the glycosylation sequences were found to be consistent with the trends observed from their peptidyl counterparts, though less dram...
Peripheral blood t‐cell subpopulations in the very low birth weight (less than 1,500‐g) infant

The development of monoclonal antibodies to cell-surface antigens has provided method for characterizing distinct subpopulations of T-cells. In the present study we have quantified peripheral blood T-cell subpopulations in premature infants born weighing less than 1,500 g (1123 +/- 223 g) and ranging in gestational age from 25 to 32 weeks. The relative proportion of T4 cells in the very low birth weight (VLBW) infants was markedly higher at 1 week and 1 month of age (mean +/- SEM; 67.5 +/- 4.1 and 59.2 +/- 1.6) than in adult controls (47.2 +/- 1.5). The percentage of T4 cells remained elevated until 6 months of age, when it decreased to a level comparable to that in adults. In contrast, the proportion of T8 cells was significantly lower than the adult level at 1 week and 1 month of age. The T4/T8 ratio in the VLBW infants was higher at 1 week (4.3 +/- 0.5) and 1 month (3.5 +/- 0.2) than in adult controls (2.0 +/- 0.1). Thereafter, the T4/T8 ratio decreased but was still significantly higher than that in adult controls at 6 months of age (2.6 +/- 0.2). The absolute numbers of total T-cells (T3) and T8 and T4 cells were significantly higher in VLBW infants. The numbers of T8 cells were significantly lower in the first month of life than at 3-6 months of age. These alterations in the T-cell subsets in the first 6 months of life suggest that postnatal T-cell phenotypic changes in VLBW infants may parallel the T-cell ontogenetic process which occurs during the last trimester of pregnancy in full-term infants.
Leucine-enkephalin increases norepinephrine-stimulated chronotropy and 45Ca++ uptake in guinea-pig atria.

Abstract Norepinephrine (NE) (10 −5 M) increases the beating rate of isolated, spontaneously beating guinea-pig atria 78 ± 3 beats per minute. Leucineenkephalin (10 −7 M) increases the maximal chronotropic response to NE by 38%, i.e., by 30 beats per minute. In the presence of 10 −7 M leucineenkephalin and 10 −7 M naloxone, the chronotropic response to NE is reduced to 38 ± 3 beats per minute, a value observed in the presence of naloxone alone. Neither naloxone nor leucine enkephalin significantly altered the inotropic response to NE, or significantly altered the basal beating rate. Parallel effects were observed when 45 Ca ++ uptake by atrial tissue was examined. Incubation of atrial slices with 10 −5 M NE for 10 minutes minimally stimulated 45 Ca ++ uptake from 1.27 ± 0.04 to 1.45 ± 0.17 nmol/mg tissue. In the presence of 10 −7 M leucine-enkephalin, 45 Ca ++ uptake was increased to 1.95 ± 0.14 nmol/mg tissue. 45 Ca ++ uptake was reduced to control values (1.19 ± 0.09 nmol/mg tissue) in the presence of NE, leucine-enkephalin and naloxone (10 −7 M). The data are consistent with a leucine-enkephalin augumentation of NE-induced chronotropy in guinea-pig atria due to an enhancement of NE-dependent Ca ++ accumulation. This effect of leucine-enkephalin is opposite that previously reported for rat atria, in which leucine-enkephalin inhibits both NE-induced positive chronotropy and Ca ++ influx.
Benchmark three-dimensional elasticity solutions for the buckling of thick orthotropic cylindrical shells

Abstract Benchmark solutions to the problem of buckling of orthotropic cylindrical shells, which are based on the three-dimensional theory of elasticity, are presented in this review article. It is assumed that the shell is under external pressure or axial compression or a combination of these loadings. These solutions provide a means of accurately assessing the limitations of the various shell theories in predicting critical loads. A comparison with some classical shell theories shows that the classical shell theories may produce, in general, highly non-conservative results on the critical load of composite shells with thick construction. One noteworthy exception: the Timoshenko shell buckling equations produce conservative results under pure axial compression.
Latent Fingerprint Core Point Prediction Based on Gaussian Processes

Core point prediction is of critical importance to latent fingerprints individuality assessment. While tremendous effort have been made in core point detection, locating core points in latent fingerprints continues to be a difficult problem because latent prints usually contain only partial images with core points left outside the print. A novel method is proposed that predicts the locations and orientations of core points for latent fingerprints. The method is based on Gaussian processes and provides prediction in interpretations of probability rather than binary decision. The accuracy of the method is illustrated by experiments on a real-life latent fingerprint data set.
Bringing water markets down to earth: The political economy of water rights in Chile, 1976–1995

Abstract For 15 years Chile has been the leading international example of pro-market policies for water resources, and its 1981 Water Code has recently been touted as a model for other countries to follow. Water markets are controversial in both theory and practice: their potential benefits include greater efficiency and flexibility of water use and less state intervention and expenditure; while their drawbacks include social and environmental externalities, vulnerability to high transactions costs, and other common examples of “market failure.” No country has taken the experiment as far as Chile, since its Water Code privatized water rights, reduced state administration, and attempted to stimulate a free market in water rights. The results have been mixed and uneven. The lesson of the Chilean case is that setting up water markets is harder and more complicated than it may seem, even in the fairly simple arena of irrigation transfers.
Neonatal morbidity by week of gestational age for twins compared to singletons: a population-based cohort study.

Objective Quantify neonatal morbidity by week of gestation for twins compared with singletons. Study Design We performed a population-based retrospective cohort study of all Ohio births from 2006 to 2007. Composite neonatal morbidity consisting of Apgar score 6 hours, neonatal transport, or seizures was compared between singletons and twins from 34 to 41 weeks. Results Neonatal morbidity was the lowest in twins delivered at 37 completed weeks and 2 weeks later for singletons at 39 weeks. Twin morbidity rapidly increased after 37 weeks and reached 15.8% at 41 weeks versus the singleton morbidity rate of 3.4% at 41 weeks. Twins delivered at 39 weeks and beyond were more than twice as likely to incur neonatal morbidity compared with singletons. Conclusion The lowest rate of neonatal morbidity occurs at 37 weeks for twins versus 39 weeks for singleton births. The increased risk after 37 weeks for twins accelerates at a faster rate compared with that for singletons born past 39 weeks.
Management Communication Strategy in Case Assignments: The Double-Message Approach:

Case studies, used extensively in business communication classes, offer an advantage by presenting students with real-life situations to which they can respond using writ ten business genres. Cases, however, limited by their cryp tic and condensed nature, may not fully communicate the context of the event. Understanding context has become increasingly important as issues of race, gender, and mul ticultual communication have emerged in the workplace. The double-message approach offers a solution by asking students to write a context memorandum along with their response to the case protagonist.
Liquid scintillation counting of C14-labeled amino acids on paper, using trinitrobenzene-1-sulfonic acid, and a modified combustion apparatus

Methods for the separation of amino acids from tissue extracts by two-dimensional paper chromatography or by paper electrophoresis, have become well established in many laboratories. A number of one- and two-dimensional scanning devices have been developed for purposes of determining quantitatively the C14 radioactivity in amino acid spots on paper [1–4]. However the counting efficiency of these devices is low even when so-called 4π geometry is employed and both sides of the paper are counted simultaneously.
Temporal and Existential Structures in Simone de Beauvoir's Les Belles Images: Mechanical Reproduction Versus Transcendence

(2000). Temporal and Existential Structures in Simone de Beauvoir's Les Belles Images: Mechanical Reproduction Versus Transcendence. Symposium: A Quarterly Journal in Modern Literatures: Vol. 54, No. 1, pp. 16-26.
Crystals in tapetal cells of the Leguminosae

In a survey of the Leguminosae (167 species of 89 genera), calcium oxalate crystals were found in tapetal cells in all three subfamilies (84 species of 52 genera). Crystal form ranged from small scattered crystals to lens-like to various large prismatic types, and included the first report of styloid crystals in the Caesalpinioideae. Over half of the caesalpinioid and papilionoid legumes examined had crystals. Crystals were not common in the Mimosoideae, however, but this may be because of the small sample. The distribution of species with various crystal types, and of species lacking crystals, did not reveal any patterns that conform to the presently defined taxa. Crystals in tapetal cells have previously been reported only in the Commelinaceae and Labiatae.
Investigation of low leakage current radiation detectors on n-type 4H-SiC epitaxial layers

The surface leakage current of high-resolution 4H-SiC epitaxial layer Schottky barrier detectors has been improved significantly after surface passivations of 4H-SiC epitaxial layers. Thin (nanometer range) layers of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and silicon nitride (Si3N4) were deposited on 4H-SiC epitaxial layers using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) on 20 m thick n-type 4H-SiC epitaxial layers followed by the fabrication of large area (~12 mm2) Schottky barrier radiation detectors. The fabricated detectors have been characterized through current-voltage (I-V), capacitance-voltage (C-V), and alpha pulse height spectroscopy measurements; the results were compared with that of detectors fabricated without surface passivations. Improved energy resolution of ~ 0.4% for 5486 keV alpha particles was observed after passivation, and it was found that the performance of these detectors were limited by the presence of macroscopic and microscopic crystal defects affecting the charge transport properties adversely. Capacitance mode deep level transient studies (DLTS) revealed the presence of a titanium impurity related shallow level defects (Ec-0.19 eV), and two deep level defects identified as Z1/2 and Ci1 located at Ec-0.62 and ~ Ec-1.40 eV respectively.
RCT of a Psychosocial Treatment for Children with High-Functioning ASD: Supplemental Analyses of Treatment Effects on Facial Emotion Encoding

This study evaluated the effect of a comprehensive psychosocial intervention on supplemental measures of facial emotion encoding for children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) who were enrolled in prior randomized trials. A total of 60 children, ages 7 to 12 years were randomly assigned to treatment or wait-list control groups. Photographs of six posed facial expressions (happy, sad, angry, scared, surprised, and disgusted) taken at pretest and posttest were rated for encoding accuracy by naive raters. Ratings consisted of a) the extent to which the facial expression reflected each of the six possible emotions (extent rating) and b) a selection of the one emotion the raters identified as being portrayed (forced-choice). Results indicated significantly better encoding of sad at posttest for the treatment group on the extent (d = .58) and forced-choice (d = .56) ratings. Between-groups differences in encoding of the other emotions at posttest were non-significant. Implications for intervention and future research are presented.
Mild cognitive impairment: an opportunity to identify patients at high risk for progression to Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Background: There is increasing evidence that subtle losses in cognitive function may be symptomatic of a transition to early Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ongoing research is focusing on the identification of those individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who are most likely to convert to AD. Of the MCI subtypes, patients with amnestic MCI (a-MCI) are at greatest risk. Objectives: The objectives of this article were to review the relationship between MCI, normal aging, and AD, and to summarize recent research on the diagnosis and potential treatment of MCI. Methods: Relevant articles were identified through searches of MEDLINE and EMBASE using the terms mild cognitive impairment; cognitive impairment, no dementia; and dementia prodrome, with no restrictions as to year. Additional papers of interest were identified from the reference lists of the identified articles. The search was current as of February 2006. Results: Guidelines and recommendations are being developed to assist physicians in diagnosing MCI, identifying its subtype and etiology, understanding the risks for conversion to AD, and managing disease progression. Given the existence of a subset of individuals with a-MCI, who are at greatest risk for progression to AD but still have high levels of cognition and function, the ability to improve symptoms and delay progression to AD would be particularly beneficial. In a 3-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 769 patients with a-MCI, treatment with the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil was associated with a significantly lower rate of progression to AD compared with placebo during the first 12 months of treatment (hazard ratio=0.42; 95% CI, 0.24–0.76; P=0.004) but not at later time points. Of other types of agents that have been investigated (antioxidants, estrogen replacement therapy, cyclooxygenase-2-selective inhibitors), none have shown significant beneficial effects in delaying cognitive decline or progression to AD. New drugs such as secretase inhibitors, small molecules that disrupt amyloid aggregation, and immunotherapies are in preclinical development. Conclusions: MCI involves more substantial cognitive and memory decline than normal aging and represents a significant risk factor for the development of dementia. Further research is needed into treatments to delay the conversion from MCI to AD.
MicroRNA profiling of carcinogen-induced rat colon tumors and the influence of dietary spinach

Scope MicroRNA (miRNA) profiles are altered in chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, and cancer. A systems biology approach was used to examine, for the first time, miRNAs altered in rat colon tumors induced by 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), a heterocyclic amine carcinogen from cooked meat.
Primary hyperparathyroidism with chronic renal failure in a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig (Sus scrofa)

Primary hyperparathyroidism with chronic renal failure in a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig (Sus scrofa) S.E. Dumas, T.M. Grandys, A.W. Stern, E.F. Garrett & M.D. Ridgway a Rural Animal Health Management, University of Illinois, 1008 W Hazelwood Ave, Urbana, IL 61802, USA b Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Illinois, 2001 S Lincoln Ave, Urbana, IL 61802, USA c Companion and Zoo Animal Medicine, University of Illinois, 1008 W Hazelwood Ave, Urbana, IL 61802, USA Accepted author version posted online: 21 Nov 2013.Published online: 13 Dec 2013.
High efficiency in human muscle: an anomaly and an opportunity?

Summary Can human muscle be highly efficient in vivo ? Animal muscles typically show contraction-coupling efficiencies in vitro but a recent study reports that the human first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle of the hand has an efficiency value in vivo of 68%. We examine two key factors that could account for this apparently high efficiency value: (1) transfer of cross-bridge work into mechanical work and (2) the use of elastic energy to do external work. Our analysis supports a high contractile efficiency reflective of nearly complete transfer of muscular to mechanical work with no contribution by recycling of elastic energy to mechanical work. Our survey of reported contraction-coupling efficiency values puts the FDI value higher than typical values found in small animals in vitro but within the range of values for human muscle in vivo . These high efficiency values support recent studies that suggest lower Ca 2+ cycling costs in working contractions and a decline in cost during repeated contractions. In the end, our analysis indicates that the FDI muscle may be exceptional in having an efficiency value on the higher end of that reported for human muscle. Thus, the FDI muscle may be an exception both in contraction-coupling efficiency and in Ca 2+ cycling costs, which makes it an ideal muscle model system offering prime conditions for studying the energetics of muscle contraction in vivo .
Need for subsequent fundoplication after gastrostomy based on patient characteristics

Abstract Background Gastrostomy tube placement is common in children. Many of the conditions associated with need for gastrostomy are also associated with gastroesophageal reflux. It is not clear how many patients without complicated reflux will subsequently require a fundoplication or which conditions increase this risk. Therefore, we performed a two-center review to determine the disease-specific propensity for fundoplication after gastrostomy tube placement. Methods The data set was retrospectively collected from two centers from 2000 to 2008. All patients underwent gastrostomy tube placement without fundoplication owing to the surgeon's discernment that fundoplication was not needed at the time. Pearson's correlation was used to evaluate the influence of patient variables and operative approach against the subsequent need for fundoplication. Significance was defined as two-tailed P ≤ 0.01. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate independence. Results A total of 684 patients underwent gastrostomy tube placement only, of which 124 were open, 282 laparoscopic, and 278 endoscopic (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy). The mean patient age was 2.9 years. Subsequent fundoplication was performed in 62 patients (9.1%). The mean interval to fundoplication was 20.7 months. Cerebral palsy and anoxic brain injury had the most significant correlation with subsequent fundoplication. These were also independent predictors. The laparoscopic approach had a negative correlation with the subsequent need for fundoplication. Conclusions The low incidence of subsequent fundoplication in children who undergo gastrostomy tube placement justifies conservative use of fundoplication in the absence of complicated reflux. Those with cerebral palsy and anoxic brain injury appeared to have the greatest risk of the need for subsequent fundoplication.
Expression and purification of the extracellular ligand-binding domain of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptor: Monovalent binding with ANP induces 2:2 complexes

The receptor for atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a type-I transmembrane protein containing an extracellular ligand-binding domain, a single transmembrane sequence, an intracellular kinase-homologous domain, and a guanylate cyclase (GCase) domain. Binding of ANP to the extracellular domain causes activation of the GCase domain by an as yet unknown mechanism. To facilitate studies of the receptor structure and signaling mechanism, we have expressed the extracellular ANP-binding domain of rat ANP receptor (NPR-ECD) in a water-soluble form. NPR-ECD was purified to homogeneity by ANP-affinity chromatography. SDS-PAGE gave a single 61-kDa band, which coincided with a radioactive band obtained by photoaffinity-labeling with N4alpha-azidobenzoyl-125I-ANP(4-28). Edman degradation gave a single amino-terminal sequence expected for the mature protein. Both trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and peptide-N-glycosidase F treatments yielded a 50-kDa band, indicating N-glycosylation. The molecular mass of 57 725 Da determined by mass spectrometry indicates the carbohydrate content at 16%. NPR-ECD bound ANP with an affinity comparable to that of the full-length receptor. The ligand selectivity of NPR-ECD (in the order ANP > brain natriuretic peptide >> C-type natriuretic peptide) was also similar to that of the full-length receptor. HPLC gel filtration of NPR-ECD gave a peak with an apparent mass of 74 kDa. Preincubation with ANP generated a new 150-kDa peak with a concomitant decrease of the 74-kDa peak. This shift in peak positions was ANP concentration-dependent and was complete at the NPR-ECD-to-ANP molar ratio of 1:1, indicating equimolar binding. The change in the apparent native molecular weight from 74 to 150 kDa suggests that binding causes dimerization of the NPR-ECD:ANP complex to yield an [NPR-ECD:ANP]2 complex.
Reinforcing value of praise for chronic mental patients as a function of historical pairing with tangible reinforcers

The relative effectiveness of praise as a reinforcer for chronic mental patients was evaluated with patients from two treatment programs which provided 4-yr treatment histories differing in contingent vs. noncontingent pairing of social stimuli with tangible reinforcers. Four groups (N=10 each) were equated on nine potentially relevant variables with two groups selected from each treatment history condition. All subjects performed a marble-dropping task under differing delays for baseline, contingent praise, and tangible reinforcement conditions. Previous pairing of social stimuli with tangible reinforcers prevented extinction of performance under praise-only reinforcement, while differential history had no effect on response to tangible reinforcement.
Single ordering as a processing limitation

The present four experiments show that subjects have difficulty independently processing two separate orderings of the same terms, even when the orderings are well learned or are based on preexperimental opinions about ordering of terms. The results support the hypothesis that this difficulty reflects a fundamental cognitive limitation in the way we can process linear series in active memory. In the first experiment subjects with two different orderings of four terms showed processing deficits relative to control groups that also had two orderings to process but whose orderings were of two different sets of items. The second experiment showed that the processing deficit remained unchanged as overall performance improved approximately an order of magnitude over 16 days of practice. The last two experiments show the same patterns of interference for nonarbitrary orderings based on naturally occurring conflicts in rating-scale data. It is suggested that this cognitive limitation may account for the “halo” effect observed in rating scales.
A Reconfigurable Architecture for Secure Multimedia Delivery

This paper introduces a reconfigurable architecture for ensuring secure and real-time video delivery through a novel parameterized construction of the Discrete Wavelet Transform DWT). This parameterized construction promises multimedia encryption and is also well-suited to a hardware implementation due to our derivation of rational filter coefficients. We achieve an efficient and high-throughput reconfigurable hardware implementation through the use of LUT-based constant multipliers enabling run-time reconfiguration of encryption key. We also compare our prototype (using a Xilinx Virtex 4 FPGA) to several existing implementations in the research literature and show that we achieve superior performance as compared to both traditional CPU-based and custom VLSI approaches while adding features for secure multimedia delivery.
Relaxations during the formation of films

The Stefan equation for the separation of parallel surfaces confining a viscous medium relates the tensile stress to the product of the separation velocity and the liquid viscosity. This equation is applied to roll coating; two constraints to its use are imposed as a result of incomplete relaxation of stresses during the process. These constraints are the inability of any liquid to flow rapidly enough under tension to avoid cavitation and the appearance of a sizeable elastic component in the polymer solutions which one usually applies to substrates. During film hardening the measurement of relaxation is performed by cyclic shearing at the low and middle range of the viscoelastic spectrum. The in-phase and out-of-phase components of the complex modulus of rigidity are significant in this regard. Applied as a liquid, the coating must relax to a smooth layer without sagging and then be converted into a solid without developing destructively large residual stresses. Control over the mechanical properties during the formation of films is gained only after the molecular basis of relaxation and retardation is understood.
Adaptive probability analysis using an enhanced hybrid mean value method

This paper proposes an adaptive probability analysis method that can effectively generate the probability distribution of the output performance function by identifying the propagation of input uncertainty to output uncertainty. The method is based on an enhanced hybrid mean value (HMV+) analysis in the performance measure approach (PMA) for numerical stability and efficiency in search of the most probable point (MPP). The HMV+ method improves numerical stability and efficiency especially for highly nonlinear output performance functions by providing steady convergent behavior in the MPP search. The proposed adaptive probability analysis method approximates the MPP locus, and then adaptively refines this locus using an a posteriori error estimator. Using the fact that probability levels can be easily set a priori in PMA, the MPP locus is approximated using the interpolated moving least-squares method. For refinement of the approximated MPP locus, additional probability levels are adaptively determined through an a posteriori error estimator. The adaptive probability analysis method will determine the minimum number of necessary probability levels, while ensuring accuracy of the approximated MPP locus. Several examples are used to show the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive probability analysis method using the enhanced HMV+ method.
Disease Severity Measures in a Population of Psoriasis Patients: The Symptoms of Psoriasis Correlate With Self-Administered Psoriasis Area Severity Index Scores

Because of the difficulty and expense of objectively measuring psoriasis severity, very little information exists on the severity of psoriasis in populations. We determined severity in a psoriasis patient population using the validated self-administered psoriasis are and severity index (SAPASI). This population consisted of 578 university dermatology clinic psoriasis patient, and data were analyzed from 317 (55%) questionnaire respondents. The majority of our sample was women (57%), and non-Caucasians represented a larger portion (8%) in our sample compared with some previous studies. In our population, the reported frequencies of skin and joint symptoms were as follows: pruritus (95%), skin burning (81%), joint pain (69%), arthritis (51%), and psoriatic arthritis (20%). The SAPASI was significantly associated with severity of pruritus, burning, joint pain, and psoriatic arthritis. There was a significant negative correlation between the number of treatments employed and the SAPASI. This study provides results of a detailed measurement of the severity of psoriasis in a psoriasis patient population and relates tis severity to population characteristics.
MUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF CHICKEN INTERLEUKIN 2

Chicken interleukin 2 (chIL-2) has low, but significant, homology to both mammalian IL-2 and mammalian IL-15. In view of its unique phylogenetic position and potential use as a vaccine adjuvant, a detailed mutational analysis for critical functional sites was undertaken. It was found that Asp17 is a critical N terminal contact site for binding to the putative chIL-2 receptor, which is similar to results obtained for mammalian IL-2 and IL-15. Analysis of the C terminus did not reveal a single critical amino acid. However, deletion mutant studies demonstrated that removal of C terminal amino acids yielded proteins with decreased bioactivity and that this decrease was a function of the number and kind of amino acids removed. This study is the first non-mammalian IL-2 mutational analysis and proposes a model for the interaction between chIL-2 and its receptor.
A study of the composition of the solar corona and solar wind

Effects of diffusion on the composition of the solar corona and solar wind have been examined. Multi-component diffusion equations have been solved simultaneously in attempts to account for the flux of He and heavier elements in the solar wind. Large enhancements of these elements at the base of the assumed isothermal corona appear to be required to give observed fluxes. Coronal conditions and solar wind fluxes that might account for the diffusive presence of Fe at high altitudes have been studied.
Adhesion and friction of single-crystal diamond in contact with transition metals

An investigation was conducted to examine the adhesion and friction of single-crystal diamond in contact with various transition metals and the nature of metal transfer to diamond. Sliding friction experiments were conducted with diamond in sliding contact with the metals yttrium, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, iron, cobalt, nickel, tungsten, platinum, rhenium and rhodium. All experiments were conducted with loads of 0.05 to 0.3 N, at a sliding velocity of 0.003 m per minute, in a vacuum of 10 to the -8th Pa, at room temperature, and on the (111) plane of diamond with sliding in the 110 line type direction. The results of the investigation indicate that the coefficient of friction for diamond in contact with various metals is related to the relative chemical activity of the metals in high vacuum. The more active the metal, the higher the coefficient of friction. All the metals examined transferred to the surface of diamond in sliding.
Wear mechanism of CBN cutting tool during high-speed machining of mold steel

Abstract Wear behavior of cubic boron nitride (CBN) cutting tool when cutting P20 tool steel was investigated. Oblique cutting tests were performed on a CNC lathe using five speeds, namely, 240, 600 and 1000 m min −1 . The CBN cutting tools were found to be superior to tungsten carbide (WC) tools. Fourfold increase in productivity and significant reduction in chipping and cratering was achieved for CBN as compared to WC. Wear, as the width of the wear land (VB), was monitored at selected time intervals; furthermore, topography of worn surfaces was performed, using a profilometer. Wear characterization of the rake and the flank surfaces as well as of the collected chips was conducted using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), backscattered electron imaging and energy depressive X-ray (EDX). It was found that deformation in the chips occurs by localized shear deformation and the dominant wear mechanism at all speeds used was identified to be diffusive wear. At a 1000 m min −1 cutting speed, a secondary wear mechanism was identified, which is melt wear, i.e., formation of low melting point Cr and Mn compounds with the tool material and the subsequent ejection from the cutting zone.
Aromatic polypyromellitimides from aromatic polyamic acids

Aromatic diamines react with pyromellitic dianhydride in solvents such as dimethyl-acetamide to form solutions of high molecular weight polyamic acids. These soluble polymers can be converted to insoluble aromatic polyimides. The aromatic polyimides exhibit zero strength temperatures above 700°C. and possess excellent thermal and oxidative stability. The stability characteristics of films and the relation of chemical structure to thermal and hydrolytic stability and to polymer properties such as crystallinity are described.
Tropical cooling and the isotopic composition of precipitation in general circulation model simulations of the ice age climate

We test the climate effects of changes in the tropical ocean by imposing three different patterns of tropical SSTs in ice age general circulation model simulations that include water source tracers and water isotope tracers. The continental air temperature and hydrological cycle response in these simulations is substantial and should be directly comparable to the paleoclimatic record. With tropical cooling imposed, there is a strong temperature response in mid- to high-latitudes resulting from changes in sea ice and disturbance of the planetary waves; the results suggest that tropical/subtropical ocean cooling leads to significant dynamical and radiative feedbacks that might amplify ice age cycles. The isotopes in precipitation generally follow the temperature response at higher latitudes, but regional δ18O/air temperature scaling factors differ greatly among the experiments. In low-latitudes, continental surface temperatures decrease congruently with the adjacent SSTs in the cooling experiments. Assuming CLIMAP SSTs, 18O/16O ratios in low-latitude precipitation show no change from modern values. However, the experiments with additional cooling of SSTs produce much lower tropical continental δ18O values, and these low values result primarily from an enhanced recycling of continental moisture (as marine evaporation is reduced). The water isotopes are especially sensitive to continental aridity, suggesting that they represent an effective tracer of the extent of tropical cooling and drying. Only one of the tropical cooling simulations produces generalized low-latitude aridity. These results demonstrate that the geographic pattern of cooling is most critical for promoting much drier continents, and they underscore the need for accurate reconstructions of SST gradients in the ice age ocean.
Growth of CdZnTe crystals by the traveling heater method

Abstract Our review offers an overview of the Traveling Heater Method (THM) for growing crystals of CdZnTe, the most important semiconductor material available today for fabricating nuclear detectors operable at room temperature. The review compares the advantages of the THM technique with respect to melt growth techniques, and details the development and improvements in the technique from its start to the present day. It is known that the optimization of the growth parameters is highly dependent on the height of the Te-rich CZT molten zone, which in turn governs the shape of the growth interface. Special attention is paid to understand the effect of the Te-rich CZT molten zone on the growth interface (both microscopic and macroscopic) to improve the uniformity and overall quality of the grown crystals. We conclude that this technique affords us the best method today for consistently producing large homogenous detectors in mass quantities with a thickness up to 15 mm. Such detectors are need for many national-security and medical-imaging applications.
Algorithm 740: Fortran subroutines to compute improved incomplete Cholesky factorizations

Efficient and reliable code to compute incomplete Cholesky factors of sparse matrices for use as preconditioners in a conjugate gradient algorithm is described. This code implements two recently developed, improved incomplete factorization algorithms. An efficient implementation of the standard incomplete Cholesky factorization is also included.
Generation of nearly isotropic turbulence using two oscillating grids

Isotropic turbulence has unique properties and is impracticable to realize experimentally. Past experiments in this context have been performed by passing a uniform mean flow through a grid, which yields approximately isotropic decaying turbulence. Here an alternative approach of obtaining approximately isotropic stationary turbulence is described, which utilizes two monoplanar grids oscillating in a homogeneous fluid. It was found that the central region between the grids has certain properties similar to that of isotropic turbulence.
Influence of Salts on Virus Adsorption to Microporous Filters

We investigated the direct and indirect effects of mono-, di-, and trivalent salts (NaCl, MgCl(2), and AlCl(3)) on the adsorption of several viruses (MS2, PRD-1, phiX174, and poliovirus 1) to microporous filters at different pH values. The filters studied included Millipore HA (nitrocellulose), Filterite (fiberglass), Whatman (cellulose), and 1MDS (charged-modified fiber) filters. Each of these filters except the Whatman cellulose filters has been used in virus removal and recovery procedures. The direct effects of added salts were considered to be the effects associated with the presence of the soluble salts. The indirect effects of the added salts were considered to be (i) changes in the pH values of solutions and (ii) the formation of insoluble precipitates that could adsorb viruses and be removed by filtration. When direct effects alone were considered, the salts used in this study promoted virus adsorption, interfered with virus adsorption, or had little or no effect on virus adsorption, depending on the filter, the virus, and the salt. Although we were able to confirm previous reports that the addition of aluminum chloride to water enhances virus adsorption to microporous filters, we found that the enhanced adsorption was associated with indirect effects rather than direct effects. The increase in viral adsorption observed when aluminum chloride was added to water was related to the decrease in the pH of the water. Similar results could be obtained by adding HCl. The increased adsorption of viruses in water at pH 7 following addition of aluminum chloride was probably due to flocculation of aluminum, since removal of flocs by filtration greatly reduced the enhancement observed. The only direct effect of aluminum chloride on virus adsorption that we observed was interference with adsorption to microporous filters. Under conditions under which hydrophobic interactions were minimal, aluminum chloride interfered with virus adsorption to Millipore, Filterite, and 1MDS filters. In most cases, less than 10% of the viruses adsorbed to filters in the presence of a multivalent salt and a compound that interfered with hydrophobic interactions (0.1% Tween 80 or 4 M urea).
Phospholipases and the effect of prolactin on uridine incorporation into RNA in mammary gland explants of mice

The possible effects of phospholipase A and phospholipase C on the rate of uridine incorporation into RNA in mammary gland explants of mice were tested. Phospholipase C had no effect on the rate of uridine incorporation, but it did suppress the action of prolactin on this metabolic parameter. In contrast, phospholipase A was found to stimulate the rate of uridine incorporation into RNA in a manner similar to that of prolactin. The time-courses for the onset of the prolactin and phospholipase A effects were the same. Also, the phospholipase A effect was nonadditive to the effect produced by a maximally stimulatory concentration of prolactin. Finally it was observed that, like the prolactin effect, the phospholipase A effect was abolished by incubation with dibutyryl cyclic AMP, theophylline, quinine, indomethacin and prostaglandin E1. Further, the phospholipase A effect was nonadditive to the prolactin-like effects produced by the cyclic GMP, prostaglandin F2alpha or arachidonic acid. These data therefore suggest that prolactin and phospholipase A stimulate RNA synthesis in mammary gland explants via similar processes.
Simplicity, and Stability in There

Firstly, in this paper, we prove that the equivalence of simplicity and the symmetry of forking. Secondly, we attempt to recover definability part of stability theory to simplicity theory. In particular, using elimination of hyperimaginaries we prove that for any supersimple T. canonical base of an amalgamation class is the union of names of ψ-definitions of , ψ ranging over stationary L-formulas in . Also, we prove that the same is true with stable formulas for an 1-based theory having elimination of hyperimaginaries. For such a theory, the stable forking property holds, too.