cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
beta-Site covalent reactions trigger transitions between open and closed conformations of the tryptophan synthase bienzyme complex.

The tryptophan synthase bienzyme complex (α2β2) from Salmonella typhimurium catalyzes the final two steps in the biosynthesis of l-Trp. To investigate the roles played by conformational change in tryptophan synthase catalysis, the fluorophore 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) is used to identify conformational states. The binding of ANS to the α2β2 bienzyme complex is accompanied by a dramatic enhancement of ANS fluorescence and a shift of the emission maximum from 520 to 482 nm. The ANS binding isotherm is biphasic and consists of a class of moderately high-affinity, noninteracting sites with a stoichiometry of 1 site/αβ dimeric unit (Kd‘ = 62 ± 15 μM) and a much weaker set of non-specific interactions with Kd‘ > 1 mM. Our findings show that the affinity of the enzyme for ANS is strongly decreased (>10-fold) by interactions at two loci 30 A apart: (i) the binding of the α-site ligands, 3-indole-d-glycerol 3‘-phosphate or α-glycerol phosphate (GP) or (ii) reaction at the β-subunit to form either the...
Characterization of interfacial reaction products in alumina fiber/barium zirconate coating/alumina matrix composite

Abstract Barium zirconate (BaZrO3) is a candidate material for interface engineering of alumina fiber/alumina matrix composites. Al2O3 and BaZrO3 react at high temperatures to form a series of reaction products. The objective of this work was to characterize these reaction products and to investigate their effect on crack propagation. BaZrO3 coating was applied on Al2O3 fibers via a sol–gel route. The characterization was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The reaction products between BaZrO3 coating and Al2O3 (fibers and/or matrix) included ZrO2, barium monoaluminate (BaO·Al2O3) and Ba β-Al2O3 (BaO·7.3Al2O3). In hot-pressed composites, barium aluminate was mainly present in the form of Ba β-Al2O3. The Ba β-Al2O3 is known to have a layer-type structure, which is likely to be propitious for crack deflection. The interfacial reactions are diffusion-controlled solid-state processes, mainly depending on the diffusion of Ba cations. The Ba β-Al2O3 phase can form either through direct reaction between the BaZrO3 coating and Al2O3 or through indirect reaction between a BaO·Al2O3 intermediate phase and Al2O3. The BaZrO3 coating and the reaction products between the coating and fiber/matrix provide multiple weak interfaces, which are likely to result in crack deflection and thus toughness enhancement in an all oxide composite.
Hexosamine biosynthesis is a possible mechanism underlying hypoxia's effects on lipid metabolism in human adipocytes.

Introduction Hypoxia regulates adipocyte metabolism. Hexosamine biosynthesis is implicated in murine 3T3L1 adipocyte differentiation and is a possible underlying mechanism for hypoxia’s effects on adipocyte metabolism. Methods Lipid metabolism was studied in human visceral and subcutaneous adipocytes in in vitro hypoxic culture with adipophilic staining, glycerol release, and palmitate oxidation assays. Gene expression and hexosamine biosynthesis activation was studied with QRTPCR, immunofluorescence microscopy, and Western blotting. Results Hypoxia inhibits lipogenesis and induces basal lipolysis in visceral and subcutaneous human adipocytes. Hypoxia induces fatty acid oxidation in visceral adipocytes but had no effect on fatty acid oxidation in subcutaneous adipocytes. Hypoxia inhibits hexosamine biosynthesis in adipocytes. Inhibition of hexosamine biosynthesis with azaserine attenuates lipogenesis and induces lipolysis in adipocytes in normoxic conditions, while promotion of hexosamine biosynthesis with glucosamine in hypoxic conditions slightly increases lipogenesis. Conclusions Hypoxia’s net effect on human adipocyte lipid metabolism would be expected to impair adipocyte buffering capacity and contribute to systemic lipotoxicity. Our data suggest that hypoxia may mediate its effects on lipogenesis and lipolysis through inhibition of hexosamine biosynthesis. Hexosamine biosynthesis represents a target for manipulation of adipocyte metabolism.
Russell and the Ontological Argument

It is well known that in Principia Mathematica Russell oﬀers a theory of deﬁnite descriptions and holds that ‘existence’ is not a property. It is less well known that in “On Denoting” he discusses the version of Anselm’s ontological argument for God formulated by Descartes, accepting the premiss “Existence is a perfection” and assessing the argument as valid but question-begging. This is diﬀerent from his later comments in A History of Western Philosophy which ﬁnd the argument invalid. Indeed, given the sanctions of Principia, one might have thought he would ﬁnd the argument logically ungrammatical. This paper shows how Russell might formulate and evaluate Anselm’s ontological argument and the version oﬀered by Descartes in a way that avoids the conﬂict.
Real-Time MR Imaging-guided Passive Catheter Tracking with Use of Gadolinium-filled Catheters

PURPOSE To test the hypothesis that real-time magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided passive catheter tracking is feasible with use of dilute gadolinium (Gd)-filled catheters, to determine the optimal Gd concentration required for tracking, and to measure catheter tip tracking accuracy. MATERIALS AND METHODS The authors tested a real-time, T1-weighted, two-dimensional, spoiled gradient-recalled echo MR imaging sequence suitable for tracking catheters. In a yogurt phantom, the authors placed 5-F catheters filled with 2%–12% Gd solutions. MR imaging was performed with and without use of a projection dephaser that suppressed background signal. The authors measured signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and enhancement ratio to determine the optimal Gd concentration for catheter depiction. Catheter tip tracking accuracy was measured in an acrylic phantom with use of linear regression analysis, with goodness of fit assessed statistically with the F test. RESULTS Peak catheter SNR, CNR, and enhancement ratios were obtained with 4%–6% Gd concentrations. Tip tracking accuracy was determined to be ± 0.41 mm (R 2 = 0.99; P CONCLUSIONS Accurate MR imaging-guided passive catheter tracking was feasible in real-time with use of dilute Gd-filled catheters. This technique may have application in MR imaging-guided endovascular procedures.
An exploration of submissions and discussions in social news: mining collective intelligence of Reddit

Social news and content aggregation Web sites have become massive repositories of valuable knowledge on a diverse range of topics. Millions of Web-users are able to leverage these platforms to submit, view and discuss nearly anything. The users themselves exclusively curate the content with an intricate system of submissions, voting and discussion. Furthermore, the data on social news Web sites is extremely well organized by the user-base, which, like in Wikipedia, opens the door for opportunities to leverage this data for other purposes. In this paper, we study a popular social news Web site called Reddit. Our investigation looks at the dynamics of hierarchical discussion threads, and we ask three questions: (1) to what extent do discussion threads resemble a topical hierarchy? (2) Can discussion threads be used to enhance Web search? and (3) what variables are the best predictors for high scoring comments? We show interesting results for these questions on a very large snapshot several sub-communities of the Reddit Web site. Finally, we discuss the implications of these results and suggest ways by which social news Web sites can be used to perform other tasks.
Modeling Beaver Dam Effects on Ecohydraulics and Sedimentation in an Agricultural Watershed

Populations of North American beaver (Castor canadensis) have increased in recent decades throughout the agricultural Midwestern U.S., leading to an increase in the frequency of beaver dams in small streams. The impact of beaver dams on channel structure in this region is not known. Our field observations indicate that beaver dams are too dynamic and their affects on channel structure occur over longer time frames than is practical to study with field measurements. Modeling is therefore needed to determine if beaver dams will help stabilize and aggrade incised streams. The objective of this paper is to determine how a channel evolution model (CONCEPTS) might be used to predict the impact of beaver dams on channel structure.
Electromagnetically coupled embedded sensors

This paper considers a wireless approach to health and usage monitoring of advanced composite materials. It uses a modular approach supporting, in particular, high performance system fabricated with composite panels fastened to an underlying frame. The panels are fabricated so as to include integrated circuit (IC) sensors placed in the various prepreg layers during layup. Various aspects in the development and performance of these IC sensors are described in the paper. Since the embedded sensors do not include an internal power source, interrogator circuitry has also been developed. This unit supplies power to sensor within the composite panel and obtains transducer data from the sensors, both via wireless techniques. This unit and its interface to the embedded sensors are discussed. Finally, a description is given of expected overall system monitoring using the sensor and interrogator devices being presented.
Older women living alone. Technical environmental assessment of psychological well-being.

Relationships of subjective residential satisfaction to psychological well-being have been demonstrated, but it has proved difficult to document relationships between objective environmental variables and well-being. In this study, environmental variables were selected on the basis of a theoretical model for relevance to human needs and were measured with technical assessment items scaled for internal consistency. Outcomes were two factors derived from a battery of instruments in the domain of psychological well-being. Direct effects of objective environmental measures on psychological well-being were observed as well as indirect effects through subjective satisfaction with home and neighborhood.
Induction and reversal of the magnesium deficiency syndrome in inbred mice.

Abstract Mice of the DBA 2J and C57BL 6J strains were exposed to a low-magnesium diet and the behavioral manifestations of Mg deficiency were monitored. The DBA mice were markedly more sensitive in terms of symptomatology to magnesium losses than were the C57 mice. Intracranial (0.08 meq/kg) and intraperitoneal (3.0 meq/kg) MgSO4 injections were equally fast (within 2 to 4 h) and effective in eliminating gross tremors and seizures in Mg-deficient mice. However, the total elimination of all symptoms required at least 24 h after very large (4.5 meq/kg × 2) intraperitoneal doses of MgSO4, indicating that more slowly reversing metabolic derangements secondary to Mg deficiency are responsible for the lengthy therapeutic “lag period”.
261. In Vivo Over-Expression of Fractalkine, a Putative Neuron-to-Glia Signal, To Characterize Underlying Mechanisms of Neuropathic Pain

We have previously shown that fractalkine (FKN), the newest member of the chemokine family, plays an integral role in the initiation and maintenance of exaggerated pain states. Fractalkine is expressed on the external surface of sensory nerves and some dorsal spinal cord neurons. The receptor for FKN is found predominately on spinal cord microglia. Strong neuronal excitation induces the cleavage of the FKN chemokine domain forming a soluble signal that can act on nearby glia. Spinal cord microglia are important in diverse forms of enhanced pain states via the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF). We have shown that the pain-enhancing effects of spinally administered (via intrathecal injection) FKN are mediated, at least in part, via release of the glial proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1.Thus FKN may be a neuron-to-glia signal that triggers glial activation and consequent pain facilitation. To further elucidate the underlying mechanisms of FKN's role in neuropathic pain, we have engineered plasmid expression vectors encoding soluble forms of the active chemokine domain, CX3CL1. Concurrent studies are designed to determine whether two sequential intrathecal injections, each 100 |[mu]|g in 20 |[mu]|L of C X3CL1 plasmid leads to chronic neuropathic pain as measured by hypersensitivity to light mechanical stimuli presented to the hind paws of rats. Exaggerated pain will be reassessed every four days to determine the duration of FKN- induced hypersensitivity. Further we will determine levels of FKN expression in cerebrospinal fluid and spinal cord microglial activation. Additional studies will examine the pro-inflammatory cytokine profile (IL-1, IL-6, and TNF) in cerebrospinal fluid after chronic FKN over-expression in behaviorally verified rats. This system should allow for the examination of newly developed FKN antagonists to treat neuropathic pain.
A Phase I Trial of Dasatinib, an Src-Family Kinase Inhibitor, in Combination with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin in Patients with Advanced or Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Purpose: We conducted a phase I study of dasatinib, an oral SRC-family tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in the treatment of advanced and recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. Experimental Design: The primary objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Secondary objectives included defining toxicity, response rate (RR), pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. Using a “3+3” design, cohorts of three to six patients received paclitaxel (175 mg/m 2 ) and carboplatin (AUC 6) every 3 weeks with escalating doses of dasatinib (100, 120, and 150 mg daily), followed by an eight-patient expansion cohort. Results: Twenty patients were enrolled between June 2007 and December 2009. The median age was 61 years (range: 42–82) with a median of 2 prior regimens (range: 0–6), and 71% had platinum-sensitive disease. There were three to six patients in each cohort, and eight in the expansion cohort. Pharmacokinetics were observed over the first two cycles of therapy. One DLT was observed in the 100 mg dasatinib cohort (grade 3 myalgia). Other toxicities in all cycles included neutropenia (95% grade 3–4; 91% in the 150 mg dosing cohort), thrombocytopenia (35% grade 3–4), and fatigue (10% grade 3). The RR was 40% [three complete responses, (15%); five partial responses, (25%)],10 patients (50%) had stable disease, and two were not evaluable. The PFS 6-month actuarial estimate was 86%. The median PFS and OS were 7.8 and 16.2 months, respectively. Conclusions: Due to the high incidence of myelosuppression with subsequent cycles, the recommended phase II dose of dasatinib is 150 mg daily in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin. The combination was safe with evidence of clinical activity. Clin Cancer Res; 18(19); 5489–98. ©2012 AACR .
White-tailed deer marrow yields and Late Archaic hunter-gatherers

Abstract Information on the economic utility of animal body parts is often used by zooarchaeologists to interpret skeletal element abundances at archaeological sites. In this study, data is presented on the kilocalorie yield of marrow from the longbones, mandibles, and phalanges of seven white-tailed deer. Variation in the marrow yields of different bones is discussed. Our results indicate that captive wolves given access to complete deer carcasses in controlled experimental settings tend to destroy epiphyses of bones with high marrow yields, while element abundance at two Late Archaic bone assemblages from New York is positively correlated with marrow yield. While marrow yields may explain a significant amount of patterning in faunal assemblages, taxon-specific flesh and grease indices should also be developed and used in concert with marrow indices to more fully understand the variation in patterning seen in the archaeological record.
Tricyclic antidepressants: Effects on extinction and fear learning

Rats trained to run an alley for a food reward were extinguished following injections of different antidepressants. When retested several days later, the animals extinguished following pretreatment with the NE reuptake blocker protriptyline showed faster running speeds than did the other groups. Other rats given electrical shocks following pretreatment with protriptyline avoided the compartment in which they had been shocked less than did animals shocked following pretreatment with other antidepressants. This implies an interferance with some aspect of the learning or consolidation process which is correlated with the degree of NE reuptake blockage. It is hypothesized that NE terminals are deactivated following frustrative nonreward or punishment by the conversion and reuptake of the released NE to an altered extinction molecule.
Subcutaneous Island Pedicle Flaps

Aesthetic reconstruction of cutaneous defects is dependent on the availability of matching regional tissue. The ability to transfer comparable local skin can be enhanced by the use of the subcutaneous island pedicle flap. The design, implementation, and anatomy of this flap are discussed and illustrated.
Testosterone and luteinizing hormone response to GnRH in yearling bulls of different libido

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate pituitary and testicular responsiveness to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) as measured by luteinizing hormone (LH) assay and by testosterone assay, respectively, in bulls that had previously exhibited either high or low libido based on a libido test. Eighty-four purebred Angus bulls were tested for libido during 1988 and 1989. Blood samples were collected from four bulls that had the highest and lowest libido scores in each year by indwelling jugular cannula at 15 min intervals for 2 h before and for 5 h after GnRH (10 ng/kg body weight, i.v.) administration. The samples were assayed for LH, testosterone and cortisol. Low libido bulls had higher (P
An econometric estimate of the demand for MBA enrollment

Abstract A demand equation for MBA enrollment was estimated to test the theory of human capital as an explanation of enrollment decisions in higher education. Three of four variables associated with a human capital interpretation were found to be significant. The functional form of the demand equation (log-reciprocal) was of importance in establishing these results. Although the failure of the interest rate to be significant might suggest imperfections in access to capital for potential students, we could not find support for the alternative view that students relied on subsidization by family. Several elasticities proved to be large enough to imply that feasible changes in the rates of change of underlying economic variables could produce noticeable changes in MBA enrollment.
Periprosthetic mineralization changes around femoral stems: a prospective 12-month study with DEXA

The objective was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) changes around the proximal femur after implantation of two different anatomical stems. Thirty-six patients (19 women and 17 men) who underwent total hip replacement were recruited. A Bihapro stem was implanted in 23 patients (with a mean age of 60.9 years) and a Citation stem in 13 patients (with a mean age of 59.7 years). All patients underwent serial radiography of the affected hip (follow-up time: 12 months). Baseline periprosthetic and overall BMD were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) 1 week and 12 months after hip replacement. Regions of interest (ROIs) were defined according to Gruen’s system (ROIs 1–7). All stems were classified as radiographically stable. Bone ongrowth (spot welds) was present in zones 1 and 2 in all patients with the Bihapro stem. The distribution of baseline densities was very similar in the two groups of patients. In Bihapro implants a significant increment of mineralisation was present in ROI 1 after 1 year; ROIs 2 to 7 showed no density variation. The following observations were made regarding the Citation implants: no increment in density was shown in ROI 1; the differences in densities among the ROIs were significant after 1 year in the global evaluation (p = 0.004); the comparison between the single ROIs showed decalcification in ROIs 2 and 7 and a density increment in ROI 5. Bihapro stems appear to achieve adequate proximal fixation, avoiding the “stress shielding” phenomenon.
Modulation of mitochondrial glutathione status and cellular energetics in primary cultures of proximal tubular cells from remnant kidney of uninephrectomized rats

Compensatory renal hypertrophy following reduction in renal mass leads to a hypermetabolic state and increases in basal mitochondrial oxidative stress and susceptibility to several nephrotoxicants. Previous studies provide conflicting data on whether renal mitochondria after reduction in renal mass undergo proliferation or hypertrophy or both. In the present study, our goal was to determine whether mitochondria of hypertrophied kidney undergo hypertrophy or proliferation after uninephrectomy using the uninephrectomized (NPX) rat model. Renal proximal tubular (PT) cells from NPX rats exhibited increased mitochondrial density, membrane potential and protein but no significant difference in mitochondrial DNA, as compared to PT cells from control rats. Our previous studies showed that overexpression of two mitochondrial anion transporters, the dicarboxylate (DIC, Slc25a10) and oxoglutarate (OGC, Slc25a11) carriers, in NRK-52E cells resulted in increased mitochondrial uptake of glutathione (GSH) and protection from chemically induced apoptosis. In the present study, we overexpressed DIC- and OGC-cDNA plasmids to assess their function in renal PT cells after compensatory renal hypertrophy. PT cells from NPX rats that were first preincubated with GSH were protected from cytotoxicity due to the mitochondrial inhibitor antimycin A by overexpression of either of the two mitochondrial GSH transporters. Our present results provide further evidence that compensatory renal hypertrophy is associated primarily with mitochondrial hypertrophy and hyperpolarization and that manipulation of mitochondrial GSH transporters in PT cells of hypertrophied kidney can alter susceptibility to chemically induced injury under appropriate conditions and may be a suitable therapeutic approach.
Improving the static real-time scheduling on multicore processors by reducing worst-case inter-thread cache interferences

As well known, knowing the worst-case execution time (WCET) of real-time tasks is crucial for schedulability analysis in a real-time system. In a multicore computing environment, however, the inter-thread interferences in the shared resources such as the shared cache can significantly affect the WCET of each real-time task, making the actual (i.e runtime) WCET quite different from the statically estimated WCET obtained before scheduling. In this paper, we present a novel static real-time scheduling approach on multicore platforms based on the WCET of target real-time tasks provided by considering the worst case inter-thread interferences in the shared L2 cache. Furthermore a greedy algorithm is integrated into the static scheduling approaches to generate safe schedules while minimizing the worst-case inter-thread cache interferences and WCET.
A Survey of Employment Interviewing Practices for Technical Writing Positions.

This article focuses on recruiters' perceptions of technical writers in terms of what information should be included in cover letters and resumes, as well as the roles of interviewees and interviewers in the employment interview. The results reveal that 1) the interviewee should include information in the cover letter that is not in the resume, that 2) employment history and educational background are the most important parts of the resume, that 3) communication skills, credibility, maturity and work experience are the most important dimensions of the interviewee, and that 4) the interviewer should present an overview of the position, job description, and short-and-long range department goals. Other results are discussed in the article
Scientific rationale for using a single inhaler for asthma control

Clinical trials have recently demonstrated that using a budesonide/formoterol combination inhaler as regular maintenance treatment twice daily but also as a rescue therapy for breakthrough symptoms can provide more effective control of asthma, particularly in reducing exacerbations, than using a short-acting beta2-agonist or formoterol as rescue therapy. This suggests that the corticosteroid component of the combination therapy plays an important role in rescue therapy. Formoterol as a rescue therapy is effective in relieving symptoms by relaxing airway smooth muscle but is also likely to have important inhibitory effects on mast cells, plasma exudation and neutrophilic inflammation. Inhaled corticosteroids have much more rapid suppressing effects on airway inflammation than previously recognised and the increased dose used as rescue therapy may prevent the increase in airway inflammation that occurs during the evolution of an exacerbation, thus preventing its development. It is likely that the molecular interactions between beta2-agonists and corticosteroids also enhance the effect of the combination therapy as rescue therapy. There is now a strong scientific rationale for single inhaler therapy in asthma, but more research is now needed to better understand the mechanisms involved.
Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of dilated cavum vergae.

Several cases of enlarged cavum vergae have been reported, but prenatal diagnosis of this condition is very rare. We report 3 cases of dilated cavum vergae diagnosed prenatally using sonography. In 1 of the 3 fetuses, ventriculomegaly and lumbar meningomyelocele were additional sonographic findings. In 1 of the 3 infants, a stereotactic cyst-peritoneal shunt was placed at 6 months of age to relieve intracranial hypertension due to progressive enlargement of the cavum vergae. The infant who had a meningomyelocele required surgical repair of this defect shortly after birth; in the third infant, the dilated cavum vergae remained asymptomatic, and no surgery was necessary. When interhemispheric cystic lesions are identified prenatally, physicians must distinguish them from pathologic cysts and determine whether associated malformations are present. Sonography is useful for both the differential diagnosis and identification of associated anomalies.
Morphology and chemical composition of airborne Saharan dust during the AEROsol and Ocean Science Expeditions (AEROSE)

The morphology and chemical composition of aerosols associated with Saharan dust outbreaks between July 2006 and 2009 off-shore of the African continent above the tropical North Atlantic Ocean is investigated. Conducted aboard the NOAA research ship Ronald H. Brown (RHB). The trans-Atlantic AEROsol and Ocean Science Expeditions (AEROSE) are a series of intensive atmospheric field campaigns designed to investigate the surface chemistry and provide a unique data set to characterize the impact and microphysical evolution of Saharan dust during mobilization as a signature to different source regions. Elemental composition results for the 2006 AEROSE samples based on energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis system indicate a well-mixed dust-urban plume regime and reveal the presence of Al, C, Ca, Cd, Cl, Fe, K, Mg, Na, O, Pb, S, and Si; while the 2009 samples being predominantly dust aerosols were dominated by crustal elements such as Al, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, O, P, S, Si, Sn, Ti, and Zn. The secondary electron images for both years reveal a variety of morphologies, but were dominated by chain-like association of spherules and non-spherical particles. Raman Microscopy affords an interpretation of the surface chemical processing and mixing state and revealed the presence of significant hydrocarbons in 2006, and sulfate for both years. Back trajectories show an outflow of air masses from Mauritania, Senegal, and a weak outflow from Algeria-Mali border for 2006 and Libya for 2009.
Changes in Effective Regurgitant Orifice Throughout Systole in Patients With Mitral Valve Prolapse A Clinical Study Using the Proximal Isovelocity Surface Area Method

Background In patients with mitral valve prolapse, spontaneous changes of the effective regurgitant orifice during systole are not well documented. Such changes can now be analyzed by use of the proximal isovelocity surface area method, but the changes raise concern about the reliability of this method for assessing overall severity of regurgitation in these patients. Methods and Results In a prospective study of 42 patients with mitral valve prolapse, the effective mitral regurgitant orifice was calculated at four phases of systole (early, mid, mid-late, and late) as the ratio of regurgitant flow to regurgitant velocity by use of the proximal isovelocity surface area method. Throughout systole, the effective regurgitant orifice increased significantly, from 32±27 mm2 in early systole to 41±27 in midsystole, 55±30 in mid-late systole, and 107±66 mm2 during late systole (P<.0001). Phasic regurgitant volume increased from early to mid-late systole but decreased in late systole. For quantitation of the overa...
Interrater and intrarater agreements of magnetic resonance imaging findings in the lumbar spine: significant variability across degenerative conditions

Abstract Background context Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently used in the evaluation of degenerative conditions in the lumbar spine. The relative interrater and intrarater agreements of MRI findings across different pathologic conditions are underexplored, as most studies are focused on specific findings. Purpose The purpose of this study was to characterize the interrater and intrarater agreements of MRI findings used to assess the degenerative lumbar spine. Study design A retrospective diagnostic study at a large academic medical center was undertaken with a panel of orthopedic surgeons and musculoskeletal radiologists to assess lumbar MRIs using standardized criteria. Patient sample Seventy-five subjects who underwent routine lumbar spine MRI at our institution were included. Outcome measures Each MRI study was assessed for 10 lumbar degenerative findings using standardized criteria. Lumbar vertebral levels were assessed independently, where applicable, for a total of 52 data points collected per study. Methods T2-weighted axial and sagittal MRI sequences were presented in random order to the four reviewers (two orthopedic spine surgeons and two musculoskeletal radiologists) independently to determine interrater agreement. The first 10 studies were reevaluated at the end to determine intrarater agreement. Images were assessed using standardized and pilot-tested criteria to assess disc degeneration, stenosis, and other degenerative changes. Interrater and intrarater absolute percent agreements were calculated. To highlight the most clinically important MRI disagreements, a modified agreement analysis was also performed (in which disagreements between the lowest two severity grades for applicable conditions were ignored). Fleiss kappa coefficients for interrater agreement were determined. Results The overall absolute and modified interrater agreements were 76.9% and 93.5%, respectively. The absolute and modified intrarater agreements were 81.3% and 92.7%, respectively. Average Fleiss kappa coefficient was 0.431, suggesting moderate overall agreement. However, when stratified by condition, absolute interrater agreement ranged from 65.1% to 92.0%. Disc hydration, disc space height, and bone marrow changes exhibited the lowest absolute interrater agreements. The absolute intrarater agreement had a narrower range, from 74.5% to 91.5%. Fleiss kappa coefficients ranged from fair-to-substantial agreement (0.282–0.618). Conclusions Even in a study using standardized evaluation criteria, there was significant variability in the interrater and intrarater agreements of MRI in assessing different degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine. Clinicians should be aware of the condition-specific diagnostic limitations of MRI interpretation.
Dual lateral channel emitter switched thyristor characteristics: dependence on floating emitter length

In this work, we have examined the forward drop and maximum controllable current of the dual lateral channel emitter switched thyristor as a function of floating emitter length. It is found that the forward drop at lower current densities decreases with increasing floating emitter length, but the trend is reversed at higher current densities. The maximum controllable current is found to decrease with increasing emitter length, and increase with applied negative gate bias. This indicates that turn-off is primarily accomplished by the p-channel MOSFET inherent in the structure. These trends have been verified experimentally on 600-V devices. >
Cooperative Interactions of Steroid Receptors at Their Target Enhancers

The present review summarizes experimentation which suggest that steroid receptors bind to their cognate SREs as dimers. Two receptor dimers located at separate SREs appear to interact and bind DNA cooperatively with an affinity 100-fold stronger than does a single dimer. This high-affinity tetrameric complex may explain the synergistic effect on transcription that results when two or more SREs or enhancers are located within the 5’-flanking region of a target gene.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator-related complications in the pediatric population.

Background: The recognition that implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in children can prolong life coupled with the development of smaller devices and transvenous lead technology has increased the number of ICDs implanted in children and young adults. Methods: ICD complications in the pediatric population are reviewed. Results: ICD complications in the pediatric population include those related to the implantation procedure, the ICD system, as well as psychosocial issues. Inappropriate ICD therapy and ICD lead failures are the most frequent complications. Conclusion: Identifying complications is the prerequisite for advances in ICD technology and effective management strategies need to be developed to avoid their recurrence.
Mining sales data using a neural network model of market response

Modeling aggregate market response is a core issue in marketing research. In this research, we extend previous forecasting comparative research by comparing the forecasting accuracy of feed-forward neural network models to the premier market modeling technique, Multiplicative Competitive Interaction (MCI) models. Forecasts are compared in two separate studies: (1) the Information Resources Inc. (IRI) coffee dataset from Marion, IN and (2) the A. C. Nielsen catsup dataset from Sioux Falls, SD. Our results suggest neural networks are a useful substitute for MCI models when there are too few observations available to estimate a fully-extended MCI model. Implications are discussed.
Concept Mining using Association Rules and Combinatorial Topology

The collection of concepts in a document set can be represented by a geometric structure called simplicial complex of combinatorial topology where each keyword is represented as a vertex and the relation between keywords as simplex. A simplex which consists of more than one keyword is a high-frequency keywordset. These keywords occur close to each other within a document which also occur frequently within a set of documents. The high frequent occurrence of these keywords shows relations between keywords. These relations carry concepts. The relations of these keywords can be captured by association rule mining and represented as simplices. The collection of all these simplices, represents the structure of concepts within a document set. Based on this topology, documents are clustered and the collection of simplices can serve as document index.
Cultural forms underlying health-related discourses in the United States and Canada:a historical- comparative study of the two countries' editorials from 1965-1999

iii Chapter 1 Background 1 Chapter 2 Literature review 7 Chapter 3 Methodology and research hypotheses 15 Chapter 4 Data 23 Chapter 5 Method and Results 28 Chapter 6 Conclusion 32 Appendix 33 References 36
Beyond ‘The evolving discipline of public affairs’

There is much to commend about the article ‘The Evolving Discipline of Public Affairs’, but there is always room for expansion and elaboration. This article (i) associates the public affairs (PA) function with the management of firm relationships with the institutions and organizations—at once, political, social, and cultural—operating in the nonmarket environment; (ii) gives a special meaning to the concept of political behavior in terms of force and intimidation; (iii) analyzes the multiple ‘currencies’ used in PA activity; (iv) identifies the different ‘ordering systems’ that rule relationships in developed and developing countries and that can help us avoid a ‘Western’ perspective on PA; (v) associates the social responsibility element of the PA function with the unique role of business in fulfilling the ‘producer-interest role’ in society; and (vi) draws attention to various research topics so far overlooked in PA research. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Valuation and Design of Pharmaceutical R&D Licensing Deals

In today’s intensely competitive business environment, pharmaceutical companies are augmenting their product pipelines by both developing drugs on their own and inlicensing proprietary compounds or drug discovery–related technologies from smaller biotechnology companies. In this work, the OptFolio model of pharmaceutical R&D portfolio management is extended to evaluate partnership opportunities as real options and determine the optimal timing and investment policy for proposed alliances in the face of technological and market uncertainties and budgetary restrictions. Licensing deals are modeled within a decision tree as a series of continuation/abandonment options for the pharmaceutical company, deciding at each stage of R&D whether to make a predetermined milestone payment to continue the alliance or terminate the alliance because of unfavorable market conditions and/or internal resource limitations. Results indicate that early stage alliances become more valuable as market uncertainty and the ability of pharmaceutical companies to enhance the value of the licensed drug increase because of the ability to control downside risk by the abandonment option. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 51: 198 –209, 2005
Drug targeting: Magnetically responsive albumin microspheres — A review of the system to date

Abstract Magnetically responsive drug-bearing microspheres fulfill all of the desired properties of an ideal drug carrier. Intra-arterial routes of therapy have shown encouraging results. The present system allows for retention of injected drug at the target site. Gynecologic cancers that are often staged at laparotomy may be very amenable to this form of therapy. It is hoped that the encouraging results obtained to date in small animals will soon lead to human applications.
Ablation of Pulmonary Malignancy: Current Status

Since the first reported use of radiofrequency ablation of the lung in 2000, the field of image-guided lung ablation has received a considerable amount of attention. Survival studies have demonstrated the potential utility of thermal ablation in the treatment of patients with early-stage primary and limited secondary pulmonary tumors with promising results. Diagnostic imaging studies have advanced the understanding of the expected immediate postablation appearance of treated lesions, leading the way for early detection of local tumor progression. These survival studies and the expected imaging follow-up of these patients are reviewed herein.
Constituents of Mammea americana L. IX: Oxidation of Mammein and Mammeisin

Cyclomammein, a putative mamey seed oil constituent, which has been obtained from mammein by treatment with peracids, was also produced upon air oxidation of the latter. In addition, two other air oxidation products of mammein were characterized. Both of these were also isolated by chromatography of the crude mammein mixture and, in common with cyclomammein, may be artifacts. One of these, designated M-9, C22H28O6, m.p. 217–219°, is a linearly fused chromano coumarin; the other, L-2, C22H26O7, m.p. 181–182°, contains a novel cyclic peroxide grouping and can be converted to cyclomammein by catalytic hydrogenation. The structures of these compounds were assigned on the basis of NMR and mass spectral measurements. The oxidation of mammein and mammeisin with dichlorodicyanobenzoquinone was also carried out. This leads to the corresponding chromeno coumarins; in the latter case, the product proved, as expected, to be identical with another mamey oil constituent, mammeigin. Finally, treatment of mammeisin with peracid leads to the derived dihydrofurano coumarin.
Atrophin 2 recruits histone deacetylase and is required for the function of multiple signaling centers during mouse embryogenesis

Atrophins are evolutionarily conserved proteins that are thought to act as transcriptional co-repressors. Mammalian genomes contain two atrophin genes. Dominant polyglutamine-expanded alleles of atrophin 1 have been identified as the cause of dentatorubralpallidoluysian atrophy, an adult-onset human neurodegenerative disease with similarity to Huntington's. In a screen for recessive mutations that disrupt patterning of the early mouse embryo, we identified a line named openmind carrying a mutation in atrophin 2. openmind homozygous embryos exhibit a variety of patterning defects that first appear at E8.0. Defects include a specific failure in ventralization of the anterior neural plate, loss of heart looping and irregular partitioning of somites. In mutant embryos, Shh expression fails to initiate along the anterior midline at E8.0, and Fgf8 is delocalized from the anterior neural ridge at E8.5, revealing a crucial role for atrophin 2 in the formation and function of these two signaling centers. Atrophin 2 is also required for normal organization of the apical ectodermal ridge, a signaling center that directs limb pattern. Elevated expression of atrophin 2 in neurons suggests it may interact with atrophin 1 in neuronal development or function. We further show that atrophin 2 associates with histone deacetylase 1 in mouse embryos, providing a biochemical link between Atr2 and a chromatin-modifying enzyme. Based on our results, and on those of others, we propose that atrophin proteins act as transcriptional co-repressors during embryonic development.
The effect on thermoelectric properties of Cd substitution in PbTe

A recent theoretical study suggested that the substitution of Cd in PbTe can result in a distortion in the electronic density of states (DOS) near the bottom of the conduction band in PbTe. In this study we explored the effect of Cd doping on the thermoelectric properties of PbTe in an effort to test the theoretical prediction that DOS distortion can increase the Seebeck coefficient. We present detailed investigation of structural and spectroscopic data, transmission electron microscopy, as well as transport properties of samples of PbI2 doped PbTe-x% CdTe (x = 1, 3, 5, 7, 10). All samples follow the Pisarenko relationship and no enhancement of the Seebeck coefficient was observed due to DOS distortions. A low lattice thermal conductivity was achieved by nanostructuring observed via high resolution transmission electron microscopy. A maximum ZT of ~1.2 at ~720 K was achieved for the 1% CdTe sample.
BEAN PROTEIN SEPARATIONS USING LABORATORY AND CONTINUOUS DECANTER CENTRIFUGES

California Small White bean meal was given three acidic extractions at low pH followed by three at high pH by laboratory and pilot plant procedures under similar conditions. Extracts and residues were neutralized to pH 6.5 and lyophilized. Acid extracted bean solids were 31% of the original bean meal by both laboratory and pilot plant procedures. The basic extracted solids were 6% by the two procedures. The protein content in the acid extract was 14% of the original meal by each procedure while the protein in the basic extract was 3% by the two procedures. The decanter-centrifuge was effective for the separation if the ground bean was not too fine.
Differential Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Congeners on Serum Thyroid Hormone Levels in Rats

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are known to reduce serum thyroxine (T(4)) in rats, but the relative effects of individual PCB congeners on thyroid hormones are not known. Thus, male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered Aroclor 1254, Aroclor 1242 (4, 8, 16, or 32 mg/kg/day), PCB 95 (2,2',3,5',6-pentachlorobiphenyl), PCB 99 (2,2',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl), PCB 118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl) (2, 4, 8, or 16 mg/kg/day), PCB 126 (3,3'4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl) (2.5, 5, 10, 20, or 40 microg/kg/day), TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) (0.14, 0.43, 1.3, or 3.9 microg/kg/day), or corn oil via oral gavage for 7 days. Rats were necropsied 24 h after the last dose. Serum thyroid hormone levels were evaluated by radioimmunoassay, and induction of hepatic Cyp1a (a TCDD-inducible protein) and Cyp2b (a phenobarbital [PB]-inducible protein) activity was determined by ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and pentoxyresorufin-O-deethylase assays, respectively. Significant increases in Cyp1a activity occurred in response to PCBs, except PCB 95 and PCB 99. Aroclor 1254, PCB 99, and PCB 118 significantly induced Cyp2b activity. Serum total T(4) and free T(4) were dramatically reduced in response to each of the seven treatments in a dose-dependent manner. The marked T(4) reductions occurred in response to Aroclor 1254, PCB 99 (a PB-type congener), and PCB 118 (a mixed-type congener). In contrast, reductions in serum triiodothyronine (total and free) were variable and mild, and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone was not significantly affected by any of the compounds. These data indicate that the PB and mixed-type PCB congeners are more effective than the TCDD-type PCB congeners at reducing serum T(4).
An evaluation of stabilized, water-based drilled cuttings and organic compost as potential sediment sources for marsh restoration and creation in coastal Louisiana

Abstract The influence of various substrate types (drilled cuttings, compost, 50/50 mixture drilled cuttings/compost, and marsh sediment control) and soil fertilizers (macronutrients, micronutrients, and unfertilized control) on growth of Spartina alterniflora and Sagittaria lancifolia and on soil chemistry were evaluated in greenhouse experiments. Substrate type and fertilizer amendment had significant effects on plant growth, with the two marsh species responding similarly. Substrate interstitial water pH levels appeared to have a direct effect on nutrient availability and subsequent plant growth. Poorest plant growth was observed in drilled cuttings, which had the highest pH level of the four substrates (mean = 10.4). Addition of compost to drilled cuttings decreased pH (mean = 8.4) and resulted in significantly greater total plant biomass. Compost and control sediments had the most neutral pH levels (combined mean = 7.3) and produced greatest total plant biomass. Separate additions of macronutrients and micronutrients stimulated growth of both plant species. However, the simultaneous addition of macronutrients and micronutrients resulted in significantly greater plant biomass than macronutrient fertilization alone or unfertilized control substrates. These experiments demonstrated that when drilled cuttings were amended with organic compost, and especially macronutrient and micrnutrient fertilizers, plant growth levels were comparable to those observed in natural estuarine sediments.