cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The beginnings of radioiodine therapy of metastatic thyroid carcinoma: a memoir of Samuel M. Seidlin, M. D. (1895-1955) and his celebrated patient.

Emerging from a stimulating encounter over fifty years ago between Dr. S. M. Seidlin and a celebrated patient at Montefiore Hospital in New York City are a number of findings that bear significantly on the contemporary practice of medicine relating to targeted radioisotope therapy. In 1943, Seidlin administered radioiodine to this patient, who was hyperthyroid although previously thyroidectomized, but who had several metastases from adenocarcinoma of the thyroid which localized the radioisotope. Seidlin recognized early that some thyroid metastases would take up radioiodine (i.e., function), but only after the normal thyroid gland was ablated, an essential preliminary procedure before radioiodine therapy should be administered, the clinical practice followed to this day. He held that removing the normal thyroid increased TSH production and eliminated the gland's competition for radioiodine, inducing the metastases to function. From 1942 until his death in 1955, Seidlin and his group followed many patients having metastatic thyroid carcinoma, conducting fruitful investigations concerned with the induction of function, dosimetry, and the occurrence of leukemia in some massively treated patients.
DIGITAL RESTORATION OF DAMAGED PHONOGRAPH RECORDS

A method for digital restoration of phonograph recordings contaminated by impulsive noise is proposed. Impulses are suppressed by applying median filtering on contaminated signal regions only, thus minimizing distortion of clean passages and loss of high musical frequencies. The algorithm can be implemented on a personal computer equipped with any inexpensive sound board, and thus it can be used for the restoration of damaged records in home collections. In experiments with old recordings the improvement in sound quality was dramatic. The restored audio signal can be archived in digital form on regular computer back-up tapes or on digital audio tapes, or it can be played through the sound board and stored onto an analog recording media such as high-quality cassette tapes.
Gentamicin Reduces Calcific Nodule Formation by Aortic Valve Interstitial Cells In Vitro

Gentamicin is a widely employed antibiotic, but may reduce calcium uptake by eukaryotic cells. This study was conducted to determine whether gentamicin reduces calcification by porcine aortic valvular interstitial cells (pAVICs) grown in 2D culture, which is a common model for calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). The presence of gentamicin (up to 0.2 mM) in the medium of pAVICs cultured for 8 days significantly lowered calcification and alkaline phosphatase content in a dose-dependent manner compared to pAVICs cultured without gentamicin. Gentamicin also significantly increased cell proliferation and apoptosis at concentrations of 0.1–0.2 mM compared to controls. Next, gentamicin was applied to previously calcified pAVIC cultures (grown for 8 days) to determine whether it could stop or reverse the calcification process. Daily application of gentamicin for 8 additional days significantly reduced calcification to below the pre-calcification levels. These results confirm that gentamicin should be used cautiously with in vitro studies of calcification, and suggest that gentamicin may have the ability to reverse calcification by pAVICs. Given the nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity of this antibiotic, its clinical potential for the treatment of calcification in heart valves is limited. However, further investigation of the pathways through which gentamicin alters calcium uptake by valvular cells may provide insight into novel therapies for CAVD.
A monoclonal antibody against cytochrome c oxidase distinguishes cardiac and skeletal muscle mitochondria.

The mitochondrial enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (COX) in eukaryotes consists of at least seven subunits, three of which (I–III) are encoded by mitochondrial DNA (mitDNA) and the others (IV–VII) by the nuclear genome. There is increasing evidence that COX in mammals exists in multiple tissue-specific forms, presumably specified by nuclearly encoded subunits. We performed immunologic studies in human cardiac and skeletal muscle, using a monoclonal antibody raised against subunit IV of COX purified from human cardiac muscle. In immunotitration studies, the antibody bound with high affinity to mitochondria from cardiac muscle, but reacted only weakly with mitochondria from skeletal muscle. Similarly, immunocytochemical studies showed prominent mitochondrial staining in frozen sections of heart, but no staining in sections of mature skeletal muscle. Although this antibody did not stain mitochondria in mature skeletal muscle, it clearly stained mitochondria in myoblasts and immature myotubes of human muscle cultures, suggesting that mitochondria in immature muscle cells are different from those in mature muscle, and similar to heart mitochondria. Immunotitration data using either native or denatured COX protein from heart or skeletal muscle showed similar immunoreactivity. These studies indicate that the epitope for recognition by this antibody is exposed in mitochondria from heart and immature muscle cells, but masked in mitochondria from mature skeletal muscle.
The neuroradiological findings in a case of Revesz syndrome

Revesz syndrome is a variant of dyskeratosis congenita characterized by aplastic anemia, retinopathy, and central nervous system abnormalities. We describe a 3-year-old boy in whom the spectrum of neuroimaging findings, including intracranial calcifications, cerebellar hypoplasia and unusual brain lesions were found by biopsy to be gliosis despite their enhancement and progression. In patients with dyskeratosis-related syndromes, non-neoplastic parenchymal brain lesions occur and gliosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis for progressive enhancing brain lesions. Should this finding be confirmed consistently in additional cases, brain biopsy could potentially be avoided.
Automated Alerts Coupled with Antimicrobial Stewardship Intervention Lead to Decreases in Length of Stay in Patients with Gram-Negative Bacteremia

Objective. To assess the impact of active alerting of positive blood culture data coupled with stewardship intervention on time to appropriate therapy, length of stay, and mortality in patients with gram-negative bacteremia. Design. Quasi-experimental retrospective cohort study in patients with gram-negative bacteremia at the Detroit Medical Center from 2009 to 2011. Setting. Three hospitals (1 community, 2 academic) with active antimicrobial stewardship programs within the Detroit Medical Center. Patients. All patients with monomicrobial gram-negative bacteremia during the study period. Intervention. Active alerting of positive blood culture data coupled with stewardship intervention (2010-2011) compared with patients who received no formalized stewardship intervention (2009). Results. Active alerting and intervention led to a decreased time to appropriate therapy (8 [interquartile range (IQR), 2-24] vs 14 [IQR, 2-35] hours; P = .014) in patients with gram-negative bacteremia. After controlling for differences between groups, being in the intervention arm was associated with an independent reduction in length of stay (odds ratio [OR], 0.73 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.62-0.86]), correlating to a median attributable decrease in length of stay of 2.2 days. Additionally, multivariate modeling of patients who were not on appropriate antimicrobial therapy at the time of initial culture positivity showed that patients in the intervention group had a significant reduction in both length of stay (OR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.66-0.86]) and infection-related mortality (OR, 0.24 [95% CI, 0.08-0.76]). Conclusions. Active alerting coupled with stewardship intervention in patients with gram-negative bacteremia positively impacted time to appropriate therapy, length of stay, and mortality and should be a target of antimicrobial stewardship programs.
Modeling of the supporting legs for designing biomimetic water strider robots

Recent studies on the insect water strider showed that the insect heavily relies on surface tension force to stay afloat. Inspired by this insect, water strider robots have been developed using the same locomotive principles as the insect. This paper focuses on numerically modeling the supporting legs of the insect and the robots. The rigid-leg model as well as the compliant-leg model is developed using numerical approaches, under an assumption made on the water surface breaking condition. The effect of different leg material and geometry are discussed. It is shown through simulations that four 7 cm-long Teflonreg coated compliant supporting legs with optimized shapes can lift up to 4.3 grams (0.15 g/cm), while an actual prototype carried 3.7 grams. Another prototype using twelve of these legs successfully lifted 9.3 grams. Experiments show that the analyses capture the important features of the supporting legs. The design rules proposed in this paper are useful in understanding the insect statics and also the robotic water strider supporting leg design. This study allows a heavier robot to be used for education, entertainment or environment monitoring purposes
Transcriptional and post-translational regulation of adiponectin

Adiponectin is an adipose-tissue-derived hormone with anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory functions. Adiponectin circulates in the bloodstream in trimeric, hexameric and high-molecular-mass species, and different forms of adiponectin have been found to play distinct roles in the regulation of energy homoeostasis. The serum levels of adiponectin are negatively correlated with obesity and insulin resistance, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In the present review, we summarize recent progress made on the mechanisms regulating adiponectin gene transcription, multimerization and secretion. We also discuss the potential relevance of these studies to the development of new clinical therapy for insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related metabolic disorders.
Involvement of GABA and cholinergic receptors in the nucleus accumbens on feedback control of somatodendritic dopamine release in the ventral tegmental area

The objectives of the present study were to examine the involvement of GABA and cholinergic receptors within the nucleus accumbens (ACB) on feedback regulation of somatodendritic dopamine (DA) release in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Adult male Wistar rats were implanted with ipsilateral dual guide cannulae for in vivo microdialysis studies. Activation of the feedback system was accomplished by perfusion of the ACB with the DA uptake inhibitor GBR 12909 (GBR; 100 µm). To assess the involvement of GABA and cholinergic receptors in regulating this feedback system, antagonists (100 µm) for GABAA (bicuculline, BIC), GABAB (phaclofen, PHAC), muscarinic (scopolamine, SCOP), and nicotinic (mecamylamine, MEC) receptors were perfused through the probe in the ACB while measuring extracellular DA levels in the ACB and VTA. Local perfusion of the ACB with GBR significantly increased (500% of baseline) the extracellular levels of DA in the ACB and produced a concomitant decrease (50% of baseline) in the extracellular DA levels in the VTA. Perfusion of the ACB with BIC or PHAC alone produced a 200–400% increase in the extracellular levels of DA in the ACB but neither antagonist altered the levels of DA in the VTA. Co-perfusion of either GABA receptor antagonist with GBR further increased the extracellular levels of DA in the ACB to 700–800% of baseline. However, coperfusion with BIC completely prevented the reduction in the extracellular levels of DA in the VTA produced by GBR alone, whereas PHAC partially prevented the reduction. Local perfusion of the ACB with either MEC or SCOP alone had little effect on the extracellular levels of DA in the ACB or VTA. Co-perfusion of either cholinergic receptor antagonist with GBR markedly reduced the extracellular levels of DA in the ACB and prevented the effects of GBR on reducing DA levels in the VTA. Overall, the results of this study suggest that terminal DA release in the ACB is under tonic GABA inhibition mediated by GABAA (and possibly GABAB) receptors, and tonic cholinergic excitation mediated by both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. Activation of GABAA (and possibly GABAB) receptors within the ACB may be involved in the feedback inhibition of VTA DA neurons. Cholinergic interneurons may influence the negative feedback system by regulating terminal DA release within the ACB.
Lateral Channel Migration Effects on Riparian Forest Structure and Composition, Congaree River, South Carolina, USA

Lateral channel migration initiates complex and dynamic biogeomorphic responses that are fundamental to the creation and maintenance of riparian habitats along low-gradient, coastal plain rivers. This study examines the effects of lateral migration rates on the structure and composition of riparian forests along the Congaree River, Congaree National Park, in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, South Carolina. Lateral channel migration rates were measured in a GIS using aerial photos from 1938–2006. Forest variables were measured from a stratified-random sample of 25 paired edge-interior plots, and analyzed using Mann-Whitney tests, Spearman’s correlations, multi-response permutation procedures (MRPP), and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (NMS) ordinations. Lateral channel migration produced a significant directional control on riparian forests. Pointbar forests exhibited classic forward succession dependent on spatial and temporal controls related to elevation, flood frequency, and lateral migration rates. Cutbank forests responded positively to exposure along the edge and increased in structural complexity with increasing proximity to the river; density, basal area, and richness varied inversely with lateral migration rates. Cutbank edges with low lateral migration allowed longer time for trees to colonize and they contained greater density, basal area, and richness. Cutbanks with high lateral migration contained lower tree density, basal area, and richness.
Emotional reactions and salesperson motivation: An attributional approach following inadequate sales performance

This research investigates the impact of emotional reactions on salesperson motivation. Using Weiner’s attributional theory of motivation and emotion, a study was conduted to determine how emotional reactions affect salesperson motivation after failure to make a monthly sales quota. The results suggest that a variety of emotional reactions have different effects both on expectations of future success and motivation.
A literature review of the functional movement screen as a predictor of injury in the sport of basketball

approved: ___________________________________________________ Anthony Wilcox, PhD Athletic activities have always carried an inherent risk for injuries, and basketball is no exception. Basketball is the second most popular team sport in the United States in which 984,777 high school boys and girls participated during the 2010-2011 season. Athletic trainers and strength and conditioning staff are pressured to keep these athletes healthy and playing in games. Injury prevention strategies can reduce the amount of injuries accumulated during a basketball season. One possible injury prevention tool is Gray Cook’s Functional Movement Screen (FMS). The FMS is a seven test screen which portrays a brief overview of an athlete’s fundamental movement patterns (the quality of an athlete’s movements). Poor movement patterns and asymmetries have been associated with injuries. Scholarly research is investigated to identify if the FMS could identify injury susceptible players in the sport of basketball. The literature reviewed reveals mixed results. Some studies identify a possible connection between low FMS scores and injury susceptibility while other literature displays the FMS’s inability to predict injury potential. Other research suggests that the FMS may lack the ability to identify injury susceptibility in athletes who have had a previous injury. Overall, the research is too inconclusive to suggest that the FMS should be used as a pre-participation screening tool for the sport of basketball.
A framework for trajectory based visual event retrieval

We present a framework of a system for the query and retrieval of video data based on video events in huge video repositories. The events are formulated using domain-independent event primitives, which are represented by spatio-temporal relationships between objects in the video scenes. Complex events are expressible as combinations of simpler events. This facilitates support of event queries from a variety of points of view. In addition, the framework is expected to provide adaptability of the framework to multiple domains.
Effects of elevated temperature treatments in microstructure release procedures

Elevated temperature solvent rinses are shown to reduce stiction of micromechanical structures after release etch processing. Rinsing the structures in boiling methanol after rinsing in water significantly improves yields. Photographs taken during the drying process indicate two distinct modes of solvent vaporization, one of which leads to stiction. This process can be modeled and used to predict the critical length of cantilevered beams above which stiction occurs. A key element of this model is that the dynamics of the drying process are strongly influenced by the shape of the microstructure perimeter. The decrease in stiction cannot be explained solely by liquid bridging modeling in case of elevated rinse temperature. Stiction can be further decreased by drying at high temperature in a rapid thermal annealer; this suggests that instability of the trapped liquid under tension at elevated temperatures may be a dominant factor in reducing the stiction. >
A Model for Learning Variance Components of Natural Images

We present a hierarchical Bayesian model for learning efficient codes of higher-order structure in natural images. The model, a non-linear generalization of independent component analysis, replaces the standard assumption of independence for the joint distribution of coefficients with a distribution that is adapted to the variance structure of the coefficients of an efficient image basis. This offers a novel description of higher-order image structure and provides a way to learn coarse-coded, sparse-distributed representations of abstract image properties such as object location, scale, and texture.
Domesticating History: The Political Origins ofAmericas House Museums, Patricia West. Washing­ton D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press

The standard works on the origins of the historical preservation movement in the United States are Hosmer's two volumes (1965, 1981) . West takes a slightly different approach in this work, using the development of four specific house museums (Mount Vemon, the Orchard House of Louisa May A1con, Monticello, and the Booker T. Washington National Monument) as foils to by which to develop more of the social context of the respective periods of formation, and the political institu­tions involved. She argues (p. xii) that "house museums are products as well as purveyors of his­ tory", that "house museums are and always have been about politics" and that as scholars we must understand that actual histories of house museums have often been superseded by "creation myths" which have evolved associated with the museums as part of the cultural politics of the context of their formation. This has clear implications for the history of archaeology, not only in terms of the context and worldview of the 1 9th century development of museum theory, but also in terns of the use of archaeology in the 20th century as part of the myth building process. The 180 pages of text developing this theme are well-documented by 70 pages of supporting notes.
Wisdom’s Whimsical Ways:

The purpose of this article is to explore the various ways wisdom is manifested in day-to-day living. Selected literature on wisdom is explored from a humanbecoming nurse perspective, perspectives from philosophy, psychiatry, theology, anthropology and the martial arts. A humanbecoming perspective on living wisdom is synthesized from the literature review.
Tutorial on multisensor management and fusion algorithms for target tracking

This paper provides an introduction to sensor fusion techniques for target tracking. It presents an overview of common filtering techniques that are effective for moving targets as well as methods of overcoming problems specific to target tracking, such as measurement-to-track association and sensor registration. The computational demand of such algorithms is discussed and various practices, including distributed processing of target tracks and sensor management, are proposed to help reduce this demand. Final comments include a discussion of applications and implementation issues specific to the presented scenarios.
Signal estimation via Laguerre series

This paper demonstrates that Laguerre series can be used to estimate a variety of signals, including a) transient signals; b) infinitely persisting finite power signals; and c) signals that explode. One of the examples presented is the estimation of the step response of a linear time invariant system which leads to a discussion of the relationship of the proposed technique with the classical system identification algorithm due to B. L. Ho.
Evidence for a Functional Role of the Molecular Chaperone Clusterin in Amyloidotic Cardiomyopathy

Molecular chaperones, including the extracellular protein clusterin (CLU), play a significant role in maintaining proteostasis; they have a unique capacity to bind and stabilize non-native protein conformations, prevent aggregation, and keep proteins in a soluble folding-competent state. In this study, we investigated amyloid-infiltrated cardiac tissue for the presence of CLU and measured serum levels of CLU in patients with and without amyloidotic cardiomyopathy (CMP). Cardiac tissues containing amyloid deposits composed of either transthyretin (TTR) or Ig light chain from nine patients with amyloidotic CMP were examined for the presence of CLU using immunohistochemical techniques. CLU staining coincided with the extracellular myocardial amyloid deposits in tissues from patients with familial TTR, senile systemic, and Ig light chain amyloidosis. The association of CLU with cardiac amyloid deposits was confirmed by immunogold electron microscopy. Serum concentrations of CLU were measured in familial TTR, senile systemic, and Ig light chain amyloidosis patient groups and compared with both age-matched healthy controls and with patients with CMP unrelated to amyloid disease. Subset analysis of disease cohorts, based on cardiac involvement, indicated that decreased serum CLU concentrations were associated with amyloidotic CMP. Taken together, these results suggest that CLU may play a pathogenetic role in TTR and Ig light chain amyloidoses and amyloidotic CMP.
The Role of the Speech-Language Pathologist in Identifying and Treating Children With Auditory Processing Disorder

Purpose The purpose of this prologue is to provide a historical perspective regarding the controversial issues surrounding auditory processing disorder (APD), as well as a summary of the current issues and perspectives that will be discussed in the articles in this forum. Method An evidence-based systematic review was conducted to examine treatment efficacy data in regard to APD, with inconclusive results. The review raised several issues and highlighted the differences in how various professionals approach APD. Consequently, experts who were members of an ad hoc American Speech-Language-Hearing Association committee charged with delineating the role of the speech-language pathologist in addressing APD attempted to describe in more detail their individual author perspectives on the topic. Conclusion Despite concerted efforts by researchers and clinical professionals, minimal concrete evidence is available to guide practicing professionals responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of APD. The role of the...
Efficient in silico exploration of RNA interhelical conformations using Euler angles and WExplore

HIV-1 TAR RNA is a two-helix bulge motif that plays a critical role in HIV viral replication and is an important drug target. However, efforts at designing TAR inhibitors have been challenged by its high degree of structural flexibility, which includes slow large-amplitude reorientations of its helices with respect to one another. Here, we use the recently introduced algorithm WExplore in combination with Euler angles to achieve unprecedented sampling of the TAR conformational ensemble. Our ensemble achieves similar agreement with experimental NMR data when compared with previous TAR computational studies, and is generated at a fraction of the computational cost. It clearly emerges from configuration space network analysis that the intermittent formation of the A22-U40 base pair acts as a reversible switch that enables sampling of interhelical conformations that would otherwise be topologically disallowed. We find that most previously determined ligand-bound structures are found in similar location in the network, and we use a sample-and-select approach to guide the construction of a set of novel conformations which can serve as the basis for future drug development efforts. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the utility of WExplore in combination with suitable order parameters as a method for exploring RNA conformational space.
Exploration of the binding sites of acetylcholinesterase with protein-modifying reagents.

Abstract The effects of eight protein-modifying reagents upon bovine erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase have been studied with three substrates: acetylthiocholine, p -nitrophenyl acetate, and indophenyl acetate. It was shown that a variety of interferences can occur unless the excess modifier and its product are removed chromatographically. After such removal, five of the agents were shown to have modified the enzyme; each acted in one of four ways. Class I was activation of indophenyl acetate hydrolysis with inhibition of acetylthiocholine hydrolysis. Class II was nonselective inhibition of all substrates. Class III was relatively selective inhibition of acetylthiocholine hydrolysis. Class IV was selective activation of indophenyl acetate hydrolysis.
Structure of the Kidney Slit Diaphragm Adapter Protein CD2-Associated Protein as Determined with Electron Microscopy

CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) is a multidomain scaffolding protein that has a critical role in renal function. CD2AP is expressed in glomerular podocytes at the slit diaphragm, a modified adherens junction that comprises the protein filtration barrier of the kidney, and interacts with a number of protein ligands involved in cytoskeletal remodeling, membrane trafficking, cell motility, and cell survival. The structure of CD2AP is unknown. We used electron microscopy and single particle image analysis to determine the three-dimensional structure of recombinant full-length CD2AP and found that the protein is a tetramer in solution. Image reconstruction of negatively stained protein particles generated a structure at 21 A resolution. The protein assumed a roughly spherical, very loosely packed structure. Analysis of the electron density map revealed that CD2AP consists of a central coiled-coil domain, which forms the tetramer interface, surrounded by four symmetry-related motifs, each containing three globular domains corresponding to the three SH3 domains. The spatial organization exposes the binding sites of all 12 SH3 domains in the tetramer, allowing simultaneous binding to multiple targets. Determination of the structure of CD2AP provides novel insights into the biology of this slit diaphragm protein and lays the groundwork for characterizing the interactions between key molecules of the slit diaphragm that control glomerular filtration.
Chromatin architecture of the Pitx2 locus requires CTCF and Pitx2 dependent asymmetry that mirrors embryonic gut laterality

Expression of Pitx2 on the left side of the embryo patterns left-right (LR) organs including the dorsal mesentery (DM), whose asymmetric cell behavior directs gut looping. Despite the importance of organ laterality, chromatin-level regulation of Pitx2 remains undefined. Here, we show that genes immediately neighboring Pitx2 in chicken and mouse, including a long noncoding RNA (Pitx2 locus-asymmetric regulated RNA or Playrr), are expressed on the right side and repressed by Pitx2. CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing of Playrr, 3D fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and variations of chromatin conformation capture (3C) demonstrate that mutual antagonism between Pitx2 and Playrr is coordinated by asymmetric chromatin interactions dependent on Pitx2 and CTCF. We demonstrate that transcriptional and morphological asymmetries driving gut looping are mirrored by chromatin architectural asymmetries at the Pitx2 locus. We propose a model whereby Pitx2 auto-regulation directs chromatin topology to coordinate LR transcription of this locus essential for LR organogenesis.
A multiple microreactor system for parallel catalyst preparation and testing

A system containing nine catalytic microreactors for parallel preparation and testing of heterogeneous catalysts is described. The catalyst samples are prepared in the form of thin films coated on thin quartz rods by dip-coating in solutions of different composition. Catalyst-coated rods are placed within thin tubes housed inside a wider tube heated in an electrical furnace. A multiport valve serves to sequentially conduct the reaction products from each microreactor to a mass spectrometer for analysis. The system was tested with the reaction of methane reforming with carbon dioxide over Pt/Ce_(1−x)Gd_xO_(2−0.5x) and Pt/Ce_(1−x)Sm_xO_(2−0.5x) at 650 and 700°C. Individual catalysts were characterized by X-ray analysis, and induction-coupled plasma mass spectrometry for catalyst mass and elemental composition. The measurements showed that Pt/CeO_2 had the highest activity among the series of catalysts tested and generally the activity increased with the cerium oxide content. After exposure to the feedstream for 2–3 h at 700°C, most catalysts suffered significant deactivation except the mixed oxides with 25–85% samarium oxide that maintained relatively stable activity.
Evolution of protein structural classes and protein sequence families

In protein structure space, protein structures cluster into four elongated regions when mapped based solely on similarity among the 3D structures. These four regions correspond to the four major classes of present-day proteins defined by the contents of secondary structure types and their topological arrangement. Evolution of and restriction to these four classes suggest that, in most cases, the evolution of genes may have been constrained or selected to those genetic changes that results in structurally stable proteins occupying one of the four “allowed” regions of the protein structure space, “structural selection,” an important component of natural selection in gene evolution. Our studies on tracing the “common structural ancestor” for each protein sequence family of known structure suggest that: (i) recently emerged proteins belong mostly to three classes; (ii) the proteins that emerged earlier evolved to gain a new class; and (iii) the proteins that emerged earliest evolved to become the present-day proteins in the four major classes, with the fourth-class proteins becoming the most dominant population. Furthermore, our studies also show that not all present-day proteins evolved from one single set of proteins in the last common ancestral organism, but new common ancestral proteins were “born” at different evolutionary times, not traceable to one or two ancestral proteins: “the multiple birth model” for the evolution of protein sequence families.
Cysteine string proteins: a potential link between synaptic vesicles and presynaptic Ca2+ channels

Presynaptic calcium channels are key regulators of neurotransmitter release. Oocyte expression studies suggest that cysteine string proteins are essential subunits or modulators of these channels. Subcellular fractionation revealed that cysteine string proteins copurify with synaptic vesicles. An average vesicle had eight protein monomers with both the amino and carboxyl termini detected on the cytoplasmic face. Thus, docked synaptic vesicles may regulate presynaptic calcium channels and neurotransmitter release.
Computer-aided detection mammography for breast cancer screening: systematic review and meta-analysis

Mammography is generally accepted as the best available breast cancer screening method; however, some cancers detectable on mammography images are missed. Computer-aided detection (CAD) systems for mammography are intended to reduce false negatives by marking suspicious areas of the mammograms for reviewers to consider. Although the prospect of improving the sensitivity of screening mammograms has led to the diffusion of CAD for mammography, little is known about its diagnostic accuracy. To assess the diagnostic performance of CAD for screening mammography in terms of sensitivity and specificity and incremental recall, biopsy, and cancer diagnosis rates. Published literature identified by systematic literature searches of 17 databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, searched through 25 September 2008. A reviewer and an information specialist selected full-length English-language articles that enrolled asymptomatic women for routine breast cancer screening and provided data needed for our analyses using criteria established a priori. We identified 75 potentially relevant publications, of which 7 (9%) were included. Data were extracted and internal validity was assessed by a single review author, and forms were approved by the co-authors. Three studies (n = 347,324) reported sensitivity and specificity, or data to calculate them, and five studies (n = 51,162) reported data to calculate incremental rates of cancer diagnoses and recall and biopsy of women who did not have breast cancer. The pooled sensitivity was 86.0% (95% CI 84.2–87.6%) and specificity was 88.2% (95% CI 88.1–88.3%). Of the 100,000 women screened, CAD yielded an additional 50 (95% CI 30–80) correct breast cancer diagnoses, 1,190 (95% CI 1,090–1,290) recalls of healthy women, and 80 (95% CI 60–100) biopsies of healthy women. A total of 96% (95% CI 93.9–97.3%) of women recalled based upon CAD and 65.1% (95% CI 52.3–76.0%) of women biopsied based upon CAD were healthy. No studies reported patient-oriented clinical outcomes.
Acute caffeine consumption enhances the executive control of visual attention in habitual consumers

Recent work suggests that a dose of 200-400 mg caffeine can enhance both vigilance and the executive control of visual attention in individuals with low caffeine consumption profiles. The present study seeks to determine whether individuals with relatively high caffeine consumption profiles would show similar advantages. To this end, we examined the effects of four caffeine doses (0 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg) on low- and high-level visual attention in individuals with high consumption profiles (n=36), in a double-blind study using a repeated measures design. Results from the Attention Network Test indicated that caffeine enhanced both vigilance and the executive control of visual attention, but only at the highest administered dose (400 mg). We demonstrate that in habitual consumers high doses of caffeine can produce beneficial changes in visual attention. These results carry implications for the theorized interactions between caffeine, adenosine and dopamine in brain regions mediating visual attention.
A priority-based distributed group mutual exclusion algorithm when group access is non-uniform

In the group mutual exclusion problem, each critical section has a type or a group associated with it. Processes requesting critical sections belonging to the same group (that is, of the same type) may execute their critical sections concurrently. However, processes requesting critical sections belonging to different groups (that is, of different types) must execute their critical sections in a mutually exclusive manner. Most algorithms for solving the group mutual exclusion problem that have been proposed so far in the literature treat all groups equally. This is quite acceptable if a process, at the time of making a request for critical section, selects a group for the critical section uniformly. However, if some groups are more likely to be selected than others, then better performance can be achieved by treating different groups in a different manner. In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithm for solving the group mutual exclusion problem when group selection probabilities are non-uniformly distributed. Our algorithm has a message complexity of 2n-1 per request for critical section, where n is the number of processes in the system. It has low synchronization delay of one message hop and low waiting time of two message hops. The maximum concurrency of our algorithm is n, which implies that if all processes have requested critical sections of the same type then all of them may execute their critical sections concurrently. Finally, the amortized message-size complexity of our algorithm is O(1). Our experimental results indicate that our algorithm outperforms the existing algorithms, whose complexity measures are comparable to that of ours, by as much as 50% in some cases.
On the cone of effective 2-cycles on

Fulton’s question about effective k-cycles on for $$1<k<n-4$$ can be answered negatively by appropriately lifting to the Keel–Vermeire divisors on . In this paper we focus on the case of 2-cycles on , and we prove that the 2-dimensional boundary strata together with the lifts of the Keel–Vermeire divisors are not enough to generate the cone of effective 2-cycles. We do this by providing examples of effective 2-cycles on that cannot be written as an effective combination of the aforementioned 2-cycles. These examples are inspired by a blow up construction of Castravet and Tevelev.
Secretion and Membrane Localization of Proteins in Escherichia Coli

The envelope of Escherichia coli consists of two distinct membranes, the outer membrane and the cytoplasmic membrane. The space between the two membranes is called the periplasmic space, and each fraction contains its own specific proteins. In this review, it is discussed how proteins are localized in their final locations in the envelope. Proteins localized in the outer membrane and the periplasmic space as well as transmembranous proteins in the cytoplasmic membranes appear to be produced from their precursors which have peptide extensions of about 20 amino acid residues at the amino terminal ends. General features for the peptide extension are deduced from the known sequences of the peptide extensions, and, based on their known properties, a hypothesis (loop model) is proposed to explain the possible functions of the peptide extension during the mechanism of secretion across the cytoplasmic membrane.
Democracy as the negation of discourse: Liberalism, clientelism, and agency in Brazil

People enact democracy when they undermine their customary speech forms. This is evident in a small municipality in rural northeastern Brazil, where village-dwelling cultivators and town activists are abandoning the practice of displaying electoral propaganda on their private homes because it evokes the shrill voices of domineering politicians and haranguing neighbors. An analysis of local associations among propaganda images, unpleasant voices, and broader genres of political communication finds that the widespread abandonment of propaganda images dramatizes the tension between liberal and illiberal imaginings of democracy in contemporary Brazil.
An Experiment with Satisfiability Modulo SAT

In recent years, the approach of satisfiability modulo theories (SMT) has been very successful in solving many constraint satisfaction problems. In a typical SMT solver, the base constraints are expressed as a set of propositional clauses, where each Boolean variable is an abstraction of an atomic formula of first-order logic and the interpretation of the formula is constrained by a background theory. A widely studied theory is the linear pseudo-Boolean logic. Following this approach, we present an experiment of a SMT solver where the background theory can be specified in propositional logic and implemented by a procedure. We chose such a procedural background theory because we found no better ways to attack a previously open problem in combinatorial design, i.e., the existence of diagonally ordered magic squares of all orders.
Multiple Chronic Conditions, Resilience, and Workforce Transitions in Later Life: A Socio-Ecological Model

Purpose of the study Despite the growing prevalence of multiple chronic conditions (MCC), a problem that disproportionally affects older adults, few studies have examined the impact of MCC status on changes in workforce participation in later life. Recent research suggests that resilience, the ability to recover from adversity, may buffer the negative impact of chronic disease. Guided by an adapted socio-ecological risk and resilience conceptual model, this study examined the buffering effect of resilience on the relationship between individual and contextual risks, including MCC, and workforce transitions (i.e., leaving the workforce, working fewer hours, working the same hours, or working more hours). Design and methods Using the Health and Retirement Study, this study pooled a sample of 4,861 older workers aged 51 and older with 2 consecutive biannual waves of data. Nonnested multinomial logistic regression analysis was applied. Results MCC are related to higher risk of transitioning out of the workforce. Resilience buffered the negative effects of MCC on workforce engagement and remained independently associated with increased probability of working the same or more hours compared with leaving work. Implications MCC are associated with movement out of the paid workforce in later life. Despite the challenges MCC impose on older workers, having higher levels of resilience may provide the psychological resources needed to sustain work engagement in the face of new deficits. These findings suggest that identifying ways to bolster resilience may enhance the longevity of productive workforce engagement.
Variation of QT Interval Dispersion and P Wave Dispersion in Supine and Erect Position in Children with Vasovagal Syncope

Objective To probe the variation of QT interval dispersion(QTd) and P-wave dispersion(Pd) in supine and erect position for children with vasovagal syncope(VVS).Methods Twelve-lead simultaneous body surface electrocardiogram(12 ECG) in supine and erect position were taken of 46 cases which were positive in head-up tilt test(HUTT) with VVS(research group) aged from 7 to 17 [mean(11.91±2.09)]years old and 30 healthy children as control group with SR-1000A automated electrocardiography.The heart rate(HR),QTd and Pd were tested by hand during 3 clear waves cycles in 12 ECG,and QTcmax,QTcmin,QTcd,Pcmax,Pcmin,Pcd were detected after correcting HR acording to Bazett formula.Results 1.QTmax,QTmin,Pmax significantly prolonged(Pa0.01),Pmin shortened(P0.05) and Pd prolonged(P0.05) in control group in supine position compared with the erect position.2.QTmax,QTmin,QTd,QTcd,Pmax,Pd,Pcd significantly prolonged(Pa0.01),Pcmax slightly prolonged(P0.05) and Pcmin significantly shortened(P0.01) in research group in supine position compared with the erect position.3.QTmax,QTcmax,Pcd increased(Pa0.05) and QTd,QTcd,Pmax,Pcmax prolonged(Pa0.01) in research group in supine position compared with control group,Pcd(P0.05),Pmax,Pcmax prolonged(Pa0.01) in research group in erect position.4.HR slightly reduced(P0.05) in supine position and significantly increased(P0.01) in erect position in research group compared with control group.There were no differences in HR increase in both research group and control (15.29 times per min vs 12.57 times per min,P0.05,respectively).5.There were no differences in QTd and Pd in supine and erect position in both sex and the result of HUTT children with VVS(Pa0.05).There were no differences in QTd and Pd in supine and erect position in different gender with VVS children(Pa0.05).Conclusions QTd,QTcd,Pd,Pcd obviously prolonged in supine position compared with those in erect position for VVS children,which indicated that VVS children were more vulnerable to arrhythmic in supine position;QTd and Pd influenced by autonomic nervous system function with the change of the body posture influences by autonomic nervous system function manifested that this method has directive value for the evaluation of autonomic nervous system function.
G551(P) How safe is your handover? Embedding a safety briefing into handovers in one week

Context Every morning handover takes place in our multi-specialty 12 ward 300 bedded children’s hospital. The single hospital at night team handover to 8 different specialty teams. One night junior doctor verbally scrolls down the written handover ward lists, verbalising any event overnight on patients by bed space order. Problem Hitherto there was no systemic transfer of system information, prioritisation or horizon scanning during handover. Major events overnight such as crash calls and intensive care admissions may not be published if the patient is no longer on the wards. Assessment of problem and analysis of its causes We identified that the handover could be improved by the introduction of a safety briefing. Key messages were often lost in the handover process due to its complexity. Discussions were held with key stakeholders surrounding current handover arrangements and their views on a proposed safety briefing. Intervention We implemented a 60 s safety briefing to set the scene at the beginning of handover. The safety briefing covered four key areas (the 4S): Sick, Safety, System and Safeguarding. Strategy for change Utilising change theorywe initiated the change from the bottom-up, enabling the night junior doctor leading the handover to deliver the safety briefing. Boxes on the typed handover sheet titled ‘safety briefing’ were created to allow recording as a prompt for the oral delivery (Figure). Over one week including weekends (7 handovers) we attended both morning and evening to explain and guide the safety briefing. Measurement of improvement Primary measure was whether it happened every day. A survey was conducted with showed high levels of acceptability from all grades of doctors. Effects of changes During the week of repeated PDSA cycles (Plan Do Study Act), the delivery became increasingly reliable and focused. Issues picked up included: dosing errors (weight in pounds vs. kilos), misidentification of patient for venepuncture, early identification and resolution of staffing issues. At the start of implementation hierarchy prevented its use on one occasion, however with early adopter active visible senior support we were able to restart the briefing next day and momentum continued. Since the one-week implementation, it is now embedded and has occurred each morning handover at 6 months. Lessons learnt We demonstrate that a ground-up approach to introducing change in a short timeframe is possible. Its success came from grassroots support capitalising on their intrinsic motivation to improve patient safety. Message for others Introducing and sustaining a handover safety briefing was very much welcomed by the ground staff as well as organisation leaders. Secondary gain was culture change where now talking about safety is normal and acceptable as it is the first item on the safety briefing every morning.