cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of structural genes in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritic disorders

Osteoarthritis (OA), one of the most common age-related chronic disorders of articular cartilage, joints, and bone tissue, represents a major public health problem. Genetic studies have identified multiple gene variations associated with an increased risk of OA. These findings suggest that there is a large genetic component to OA and that the disorder belongs in the multigenetic, multifactorial class of genetic diseases. Studies of chondrodysplasias and associated hereditary OA have provided a better understanding of the role of structural genes in the maintenance and repair of articular cartilage, in the regulation of chondrocyte proliferation and gene expression, and in the pathogenesis of OA.
A novel ZVS bidirectional Cuk converter with H/sub /spl infin// average-current control

The increase of electrical loads in automobiles over the last several decades has prompted the automobile industry to consider a higher electrical system voltage of 42 V. However, during the short-term transition period, the new 42 V and the old 14 V electrical systems would coexist in automobiles, requiring a bidirectional DC-DC converter to regulate power flow between the two buses. This paper describes the optimization of a novel ZVS-ZCS Cuk converter with zero-ripple in input and output currents and the design of a robust H/sub /spl infin// average-current controller. Computer simulations are used to confirm the design of the converter and the feedback controller. The simulation results are verified by hardware implementation.
The effect of dietary fish oil supplementation on exercising horses

Ten horses of Thoroughbred or Standardbred breeding were used to study the effects of dietary fish oil supplementation on the metabolic response to a high-intensity incremental exercise test. Horses were assigned to either a fish oil (n = 6) or corn oil (n = 4) treatment. The fish oil (Omega Protein, Hammond, LA) contained 10.6% eicosapentaenoic acid and 8% docosahexaenoic acid. Each horse received timothy hay and a textured concentrate at a rate necessary to meet its energy needs. The supplemental oil was top-dressed on the concentrate daily at a rate of 324 mg/kg BW. Horses received their assigned diet for 63 d, during which time they were exercised 5 d/wk in a round pen or on a treadmill. During wk 1, horses exercised for 10 min at a trot. After wk 1, exercise time and intensity were increased so that at wk 5, exercise time in the round pen increased to 30 min (10 min of cantering and 20 min of trotting) per day. Starting at wk 6, horses were exercised 3 d/wk in the round pen for 30 min and 2 d/wk on a treadmill for 20 min. After 63 d, all horses performed an exercise test consisting of a 5-min warm-up at 1.9 m/s, 0% grade, followed by a step test on a 10% grade at incremental speeds of 2 to 8 m/s. Blood samples were taken throughout exercise. During exercise, horses receiving fish oil had a lower heart rate (treatment x time interaction; P < 0.05) and tended to have lower packed cell volume (treatment effect; P = 0.087). Plasma lactate concentrations were not affected by treatment. Plasma glucose concentrations were not different between groups during exercise but were lower (treatment x time interaction; P < 0.01) for the fish oil group during recovery. Serum insulin tended to be lower in fish oil horses throughout exercise (treatment effect; P = 0.064). There was a tendency for glucose:insulin ratios to be higher for fish oil-treated horses throughout exercise (treatment effect; P = 0.065). Plasma FFA were lower (treatment x time interaction; P < 0.01) in horses receiving fish oil than in horses receiving corn oil during the initial stages of the exercise test. Serum glycerol concentrations also were lower in fish oil-treated horses (P < 0.05). Serum cholesterol concentrations were lower in horses receiving fish oil (treatment effect; P < 0.05), but serum triglycerides were not affected by treatment (P = 0.55). These data suggest that addition of fish oil to the diet alters exercise metabolism in conditioned horses.
Evidence for continuous availability of the phosphoribosylglycinamide synthetase structural gene for transcription during the cell cycle of the eucaryote Chlorella.

Abstract In synchronous cells of Chlorella pyrenoidosa (strain 7-11-05), phosphoribosylglycinamide synthetase activity increased in a continuous, linear manner with a change in rate of linear accumulation occurring at the onset of the period of DNA replication during the cell cycle. The increase in enzyme activity was dependent upon protein and RNA synthesis. Phosphoribosylglycinamide synthetase activity remained constant during a 6-hour period in which protein and RNA synthesis were inhibited in separate experiments. These data indicate that the enzyme is stable in vivo under cell cycle conditions. Thus, the linear pattern of accumulation of this stable enzyme (in vivo) and its change in rate of linear accumulation at the onset of DNA replication provide evidence that the structural gene of this enzyme is continuously available for transcription (and is under nearly a constant state of repression) during the cell cycle, and that this gene is early replicating and is transcribed shortly after its replication.
Stock Price Reactions to On-Target Earnings AnnouncementsImplications for Earnings Management

We investigate the consequences of earnings management by analyzing stock price reactions to on-target quarterly earnings announcements (earnings that coincide with analysts' consensus expectations) during 1993-1999. We use techniques advanced in Jones (1991), Kang and Sivaramakrishnan (1995), and Collins and Hribar (2000) to distinguish observations where firms apparently manage earnings in order to meet expectations. We find that mean security returns during the earnings announcement period are 0.18% to 0.91% less for observations where firms apparently increase earnings than for those where firms apparently decrease earnings to meet expectations. These differences are statistically significant at conventional levels. We also find that returns during the earnings disclosure period vary inversely with the extent that firms appear to manage earnings upward. Overall, the evidence suggests that market participants are aware of incentives to manage earnings to meet expectations, and that they discount managed earnings components when interpreting quarterly earnings disclosures. Finally, we point out that the issue of stock splits should be investigated with care when using published consensus analyst forecasts.
Integrating human resources and program-planning strategies

The integration of human resources management (HRM) strategies with long-term program-planning strategies in hospital pharmacy departments is described. HRM is a behaviorally based, comprehensive strategy for the effective management and use of people that seeks to achieve coordination and integration with overall planning strategies and other managerial functions. It encompasses forecasting of staffing requirements; determining work-related factors that are strong "motivators" and thus contribute to employee productivity and job satisfaction; conducting a departmental personnel and skills inventory; employee career planning and development, including training and education programs; strategies for promotion and succession, including routes of advancement that provide alternatives to the managerial route; and recruitment and selection of new personnel to meet changing departmental needs. Increased competitiveness among hospitals and a shortage of pharmacists make it imperative that hospital pharmacy managers create strategies to attract, develop, and retain the right individuals to enable the department--and the hospital as a whole--to grow and change in response to the changing health-care environment in the United States. Pharmacy managers would be greatly aided in this mission by the establishment of a well-defined, national strategic plan for pharmacy programs and services that includes an analysis of what education and training are necessary for their successful accomplishment. Creation of links between overall program objectives and people-planning strategies will aid hospital pharmacy departments in maximizing the long-term effectiveness of their practice.
Applications of ROC Analysis in Medical Research: Recent Developments and Future Directions

With the growing focus on comparative effectiveness research and personalized medicine, receiver-operating characteristic analysis can continue to play an important role in health care decision making. Specific applications of receiver-operating characteristic analysis include predictive model assessment and validation, biomarker diagnostics, responder analysis in patient-reported outcomes, and comparison of alternative treatment options. The authors present a survey of the potential applications of the method and briefly review several relevant extensions. Given the level of attention paid to biomarker validation, personalized medicine and comparative effectiveness research, it is highly likely that the receiver-operating characteristic analysis will remain an important visual and analytic tool for medical research and evidence-based medicine in the foreseeable future.
Is Intracranial Atherosclerosis an Independent Risk Factor for Cerebral Atrophy? A Retrospective Evaluation

Our purpose was to study the association between the intracranial atherosclerosis as measured by cavernous carotid artery calcification (ICAC) observed on head CT and atrophic changes of supra-tentorial brain demonstrated by MRI. Institutional review board approval was obtained for this retrospective study incorporating 65 consecutive patients presenting acutely who had both head CT and MRI. Arterial calcifications of the intracranial cavernous carotids (ICAC) were assigned a number (1 to 4) in the bone window images from CT scans. These 4 groups were then combined into high (grades 3 and 4) and low calcium (grades 1 and 2) subgroups. Brain MRI was independently evaluated to identify cortical and central atrophy. Demographics and cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated in subjects with high and low ICAC. Relationship between CT demonstrated ICAC and brain atrophy patterns were evaluated both without and with adjustment for cerebral ischemic scores and cardiovascular risk factors. Forty-six of the 65 (71%) patients had high ICAC on head CT. Subjects with high ICAC were older, and had higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation and history of previous stroke (CVA) compared to those with low ICAC. Age demonstrated strong correlation with both supratentorial atrophy patterns. There was no correlation between ICAC and cortical atrophy. There was correlation however between central atrophy and ICAC. This persisted even after adjustment for age. Age is the most important determinant of atrophic cerebral changes. However, high ICAC demonstrated age independent association with central atrophy.
Clinical training technology for vascular interventional surgery robot system based on master-slave expansion

To promote the popularization of the intravascular intervention surgical robot system, a new training technology based on real surgery was proposed. Thanks to the master-slave mode, much more than one trainee can be trained on line by expanding devices for feeding back force. An authority matrix was established to manage all trainees' control upon the movement of a catheter, which enhanced their active participation in a real vascular interventional procedure, taking account of the safety. All lead to an effect that the catheter is grasped by multi surgeons at the same time, and because of the completely real operation environment, the quality and efficiency of the training are dramatically improved by sharing the same images, forces and experience among trainees.
The production of coronary vasoconstrictor substances by freshly harvested endothelial cells

Abstract The effects of cell free superfusates from freshly harvested bovine endothelial cells attached to microcarrier beads on the isolated rabbit and rat heart and on superfused rabbit jugular veins were observed. Cell free conditioned filtrates from freshly harvested cells caused marked diminution in coronary flow and cardiac output in the isolated rabbit heart; in the perfused rat heart an increase in coronary perfusion pressure and a decline in left ventricular systolic tension and maximal left ventricular contractility (dPdt) were recorded. Marked differences were found between changes induced by conditioned filtrate as compared to synthetic endothelin. Endothelin as present in conditioned filtrate could not account for the pronounced effect on coronary perfusion pressure, dpdt and cardiac output induced by conditioned filtrate; more than one hundred times that of synthetic endothelin was needed to achieve comparable cardiodynamic effects. This suggested that additional non-prostanoid vasoconstrictor substance or substances are produced by freshly harvested endothelial cells. This conclusion was supported by the observation that BQ-123, a specific inhibitor of endothelin A (ET A ) receptor significantly prevented contractions by endothelin, while failing to inhibit those induced by freshly harvested endothelial cells. These constrictor substances may be leukotrienes.
SEMIPARAMETRIC EFFICIENCY BOUND IN TIME-SERIES MODELS FOR CONDITIONAL QUANTILES

We derive the semiparametric efficiency bound in dynamic models of conditional quantiles under a sole strong mixing assumption. We also provide an expression of Stein’s (1956) least favorable parametric submodel. Our approach is as follows: First, we construct a fully parametric submodel of the semiparametric model defined by the conditional quantile restriction that contains the data generating process. We then compare the asymptotic covariance matrix of the MLE obtained in this submodel with those of the M-estimators for the conditional quantile parameter that are consistent and asymptotically normal. Finally, we show that the minimum asymptotic covariance matrix of this class of M-estimators equals the asymptotic covariance matrix of the parametric submodel MLE. Thus, (i) this parametric submodel is a least favorable one, and (ii) the expression of the semiparametric efficiency bound for the conditional quantile parameter follows.
Science, legislation and hen welfare

IN THE past two decades there have been major changes in how farm animals are housed and managed. This is partly due to increased public awareness and interest in farm animal welfare and legislative changes. The most notable change in farm animal welfare legislation has been regarding housing for laying hens. In 1999, the EU banned the use of conventional battery cages by 2012 (Directive 1999/74/EC), resulting in a shift to alternative housing systems, such as furnished (enriched) cages, and loose-housing systems (eg, aviaries and free-range systems). Directive 1999/74/EC has been publicised as the ‘most important single piece of legislation to affect poultry keeping’ (Frolich and others 2012), having both economical and political effects (Pritchard 2012). Similar legislative changes are slowly occurring in other countries as well. For example, conventional battery cages will be phased out in some states in the USA within the next few years (eg, Proposition 2 of 2008 in California and Public Act 117 of 2009 in Michigan). Alternative systems provide more behavioural opportunities, such as dust bathing, nesting and perching, leading to improved welfare if considered from the view that hens have more behavioural freedom. However, injurious pecking remains a major welfare problem in loose-housing systems, more so than in …
Evaluation of valganciclovir pharmacokinetics in lung transplant recipients

Background Valganciclovir is commonly used for cytomegalovirus prevention after lung transplantation. The pharmacokinetic profile of valganciclovir in lung transplant patients has not been well described or linked to efficacy and safety. Methods This prospective, randomized, crossover study determined the steady-state pharmacokinetic profile of 2 different doses of valganciclovir in lung transplant recipients and compared these profiles with intravenous ganciclovir. Results Ten patients were evaluated. Patients were 56.8 ± 3.4 years old and had a mean creatinine clearance of 69 ± 9 ml/min. Oral bioavailability of ganciclovir after administration of valganciclovir was 59%, and mean half-life was 3.73 ± 1.15 hours. The maximal concentration after intravenous 5 mg/kg ganciclovir was significantly higher than after 450 mg valganciclovir (8.37 ± 3.03 mg/liter vs. 5.3 ± 2.09 mg/liter, respectively; p = 0.02) and similar to 900 mg valganciclovir (7.93 ± 3.97 mg/liter; p = 0.78). A higher area under the curve at 0–24 hours (AUC 0–24 ) was found with 900 mg valganciclovir compared with intravenous 5 mg/kg/day ganciclovir (47.8 ± 19.7 vs 32.9 ± 10.8 mg · hour/liter, respectively; p = 0.049). The AUC 0–24 for 450 mg valganciclovir twice daily was 45.5 ± 22.9 mg · hour/liter. Conclusion Valganciclovir at 900 mg/day resulted in the equivalent of a mean daily dose of 7.7 mg/kg intravenous ganciclovir. Higher systemic ganciclovir exposures occurred after 900 mg/day valganciclovir compared with intravenous 5 mg/kg/day ganciclovir. Valganciclovir therapeutic drug monitoring may be warranted in select lung transplant patients to avoid increased toxicity.
The need for a new design for evaluating alcoholism treatment programs.

Abstract Evaluations that compare the effectiveness of one type of treatment for alcoholics against that of another may be overlooking powerful interactions. The present article presents a logical argument that a classification of alcoholics would be useful for sorting out alcoholic type/treatment interactions, reviews empirical literature that demonstrates interactions, and discusses a new design for evaluating type-specific treatment for alcoholics. While the content discussed applies to alcoholics, the same kind of reasoning may apply to evaluations in other substantive areas.
Formal concept analysis for identifying mobile subscribers: a case study in a governmental transition project

Traditionally, governmental organizations have provided many supporting services internally. For example, incoming call switching and phone exchange services were often organized as organization-specific team of few people handling the requests. Outsourcing of similar services is a trend in many organizations. In order to minimize service disruption in an outsourcing project, a major problem is to discover the knowledge of current operations. In this paper we describe how we used formal concept analysis to extract classes of mobile subscriptions in the context of a transition project where we changed the provider of our mobile services and outsourced the incoming call switching services from in-house service to a new operator.
Construction engineering robot kit: Warfighter experiment

The Construction Equipment Robot Kit (CERK) Warfighter Experiment was conducted March 17-28, 2008 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to assess if robotic construction equipment systems are an operationally effective and suitable means to support hasty route clearance and route remediation operations. This paper will present the findings of the Soldier testing of two different common-off-the-self (COTS) robotic kits installed on two different pieces of field construction equipment through a variety of operational vignettes. These vignettes were preformed during both day and night operations, with and without all weather gear on by Soldiers that are experienced operators of construction equipment. This paper will go into detailed analysis of the communications systems used between the robots and their operator control units (OCU) and the need to improve communications of both robotic kits. The results will show that these operations are possible to accomplish while removing the Soldier from harms way.
Red blood cell AMP-deaminase: levels of activity in hemolysates from twenty different vertebrate species.

Abstract 1. 1. The levels of adenylate deaminase activity have been measured in the erythrocyte hemolysates and hemolysate supernatants from twenty different vertebrate species. 2. 2. The chicken erythrocyte hemolysates proved to have the highest level of AMP-deaminase activity, with birds in general showing more enzyme activity than the other nucleated red cell types and the non-nucleated red blood cell hemolysates showed low levels of the enzyme activity. 3. 3. A developmental difference in red blood cell adenylate deaminase activity was discovered between 1-day old and adult ducks and was confirmed between 1-day old and adult chickens.
Measuring the economic impact of institutions of higher education

Frequently institutions of higher education commission formal studies to measure their short-term economic impact on the surrounding regions. The purpose of this paper is to identify and discuss several of the methodological considerations which arise in the design and use of economic impact studies, as well as to present new evidence regarding the effectiveness of alternative survey methods for collecting the personal expenditure data frequently used in such studies. The survey results suggest that mail surveys may yield more accurate responses regarding important personal financial information than more costly telephone interviews. This paper also offers some guidance in the design of economic impact studies and points out some of the increasing pressures to integrate studies of short-term economic impacts with analysis of higher education's impact on long-term regional economic development.
Chiral non-racemic C60 derivatives: A proposed sector rule for fullerene absolute configuration

Abstract A number of higher fullerenes as well as carbon nanotubes have been predicted to be chiral. Our lab has recently reported the resolution and CD spectra of several enantiomeric C 60 derivatives. It appears that chromatographic resolutions using Whelk-O columns are rather general. Using optically active enones and dienes, non-racemic C 60 adducts can also be formed. Recently we have discovered that fullerene CD spectra appear to arise from a UV band diagnostic for reaction at the CC bond between two six membered rings, the most common site for mono-addition. A Cotton effect is observed in the CD associated with this chromophore and allows proposal of a sector rule for fullerene chirality. Preparation of chiral (non-racemic) fullerene adducts of known absolute configuration allows assignment of the sign to each of the sectors. These CD bands are due to asymmetric perturbation of an intrinsically symmetric chromophore and provide a new tool for a priori determination of absolute configuration.
Unimolecular rectification of monolayers of CH3C(O)S–C14H28Q+–3CNQ− and CH3C(O)S–C16H32Q+–3CNQ− organized by self-assembly, Langmuir–Blodgett, and Langmuir–Schaefer techniques

The advantage of “self-assembly” (strong covalent binding to substrates) was combined with the advantage of Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) or Langmuir–Schaefer (LS) transfer to a solid substrate (quantitative transfer of monolayers to the substrate). The electrical rectification (asymmetric conduction) by a monolayer of thioacetylalkylquinolinium tricyanoquinodimethanide was critically compared when these molecules had been transferred, by such competing techniques, onto gold electrodes, and then covered by a “cold gold” pad electrode. Unimolecular rectification was observed in the expected directions in the LB and LS monolayers. The Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs) were disordered; macroscopic measurements of rectification were unsuccessful for the SAMs, but successful for the down-stroke LB and LS monolayers, whose orientation and potential bonding to the Au surface should be identical to that of an ideal SAM.
Value-Added Processing of Peanut Skins: Antioxidant Capacity, Total Phenolics, and Procyanidin Content of Spray-Dried Extracts

To explore a potential use for peanut skins as a functional food ingredient, milled skins were extracted with 70% ethanol and filtered to remove insoluble material; the soluble extract was spray-dried with or without the addition of maltodextrin. Peanut skin extracts had high levels of procyanidin oligomers (DP2-DP4) but low levels of monomeric flavan-3-ols and polymers. The addition of maltodextrin during spray-drying resulted in the formation of unknown polymeric compounds. Spray-drying also increased the proportion of flavan-3-ols and DP2 procyanidins in the extracts while decreasing larger procyanidins. Spray-dried powders had higher antioxidant capacity and total phenolics and increased solubility compared to milled skins. These data suggest that spray-dried peanut skin extracts may be a good source of natural antioxidants. Additionally, the insoluble material produced during the process may have increased value for use in animal feed due to enrichment of protein and removal of phenolic compounds during extraction.
Robustness of Attack-Resilient State Estimators

The interaction between information technology and physical world makes Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) vulnerable to malicious attacks beyond the standard cyber attacks. This has motivated the need for attack-resilient state estimation. Yet, the existing state-estimators are based on the non-realistic assumption that the exact system model is known. Consequently, in this work we present a method for state estimation in presence of attacks, for systems with noise and modeling errors. When the the estimated states are used by a state-based feedback controller, we show that the attacker cannot destabilize the system by exploiting the difference between the model used for the state estimation and the real physical dynamics of the system. Furthermore, we describe how implementation issues such as jitter, latency and synchronization errors can be mapped into parameters of the state estimation procedure that describe modeling errors, and provide a bound on the state-estimation error caused by modeling errors. This enables mapping control performance requirements into real-time (i.e., timing related) specifications imposed on the underlying platform. Finally, we illustrate and experimentally evaluate this approach on an unmanned ground vehicle case-study.
Fokker–Planck modeling of electron transport in laser-produced plasmas

Fokker-Planck (FP) codes have become useful tools for modeling nonlocal heat-transport phenomena in laser-produced plasmas. Several possible simplifications to the FP equation as well as different numerical techniques available for its solution are investigated. The most robust and efficient approach is found to involve the diffusive approximation of the FP equation and the alternating-direction-implicit method of solution. The SPARK FP code, which has been developed along these principles, is described in detail. It incorporates fluid ions and solves for transport on either a two-dimensional Eulerian grid or a one-dimensional Lagrangian grid. Sample simulation results are presented, together with a discussion of possible improvements to the code.
Efficient Inhibition of Class A and Class D β-Lactamases by Michaelis Complexes

Abstract A 6-alkylidiene penam sulfone, SA-1-204, is an efficient inhibitor of both SHV-1 and OXA-1 β-lactamases with KI = 42 ± 4nm and 1.0 ± 0.1 μm, respectively. To gain insight into the reaction chemistry of SA-1-204, the reactions between this inhibitor and SHV-1 and OXA-1 were studied by Raman spectroscopy in single crystals and in solution. Raman signatures characteristic of the unreacted β-lactam ring show that in both phases the inhibitor binds as a noncovalent Michaelis-like complex. This complex is present as the major population for periods of up to an hour. On longer time scales, the Raman data show that β-lactam ring opening eventually leads to a complex mixture of reaction products. However, the data clearly demonstrate that the key species for inhibition on the time scale of bacterial half-lives is the noncovalent complex preceding acylation.
Intangible assets and the network structure of MNCs

This paper examines the nature of the relationship between corporate intangible assets and the multinational network structure of the firm. Specifically, the question addressed in this paper is whether the nature of corporate intangible assets determines the mode of geographic expansion of the MNC. The interactive effects between the level and type of corporate intangibles and the foreign expansion path of MNCs are also examined. Based on the analysis of 362 MNCs, representing 88 three-digit SIC industries, the results of this study show that R&D-intensive MNCs maintain substantially more geographically diversified and less geographically focused operating networks than advertising-intensive MNCs. Furthermore, R&D-intensive MNCs' foreign investments create more value through geographic diversification, while non-R&D-intensive MNCs benefit the most by increasing the geographic focus of their foreign investment activities. We also document that MNCs without significant levels of technology know-how and marketing based intangible assets can benefit the most from geographic-focused rather than geographic-diversified foreign business operations.
The Role of Innovative Nanomechanical Test Techniques in Designing More Durable, Adaptive and Multifunctional Coatings

Abstract For applications involving high temperature contact the mechanical properties at the operating temperature are more relevant than those measured at room temperature. High temperature nanoindentation and nano-impact data are reviewed for a wide range of nitride-based hard coatings on cemented carbide and design rules suggested for coating optimisation for different machining applications.
Structure of vitreous AgGeSe

Pulsed neutron diffraction has been used to study the short- and intermediate-range order of vitreous g-Ag 4 Ge 3 Se 9 . By utilizing the techniques of isotopic substitution and temperature variation, it has been possible to estimate four of the six partial pair-distribution functions for the first coordination shells. Measurements at T = 10 K extending out to wavevectors Q ≈ 34 A −1 provide accurate results for the bond lengths and coordination numbers. Comparison is also made with results derived from a variant of the maximum entropy method. Ge is fourfold-coordinated by Se at an average interatomic distance of 2.37 ± 0.005 A which is consistent with the GeSe 4/2 tetrahedron also being a structural unit in the Ag-doped Ge Se glass. Ag is predominantly bonded to Se at an average distance of 2.68±0.01 A and is threefold-coordinated. This low coordination might be a key factor in understanding the fast ion motion in this system. The temperature dependence of the structure factor, S ( Q ), and the radial distribution functions were investigated. The Ge Se and Se Se correlations solely reflect increased thermal vibrations of the atoms, whereas the Ag correlations behave quite differently with increasing temperature up to 170°C. The Ag correlations change rapidly and become liquid-like at elevated temperatures reflecting the diffusive motion of Ag. The first sharp diffraction peak at 1.04 A −1 in S ( Q ) exhibits the anomalous temperature dependence typical of chalcogenide glasses in that the peak becomes narrower and increases in amplitude with increasing temperature (∼ 2% from room temperature to 170°C).
DNA mimicry by a high-affinity anti-NF-κB RNA aptamer

The binding of RNA molecules to proteins or other ligands can require extensive RNA folding to create an induced fit. Understanding the generality of this principle involves comparing structures of RNA before and after complex formation. Here we report the NMR solution structure of a 29-nt RNA aptamer whose crystal structure had previously been determined in complex with its transcription factor target, the p502 form of NF-κB. The RNA aptamer internal loop structure has pre-organized features that are also found in the complex, including non-canonical base pairing and cross-strand base stacking. Remarkably, the free RNA aptamer structure possesses a major groove that more closely resembles B-form DNA than RNA. Upon protein binding, changes in RNA structure include the kinking of the internal loop and distortion of the terminal tetraloop. Thus, complex formation involves both pre-formed and induced fit binding interactions. The high affinity of the NF-κB transcription factor for this RNA aptamer may largely be due to the structural pre-organization of the RNA that results in its ability to mimic DNA.
Evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function using an ambulatory radionuclide monitor: Relationship to left ventricular systolic performance

Abnormalities of left ventricular (LV) filling may occur prior to systolic dysfunction in patients with both coronary and noncoronary heart disease. To determine the incidence of diastolic dysfunction and to assess the relationship of such dysfunction to systolic performance, we measured systolic and diastolic function at rest in a series of healthy volunteers (n = 10) and in patients with cardiovascular disease (n = 42). Twenty patients had coronary artery disease (CAD) with prior myocardial infarction, six patients had CAD without myocardial infarction, and the remaining 16 patients had a variety of noncoronary heart diseases, including valvular heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, and hypertensive disease. The 42 patients manifested a wide variation in LV systolic function (ejection fractions ranged from 6% to 65%). Patients with reduced LV ejection fraction (EF) manifested a reduction in cardiac output and peak ejection rate proportionate to the reduction in EF. Diastolic function showed a fall in LV peak (PFR) and average (AFR) filling rates; these were reduced in proportion to the fall in EF. Heart rate was an insensitive index of the magnitude of impairment of LV systolic function. These data suggest that measurements of diastolic function do not provide additional information in patients with impaired systolic function.
Potentiometric titration of cyanide and chloride, using the silver specific-ion electrode as an indicator

Conditions are given for consecutive potentiometric titration of cyanide and chloride in mmole amounts, a silver-specific electrode being used as indicator electrode.
Sonographic Assessment of the Neonatal Spine and the Potential for New Technologies to Aid in Diagnoses

Many spinal disorders, whether congenital or acquired, are likely to have an improved outcome if they are promptly identified. A rapid diagnosis may eliminate progressive sequela and provide insight to possible treatment plans. Although there are various medical imaging modalities for evaluating the neonatal spine, diagnostic medical sonography provides a safe (no exposure to ionizing radiation), quick, and inexpensive approach. Spinal diagnostic medical sonography can be performed in neonates as long as the vertebral column is not completely ossified. Diagnostic medical sonography is a valuable technique that, in addition to 2D imaging, provides 3D, extended field of view (EFOV), and M-mode imaging. Diagnostic medical sonography can identify normal spinal anatomy and variants, congenital malformations, and acquired diseases subsequent to birth-related trauma and lumbar punctures. This article discusses the normal embryology of the spine. Indications for neonatal spinal diagnostic medical sonography are r...
Characteristics of supine myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) which predict normalization on prone imaging could simplify acquisition and aid image interpretation

Abstract Background: Imaging in the prone position is known to differentiate true perfusion defects from abnormalities created by artifacts seen on supine MPS images. If normalization on prone imaging could be predicted, additional prone images could be avoided while maintaining diagnostic accuracy. Methods: Two blinded observers identified 236 coronary vascular areas in 176 patients, 124 men and 52 women, with abnormal or possibly abnormal supine MPS who had prone images after stress performed at UCSF between 9 and 11/03. Nineteen image features based on gender, defect location, intensity, variation at rest MPS (when acquired), evidence of attenuation or motion, cavitary dilation, lung uptake, background activity, counts density and wall motion (WM) were related by multiple logistic regression (LR) and a C4.5 decision tree (DT) analyses to the likelihood of defect normalization on prone imaging. The overall population was divided into test and validation groups. Coronary angiograms within 2 years of MPS were available in 48 patients. Results: Prone images agreed with angiographic findings in 41 of 48 (86%) patients. LR predicted prone image findings in all cases but required input from all 19 factors. In both men and women 10 fold stratified cross validation predicted prone image normalization (p Conclusion: A few critical findings on supine MPS predict the findings on prone images. These findings aid image interpretation and reduce the need for added prone images.
Capsid-DNA complexes in the DNA packaging pathway of bacteriophage T7: Characterization of the capsids bound to monomeric and concatemeric DNA

Abstract Complexes of capsids with monomeric bacteriophage T7 DNA and complexes of capsids with concatemeric bacteriophage T7 DNA have been isolated from lysates of T7-infected Escherichia coli and the capsids of these complexes have been characterized. In electron micrographs capsids bound to either monomeric DNA or concatemeric DNA have envelopes which are: (1) significantly less thick than the envelope of a DNA-free capsid (capsid I) isolated from T7-infected E. coli , (2) indistinguishable from the envelope of bacteriophage T7 and the envelope of a second DNA-free capsid (capsid II) isolated from T7-infected E. coli . By agarose gel electrophoresis (under nondenaturing conditions) and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the capsids released from the above capsid-DNA complexes are similar to capsid II and different from capsid I. The physical characteristics and radiolabeling kinetics of these capsid-DNA complexes suggest that they are DNA packaging intermediates; the results suggest a pathway for the packaging of DNA by bacteriophage T7.
Genome of Methylobacillus flagellatus, Molecular Basis for Obligate Methylotrophy, and Polyphyletic Origin of Methylotrophy

Along with methane, methanol and methylated amines represent important biogenic atmospheric constituents; thus, not only methanotrophs but also nonmethanotrophic methylotrophs play a significant role in global carbon cycling. The complete genome of a model obligate methanol and methylamine utilizer, Methylobacillus flagellatus (strain KT) was sequenced. The genome is represented by a single circular chromosome of approximately 3 Mbp, potentially encoding a total of 2,766 proteins. Based on genome analysis as well as the results from previous genetic and mutational analyses, methylotrophy is enabled by methanol and methylamine dehydrogenases and their specific electron transport chain components, the tetrahydromethanopterin-linked formaldehyde oxidation pathway and the assimilatory and dissimilatory ribulose monophosphate cycles, and by a formate dehydrogenase. Some of the methylotrophy genes are present in more than one (identical or nonidentical) copy. The obligate dependence on single-carbon compounds appears to be due to the incomplete tricarboxylic acid cycle, as no genes potentially encoding alpha-ketoglutarate, malate, or succinate dehydrogenases are identifiable. The genome of M. flagellatus was compared in terms of methylotrophy functions to the previously sequenced genomes of three methylotrophs, Methylobacterium extorquens (an alphaproteobacterium, 7 Mbp), Methylibium petroleiphilum (a betaproteobacterium, 4 Mbp), and Methylococcus capsulatus (a gammaproteobacterium, 3.3 Mbp). Strikingly, metabolically and/or phylogenetically, the methylotrophy functions in M. flagellatus were more similar to those in M. capsulatus and M. extorquens than to the ones in the more closely related M. petroleiphilum species, providing the first genomic evidence for the polyphyletic origin of methylotrophy in Betaproteobacteria.
When the Lights Go Out: Getting Power Systems Running Again [Guest Editorial]

The articles in this special section focus on new technologies and applications to restore power systems.
Square-runway avoidance behavior and septal lesions in the rat.

Abstract The acquisition of a square-runway avoidance response was studied in rats with septal lesions The lesioned rats acquired the square-runway avoidance response significantly faster than the control rats. In a second experiment lesioned and control rats were compared on the acquisition of a regular one-way avoidance response in the same apparatus. This change in procedure facilitated the avoidance responding of the control rats and inhibited avoidance acquisition by the rats with septal lesions.
Flavor Characteristics of Nonculture Sour Cream

Abstract Five series of trials involving flavor observations on 151 experimental batches of sour cream were conducted to investigate the commercial feasibility of producing sour cream without bacterial cultures. Acidulants used were lactic acid or d -glucono-delta-lactone. Flavor materials were obtained from 17 sources, and produced sour creams with flavors of widely varying acceptability. Sour creams made by the direct acid method possessed no greater keeping quality, nor were they more uniform in flavor quality, than those employing cultures. It is believed, however, that with proper selection of acidulant, flavor material, and processing method, sour cream with satisfactory consumer acceptance can be produced without a culture.
Blockade of adenosine receptors with aminophylline limits ischemic preconditioning in human beings.

Abstract Background Ischemic preconditioning is characterized by the limitation of infarct size or ischemic signs after one or more brief episodes of ischemia, a process that probably involves stimulation of adenosine receptors. One human model of ischemic preconditioning is repetitive occlusion of a coronary artery during angioplasty. By using this method of inducing ischemia, we tested the hypothesis that blockade of adenosine receptors with aminophylline would abolish ischemic preconditioning in human beings. Methods Twenty-six patients undergoing angioplasty were randomly assigned to receive either aminophylline (6 mg/kg IV) or placebo before repetitive coronary occlusion (two 2-minute occlusions separated by 5 minutes). ST-segment changes on the surface electrocardiogram were used as a measure of myocardial ischemia. Serum theophylline levels and the conduction response to an intravenous bolus of adenosine were used to assess the efficacy of adenosine receptor blockade. Results Repetitive coronary occlusion resulted in a reduction in ST-segment shift in 9 of 13 patients given placebo. In contrast, 9 of 13 patients receiving aminophylline had an increase in ST-segment shift on the second occlusion ( P =.002). Patients receiving aminophylline (mean serum theophylline level of 8.38 ± 0.45 mg/dL) did not have significant conduction block with intravenous adenosine. Conclusions Repetitive coronary occlusion reduces the signs of ischemia in human beings, a process limited by blockade of adenosine receptors. (Am Heart J 2001;142:e4.)
Determination of the sign of the electric field gradient in indium by nuclear resonance

We have studied the temperature dependence of two of the four magnetic-field perturbed NQR lines in indium. Our results indicate that the sign of the internal electric field gradient (EFG) is positive, in accord with the recent heat capacity measurements of the ISSP group and one recent theoretical prediction. We also discuss the implications of the sign of the EFG on the use of indium as an absolute thermometer below 1 mK.
Modeling of the I–V characteristics of single and double barrier tunneling diodes using A k · p band model

Abstract We model the I–V characteristics of single and double barrier tunneling diodes using the complex band structure of the tunneling barrier obtained from a k · p band model. Band-bending is calculated by solving two coupled 1-D Poisson's equations with a classical potential in the accumulation region. The transfer matrix method is used for the calculation of the transmission probability of the tunneling electron whose complex k -vector is obtained from the band structure. An energy dependent density of states effective mass which is also calculated from the band structure is used. I–V characteristics for In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As/In 0.52 Al 0.48 As/In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As single and double barrier tunneling diodes obtained from this model agree quantitatively with experiment.
Crystal structure of a phosphatase with a unique substrate binding domain from Thermotoga maritima

We have determined the crystal structure of a phosphatase with a unique substrate binding domain from Thermotoga maritima, TM0651 (gi 4981173), at 2.2 A resolution by selenomethionine single-wavelength anomalous diffraction (SAD) techniques. TM0651 is a member of the haloacid dehalogenase (HAD) superfamily, with sequence homology to trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase and sucrose-6F-phosphate phosphohydrolase. Selenomethionine labeled TM0651 crystallized in space group C2 with three monomers per asymmetric unit. Each monomer has approximate dimensions of 65 × 40 × 35 A3, and contains two domains: a domain of known hydrolase fold characteristic of the HAD family, and a domain with a new tertiary fold consisting of a six-stranded β-sheet surrounded by four α-helices. There is one disulfide bond between residues Cys35 and Cys265 in each monomer. One magnesium ion and one sulfate ion are bound in the active site. The superposition of active site residues with other HAD family members indicates that TM0651 is very likely a phosphatase that acts through the formation of a phosphoaspartate intermediate, which is supported by both NMR titration data and a biochemical assay. Structural and functional database searches and the presence of many aromatic residues in the interface of the two domains suggest the substrate of TM0651 is a carbohydrate molecule. From the crystal structure and NMR data, the protein likely undergoes a conformational change upon substrate binding.
A Strategy for the Biological Assessment of Addiction

Substances and drugs with powerful psychotropic effects have come into common use during the past decade. Involvement with these substances can range from benign to tragic experiences. Such use may include: experimental, social or recreational use, long-term habituation, toxic reactions, medical-psychologic complications, overdose, and death. Although clinicians tend to analyze and explain many patterns of drug use in terms of varius psychodynamic, sociologic and behavioral theories, all of these perspectives begin with the biological and pharmacological effects produced by the various drugs. During the assessment process, the clinician can avoid much confusion by learning to differentiate between the direct pharmacological effects and the diverse psychological and behavioral effects of the drug(s) or substance(s) in question. In order to make these distinctions, a foundation in the "biological basics" is essential. This paper presents a strategy for learning the direct tropic effects produced by various ...