cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expanded DNA and RNA Trinucleotide Repeats in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 Select Their Own Multitarget, Sequence-Selective Inhibitors

There are few methods available for the rapid discovery of multitarget drugs. Herein, we describe the template-assisted, target-guided discovery of small molecules that recognize d(CTG) in the expa...
SECRETORY CARCINOMA OF SALIVARY GLAND: A CLINCOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Background: Secretory carcinoma of the salivary gland (SC) is a new entity that harbours a specific ETV6 gene rearrangement. The clinical behaviour of this tumour is not well-known as it is a relatively new entity but it is generally considered as a tumour of low malignant potential. The objective of the study was to find out the frequency of ETV6 translocation in cases diagnosed based on histology and immunohistochemistry, to study morphological features and immunohistochemical findings of our cases and to determine the survival and disease-free status of our patients. Methods: Twenty-five diagnosed cases of SC were retrieved from the archives of SKMCH and RC. Diagnosis was made primarily based on morphology and immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemistry includes S100, p63, mammaglobin, DOG 1, GCDFP-15, TTF-1, GATA3, SMA, AMA, and AR. The diagnosis was further confirmed by molecular testing, i.e., Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies to observe specific ETV6 gene break. Follow up of the patients was done by developing a questionnaire. Statistical analysis of the data was done using SPSS-23.0. Results: The mean age of diagnosis was 41±17.4 and the male to female ratio was 1.5:15. The mean size of the tumour was 45.48±27.35. The most common site of the tumour was parotid gland (60%). On morphology, SC showed a wide range of morphological patterns, most common being the tubular, microcystic, intraductal, and papillary. Immunohistochemical stains mammaglobin (22/22), GCDFP-15(15/15) and GATA3 (10/10) showed 100% positive result. However, all cases were negative for p63 (0/18) and DOG 1(0/11). ETV6 break was seen in 17/17 cases (100%). The mean disease-free survival was 75 months and the overall survival was 51.90±2.80 months. Conclusion: This study highlights the presence of specific molecular alteration in all cases, which were diagnosed based on morphology and immunohistochemistry. Keywords: Secretory carcinoma of Salivary gland; ETV6
Structure-Activity Relationship of Neuroactive Steroids, Midazolam, and Perampanel Toward Mitigating Tetramine-Triggered Activity in Murine Hippocampal Neuronal Networks.

Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine (tetramine or TETS), a potent convulsant, triggers abnormal electrical spike activity (ESA) and synchronous Ca2+ oscillation (SCO) patterns in cultured neuronal networks by blocking gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptors. Murine hippocampal neuronal/glial cocultures develop extensive dendritic connectivity between glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs and display two distinct SCO patterns when imaged with the Ca2+ indicator Fluo-4: Low amplitude SCO events (LASE) and High amplitude SCO events (HASE) that are dependent on TTX-sensitive network electrical spike activity (ESA). Acute TETS (3.0 µM) increased overall network SCO amplitude and decreased SCO frequency by stabilizing HASE and suppressing LASE while increasing ESA. In multielectrode arrays, TETS also increased burst frequency and synchronicity. In the presence of TETS (3.0 µM), the clinically used anticonvulsive perampanel (0.1-3.0 µM), a noncompetitive AMPAR antagonist, suppressed all SCO activity, whereas the GABAA receptor potentiator midazolam (1.0-30 µM), the current standard of care, reciprocally suppressed HASE and stabilized LASE. The neuroactive steroid (NAS) allopregnanolone (0.1-3.0 µM) normalized TETS-triggered patterns by selectively suppressing HASE and increasing LASE, a pharmacological pattern distinct from its epimeric form eltanolone, ganaxolone, alphaxolone, and XJ-42, which significantly potentiated TETS-triggered HASE in a biphasic manner. Cortisol failed to mitigate TETS-triggered patterns and at >1 µM augmented them. Combinations of allopregnanolone and midazolam were significantly more effective at normalizing TETS-triggered SCO patterns, ESA patterns, and more potently enhanced GABA-activated Cl- current, than either drug alone.
Estimation of the continuity constants for Bogovskiĭ and regularized Poincaré integral operators

Abstract We study the dependence of the continuity constants for the regularized Poincare and Bogovskiĭ integral operators acting on differential forms defined on a domain Ω of R n . We, in particular, study the dependence of such constants on certain geometric characteristics of the domain when these operators are considered as mappings from (a subset of) L 2 ( Ω , Λ l ) to H 1 ( Ω , Λ l − 1 ) , l ∈ { 1 , … , n } . For domains Ω that are star shaped with respect to a ball B we study the dependence of the constants on the ratio diam ( Ω ) / diam ( B ) . A program on how to develop estimates for higher order Sobolev norms is presented. The results are extended to certain classes of unions of star shaped domains.
Intraventricular CSF Turbulence in Pediatric Communicating Hydrocephalus.

A 3-year-old girl presented with progressive macrocephaly and a history of open myelomeningocele surgically repaired at birth. She had no history of intracranial hemorrhage or meningitis. Physical examination showed head circumference >99th percentile (54 cm) and decreased lower extremity motor function. Neuroimaging revealed extreme communicating ventriculomegaly and strikingly turbulent intraventricular CSF flow in the setting of diffuse cortical atrophy (figure, A–C). A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed. Intraoperatively, her intracranial pressure was 18 cm CSF (13.2 mm Hg) (normal in children: 3–7 mm Hg). Postoperative imaging showed complete resolution of intraventricular CSF turbulence with a mild decrease in ventriculomegaly (figure, D–F). The patient continued to exhibit mild neurocognitive impairments with arrest of progressive macrocephaly.
Couple and Family Therapy Students’ Experience of Transitioning to Teletherapy and Telesupervision in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of students enrolled in COAMFTE-accredited Couple and Family Therapy programs who transitioned to telehealth and telesupervision during the ...
The Boston Massacre: a family history: by Serena Zabin, Boston, MA, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020, xvi, 296 pp., $30.00 (hardback), ISBN: 978-0-544-91115-4

Paul Revere’s iconic engraving of the Boston Massacre depicts the moment when soldiers fired into a crowd in front of Boston’s State House. Red-coated regulars stand alongside an officer with his s...
Weak coupling among barrier loci and waves of neutral and adaptive introgression across an expanding hybrid zone.

Hybridization can serve as an evolutionary stimulus, but we have little understanding of introgression at early stages of hybrid zone formation. We analyze reproductive isolation and introgression between a range-limited and a widespread species. Reproductive barriers are estimated based on differences in flowering time, ecogeographic distributions, and seed set from crosses. We find an asymmetrical mating barrier due to cytonuclear incompatibility that is consistent with observed clusters of coincident and concordant tension zone clines (barrier loci) for mtDNA haplotypes and nuclear SNPs. These groups of concordant clines are spread across the hybrid zone, resulting in weak coupling among barrier loci and extensive introgression. Neutral clines had nearly equal introgression into both species' ranges, while putative cases of adaptive introgression had exceptionally wide clines with centers shifted towards one species. Analyses of cline shape indicate that secondary contact was initiated within the last 800 generations with the per-generation dispersal between 200 and 400 meters, and provide some of the first estimates of the strength of selection required to account for observed levels of adaptive introgression. The weak species boundary between these species appears to be in early stages of dissolution, and ultimately will precipitate genetic swamping of the range-limited species. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.).

Bermudagrasses (Cynodon L. C. Rich) are C4-type tropical perennial grass. The growth habit is quite prostrate with an intergradation of stolon and rhizomes that form very tight sod. Chromosome numbers of bermudagrasses have been reported as 18 and 20 in a diploid, 27 and 30 in a triploid, and 30, 36, and 40 in a tetraploid (Beard 1973).
Implicature: Concept and theory

Grice (1957) drew an important distinction between what a speaker means or implies and what a sentence or other expression means or implies. The sentence “The airplane is a mile long” means the airplane is 5,280 feet long and implies the plane is over 3,279 feet long. Nevertheless, it would be most unlikely for a speaker uttering the sentence to mean or imply such things unless he were pulling someone's leg. More likely, the speaker would be exaggerating, meaning simply that the airplane is enormous compared with typical planes. A speaker using the sentence in a coded message might mean something completely unrelated to its English meaning. As a first approximation, word meaning may be characterized as conventional speaker meaning. Whereas we could conceivably use “bachelor” to mean just about anything, we conventionally mean “unmarried male,” which is what the word means. Speaker meaning is determined by the intentions of the individual speaker. The exact intentions required are a matter of controversy. On my view, S means that the airplane is enormous only if S used the sentence to express the belief that the plane is enormous, which entails that S did something in order to provide an indication of that belief. In one typical case, S would have the further intention of producing the belief in the audience. Speaker implication is indirect speaker meaning: meaning one thing by meaning another. A boy who implies he cannot go to the movies by saying, “I have to study” has expressed the belief that he cannot go by expressing the belief that he has to study.
Studies on the Structure and Function of Ribosomes by Combined Use of Chemical Probing and X-Ray Crystallography

The study of the process of protein synthesis, which encompasses translation of the genetic code, has been intensively under way for about 4 decades. This chapter summarizes recent studies of the structure and function of ribosomes by a combination of biochemical and X-ray-crystallographic approaches, focusing primarily on work from the laboratory. Ribosomologists have traditionally used a wide variety of experimental strategies to study the many molecular interactions of the translational machinery. EF-G was bound in the presence of fusidic acid and GTP to ribosomes containing mRNA and tRNA bound to the P site, and hydroxyl radicals were initiated. Three-dimensional crystals of ribosomes and ribosomal subunits were obtained more than a decade ago, but only recently has X-ray crystallography begun to provide detailed information about the large-scale structure of the ribosome. In the X-ray map, bridges from elements originating in the 50S subunit can be seen to contact the minor groove of this helix at positions corresponding closely to those predicted from the foot printing studies. The arrangement of the S8-16S rRNA interaction has been investigated extensively by directed hydroxyl radical probing. Modification interference studies with kethoxal showed that modification of a set of guanines in 16S rRNA interferes with subunit association. The RNA chemical-probing studies left unaddressed the possibility that protein-RNA (or protein-protein) interactions might play a role in subunit association.
Can the Computer Learn to Play Music Expressively

A computer system is described that provides a real-time musical accompaniment for a live soloist in a piece of non-improvised music. A Bayesian belief network is developed that represents the joint distribution on the times at which the solo and accompaniment notes are played as well as many hidden variables. The network models several important sources of information including the information contained in the score and the rhythmic interpretations of the soloist and accompaniment which are learned from examples. The network is used to provide a computationally e cient decision-making engine that utilizes all available information while producing a exible and musical accompaniment.
Shape Matching by Segmentation Averaging

We use segmentations to match images by shape. To address the unreliability of segmentations, we give a closed form approximation to an average over all segmentations. Our technique has many extensions, yielding new algorithms for tracking, object detection, segmentation, and edge-preserving smoothing. For segmentation, instead of a maximum a posteriori approach, we compute the "central" segmentation minimizing the average distance to all segmentations of an image. Our methods for segmentation and object detection perform competitively, and we also show promising results in tracking and edge---preserving smoothing.
BDAP: A Big Data Placement Strategy for Cloud-Based Scientific Workflows

In this new era of Big Data, there is a growing need to enable scientific workflows to perform computations at a scale far exceeding a single workstation's capabilities. When running such data intensive workflows in the cloud distributed across several physical locations, the execution time and the resource utilization efficiency highly depends on the initial placement and distribution of the input datasets across these multiple virtual machines in the Cloud. In this paper, we propose BDAP (Big DAta Placement strategy), a strategy that improves workflow performance by minimizing data movement across multiple virtual machines. In this work, we 1) formalize the data placement problem in scientific workflows, 2) propose a data placement algorithm that considers both initial input dataset and intermediate datasets obtained during workflow run, and 3) perform extensive experiments in the distributed environment to verify that our proposed strategy provides an effective data placement solution to distribute and place big datasets at the appropriate virtual machines in the Cloud within reasonable time.
The Politics of Retirement: Joel and Ethan Coen's No Country for Old Men after September 11

Abstract: This essay shows that Joel and Ethan Coen’s No Country for Old Men develops a critique of the ways in which the Bush government turned final control into an ultimate political value after the September 11 terror attacks. It suggests that such a response operates within a theological assumption that is dismantled in the film’s representation of the confrontation between hit man Anton Chigurh and sheriff Ed Tom Bell. Crucially, this confrontation takes place at the moment when the sheriff is about to retire. The essay argues that it is through the counterintuitive representation of this retirement as a political act that No Country for Old Men proposes other ways of governing after September 11. Resume: Dans cet article, je demontre que le film des freres Coen, No Country for Old Men , contient une critique de la reponse du gouvernement de Georges Bush aux attaques terroristes du 11 septembre, plus particulierement du retour du nationalisme, du suspens de certaines libertes civiques, de la generalisation des techniques de surveillance et ainsi de suite. Comme le montre bien le film, une telle reponse est basee sur la croyance theologique en la possibilite d’assurer une securite et un controle absolus. L’article demontre que le film deconstruit cette croyance a travers sa representation de la lutte entre le tueur a gages Anton Chigurh et le sherif Ed Tom Bell, que le film situe au moment meme ou le representant de la loi est sur le point de prendre sa retraite. Selon moi, c’est a travers la representation de cette retraite que No Country for Old Men montre la possibilite d’une autre politique apres les evenements du 11 septembre.
On the original distribution of the asteroids: III. Orbits between Jupiter and Saturn

Abstract We study the stability of orbits between Jupiter and Saturn in the planar case, with Jupiter and Saturn represented by fixed ellipses. In the band of long-lived orbits centered on 1.35 and 1.45 Jovian distances, we find some orbits that survive for longer than 800,000 Jupiter periods, although most do not. A careful examination of the consequences of inaccuracies in the numerical integration on the stability of orbits shows that stable orbits remain stable even when we degrade the accuracy by a factor of a quarter of a million. Thus we believe that the long-delayed onset of instability is a consequence of the celestial mechanics and not an artifact of the numerical integration. We routinely calculated Lyapunov exponents and found a correlation between the Lyapunov time and the time to cross the orbit of one of the planets, but the Lyapunov times were typically much shorter (by a factor of 100 or more).
Recent eruptive history and magma reservoir dynamics on the southern East Pacific Rise at 17°30′S

Submersible-based geologic observations and geochemical, magnetic paleointensity, and (210Pb/226Ra) radioactive disequilibria data indicate that at least five distinct lava sequences (three normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) and two transitional mid-ocean ridge basalt (T-MORB)) have been erupted within the last several hundred years along a 27-km-long portion of the fast spreading East Pacific Rise near 17°30′S. Isotopic and geochemical variations, both within and between eruptive units, indicate mixing of different primary magmas concurrently with differentiation in shallow-level subaxial magma reservoirs. Differentiation trends are linked to geographical variations in axial magma chamber (AMC) characteristics, with the lowest MgO samples erupted above the shallowest portion of the AMC, suggesting that pre-eruptive magma temperature is in part controlled by the depth-dependent efficacy of hydrothermal cooling. A third-order axial discontinuity at ∼17°29′S coincides with a narrowing of the subaxial melt lens and an increase in lava MgO to the south; we interpret the latter to reflect a sharp increase in the mixing proportion of recharge to low-MgO magma residing in the melt lens. Magmatic evolution of this area over the last few hundred years reflects continually evolving conditions in the subsurface and mantle melting processes that vary rapidly at rates that are at least as great as the eruption rate.
Management of HIV/AIDS in older patients–drug/drug interactions and adherence to antiretroviral therapy

Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are living longer with their disease, as HIV has become a chronic illness managed with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). This has led to an increasing number of patients greater than 50 years old living successfully with HIV. As the number of older adults with HIV has increased, there are special considerations for the management of HIV. Older adults with HIV must be monitored for drug side effects and toxicities. Their other non-HIV comorbidities should also be considered when choosing a cART regimen. Older adults with HIV have unique issues related to medication compliance. They are more likely than the younger HIV patients to have vision loss, cognitive impairment, and polypharmacy. They may have lower expectations of their overall health status. Depression and financial concerns, especially if they are on a fixed income, may also contribute to noncompliance in the aging HIV population.
Degradation of levan by Actinomyces viscosus.

Abstract Actinomyces viscosus ATCC 15987 was examined for its ability to hydrolyze its own levan. Washed whole cells and an ammonium sulfate fraction from cell-free culture fluids were shown to possess levan hydrolase activity. Analyses of reaction mixtures by gel filtration and thin-layer chromatography demonstrated that the product of levan hydrolysis was free fructose. The cell-associated and extracellular enzyme preparations also hydrolyzed inulin and the levans synthesized by Aerobacter levanicum and Bacillus subtilis. Growth of A. viscosus in media supplemented with 0.1% A. viscosus levan resulted in a 33-fold increase and a 7-fold increase in the specific activities of the respective extracellular and cell-associated enzymes when compared with those from 55 mM glucose cultures. Growth in the presence of 29.2 mM sucrose resulted in a 28-fold increase and a 5-fold increase in the specific activities of the respective enzymes when compared with those from the glucose cultures. The extracellular enzyme exhibited high activity over a wide pH range, with 87 and 89% of its pH 6.0 optimum activity at pH 5.0 and 7.0, respectively. The cell-associated enzyme also exhibited optimum activity at pH 6.0, but this was decreased to 10 and 20% at pH 5.0 and 7.0, respectively. Analysis for the presence of extracellular levan during growth of A. viscosus in sucrose broths demonstrated that peak levan concentrations occurred during the mid-exponential to late-exponential phase of growth followed by a rapid decline in extracellular levan as a result of levan hydrolase activity.
The Nonpresence of the Living Present: Husserl's Time Manuscripts

L'A. evalue la critique derridienne de la subjectivite husserlienne a la lumiere des manuscrits sur le temps de Husserl datant des annees 1930. Examinant la relation entre subjectivite, intersubjectivite et alterite dans le present vecu, l'A. montre que la critique de la phenomenologie de la presence, developpee par Derrida dans «La Voix et le phenomene», n'aboutit pas necessairement au rejet de la conception de la subjectivite absolue comme presence a soi de l'ego transcendantal dans son identite avec l'autre.
Nucleon transfer with oxygen ions below and near the Coulomb barrier

Excitation functions have been measured at ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{lab}}={170}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ for the reactions $^{140}\mathrm{Ce}$($^{16}\mathrm{O}$, $^{15}\mathrm{N}$)$^{141}\mathrm{Pr}$ (${E}_{\mathrm{lab}}=56.0 \mathrm{to} 63.0$ MeV), $^{88}\mathrm{Sr}$($^{16}\mathrm{O}$, $^{15}\mathrm{N}$)$^{89}\mathrm{Y}$ (42.5 to 50.0 MeV), and $^{140}\mathrm{Ce}$($^{18}\mathrm{O}$, $^{17}\mathrm{O}$)$^{141}\mathrm{Ce}$ (56.0 to 61.0 MeV) proceeding to low excited states. Analysis has been made using the sub-Coulomb distorted-wave Born-approximation theory of Buttle and Goldfarb with inclusion of Coulomb correction terms in the form factor and the Buttle-Goldfarb approximation for recoil corrections. Good fits are obtained to the excitation functions at the lower energies. Normalization at these energies determines an essentially invariant quantity, namely the joint probability for the transferred nucleon being at radius ${R}_{1}$ with respect to the first core nucleus and radius ${R}_{2}$ with respect to the second, where ${R}_{1}\ensuremath{\equiv}\ensuremath{\alpha}[\frac{{{A}_{1}}^{\frac{1}{3}}}{({{A}_{1}}^{\frac{1}{3}}+{{A}_{2}}^{\frac{1}{3}})}]$ and ${R}_{2}\ensuremath{\equiv}\ensuremath{\alpha}[\frac{{{A}_{2}}^{\frac{1}{3}}}{({{A}_{1}}^{\frac{1}{3}}+{{A}_{2}}^{\frac{1}{3}})}]$, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ being the distance of closest approach in a head-on collision averaged between incident and final channels. If specific assumptions are made for the geometrical parameters of the bound states, values can be extracted for the product of spectroscopic factors, ${S}^{(1)} {S}^{(2)}$; reasonable geometries lead to values of ${S}^{(2)}$ very close to those previously obtained from light-ion reactions. Above the barrier, the fits to calculations which use nuclear distorted waves are less satisfactory; for optical potentials which give nearly equivalent elastic scattering, the calculations show moderate ambiguity. We believe the leading uncertainty in our analysis is due to the approximate treatment of recoil.
Towards effective improvement of the Bayesian Belief Network Structure learning

The Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) is a very powerful tool for causal relationship modeling and probabilistic reasoning. A BBN has two components. First is its structure - a directed acyclic graph (DAG) whose nodes represent random variables and whose arcs represent the dependencies between the variables. The second component is its parameter in the form of Conditional Probability Tables (CPTs).The BBN is widely used in many different areas, excelling itself in Prediction, Risk Analysis, Diagnosis and Decision Support.
EXPLANATION OF EXCESS HIGH-MOMENTUM SPECTATORS IN HIGH-ENERGY DEUTERON- BREAKUP REACTIONS.

The multiple-scattering correction to the spectator momentum distribution is calculated using Glauber theory. It is shown to dominate when the transverse component of the spectator momentum is greater than about 400 MeV/c, yielding an overall enhancement of high-momentum events.
Choking flow modeling with mechanical non-equilibrium for two-phase two-component flow

Abstract A mechanistic model which considers the mechanical non-equilibrium is described for two-phase choking flow. The choking mass flux is obtained from the momentum equation with the definition of choking. The key parameter for the mechanical non-equilibrium is a slip ratio. The dependent parameters for the slip ratio are identified. In this research, the slip ratio which is defined in the drift flux model is used to identify the impact parameters on the slip ratio. Because the slip ratio in the drift flux model is related to the distribution parameter and drift velocity, the adequate correlations depending on the flow regime are introduced in this study. In this mechanistic modeling approach, the choking mass flow rate is expressed by the function of pressure, quality and slip ratio. The developed model is evaluated by comparing with the air–water experimental data to eliminate the thermal effect. The comparison of predicted choking model for mechanical non-equilibrium with other experimental data in high quality region (up to 80%) is quite reasonable with a small error.
Dissolution testing of norethindrone:ethinyl estradiol, norethindrone:mestranol, and norethindrone acetate: Ethinyl estradiol combination tablets

Dissolution of oral contraceptive combination products from six manufacturing firms was studied utilizing the rotating basket method at 100 rpm in 600 mL of 0.1 M HCl and 0.02% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Most of the combination products of norethindrone (NE):ethinyl estradiol (EE) dissolved satisfactorily in water using the paddle method which was first proposed by U.S.P., whereas three of 18 tested products showed better dissolution in acidic aqueous medium containing SLS. Acidic medium with surfactant was also found to be suitable for combination products of norethindrone (NE):mestranol (ME) and norethindrone acetate (NEAc):ethinyl estradiol (EE). A modified U.S.P. assay procedure, a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with a mobile phase of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer, was used to analyze NE and EE concurrently. The NEAc and ME were analyzed separately in these combination products. The NEAc was found to hydrolyze to some extent (approximately 20% in 8 h) in acidic dissolution medium at room temperature, but less so at 4 degrees C. The NE was identified as the sole degradation product of NEAc hydrolysis and was also measured to account for the total amount of NEAc dissolved. A simple dissoluting testing method which utilizes a single dissolution medium was applicable for all oral contraceptive combination tablets surveyed.
Formation and Reactivity of a Porphyrin Iridium Hydride in Water: Acid Dissociation Constants and Equilibrium Thermodynamics Relevant to Ir–H, Ir–OH, and Ir–CH2– Bond Dissociation Energetics

Aqueous solutions of group nine metal(III) (M = Co, Rh, Ir) complexes of tetra(3,5-disulfonatomesityl)porphyrin [(TMPS)MIII] form an equilibrium distribution of aquo and hydroxo complexes ([(TMPS)MIII(D2O)2–n(OD)n](7+n)–). Evaluation of acid dissociation constants for coordinated water show that the extent of proton dissociation from water increases regularly on moving down the group from cobalt to iridium, which is consistent with the expected order of increasing metal–ligand bond strengths. Aqueous (D2O) solutions of [(TMPS)IrIII(D2O)2]7– react with dihydrogen to form an iridium hydride complex ([(TMPS)Ir–D(D2O)]8–) with an acid dissociation constant of 1.8(0.5) × 10–12 (298 K), which is much smaller than the Rh–D derivative (4.3 (0.4) × 10–8), reflecting a stronger Ir–D bond. The iridium hydride complex adds with ethene and acetaldehyde to form organometallic derivatives [(TMPS)Ir–CH2CH2D(D2O)]8– and [(TMPS)Ir–CH(OD)CH3(D2O)]8–. Only a six-coordinate carbonyl complex [(TMPS)Ir–D(CO)]8– is observed for ...
NITRITES IN INOCULATED CARROT JUICE AS A FUNCTION OF NITRATE CONTENT AND TEMPERATURE

High levels of nitrite accumulated in fresh carrot juice inoculated with a nitrite-producing bacterium isolated from carrots when the nitrate levels were over 500 ppm. The rate of accumulation increased with temperature (20-35°C) over a 6-hr period. Nitrite continued to increase in carrot juice at 4.5°C following incubation for 1–4 hr at 30°C.
Alzheimer's disease: Seeing the signs early.

Purpose: Many patients with early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) first seek help from their primary care providers (PCPs). PCPs must therefore be watchful for signs and symptoms of AD, and should screen elderly patients who complain of memory and cognitive problems for dementia. Data sources: Published literature on case detection, diagnosis, and treatment of AD. Conclusions: There are a number of simple, accurate, and fast tools to facilitate case detection, including the Mini-Mental State Examination. Once a diagnosis has been made, healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers can evaluate treatment options. Several medications are available for symptomatic treatment of AD, including the cholinesterase inhibitors donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine, and for later stage disease, the N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, memantine. Implications for Practice: Early intervention is critical because a delay in treatment is associated with nonreversible symptom progression. Realistic treatment expectations include reduction in symptom severity and slowed decline in cognition, function, and behavior. Treatment may allow patients to retain independence longer and reduce the burden that advanced AD places on caregivers.
Predators Induce Cloning in Echinoderm Larvae

Asexual propagation (cloning) is a widespread reproductive strategy of plants and animals. Although larval cloning is well documented in echinoderms, identified stimuli for cloning are limited to those associated with conditions favorable for growth and reproduction. Our research shows that larvae of the sand dollar Dendraster excentricus also clone in response to cues from predators. Predator-induced clones were smaller than uncloned larvae, suggesting an advantage against visual predators. Our results offer another ecological context for asexual reproduction: rapid size reduction as a defense.
A Human Factors Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Machines and Associated Components and Procedures

Cardiopulmonary bypass machines (CBM's), first developed in 1953, are commonly used during heart surgery to oxygenate blood and circulate it throughout the body while the heart is stopped. Although...
Cerebral interleukin-15 shows upregulation and beneficial effects in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Abstract Interleukin (IL)-15 can cross the blood–brain barrier to act on its specific brain receptor (IL15Rα) and co-receptors. The important roles of neuronal IL15 and IL15Rα in experimental autoimmune encephalomeylitis (EAE) are suggested by the upregulation of IL15Rα mRNA in different regions of the brain and spinal cord, and by double-labeling immunohistochemistry showing neuronal localization of IL15 and IL15Rα in different neurons. Contrary to expectations, IL15 treatment lessened EAE severity. IL15 knockout mice showed heightened susceptibility to EAE with significantly higher scores that were decreased by treatment with IL15. Thus, IL15 improves this CNS autoimmune disorder as a potential therapeutic agent.
Neurotransmission and cancer: implications for prevention and therapy.

Published evidence compiled in this review supports the hypothesis that the development, progression, and responsiveness to prevention and therapy of the most common human cancers is strongly influenced, if not entirely orchestrated, by an imbalance in stimulatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. T
Supplemental vitamin E in beef cattle diets to improve shelf-life of beef

Quality deterioration in meat occurs because of oxidation of lipids and muscle pigments. Lipid oxidation causes development of off-odors and off-flavors; muscle-pigment oxidation negatively affects color, appearance and acceptability. Lipid and muscle-pigment oxidation are closely associated such that delaying lipid breakdown will delay meal discoloration. Supplementation of cattle diets with enough vitamin E to achieve about 4 μg g−1 of alpha-tocopherol in muscle extended the time beef was of acceptable quality. Feeding supplemental vitamin E to feedlot steers and heifers produced beef with higher tissue alpha-tocopherol, slower metmyoglobin formation, fewer oxidation products and 24–48 h longer acceptable appearance during display. Growth of spoilage and pathogenic (Escherichia coli 0157:H7; Listeria monocytogenes) bacteria did not differ on beef cuts from cattle fed vs. not-fed supplemental vitamin E. Field studies documented that supplementing diets of feedlot cattle with 500–1000 IU per head per day of vitamin E for 90–100 days prior to harvest was efficacious for beef marketed in both domestic and export trades.
LATERAL GENICULATE NUCLEUS: HISTOLOGICAL AND CYTOCHEMICAL CHANGES FOLLOWING AFFERENT DENERVATION AND VISUAL DEPRIVATION.

Abstract The histology and cytochemistry of neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus of kittens was compared following unilateral afferent denervation (enucleation) and unilateral visual deprivation (lid closure). Afferent denervation at 5 weeks of age resulted in a rapid and severe transneuronal atrophy of the neurons in the appropriate geniculate laminae. There was a concomitant decrease in the activity of TPN-diaphorase, DPN-diaphorase, cholinesterase and the dehydrogenases of 6-phosphogluconate, succinate and lactate-DPN in the atrophied laminae as compared with the adjacent normal laminae. Although visual deprivation at 5 weeks of age resulted in a decrease in size of the geniculate neurons in those laminae receiving input from the closed eye, the smaller neuron had an appearance which was normal for neurons from a 5-week old kitten, i.e., when the eye was closed. In addition, cytochemical studies indicated no difference in enzyme activity between the smaller neurons and adjacent neurons of normal size. Since the normal geniculate neuron increased in cross-sectional area about 50–60% from birth to 15 weeks of age, this suggests that visual deprivation arrests normal growth of the neuron without significantly altering its metabolic activity.
Left Pleural Effusion in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease and Ascites Prospective Study of 22 Cases

In a prospective study of 22 cases of left pleural effusion in patients with chronic liver disease and ascites, 16 patients underwent thoracentesis, revealing ten transudates, considered to be hepatic hydrothorax, and six exudates, four of which turned out to be due to tuberculosis. Unilateral left pleural effusion is rare in chronic liver disease with ascites, but if present it is associated with a high incidence of pleuropulmonary tuberculosis (18%).
Comparison of debris-flow volumes from burned and unburned areas

The goals of this work are to show the range of debris-flow volumes and watershed characteristics for several locations, and the differences in flow volumes for events triggered soon after wildfire. A dataset of 929 events was divided into groups based on location and burn status. The three unburned locations show significant differences: debris flows from the Italian Alps are larger and generate more debris per unit basin area or unit channel length than flows in the Western USA or in the Pacific Northwest. However, some of the observed differences may be attributed to the skew of the Italian Alps dataset towards larger events, and the small size and limited range of the Pacific Northwest data. For burned watersheds in the Western U.S. events, there is a clear progression in decreasing volume in debris flows as basins recover from the wildfire: it takes approximately 1 year, or at a few locations, as much as 3 years, for debris production to return to pre-fire rates. The difference is most apparent when the data are normalized for basin area (the area yield, which is 2× larger for burned basins) or for channel length (the length yield, which is 1.6× larger for burned basins). When normalized simultaneously for basin area, channel length, and channel gradient, burned areas produce significantly more debris (2.7–5.4 times as much). Burned areas in the Western USA are more sensitive to wildfire and produce larger debris flows than burned areas in more humid climates such as the Pacific Northwest.
Regulation of XPD Helicase by the Single-Stranded DNA Binding Protein RPA2

Although it is known that single-stranded DNA binding proteins can stimulate helicase activity, the mechanism by which this occurs may be more complex than sequestering ssDNA products of duplex separation. Here, we present a single-molecule helicase assay with base-pair sensitivity, which utilizes high-resolution optical tweezers combined with microfluidics and fluorescence microscopy to decipher how FacXPD helicase is modulated by FacRPA2. FacXPD is the archaeal homolog of yeast Rad3 and human xeroderma pigmentosum group D protein (XPD) helicase from the organism Ferroplasma acidarmanus. This enzyme serves as a model for understanding the molecular mechanism of human Superfamily 2B helicase XPD involved in transcription initiation and nucleotide excision repair and related helicases FANCJ, RTEL and CHLR1 involved in maintenance of the genomic integrity. First, we demonstrated that monomeric XPD unwinds duplex DNA in single base-pair steps, yet is non-processive, unwinding for short distances (∼12 bp) and displaying a strong dependence on DNA sequence. Second, we investigated how RPA2 by itself interacts with DNA. We showed that RPA2 can unwind duplex DNA in steps of ∼5-8 bp in the presence of an assisting force of 12 pN. Finally, we examined the effect of RPA2 on XPD activity. Using our microfluidic platform, we performed experiments in which XPD and RPA2 were sequentially assembled on a DNA substrate in a controlled order. RPA2 increased XPD processivity. Duplex unwinding occurred in 1-bp steps, indicating that RPA2 is not directly involved in strand separation. Importantly, our data suggest that only 1-3 RPA2 molecules are sufficient to turn XPD into a processive helicase. We propose two scenarios. Either RPA2 forms a complex with XPD, or it alters its interaction with DNA upon binding, activating it for processive unwinding. We discuss the biological implications of our findings.
Urinary 3-methylhistidine as an index of dietary protein adequacy in the adult rat: Short term testing

Abstract Urinary excretion of 3-methylhistidine (3-MH) was evaluated as an indicator of dietary protein quality using adult rats with shortterm feeding. The effect of protein depletion and repletion on excretion of 3-MH was also studied. Four groups of 6 rats weighing between 250 and 300 grams were fed diets containing 10% protein from casein, wheat gluten, blood globin, or a complementary mixture of wheat gluten and globin. Daily variations of weight, 3-MH and creatinine, as well as 6-day means were observed. The correlation of PER with the 6-day means of urinary 3-MH was not high. Body weight changes and fractional rates of synthesis (based on estimated myofibrillar 3-MH pool size) appeared to be highly correlated to PER and sensitive to the influence of dietary protein and calorie deficiencies on body protein metabolism. 3-MH excretion, then, when used to determine fractional rates of catabolism and synthesis of myofibrillar protein, could be useful in short-term protein evaluation using adult rats.
An Approach to Digital Engineering

Study within digital engineering is primarily concerned with the exploitation of mutual characteristics of software and hardware packages. Within the digital information aggregate of each package the alphabet, dictionary, and syntax models permit a basic perspective independent of restraints imposed by particular evolving packages.
The use of dobutamine stress echocardiography for the determination of myocardial viability

Determining the presence of viable myocardium has prognostic and therapeutic implications in the treatment of ischemic heart disease. Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is one possible technique to help identify both hibernating and stunned but viable myocardium. Low-dose dobutamine infusion has an increased inotropic effect, while higher doses cause both inotropic and chronotropic effects. Thus, at lower doses cardiac augmentation occurs, and at higher doses regions of ischemia may be produced in the presence of significant coronary artery disease. This is manifested echocardiographically as changes in segmental wall motion. In theory, therefore, areas of viable myocardium should show improved wall motion at low doses, and areas of irreversible myocardial damage will remain akinetic. Five studies have investigated DSE for determining viability in the setting of acute myocardial infarction, thus looking for stunned but viable myocardium. DSE was shown to compare favorably with positron emission tomography and was highly sensitive and specific for predicting functional myocardial recovery. Five additional studies examined DSE for determining the presence of hibernating myocardium. The sensitivity and specificity of DSE were found to range from 71 to 92% and from 73 to 93%, respectively. The benefits of DSE include lower cost, convenience to both patient and physician, additional ancillary information, and determination of the possible need for urgent revascularization. Limitations of DSE include occasional technical difficulty in obtaining and interpreting studies and the need for larger volumes of viable myocardium to detect changes predictive of functional recovery. Larger trials are currently underway to confirm DSE as a reliable technique for determining myocardial viability.
Theoretical approximation to transient heat conduction in nuclear waste repositories

Comparison is made between the numerical solution for temperature histories at a nuclear waste site and the analytical solution of a correlated thermal problem. The differences between both solutions are found. Both problems are nonlinear diffusion problems connected with the disposal of nuclear wastes.
Non-linear one-dimensional continuum damage theory

Abstract The background of Non-Linear Continuum Damage Mechanics is presented for the case of one-dimensional tensile stresses. A brief critical analysis of the existing methods of non-linear damage models construction is given. A new approach to the damage theory development based on the “separability” principle is suggested. The condition of non-linearity and the criterion of long-term failure are formulated. The non-linear damage constitutive equations for static and cyclic loading, allowing one to take into account the loading history, are proposed on this basis. Within the framework of the approach suggested the problems of total and residual lifetime calculation under additional loads and partial unloads are solved. The predictions are compared with experimental data obtained using some particular heat-resistant materials.
Proactive Performance: A Context for Intergroup Contact

Over the years, Allport's (1954) contact hypothesis has become the primary theoretical approach to intergroup contact, yet researchers are just now beginning to explore specific contact contexts. T...
Quantifying the quality of coral bleaching predictions

Techniques that utilize sea surface temperature (SST) observations to predict coral reef bleaching are in common use and form the foundation for predicted global coral reef ecosystem demise within this century. Yet, quality assessments of these methods are typically qualitative or anecdotal. Quality is the correspondence of forecasts with observations and has standard quantitative measures. Here a forecast verification method, commonly used in meteorology, is presented and used to measure the quality of the degree heating weeks (DHW) technique as an exploration of insights that can be gleaned from this methodology. DHW values were calculated from NOAA Optimum Interpolation SST version 2 data and compared to a database of bleaching observations from 1990–2007. Quality is expressed with an objective measure, the Peirce Skill Score (PSS). The quality at varying DHW thresholds above which bleaching was projected to occur is calculated. By selecting the thresholds that maximize quality, the predictive technique is objectively optimized. This results in optimal threshold maps, showing reefs more prone and more resistant to bleaching. Optimization increases the quality of DHW as a predictor of bleaching from PSS = 0.55 to PSS = 0.83, in global average, but the optimal PSS and corresponding DHW values vary significantly from location to location. The coral reef research and management community are urged to adopt the simple, but rigorous tools of forecast verification routinely used in other disciplines so that bleaching forecasts can be quantitatively compared and their quality improved.
Development, Specification, and Diversity of Callosal Projection Neurons

Callosal projection neurons (CPN) are a diverse population of neocortical projection neurons that connect the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex via the corpus callosum. They play key roles in high-level associative connectivity, and have been implicated in cognitive syndromes of high-level associative dysfunction, such as autism spectrum disorders. CPN evolved relatively recently compared to other cortical neuron populations, and have undergone disproportionately large expansion from mouse to human. While much is known about the anatomical trajectory of developing CPN axons, and progress has been made in identifying cellular and molecular controls over midline crossing, only recently have molecular-genetic controls been identified that specify CPN populations, and help define CPN subpopulations. In this review, we discuss the development, diversity and evolution of CPN.
Optimizing parallel programs with explicit synchronization

We present compiler analyses and optimizations for explicitly parallel programs that communicate through a shared address space. Any type of code motion on explicitly parallel programs requires a new kind of analysis to ensure that operations reordered on one processor cannot be observed by another. The analysis, based on work by Shasha and Snir, checks for cycles among interfering accesses. We improve the accuracy of their analysis by using additional information from post-wait synchronization, barriers, and locks.We demonstrate the use of this analysis by optimizing remote access on distributed memory machines. The optimizations include message pipelining, to allow multiple outstanding remote memory operations, conversion of two-way to one-way communication, and elimination of communication through data re-use. The performance improvements are as high as 20-35% for programs running on a CM-5 multiprocessor using the Split-C language as a global address layer.