cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Induction of Incoordinate Synthesis of Muscle Proteins by the Tumor Promoter TPA and the Carcinogen EMS

Combined cytoimmunofluorescent, electron microscopic, and biochemical studies have repeatedly demonstrated the following about normal myogenesis: (1) That the switch in differentiation programs from replicating presumptive myoblasts to their daughter postmitotic myoblasts occurs prior to fusion; (2) That this switch requires DNA synthesis, but not cytokinesis; (3) That 6–12 hours after their last mitosis, both daughter definitive myoblasts initiate the coordinate synthesis of muscle-specific myosin heavy and light chains, tropomyosin, C-protein and M-band protein and at about this time become fusion competent. This switch in differentiation programs also involves the initiation of the synthesis of the muscle-specific intermediate filament protein, desmin; (4) That this sequence of events begins in chick myotomes at stages 14–15 and in chick limb buds at stages 20–21; (5) That there is a lag phase of hours between the earliest detection of these muscle-specific isoforms in mononucleated postmitotic myoblasts and their assembly into myofibrils. During this lag period, myofibrillar proteins and desmin appear to be widely distributed throughout the sarcoplasm.
Tailoring surface patterns to direct the assembly of liquid crystalline materials

ABSTRACTMolecular ordering and the defect structures of a material play essential roles in its function and performance. Controlling molecular alignment and topological defects has been a cornerstone in the field of liquid crystalline (LC) materials. Here, we present an overview of different methods to tailor surface chemistry and surface topography in order to direct the assemblies of LCs, leading to complex morphologies of topological defects. We detail various top-down patterning techniques in specific LC systems, including small molecule nematic and smectic LCs, and LC polymers (LCPs), and their roles in discoveries of new phenomena, new materials, and new applications. We close the review with a prospective on the potential impact of the LC patterning efforts to fundamental understanding, advancement of new materials and new phenomena, and potential technological applications.
Development and Evaluation of Sonified Weather Maps for Blind Users

In recent years there have been significant advances in developing websites that are accessible for individuals with disabilities. In particular, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) from the Web Accessibility Initiative (http://www.w3.org/wai) provide clear standards for developing accessible web based content, and have been the foundation for legal guidelines developed in many countries (Meiselwitz et al., 2010). However, a challenging aspect of accessible web design is developing equivalents of data visualisations for blind users, since data visualisations are often used to allow quicker comprehension of large and complex data sets (Fritz and Barner, 1999). In this research we investigate the potential use of sonification for presenting weather data to blindusers. At this juncture we would like to emphasise that that the term “blind users” has different meanings depending on context and country. For instance, in the US, “blind users” refers to anyone with any type of visual loss, whereas in the UK, “visually impaired” is often used to describe people with low vision, and “blind” is used to describe someone with no useful residual vision.
Building a cooperative institutional model of IAIMS at the Yale-New Haven Medical Center.

The poster describes the cooperative institutional structure which underlies the IAIMS activities at Yale - New Haven Medical Center. Whereas some institutions implement IAIMS via some form of centralized structuring of major computing units, for many institutions this approach may not be viable and a more cooperative model will be required. The poster describes the process through which our IAIMS project evolved, and outlines certain principles underlying such an approach.
Opioid Receptor and Calcium Channel Regulation of Adenylyl Cyclase, Modulated By GM1, in NG108-15 Cells: Competitive Interactions

GM1 ganglioside was previously shown to function as a specific regulator of excitatory opioid activity in dorsal root ganglion neurons and F11 hybrid cells, as seen in its facilitation of opioid-induced activation of adenylyl cyclase and its ability to dramatically reduce the threshold opioid concentration required to prolong the action potential duration. The elevated levels of GM1 resulting from chronic opioid exposure of F11 cells were postulated to cause the ensuing opioid excitatory supersensitivity. We now show that GM1 promotes opioid (DADLE)-induced activation of adenylyl cyclase in NG108-15 cells which possess the δ-type of receptor. In keeping with previous studies of other systems, this can be envisioned as conformational interaction of GM1 with the receptor that results in uncoupling of the receptor from Gi and facilitated coupling to Gs. This would also account for the observation that DADLE-induced attenuation of forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase was reversed by GM1, provided the cells were not pretreated with pertussis toxin. When the cells were so pretreated, GM1 evoked an unexpected attenuation of forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase attributed to GM1-promoted influx of calcium which was postulated to inhibit a calcium-sensitive form of adenylyl cyclase. This is concordant with several studies showing GM1 to be a potent modulator of calcium flux. Pertussis toxin in these experiments exerted dual effects, one being to promote interaction of the δ-opioid receptor with Gs through inactivation of Gi, and the other to enhance the GM1-promoted influx of calcium by inactivation of Go; the latter is postulated to function as constitutive inhibitor of the relevant calcium channel. NG108-15 cells thus provide an interesting example of competitive interaction between two GM1-regulated systems involving enhancement of both opioid receptor excitatory activity and calcium influx.
High Rates of Menthol Cigarette Use Among Pregnant Smokers: Preliminary Findings and Call for Future Research.

INTRODUCTION Smoking during pregnancy remains widespread and is causally associated with infant morbidity and mortality. Despite links between menthol cigarette use and decreased smoking cessation, little is known regarding rates or characteristics of pregnant menthol cigarette smokers. METHODS Participants were drawn from two low-income, racially/ethnically diverse cohorts of pregnant smokers recruited from 2006 to 2015 (N = 166, Mage = 25 ± 5). Demographics, menthol cigarette use, daily cigarette use, quit status, and consecutive weeks quit were assessed by prospective interviews. Nicotine dependence was assessed using the Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence. Nicotine levels were assessed via saliva cotinine. RESULTS High rates of menthol use were found in both cohorts (85% and 87%). Across both cohorts, menthol smokers were more likely to identify as racial/ethnic minorities, were less educated, and reported lower income than non-menthol smokers (ps < .03). Menthol smokers also reported fewer continuous weeks quit (8.4 vs. 14.5 weeks quit; p < .03) and a tendency toward decreased likelihood of quitting smoking over pregnancy (29% vs. 48%; p < .08) in unadjusted but not in covariate-adjusted analyses. No differences emerged in cigarettes per day, nicotine dependence or nicotine exposure. CONCLUSIONS We found very high rates of menthol cigarette use in pregnant smokers-particularly among racial/ethnic minority and low socioeconomic status smokers-and some evidence for associations with reduced smoking cessation in pregnancy. Consideration of pregnant smokers as a uniquely vulnerable population is warranted in evaluating regulation of menthol in cigarettes. Further research is needed regarding the impact of menthol on smoking persistence in pregnancy and on maternal and infant health outcomes. IMPLICATIONS This study highlights high rates of menthol cigarette use in pregnant women in the Northeast, United States, with evidence for higher rates of menthol use among racial/ethnic minority, less educated and low-income pregnant smokers, and preliminary evidence for associations between menthol cigarette use and reduced smoking cessation. Consideration of the effects of menthol on smoking persistence in pregnant women and on the health of their offspring is warranted in the development of regulations regarding menthol in cigarettes.
Lobbying & Taxation, 1924–1936 Part 2: American Voices in a Changing Democracy: Women, Lobbying, and Tax 1924–1936

This Part of AMERICAN VOICES IN A CHANGING DEMOCRACY: WOMEN, LOBBYING, AND TAX 1924-1936 provides some background about two important aspects of American democracy that were greatly affected by societal changes during the 1924–1936 period: lobbying and taxation. It begins with a very brief discussion of the importance of lobbying in American politics and then focuses on the “new” lobbying of the 20th century. Although lobbying is as old as history, technological advances, especially in mass communications, facilitated changes in American lobbying that by the 1920s caused such concern among many politicians and commentators that they labeled lobbyists the “third house” of Congress. This Part then concludes with a brief overview of tax issues during 1924–1936 that persist today.
Development and Validation of the Systems Thinking Scale

Systems thinking is the ability to recognize and synthesize patterns, interactions, and interdependencies in a set of activities and is a key component in quality and safety. A measure of systems thinking is needed to advance our understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to improvement efforts. The purpose of this study was to develop and conduct psychometric testing of a systems thinking scale (STS). The development of the STS included obtaining national quality and safety experts’ conceptual domains of systems thinking and the generation of a provisional set of items. Further psychometric analyses were conducted with interprofessional healthcare faculty (N = 342) and students (N = 224) engaged in quality improvement initiatives and education. Of the 26 items identified in the development phase, factor analyses indicated three factors: (1) system thinking (20 items), (2) personal effort (2 items), and (3) reliance on authority (4 items). The six items from factors 2 and 3 were omitted due to low factor loadings. Test-retest reliability of the 20-item STS was performed on 36 healthcare professionals and a correlation of 0.74 was found. Internal consistency testing on a sample of 342 healthcare professionals using Cronbach’s alpha showed a coefficient of 0.89. Discriminant validity was confirmed with three groups of healthcare professions students (N = 102) who received high, low, or no dose levels of systems thinking education in the context of process improvement. The 20-item STS is a valid and reliable instrument that is easy to administer and takes less than 10 min to complete. Further research using the STS has the potential to advance the science and education of quality improvement in two main ways: (1) increase understanding of a critical mechanism by which quality improvement processes achieve results, and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of our education to improve systems thinking.
Infection status of principal human parasites in Nanchang City in 2014

Objective To understand and analyze the infection status of human parasites in Nanchang City, so as to offer a scientific basis for control of parasitic disease. Methods In 2014, a survey was performed according to the scheme of"The 3rd National Survey of Principal Human Parasites". Intestinal parasites were surveyed among the residents in Jinxian County and Anyi County, Qingyunpu District and Qingshanhu District in Nanchang City, including the soil-transmitted nematodes (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm), Enterobius vermicularis, tapeworm and intestinal protozoa. Clonorchis sinensis was surveyed among the residents in Qingyunpu District and Qingshanhu District. Toxoplasma gondii was surveyed among the residents in two rural areas (Nanchang County and Xinjian County) and two urban areas (Donghu District and Xihu District). The ovums of the soil-transmitted nematodes, Clonorchis sinensis, tapeworm and other helminths were examined by the Kato-Katz, while Enterobius vermicularis among children was examined by cellophane anal swab, trophozoites and cysts of intestinal protozoa by saline smearing and iodine smearing, and IgG antibodies of Toxoplasma gondii by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Intestinal parasites were surveyed among 2 424 residents in the whole city, in which 2 414 residents were tested for the infection of soil-transmitted nematodes and tapeworm; 1 875 residents were tested for intestinal protozoa infection; 74 children were tested for eggs of Enterobius vermicularis; 539 residents were tested for Clonorchis sinensis; and 2 400 residents were tested for Toxoplasma gondii. Six kinds of intestinal parasites were found citywide, with a total infection rate of 9.49% (230/2 424). The infection rate of soil-transmitted nematodes was 8.70% (210/2 414), in which the infection rate of Ascaris lumbricoides was 0.04% (1/2 414), the rate of Trichuris trichiura was 0.91% (22/2 414), and of hookworm was 7.83% (189/2 414). The infection rate among 3-6 years old children of Enterobius vermicularis was 22.97% (17/74). Tapeworm and Clonorchis sinensis were not found. The infection rate of intestinal protozoa was 0.21% (4/1 875). The positive rate of Toxoplasma gondii's IgG antibody was 5.17% (124/2 400). Conclusions In Nanchang City, the infection rate of soil-transmitted nematodes (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura) and intestinal protozoa was lower. However, the infection rates of hookworm, Toxoplasma gondii and Enterobius vermicularis among 3-6 years old children are increasing in local areas. That should be the focus in prevention and control of parasitic disease in the future. Key words: Parasite; Soil-transmitted nematodes; Clonorchis sinensis; Toxoplasma gondii; Data collection
Sex-bias in COVID-19-associated illness severity and mortality in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Background Whether there is sex-bias within the adverse outcomes associated with COVID-19 in the cancer population is unknown. In this regard, several published studies have examined this question, but the results are inconclusive and inconsistent. To evaluate the sex-difference in the risk of adverse outcomes associated with COVID-19 in the cancer population, we have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods Published articles evaluating adverse outcomes associated with COVID-19 in the cancer population from inception to June 2020 were identified by searching PubMed and EMBASE, ASCO 2020 Virtual Annual Conference, AACR 2020 COVID-19 and Cancer, ESMO conferences held from January to June 2020, and medRxiv and bioRxiv. Prospective or retrospective analyses in English, providing outcomes data with sex differences in the cancer population were included. The primary outcomes of interest were pooled ORs of severe illness, all-cause death, and the composite of severe illness and death attributable to COVID-19 in males versus females in cancer patients. Findings Overall, 3968 patients (17 studies) were analyzed in retrospective study settings. Overall, pooled ORs of the composite of severe illness and all-cause death in the setting of COVID-19 in males versus females was 1.60 (95% CI, 1.38–1.85). The risk of severe illness or death were both independently increased in males versus females. Interpretation Male sex was associated with a higher risk of severe illness and death attributable to COVID-19. This finding has implications in informing the clinical prognosis and decision making in the care of cancer patients. Funding This study received no funding.
Sentinel Lymph Node Removal After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Clinically Node-Negative Patients: When to Stop?

The maximum number of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) to be resected to accurately stage the axilla in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for the treatment of clinically node-negative (cN0) breast cancer has not been determined. We sought to determine the sequence of removal of the positive SLNs in this patient population. All patients aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with cN0 invasive breast cancer who received NAC and underwent SLN surgery at Mayo Clinic Rochester between September 2008 and September 2018 were identified. Univariate analysis was performed to compare factors associated with positive nodes and where the first positive node was in the sequence of removal of the SLNs. We identified 446 cancers among 440 patients with a median age of 51 (IQR: 43, 61) years. At surgery, 381 (85.4%) cancers were pathologically node (ypN) negative and 65 (14.6%) were pN + . The number of nodes removed was similar for both patients with ypN0 and ypN + disease, with a median number of SLNs removed of 2.0 (IQR: 2.0, 3.0). Of all patients with a positive node, the first positive node was most commonly the 1st node removed (75.4%), and was identified by the 3rd SLN removed in all cases. Among cN0 patients treated with NAC, if a positive SLN is present, it is most commonly identified as the 1st sentinel node removed by the surgeon, and was identified by the 3rd sentinel node in our series. This suggests that once 3 SLNs have been resected, removal of additional sentinel lymph nodes does not add diagnostic value.
Multi-hop routing under short contact in delay tolerant networks

Abstract As technologies evolve, mobile devices are capable of storing, communicating, and disseminating large data files across the network. Communicating large data is particularly challenging in Delay Tolerant Networks because of lack of connectivity and short contacts among network nodes. To simplify the routing, existing works often ignore the data size and duration of a contact. That is, once transmitted, the data always successfully arrives at the receiver. Thus, these protocols are not suitable in the data-intensive mobile era. In this work, we propose a large data routing (LDR) protocol that chops large data into chunks and performs forwarding at the chunk level over multiple successive contacts. We also build a probabilistic model integrating the inter-contact time, contact frequency, and contact duration. The model is used to compute the edge weights in a contact graph and multi-hop delivery probabilities among network nodes. Simulations using real-world mobility traces show that our scheme can achieve up to 53% higher delivery rate compared to other routing strategies.
O17 Associations Between Community Nutrition Environments and Early Care and Education Barriers to Classroom Nutrition Practices

Background Early Childhood Education (ECEs) directors and teachers experience substantial barriers to implementing childhood nutrition recommendations. Diet in older children is influenced by nutrition environments surrounding homes and schools; influence of the community environment on ECEs is not understood. Objective Determine associations between community nutrition environments and ECE barriers to classroom nutrition practices, by ECE context [Head Starts, community-based childcare (CBCs), and family child care homes (FCCHs)]. Study Design, Setting, Participants Cross-sectional study including licensed Oklahoma ECEs. Locations of 457 grocery stores were determined in-person. Locations of participating ECEs and grocery stores were geocoded and analyzed using ArcMap 10.6. Measurable Outcome/Analysis ECEs were considered located within a “Food Desert” if no grocery stores were available within a 0.25-mile radius for urban ECEs, or 10-mile radius for rural ECEs. Presence of barriers to serving healthier foods and beverages were reported. Fisher's exact test was used to compare differences in barriers among those within Food Deserts versus Non-Deserts. Benjamini Hochberg calculations for False Discovery Rate were applied (α Results Fifty-four Head Starts, 159 CBCs, and 160 FCCHs participated with 24%, 27% and 37%- respectively- being located within a Food Desert. ECE descriptive characteristics including food purchasing and meal planning strategies varied by ECE context. Among Head Starts and CBCs, barriers were not different by Food Desert status (P > 0.0004). In FCCHs only, those located within Food Deserts reported a 20% higher prevalence of concern for food waste compared to those within Non-Deserts (P Conclusion Food Desert status was related to reported barriers in FCCHs only; therefore, those provider's experiences and perceptions may be most susceptible to influence of the community nutrition environment, compared to other ECE contexts. Findings suggest a need for future research and policy implementation to support FCCHs residing in low-access areas and experiencing difficulty implementing classroom health practices. Funding Early Care and Research Scholars: Head Start Graduate Student Research Grant (HHS2017-ACF-OPRE-YR-1219), OUHSC College of Allied Health Student Research and Creativity Grant, and Department of Nutritional Sciences.
Identifying hydrophobic protein patches to inform protein interaction interfaces

Interactions between proteins lie at the heart of numerous biological processes and are essential for the proper functioning of the cell. Although the importance of hydrophobic residues in driving protein interactions is universally accepted, a characterization of protein hydrophobicity, which informs its interactions, has remained elusive. The challenge lies in capturing the collective response of the protein hydration waters to the nanoscale chemical and topographical protein patterns, which determine protein hydrophobicity. To address this challenge, here, we employ specialized molecular simulations wherein water molecules are systematically displaced from the protein hydration shell; by identifying protein regions that relinquish their waters more readily than others, we are then able to uncover the most hydrophobic protein patches. Surprisingly, such patches contain a large fraction of polar/charged atoms and have chemical compositions that are similar to the more hydrophilic protein patches. Importantly, we also find a striking correspondence between the most hydrophobic protein patches and regions that mediate protein interactions. Our work thus establishes a computational framework for characterizing the emergent hydrophobicity of amphiphilic solutes, such as proteins, which display nanoscale heterogeneity, and for uncovering their interaction interfaces.
Constructing and Managing Culturally Competent Research Teams for Community-Based Investigations

SUMMARY Pragmatic methodological issues are presented to enhance the effectiveness of research teams operating within ethnic-cultural communities. Operating from an African-centered conceptual framework, recommendations are presented regarding: (1) the importance of clarifying the cultural value orientation that directs the research; (2) team-building issues that impact the construction and maintenance of research groups; (3) strategies for increasing awareness and understanding of the ethnic-cultural community being investigated; and (4) methods to establish mechanisms within the team to support individual and group needs. Immersing research teams in the culture of ethnic-cultural groups can enhance the planning, design, and implementation of various research projects and improve the quality of data obtained. The paper argues that such a perspective can lead to the discovery of more authentic voices within historically oppressed ethnic-cultural communities.
Substrate binding by adenosine deaminase. Specificity, pH dependence, and competition by mercurials.

Takadiastase adenosine deaminase, purified of phosphoesterase contaminants, is found to catalyze deamination of free adenine, adenine nucleotides and oligonucleotides, and a variety of substituted adenosine and deoxyadenosine derivatives. 3‘- and 5‘-Adenosine monophosphates are bound only as monoanions. Activity on adenylic acid oligonucleotides decreases with increasing chain length, becoming negligible in long polymers. The Km for adenosine (but notVmax) varies with pH, indicating the presence of prototropic equilibria in both free substrate and free enzyme. In the pH range from 3 to 9.5, a single enzyme ionization (apparent pKa 8.9) is indicated as important for substrate binding. The enzyme resists inactivation by many reagents for ionizable side chains of amino acids, but is uniquely sensitive to inhibition by mercuric ion and several organic mercurials. Mercurial inhibition is reversible and strictly competitive with a variety of purine substrates and analogues, and is not the result of direct interaction of inhibitor with substrate. Involvement of sulfhydryl groups in binding of mercurials is indicated by spectrophotometric detection of mercaptide formation between p-mercuribenzoate and enzyme, which indicates a binding affinity in agreement with that determined from the kinetics of inhibition. Competitive inhibition by mercurials is also observed for adenosine deaminase from calf intestinal mucosa and cytidine deaminase from Escherichia coli.
Phytoplankton lipid content influences freshwater lake methanogenesis

1. Rates of methanogenesis in freshwater sediments have been shown to increase with inputs of phytoplankton biomass. Although many studies have shown the importance of resource quality for decomposition, little is known of the importance of substrate quality on rates of methanogenesis. 2. Here, we studied the effects of lipid content and taxonomic affiliation of phytoplankton biomass on rates of methanogenesis in lake sediment slurries from five lakes differing in trophic status. 3. Substrate quantity had a positive effect on methanogenesis despite differing trophic status. Furthermore, we observed that phytoplankton biomass quality, in terms of lipid content, enhanced methanogenesis rates. However, rates of methanogenesis between lake sediments treated with Scenedemus obliquus or Microcystis aeruginosa did not differ when lipid content was held constant. 4. Phytoplankton lipid content has been shown to increase when nutrients are limiting, which may result in an increase in substrate quality for methanogenesis with eutrophication. However, our study revealed that responses of substrate quantity to nutrient enrichment likely outpace the effects of resource quality and may result in a net increase in CH4 emissions from eutrophied lakes. Interestingly, the resource quality feedback may at least partially reduce the potential effect of eutrophication on lake methanogenesis.
Targeting the Primary Tumor to Generate CTL for the Effective Eradication of Spontaneous Metastases

Metastatic disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer. Although surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation can often control primary tumor growth, successful eradication of disseminated metastases remains rare. We have now tested whether direct targeting tumor tissues to generate antitumor immune response before surgical excision produces sufficient CTL against micrometastases. One unsolved problem is whether such response allows coming CTL to be educated and then exit the tumor site. Another unsolved problem is whether these CTL can then patrol and effectively eliminate spontaneously metastasized tumor cells in the periphery. In this study, we have shown that adenovirus-expressing TNFSF14 [LIGHT (name derived from homologous to lymphotoxins, shows inducible expression, and competes with herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D for herpes virus entry mediator, a receptor expressed by T lymphocytes); Ad-LIGHT] inoculated directly into primary 4T1 tumor, a highly aggressive, spontaneously metastasizing mammary carcinoma, followed by surgical removal of the primary tumor can eradicate established and disseminated metastatic tumor cells in the peripheral tissues. Furthermore, we clearly show with a fibrosarcoma model Ag104L(d) that local treatment can generate plenty of tumor-specific CTL that exit the primary tumor and infiltrate distal tumors to completely eradicate distal tumors. Therefore, targeting the primary tumor with Ad-LIGHT before surgical excision is a new strategy to elicit better immune response for the eradication of spontaneous metastases.
Desmotivando el semicompatibilismo

In this paper, I explore some of the motivations behind John Martin Fischer’s semi-compatibilism. Particularly, I look at three reasons Fischer gives for pre ferring semi-compatibilism to libertarianism. I argue that the first two of these motivations are in tension with each other: the more one is moved by the first motivation, the less one can appeal to the second, and vice versa. I then argue that Fischer’s third motivation ought not move anyone to prefer Fischer’s semi-com patibilist picture to any of the leading contemporary libertarian theories. Finally, I make some methodological comments about the role intuitions play in Fischer’s project.
Gene mutations that promote adrenal aldosterone production, sodium retention, and hypertension

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common form of secondary hypertension, found in about 5% of all hypertension cases, and up to 20% of resistant hypertension cases. The most common forms of PA are an aldosterone-producing adenoma and idiopathic (bilateral) hyperaldosteronism. Rare genetic forms of PA exist and, until recently, the only condition with a known genetic mechanism was familial hyperaldosteronism type 1, also known as glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism (FHA1/GRA). FHA type 3 has now been shown to derive from germline mutations in the KCNJ5 gene, which encodes a potassium channel found on the adrenal cells. Remarkably, somatic mutations in KCNJ5 are found in about one-third of aldosterone-producing adenomas, and these mutations are likely to be involved in their pathogenesis. Finally, mutations in the genes encoding an L-type calcium channel (CACNA1D) and in genes encoding a sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (ATP1A1) or a calcium adenosine triphosphatase (ATP2B3) are found in other aldosterone-producing adenomas. These findings provide a working model, in which adenoma formation and/or aldosterone production in many cases derives from increased calcium entry, which drives the pathogenesis of primary aldosteronism.
Differential management of scaphocephaly.

Objectives/Hypothesis: The objective of this study was to review the outcomes of scaphocephaly management. We hypothesized that differential treatment of scaphocephaly based on age at correction and degree of severity yields consistently satisfying results while reducing the operative morbidity. Study Design: Retrospective patient record review. Methods: Three cranial vault–remodeling procedures with varying levels of aggressiveness (limited-access, partial, and total cranial-vault remodeling) were performed on patients with scaphocephaly from 1995 to 2010. More-aggressive procedures were performed on older patients and patients having more-severe deformities. Patient records were reviewed for age, weight, blood loss, and length of hospital stay, and cephalic indices (CIs) were calculated from computed tomography scans and clinical photographs. Results: Fifty-one patients underwent surgery for scaphocephaly during the study period. The average estimated blood volume fraction lost was 0.41. The average length of hospital stay was 4.49 days. Pre- and postoperative CIs were calculable for 36 patients. The average preoperative CI was 68.7. The average postoperative CI was 79.3, for an average operative change of 15%. The three procedures had statistically different values for average length of stay. A trend was suggested for estimated blood loss and volume fraction lost. There was no statistically significant difference in CI outcomes. Conclusions: This study supports the concept of a proportionate response in the management of scaphocephaly. Less-aggressive procedures do not yield less-desirable results when properly selected to match the clinical situation of the individual patient.
One-trial learning with control of item-difficulty.

Ratings of difficulty were obtained for each of 2,500 letter-number pairs. The ratings were used to construct three pools of items: Homogeneous Easy, Homogeneous Difficult, and Heterogeneous. Rock's (1957) experiment was conducted thrice, once with each pool of rated items. Each replication used 30 subjects. The manipulation of rated item-difficulty permitted a direct attack on the widely discussed problem of item-selection in Rock's procedure. Notwithstanding the control of item-selection, the performance of subjects in the drop-out condition did not differ significantly from the performance of those who learned in the ordinary way, with repetition. The geometric distribution provided a good fit to the obtained distributions of waiting times to the first correct response to an item. This finding accords well with an all-or-none view of associative learning.
Use of the Semipermeable Membrane Device (Spmd) to Sample Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Pollution In A Lotic System

Abstract Relative concentrations of aqueous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were investigated in an urban creek. Samples were obtained at five sites within a 600-m segment of the creek that is critical habitat for an endangered species of fish. the sampling technique entailed immersion of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) in the water for intervals as long as 64 d. SPMDs are passive, in situ, mtegrative samplers of bioavailable (truly dissolved) PAH and other hydrophobic organic contaminants. Two point sources of PAH to the 600-m segment of the creek were differentiated. Aqueous concentrations were found to wane dramatically over the relatively short section of the creek between the point sources. All samples were almost devoid of alkyl-substituted PAH, indicating that the ultimate sources were probably of pyrogenic nature.
Local anaesthetic block protects against electrically-induced damage in peripheral nerve

This study is one of a series addressing the mechanisms involved in the production of neural damage caused by continuous, prolonged electrical stimulation of peripheral nerve. It has been previously shown that sustained, high frequency electrical stimulation of the cat's peroneal nerve may cause irreversible neural damage in the form of axonal degeneration of the large myelinated fibres. In this study we demonstrate that blocking the action potentials on most of the nerve fibres with local anaesthetics (10% procaine or 2% lidocaine) almost completely prevents the axonal degeneration. The abolition of axonal injury by local anaesthetic block strongly suggests that the electrically-induced damage is due to prolonged electrical excitation of axons. Furthermore, since less than complete suppression of the induced neural activity by local anaesthetic engenders essentially complete sparing of all axons, our results suggest that the damage to individual axons derives, at least in part, from stimulation-induced global changes in the nerve.
Nanostructured photovoltaics for space power

Quantum dot enhanced solar cells have been evaluated both theoretically and experimentally. A detailed balance simulation of InAs quantum dot (QD) enhanced solar cells has been performed. A 14% (absolute) efficiency improvement has been predicted if the middle junction of a state-of-the-art space multi-junction III-V solar cell can be bandgap engineered using QDs. Experimental results for a GaAs middle junction enhanced with InAs QDs have shown an 8% increase in short circuit current compared to a baseline device. The current enhancement per layer of QD was extracted from device spectral response (0.017 mA per QD layer). This value was used to estimate the efficiency of multi-junction solar cells with up to 200 layers of QDs added to the middle current-limiting junction. In addition, the radiation tolerance of QD cells, key to operation of these cells in space environments, shows improved characteristics. Open circuit voltage (VOC) in QD devices was more resilient to both alpha and proton displacement damage, resulting in a 10X reduction in the rate of VOC degradation.
New type of wave function for Li, Be+, and B++

A recently developed method for electronic wave functions has been applied to Li, Be+, and B++. This method, the G1 method, leads to much better energies than does the Hartree-Fock (HF) method (for Li the G1 energy is -7.447560 as compared to the HF energy of -7.432727); however, the independent-particle interpretation is retained. A significant difference is that although the HF valence orbital has a node (being orthogonal to the core orbital), none of the three G1 orbitals has a node. The valence G1 orbital satisfies the cusp condition at the nucleus, has a minimum in the core region, and outside the core region is very similar to the HF valence orbital. The G1 wave function has the form of a paired-electron wave function but strong orthogonality is not imposed. Since the resulting orbitals have significant overlaps and since the energy is made much worse by imposing strong orthogonality, it appears that strong orthogonality is a significant constraint for orbital-type paired-electron wave functions (such as in the extended valence bond method). Since the G1 wave function is nearly at the radial limit and does not include instantaneous correlation among the electrons, the dynamic correlation is essentially all due to angular correlation just as for two electron atoms and ions. Since the G1 valence orbitals need not be orthogonal to the core orbitals, the use of this method for solids could eliminate these problems in band-structure calculations which are due to the orthogonality conditions inherent in the HF method.
Systematic Review: Evaluating the Effect of Lipid-Lowering Therapy on Lipoprotein and Lipid Values

Purpose This systematic review was performed to summarize published experience using low density lipoprotein particle number (LDL-P) to monitor the efficacy of lipid-lowering pharmacotherapies.
Analysis of inviscid and viscous flows in cascades with an explicit multiple-grid algorithm

A rapid technique is used for calculating inviscid and viscous flows in turbomachinery cascades. The Euler and thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations are solved using the original explicit MacCormack algorithm. The Baldwin-Lomax eddy viscosity model is used for turbulent flows. Convergence to a steady state is accelerated by use of a variable time-step and a multiple-grid scheme. Computer time is reduced through vectorization. Details of the numerical method are presented along with computed results for two low-speed wind tunnel turning vanes, a space shuttle fuel pump turbine rotor, and a supersonic inflow compressor rotor. The method can predict subtle viscous flow phenomena in cascades and is fast enough to be used as a design tool. Previously announced in STAR as N84-22527
Adaptive Electronics with Ferroelectric Capacitors

Tunable ferroelectric capacitors such as barium strontium titanate(BST) operating in the paraelectric region offer a tunability of 50%, within a applied voltage of ± 6V up to 10 GHz. They can be successfully used for a variety of adaptive frequency circuits for communication systems on a variety of substrates. These include tunable filters, tunable multiband power amplifiers and voltage controlled oscillators.
Kinetic behavior of the Arabidopsis thaliana leaf formate dehydrogenase is thermally sensitive.

Summary Two previous kinetic studies on the Arabidopsis thaliana leaf NAD-dependent formate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.2) have demonstrated two very different sets of K m values for the formate and NAD + substrates. We examined the kinetics of the enzyme partially purified from a leaf extract by gel-filtration desalting and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, as well as by isolation of a mitochondria-enriched fraction obtained by differential centrifugation. Both of these methods produce a formate dehydrogenase enzyme with the higher K m values of approximately 10 mmol/L formate and 75 μmol/L NAD + . The kinetic properties of the Arabidopsis formate dehydrogenase expressed to high levels in transgenic tobacco plants were also those of the high K m form. The high K m form of the enzyme converted to a low K m form by heating for 5 minutes at 60 °C. An Arrhenius plot of the activity during the heating process was linear, indicating that the heating did not cause alterations in either the active site or the thermal dependence of the catalytic reaction. We conclude that the native form of the formate dehydrogenase probably resembles the form with the higher K m values. Heating seemingly converts this native enzyme to the molten globule state and cooling results in formation of a non-native structure with altered kinetic properties.
Mirex and Aroclor 1254: effect on and accumulation by Tetrahymena pyriformis strain W.

SYNOPSIS Effects of 2 toxicants, Mirex and Aroclor 1254, on Tetrahymena pyriformis strain W in axenic cultures were investigated. Mirex is a chlorinated hydrocarbon effective against the fire ant, and Aroclor 1254 is a compound structurally related to DDT and used extensively in various industrial processes. Both toxicants reduced growth rates and population densities of T. pyriformis grown at 26 C generally in proportion to concentrations of the chemicals, their effects becoming statistically significant (P < 0.05) at 0.9 μg/liter for Mirex and 1.0 and 10.0 μg/liter for Aroclor 1254. Ciliates exposed to the toxicants for 7 days concentrated Mirex 193 × and Aroclor 60 × as compared to the initial concentrations of these compounds. It is suggested that the chief effect of the 2 toxicants on populations of T. pyriformis and of similarly responding ciliates in nature would be to reduce the availability of these protozoa as food organisms and nutrient regenerators. The ability of the ciliates to concentrate the tested compounds would permit the toxicants to enter into and to be translocated through aquatic food chains. In this manner the compounds could exert toxic effects at higher trophic levels.
Leontief's contribution to economics

Abstract It is often difficult to pinpoint an individual economist's contribution to his discipline but Leontief's is clear. While his interests and publications are wide-ranging, he has dedicated most of his extraordinary energy to the development of input-output analysis, involving himself directly at all levels, from fundamental theory to very specific data. He paved the way for systematic large-scale modeling efforts and for a sounder empirical base for all of economics. This review can only touch upon some highlights of the impressive corpus of his pioneering work.
Hodgkin's disease presenting as steroid‐responsive pancytopenia

In the case reported here the patient presented with Stage IVB mixed cellularity Hodgkin's disease was complicated by massive splenomegaly, bone marrow infiltration with Hodgkin's disease, and severe pancytopenia. The pancytopenia was reversed by glucocorticosteroid therapy but recurred when steroids were tapered. Reinstitution of steroids resulted in recovery of peripheral blood counts, allowing administration of full-dose combination chemotherapy leading to a complete clinical remission and obviating the need for emergency splenectomy.
Recent developments in polypseudorotaxanes and polyrotaxanes

Abstract This review highlights developments since 2008 in the field of polypseudorotaxanes and polyrotaxanes. Progress in synthetic polyrotaxane chemistry has resulted in the preparation of numerous functionalized polymers for various applications in areas such as molecular machines, stimuli responsive materials, supramolecular gels and molecular sensors. This new genre of supramolecular polymers is advancing rapidly with several groups developing novel materials with unique characteristics.
Control of transverse motion caused by chromatic aberration and misalignments in linear accelerators

Abstract Corkscrew beam motion is caused by chromatic aberration and misalignment of a focusing system. To minimize chromatic aberration, we have developed a time-independent steering algorithm that minimizes the observed corkscrew-amplitude averaged over the beam pulse. The steering algorithm can be done quickly and is not sensitive to the alignment, calibration and spacing of the beam position monitors. The steering algorithm can also be used even if the corkscrew motion caused by a given misaligned magnet is fully developed, i.e., the relative phase advance is greater than 2π. In this paper, we will discuss corkscrew motion, the optimal dynamic alignment procedure, its corkscrew reduction factor, and the effects of beam position monitors' spacing.
A random graph generation algorithm for the analysis of social networks

Social network analysis (SNA) is a rapidly growing field with numerous applications in industry and government. However, the field still lacks means to generate random social networks with certain desired properties, thus inhibiting their ability to test new SNA algorithms and metrics. Available random graph generation algorithms suffer from tendencies to generate disconnected graphs and sometimes induce undesirable network properties. In this paper, we present an algorithm, the prescribed node degree, connected graph (PNDCG) algorithm, designed to generate weakly connected social networks. Extensions to the PNDCG algorithm allow one to create random graphs that control the clustering coefficient and degree correlation within the generated networks. Empirical test results demonstrate the capability of the PNDCG algorithm to produce networks with the desired properties.
Pim1 kinase is required to maintain tumorigenicity in MYC-expressing prostate cancer cells

PIM1 kinase and MYC are commonly co-expressed in human prostate cancer and synergize to induce rapidly progressing prostate cancer in mouse models. Deficiency of the Pim kinase genes is well tolerated in vivo, suggesting that PIM1 inhibition might offer an attractive therapeutic modality for prostate cancer, particularly for MYC-expressing tumors. Here we examine the molecular consequences of Pim1 and MYC overexpression in the prostate as well as the effects of depleting Pim1 in prostate carcinoma cells with high levels of MYC. Overexpression of Pim1 in the mouse prostate induces several pro-tumorigenic genetic programs including cell cycle genes and Myc-regulated genes before the induction of any discernible pathology. Pim1 depletion by RNA interference in mouse and human prostate cancer cells decreased cellular proliferation, survival, Erk signaling and tumorigenicity even when MYC levels were not significantly altered. These results indicate that PIM1 may be necessary to maintain tumorigenicity, and further support efforts aimed at developing PIM1 inhibitors for prostate cancer therapy.
Pcons.net: protein structure prediction meta server

The Pcons.net Meta Server (http://pcons.net) provides improved automated tools for protein structure prediction and analysis using consensus. It essentially implements all the steps necessary to produce a high quality model of a protein. The whole process is fully automated and a potential user only submits the protein sequence. For PSI-BLAST detectable targets, an accurate model is generated within minutes of submission. For more difficult targets the sequence is automatically submitted to publicly available fold-recognition servers that use more advanced approaches to find distant structural homologs. The results from these servers are analyzed and assessed for structural correctness using Pcons and ProQ; and the user is presented with a ranked list of possible models. In addition, if the protein sequence contains more than one domain, these are automatically parsed out and resubmitted to the server as individual queries.