cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The complete genomic sequence of Streptomyces spectabilis NRRL-2792 and identification of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters

This is the first report of a fully annotated genomic sequence of Streptomyces spectabilis NRRL-2792, isolated and identified by The Upjohn Company in 1961. The genome was assembled into a single scaffold for annotation and analysis. The chromosome is linear, 9.5 Mb in size which is one of the largest Streptomyces genomes yet described, has a G+C content of 72%, and encodes for approximately 7943 genes. Antibiotic Secondary Metabolite Analysis Shell (antiSMASH) and Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) bioinformatics analyses identified six complete secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters for ectoine, melanin, albaflavenone, spectinomycin, 2-methylisoborneol and coelichelin. Additionally, biosynthetic clusters were identified that shared ≥ 90% gene content with complestatin, hopene, neoaureothin, or undecylprodigiosin. Thirty-one other likely secondary metabolite gene clusters were identified by antiSMASH. BLAST identified two subsets of undecylprodigiosin biosynthetic genes at polar opposites of the chromosome; their duplication was subsequently confirmed by primer walking.
Appraisal of Headache Trigger Patterns Using Calendars

OBJECTIVE Using experimental, yet realistic, headache calendars, this laboratory study evaluated the ability of individuals to identify the degree of association between triggers and headaches. BACKGROUND Individuals with headache often record daily diaries or calendars to identify their patterns of triggers. METHODS This cross-sectional, observational study included adults with migraine, tension-type, or cluster headache who had ever experienced more than 5 attacks. Participants (N = 300) were presented with headache calendars and asked to rate the strength of the relationship (how strongly one causes the other) between 3 experimental triggers (high stress, poor sleep, and cinnamon) and headache using a 0 ("no relationship") to 10 ("perfect relationship") scale for each calendar. RESULTS Calendars with a high positive correlation between trigger and headache had higher participant ratings than those with low correlations. The median [25th, 75th] of ratings for each correlation level was low correlation: 1 [0, 4], medium: 4 [2, 5], and high: 5 [4, 8], P < .0001. However, participants appeared to ignore negative associations (ie, trigger present with no headache) and rated calendars with more headache days as having higher associations, regardless of the true relationship. The ratings for 2, 6, and 26 headache days were 1 [0, 3], 4 [1, 6], and 8 [0, 10], respectively (P < .0001). Participants' previous beliefs about the triggers also affected their ratings (average correlation across triggers: r = 0.25, P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS This laboratory task supports the notion that individuals with headache are able to identify the association between headaches and triggers using headache calendars. However, these judgments can be biased by the individuals' previous beliefs about the trigger and by the degree of headache activity.
Ecological costs of goldenrod’s ducking strategy in the currency of antixenosis, antibiosis, and indirect resistance to aphids

The evolutionary spread of a trait that benefits individuals of one species in their interactions with a second species may be constrained by “ecological costs” if the trait also has detrimental effects on interactions with a third species in the environment. In particular, the identification of ecological costs may help explain why natural plant populations often display less-than-maximal resistance against natural enemies—even when the plant populations possess substantial genetic variation that could serve as raw material for evolving greater resistance. One such resistance trait that confers an obvious fitness advantage, yet is maintained in populations at intermediate levels, is the strategy of resistance-by-ducking displayed by certain species of goldenrods (Solidago). In a ducking individual, the stem temporarily nods near the apex during a time in spring that coincides with the oviposition season of several herbivores. I investigated whether the fitness benefits of ducking in terms of deterring apex-galling insects may be offset by ecological costs posed by a common sap-sucking specialist—the red goldenrod aphid, Uroleucon nigrotuberculatum. In a controlled outdoor experiment, ducking was associated with significantly lower antixenosis (i.e., reduced preference), antibiosis (reduced performance), and indirect resistance against aphids. Specifically, aphids colonized ducking plants at a higher rate than erect-stemmed plants; populations of aphids on bagged ducking plants increased more quickly than on bagged erect-stemmed plants; and aphid populations on erect-stemmed plants were wiped out more quickly by natural enemies than on ducking plants when bags were removed. To the extent that aphid damage reduces goldenrod’s fitness, these ecological costs may be responsible for limiting the ducking trait to intermediate levels in goldenrod populations. Because most plant species are attacked by multiple types of herbivores, ecological costs of resistance mechanisms are likely to be more widespread than is generally appreciated, though their subtlety may make them challenging to identify.
The Formation of Iran’s Nuclear Program

Chapter 7 begins with a brief description of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It then briefly explains the activities of Iran and a few other countries in the nuclear field, construction of nuclear power plants in Iran, and their fate after the revolution. It also describes the revival of Iran’s nuclear program nearly a decade later, which included construction of a high-pressure reactor along with a heavy water plant, and a uranium enrichment facility that led to Iran’s nuclear dispute with the West. The chapter also includes an appendix that provides the basic technical background necessary to understand the fundamentals of nuclear technology and generating nuclear energy. The author argues because the advanced countries have progressed in building and using nuclear reactors, they possess expertise in this field. They tend to monopolize the nuclear technology and get raw materials from the Third World to use for their own energy needs. As the oil-exporting countries deplete their oil reserves for consumption and exports, they will be more dependent on the advanced countries for nuclear and other energy alternative technologies in the future.
Defeasible RDFS via Rational Closure.

In the field of non-monotonic logics, the notion of Rational Closure (RC) is acknowledged as a prominent approach. In recent years, RC has gained even more popularity in the context of Description Logics (DLs), the logic underpinning the semantic web standard ontology language OWL 2, whose main ingredients are classes and roles. In this work, we show how to integrate RC within the triple language RDFS, which together with OWL2 are the two major standard semantic web ontology languages. To do so, we start from $\rho df$, which is the logic behind RDFS, and then extend it to $\rho df_\bot$, allowing to state that two entities are incompatible. Eventually, we propose defeasible $\rho df_\bot$ via a typical RC construction. The main features of our approach are: (i) unlike most other approaches that add an extra non-monotone rule layer on top of monotone RDFS, defeasible $\rho df_\bot$ remains syntactically a triple language and is a simple extension of $\rho df_\bot$ by introducing some new predicate symbols with specific semantics. In particular, any RDFS reasoner/store may handle them as ordinary terms if it does not want to take account for the extra semantics of the new predicate symbols; (ii) the defeasible $\rho df_\bot$ entailment decision procedure is build on top of the $\rho df_\bot$ entailment decision procedure, which in turn is an extension of the one for $\rho df$ via some additional inference rules favouring an potential implementation; and (iii) defeasible $\rho df_\bot$ entailment can be decided in polynomial time.
Lower Mortality Associated With Adjuvant Corticosteroid Therapy in Non-HIV-Infected Patients With Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia: A Single-Institution Retrospective US Cohort Study.

Background Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) remains a cause of mortality in HIV-negative patients. The clinical benefit of adjuvant corticosteroids in these patients is uncertain. This study aimed to determine if corticosteroids would reduce mortality in a cohort of HIV-negative PJP patients. Methods We examined a retrospective case series of patients diagnosed with PJP at the University of Colorado Hospital between 1995 and 2019. Data were collected in 71 PJP-infected patients. Twenty-eight patients were HIV-negative, and 43 were infected with HIV. We performed bivariate and forward, stepwise multivariable logistic regressions to identify mortality predictors. Results Common underlying conditions in HIV-negative patients were hematologic malignancies (28.6%), autoimmune disorders (25.9%), and solid organ transplantation (10.7%). HIV-negative patients had higher rates and durations of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stay. Survival was significantly increased in HIV-negative patients receiving adjuvant corticosteroids, with 100% mortality in patients not receiving corticosteroids vs 60% mortality in patients receiving corticosteroids (P = .034). In an adjusted multivariable model, no adjuvant corticosteroid use was associated with higher mortality (odds ratio, 13.5; 95% CI, 1.1-158.5; P = .039) regardless of HIV status. Conclusions We found substantial mortality among HIV-negative patients with PJP, and adjuvant corticosteroid use was associated with decreased mortality. Response to corticosteroids is best established in HIV-infected patients, but emerging reports suggest a similar beneficial response in PJP patients without HIV infection. Further prospective studies may establish a more definitive role of the addition of corticosteroids among HIV-negative patients with PJP.
High-pressure X-ray diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy of polyethylene: Evidence for a structural phase transition

Abstract High-pressure synchrotron x-ray diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy (infrared absorption and Raman) in a diamond-anvil cell have been performed for polyethylene samples at pressures up to ∼10 GPa. These two techniques yield complementary information on the inter- and intra-molecular bonds and how they change as a function of volume. Three different samples of polyethylene were examined, including a high-density polyethylene, an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, and a crosslinked polyethylene. The diffraction peaks for the common orthorhombic Pnam phase continuously decreases in intensity as the pressure is increased and become unobservable at high pressure, while those for a monoclinic A2/m impurity phase initially present in all three samples remain relatively constant in intensity. The monoclinic A2/m phase has two chains per unit cell, as does the ambient pressure orthorhombic Pnam phase, which is consistent with the lack of a change in the vibrational mode splitting patterns as pressure is increased and the monoclinic phase becomes dominant. In addition, the pressure-induced correlation splitting of the infrared active C–H stretching vibrational modes has been observed for the first time.
Using Online Surveys for Enteric Disease Case Investigations: A Pilot Project

Typically conducted by telephone, routine enteric disease case interviews are critical for foodborne illness surveillance, outbreak detection, and disease control. However, an increasing case load,...
Palliative medicine integration in the USA: cancer centre executives' attitudes.

Objectives To compare cancer centre (CC) executives’ attitudes towards palliative care between National Cancer Institute-designated CCs (NCI-CCs) and non-NCI-designated CCs (non-NCI-CCs) in 2018 and to examine the changes in attitudes and beliefs between 2009 and 2018. Methods CC chief executives at all NCI-CCs and a random sample of non-NCI-CCs were surveyed from April to August 2018. Twelve questions examined the executives’ attitudes towards palliative care integration, perceived barriers and self-assessments. The primary outcome was agreement on the statement ‘a stronger integration of palliative care services into oncology practice will benefit patients at my institution.’ Survey findings from 2018 were compared with data from 2009 to examine changes in attitudes. Results 52 of 77 (68%) NCI-CCs and 88 of 126 (70%) non-NCI-CCs responded to the survey. A vast majority of executives at NCI-CCs and non-NCI-CCs endorsed palliative care integration (89.7% vs 90.0%; p>0.999). NCI-CCs were more likely to endorse increasing funding for palliative care (52.5% vs 23.1%; p=0.01) and hiring physician specialists (70.0% vs 37.5%; p=0.004) than non-NCI-CCs. The top three perceived barriers among NCI-CCs and non-NCI-CCs were limited institutional budgets (57.9% vs 59.0%; p=0.92), poor reimbursements (55.3% vs 43.6%; p=0.31), and lack of adequately trained palliative care physicians and nurses (52.6% vs 43.6%; p=0.43). Both NCI-CCs and non-NCI-CCs favourably rated their palliative care services (89.7% vs 71.8%; p=0.04) with no major changes since 2009. Conclusion CC executives endorse integration of palliative care, with greater willingness to invest in palliative care among NCI-CCs. Resource limitation continues to be a major barrier.
Ultrasound in Crystalline Diseases: Gout and Calcium-Associated Arthritis

Crystal-associated arthropathies are common. Basic calcium phosphate can be associated with osteoarthritis. Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) can be associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and with episodes of pseudogout. Tophi and smaller aggregates of monosodium urate (MSU) can lead to erosive, deforming arthropathy and recurrent attacks of gout. Incidence and prevalence of gout are increasing. Aspiration and polarizing microscopy, the gold standard, are not always performed. Ultrasound detects crystal deposition readily and can improve diagnosis and management. BCP crystals appear sonographically as small spheres that can aggregate to form a collection of such “bubbles.” They are found in basal joints of the thumb, finger joints, and joints of the midfoot. CPPD crystals are generated within hyaline cartilage and fibrocartilage and are found predominantly there, typically forming a hyperechoic layer in the center of cartilage. MSU crystals form tophi embedded in vascularized granulation tissue, deposit over hyaline cartilage, and create a sonographic double contour sign or form small hyperechoic aggregates within tissues. The inflammatory changes associated with crystal arthritis can be documented with color or power Doppler ultrasound. In contrast to other imaging modalities, ultrasound can be performed safely and relative inexpensively over time, is sensitive to change, and can therefore assess the treatment response.
Association between Industry Payments and Published Position on Use of Devices for the Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Abstract Objective To determine the impact of industry payments to authors of opinion articles on the Urolift and Rezum devices. We also examined the extent to which authors omitted acknowledgements of financial conflicts-of-interest. Methods We searched Google Scholar for all articles that cite either of the respective pivotal trials for these devices. 2 blinded urologists coded the articles as favorable or neutral. A separate blinded researcher recorded industry payments from the manufacturers using the Open Payments Program database. Results We identified 29 articles written by 27 unique authors from an initial screening list of 235 articles. Of these articles, 15 (52%) were coded as positive and 14 (48%) were coded as neutral. 20 (74%) authors have accepted payments from the manufacturer of the device. Since 2014, these authors have collectively received $270,000 from NeoTract and $314,000 from Boston Scientific. Of the 20 authors with payments, 9 (45%) received more than $10,000 from either manufacturer. Of authors with payments, 65% (13/20) contributed to only positive articles. Authors who received payments had more than 4 times the number of article contributions than did authors without payments (42 vs 10). Authors of at least one favorable article were more likely to have received payments from the device manufacturers than authors of neutral articles (P = .014, Chi-squared test). Most (80%, 16/20) authors with payments did not report a relevant conflict-of-interest within any of their articles. Conclusion These data suggest a relationship between payments from a manufacturer and positive published position on that company's device. There may be a critical lack of published editorial pieces by authors without financial conflicts of interest.
Identification of IRAS/Nischarin as an I1-imidazoline receptor in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells.

The I1-imidazoline receptor (I1R) is a proposed target for drug action relevant to blood pressure and glucose control. The imidazoline receptor antisera-selected (IRAS) gene, also known as Nischarin, has several characteristics of an I1R. To test the contribution of IRAS to I1R binding capacity and cell-signaling function, an antisense probe targeting the initiating codon of rat IRAS gene was evaluated in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells, a well-established model for I1R action. The density of I1R was significantly reduced by antisense compared with control transfection (Bmax = 400 ± 16 vs. 691 ± 29 fmol/mg protein), without significantly affecting binding affinity (Kd = 0.30 ± 0.04 vs. 0.39 ± 0.05 nmol/L). Thus, IRAS expression is necessary for high-affinity binding to I1R. Western blots with polyclonal anti-IRAS showed reduced IRAS expression in the major 85-kDa band relative to an actin reference, paralleling the reduction in binding site density. To determine whether reduced IRAS expression attenuated I1R cell signaling, PC12 cells transfected with antisense or sense oligo-DNA were treated with moxonidine, an I1R agonist, then cell lysates were analyzed by western blot. Dose-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase was attenuated without affecting the potency of the agonist. In contrast, extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation by insulin was unchanged. The IRAS gene is likely to encode an I1R or a functional subunit.
Transvenous dual site left ventricular pacing to lower elevated pacing thresholds.

Dual site left ventricular pacing through two left ventricular pacing leads, located in discrete vessels, significantly lowered pacing thresholds from 6 V at 1 ms and 4.25V at 0.5 ms through the leads individually, to 0.75V at 0.5 ms by utilizing a Y-adaptor to connect the two leads. (PACE 2011; e6–e8)
Symmetry Conditions in Finite Element Field Problems

What is shown in the present note is that if a system is composed of subsystems that each have the same geometric and constitutive characteristics, and if each subsystem is subjected to the same forcing input, then only one typical subsystem need be analyzed. This fact is well known in structural analysis problems, but not so readily recognized in field problems.
A pseudo-CCM buck converter with freewheel switching control

This paper presents a new switching buck converter operating in pseudo-CCM (continuous conduction mode) with freewheel switching control. Compared with conventional buck converters, it can handle large current stress with small current ripple. In addition, because there is only one low-frequency single pole in the power-stage transfer function, large loop-gain bandwidth and thus fast transient response become easily achievable by a proper compensation technique. Simulation results verify these features in frequency and time domains respectively. The design provides a good solution to high-current fast-transient power supplies.
Five-year follow up of thymoglobulin versus ATGAM induction in adult renal transplantation.

Background. One-year results of a randomized, double-blinded trial of Thymoglobulin versus Atgam for induction therapy in renal transplantation revealed that Thymoglobulin was associated with higher event-free survival (94% vs. 63%), less acute rejection (4% vs. 25%), and better graft survival. This article compares the safety and efficacy of Thymoglobulin versus Atgam induction through 5 years. Methods. Review and analysis of clinic records and electronic databases. Results. At 5 years, event-free survival (73% vs. 33%, P<0.001), graft survival (77% vs. 55%, P=0.047), and freedom from rejection (92% vs. 66%, P=0.007) were higher with Thymoglobulin versus Atgam. No additional cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease occurred after the first year with Thymoglobulin or Atgam (13% vs. 33%, P=0.056). There were two cases of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) with the Atgam arm and none with Thymoglobulin. Thymoglobulin was associated with profound lymphopenia at 2 years after transplantation. Conclusions. Thymoglobulin was associated with higher event-free survival, graft survival, and freedom from rejection without increased PTLD or CMV disease at 5 years compared with Atgam. The prolonged and profound lymphopenia may contribute to the long-term results associated with Thymoglobulin.
Development of Energy Efficient Image/Video Sensor Networks

Image/Video Sensor Networks are emerging applications for sensor network technologies. The relatively high energy consuming image capturing process and the large size of the data collected by image/video sensors presents new challenges for the sensor network in terms of energy consumption and network capacity. We propose to address these issues through the use of a high density network deployment. A high density network allows network nodes to conserve power by reducing their transmission power and simultaneously increases the potential for spatially concurrent transmissions within the network, resulting in improved network throughput. Furthermore, with the use of additional relay nodes, we allow a communication density that differs from the sensing density. A higher communication density has the potential to further increase the spatially concurrent transmission. Moreover, this reduces the relay burden of the sensor node, thus conserving sensor energy. In this work, we show analytically how a high density network design effectively improves energy consumption and network capacity. Furthermore, we discuss the constraints placed on a high density sensor network deployment due to application latency requirements, sensor coverage requirements, connectivity requirements, and node costs.
BIM Energy Modeling: Case Study of a Teaching Module for Sustainable Design and Construction Courses

AbstractEnergy modeling (EM) facilitates analysis and comparison of energy use across design configurations. EM software can serve as a decision-making tool for professionals throughout various stages of building delivery. This case study describes methods to expose students, who are enrolled in a sustainable design and construction course, to building information modeling (BIM)–based EM capabilities and limitations. The case study focuses on documenting the implementation of a teaching module focused on energy modeling in which students modify location, insulation, and window glazing of a single family home preprogramed into BIM software. After instructor demonstration, students perform an EM analysis for additional locations as homework and answer a question set based on their EM results. The results indicate that students had minor issues interpreting the EM results because they did not fully examine the outputs produced from the energy model to inform their answers on the teaching module homework assi...
Adult ESL Students' Management of Dialogue Journal Conversation.

cheating in one culture may have an entirely different value in another. As noted in the initial survey of ESL teachers, the interplay of these cultural differences can create problems in the ESL classroom. In their role as socializers of nonnative-speaking students into the academic culture, ESL teachers need to understand attitudinal differences in order to interpret the classroom behaviors they observe and to facilitate the transition of ESL students into the academic culture.
The influence of John Tukey's work in robust methods for chemometrics and environmetrics

John Tukey's impact on statistics, and on science in general, is broad and lasting. This article discusses some of these contributions, with a special emphasis on those that led to the development of robust methods and data exploration used in chemical and environmental sciences. In view of today's emphasis on data mining techniques, the recollection of Tukey's influence is especially timely.
Neurotoxic Esterase (NTE) Assay: Optimized Conditions Based on Detergent-Induced Shifts in the Phenol/ 4-Aminoantipyrine Chromophore Spectrum*

An assay for neurotoxic esterase (neuropathy target esterase, NTE) was developed by Johnson (1,2) to assess the delayed neurotoxic potential of organophosphorus compounds. NTE activity is calculated from the rate of phenyl valerate hydrolysis resistant to paraoxon and sensitive to mipafox inhibition under specified conditions of inhibitor concentrations, pH, temperature, and incubation times with inhibitors and substrate. The amount of phenol produced is measured colorimetrically after its oxidative coupling with 4-aminoantipyrine to yield 4-N-(1,4-benzoquinoneimine)-antipyrine, a chromophore with a wavelength of maximum absorbance (lambda m) 510 nm and corresponding molar absorptivity (molar extinction coefficient, epsilon) equal to 13,900 M-1cm-1. The assay was improved and simplified later by Johnson (3) without any change in the lambda m or epsilon, even though the chromophore solvent was altered by adding the detergent, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The present work demonstrates that when the NTE assay is performed according to the improved procedure, with a final [SDS] of 3.0 mg/mL, the lambda m of the chromophore in the assay mixture is shifted from 510 to 490 nm. The same shift in the chromophore lambda m is observed when phenol standards are coupled with 4-aminoantipyrine in solutions containing 3.0 mg/mL SDS. A systematic investigation of the dependence of the lambda m of the chromophore on [SDS] in the assay mixture revealed that the spectral shift increases rapidly at an [SDS] greater than the apparent critical micelle concentration (CMC; estimated to be 0.53 mg/mL under these conditions) and begins to plateau at [SDS] greater than 10 mg/mL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Functional near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) signal improvement based on negative correlation between oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin dynamics

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a promising technology for functional brain imaging which measures hemodynamic signals from the cortex, similar to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), but does not require the participant to lie motionless in a confined space. NIRS can therefore be used for more naturalistic experiments, including face to face communication, or natural body movements, and is well suited for real-time applications that may require lengthy training. However, improving signal quality and reducing noise, especially noise induced by head motion, is challenging, particularly for real time applications. Here we study the properties of head motion induced noise, and find that motion noise causes the measured oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin signals, which are typically strongly negatively correlated, to become more positively correlated. Next, we develop a method to reduce noise based on the principle that the concentration changes of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin should be negatively correlated. We show that despite its simplicity, this method is effective in reducing noise and improving signal quality, for both online and offline noise reduction.
Optimal energy management in community micro-grids

In this article we present a simulation environment for energy management within community micro-grids. The ultimate objective is to optimally regulate the supply and demand within the micro-grid while ensuring that individual preferences are met and the overall energy consumption is minimized. This article will only focus on the demand management within the community. A simulation environment is developed using GridLAB-D for a baseline and an improved community model. The residential end uses, including electric vehicle charging, are modeled as stochastic and controllable demands. Energy storage capacity is also included. The improved model is used to evaluate different operational alternatives on the basis of individual residential units. Experimental operating conditions are established for the optimization of energy consumption. We show that with properly designed control strategy we are able to reduce the peak load by 8% and hedge against increased EV usage within the community.
Acuchem: A computer program for modeling complex chemical reaction systems

Acuchem is a program for solving the system of differential equations describing the temporal behavior of spatially homogeneous, isothermal, multicomponent chemical reaction systems. It is designed to provide modelers, data evaluators, and laboratory scientists with an easy to use program for modeling complex chemical reactions, and for presenting the results in tabular or graphical form. The program is described and some examples of its application given. Acuchem is designed to operate on the IBM Personal Computer family and other compatible microcomputers, and is available in a compiled version on a floppy disk.
Direct lateral retroperitoneal approach for the surgical treatment of lumbar discitis and osteomyelitis

Object The medical management of discitis and osteomyelitis with long-term antibiotic therapy and bracing usually results in eradicated infection. Surgical management is appropriate when medical management fails and in some cases with pyogenic deformity or neurological deficit. The success of surgery depends on adequate debridement of the necrotic infected disc and vertebral body, along with anterior column reconstruction and vertebral stabilization. Debridement is typically performed via an anterior retroperitoneal approach, which can necessitate mobilization of the great vessels for proper exposure. Mobilization can be technically difficult and lead to vascular injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an alternative technique for the surgical treatment of lumbar discitis and osteomyelitis using a direct lateral retroperitoneal approach, which allows for thorough debridement and anterior column reconstruction while avoiding the need to mobilize the great vessels. Methods A retrospective chart an...
Safety Impacts of Photo-Red Enforcement at Suburban Signalized Intersections: An Empirical Bayes Approach

Photo-red enforcement entails cameras that photograph a vehicle entering an intersection after the traffic signal has turned red; a citation is then mailed to the vehicle's owner. Such a program was operated at 13 signals in Fairfax County, Virginia, between 2000 and 2005. This paper reports how photo-red enforcement affected crash frequency at the intersections. An empirical Bayes approach was used to detect the impact of the program on crashes while main-line traffic volume, yellow time, truck percentage, number of left-turning lanes, and speed limit were controlled. Cameras were definitely correlated with decreased red light running crashes (11% to 55%), increased rear-end crashes (32% to 85%), increased total crashes (0% to 23%), and decreased red light running injury crashes (5% to 64%). Cameras were probably associated with increased total injury crashes (5% drop to a 33% raise). These results are consistent with those of other studies with one notable exception: In the case of Fairfax County, the m...
9α-Chloro-16α-methyl-3,11-dioxoandrosta-1,4,6-triene-17β-carboxylic acid pinacolone solvate: catemeric hydrogen bonding and pinacolone solvation in a steroidal diketo acid derived from a commercial glucocorticoid

The title ketocarboxylic acid, synthesized from the anti-inflammatory clocortolone pivalate, crystallizes as C21H23ClO4·C6H12O, with one mol­ecule of steroid and one of 3,3-dimethyl­butanone per asymmetric unit. The carboxyl group is highly ordered and the steroid molecules form translational carboxyl-to-ketone hydrogen-bonding catemers [O⋯O = 2.682 (3) A and O—H⋯O = 158°] that utilize the 3-ketone group, with one chain proceeding in the [110] direction and the other in the [\overline{1}10] direction. One close inter­molecular C—H⋯O=C contact is present, which involves the solvent O atom, but neither it nor the Cl atom nor the 11-ketone group play any role in the classical hydrogen bonding.
Matching Heterogeneous Traders in Quantity-Regulated Markets

Two heuristic algorithms are developed to handle combinatorial and discrete complications persistent in markets where total quantity is regulated. The algorithms account for trader heterogeneity, which could either be innate (as exists in a wide class of environmental problems) or imposed by the regulator to simultaneously achieve a social goal, such as distributional equity. In addition, the algorithms account for discreteness in the production technology of the tradable commodity. The cost efficiencies of the algorithms are demonstrated both through a simple example of pollution trading and by formal reasoning.
Leaching of CuFeS2 by aqueous FeCl3, HCl, and NaCl: Effects of solution composition and limited oxidant

Batch leaching experiments were performed in which the initial amounts of chalcopyrite and ferric chloride were selected to ensure that the oxidant was significantly depleted over the course of an experiment. Solution samples were analyzed for Cu(II) and Fe(III) by visible spectrophotometry and for total copper and total iron by atomic absorption, making it possible to measure changes in the solution component concentrations as leaching progressed. For selected samples, the solution potential was also measured. In all experiments, the Cu(II) concentration passed through a maximum and, simultaneously, the Cu(I) concentration increased very sharply. An acceleration in the total rate of leaching was normally observed at the same time. Early in a leach, the solution potential was too high for the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) to take place at the time of the increase in the overall leaching rate, however, the solution potential dropped sharply during a span of a few hours, reaching a value low enough that reduction of cupric ion became possible. The amount of Cu(I) present at the completion of a leach was dependent on the total chloride concentration of the system. The highest Cu(I)/Cu ratios were observed in systems with the highest chloride concentrations. The ultimate extent of CuFeS2 leaching was dependent on the initial FeCl3 and total chloride concentrations; the FeCl3 was virtually completely consumed and the total chloride concentration controlled the extent to which Cu(II) was reduced by reaction with chalcopyrite.
The effect of constant light and dark on the circadian nature of daily torpor in Peromyscus Leucopus

Abstract Daily torpor in P. leucopus is an endogenous circadian rhythm which employs photoperiod as a zeitgeber. Mice maintained under constant darkness exhibited a free‐running rhythm with a period of 23.52 h. Entrainment of this free‐running rhythm occurred when a LD = 9:15 photoperiod was provided. Constant light seriously disrupts this rhythm in that torpor ceased in 50% of the mice examined, and the mice which continued to become torpid exhibited aberrations in the rhythm. Under constant light, the period of the free‐running rhythm was 25.00 h. There is a substantial association between the depth and duration of torpor and advance of entry in the free‐running rhythm under constant dark (r =. 7; d.f. = 8).
Deficiency of Huntingtin Has Pleiotropic Effects in the Social Amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum

Huntingtin is a large HEAT repeat protein first identified in humans, where a polyglutamine tract expansion near the amino terminus causes a gain-of-function mechanism that leads to selective neuronal loss in Huntington's disease (HD). Genetic evidence in humans and knock-in mouse models suggests that this gain-of-function involves an increase or deregulation of some aspect of huntingtin's normal function(s), which remains poorly understood. As huntingtin shows evolutionary conservation, a powerful approach to discovering its normal biochemical role(s) is to study the effects caused by its deficiency in a model organism with a short life-cycle that comprises both cellular and multicellular developmental stages. To facilitate studies aimed at detailed knowledge of huntingtin's normal function(s), we generated a null mutant of hd, the HD ortholog in Dictyostelium discoideum. Dictyostelium cells lacking endogenous huntingtin were viable but during development did not exhibit the typical polarized morphology of Dictyostelium cells, streamed poorly to form aggregates by accretion rather than chemotaxis, showed disorganized F-actin staining, exhibited extreme sensitivity to hypoosmotic stress, and failed to form EDTA-resistant cell–cell contacts. Surprisingly, chemotactic streaming could be rescued in the presence of the bivalent cations Ca2+ or Mg2+ but not pulses of cAMP. Although hd− cells completed development, it was delayed and proceeded asynchronously, producing small fruiting bodies with round, defective spores that germinated spontaneously within a glassy sorus. When developed as chimeras with wild-type cells, hd− cells failed to populate the pre-spore region of the slug. In Dictyostelium, huntingtin deficiency is compatible with survival of the organism but renders cells sensitive to low osmolarity, which produces pleiotropic cell autonomous defects that affect cAMP signaling and as a consequence development. Thus, Dictyostelium provides a novel haploid organism model for genetic, cell biological, and biochemical studies to delineate the functions of the HD protein.
This is no time to stop use of nevarapine to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

In a recent paper in AIDS Chi et al. reported a secondary analysis of data from HIVNET 024 that addressed the importance of timing of maternal and infant nevirapine (NVP) dosing in preventing mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. Their analysis extended the documentation of the marked success of this strategy in preventing intrapartum/early postnatal transmission of HIV in low-resource areas. Yet despite these gains in some areas of Zambia one third of HIV infected pregnant women did not take single-dose NVP during labour. Three reports of MTCT in 2005 at the Twelfth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Boston (DITRAME+ DREAM and MASHI) documented a further and dramatic reduction in vertical transmission of HIV to < 5%. (excerpt)
Partnering to Build Healthier Communities

This article explores how partnerships with parents, administrators, community affiliates, and other physical educators can create the kind of physical education that will put students in a better place upon graduating high school and better address the childhood obesity epidemic.
Cytochrome C Is Released from Mitochondria Into the Cytosol after Cerebral Anoxia or Ischemia

Mitochondrial dysfunction may underlie both acute and delayed neuronal cell death resulting from cerebral ischemia. Specifically, postischemic release of mitochondrial constituents such as the pro-apoptotic respiratory chain component cytochrome c could contribute acutely to further mitochondrial dysfunction and to promote delayed neuronal death. Experiments reported here tested the hypothesis that ischemia or severe hypoxia results in release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. Cytochrome c was measured spectrophotometrically from either the cytosolic fraction of cortical brain homogenates after global ischemia plus reperfusion, or from brain slices subjected to severe hypoxia plus reoxygenation. Cytochrome c content in cytosol derived from cerebral cortex was increased after ischemia and reperfusion. In intact hippocampal slices, there was a loss of reducible cytochrome c after hypoxia/ reoxygenation, which is consistent with a decrease of this redox carrier in the mitochondrial pool. These results suggest that cytochrome c is lost to the cytosol after cerebral ischemia in a manner that may contribute to postischemic mitochondrial dysfunction and to delayed neuronal death.
The Evolution of Untreated Acute Syphilitic Posterior Placoid Chorioretinitis Captured by Multimodal Retinal Imaging

Acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis (ASPPC) is a rare manifestation of syphilis. Most cases respond to systemic treatment of the underlying Treponema pallidum infection. The authors illustrate the natural progression of untreated ASPPC with multimodal retinal imaging.
A general synthesis of bis-indolylpiperazine-2,5-diones.

The one-pot synthesis of three dragmacidin derivatives is reported. Sarcosine anhydride (4) is brominated and immediately reacted with the corresponding indole to produce the products, namely 3,6-bis(5'-methoxy-3'-indolyl)-1,4-dimethylpiperazine-2,5- dione (1), 3,6-bis(7'-methyl-3'-indolyl)-1,4-dimethylpiperazine-2,5-dione (2) and 3,6-bis-(6'-chloro-3'-indolyl)-1,4-dimethylpiperazine-2,5-dione (3), which are characterized by 1 H-NMR.
Effects of human activities on karst groundwater geochemistry in a rural area in the Balkans

Abstract The geochemistry of three drinking water sources (wells, springs, and tap) in the Vratza region of northern Bulgaria was investigated to gain an understanding of how human activities influence natural geochemical processes in a carbonate aquifer system. Numerous villages have been identified within this highly agricultural area as endemic for the environmental disease Balkan endemic nephropathy, with some suggesting a link to the geochemistry of the region. We observe that water quality varies significantly as a function of source. Hydrochemical facies analysis reveals trends not typical for limestone systems, with cation trajectories falling along the Ca2+–Mg2+ axis and the anion trajectories lying along the HCO 3 - – SO 4 2 - axis. R-mode factor analysis reveals: (i) an increasing dominance of a Cl−–Na+– SO 4 2 - – NO 3 - association from tap to spring to well waters, (ii) a strong association between Mg2+ and U, and (iii) a lack of associations between Ca2+ and Mg2+ and between Ca2+ and HCO 3 - that is atypical for limestone systems. These observations are interpreted to indicate that human activities have influenced all sources across the Vratza region and that Mg and U concentrations result from the dissolution of limestone, which is enhanced due to the input of anthropogenic chemicals. Geochemical modeling indicates that Ca2+ concentrations are in equilibrium with calcite, but that Mg2+ concentrations remain conservative, resulting in the decoupling of a Ca2+ and Mg2+, association. Uranium concentrations also appear to be conservative, aided by a poised redox state due to high concentrations of NO 3 - and the formation of CO 3 2 - and PO 4 3 - ion pairs. The similar source and conservative nature of both Mg2+ and U can account for their association. Finally, cluster analysis indicates that the pattern of water geochemistry in the endemic area differs from the surrounding non-endemic area, may be explained by differences in the underlying geology. This study has shown that the general water quality in this rural area, whether in endemic or non-endemic villages, is poor and that agricultural activities have not only added chemicals to the groundwater system, but that these chemicals have likely disrupted geochemical processes. More work is required to understand the specific details of anthropogenic influences on geochemical processes on water quality in karstic terrains.
Anti-inflammatory lymphokine mRNA expression in antibody-induced glomerulonephritis

Anti-inflammatory lymphokine mRNA expression in antibody-induced glomerulonephritis. T helper subset 2 (Th2) lymphocytes produce interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-10, which exert anti-inflammatory actions on monocytes and macrophages. Th1 lymphocytes, on the other hand, secrete interferon-γ (IFNγ) which promotes tissue inflammation. The functional dichotomy between Th1 and Th2 lymphocyte subsets suggests that these cells play a regulatory role in inflammatory disease. The participation of Th subpopulations and their lymphokine products in experimental glomerulonephritis (GN) has not been previously evaluated. In this study, we examined renal expression of Th1 and Th2-type lymphokines in the first 48 hours of passive anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) GN in the rat. Using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, apparent increase in expression of both Th1-type (IL-2 and IFNγ) and Th2-type (IL-4 and IL-10) lymphokine mRNA was observed in glomerular-enriched renal tissue obtained from nephritic rats. Induction of monocyte-derived IL-1α and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) mRNA expression was also detected shortly after initiation of GN. Evidence for influx of mononuclear cells including T lymphocytes into the kidney was noted during the same time period as cytokine mRNA expression. Utilizing a monoclonal anti-rat IL-4 antibody, we also detected interleukin 4-producing cells in the renal cortex 24 hours following induction of GN. These experiments demonstrate for the first time anti-inflammatory lymphokine (IL-4 and IL-10) mRNA expression and IL-4 protein production in the kidney during antibody-mediated GN. We hypothesize that Th lymphocyte subsets modulate glomerular inflammation by producing lymphokines with opposing actions.
Neutron irradiation effects in fusion or spallation structural materials: Some recent insights related to neutron spectra

Abstract A review is presented of recent insights on the role of transmutation in the development of radiation-induced changes in dimension or radiation-induced changes in physical or mechanical properties. It is shown that, in some materials and some neutron spectra, transmutation can significantly affect or even dominate a given property change process. When the process under study is also sensitive to displacement rate, and especially if it involves radiation-induced segregation and precipitation, it becomes much more difficult to separate the transmutation and displacement rate dependencies. This complicates the application of data derived from “surrogate” spectra to predictions in other flux-spectra environments. It is also shown in this paper that one must be sensitive to the impact of previously-ignored “small” variations in neutron spectra within a given reactor. In some materials these small variations have major consequences.