cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation for Kienböck Disease Familial Clustering: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Purpose Kienbock disease (KD) is rare and its etiology remains unknown. As a result, the ideal treatment is also in question. Our primary purpose was to test the hypothesis that KD would demonstrate familial clustering in a large statewide population with comprehensive genealogical records, possibly suggesting a genetic etiologic contribution. Our secondary purpose was to evaluate for associations between KD and known risk factors for avascular necrosis . Methods Patients diagnosed with KD were identified by searching medical records from a comprehensive statewide database, the Utah Population Database. This database contains pedigrees dating back to the early 1800s, which are linked to 31 million medical records for 11 million patients from 1996 to the present. Affected individuals were then mapped to pedigrees to identify high-risk families with an increased incidence of KD relative to control pedigrees. The magnitude of familial risk of KD in related individuals was calculated using Cox regression models. Association of risk factors related to KD was analyzed using conditional logistic regression . Results We identified 394 affected individuals linked to 194 unrelated high-risk pedigrees with increased incidence of KD. The relative risk of developing KD was significantly elevated in first-degree relatives. There was a significant correlation between alcohol, glucocorticoid , and tobacco use and a history of diabetes, and the diagnosis of KD. Conclusions Familial clustering of KD observed in the Utah Population Database cohort indicates a potential genetic contribution to the etiology of the disease. Identification of causal gene variants in these high-risk families may provide insight into the genes and pathways that contribute to the onset and progression of KD. Clinical relevance This study suggests that there is a potential genetic contribution to the etiology of KD and that the disease has a significant association with several risk factors.
Placental Mitochondria Therapy for Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Mice

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is an urgent need to develop adjunct therapies that can be added onto reperfusion for acute ischemic stroke. Recently, mitochondrial transplantation has emerged as a p...
Until it's a regulation it's not my fight: complexities of a voluntary nonlead hunting ammunition program.

Abstract Wildlife and human health are at risk of lead exposure from spent hunting ammunition. Lead exposure persists for bald eagles due to bullet fragments in game animal gut piles and unretrieved carcasses, and is also a human health risk when wild game is procured using lead ammunition. Programs encouraging the voluntary use of nonlead ammunition have become a popular approach mitigating these effects. This study explored attitudes and experiences of United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff implementing an outreach program encouraging deer hunters to voluntary use nonlead ammunition on 54 National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in the Upper Midwest, U.S. to understand factors affecting program implementation. We conducted 29 semi-structured interviews of USFWS staff along with 60 responses from an open-ended survey question. Twelve themes emerged from the data and were grouped into three broad categories: (1) challenges of dealing with complex issues, (2) importance of messengers and messages, and (3) resistance from staff. Challenges of dealing with complex issues included administrative restraint and uncertainty, scope and scale of program, human health not an agency responsibility, contextual political influences, and public-private collaborations. Importance of messengers and messages included the importance of experience, and salience of human health risk. Finally, resistance from staff included skepticism of the science and motives behind the program, competing priorities for refuge staff, differing perceptions of regulatory and voluntary approaches, cost and availability of nonlead ammunition, and disregard by some about lead ammunition and human health risks. Staff identified numerous challenges implementing the program, many of which were external factors beyond the control of the participants. Understanding the factors affecting program implementation may help guide future efforts encouraging the voluntary use of nonlead ammunition.
Facing Down Fear: John Chrysostom’s Answer to Violence

St. John Chrysostom was a priest in Antioch and later bishop of the capital city of Constantinople. He lived in the late fourth century in the midst of violence in that world. As fear loomed across the region of the government’s retribution against the people’s revolt, John tried calming his congregation through a series of twenty-one sermons addressing the tension between Antioch and the Imperial authorities. In these sermons, John detailed the valuable role the Church played as intercessor with the state on behalf of the city’s inhabitants.
Social Support and Aggressive Communication on Social Network Sites during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, use of social networking sites (SNSs) surged in many countries, including the United States. This content analysis of a convenience sample of English language conversations examined how users sought and provided social support on three Western-dominated SNSs, Reddit (N = 100), YouTube (N = 100), and Facebook (N = 100), during the week following the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic. In addition to analyzing social support, this study examined aggressive communication, which often leads to undesirable mental health outcomes, on Reddit, YouTube, and Facebook during this period. According to the Social Identity Model of Individuation Effects (SIDE), anonymous environments which codify civil communication norms are more likely to yield prosocial behavior. Results indicate that Reddit, YouTube, and Facebook varied significantly in supportive and aggressive communication prevalence. Reddit users more frequently provided social support than did YouTube and Facebook users. Additionally, Reddit users engaged in aggressive communication significantly less than both YouTube and Facebook users. These findings support predictions from the SIDE model, as Reddit both offers users greater anonymity than YouTube and Facebook and codifies supportive, civil communication norms in a rules system called, "Reddiquette."
SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 infection of Syrian hamster does not cause more severe disease and is protected by naturally acquired immunity

Epidemiological studies have revealed the emergence of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC), including the lineage B.1.1.7 that is rapidly replacing old variants. The B.1.1.7 variant has been linked to increased morbidity rates, transmissibility, and potentially mortality (1). To assess viral fitness in vivo and to address whether the B.1.1.7 variant is capable of immune escape, we conducted infection and re-infection studies in naive and convalescent Syrian hamsters (>10 months old). Hamsters infected by either a B.1.1.7 variant or a B.1 (G614) variant exhibited comparable viral loads and pathology. Convalescent hamsters that were previously infected by the original D614 variant were protected from disease following B.1.1.7 challenge with no observable clinical signs or lung pathology. Altogether, our study did not find that the B.1.1.7 variant significantly differs from the B.1 variant in pathogenicity in hamsters and that natural infection-induced immunity confers protection against a secondary challenge by the B1.1.7 variant.
Recurring Translocations in Barrett's Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a pre-malignant metaplasia in patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). BE can progress to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) with less than 15% 5yr survival. Chromosomal aneuploidy, deletions and duplication are early events in BE progression to EAC, but reliable diagnostic assays to detect chromosomal markers in premalignant stages of EA arising from BE are lacking. Previously, we investigated chromosomal changes in an in-vitro model of acid and bile exposure induced Barrett’s epithelial carcinogenesis (BEC). In addition to detecting changes already known to occur in BE and EAC, we also reported a novel recurring chromosomal translocation t(10:16) in the BE cells at an earlier time point before they undergo malignant transformation. In this study, we refine the chromosomal event with the help of fluorescent microscopy techniques as a three-way translocation between chromosomes 2, 10 and 16, t(2:10;16) (p22;q22;q22). We also designed an exclusive FISH-EA (Fluorescent In-Situ Hybridization for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma) assay that detects these chromosomal breakpoints and fusions. We validate the feasibility of the FISH-EA assay to objectively detect these chromosome events in primary tissues by confirming the presence of one of the fusions in paraffin-embedded formalin fixed human EA tumors. Clinical validation in a larger cohort of BE progressors (developed EA) and non-progressors ( did not develop EA) will confirm the specificity and sensitivity of the FISH-EA assay in identifying malignant potential in the early stages of EA.
Hard choices, soft targets: Terror proscription and strategic targeting decisions of FTO

Proscription lists are common counter-terror tools, yet their impact on terrorist violence is unclear. We find that proscription can be effective at constraining the violence of some types of group...
Leptin is not the Critical Signal for Kisspeptin or Luteinising Hormone Restoration During Exit from Negative Energy Balance

Low levels of the adipocyte hormone leptin are considered to be the key signal contributing to inhibited gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release and reproductive acyclicity during negative energy balance. Hypoleptinaemia-induced inhibition of GnRH may be initiated with upstream inhibition of the secretagogue kisspeptin (Kiss1) because GnRH neurones do not express leptin receptors. The present study aimed to determine whether eliminating the hypoleptinaemia associated with caloric restriction (CR), by restoring leptin to normal basal levels, could reverse the suppression of the reproductive neuroendocrine axis. Fifty percent CR resulted in significant suppression of anteroventral periventricular Kiss1 mRNA, arcuate nucleus (ARH) Kiss1 and neurokinin B (NKB) mRNA levels and serum luteinising hormone (LH). Restoring leptin to normal basal levels did not restore Kiss1 or NKB mRNA or LH levels. Surprisingly, leptin did not activate expression of phosphorylated signal-transducer and activator of transcription-3 in ARC Kiss1 neurones, indicating that these neurones may not relay leptin signalling to GnRH neurones. Previous work in fasting models showing restoration of LH used a pharmacological dose of leptin. Therefore, in a 48-h fast study, replacement of leptin to pharmacological levels was compared with replacement of leptin to normal basal levels. Maintaining leptin at normal basal levels during the fast did not prevent inhibition of LH. By contrast, pharmacological levels of leptin did maintain LH at control values. These results suggest that, although leptin may be a permissive signal for reproductive function, hypoleptinaemia is unlikely to be the critical signal responsible for ARC Kiss1 and LH inhibition during negative energy balance.
Aircraft and Ground Vehicle Friction Measurements Obtained Under Winter Runway Conditions

Tests with specially instrumented NASA B-737 and B-727 aircraft together with several different ground friction measuring devices have been conducted for a variety of runway surface types and wetness conditions. This effort is part of the Joint FAA/NASA Aircraft/Ground Vehicle Runway Friction Program aimed at obtaining a better understanding of aircraft ground handling performance under adverse weather conditions, and defining relationships between aircraft and ground vehicle tire friction measurements. Aircraft braking performance on dry, wet, snow-, and ice-covered runway conditions is discussed together with ground vehicle friction data obtained under similar runway conditions. For the wet, compacted snow- and ice-covered runway conditions, the relationship between ground vehicles and aircraft friction data is identified. The influence of major test parameters on friction measurements such as speed, test tire characteristics, and surface contaminant-type are discussed. The test results indicate that use of properly maintained and calibrated ground vehicles for monitoring runway friction conditions should be encouraged particularly under adverse weather conditions.
IBM ES/9000 system architecture and hardware

A description is given how IBM's Enterprise Systems requirements for data management are implemented in the ES/9000 process series. The ES/9000 processor family is the next step in efficient data movement/management for data that reside anywhere in the Enterprise. To manage this vast amount of data, certain high end ES/9000 models utilize four levels of memory (L1 or first level cache, L2 or second level buffer, L3 or main store and L4 or expanded store). Design trade-offs were made to improve processor availability. The processors have been designed to achieve fault tolerant function in power, processor and memory arrays. For example, if one of the power supplies fails, others increase their output to provide full power to the system. Extensive use is made of error detection/correction codes throughout the processor complex. Expanded storage incorporates a sophisticated error correction capability. All double bit errors are corrected, and triple bit errors, are detected. >
Binding of 5 S Ribosomal Ribonucleic Acid to the Unfolded 50 S Ribosomes of Escherichia coli II

Abstract Treatment of 50 S ribosomes at 37° with sodium citrate and low Mg++ causes unfolding of the structure, permitting external 32P-labeled 5 S ribosomal RNA to bind to the particles. The unfolding of the 50 S ribosome proceeds via an intermediate 35 S stage and ultimately yields a 26 S particle under the experimental conditions used. The unfolded particles retain both 23 S and 5 S rRNA in approximately 1:1 molar ratio and all protein components present in the original 50 S particles. The fact that external, unlabeled 5 S rRNA dilutes 32P-labeled 5 S rRNA bound to 50 S ribosomes indicates that the binding of free 5 S rRNA to the particles takes place as a result of an exchange reaction. The reaction is specific in the sense that dilution of bound 5 S rRNA with transfer RNA (20 molar equivalents) is less than 20%, while that with 5 S rRNA is more than 80%. A kinetic study of the binding of 32P-labeled 5 S rRNA to the unfolded 50 S ribosomes indicates that 1 molar equivalent of 5 S rRNA is associated per particle upon addition of 1.2 equivalents excess of 5 S rRNA. One more molecule of 5 S rRNA is bound to the particle in the presence of 12 molar equivalents of 5 S rRNA. On the other hand, only 0.14 molar equivalent of 32P-tRNA binds to the unfolded 50 S ribosomes in the presence of 1.2 molar equivalents of tRNA. The results indicate that the binding of 5 S rRNA to unfolded 50 S ribosomes is highly specific under the experimental conditions employed.
Circular LPC modeling and constant pitch transformation for scalable bit rate, scalable quality speech coding

In this paper, circular LPC analysis, a windowless signal modeling method for periodic signals, is re-visited as a high-resolution pitch-synchronous speech spectrum analysis tool for high quality speech coding, and the constant pitch transform is re-introduced as an alternative representation for the (circular) residual signal. This combination results in a parametric speech representation that is uniquely well suited for many speech coding applications. It is shown that circular LPC requires a very accurate pitch period estimation. Thus, both techniques are formulated using an oversampled version of the speech signal for analysis. Experiments show that artifact free speech can be synthesized using the proposed method.
Institutional innovation in less than ideal conditions: Management of commons by an Alaska Native village corporation

Alaska Natives have experienced less than ideal conditions for engaging in management of their homeland commons. During the first 100 years after the Treaty of Cession of 1867, Alaska Natives received limited recognition by the United States. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) was signed into law by President Richard Nixon after tedious negotiations by Alaska Natives, the United States Congress, and special interest groups. As part of the settlement, 12 regional corporations and over 200 village corporations were established to receive fee title to 40 million acres of land and a cash settlement of $962.5 million for lands lost. This arrangement has been considered by some as an act of social engineering to assimilate Alaska Natives into a capitalist economy. In spite of the goal of assimilation, Alaska Natives have utilized ANCSA to strengthen their indigenous identity and revitalize their cultural traditions. This paper examines the innovative efforts of Alaska Natives to successfully manage their commons despite the introduction of new and foreign institutions. Since the passing of ANSCA, Alaska Natives have cultivated good skills to navigate and modify legal systems and engage bureaucracies with considerable success. More than 36 years after the passage of ANCSA, most Alaska Native homelands remain intact in ways not previously imagined. Village corporations have used a number of legal methods to allocate land to shareholders, manage ownership of stocks, and contribute to the Alaska economy. ANCSA provided no special aboriginal rights for harvesting and management of fish and wildlife. Resultant rural-urban conflicts have been confronted with a novel mix of agency-Native cooperation and litigation. Although aspects of the arrangement are not ideal, the conditions are not hopeless. Our paper explores the hypothesis that while formal institutions matter, informal institutions have considerable potential to generate innovative solutions that overcome formal institutional shortfalls. We draw on the experiences of Native corporations in several regions of Alaska, with a focus on Bean Ridge Corporation (BRC), the village corporation which owns lands in and around the community of Manley Hot Springs, Alaska. Programs to distribute corporate earnings, address trespassing, and maintain cultural traditions are described.
Transcriptional suppression of cellular gene expression by c-Myc

High levels of c-Myc in mouse 3T3-L1 cells specifically suppress the expression of three collagen genes. This effect is exerted through collagen promoter sequences and requires the leucine zipper motif of c-Myc. Our data suggest that an important aspect of c-Myc transforming activity is the ability to suppress specific cellular gene transcription.
A novel two-axis micromechanical scanning transducer using water-immersible electromagnetic actuators for handheld 3D ultrasound imaging

Abstract This paper reports the development of a new two-axis micromechanical scanning transducer for handheld 3D ultrasound imaging. It consists of a miniaturized single-element ultrasound transducer driven by a unique 2-axis liquid-immersible electromagnetic microactuator. With a mechanical scanning frequency of 19.532 Hz and an ultrasound pulse repetition rate of 5 kHz, the scanning transducer was scanned along 60 concentric paths with 256 detection points on each to simulate a physical 2D ultrasound transducer array of 60 × 256 elements. Using the scanning transducer, 3D pulse-echo ultrasound imaging of two silicon discs immersed in water as the imaging target was successfully conducted. The lateral resolution of the 3D ultrasound image was further improved with the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT). The new two-axis micromechanical scanning transducer does not require complex and expensive multi-channel data acquisition (DAQ) electronics. Therefore, it could provide a new approach to achieve compact and low-cost 3D ultrasound imaging systems, especially for handheld operations.
Dynamics of Coral Communities

Dynamics of Coral Communities. Ronald H. Karlson, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999, x + 250 pp., Population and Community Biology Series #23. Coral reefs are the biodiversity poster children of the marine environment, so it is not surprising that publishers have responded. The spectrum of available books ranges from kid's coloring books to multi-volume surveys of corals of the world, and in-depth monographs complete with CD. While Karlson states no explicit goals, nor describes the intended audience for the book, in his preface, he does set out his own primary interest in the “dynamic properties of living coral communities,” with more emphasis on ecological than evolutionary considerations. The book consists of nine chapters: an introduction, followed by chapters on a range of processes, and two chapters on his own area of specialization—the relationship of regional and local factors on community species composition. Each chapter opens with a section (2 to 5 pages) on general community ecology. These “general considerations” draw on both theoretical and experimental ecology studies …
Epstein-Barr Virus Episome Stability Is Coupled to a Delay in Replication Timing

The temporal regulation of DNA replication is thought to be important for chromosome organization and genome stability. We show here that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes replicate in mid- to late S phase and that agents that accelerate replication timing of EBV reduce viral genome stability. Hydroxyurea (HU) treatment, which is known to eliminate EBV episomes, shifted EBV replication to earlier times in the cell cycle. HU treatment correlated with hyperacetylation of histone H3 and loss of telomere repeat factor 2 (TRF2) binding at the EBV origin of plasmid replication (OriP). Deletion of TRF2 binding sites within OriP or short hairpin RNA depletion of TRF2 advanced the replication timing of OriP-containing plasmids. Inhibitors of class I histone deacetylases (HDACs) increased histone acetylation at OriP, advanced the replication timing of EBV, and reduced EBV genome copy number. We also show that HDAC1 and -2 form a stable complex with TRF2 at OriP and that HU treatment inhibits HDAC activity. We propose that the TRF2-HDAC complex enhances EBV episome stability by providing a checkpoint that delays replication initiation at OriP.
Does head-movement feedback calibrate the perceived direction of optical motions?

Vertical motions of the head were made to cause diagonal optical motions by using an electronic rearrangement technique. Constancy of visual position during the head movement showed a rapid adaptive change; however, no change was found in perceived movement direction when the head was then held stationary and a vertical object movement presented. These results confirm that a memory exists for the correlation between head motion and optical motion, but indicate that this memory does not control the perception of externally generated optical motions. Together with earlier evidence, the results suggest that the memory lies in the eye-movement control system and in a part of that system which is operative during head movement. but not during passively viewed object movement.
Right Hemisphere Positivity Bias in Preconscious Processing: Data From Five Experiments

Using a signal detection paradigm, participants’ sensitivity to emotionally toned stimuli was evaluated in five experiments. A tachistoscope was used to present stimuli to one hemisphere at a time, too rapidly for conscious identification. Pictures, words, and faces were pretested for emotional valence and familiarity. Stimulus selection was based on obtaining the largest possible difference between the positive and negative valence ratings, keeping familiarity equal. Each experiment used a 2×2×2 mixed groups design. The within-subject variables were the hemispheric presentation (right and left) and the emotional tone of the stimuli (positive and negative). Gender of the participant was the between-subjects variable. The results of these studies indicate greater sensitivity in the right than in the left hemisphere, and greater sensitivity to positive than to negative stimuli. Interpretations focus on the automatization of affect and the brain lateralization of emotional processing.
Nineteenth century London water supply: Processes of innovation and improvement

Public health concerns played a major role in driving the shift from private to government ownership of water works in Britain and the US. Poor water quality is one of the criticisms made of the eight water companies providing piped water to London during the nineteenth century. Critics argued that monopolistic water companies failed to invest in filtration, move their intake, increase capacity or expand their network until compelled to do so by regulation. Critics have taken a static view: looking at water and sanitation in London at a moment in time and identifying actions that the water companies could take that could improve water quality and, consequently, public health. Taking an Austrian process approach, however, shows that companies were continually investing to increase access to piped water and to improve water quality during a time of severe uncertainty and knowledge problems. Water companies often acted before the government to improve quality: early competition encouraged investment and innovation, while later government regulation followed entrepreneurs’ leads and imposed on all water companies improvements already implemented by some. Government decisions were responsible for much of the deterioration in water quality.
Effectiveness of symptom validity measures in identifying cognitive and behavioral symptom exaggeration in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

This study examines the effectiveness of symptom validity measures to detect suspect effort in cognitive testing and invalid completion of ADHD behavior rating scales in 268 adults referred for ADHD assessment. Patients were diagnosed with ADHD based on cognitive testing, behavior rating scales, and clinical interview. Suspect effort was diagnosed by at least two of the following: failure on embedded and free-standing SVT measures, a score > 2 SD below the ADD population average on tests, failure on an ADHD behavior rating scale validity scale, or a major discrepancy between reported and observed ADHD behaviors. A total of 22% of patients engaged in symptom exaggeration. The Word Memory test immediate recall and consistency score (both 64%), TOVA omission errors (63%) and reaction time variability (54%), CAT-A infrequency scale (58%), and b Test (47%) had good sensitivity as well as at least 90% specificity. Clearly, such measures should be used to help avoid making false positive diagnoses of ADHD.
Spatially variant morphological image processing: theory and applications

Originally, mathematical morphology was a theory of signal transformations which are invariant under Euclidean translations. An interest in the extension of mathematical morphology to spatially-variant (SV) operators has emerged due to the requirements imposed by numerous applications in adaptive signal (image) processing. This paper presents a general theory of spatially-variant mathematical morphology in the Euclidean space. We define the binary and gray-level spatially-variant basic morphological operators (i.e., erosion, dilation, opening and closing) and study their properties. We subsequently derive kernel representations for a large class of binary and gray-level SV operators in terms of the basic SV morphological operators. The theory of SV mathematical morphology is used to extend and analyze two important image processing applications: morphological image restoration and skeleton representation of binary images. For morphological image restoration, we obtain new realizations of adaptive median filters in terms of the basic SV morphological operators. For skeleton representation, we develop an algorithm to construct the optimal structuring elements, in the sense of minimizing the cardinality of the spatially-variant morphological skeleton representation. Experimental results show the power of the proposed theory of spatially-variant mathematical morphology in practical image processing applications.
HOMOTRANSPLANTATION OF THE HAMSTER UTERUS.

THE investigation of utero-ovarian relationships would be facilitated by the development of a successful technique for the transplantation of the uterus. Transplants of the uterus have been examined in several species: in the guinea-pig by Butcher et al.1, Hechter et al.2, and Loeb3; in the rabbit by Mishell and Motyloff4, Chu et al.56, and Sessums and Murphy6; in the mouse by Parfenoff7 and Hall8; and in the dog by Cheval9. In these investigations intraperitoneal, intramuscular or subcutaneous sites were used for the transplantation of the entire uterus, uterine slices, endometrium, endometrial scrapings or suspensions of uterine tissue, Histological observations of the transplants either were not always presented or, when reported, usually exhibited degenerative changes. The development of a successful technique for the hetero-transplantation of rabbit oviduct to the cheek pouch of the Syrian hamster as reported by McDaniel and Black10 prompted a similar investigation using uterine transplants. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the survival of uterine transplants in the cheek pouch of the hamster.
Relaxation, incubation, and dissociation in CO2.

The dissociation and relaxation of CO 2 has been reexamined in the incident shock wave with the laser-schlieren technique. These new experiments covered 1377-6478 K, and 42-750 Torr, and improvements partly described herein have permitted accurate determination of both rate and incubation time. In general the steady rate measurements are in agreement with other recent determinations. The one anomaly is that the new rates are not fully second order; they vary about 50% over 70-600 Torr. This unexpected feature is actually quite consistent with the recent literature, which shows a similar trend. However, attempts to produce this result with RRKM calculations were unsuccessful. Relaxation times are in agreement with available literature, and incubation time to relaxation time ratios lie between 1.5 and 3 over 4000-6600 K, consistent with findings for other molecules. These ratios are much smaller than those recently derived from reflected-shock experiments by Oehlschlaeger et al. (Z. Phys. Chem. 2005, 219, 555). A simple argument suggests such large values are indeed anomalous, although why they are too large is not clear.
Development of reference data for increments in variables related to growth.

This paper directs attention to the progress made during the last few decades in methods for the development of reference data for increments and in the application of such data. This progress is exemplified by analyses of increments in recumbent length during infancy based on data from the Fels Longitudinal Study that have led to the development of reference data that can be applied easily to individuals and groups. The methods used to develop incremental reference data have improved considerably, but further progress is needed to construct better models, to refine the procedures for fitting models, and to simplify the application of incremental reference data. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Simulated workplace performance of N95 respirators.

During July 1995 the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) began to certify nine new classes of particulate respirators. To determine the level of performance of these respirators, NIOSH researchers conducted a study to (1) measure the simulated workplace performance of 21 N95 respirator models, (2) determine whether fit-testing affected the performance, and (3) investigate the effect of varying fit-test pass/fail criteria on respirator performance. The performance of each respirator model was measured by conducting 100 total penetration tests. The performance of each respirator model was then estimated by determining the 95th percentile of the total penetration through the respirator (i.e., 95% of wearers of that respirator can expect to have a total penetration value below the 95th percentile penetration value). The 95th percentile of total penetrations for each respirator without fit-testing ranged from 6 to 88%. The 95th percentile of total penetrations for all the respirators ...
Self-dual Chern-Simons Higgs systems with an N=3 extended supersymmetry.

We construct and study an {ital N}=3 supersymmetric Chern-Simons Higgs theory. This theory is the maximally supersymmetric one containing the self-dual models with a single gauge field and no gravity.
Work-in-process space allocation: a model and an industrial application

This paper presents a model for allocating storage space to inventory in a way that minimizes the cost of material handling. The space allocation problem is modeled as a generalized transportation problem; however, transporting material within the facility is the focus. The basic formulation of the model considers material type, material flow transitions, and distance transported. The model is extended to determine production levels for multiple products such that additional material handling costs (i.e., load/ unload times) are minimized. Applications of the just-in-time (JIT) concept and material handling in the job shop environment are discussed. Finally, an industrial case study is presented.
THE NEOPLASTIC POTENTIALITIES OF MOUSE EMBRYO TISSUES : I. THE FINDINGS WITH SKIN OF C STRAIN EMBRYOS TRANSPLANTED TO ADULT ANIMALS.

A method has been devised whereby the transplanted epidermis of mouse embryos can be selectively exposed to the action of a chemical carcinogen. Scharlach R was dissolved in olive oil with the aim of stimulating and attracting the epidermal cells, methylcholanthrene was added to the solution, and numerous fine globules of it were injected into the thigh muscles of adult mice together with fragments of embryo skin. Much of the oil underwent primary inclusion in the resulting cysts, and the proliferating epidermis, while forming them, extended to not a few of the outlying droplets with result that they too were added to the cyst contents. During these activities the methylcholanthrene came into direct contact with many of the epithelial cells, and later on the layer lining the cyst was continually exposed to the influence of the carcinogen. The epidermis underwent neoplastic changes with great rapidity; often in less than 4 weeks papillomas and carcinomas had arisen like those deriving from adult epidermis. The growths were punctate in origin and usually multiple. Many were transplanted to adults of the same homologous breed of mice that furnished the embryo material (mice of C strain). The grafts did not uniformly succeed as was the case with those of normal skin of embryos of the same stock,-which regularly grew at first in the new hosts and remained alive long after. The benign papillomas failed to live or barely survived, and the apparently malignant papillomas, though rapidly forming nodules of considerable size, usually regressed later. Some of the carcinomas also regressed or wholly failed, while others gave rise to progressively enlarging tumors. The best results were obtained with grafts in which several neoplasms were intermingled, these flourishing together in the new hosts. Methylcholanthrene in olive oil exerts an influence on epidermal cells like that of Scharlach R, stimulating them to multiply, attracting them, and causing them to mimic carcinomatous elements.
The solution structure of a class II major histocompatibility complex superantigen binding domain.

Abstract We have used 600 MHz1H NMR spectroscopy data to determine the solution structure of a 31-residue domain of a murine class II major histocompatibility (MHC) protein. This domain, I-Aβb-(60-90), binds to the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A. Distance geometry and dynamical simulated annealing calculations were performed using NOESY- and COSY-deduced constraints. I-Aβb-(60-90), which is mostly α-helical, is more similar to the corresponding region of the class II MHC protein HLA-DR1 than to the class I MHC protein HLA-A2. Arg-72 and Arg-80 lie on the same side of the helix and face away from the antigenic peptide binding groove. His-81, implicated in both superantigen and peptide binding, is located midway between the surface defined by Arg-72/Arg-80 and residues that define the inside of the peptide binding groove, allowing for its participation in both types of binding.
A comprehensive thalamocortical projection map at the mesoscopic level

The thalamus relays sensori-motor information to the cortex and is an integral part of cortical executive functions. The precise distribution of thalamic projections to the cortex is poorly characterized, particularly in mouse. We employed a systematic, high-throughput viral approach to visualize thalamocortical axons with high sensitivity. We then developed algorithms to directly compare injection and projection information across animals. By tiling the mouse thalamus with 254 overlapping injections, we constructed a comprehensive map of thalamocortical projections. We determined the projection origins of specific cortical subregions and verified that the characterized projections formed functional synapses using optogenetic approaches. As an important application, we determined the optimal stereotaxic coordinates for targeting specific cortical subregions and expanded these analyses to localize cortical layer-preferential projections. This data set will serve as a foundation for functional investigations of thalamocortical circuits. Our approach and algorithms also provide an example for analyzing the projection patterns of other brain regions.
Synthetic studies on the furan ring of wortmannin

Abstract Synthetic studies on the fungal metabolite, wortmannin, were undertaken in an effort to gain insight into the structure activity relationships of wortmannin analogs on phosphatidylinositol-3′-kinase (PI-3-kinase). Our work has focused on the chemistry of the previously unexplored furan ring and has uncovered several interesting and novel chemical transformations, which are described herein.
Chemical synthesis of a polypeptide predicted from nucleotide sequence allows detection of a new retroviral gene product

We previously determined the nucleotide sequence of the 3′ end of Moloney leukaemia virus and discovered the potential coding region for an unknown protein, R. We now show that this region does encode a protein. A pentadecapeptide of R was chemically synthesized and antibodies raised against it. Antisera to the synthetic peptide recognize the R protein and the env precursor polyprotein in infected cells. The strategy presented here should provide a general method for accessing proteins predicted by nucleotide sequences.
The pharmacological landscape and therapeutic potential of serine hydrolases

Serine hydrolases perform crucial roles in many biological processes, and several of these enzymes are targets of approved drugs for indications such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and infectious diseases. Despite this, most of the human serine hydrolases (of which there are more than 200) remain poorly characterized with respect to their physiological substrates and functions, and the vast majority lack selective, in vivo-active inhibitors. Here, we review the current state of pharmacology for mammalian serine hydrolases, including marketed drugs, compounds that are under clinical investigation and selective inhibitors emerging from academic probe development efforts. We also highlight recent methodological advances that have accelerated the rate of inhibitor discovery and optimization for serine hydrolases, which we anticipate will aid in their biological characterization and, in some cases, therapeutic validation.
Long-Term Spectroscopic Monitoring of Low-Redshift Quasars. I. 5 Year Report

We present the first results of a long-term optical spectroscopic monitoring program of a sample of 14 luminous (LBol ~ 1045-1046 ergs s-1) low-redshift (z = 0.14-0.59) quasars. Our spectra have been taken annually over a period of 5 yr and for four objects have been supplemented by digital spectra obtained approximately 20 years earlier. For these four objects, we find relatively little change in both the shapes and fluxes of the broad lines from the first observations to the present. However, in one quasar, B2 1721+34, the emission in the core of the Hα profile has decreased while that in the profile wings has increased, suggesting that material has moved from the outer intermediate-line region to the inner very broad line region (VBLR). Our 5 year monitoring campaign reveals variability in the core, but not the wings, of the Hβ profile of several objects in response to variations in the continuum. In a few objects, notably PKS 1451-37, we observe year-to-year variability in the strength of the He II λ4686 line that also appears to be a response to variability in the ionizing continuum. The lack of significant long-term variability in the wings of the Balmer lines supports models in which the VBLR takes the form of a relativistic accretion disk, as opposed to an episodic flow to or from the central engine. In the latter case, current constraints on the gas crossing time of the VBLR indicate that variability would occur on a timescale of months, which we do not observe. The lack of response of the wings of Hβ to continuum variability provides additional evidence that the VBLR is fully ionized in hydrogen.
Separating patterns and finding the independent components of mixed signals based on non-Gaussian distribution properties

The effect of assuming and using non-Gaussian attributes of underlying source signals for separating/encoding patterns is investigated, for application to terrain categorization (TERCAT) problems. Our analysis provides transformed data, denoted as "Independent Components," which can be used and interpreted in different ways. The basis vectors of the resulting transformed data are statistically independent and tend to align themselves with source signals. In this effort, we investigate the basic formulation designed to transform signals for subsequent processing or analysis, as well as a more sophisticated model designed specifically for unsupervised classification. Mixes of single band images are used, as well as simulated color infrared and Landsat. A number of experiments are performed. We first validate the basic formulation using a straightforward application of the method to unmix signal data in image space. We next show the advantage of using this transformed data compared to the original data for visually detecting TERCAT targets of interest. Subsequently, we test two methods of performing unsupervised classification on a scene that contain a diverse range of terrain features, showing the benefit of these methods against a control method for TERCAT applications.
Simple and highly diastereoselective synthesis of trifluoromethyl-containing myosmines via reaction between 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine and 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione

Abstract The reaction between 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione and 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine, or its salts with carboxylic acids, was found to produce a mixture of diastereomeric 2-(2′-pyridyl)-3-hydroxy-3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-1-pyrrolines with high (up to 85% de) of kinetic (3 R* ,5 S* )-diastereoselectivity. The thermodynamic (3 R* ,5 R* ) diastereomer was prepared as a major product (90% de) by epimerization of the kinetic (3 R* ,5 S* ) diastereomer with triethylamine.
Measurement error of lumbar total disc replacement range of motion.

STUDY DESIGN A retrospective review of lumbar total disc replacement (TDR) radiographs. OBJECTIVE To determine the error and variability in measuring TDR radiographic range of motion (ROM). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Motion preservation is the driving force behind lumbar TDR technology. In the recent literature, sagittal radiographic TDR ROM as low as 2 degrees has been reported. In these studies, ROM was determined by using the Cobb method to measure TDR sagittal alignment angles in flexion-extension lateral radiographs. However, previous studies in the spinal deformity literature have shown that the Cobb method is very susceptible to measurement error. METHODS There were 5 observers, including 2 attending orthopedic spine surgeons, 1 spine fellow, 1 fifth-year resident, and 1 fourth-year resident, who measured the ROM of 50 ProDisc II (Synthes Spine Solutions, New York, NY) TDRs on standard flexion-extension lumbar spine radiograph sets. Repeated measurements were made on 2 occasions using the Cobb method. Measurement variability was calculated using 3 statistical methods. RESULTS The 3 statistical methods resulted in extremely similar values for TDR ROM observer variability. Overall, the intraobserver variability of TDR ROM measurement was +/-4.6 degrees, and interobserver variability was +/-5.2 degrees . CONCLUSIONS To be 95% certain that an implanted TDR prosthesis has any sagittal motion, a ROM of at least 4.6 degrees must be observed, which is the upper limit of intraobserver measurement variability for a TDR with a true ROM of 0 degrees. To be 95% certain that a change in TDR ROM has occurred between 2 measurements by the same observer, a change in ROM of at least 9.6 degrees must be observed (the entire range of +/-4.6 degrees intraobserver variability). ROM measurement variability should be considered when evaluating the success or failure of motion preservation in lumbar TDR.
Electron transfer integral between two zero‐overlap states

In the research of electron transfer (ET) reactions, the theoretical calculation of the ET matrix element VBA is of special importance. Some examples in which the two electron-localized states have a zero overlap were found. Thus, a new procedure for VBA calculation was developed and applied to the investigation of the donor-acceptor 90° oriented ET reactions. This procedure, which is a supplement necessary to the recently developed approach suitable for a nonorthogonal case, was derived in detail. To check the rationality of the zero value of VBA in the reaction O2O−2 → O−2O2, the angle dependence of SBA and VBA between two electron-localized states was calculated. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.