cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I : cDNA cloning and identification of autophosphorylation site

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I (CaM kinase I) was previously purified from bovine brain (Nairn, A. C., and Greengard, P. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 7273-7281) based on its ability to phosphorylate the synaptic vesicle protein, synapsin I at site 1. The cDNA for this protein kinase has now been cloned from both a rat and a bovine brain cDNA library and the complete amino acid sequence of rat CaM kinase I determined. The rat cDNA encoded a protein of 331 amino acids with a calculated M(r) of 37,545, and the encoded kinase was expressed in bacteria as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein. The resulting fusion protein was purified by Sepharose-CaM affinity chromatography and shown to be totally dependent on Ca2+ and CaM for activity. Furthermore, the purified kinase phosphorylates synapsin I at the same site (site 1) as the endogenous brain enzyme. CaM kinase I is homologous to other known protein kinases and contains all nine invariant amino acids conserved in the catalytic domain of this class of enzymes. CaM kinase I was most identical to CaM kinase II both in the catalytic domain and in a short region at the COOH-terminal that is predicted to be the calmodulin-binding domain. CaM kinase I appeared to be encoded by a single gene. RNase protection assays detected the mRNA encoding CaM kinase I in all tissues examined. High concentrations of the kinase mRNA were found in all regions of the brain with frontal cortex showing the greatest level. CaM kinase I was autophosphorylated in a Ca2+/CaM-dependent manner at a threonyl residue (Thr-177) which is located at a position equivalent to that of the threonyl residue (Thr-197) autophosphorylated in cAMP-dependent protein kinase.
Simple, optimal and efficient auctions

We study the extent to which simple auctions can simultaneously achieve good revenue and efficiency guarantees in single-item settings. Motivated by the optimality of the second price auction with monopoly reserves when the bidders' values are drawn i.i.d. from regular distributions [12], and its approximate optimality when they are drawn from independent regular distributions [11], we focus our attention to the second price auction with general (not necessarily monopoly) reserve prices, arguably one of the simplest and most intuitive auction formats. As our main result, we show that for a carefully chosen set of reserve prices this auction guarantees at least 20% of both the optimal welfare and the optimal revenue, when the bidders' values are distributed according to independent, not necessarily identical, regular distributions. We also prove a similar guarantee, when the values are drawn i.i.d. from a--possibly irregular--distribution.
On some cocoons belonging to undescribed species of endoparasitic turbellarians

Six different types of cocoons, belonging to as many unknown species of endoparasitic turbellarians of the family Fecampiidae, are figured and described. All types exhibit many characteristics in c...
Commentary of "Hospitalists and the doctor-patient relationship".

Abstract The use of the hospitalist is a means to increase the efficiency of hospitals by achieving equal or better outcomes of care while reducing the cost of care. I comment on David Meltzer’s controlled study of the costs and outcomes of hospitalist care, which showed increased cost savings and no change in patients' satisfaction with their care. Relative to full‐time community practice, Meltzer’s findings probably exaggerate the effect of hospitalists on costs. The physicians in charge of the control group of patients were full‐time academic faculty, who typically spend 1 or 2 months per year doing inpatient care, in contrast to the hospitalists, who spent most of their time caring for hospitalized patients. His findings probably minimize differences in satisfaction with care. Resident physicians did most of the bedside care for the hospitalist patients and the control group patients, an arrangement that would reduce any intrinsic differences.
Performance Evaluation and Benchmarking: First TPC Technology Conference, TPCTC 2009, Lyon, France, August 24-28, 2009, Revised Selected Papers

Transaction Processing Performance Council (TPC): Twenty Years Later - A Look Back, a Look Ahead.- A New Direction for TPC?.- The Art of Building a Good Benchmark.- Database Are Not Toasters: A Framework for Comparing Data Warehouse Appliances.- The State of Energy and Performance Benchmarking for Enterprise Servers.- From Performance to Dependability Benchmarking: A Mandatory Path.- Overview of TPC Benchmark E: The Next Generation of OLTP Benchmarks.- Converting TPC-H Query Templates to Use DSQGEN for Easy Extensibility.- Generating Shifting Workloads to Benchmark Adaptability in Relational Database Systems.- Measuring Database Performance in Online Services: A Trace-Based Approach.- Issues in Benchmark Metric Selection.- Benchmarking Query Execution Robustness.- Benchmarking Database Performance in a Virtual Environment.- Principles for an ETL Benchmark.- Benchmarking ETL Workflows.- A Performance Study of Event Processing Systems.- The Star Schema Benchmark and Augmented Fact Table Indexing.- An Approach of Performance Evaluation in Authentic Database Applications.
Combinatorial splicing of exon pairs by two-site binding of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle.

Abstract A two-site model for the binding of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (U1 snRNP) was tested in order to understand how exon partners are selected in complex pre-mRNAs containing alternative exons. In this model, it is proposed that two U1 snRNPs define a functional unit of splicing by base pairing to the 3' boundary of the downstream exon as well as the 5' boundary of the intron to be spliced. Three-exon substrates contained the alternatively spliced exon 4 (E4) region of the preprotachykinin gene. Combined 5' splice site mutations at neighboring exons demonstrate that weakened binding of U1 snRNP at the downstream site and improved U1 snRNP binding at the upstream site result in the failure to rescue splicing of the intron between the mutations. These results indicate the stringency of the requirement for binding a second U1 snRNP to the downstream 5' splice site for these substrates as opposed to an alternative model in which a certain threshold level of U1 snRNP can be provided at either site. Further support for the two-site model is provided by single-site mutations in the 5' splice site of the third exon, E5, that weaken base complementarity to U1 RNA. These mutations block E5 branchpoint formation and, surprisingly, generate novel branchpoints that are specified chiefly by their proximity to a cryptic 5' splice site located at the 3' terminus of the pre-mRNA. The experiments shown here demonstrate a true stimulation of 3' splice site activity by the downstream binding of U1 snRNP and suggest a possible mechanism by which combinatorial patterns of exon selection are achieved for alternatively spliced pre-mRNAs.
Diverse ages and origins of basement complexes, Luzon, Philippines

Geological field investigations and 40Ar/39Ar ages from two basement complexes in southeast Luzon document the first known occurrences of pre-Late Cretaceous age rocks in the eastern Philippines. However, individual components within the two complexes vary in age from Late Jurassic (Caramoan basement complex) to Early Cretaceous and early Miocene (Camarines Norte-Calaguas Islands basement complex). These and other data show that southeast Luzon basement complexes are genetically diverse, and they indicate that the concept of an old, autochthonous basement in the Philippines is open to question. This supports the hypothesis that the Philippine Archipelago is an amalgamation of allochthonous Mesozoic and Cenozoic island-arc, ocean-basin, and continental fragments that were assembled during the Tertiary.
How Do Clients Make Empathy Work? / Wie lassen Klientinnen und Klienten Empathie wirksam werden? / ¿Cómo hacen los consultantes para que la empatía sea efectiva?

Typical views of therapy are therapist-centric. Therapists and their interventions are portrayed as operating on client processes to create change. Some writers on client-centered therapy portray e...
Production System Dynamics and Metropolitan Development

Abstract. This paper offers an analysis of the complex interrelationships between metropolitan development in the United States and the logic and dynamics of the system of economic production. The argument begins with a brief historical review of U.S. metropolitan growth and change since the end of the last century. Following this is a discussion of the recent reversal in the broad pattern of metropolitan expansion over the past several decades. The resulting dispersal of productive activity to suburban and nonmetropolitan areas has now become one of the dominant processes shaping the contemporary economic landscape. This process of dispersal is explained in terms of a theory of capital deepening, restructuring, and reorganization of productive activities. Accompanying this dispersal, a new spatial division of labor of considerable geographical significance has emerged. The paper concludes with a restatement of the developmental logic of the U.S. metropolitan system as a predicament-laden outcome of the l...
Eolian dune types preserved in the Tensleep Sandstone (Pennsylvanian-Permian), north-central Wyoming

Abstract The Tensleep Sandstone is one component of an erg system that prograded southward out of north-central Wyoming from Middle Pennsylvanian to Early Permian time. Each erg advance was temporarily interrupted by regional marine transgression. Interpretation of dune types deposited in these ergs is developed from an analysis of the relative proportions of eolian stratification types comprising foreset strata, geometry and relationships of bounding surfaces, and paleodispersal patterns. Two basic morphologic dune types are inferred: simple dunes and compound crescentic dunes. The simple dunes are dominant and are subdivided into 1–2 km wavelength and 1.0 km saddle-spacing slightly crescentic, and 0.1–0.2 km wavelength straight-crested subtypes based on their first-order bounding surface geometries. Foresets are composed of grainfall and wind-ripple strata; avalanche strata are rare. The compound crescentic dunes had wavelengths of 0.5–1 km and saddle spacings of 0.8 km. Foresets are dominated by avalanche and wind-ripple strata. A morphodynamic classification of the dune types is inferred from considerations deduced from paleodispersal patterns and comparison with paleocirculation models. The simple dunes were demonstrably oblique to some elements of the wind field and less oblique to others. The compound crescentic dunes had a predominantly transverse configuration.
The ethics of research on great apes

In the wake of the chimpanzee genome publication, Pascal Gagneux, James J. Moore and Ajit Varki consider the ethical and scientific challenges for scientists who work on captive great apes. The cover photo by Kevin Langergraber shows the adult female chimpanzee ‘Jolie’ in Kibale National Park, Uganda. This was taken on 16 August 2004, a few weeks before Jolie gave birth to her first infant. This week marks a landmark in the study of our closest living relative: the publication by the Chimpanzee Sequencing and Analysis Consortium of the initial sequence of the chimpanzee genome, together with a comparison with the human genome. The paper describes changes that have shaped human and chimpanzee species since the split from our common ancestor, and hints at what makes us uniquely human: 35 million single-nucleotide substitutions, 5 million small insertions and deletions, local rearrangements and a chromosome fusion. A comparison of gene duplications in chimpanzee and human genomes reveals gene expression differences that may underlie disease susceptibility. A study of primate genomes shows that subtelomeres are hot spots of recent chromosomal duplication and gene conversion. Conservation of Y-linked genes during human evolution is revealed by comparative sequencing in the chimpanzee. The final research paper in this collection fills a big gap in our knowledge: the first chimpanzee fossils ever found show that chimps and early humans inhabited the same environments in which they evolved and diverged. The fossils — three teeth — are from half-million-year-old sediments in Kenya that also yielded fossils of Homo. Four Progress reviews accompany these papers, looking at chimp culture, social behaviour, psychology and cognition. Elsewhere in the issue, researchers talk about working with chimpanzees, a feature summarizes other primate genome projects, and in two Commentaries, important ethical issues surrounding research on great apes are considered.
Image-domain motion compensated time resolved 4D cardiac CT

Two major problems with the current electrocardiogram-gated cardiac computed tomography (CT) imaging technique are a large patient radiation dose (10-15 mSv) and insufficient temporal resolution (83-165 ms). Our long-term goal is to develop new time resolved and low dose cardiac CT imaging techniques that consist of image reconstruction algorithms and estimation methods of the time-dependent motion vector field (MVF) of the heart from the acquired CT data. Toward this goal, we developed a method that estimates the 2D components of the MVF from a sequence of cardiac CT images and used it to "reconstruct" cardiac images at rapidly moving phases. First, two sharp image frames per heart beat (cycle) obtained at slow motion phases (i.e., mid-diastole and end-systole) were chosen. Nodes were coarsely placed among images; and the temporal motion of each node was modeled by B-splines. Our cost function consisted of 3 terms: mean-squared-error with the block-matching, and smoothness constraints in space and time. The time-dependent MVF was estimated by minimizing the cost function. We then warped images at slow motion phases using the estimated vector fields to "reconstruct" images at rapidly moving phase. The warping algorithm was evaluated using true time-dependent motion vector fields and images both provided by the NCAT phantom program. Preliminary results from ongoing quantitative and qualitative evaluation using the 4D NCAT phantom and patient data are encouraging. Major motion artifact is much reduced. We conclude the new image-based motion estimation technique is an important step toward the development of the new cardiac CT imaging techniques.
Complexity of Flavor and Blending of Wines

SUMMARY Thirty-four pairs of similar, commercially acceptable wines and a freshly prepared 50–50 blend of each pair were scored for quality by a small expert panel. The composite scores of the blends did not differ to even a low degree of significance from the score of the highest-scoring member of the pair. The scores of the blends were very highly significantly better than the scores for the low-scoring wines or the mean of the low- and high-scoring wine in each pair. In 7 cases among the 34 the blend's composite score was higher than that of the highest-scoring wine, and in no case was it lower than that of lowest-scoring wine of the pair. Increased complexity of flavor is believed to be a major factor in the favorable effect of blending shown in this study; other possible effects are discussed.
Simultaneous fast and slow light on a chip using microring resonators

Two orthogonal light polarizations in a waveguide coupled to microring resonators can propagate as fast and slow light. Which one is fast (slow) is determined by input polarization and the number of resonators.
Leaning as a method of translation in large virtual environments

Research has shown that virtual environments (VEs) are best explored on foot. However, when a person uses their own physical locomotion to explore a VE, they are limited by the range of the tracking system or the size of the physical room housing the tracking system. This poster presents a new method of exploring a large VE using a head-mounted display (HMD). Specifically, we examine the idea of physically leaning or tilting as a means of translating the user forward in the virtual space. The feasibility and accuracy of this system is tested by directly comparing it to joystick navigation, where virtual translations are accomplished by pushing the joystick forward. In both methods, physical rotations correspond to virtual rotations and users translate forward in the yaw angle they are facing.
Streptococcus constellatus lymphadenitis in chronic granulomatous disease.

We read with interest the article titled “Streptococcal infections in Patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease” by Falcone et al in August issue of the journal. We would like to report a case of lymphadenitis and pneumonia in a 14 year-old boy with chronic granulomatous disease due to Streptococcus constellatus a member of the Streptococcus anginosus group. This 14 year-old patient presented to our clinic with history of an enlarging neck mass for one week and two days of mild nonproductive cough. He did not have any constitutional symptoms. His physical examination demonstrated a 2×4 cm non-fluctuant and non-tender mass in the left anterior cervical area. The ultrasound of neck revealed conglomerated nodes without any suppuration. His chest xray demonstrated a left upper lobe consolidation. He underwent biopsy of the lymph node and bronchial alveolar lavage washings. Tissue cultures revealed alpha hemolytic colonies after 72 h on sheep blood agar, with a distinctive butterscotch smell. The API 20 Strep system (bioMerieux, Inc. Hazelwood, MO) did not yield an acceptable identification score. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-offlight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) using a MALDI-TOF MicroFlex LT mass spectrometer (Bruker Daltonics, Billerica, MA) identified Streptococcus constellatus with high score (∼2.0). We did not test our isolate for production of hydrogen peroxide. Histology of the node revealed acute and chronic inflammation and bronchial alveolar lavage washings yielded no growth. The patient is being treated with high dose amoxicillin and his clinical symptoms have improved. Our case not only extends the observations of Falcone et al but also records lymphadenitis due to Streptococcus anginosus group which is uncommon and has not been previously reported to our knowledge in CGD patients. It is however unclear in the few published cases of S.viridans infections in CGD , if further speciation was attempted or not. Our case not only illustrates the rarity of lymphadenitis due to S.anginosus group but also underscores the importance of observing the cultures for longer than 72 h.
SYNOPTIC STUDIES OF THE POTENTIAL ENERGY IN CYCLONES

Abstract Margules' energy theory of cyclones is examined critically. It is shown, by means of synoptic maps of the potential energy changes in the vicinity of two deepening cyclones, that the energy theory is not verified by observations.
Peroxynitrite-Induced Reactions of Synthetic Oligo 2‘-Deoxynucleotides and DNA Containing Guanine: Formation and Stability of a 5-Guanidino-4-nitroimidazole Lesion†

Peroxynitrite is a strong oxidizing agent that is formed in the reaction of nitric oxide and superoxide anion. It is capable of oxidizing and nitrating a variety of biological targets including DNA, and these modifications may be responsible for a number of pathological conditions and diseases. A recent study showed that peroxynitrite reacts with 2‘,3‘,5‘-tri-O-acetylguanosine to yield a novel compound, tri-O-acetyl-1-(β-d-erythro-pentafuranosyl)-5-guanidino-4-nitroimidazole, and, unlike other peroxynitrite-mediated guanine oxidation products, it is a stable and significant component formed even at low peroxynitrite concentrations. In this work, we studied the in vitro formation of the guanine-derived product, 5-guanidino-4-nitroimidazole, in synthetic oligonucleotides and DNA treated with peroxynitrite. When calf thymus DNA or oligonucleotides were reacted with peroxynitrite at ambient temperature, the modified base 5-guanidino-4-nitroimidazole was generated along with several other products. The oligonu...
Banishing illusory contours: a new possibility.

As an alternative to an earlier hypothesis, it may be that the harmful effect of certain modifications to a pattern which would otherwise produce an illusory figure may be due to excessive coincidences that would be present if an illusory figure were to be seen.
Role of corticosteroids in CSCR

Purpose Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a relatively common retinal disease characterized by the accumulation of subretinal fluid at the posterior pole of the fundus, creating a circumscribed area of serous retinal and/or pigment epithelium detachment. Methods Numerous reports during the past few years have provided us with arguments strengthening the hypothesis of a possible association between CSCR and glucocorticoids. Results It has been noted that central serous chorioretinopathy is associated with different conditions, characterized by exposure to increased levels of endogenous or exogenous glucocorticoids. In fact, central serous chorioretinopathy has been described in patients with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome. It is also prevalent in patients with type-A personality; it has been reported following stressful events, whereas pregnancy represents another possible risk factor. These conditions are all characterized by endogenous hypercortisolism. In addition, many cases of central serous chorioretinopathy have been described during or following treatment with glucocorticoids, administrated by any route, for various systemic or ocular conditions. Central serous chorioretinopathy, when related to exposure to exogenous glucocorticoids, has a less prominent male predilection, presents more often with a chronic or atypical form, and is frequently bilateral. Furthermore, treatment of CSCR with glucocorticoids was found to exacerbate the clinical picture. However,very few patients worldwide are suffering from CSCR, while under systemic steroid treatment. Conclusion It could be suggested that glucocorticoids may be involved in the development of central serous chorioretinopathy. Glucocorticoids should not be used in the treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy.
Unusual gingival presentation of post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder: A case report and review of the literature

Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder is a well-documented complication of solid organ or bone marrow transplantation. Histologically, it is characterized by an abnormal proliferation of lymphocytes, which can range from benign B-cell hyperplasia to malignant lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is associated with several risk factors, such as congenital or acquired immunodeficiency states, autoimmune disorders, and infectious agents (eg, Epstein-Barr virus). Primary sites of presentation in the head and neck are Waldeyer's ring, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands, the oral cavity, and the larynx. Clinical appearance of gingival NHL varies but is usually found to be an asymptomatic gingival enlargement or mass resembling a pyogenic granuloma. We present a patient with a gingival ulceration that was subsequently diagnosed as Epstein-Barr virus malignant lymphoma resulting from the immunosuppression needed to prevent graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation.
Bryostatin 1-activated T cells can traffic and mediate tumor regression.

Abstract Adoptive immunotherapy in humans may be limited by the lack of autologous tumor cells to activate and expand tumor-specific T cells. Pharmacologic manipulation of protein kinase C (PKC) and intracellular calcium may substitute for tumor antigen and stimulate T cells for adoptive immunotherapy. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of the PKC activator Bryostatin 1 (B) plus the calcium ionophore ionomycin (I) to activate lymphocytes obtained from popliteal lymph nodes (DLN) draining an MCA-105 footpad tumor. The adoptive transfer of B/I-stimulated DLN cells eradicated MCA-105 pulmonary metastases. These lymphocytes do not require concomitant IL-2 administration to mediate regression of lung metastases. Three days after intrasplenic injection of tumor cells and splenectomy, mice were given iv injections of B/I-stimulated DLN cells. Adoptive immunotherapy with these cells induced regression of established liver metastases. In an intradermal tumor model, the adoptive transfer of B/I-stimulated MCA-105 DLN cells cured mice of MCA-105 intradermal (id) tumors, but did not induce regression of MCA-203 tumors. Mice cured of MCA-105 id tumors were protected against MCA-105, but not MCA-203, tumor challenge in the footpad 7 weeks after adoptive immunotherapy.
Can elderly patients read our forms

Study objectives: Visual impairment accompanies increased age, which may adversely affect the daily lives of the elderly. Elderly patients are often given multiple forms to review while in the emergency department (ED), including consent forms, discharge instructions, and informational items. Our hypothesis is that elderly patients are not able to read these forms, because of visual impairment. We study the self-reported degree of visual impairment and test their ability to read a standardized consent form. Methods: We performed an institutional review board–approved, prospective cohort study of a convenience sample of patients in the ED of a tertiary care, community-based hospital with an annual census of 60,000 patients. Data were collected between September 15, 2002, and April 1, 2004. Inclusion criteria were English-speaking patients older than 65 years who are clinically stable, able to accurately complete a verbal questionnaire, and able to give verbal consent. All patients with chief complaints related to vision were excluded from the study. All patients had a brief visual acuity screening examination with the Snellen eye chart and were asked to read a standardized consent form. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Five hundred seventeen patients were included in the study. Among them, 58% (302/517) of patients admitted problems with vision; 91% (473/517) of patients stated they could read a newspaper, but only 67% (346/517) of patients could read the consent form. In patients aged 85 years and older, 61% (60/98) admitted problems with vision, 59% (58/98) could not read a consent form, 43% (42/98) lived alone, and 41% (40/98) stated that they can drive a car. Conclusion: In this study, we found that a large percentage of our elderly patients state they can read but cannot when challenged because of visual impairment, which suggests that other interventions are necessary to improve the dissemination of information to a vulnerable subsegment of our population.
Melt viscosity—temperature dependence of some low density polyethylenes

The melt viscosities of three low density polyethylenes of widely varying melt indices were studied as a function of temperature over a broad range of shear rates and shear stresses. Apparent viscosities at constant shear stress could be fitted adequately to a simple Arrhenius equation over the entire temperature range studied. However, pronounced curvature of the log ηa–1/T curves was observed for apparent viscosities at constant shear rate. The apparent activation energies for viscous flow at constant shear stress were found to decrease slowly with increasing shear stress and also to decrease with decreasing molecular weight. A temperature-shear rate superposition was demonstrated to hold, and the shift factor dependence on temperature was determined.
Effect of subluteal concentrations of progesterone on luteinizing hormone and ovulation in lactating dairy cows.

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine if administration of progesterone within a low, subluteal range (0.1–1.0 ng/mL) blocks the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge (experiments 1 and 2) and ovulation (experiment 2) in lactating dairy cows. In experiment 1, progesterone was administered to cycling, lactating dairy cows during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle using a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device. CIDRs were pre-incubated in other cows for either 0 (CIDR-0), 14 (CIDR-14) or 28 days (CIDR-28). One group of cows received no CIDRs and served as controls. One day after CIDR insertion, luteolysis was induced by two injections of prostaglandin (PG) F2α (25 mg) at 12 h intervals. Two days after the first injection, estradiol cypionate (ECP; 3 mg) was injected to induce a LH surge. Concentrations of progesterone after luteolysis were 0.11, 0.45, 0.78 and 1.20 ng/mL for cows treated with no CIDR, CIDR-28, CIDR-14, and CIDR-0, respectively. LH surges were detected in 4/4 controls, 4/5 CIDR-28, 2/5 CIDR-14 and 0/5 CIDR-0 cows following ECP. In experiment 2, progesterone was administered to cycling, lactating, Holstein cows during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle as in experiment 1. Luteolysis was induced as in experiment 1. The occurrence of an endogenous LH surge and ovulation were monitored for 7 days. Concentrations of progesterone after luteolysis were 0.13, 0.30, 0.70 and 1.20 ng/mL for cows treated with no CIDR, CIDR-28, CIDR-14 and CIDR-0, respectively. LH surges and ovulation were detected in 5/5 controls, 3/7 CIDR-28, 0/5 CIDR-14 and 0/5 CIDR-0 cows. It was concluded that low concentrations of progesterone can reduce the ability of either endogenous or exogenous estradiol to induce a preovulatory surge of LH and ovulation.
Phosphodiesterase 11: a brief review of structure, expression and function

Phosphodiesterase 11 (PDE11) is the latest isoform of the phosphodiesterase family to be identified. Interest in PDE11 has increased recently because tadalafil, an oral phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, cross reacts with PDE11. The function of PDE11 remains largely unknown, but growing evidence points to a possible role in male reproduction. The published literature on PDE11 structure, function and expression is reviewed.
Estimation related to mean residual life

The mean residual life function has applications in many fields such as reliability, survival analysis, actuarial science etc. The sets of those lifetime distributions which have decreasing, increasing or upside-down bathtub shaped mean residual life are natural classes and can be used to model many practical situations. For any member of these classes the present paper proposes an estimator which has a mean residual life function satisfying the same requirement on the shape and also has uniform strong consistence property.
Polymerization, structure and thermal properties of ODPA-DMB polyimide films

A new high molecular weight polyimide based on 4,4′-oxidiphthalic anhydride (ODPA) dianhydride and 2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl (DMB) diamine has been synthesizedvia a one-step polymerization method. This polyimide is soluble in phenolic solvents. Films from 7 to 30 μm thick were cast from the polymer solution and show in-plane orientation on a molecular scale detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy experiments. This anisotropic structure leads to anisotropic optical properties arising from two different refractive indices along the inplane and out-of-plane directions. ODPA DMB possesses high thermal and thermo-oxidative stability. The glass transition temperature has been determined to be 298 °C. Dynamic mechanical analyses show two relaxation processes appearing above room temperature: the β- and the α-relaxation processes. The α-relaxation corresponds to the glass transition while the β-relaxation is a secondary relaxation process associated with the non-cooperative subsegmental motion.
Should statins be given routinely before carotid endarterectomy

Statins belong to a class of drugs known to inhibit 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase, and block hepatic cholesterol synthesis. Statins have been found to be highly effective in primary and secondary stroke prevention among medically managed patients with cardiovascular disease, and it appears that this benefit is largely owing to the non-cholesterol-lowering, so called pleiotropic, effects of statins. Over the past decade, agents such as beta-blockers, aspirin, or other antiplatelet medications have proven to reduce the incidence of adverse postoperative outcomes among vascular surgical patients and have rightfully assumed a place in our overall therapeutic armamentarium. There is growing evidence that statins may be especially effective in reducing cardiovascular morbidity and improving outcome following major vascular surgery. A recent study from Johns Hopkins Hospital demonstrated a threefold reduction in the rate of perioperative stroke (P <.05) and fivefold reduction of perioperative mortality (P <.05) among 1566 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). This benefit was confirmed in a series of 3360 CEAs performed at multiple hospitals throughout western Canada. Statin use was independently associated with a 75% reduction (OR: 0.25; 95%CI: 0.07-0.90) in the odds of death and a 45% reduction (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.32-0.95) in the odds of ischemic stroke or death among patients with symptomatic carotid disease. A number of the pleiotropic effects of statin medications may be responsible for these clinical observations. Further work is necessary to better elucidate these mechanisms, as well as to determine the optimal agents, dosing, and timing of drug administration among patients undergoing carotid interventions. Nevertheless, in light of these data a strong case can be made to start patients on statin medications prior to CEA if time permits.
Automated Tool-Orientation Determinations for 4-Axis Non-Gouge, Non-Interference Milling of Axial-Flow Compressors Airfoils

As important components of gas turbine engines, axial-flow compressors have been improved with a more complex and accurate airfoil design to meet high aerodynamic requirements; specifically, the pressure and suction surfaces of the airfoils (or blades) are now represented with free-form surfaces in CAD software systems. Since quality of the blades affects efficiency of the engines and safety of the aircrafts, some types of compressors are produced with the blades and the hub as a single piece on 4-axis CNC milling machines. However, it is still quite challenging to automatically determine cutter sizes and orientations without gouging and interference during the 4-axis milling, because the geometric shape of the blades is complex and the blades overlap with each other. As a result, the established method of determining tool size and orientation in industry is by trial and error in a repetitive process of selecting cutters and planning tool-paths with CAM systems. To address this problem, a novel approach is proposed to automatically determine cutter sizes and orientations for 4-axis milling of the axial-flow compressors blades without gouging and interference. The main contribution of this work is that (1) a mathematical model for optimizing cutter sizes in 4-axis milling is established; and (2) by applying a global optimization method — the particle swarm optimization method — to this model, the maximum allowable size of a cutter and its corresponding orientation can be found at each cutter-contact (CC) point on the surface being machined. Therefore, all the maximum allowable sizes of cutters for all the CC points and the corresponding cutter orientations can be computed. A group of standard cutters are then selected; each of which can sweep particular CC points without damaging the compressor. Since it is efficient and reliable, this newly proposed approach can be directly implemented in commercial CAD/CAM software systems to benefit the manufacturing industry.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Management of Amaranthus rudis S. in glyphosate-resistant corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.)

Abstract Field studies were established at two locations in Missouri to determine Amaranthus rudius (common waterhemp) control by single or multiple pre-emergence and/or postemergence herbicide strategies in glyphosate-resistant corn and soybean. The corn study assessed five herbicide strategies: pre-emergence alone; mid-postemergence alone; early postemergence followed by mid-postemergence; pre-emergence followed by mid-postemergence without glyphosate; and pre-emergence followed by glyphosate mid-postemergence. The soybean study assessed four herbicide strategies: mid-postemergence alone; early postemergence followed by mid-postemergence; pre-emergence followed by glyphosate mid-postemergence; and pre-emergence followed by mid-postemergence without glyphosate. In corn, pre-emergence herbicides suppressed A. rudius growth and development 7–34 days longer, compared to the untreated control. The strategies with single herbicide applications provided 21–99% control of A. rudius , while the multiple application strategies provided 84–100% control of A. rudius . In soybean, the presence of pre-emergence herbicides suppressed A. rudius emergence and growth for 7–31 days, compared to treatments with no herbicide application. A single herbicide application provided 69–100% control of A. rudius , and the multiple application strategies were more consistent with 77–100% control. Effective season-long management of A. rudius in glyphosate-resistant corn and soybean should include sequential herbicide applications.
Sex, lies, and videos in rural china: A qualitative study of women's sexual debut and risky sexual behavior

This paper attempts to understand the sexual behaviors of young, unmarried women living in rural China with a special focus on sexual debut, sexual risk-taking behaviors, and reproductive health consequences. The analysis is based on forty in-depth interviews with young women who had undergone induced abortion as well as information from focus group discussions. Study participants identified pornographic videos and parents' tacit approval and even encouragement as factors instigating their sexual debut. Reasons for unprotected intercourse include spontaneous sexual activity, misconceptions about fertility and the effective use of contraceptives, and the lack of negotiation skills. The results indicate the importance of making reproductive health education more accessible to rural populations in China, a group usually considered to be more traditional and less likely to engage in premarital sex.
Application of PCR-based methods to assess the infectivity of enteric viruses in environmental samples.

The advent of the PCR has greatly enhanced our ability to detect human enteric viral pathogens in the environment, including water, municipal wastes, sewage, food, air, and fomites ([2][1], [3][2], [59][3], [69][4], [79][5]). This is especially true for those viruses which do not grow in cell
Rapid Shortening During Relaxation Increases Activation and Improves Systolic Performance

Background Previous studies in cardiac muscle and isolated heart preparations generally have attributed positive effects of ejection to greater length-dependent activation. However, there have been some reports of an ejection-related increase in contractile function that is independent of end-diastolic volume (EDV) history. The present study was designed to more fully characterize the mechanoenergetic results of the latter effect in the intact ventricle. Methods and Results A servomotor was used to initiate left ventricular volume reduction (VR) at end systole, with EDV kept constant. Seven isolated, red blood cell-perfused rabbit hearts were studied at constant EDV during isovolumic contraction, slow VR (5.0±0.9 EDV/s), and rapid VR (26.8±5.1 EDV/s). Compared with isovolumic beats, VR caused an enhancement in contractility. This effect was greater for rapid VR and required >50 beats to attain steady state. Rapid VR increased developed pressure by 15% (92.2±23.7 [mean±SD] versus 105.9±27.6 mm Hg), maximum...
Epitaxial Growth and Characterization of NbxTi1−xO2 Rutile Films by Oxygen-Plasma-Assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy

Epitaxial films of NbxTi1−xO2 rutile were grown on TiO2 (110) and (100) at 600 °C by oxygen-plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy using elemental Ti and Nb sources. The epitaxial films were characterized by means of reflection high-energy and low-energy electron diffraction (RHEED/LEED), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and diffraction (XPS/XPD), ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The epitaxial films grow in a layer-by-layer fashion and have excellent short- and long-range structure order at x≤0.3 on TiO2(110) and at x≤0.15 on TiO2(100). However, the epitaxial films become rough and disorder at higher doping levels. Nb substitutionally incorporates at cation lattice sites, leading to NbxTi1−xO2 solid solutions. In addition, the oxidation state of Nb in the NbxTi1−xO2 films has been determined to be +4.
A graph-theoretic bound on the number of independent absolutely continuous invariant measures

Abstract Let I = [0, 1] and let τ: I → I be a piecewise monotonic, expanding map on the partial {Ii}i = 1n of I. We define a 0 − 1 n × n matrix, A, by aij = 1 if τk(iI) ⊇ Ij for some k, and 0 otherwise. A subset of the number of irreducible blocks of A provides an upper bound for the number of independent absolutely continuous measures invariant under τ. Similar results are obtained for random maps on I.
“TRUTH” AND “RECONCILIATION” AS SOCIAL INDICATORS

Countries throughout the world are trying to move toward a more democratic future through truth and reconciliation processes, under the assumption that truth causes reconciliation and that reconciliation contributes to democratization. But are “truth” and “reconciliation” concepts that can be measured rigorously and reliability? I present evidence in this article that each can be measured as an attribute of individuals, based on a large survey conducted in South Africa. My findings indicate that truth does indeed contribute to reconciliation. But because reconciliation is quite capable of changing (and likely to change) over time, efforts must be made to track levels of reconciliation as an important social indicator. Many countries in transition would profit greatly from implementing a Reconciliation Barometer to measure movement toward or away from the consolidation of democratic reform.
Rallying the troops: a four-step guide to preparing a residency program for short-term weather emergencies.

Background: Weather emergencies present a multifaceted challenge to residents and residency programs. Both the individual trainee and program may be pushed to the limits of physical and mental strain, potentially jeopardizing core competencies of patient care and professionalism. Although daunting, the task of preparing for these events should be a methodical process integrated into every residency training program. Summary: The core elements of emergency preparation with regard to inpatient services include identifying and staffing critical positions, motivating residents to consider the needs of the group over those of the individual, providing for basic needs, and planning activities in order to preserve team morale and facilitate recovery. The authors outline a four-step process in preparing a residency program for an anticipated short-term weather emergency. An example worksheet for emergency planning is included. Conclusion: With adequate preparation, residency training programs can maintain the hig...
Effects of low-intensity acoustical stimulation on visual thresholds.

The effects of low-intensity acoustical stimulation on the visual threshold of 2 Ss were investigated. 4 levels of white noise intensity were used, paired in random sequence with 10 different intensities of light, and randomly alternated with periods of quiet. It was found that white noise affects visual threshold, although the exact nature of this effect was not determined.
Modeling and simulation of a Kalman filter based control scheme for an AC/DC power system

This paper presents the development of a Kalman filter (KF) based control scheme to improve the dynamic performance of a parallel AC/DC transmission system. The control algorithm is based on proportional-integral (PI) feedback control of thyristor firing angles in the AC/DC and DC/AC converters using KF estimates of system parameters as inputs. The work has two motivations. First, to avoid a control scheme designed by trial-and-error only, since the physical consequences of catastrophic control loss in power systems makes such approaches difficult. Second, to include physically important effects often left out of models for such systems as a mathematical convenience. Such factors include, AC line interactions, the coupling of the generator controller to the HVDC controller, reactive power effects caused by thyristor operation, frequency dependent transmission line and noise effects. PSCAD/EMTDC based simulations are presented and discussed for a number of contingencies, and conclusions drawn for future work.
Transpiration and evapotranspiration from maize as related to leaf area index

Abstract Evapotranspiration and transpiration from maize ( Zea mays L.) were measured with precision weighing lysimeters in 1983 and 1984. Climatic parameters were measured to calculate potential evapotranspiration, while leaf area index was measured twice weekly. Crop coefficients were determined from daily values of evapotranspiration (or transpiration)/potential evapotranspiration. Non-linear models were tested and showed that 72–86% of the variation in crop coefficient for evapotranspiration could be described knowing leaf area index. Model testing with transpiration showed that 90–95% of the variation in crop coefficient could be described knowing leaf area index.
Abstract 4177: Inhibition of tumor malignancy by anti-angiogenic therapies in orthotopic mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver malignancy, and the third most common cause of cancer-related mortalities worldwide. Most cases occur in Asia, and in China alone an estimated 251,000 male and 95,000 female patients are diagnosed annually. Although significant advances have been made with the use of certain chemotherapeutic and targeted therapeutic agents in HCC treatment, the prognosis for most liver cancer patients remains poor. To address this significant unmet medical need, Pfizer Oncology has set out to strengthen its research and drug discovery activities targeting HCC. Here we report the establishment of two series (cell line-derived and primary human tumor-derived) of orthotopic mouse models of HCC, and their validation with anti-angiogenic compounds sutent and axitinib. In both series of models, tumor fragments obtained from in vivo expansion were surgically implanted into the left lobe of mouse liver to mimic the natural microenvironment and preserve the interaction between tumor cells and the stroma components. Both sutent and axitinib demonstrated significant anti-tumor activity, as well as metastatic potential at therapeutic doses. The anti-tumor activity of these agents are associated with reduction of CD31 in the tumor. Both sutent and axitinib were well tolerated by the animals during the course of the studies. In addition, plasma samples were collected at different time points for α-feto-protein (AFP) measurement. A significant correlation between tumor size (or weight) and serum AFP level was demonstrated, which indicated that circulating AFP can be utilized as a non-invasive biomarker for HCC burden. These results support anti-angiogenesis as a valid approach for effective treatment of HCC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4177.