cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Ser49Cys variant in the ataxia telangiectasia, mutated, gene that is more common in patients with breast carcinoma compared with population controls

BACKGROUND Mothers of children who have ataxia telangiectasia have been reported to be at increased risk for development of breast carcinoma. To test whether sequence variants in the ataxia telangiectasia, mutated, gene (ATM) are associated with breast carcinoma, the authors compared the frequency of ATM cDNA sequence changes in patients with breast carcinoma with the corresponding frequency in control patients. METHODS The authors sequenced ATM cDNA from 91 patients with breast carcinoma and compared the frequencies of sequence changes in these patients with the corresponding frequencies in a control sample of 940 individuals with no history of malignant disease. RESULTS Thirty-five patients with breast carcinoma had one or more single-base changes in ATM. Three genetic variants were found in at least two patients. These variants resulted in Asp1853Asn, Pro1054Arg, or Ser49Cys amino acid substitutions in the ATM protein. The Ser49Cys variant was more common in patients with breast carcinoma than in the control patients, with respective frequencies of 6.7% (5 of 75 patients) and 1.3% (12 of 940 patients; P = 0.006; Fisher two-sided exact test). The subgroup of patients with bilateral breast carcinoma had a Ser49Cys frequency of 11.8% (2 of 17 patients), which again was significantly different from what was observed in the control group (P = 0.024; Fisher two-sided exact test). The allele frequencies of the other two variants were not different between case patients and control patients. CONCLUSIONS Patients with breast carcinoma, particularly those with bilateral disease, were more likely to have a variant in the ATM gene that resulted in a Ser49Cys substitution in the gene product. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the potential functional consequences of the Ser49Cys substitution and confirm the relevance of this variant in the development of breast carcinoma. Cancer 2004;100:1345–51. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Proximity effects in electron lithography: magnitude and correction techniques

Proximity effects due to electron scattering in the resist and substrate seem to set a fundamental limit to the areal density that can be achieved in electron lithography. This work briefly reviews the form and the magnitude of the proximity function and its extent as evidenced by deviations in designed linewidths. It also discusses methods to decrease the proximity effect as well as the algorithms used for correction of such effects.
Accommodation, convergence and aging.

It is generally believed that the ratio of accommodative convergence to accommodation (AC/A ratio) is relatively constant with age. This is based on studies of what is known as the AC/A stimulus ratio in which the denominator is the accommodative stimulus value. However, if the objective accommodative response to each stimulus is used instead in the denominator, then the ratio, called the AC/A response, is not constant but shows an increase beginning just prior to presbyopia. This suggests that greater effort is necessary for a unit of lens accommodation when one gets older or conversely a given effort produces less and less accommodation with age. The disparity between AC/A stimulus and AC/A response is discussed with reference to clinical presbyopia.
The Third Transmembrane Segment of Orai1 Protein Modulates Ca2+ Release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) Channel Gating and Permeation Properties

Orai1, the pore subunit of Ca(2+) release-activated Ca(2+) channels, has four transmembrane segments (TMs). The first segment, TMI, lines the pore and plays an important role in channel activation and ion permeation. TMIII, on the other hand, does not line the pore but still regulates channel gating and permeation properties. To understand the role of TMIII, we have mutated and characterized several residues in this domain. Mutation of Trp-176 to Cys (W176C) and Gly-183 to Ala (G183A) had dramatic effects. Unlike wild-type channels, which exhibit little outward current and are activated by STIM1, W176C mutant channels exhibited a large outward current at positive potentials and were constitutively active in the absence of STIM1. G183A mutant channels also exhibited substantial outward currents but were active only in the presence of 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), irrespective of STIM1. With W176C mutant channels inward, monovalent currents were blocked by Ca(2+) with a high affinity similar to the wild type, but the Ca(2+)-dependent blocking of outward currents differed in the two cases. Although a 50% block of the WT outward current required 250 μm Ca(2+), more than 6 mm was necessary to have the same effect on W176C mutant channels. In the presence of extracellular Ca(2+), W176C and G183A outward currents developed slowly in a voltage-dependent manner, whereas they developed almost instantaneously in the absence of Ca(2+). These changes in permeation and gating properties mimic the changes induced by mutations of Glu-190 in TMIII and Asp-110/Asp-112 in the TMI/TMII loop. On the basis of these data, we propose that TMIII maintains negatively charged residues at or near the selectivity filter in a conformation that facilitates Ca(2+) inward currents and prevents outward currents of monovalent cations. In addition, to controlling selectivity, TMIII may also stabilize channel gating in a closed state in the absence of STIM1 in a Trp-176-dependent manner.
Suramin exerts in vivo cytokine modulatory properties on splenocytes from experimental allergic encephalomyelitis-induced SJL mice: Implications for autoimmune disease therapy

The present study sought to examine the immunopharmacologic effects of suramin on splenocytes from experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE)-induced mice, taken in line with a previous observed action of suramin in ameliorating EAE. Suramin, a polysulfonated napthylurea, decreased the proliferation of T cells, in the presence of various stimuli, such as guinea pig myelin basic protein (MBP), mouse spinal cord homogenate (MSCH), bovine proteolipid protein (PLP), P1 (synthetic peptide 139-151 of PLP), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Suramin inhibited T cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. However, cytokine assays revealed that suramin increased antigen-induced levels of IL-4, whilst IFN-gamma levels were decreased. Using various doses of suramin (25, 15, and 5 micrograms/g), its cytokine modulatory effect displayed a consistent dose-dependent activity in vivo. This cytokine modulation commenced on week 2 after immunization and persisted all throughout the drug administration period, up to the 4th week. These results indicate that the prospects of using suramin in the treatment of multiple sclerosis may be feasible.
Microfilaments in the preprophase band of freeze substituted tobacco root cells

The organization and distribution of microfilaments (MFs) in the preprophase bands (PPBs) of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. var. Maryland Mammoth) root tip cells were studied with high pressure freezing and freeze-substitution methods. MFs were present predominantly as single filaments interspersed among microtubules (MTs) throughout the PPB. Some MFs appeared to be associated with MTs, whereas others were not. This is the first time that MFs have been demonstrated in the PPB at the electron microscope level.
Heat Transfer in Pipe Flow

A simple procedure using spreadsheets is presented where the temperature distribution for laminar flow in a circular pipe is determined from the entrance of the pipe up to the fully developed region is calculated numerically. The results are then used to show the different features of internal flow like constancy of Nusselt number. The solution is presented for both isothermal and uniform heat flux boundary conditions and are then compared with available correlations.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Envenomation by the spider Trachelas tranquillus (Hentz) (Araneae: Clubionidae).

Spider envenomation and its consequent discomforts have received much attention lately due to the discovery of the lesions produced by the bite of the brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa Gertsch & Muliak. Although misinformation and rumor have resulted in exaggerated fearfulness of spiders by the general public, it is important to note that spiders do bite people occasionally and possible severe reaction following the bite makes them a public health problem.
The In Vivo Fluorescence of Tryptophan Moieties in Human Skin Increases with UV Exposure and is a Marker for Epidermal Proliferation

Summary We have investigated the in vivo fluorescence of human skin with UV excitation and the effect of UV irradiation on the UV fluorescence. A particular chromophore was found to be very sensitive to suberythemogenic UV radiation. This chromophore has the spectral characteristics of tryptophan residues in proteins and is characterized by a fluorescence excitation maximum at 295 nm. The fluorescence of this chromophore in human epidermis has an excitation maximum that is coincident with the maximum of the action spectrum of most UV-induced photobiologic responses to human skin. The fluorescence of the chromophore was found to increase with UV exposure. The action spectrum was determined by following the increase of the emission at 345 nm with excitation at 295 nm as a function of skin exposure to a number of wavelengths in the UV region of the spectrum. The results show that irradiation in the UVB (290–320 nm) is more effective in producing the change in the fluorescence of tryptophan. Irradiation in the UVA (320–380 nm) was found to be capable of producing the increase but to a smaller extent. Whereas tryptophan fluorescence is found in both the epidermis and the dermis, it is only the epidermal component that increases with UV exposure. The change in 295 nm fluorescence with UV exposure was determined to be oxygen dependent. The fluorescence of tryptophan moieties measured in situ was found to increase when epidermal proliferation increases. This was verified by inducing epidermal repair after mechanical insult (tape stripping). The results suggest two possible scenarios for the UV-induced increase of the fluorescence: a prompt photooxidation of tryptophan moieties or a fast proliferation response to the insult created by UV irradiation.
Modification of amygdala-kindled postictal inhibition by pentylenetetrazol and diazepam

Abstract When fully amygdala-kindled rats are electrically stimulated in grouped trials with intertrial stimulation intervals of less than 60 min, significant residual inhibition can be demonstrated. When these grouped trials of stimulation are repeated daily, additional cumulative inhibition is seen. The present study examined the effect of daily pretreatment with three doses of pentylenetetrazol (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) and two doses of diazepam (0.5 and 2 mg/kg) on daily, grouped trial electrical stimulations of fully amygdala-kindled rats. Little or no reduction was seen in posticatal inhibition by pentylenetetrazol pretreatment including the highest dose tested in which prestimulation bursts of spiking were associated with short episodes of forelimb clonus. Pretreatment with the benzodiazepine receptor agonist, diazepam, resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the first elicited seizure response each day compared with control trials. Subsequent daily seizure trials of diazepam-treated animals demonstrated a relatively constant degree of dose-dependent seizure suppression without evidence of further postictal inhibition. The neural substrate that governs grouped trial postictal inhibition of amygdala-kindled seizures appears to be resistent to modification by near-convulsant doses of pentylenetetrazol, an agent with a presumed GABA-mediated mechanism of action. Diazepam, an anticonvulsant with a presumed GABA-related or associated mechanism of action, suppressed seizures in a dose-dependent manner nearly equally across all trials.
Ferric-ferrous equilibria in natural silicate liquids at 1 bar

Ferric and ferrous iron concentrations have been measured in 57 silicate liquids equilibrated at temperatures (1,200°–1,330°C) above the liquidus and at oxygen fugacities close to those defined by quartz-fayalite-magnetite. The experimental results reported here span virtually the entire known compositional range of lavas. An empirical equation relating the mole fraction of Fe2O3 and FeO to oxygen fugacity, absolute temperature and liquid composition at 1 bar has been formulated, based on the present experimental results and published data. Extrapolating the proposed empirical relationship over several hundred degrees, for instance below the solidus of the 1965 Makaopuhi tholeiitic lava lake, yields calculated oxygen fugacities which are a little lower than those measured directly in drill holes; at 1,100°C this discrepancy is 0.4 log unit. However, the agreement between the oxygen fugacities calculated from our empirical equation and those indicated by the composition of Fe-Ti oxides in andesites and siliceous obsidians is much closer.
Evaluation and Optimization of Installation Base-Stock Policies in Supply Chains with Compound Poisson Demand

In this paper, we establish an exact framework for a class of supply chains with at most one directed path between every two stages. External demands follow compound Poisson processes, the transit times are stochastic, sequential, and exogenous, and each stage controls its inventory by an installation base-stock policy under continuous review. Unsatisfied demand at each stage is fully backordered. This class of supply chains includes assembly, distribution, tree, and two-level general networks as special cases. We characterize the stockout delay for each unit of demand at each stage of the supply chain by developing an exact and unified approach that applies to various network topologies. We also present tractable approximations and decompositions that facilitate efficient evaluation and optimization (up to the approximations) of the base-stock policies in industry-size problems with a tree structure. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the solution by numerical studies.
Reduced nonlinear distortion in circuits with correlated double sampling

It is shown that in a class of SC circuits using correlated double sampling the harmonic distortion caused by nonlinear op-amps is greatly reduced. Hence, these circuits are very useful in applications such as input stages in high-linearity amplifiers or in delta-sigma converters.
A study of adrenal radioactivity subsequent to parenteral Co60 labeled vitamin B12.

Data, gathered during a study on tissue distribution of parenterally administered radioactive vitamin B12, show that the adrenal concentrates a relatively large amount of this radioactivity and that its ability to do so is markedly influenced by parenteral testosterone propionate. Thirty-day-old littermate albino rats, consisting of testosterone-treated and control animals, received a single subcutaneous injection of 0.25 µg. Co60labeled vitamin B12. With the exception of 6 animals, the rats received a subcutaneous daily injection of 16.6 µg. unlabelled vitamin B12 from their 34th to 40th day of age; all rats were sacrificed on the 40th day. The radioactivity of the ashed kidney, liver, adrenal, and thyroid tissues was measured. The adrenal was found to assume a place among two of the tissues, the kidney and liver, which show the highest radioactivity concentration in the body; the thyroid contained a relatively insignificant amount of radioactivity. In addition it was observed that although the adrenal g...
Are there neurochemical indicators of risk for schizophrenia

The genetic predisposition for certain forms of schizophrenia may involve heritable abnormalities in the functioning of neurochemical systems that project to and modulate limbic brain structures. However, with regard to both dopaminergic and serotonergic systems, there is little evidence that either basal cerebrospinal markers or plasma markers predict increased risk for the development of schizophrenia. Either their validity as correlates of brain monoamine function is uncertain or they are highly dependent upon clinical state. Both (1) platelet and neuroendocrine markers of serotonergic function and (2) an individual's capacity to decrease plasma homovanillic acid concentrations following neuroleptic blockade appear to be less state dependent, and these are worthy of further study as markers of risk for the development of schizophrenia.
Adaptive feature-space conformal transformation for imbalanced-data learning

When the training instances of the target class are heavily outnumbered by non-target training instances, SVMs can be ineffective in determining the class boundary. To remedy this problem, we propose an adaptive conformal transformation (ACT) algorithm. ACT considers feature-space distance and the class-imbalance ratio when it performs conformal transformation on a kernel function. Experimental results on UCI and real-world datasets show ACT to be effective in improving class prediction accuracy
SIMULATION TECHNIQUE IN THE MEASUREMENT OF PROBLEM‐SOLVING SKILLS1

Employing simulation technique analogous to that utilized in management games and military exercises, the authors have directed the development of a series of branched problems in patient management requiring sequential analysis and decision. These problems are designed to measure aspects of behavior defined by a criterion group as essential components of clinical competence. They are suitable for either individual or group administration and are amenable to either clerical or computer scoring and analysis (Crawford & Lewy, 1965). This paper is one section of a four-part report dealing with the techniques of constructing, scoring (Williamson, 1964), estimating the reliability (Lewy & McGuire, 1966) and assessing the validity of such problems. Primary attention is devoted here to the rationale and design of simulated clinical problems with only a brief summary of the scoring methods and statistical studies of presently available exercises. CONSIDERATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SIMULATION EXERCISES IN MEDICINE A clinical problem which purports to simulate the physician-patient encounter must have the following characteristics: First, it must be initiated by information of the type a patient gives a physician, not by a predigested summary of the salient features of the case, and if it is to be realistic it must be couched in terms the patient or a referring physician would use. Second, the exercise must require a series of sequential, interdependent decisions representing the various stages in the diagnostic work-up and management of the patient. Third, the examinee must be able to obtain in realistic form information about the results of each decision, as a basis for subsequent action. Fourth, once these data are obtained it must be impossible for the examinee to retract a decision that is revealed to be ineffectual or harmful. Fifth, the problem must be constructed so as to allow both for different medical approaches and for variation in patient responses appropriate to these several approaches. Hence, provision must be made for modifications in the problem as the patient responds to the specific interventions chosen by each
On the importance of including intermolecular correlations in the measurement of polymer interdiffusion by fluorescence nonradiative energy transfer

There has been a great deal of recent interest in monitoring polymer interdiffusion with fluorescence nonradiative energy transfer (NRET), a typical experiment consisting of polymer chains labeled with a donor chromophore interdiffusing with chains labeled with an acceptor chromophore, causing an increase in energy transfer efficiency, E. A factor nearly always ignored in models of this process is the fact that chromophore interactions are screened out because of intermolecular correlation effects, leading to a lower E than would otherwise be expected. The model of Dhinojwala and Torkelson (Macromolecules 27, 4817 (1994)) has been modified to include correlations in order to explore the impact that ignoring correlations has on the diffusion coefficients calculated in such experiments. When correlations are included in the model, E is proportional to (D p t) 1/2 /x for t < x 2 /(16D p ) (where x is the thickness of the donor-labeled film and D p ) is the polymer diffusion coefficient), similar to when correlations are ignored. Within this linear regime errors in D p associated with ignoring correlations are typically less than 20% for logically defined systems, which may be insignificant given the uncertainty with which diffusion coefficients are normally reported. However, this study clearly demonstrates that precautions should be used in all experiments of this type to stay in this linear regime, as improperly accounting for or ignoring correlation effects at longer diffusion times can lead to the spurious result that apparent diffusion coefficients decrease with annealing time, by factors of 2 to 5 to as much as an order of magnitude or more at sufficiently long time. Systems designed to minimize correlation effects should have a large Forster radius and a sufficiently high ratio of acceptors to donors; with such a situation and the use of NRET data from the linear regime of E vs. t 1/2 , it is possible under many experimental circumstances to determine diffusion coefficients within small error even when the effects of correlations are ignored.
Nonlinear Inversion of an Unconfined Aquifer: Simultaneous Estimation of Heterogeneous Hydraulic Conductivities, Recharge Rates, and Boundary Conditions

A new inverse method is developed to simultaneously estimate heterogeneous hydraulic conductivities, source/sink rates, and unknown boundary conditions for steady-state flow in an unconfined aquifer. Unlike objective function-based techniques, the new method does not optimize any data-model misfits. Instead, its formulation is developed by honoring physical flow principles as well as observation data at sampled locations. Under the Dupuit–Forchheimer assumption of negligible vertical flow, accuracy and stability of the new method are demonstrated using synthetic heterogeneous aquifer problems with increasingly complex flow: (1) aquifer domains without source/sink effects; (2) aquifer domains with a point sink (a pumping well operating under a constant discharge rate); (3) aquifer domains with constant or spatially variable recharge; (4) aquifer domains with constant or spatially variable recharge undergoing single-well pumping. For all problems, inversion yields stable solutions under increasing head measurement errors (up to $$\pm $$ 10 % of the total head variation in a problem), although accuracy of the estimated parameters degrades with the increasing errors. The inverse method is successfully tested on problems with high hydraulic conductivity contrasts—up to 10,000 times between the maximum and minimum values. In inverting several heterogeneous problems, if the aquifer is assumed homogeneous with a constant recharge rate, physically meaningful parameter estimates (i.e., equivalent conductivities and mean recharge rates) can be determined. Alternatively, if the inverse parameterization contains spurious parameters, inversion can identify such parameters, while the simultaneous estimation of non-spurious parameters is not affected. The method obviates the well-known issues associated with model “structure errors”, when inverse parameterization either simplifies or complexifies the true parameter field.
Renaissance: a functional shading language

Programmable graphics hardware is growing in capability an d flexibility at a rapid pace. Existing languages for programming this hardware make it difficult at best to bui ld collections of custom graphics algorithms that can be combined as needed. We present a pure functional shadi ng language, Renaissance, that uses the concepts of computational frequency and frequency inference to natu rally allow composition of shader concepts without generating redundant code. We also provide most of the benefi ts of metaprogramming languages without the restriction of requiring a full host environment. I.3.7 [Computer Graphics]: Shading
Quantum efficiency for degenerate p-type photoluminescence and electroluminescence in GaAs crystals†

Abstract The radiative lifetime and the internal quantum efficiency for the degenerate p -type photoluminescence and the electroluminescence in GaAs crystals have been investigated with a simplified model of degenerate semiconductors in which the recombination constant B is approximately proportional to the − 5 8 power of the hole concentration. It is suggested that the radiative lifetime reaches a minimum at some hole concentration, in good agreement with the prediction of Dumke. At 77 K, the internal quantum efficiency exhibits a maximum, found to be 100% at 5 × 10 18 cm −3 for p -type GaAs crystals, in perfect agreement with experiments of Cusano, and for p-n GaAs junction crystals η int , max = 60% at 3 × 10 18 cm −3 . Finally, it is noted that in degenerate p -type GaAs crystals, the internal quantum efficiency increases linearly with increasing temperatures.
Comparison of coronary artery calcium presence, carotid plaque presence, and carotid intima-media thickness for cardiovascular disease prediction in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background— Presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC), carotid plaque, and increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) may indicate elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk; however, no large studies have compared them directly. This study compares predictive uses of CAC presence, carotid artery plaque presence, and high IMT for incident CVD events. Methods and Results— Participants were from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Predictive values of carotid plaque, IMT, and CAC presence were compared using Cox proportional hazards models, c -statistics, and net reclassification indices. The 6779 participants were mean (SD) 62.2 (10.2) years old; 49.9% had CAC, and 46.7% had carotid plaque. The mean left and right IMT were 0.754 (0.210) mm and 0.751 (0.187) mm, respectively. After 9.5 years (mean), 538 CVD events, 388 coronary heart disease (CHD) events, and 196 stroke/transient ischemic attacks were observed. CAC presence was a stronger predictor of incident CVD and CHD than carotid ultrasound measures. Mean IMT ≥75th percentile (for age, sex, and race) alone did not predict events. Compared with traditional risk factors, c -statistics for CVD ( c =0.756) and CHD ( c =0.752) increased the most by the addition of CAC presence (CVD, 0.776; CHD, 0.784; P <0.001) followed by carotid plaque presence (CVD, c =0.760; CHD, c =0.757; P <0.05). Compared with risk factors ( c =0.782), carotid plaque presence ( c =0.787; P =0.045) but not CAC ( c =0.785; P =0.438) improved prediction of stroke/transient ischemic attacks. Conclusions— In adults without CVD, CAC presence improves prediction of CVD and CHD more than carotid plaque presence or high IMT. CAC and carotid ultrasound parameters performed similarly for stroke/transient ischemic attack event prediction.
Short Communications: Use of linear orthogonal contrasts in analysis of environmental data

Environmental studies often involve the analysis of many samples from a limited geographic region. The goal of these studies frequently is to compare samples from different areas within the region to determine relative levels of contamination or adverse effects. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by multiple comparison tests is an often-used data analysis technique in these situations. However, ANOVA followed by the use of linear orthogonal contrasts is a more appropriate method of data analysis if obvious groups of samples for comparison can be identified a priori. The utility of the technique is demonstrated in an analysis of the growth (dry weight) of Chironomus tentans larvae during 10-d sediment toxicity assays of sediments from western Lake Erie and the Maumee River at Toledo, Ohio. The use of linear orthogonal contrasts revealed several pertinent aspects of the data set which were not apparent after ANOVA followed by multiple range tests.
STUDIES UPON EXPERIMENTAL PNEUMONIA IN RABBITS VIII. INTRA VITAM STAINING IN EXPERIMENTAL PNEUMONIA, AND THE CIRCULATION IN THE PNEUMONIC LUNG.

1. Dead leucocytes are constantly found in the pneumonic exudate. They rapidly undergo disintegration. Up to the seventh day they do not form the majority of the cells of the exudate. 2. Polymorphonuclear leucocytes with vitally stained granules are present in the exudate, vessels, and interstitial tissue of the lung in experimental pneumonia, but they are not demonstrable in the general circulation in the same animals. 3. There is a marked impairment of the circulation in the pneumonic lung. 4. The increase in the intra-alveolar pressure exerted by the exudate has no influence upon the circulation. 5. The impaired circulation results from the wide distribution of capillary fibrin thrombi. In man these are, as a rule, distributed with relative uniformity. In the rabbit this is not usually the case. The thrombi are much more abundant in some areas and may lead to localized necrosis. 6. The impairment of the circulation is of importance in bringing about resolution. Only enough blood is allowed to seep through the vessels to nourish the alveolar walls. Consequently very little serum escapes into the alveoli and the autolysis of the exudate by the leucocytes is unhindered. 7. The impairment of the circulation in the pneumonic lung seriously interferes with the action of intravenous therapy upon the local lesion. 8. The exudate in the pneumonic lung can be readily impregnated with a dye injected intrabronchially. This suggests a method of administration of therapeutic agents in pneumonia.
Complex rate constant for an electrochemical system involving an adsorbed intermediate

Abstract Two different methods of obtaining the impedance of a system involving an electrochemical reaction with an adsorbed intermediate are compared. The earlier method combines in parallel an impedance derived separately for the overall reaction with that for the rest of the system. It is appropriate for a fully supported electrolyte system but seems much less applicable to the unsupported situation. In contrast, the method derived and discussed herein involves complex reaction rate constants which may be directly incorporated in expressions for the total system impedance. This method may, therefore, be applied to either supported or unsupported situations. Several specific cases of the general complex rate constant results are discussed, particularly, various frequency dependencies possible. The overall small-signal impedance may be inductive in some parts of the frequency range and the low frequency limiting differential resistance negative, zero, or positive under various conditions.
Production of gastric intrinsic factor, transcobalamin, and haptocorrin in opossum kidney cells.

Opossum kidney epithelial cells were shown previously to synthesize and secrete two cobalamin (Cbl)-binding proteins, presumed to be haptocorrin (Hc) and transcobalamin II (TCII). The present study...
Mutagenicity of benzo(a)pyrenyl-1-sulfate in the Ames test.

Comparison of the mutagenicity of nine isomeric benzo(a)pyrenyl [B(a)P] phenols conjugated with either sulfate or glucuronide was carried out using strain Salmonella typhimurium TA98. Of the nine conjugates tested, only B(a)P-1-sulfate was mutagenic. Accordingly, the mutagenicity of B(a)P-1-sulfate was compared with that of B(a)P and 1-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P-1-OH] in the presence and absence of rat lung S9 and Aroclor-induced liver S9 with and without an NADPH-generating system. B(a)P-1-sulfate was slightly mutagenic, whereas B(a)P and the 1-hydroxy derivative were nonmutagenic when S9 fractions and NADPH were omitted. Addition of induced liver S9 with NADPH caused mutagenicity with B(a) -1-OH>B(a)P>B(a)P-1-sulfate. B(a)P-1-sulfate was the only mutagenic species when lung S9 was added. This mutagenicity did not require NADPH. Sodium sulfite, an inhibitor of arylsulfatase, decreased the mutagenicity of B(a)P-1-sulfate. These data suggest that a unique mutagenic species is generated from B(a)P-1-sulfate via arylsulfatase in rat lung. 20 refs., 5 figs., 3 tabs.
Campylobacter fetus Surface Layer Proteins Are Transported by a Type I Secretion System

The virulence of Campylobacter fetus, a bacterial pathogen of ungulates and humans, is mediated in part by the presence of a paracrystalline surface layer (S-layer) that confers serum resistance. The subunits of the S-layer are S-layer proteins (SLPs) that are secreted in the absence of an N-terminal signal sequence and attach to either type A or B C. fetus lipopolysaccharide in a serospecific manner. Antigenic variation of multiple SLPs (encoded by sapA homologs) of type A strain 23D occurs by inversion of a promoter-containing DNA element flanked by two sapA homologs. Cloning and sequencing of the entire 6.2-kb invertible region from C. fetus 23D revealed a probable 5.6-kb operon of four overlapping genes (sapCDEF, with sizes of 1,035, 1,752, 1,284, and 1,302 bp, respectively) transcribed in the opposite direction from sapA. The four genes also were present in the invertible region of type B strain 84-107 and were virtually identical to their counterparts in the type A strain. Although SapC had no database homologies, SapD, SapE, and SapF had predicted amino acid homologies with type I protein secretion systems (typified by Escherichia coli HlyBD/TolC or Erwinia chrysanthemi PrtDEF) that utilize C-terminal secretion signals to mediate the secretion of hemolysins, leukotoxins, or proteases from other bacterial species. Analysis of the C termini of four C. fetus SLPs revealed conserved structures that are potential secretion signals. A C. fetus sapD mutant neither produced nor secreted SLPs. E. coli expressing C. fetus sapA and sapCDEF secreted SapA, indicating that the sapCDEF genes are sufficient for SLP secretion. C. fetus SLPs therefore are transported to the cell surface by a type I secretion system.
In Their Own Voices: Latinas’ Experiences With a Randomized Controlled Trial

We conducted exit interviews with a random sample of 39 predominantly Central American immigrant mothers who had completed a longitudinal randomized controlled trial to prevent perinatal depression. We found that rates and levels of perinatal depression in the intervention and control groups were lower than expected and did not differ between groups at 1 year postpartum. Therefore, we conducted extensive semistructured interviews to (a) understand why these high-risk women had such low rates of major depressive episodes and depressive symptoms, and (b) determine if the mechanisms responsible for reductions in depression differed between the intervention and usual care groups. We discovered that the intervention group learned specific mood-management skills from their participation in the intervention, and that the control group experienced their participation in the study as a "low-dose" intervention. Our experience highlights the importance of conducting qualitative studies to understand quantitative outcomes of intervention studies.
Molecular Basis of Cell Membrane Estrogen Receptor Interaction With Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase in Endothelial Cells

Objective— Nontranscriptional signaling mechanisms mediate some of the biological effects of estrogen, such as the rapid actions on the blood vessels. By interacting with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), estrogen receptor (ER) α leads to activation of protein kinase Akt and to subsequent increase in endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity. Because PI3K is mainly a cytoplasmic complex, we studied the cellular site of interaction between this enzyme and ERα, and we dissected the molecular mechanisms that mediate this interaction. Methods and Results— By using cultured human saphenous vain endothelial cells, we found that cell membrane–bound ERα colocalizes with PI3K and may be responsible for PI3K activation. Furthermore, we characterized the subsequent steps in the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling cascade, comparing the molecular events that follow insulin or estradiol activation of PI3K. Conclusions— We provide novel evidence for an important role of nonnuclear estrogen receptor in rapid, nontranscriptional responses of human endothelial cells to estrogen.
Mouse Y-Encoded Transcription Factor Zfy2 Is Essential for Sperm Formation and Function in Assisted Fertilization

Spermatogenesis is a key developmental process allowing for a formation of a mature male gamete. During its final phase, spermiogenesis, haploid round spermatids undergo cellular differentiation into spermatozoa, which involves extensive restructuring of cell morphology, DNA, and epigenome. Using mouse models with abrogated Y chromosome gene complements and Y-derived transgene we identified Y chromosome encoded Zfy2 as the gene responsible for sperm formation and function. In the presence of a Zfy2 transgene, mice lacking the Y chromosome and transgenic for two other Y-derived genes, Sry driving sex determination and Eif2s3y initiating spermatogenesis, are capable of producing sperm which when injected into the oocytes yield live offspring. Therefore, only three Y chromosome genes, Sry, Eif2s3y and Zfy2, constitute the minimum Y chromosome complement compatible with successful intracytoplasmic sperm injection in the mouse.
From the 'Great Convergence' to the 'First Great Divergence': Roman and Qin-Han State Formation and its Aftermath

This paper provides a synoptic outline of convergent trends in state formation in western and eastern Eurasia from the early first millennium BCE to the mid-first millennium CE and considers the problem of subsequent divergence.
A Comparison of Soundtrack Processing Methods for Color Release Positive Film

The problems of processing color release positive film to give a dye image and a silver soundtrack are discussed. The viscous image bleach method is described in some detail. The direct silver plus dye track produced by the viscous bleach method is compared with the track produced by the conventional redeveloped silver method.
Time of emergence, mating, sperm movement, and transfer of ejaculatory duct secretory fluid by Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under reversed light-dark cycle laboratory conditions.

In laboratory studies under reversed light-dark photoperiods, highest percentages of Heliothis virescens (F.) moths emerged during the first 6 h after initiation of the dark period. The primary simplex area of newly emerged male moths contained a dense, gel-like, creamy-white secretory fluid that became orange white in 5 to 10 h and progressively deepened in color to a dark-red-maroon color by 24 to 48 h. Apyrene sperm occurred in the duplex of the ejaculatory duct of male moths within 1 to 3 h after emergence from the pupae and sperm bundles within 5 to 7 h. The red fluid remained identifiable in unmated male moths through their lives and was transferred to female moths during the first mating and did not recur in the male simplex. The material remained identifiable in the female's bursa copulatrix during her entire life. First moth matings occurred ca. 3 h after the initiation of the dark period, and about 98% of the mating occurred between h 3 and 8 of the dark period. No sperm was found in the duplex immediately after mating occurred. However, apyrene and eupyrene sperm descended from seminal vesicles or testes to the duplex within 6 to 9 h after mating. Numbers of eggs laid and eggs hatched from females mated to virgin males transferring the red secretory fluid (first mating) were not significantly different than numbers of eggs laid and eggs hatched from females mated to previously mated males. The simplex of 32% of native H. virescens male moths collected for a 7-day period from 31 August to 7 September 1983 contained red secretory material, indicating they were unmated males. The secretory area of the simplex of the remaining male moths collected contained transparent pale yellow to greenish material, indicating they were previously mated moths.
Formation of 2S-Hydroxy-β-ionone and 4ξ-Hydroxy-β-ionone by Microbial Hydroxylation of β-Ionone

(1978). Formation of 2S-Hydroxy-β-ionone and 4ξ-Hydroxy-β-ionone by Microbial Hydroxylation of β-Ionone. Agricultural and Biological Chemistry: Vol. 42, No. 5, pp. 1075-1077.
Clinical information systems in the era of managed care.

The dramatic recent changes in health-care financing and delivery, particularly the emergence ofmanaged care and competition, are challenging many of the traditional assumptions regarding the roles and stability of hospitals and practice styles. One result of these changes has been a new appreciation ofthe need for facile access to clinical and cost data (as opposed to the administrative and charge data that have, in the past, tended to dominate in the design of computer-based information systems for hospitals and other large health-care organizations). Vendors of hospital-information systems, previously focused on selling systems to hospital administrators and deemphasizing the role of systems in supporting clinical care, are now scrambling to improve their products' clinical capabilities and their appeal to practitioners. Such changes are requiring a cultural shift, and the definition of new system architectures, that not all companies have been able to embrace or achieve. New companies and products are emerging, and hospitals are increasingly requiring vendors to demonstrate the ability of their products to integrate with other information-management tools, based on industry standards for connectivity that are gradually being defined. Against this background, we have seen recent emerging interest in the notion of a "data superhighway," a national, federally-directed information infrastructure that would support activities in many areas of our society, including health care. The first indications of the government's interest in this area emerged in the late 1980s. Consider, for example, the following excerpt from a 1989 newspaper article:
Mental health reform in Georgia, 1992 to 1996

In 1992 Georgia embarked on an ambitious reform of its public mental health system. Regional mental health authorities were created with consumers and family members as decision makers. Reform legislation required that hospital and community funds be combined to provide for flexible shifting of funds to communities as use of state hospitals decreased. However, after four years and at a cost of almost $15 million, few tangible results can be demonstrated. In fact, hospital admissions have increased since 1991. Further, a proposal for a Medicaid section 1115 waiver that would permit managed care organizations to assume responsibility for key decisions threatens to undermine the decision-making authority of regional mental health authorities. This paper summarizes the background leading to Georgia's reform, reviews its accomplishments, and suggests lessons to be gained from Georgia's experiences.
Impact of Stress Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Clinical Care.

Given the rising costs of imaging, there is increasing pressure to provide evidence for direct additive impact on clinical care. Appropriate use criteria (AUC) were developed to optimize test-patient selection and are increasingly used by payers to assess reimbursement. However, these criteria were created by expert consensus with limited systematic validation. The aims of this study were therefore to determine (1) rates of active clinical change resulting from stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and (2) whether the AUC can predict these changes. We prospectively enrolled 350 consecutive outpatients referred for stress CMR. Categories of "active changes in clinical care" due to stress CMR were predefined. Appropriateness was classified according to the 2013 AUC. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with active change. Overall, stress CMR led to an active change in clinical care in about 70% of patients. Rates of change in clinical care did not vary significantly across AUC categories (p = 0.767). In a multivariate model adjusting for clinical variables and AUC, only ischemia (odds ratio [OR] 6.896, 95% CI 2.637 to 18.032, p
Loss of CCR2 signaling alters leukocyte recruitment and exacerbates γ-herpesvirus-induced pneumonitis and fibrosis following bone marrow transplantation

CCR2-expressing leukocytes are required for the progression of fibrosis in models of induced lung injury as well as models of bone marrow transplant (BMT)-related idiopathic pneumonia syndrome. Infection with murid γ-herpesvirus-68 (γHV-68) results in severe pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis following syngeneic BMT; however, the roles that various proinflammatory leukocyte populations play in this process remain unclear. Deletion of CCR2 in both non-BMT and BMT mice increased early lytic viral replication and resulted in a reduction in the numbers of lung-infiltrating GR1+,F4/80+ and CXCR1+ cells, while maintaining robust neutrophil infiltration. Similarly, in γHV-68-infected CCR2(-/-) BMT mice, recruitment of monocytes and lymphocytes were reduced whereas neutrophil recruitment was increased compared with wild-type (WT) BMT mice. Interestingly, levels of profibrotic IL-17 were increased in infected CCR2 BMT mice compared with WT BMT. Furthermore, an increase in lung-associated collagen was detected even though there was an overall decrease in the number of profibrotic CCR2+ fibrocytes detected in the lungs of CCR2(-/-) BMT mice. These data indicate that, contrary to most models of fibrosis, deletion of CCR2 offers no protection from γ-herpesvirus-induced pneumonitis and fibrosis, and, indeed, CCR2+ cells play a suppressive role during the development of pulmonary fibrosis following γ-herpesvirus infection post-BMT by limiting IL-7 and collagen production.
Personalized Virtual Reality for Upper Extremity Rehabilitation: Moving from the Clinic to a Home Exercise Program

Introduction : Traditional rehabilitation does not provide adequate repetitions for maximal motor recovery in the clinic and home exercise programs (HEPs) have low compliance rates. Personalized virtual reality (PVR) is a promising low-cost therapeutic tool for improving compliance by incorporating the client's interests, abilities, and goals into a motivating and engaging intervention using internet games. Objectives : The current study aimed to develop and refine a clinic-to-home PVR intervention, determine its feasibility and usability in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic and as a HEP, and examine its effects on motivation/engagement, compliance, motor repetitions, and functional motor performance. Methods : The PVR system utilizes a Microsoft Kinect sensor to track the participantsâ€™ movements, free software to translate movements to keystrokes, and free internet games. The therapist matched participantsâ€™ interests to internet games, customized therapeutic movements for game play, and increased the movement thresholds for game activation as participants improved. Two participants who had strokes resulting in upper extremity (UE) hemiplegia were recruited. The participants attended outpatient occupational therapy (OT) services twice weekly. Following training, the participants used the PVR system at home in place of their UE HEP. They continued to receive traditional OT once a week and clinic-PVR once a week for 5-8 weeks. Results : The PVR intervention was successfully implemented in the clinic and the clientsâ€™ homes. PVR increased motivation and treatment compliance. The clients exhibited improvements in UE active range of motion, function, symptoms, and occupational performance. Conclusion : Preliminary evidence suggests PVR can improve motivation, compliance, function, and occupational performance. However, larger scale studies and protocol refinement are necessary.